the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第23部分
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those on the hayrack by climbing to the back of one of the horses drawing
the clowns' wagon； where he sat with a doll's parasol over his head and a
doll in his arms singing a lullaby。 The people who were massed along the
sidewalks of the main street did not appear to mind the rain at all。 They
were too much interested in the free show being given for their benefit。
The show people ate dinner with their feet in the mud that day； the cook
tent having been pitched on a barren strip of ground。 〃This is where the
Armless Wonder has the best of us today；〃 nodded Teddy； with his usual
keen eye for humor。 〃How is that？〃 questioned Mr。 Miaco。 〃 'Cause he
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don't have to put his feet in the mud like the rest of us do。 He keeps them
on the table。 I wish I could put my feet on the table。〃 Everybody within
hearing laughed heartily。 In the tents there was little to remind one of the
dismal weather； save for the roar of the falling rain on the canvas overhead。
Straw had been piled all about on the ground inside the two large tents；
and only here and there were there any muddy spots； though the odor of
fresh wet grass was everywhere。 The afternoon performance went off
without a hitch； though the performers were somewhat more slow than
usual； owing to the uncertainty of the footing for man and beast。 Phil
Forrest's exhibition was even more successful than it had been in the last
show town。 He was obliged to run back to the ring and show himself
after having been carried from the tent by Emperor。 This time； however；
his stage fright had entirely left him； never to return。 He was now a
seasoned showman； after something less than three days under canvas。
The afternoon show being finished； and supper out of the way； Phil and
Teddy returned to the big top to practice on the flying rings； which they
had obtained permission to use。 Mr。 Miaco； himself an all around acrobat；
was on hand to watch their work and to offer suggestions。 He had taken
a keen interest in Phil Forrest； seeing in the lad the making of a high…class
circus performer。 The rings were let down to within about ten feet of the
sawdust ring； and one at a time the two lads were hoisted by the clown
until their fingers grasped the iron rings。 With several violent movements
of their bodies they curled their feet up； slipping them through the rings；
first having grasped the ropes above the rings。 〃That was well done。
Quite professional；〃 nodded the clown。 〃Take hold of this rope and I will
swing you。 If it makes you dizzy； tell me。〃 〃Don't worry； it won't；〃
laughed Phil。 〃Give me a shove； too；〃 urged Teddy。 〃In a minute。〃 Mr。
Miaco began swinging Phil backwards and forwards； his speed ever
increasing； and as he went higher and higher； Phil let himself down；
fastening his hands on the rings that he might assist in the swinging。 〃Now；
see if you can get back in the rings with your legs。〃 〃That's easy；〃
answered Phil； his breath coming sharp and fast； for he never had taken
such a long sweep in the rings before。 The feat was not quite so easy as he
had imagined。 Phil made three attempts before succeeding。 But he
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mastered it and came up smiling。 〃Good；〃 cried the clown； clapping his
hands approvingly。 〃Give me another swing。 I want to try something
else。〃 Having gained sufficient momentum； the lad； after reaching the
point where the rings would start on their backward flight； permitted his
legs to slip through the rings； catching them with his feet。 He swept back；
head and arms hanging down； as skillfully as if he had been doing that
very thing right along。 〃You'll do；〃 emphasized the clown。 〃You will
need to put a little more finish in your work。 I'll give you a lesson in that
next time。〃 Teddy； not to be outdone； went through the same exhibition；
though not quite with the same speed that Phil had shown。 It being the
hour when the performers always gathered in the big top to practice and
play； many of them stood about watching the boys work。 They nodded
their heads approvingly when Phil finished and swung himself to the
ground。 Teddy； on his part； overrated his ability when it came to hanging
by his feet。 〃Look out！〃 warned half a dozen performers at once。 He had
not turned his left foot into the position where it would catch and hold in
the ring。 Their trained eyes had noted this omission instantly。 The foot；
of course； failed to catch； and Teddy uttered a howl when he found himself
falling。 His fall； however； was checked by a sharp jolt。 The right foot
had caught properly。 As he swept past the laughing performers he was
dangling in the air like a huge spider； both hands and one foot clawing the
air in a desperate manner。 There was nothing they could do to liberate him
from his uncomfortable position until the momentum of his swing had
lessened sufficiently to enable them to catch him。 〃Hold your right
steady！〃 cautioned Miaco。 〃If you twist it you'll take a beauty tumble。〃
Teddy hadn't thought of that before。 Had Miaco known the lad better he
would not have made the mistake of giving that advice。 Teddy promptly
turned his foot。 He shot from the flying rings as if he had been fired from a
cannon。 Phil tried to catch him； but stumbled and fell over a rope； while
Teddy shot over his head； landing on and diving head first into a pile of
straw that had just been brought in to bed down the tent for the evening
performance。 Nothing of Teddy save his feet was visible。 They hauled him
out by those selfsame feet； and； after disentangling him from the straws
that clung to him； were relieved to find that he had not been hurt in the
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least。 〃I guess we shall have to put a net under you。 Lucky for you that
that pile of straw happened to get in your way。 Do you know what would
have happened to you had it not been？〃 demanded Mr。 Miaco。 〃II guess
I'd have made a hit；〃 decided Teddy wisely。 〃I guess there is no doubt
about that。〃 The performers roared。 〃I'm going to try it again。〃 〃No； you've
done enough for one day。 You won't be able to hold up the coffeepot
tomorrow morning if you do much more。〃 〃Do you think we will be able
to accomplish anything on the flying rings； Mr。 Miaco？〃 asked Phil after
they had returned to the dressing tent。 〃There is no doubt of it。 Were I in
your place I should take an hour's work on them every day。 Besides
building you up generally； it will make you surer and better able to handle
yourself。 Then； again； you never know what minute you may be able to
increase your income。 People in this business often profit by others'
misfortunes；〃 added the clown significantly。 〃I would prefer not to profit
that way；〃 answered Phil。 〃You would rather do it by your own efforts？〃
〃Yes。〃 〃It all amounts to the same thing。 You are liable to be put out any
minute yourself； then somebody else will get your job； if you are a
performer of importance to the show。〃 〃You mean if my act is？〃 〃That's
what I mean。〃 The old clown and the enthusiastic young showman talked
in the dressing tent until it was time for each to begin making up for the
evening performance。 The dressing tent was the real home of the
performers。 They knew no other。 It was there that they unpacked their
trunksthere that during their brief stay they pinned up against the canvas
walls the pictures of their loved ones； many of whom were far across the
sea。 A bit of ribbon here； a faded flower drawn from the recess of a trunk
full of silk and spangles； told of the tender hearts that were beating
beneath those iron…muscled breasts； and that they were as much human
beings as their brothers in other walks of life。 Much of this Phil
understood in a vague way as he watched them from day to day。 He was
beginning to like these big…hearted； big…muscled fellows； though there
were those among them who were not desirable as friends。 〃I guess it's just
the same as it is at home；〃 decided Phil。 〃Some of the folks are worthwhile；
and others are not。〃 He had summed it up。 Sometime before the evening
performance was due to begin Phil was made up and ready for his act。
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As his exhibition came on at the very beginning he had to be ready early。
Then； again； he was obliged to walk all the way to the menagerie tent to
reach his elephant。 Throwing a robe over his sho
