the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第23部分
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XVII
MONKEYS IN THE AIR
As the result of that victory； the Sparling shows did a great business in
Corinto。 The owner； considering that his rival had been severely enough
punished； made no further effort to have him brought to justice； though
Phil could hardly restrain him from making Sully suffer for the indignities
he had heaped on young Forrest。
Phil found his money that day when he removed his ring shirt。 The
string that had fastened his money bag about his neck had parted； letting
the bag drop。 This money he handed to Mr。 Sparling as rightfully
belonging to him。
Of course the showman refused it； and wanted to make Phil a present
besides； for the great service he had rendered。 As it chanced； one of Mr。
Sparling's own staff was attending the Sully show when Phil made his
escape； and much of the latter's discomfort might have been prevented had
he only been aware of that fact。
Teddy assumed the full credit for the victory of old Emperor； and no
one took the trouble to argue the question with him。
Soon after these exciting incidents the Sparling shows left Canada
behind and crossed the Niagara River。 It was with a long drawn sigh of
relief that they set eyes on the Stars and Stripes again。
After showing at the Falls； the outfit headed southwest。 The season
was getting late； the cotton crop in the south was going to market； and it
was time for all well managed shows whose route lay that way to get into
Dixie Land。 The Circus Boys； too； were anxious to tour the sunny south
again。 This time they were going to follow a route they had never been
over before； something that was still a matter of great interest to the boys。
Mr。 Sparling upon learning that there was a traitor in his camp who
was supplying secret information to the Sully show as to the route of the
Sparling circus； had at once set a watch for the offender。 It was not long
before the traitor was caught red…handed。 He was； of course； dismissed
immediately； despised by all who knew what he had been doing。
No more had been seen of the Sully Hippodrome Circus after the
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
meeting of the two organizations in Corinto； though that crowd had been
heard of occasionally as hovering on the flanks of the Sparling shows。
〃I don't care where they go；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； 〃so long as they don't
get in the same county with me。 I am liable to lose my temper if they get
that near to me again； and then something will happen for sure。〃
The Sparling show got into the real southland when it made Memphis；
Tennessee； on October first； a beautiful balmy southern fall day。 All
season Phil had been keeping up his practice on the trapeze bar； until he
had become a really fine performer。 He had never performed in public；
however； and hardly thought he would have a chance to do so that season。
He hoped not； if it were to be at some other performer's expense； as had
usually been the case。
〃When somebody gets hurt it's Phillip who takes his place；〃 said the
lad to himself。
〃Which means that you are always on the job；〃 replied Mr。 Sparling
who had chanced to overhear the remark。 No serious accidents had
occurred in sometime； however； and it was hoped by everyone that none
would。 Accidents； while they are accepted by show people in the most
matter…of…fact way； always cast a gloom over the show。 Even the loss of
a horse will make the sympathetic showman sad。
After a splendid business in Memphis the show ran into Mississippi
where it played a one day stand at Clarksdale； and where the showmen
experienced the liveliest time they had had since they met the Sully
organization in Canada。
The afternoon performance had just come to an end； and the people
were getting ready to leave their seats under the big top； when a great
commotion was heard under the menagerie top。
Most of the performers were in the dressing tent； changing their dress
for supper； but a roar from the audience； followed by shouts of laughter；
attracted their attention sharply； and as soon as they could clothe
themselves sufficiently； the performers rushed out into the ring again。
Suddenly the people； upon looking toward the menagerie tent； saw a
troop of diminutive animals sweeping into the big top。 At first the people
did not recognize them。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃They're monkeys！〃 shouted someone。 〃They're going to give us a
monkey show。〃
〃No。 The beasts have gotten out of their cage；〃 answered another。
He was right。 A careless attendant had hooked the padlock of the
monkey cage in the staple； but had not locked it。 An observant simian
had noticed this； but did not make use of his knowledge until the keeper
had gone away。
Peering out to make sure that no one was looking； the monkey reached
out its hand and deftly slipped the padlock from its place。
The rest was easy。 A bound against the cage door left the way open；
and the hundred monkeys in the cage； big and little were not slow to take
advantage of the opportunity thus offered。
Chattering wildly； they poured from the wagon like a small cataract。
A moment later the attendants discovered them and gave chase。 At about
the same time the monkeys discovered that something was going on under
the big top。 Being curious little beasts； they concluded to investigate。
Then； too； the attendants were pressing pretty close to them； so the whole
herd bolted into the circus tent with a shouting crowd of circus men in
pursuit。
The yells of the audience； added to those of the attendants； sent the
nimble little fellows scurrying up ropes； center and quarter poles； all the
time keeping up their merry chatter； for freedom was a thing they had not
enjoyed since they had been captured in their jungle homes。
Some of the ring men tried to shake the monkeys down from the poles；
just as they would shake an apple tree to get the fruit。 But the little fellows
were not thus easily dislodged。 The attempt served only to send them
higher up。 They seemed to be everywhere over the heads of the people。
Finally； having thoroughly investigated the top of the tent； several of
the larger simians decided to take a closer look at the audience。 At the
moment the audience did not know of this plan； or they might have taken
measures to protect themselves。
The first intimation they had of the plans of the mischievous monkeys；
was when a woman uttered a piercing shriek； startling everyone in the tent。
〃What is it？〃 shouted someone。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Oh； my hat！ My hat！〃 she cried after discovering what had
happened to her。
The eyes of the audience wandered from her up to where a monkey
was dangling by its tail far above their heads。 The animal had in its
hands a flower…covered hat； so large that when the monkey tried to put it
on； it almost entirely concealed his body。 So suddenly had the hat been
torn from the head of the owner that hatpins were broken short off while
the little thief 〃shinned〃 a rope with his prize。
Failing to make the hat fit； Mr。 Monkey began pulling the flowers out；
then picking them to pieces； he showered the particles down over the
heads of the audience。
This was great sport for the monkey； but no fun at all for the owner of
the hat。 The woman hurried from her seat； red…faced and humiliated。
Phil Forrest had chanced to be a witness to the act。 He stepped forward
as she descended to the concourse and touched his hat。
〃Was the hat a valuable one； madam？〃 he asked。
〃Very。〃
〃I am sorry。 If you will come with me to the office of the manager I
am quite sure he will make good your loss。〃
〃Do you belong to the circus； sir？〃
〃I do。〃
The woman gladly accompanied him to Mr。 Sparling； and there was
made happy by having the price of her ruined hat handed over to her
without a word of objection。
In the meantime trouble had been multiplying at a very rapid rate
under the big top。 Everyone was shouting； attendants were yelling orders
to each other； and now Mr。 Sparling； hurrying in； added his voice to the
din。
Hats in all parts of the tent seemed to fly toward the roof almost
magically； to come tumbling down a few
