the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第25部分
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slammed the door shut； throwing the padlock in place and snapping it。
〃There are your old monkeys；〃 he cried； turning to Mr。 Sparling with
flushed； triumphant face。
The audience broke out into a roar； shouting； howling and stamping on
the seats at the same time。
〃Now； you may go；〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling to the audience。 〃Phil； you
are a wonder。 I take off my hat to you；〃 and the showman； suiting the
action to the word； made a sweeping bow to the little Circus Boy。
Still the audience remained。
〃Well； why don't you go？〃
〃What about the kid up there near the top of the house？〃 questioned a
voice in the audience。
〃That's so。 I had forgotten all about him；〃 admitted the owner of the
show。
〃Oh； never mind me。 I'm only a human being；〃 jeered Tucker； from
his perch far up near the top of the tent。 This brought a roar of laughter
from everybody。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃We shall have to try to cast a rope up to him。〃
〃You can't do it；〃 answered Phil firmly。 Nevertheless the effort was
made； Teddy watching the attempts with lazy interest。
〃No； we shan't be able to reach him that way；〃 agreed Mr。 Sparling
finally。
〃Hey down there；〃 called Teddy。
〃Well； what is it？ Got something to suggest？〃
〃Maybemaybe if you'd throw some peanuts and candy in my cage I
might come down。〃
This brought a howl of laughter。
〃I don't see how we are going to make it；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； shaking
his head hopelessly。
〃I'll tell you how we can do it；〃 said Phil。
〃Yes； I was waiting for you to make a suggestion。 I thought it funny
if you didn't have some plan in that young head of yours。 What is it？〃
〃What's the matter with the balloon？〃
〃The balloon？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Hurrah！ That's the very thing。〃
The balloon was a new act in the Sparling show that season。 A huge
balloon had been rigged； but in place of the usual basket； was a broad
platform。 Onto this； as the closing act of the show； a woman rode a horse；
then the balloon was allowed to rise slowly to the very dome of the big
tent； carrying the rider and horse with it。
The act was a decided novelty； and was almost as great a hit as had
been the somersaulting automobile of a season before。
The balloon stood swaying easily at its anchorage。
〃Give a hand here； men。 Let the bag up and the boy can get on the
platform； after which you can pull him down。〃
〃That won't do；〃 spoke up Phil。 〃He can't reach the platform。
Someone will have to go up and toss him a rope。 He can make the rope
fast and slide down it。〃
〃I guess you are right； at that。 Who will go up？〃
〃I will；〃 answered the Circus Boy。 〃Give me that coil of rope。〃
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Taking his place on the platform the lad rose slowly toward the top of
the tent as the men paid out the anchor rope。
〃Halt！〃 shouted Phil when he found himself directly opposite his
companion。
〃Think you can catch it； Teddy？〃
〃Yep。〃
〃Well； here goes。〃
The rope shot over Teddy's head； landing in his outstretched arm。
〃Be sure you make it good and fast before you try to shin down it；〃
warned Phil。
〃I'll take care of that。 Don't you worry。 You might toss me a peanut
while I'm getting ready。 I'll go in my cage quicker。〃
Phil laughingly threw a handful toward his companion； three or four of
which Teddy caught； some in his mouth and some in his free hand； to the
great amusement of the spectators。
〃They ought to pay an admission for that；〃 grinned Phil。
〃For what？〃
〃For seeing the animals perform。 You are the funniest animal in the
show at the present minute。〃
〃Well； I like that！ How about yourself？〃 peered Teddy with well…
feigned indignation。
〃I guess I must be next as an attraction；〃 laughed the boy。
〃I guess； yes。〃
〃Haul away；〃 called Phil to the men below him； and they started to pull
the balloon down toward the ground again。
〃Get a net under Tucker there；〃 directed Mr。 Sparling。
〃I'm not going to dive。 What do you think？〃 retorted Teddy。
〃There is no telling what you may or may not do；〃 answered the
