the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第21部分
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had not the least idea； of course。 〃Up； Emperor！〃 commanded Mr。
Kennedy in a quiet voice。 〃All ready； Phil。〃 The elephant reared slowly on
its hind legs； going higher and higher； as it did in its regular performance。
As he went up； the bonnet on Emperor's head was seen to take on sudden
life。 The old calico gown fell away from the huge beast at the same time；
leaving him clothed in a brilliant blanket of white and gold。 But a long
drawn 〃a…h…h…h；〃 rippled over the packed seats as the old elephant's bonnet
suddenly collapsed。 Out of the ruins rose a slender； supple figure； topping
the pyramid of elephant flesh in a graceful poise。 The figure； clad in red
silk tights； appeared to be that of a beautiful girl。 The audience broke out
into a thunder of approval； their feet drumming on the board seats
sounding not unlike the rattle of musketry。 The girl's hand was passed
around to the back of her waist； where it lingered for an instant； then both
hands were thrown forward just as a diver does before taking the plunge。
〃Ready？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Fly！〃 The young girl floated out and off from the
elephant's back； landing gently on her feet just outside the sawdust ring。
Emperor； at this juncture； threw himself forward on his forelegs； stretched
out his trunk； encircling the performer's waist and lifting her clear off the
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ground。 At that moment the supposed young woman stripped her blonde
wig from her head； revealing the fact that the supposed girl was no girl at
all。 It was a boy； and that boy was Phil Forrest。 Emperor； holding his
young friend at full length ahead of him； started rapidly for his quarters；
Phil lying half on his side； appearing to be floating on the air； save for the
black trunk that held him securely in its grip。 At this the audience fairly
howled in its surprise and delight； but Phil never varied his pose by a hair's
breadth until Emperor finally set him down； flushed and triumphant； in the
menagerie tent。 At that moment Phil became conscious of a figure running
toward him。 He discovered at once that it was Mr。 Sparling。 Grasping both
the lad's hands； the showman wrung them until it seemed to Phil as if his
arms would be wrenched from their sockets。 〃Great； great； great！〃 cried
the owner of the show。 〃Did you like it？〃 questioned the blushing Phil。
〃Like it？ Like it？ Boy； it's the greatest act I ever saw。 It's a winner。
Come back with me。〃 〃What； into the ring？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃But what shall I do？〃
〃You don't have to do anything。 You've done it already。 Show yourself；
that's all。 Hurry！ Don't you hear them howling like a band of
Comanche Indians？〃 〃Y…yes。〃 〃They want you。〃 By this time Mr。 Sparling
was fairly dragging Phil along with him。 As they entered the big top the
cheering broke out afresh。 Phil was more disturbed than ever before in his
life。 It seemed as though his legs would collapse under him。 〃Buck up！
Buck up！〃 snapped the showman。 〃You are not going to get an attack of
stage fright at this late hour； are you？〃 That was exactly what was the
matter with Phil Forrest。 He was nearly scared out of his wits； but he did
not realize the nature of his affliction。 〃Bow and kiss your hand to them；〃
admonished the showman。 Phil did so； but his face refused to smile。 He
couldn't have smiled at that moment to save his life。 All at once he
wrenched himself loose from Mr。 Sparling's grip； and ran full speed for the
dressing tent。 He had not gone more than a dozen feet before he tripped
over a rope； landing on head and shoulders。 But Phil was up like a
rubber man and off again as if every animal in the menagerie was pursuing
him。 The spectators catching the meaning of his flight； stood up in their
seats and howled lustily。 Phil Forrest had made a hit that comes to few
men in the sawdust arena。
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
CHAPTER XV
A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE
〃That was a knockout； kid；〃 nodded Mr。 Miaco； with emphasis。 〃I'm
laughing on the inside of me yet。 I don't dare let my face laugh； for fear
the wrinkles will break through my makeup。〃 〃Thank you；〃 smiled Phil；
