the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第1部分
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
The Circus Boys on the
Flying Rings
Edgar B。P。 Darlington
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
CHAPTER I
THE LURE OF THE CIRCUS
〃I say； Phil； I can do that。〃 〃Do what； Teddy？〃 〃A cartwheel in the air
like that fellow is doing in the picture on the billboard there。〃 〃Oh； pshaw！
You only think you can。 Besides； that's not a cartwheel； that's a double
somersault。 It's a real stunt； let me tell you。 Why； I can do a cartwheel
myself。 But up in the air like thatwell； I don't know。 I guess not。 I'd
be willing to try it； though； if I had something below to catch me；〃 added
the lad； critically surveying the figures on the poster before them。 〃How'd
you like to be a circus man； Phil？〃 Phil's dark eyes glowed with a new
light； his slender figure straightening until the lad appeared fully half a
head taller。 〃More than anything else in the world；〃 he breathed。 〃Would
you？〃 〃Going to be；〃 nodded Teddy decisively； as if the matter were
already settled。 〃Oh； you are； eh？〃 〃Uh…huh！〃 〃When？〃 〃I don't know。
Somedaysomeday when I get old enough； maybe。〃 Phil Forrest surveyed
his companion with a half critical smile on his face。 〃What are you going
to dobe a trapeze performer or what？〃 〃Well；〃 reflected the lad wisely；
〃maybe I shall be an 'Or What。' I'm not sure。 Sometimes I think I should
like to be the fellow who cracks the whip with the long lash and makes the
clowns hop around on one foot〃 〃You mean the ringmaster？〃 〃I guess
that's the fellow。 He makes 'em all get around lively。 Then； sometimes； I
think I would rather be a clown。 I can skin a cat on the flying rings to
beat the band； now。 What would you rather be； Phil？〃 〃Me？ Oh；
something up in the airhigh up near the peak of the tentsomething
thrilling that would make the people sit up on the board seats and gasp；
when； all dressed in pink and spangles； I'd go flying through the air〃
〃Just like a bird？〃 questioned Teddy； with a rising inflection in his voice。
〃Yes。 That's what I'd like most to do； Teddy；〃 concluded the lad； his face
flushed with the thought of the triumphs that might be his。 Teddy Tucker
uttered a soft； long…drawn whistle。 〃My； you've got it bad； haven't you？
Never thought you were that set on the circus。 Wouldn't it be fine； now；
if we both could get with a show？〃 〃Great！〃 agreed Phil； with an emphatic
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
nod。 〃Sometimes I think my uncle would be glad to have me go away
that he wouldn't care whether I joined a circus； or what became of me。〃
〃Ain't had much fun since your ma died； have you； Phil？〃 questioned
Teddy sympathetically。 〃Not much；〃 answered the lad； a thin； gray mist
clouding his eyes。 〃No； not much。 But； then； I'm not complaining。〃
〃Your uncle's a mean old〃 〃There； there； Teddy； please don't say it。 He
may be all you think he is； but for all the mean things he's said and done to
me； I've never given him an impudent word； Teddy。 Can you guess
why？〃 〃Cause he's your uncle； maybe；〃 grumbled Teddy。 〃No； 'cause he's
my mother's brotherthat's why。〃 〃I don't know。 Maybe I'd feel that way
if I'd had a mother。〃 〃But you did。〃 〃Nobody ever introduced us； if I did。
Guess she didn't know me。 But if your uncle was my uncle do you know
what I'd do with him； Phil Forrest？〃 〃Don't let's talk about him。 Let's talk
about the circus。 It's more fun；〃 interrupted Phil； turning to the billboard
again and gazing at it with great interest。 They were standing before the
glowing posters of the Great Sparling Combined Shows； that was to visit
Edmeston on the following Thursday。 Phillip Forrest and Teddy Tucker
were fast friends； though they were as different in appearance and
temperament as two boys well could be。 Phil was just past sixteen； while
Teddy was a little less than a year younger。 Phil's figure was slight and
graceful； while that of his companion was short and chubby。 Both lads
were orphans。 Phil's parents had been dead for something more than five
years。 Since their death he had been living with a penurious old uncle
who led a hermit…like existence in a shack on the outskirts of Edmeston。