showman。 〃It is the unexpected that always happens with you。〃
Phil nodded his approval of the statement。
In the meantime Teddy had made fast the end of the rope to the aerial
bar； and grasping the rope firmly in his hands； began letting himself down
hand under hand。
〃Better twist your legs about the rope；〃 called Phil。
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〃No。 It isn't neces〃
Just then Teddy uttered a howl。 The rope； which he had not properly
secured； suddenly slipped from the bar overhead。
Teddy dropped like a shot。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XIX
THE CIRCUS ON AN ISLAND
Teddy landed in the net with a smack that made the spectators gasp。
〃Are you hurt；〃 cried Mr。 Sparling； running forward。
Teddy got up； rubbing his shins gingerly； working his head from side
to side to make sure that his neck was properly in place。
〃N…n…no； I guess not。 I'll bet that net got a clump that it won't forget
in a hurry； though。 Folks； the show is all over。 You may go home now；〃
added Teddy； turning to the audience and waving his hand to them。
The seats began to rattle as the people； realizing that there was nothing
more to be seen； finally decided to start for home。
〃It is lucky； young man； that I had that net under you；〃 announced Mr。
Sparling。
〃Lucky for me； but a sad blow to the net；〃 answered Teddy
humorously； whereat Mr。 Sparling shook his head hopelessly。
The tent was beginning to darken and the showman glanced up
apprehensively。
〃What's the outlook？〃 he asked as Mr。 Kennedy passed。
〃Just a shower； I guess。〃
The owner strode to the side wall and peered out under the tent； then
crawled out for a survey of the skies。
〃We are in for a lively storm；〃 he declared。 〃It may not break until
late tonight； and I hardly think it will before then。 Please tell the director to
cut short all the acts tonight。 I want every stick and stitch off the lot no
later than eleven o'clock tonight。〃
〃Shall we cut out the Grand Entry？〃
〃Yes； by all means。 If possible I should like to make the next town
before the storm breaks； as it's liable to be a long； wet one。〃
〃I don't care。 I've got a rubber coat and a pair of rubber boots with a
hole in one of them；〃 spoke up Teddy。
〃And； Teddy Tucker；〃 added the owner； turning to the Circus Boy。 〃If
you mix things up tonight； and delay us a minute anywhere； I'll fire you。
Understand？〃
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Teddy shook his head。
〃You don't？ Well； I'll see if I can make it plainer then。〃
〃Why； Mr。 Sparling； you wouldn't discharge me； now； would you？
Don't you know this show couldn't get along without me？〃
The showman gazed sternly at Teddy for a moment； then his face
broke out in a broad smile。
〃I guess you're right at that； my boy。〃
The cook tent came down without delay that afternoon； and on account
of the darkness the gasoline lamps had to be lighted a full two hours
earlier than usual。
The show at the evening performance was pushed forward with a rush；
while many anxious eyes were upon the skies； for it was believed that the
heaviest rainstorm in years was about to fall。
By dint of much hard work； together with a great deal of shouting and
racket； the tents were off the field by the time indicated by Mr。 Sparling；
and loaded。 A quick start was made。 Long before morning the little
border town of Tarbert； their next stand； was reached。
Mr。 Sparling had all hands out at once。
〃Get to the lot and pitch your tents。 Everything has got to be up
before daylight；〃 he ordered。 〃You'll have something to eat just as soon
as you get the cook tent in place。〃
That was inducement enough to make the men work with a will； and
they did。 The menagerie and circus tents had been laced together； lying
flat on the ground； when the storm broke。
〃That will keep the lot dry； but hustle it！ Get the canvas up before it
is so soaked you can't raise it；〃 commanded the owner。
By daylight the tents were in place； though men had to be stationed
constantly at the guy ropes to loosen them as they strained tight from the
moisture they absorbed。
The rain seemed to be coming down in sheets。 Fortunately the lot
chosen for pitching the tents