tugging at his silk tights； that fitted so closely as to cause him considerable
trouble in stripping them off。 〃You'll have the whole show jealous of you
if you don't watch out。 But don't get a swelled head〃 〃Not unless I fall
off and bump it；〃 laughed Phil。 〃Where do I wash？〃 〃You always want to
get a pail of water before you undress。〃 〃Say； Phil； did you really fly？〃
queried Teddy； who was standing by eyeing his companion admiringly。
〃Sure。 Didn't you see me？〃 〃I did and I didn't。 Will you show me how
to fly like that？〃 〃 'Course I will。 You come in under the big top
tomorrow after the show and I'll give you a lesson。〃 Teddy had not
happened to observe the simple mechanical arrangement that had
permitted the young circus performer to carry out his flying act。 〃I reckon
you ought to get a dollar a day for that stunt；〃 decided Teddy。 〃Yes； I think
so myself；〃 grinned Phil。 Teddy now turned his attention to Mr。 Miaco；
who； made up for his clown act in the ring； presented a most grotesque
appearance。 〃How do I look？〃 asked the clown； noting the lad's observant
gaze。 〃You look as if you'd stuck your head in a flour barrel；〃 grunted
Teddy。 〃Ho ho；〃 laughed the clown。 〃I'll have to try that on the audience。
That's a good joke。 To look at you； one wouldn't think it of you； either。〃
〃Oh； that's nothing。 I can say funnier things than that when I want to。
Why〃 But their conversation was cut short by the band striking up the
tune to which Mr。 Miaco always entered the ring。 〃Listen to me； kid。
You'll hear them laugh when I tell 'em the story；〃 he called back。 And
they did。 The audience roared when the funny man told them what his
young friend had said。 His work for the day having been finished； Phil
bethought himself of his trunk； which had not yet been packed。 His
costume was suspended from a line in the dressing tent where many other
costumes were hanging to air and dry after the strenuous labors of their
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owners。 Phil took his slender belongings down； shook them out well and
laid them in the trunk that Mrs。 Waite had given him。 It was too late for
Phil to get his bag from the baggage wagon； so with a grin he locked his
tights and his wig in the trunk。 〃Guess they won't break their backs lifting
that outfit；〃 he mused。 Phil then strolled in to watch the show。 He found
many new points of interest and much that was instructive； as he studied
each act attentively and with the keenness of one who had been in the
show business all his life。 〃Someday I'll have a show like this myself；〃
nodded the boy。 He did not know that he expressed his thoughts aloud
until he noticed that the people sitting nearest to him were regarding him
with amused smiles。 Phil quickly repressed his audible comments。 The
show was soon over； then came the noise and the confusion of the
breaking up。 The illusion was gonethe glamor was a thing of the past。
The lad strolled about slowly in search of his companion； whom he
eventually found in the dressing tent。 〃Teddy； isn't it about time you and I
went to bed？〃 he asked。 〃Oh； I don't know。 Circus people sleep when
there isn't anything else to do。 Where we going to sleep？〃 〃Same place； I
presume； if no one gets ahead of us。〃 〃They'd better not。 I'll throw them
out if they do。〃 Phil laughed good…naturedly。 〃If I remember correctly；
somebody was thrown out last night and this morning； but it didn't happen
to be the other fellow。 I'm hungry； wish I had something to eat。〃 〃So am
I；〃 agreed Teddy。 〃You boys should get a sandwich or so and keep the stuff
in your trunk while we are playing these country towns。 When we get
into the cities； where they have restaurants； you can get a lunch downtown
after you have finished your act and then be back in time to go out with
the wagons；〃 Mr。 Miaco informed them。 〃You'll pick up these little tricks
as we go along； and it won't be long before you are full…fledged showmen。
You are pretty near that point already。〃 The lads strolled out on the lot and
began hunting for their wagon。 They found nothing that looked like it for
sometime and had about concluded that the canvas wagon had gone； when
they chanced to come across the driver of the previous night； who directed
them to where they would find it。 〃The wagon isn't loa