But the lad could remember when it had been otherwisewhen he had
lived in his own home； surrounded by luxury and refinement； until evil
days came upon them without warning。 His father's property had been
swept away； almost in a night。 A year later both of his parents had died；
leaving him to face the world alone。 The boy's uncle had taken him in
begrudgingly； and Phil's life from that moment on had been one of self…
denial and hard work。 Yet he was thankful for one thingthankful that his
miserly old uncle had permitted him to continue at school。 Standing high
in his class meant something in Phil's case； for the boy was obliged to
work at whatever he could find to do after school hours； his uncle
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
compelling him to contribute something to the household expenses every
week。 His duties done； Phil was obliged to study far into the night； under
the flickering light of a tallow candle； because oil cost too much。
Sometimes his candle burned far past the midnight hour； while he applied
himself to his books that he might be prepared for the next day's classes。
Hard lines for a boy？ Yes。 But Phil Forrest was not the lad to complain。
He went about his studies the same as he approached any other task that
was set for him to dowent about it with a grim； silent determination to
conquer it。 And he always did。 As for Teddychristened Theodore； but
so long ago that he had forgotten that that was his namehe studied； not
because he possessed a burning desire for knowledge； but as a matter of
course； and much in the same spirit he did the chores for the people with
whom he lived。 Teddy was quite young when his parents died leaving him
without a relative in the world。 A poor； but kind…hearted family in
Edmeston had taken the lad in rather than see him become a public charge。
With them he had lived and been cared for ever since。 Of late years；
however； he had been able to do considerable toward lightening the
burden for them by the money he managed to earn here and there。 The two
boys were on their way home from school。 There remained but one more
day before the close of the term； which was a matter of sincere regret to
Phil and of keen satisfaction to his companion。 Just now both were too full
of the subject of the coming show to think of much else。 〃Going to the
show； Phil？〃 〃I am afraid not。〃 〃Why not？〃 〃I haven't any money； that's
the principal reason；〃 smiled the boy。 〃Are you？〃 〃Sure。 Don't need
any money to go to a circus。〃 〃You don't？〃 〃No。〃 〃How do you manage
it？〃 〃Crawl in under the tent when the man ain't looking；〃 answered Teddy
promptly。 〃I wouldn't want to do that；〃 decided the older lad； with a shake
of the head。 〃It wouldn't be quite honest。 Do you think so？〃 Teddy
Tucker shrugged his shoulders indifferently。 〃Never thought about it。
Don't let myself think about it。 Isn't safe； for I might not go to the show if I
did。 What's your other reason？〃 〃For not going to the circus？〃 〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I don't think Uncle would let me； that's a fact。〃 〃Why not？〃 〃Says
circuses and all that sort of thing are evil influences。〃 〃Oh； pshaw！ Wish
he was my uncle；〃 decided Teddy belligerently。 〃How long are you going
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to stand for being mauled around like a little yellow dog？〃 〃I'll stand most
anything for the sake of getting an education。 When I get that then I'm
going to strike out for myself； and do something in the world。 You'll hear
from me yet； Teddy Tucker； and maybe I'll hear from you； too。〃 〃See me；
you meansee me doing stunts on a high something…or… other in a circus。
Watch me turn a somersault。〃 The lad stood poised on the edge of the ditch；
on the other side of which the billboard stood。 This gave him the
advantage of an elevated position from which to attempt his feat。 〃Look
out that you don't break your neck；〃 warned Phil。 〃I'd try it on a haymow；
or something like that； first。〃 〃Don't you worry about me。 See how easy
that fellow in the picture is doing it。 Here goes！〃 Teddy launched himself
into the air； with a very good imitation of a diver making a plunge in
