the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第24部分
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Then； again； he was obliged to walk all the way to the menagerie tent to
reach his elephant。 Throwing a robe over his shoulders and pulling his hat
well down over his eyes； the lad pushed the silken curtains aside and
began working his way toward the front； beating against the human tide
that had set in against him； wet； dripping； but good natured。 〃Going to
have a wet night；〃 observed Teddy； whom he met at the entrance to the
menagerie tent。 〃Looks that way。 But never mind； I'll share my rubber
coat with you。 We can put it over us and sit up to sleep。 That will make a
waterproof tent。 Perhaps we may be able to find a stake or something to
stick up in the middle of the coat。〃 〃But the canvas under us will be
soaked；〃 grumbled Teddy。 〃We'll be wetter than ever。〃 〃We'll gather some
straw and tie it up in a tight bundle to put under us when we get located。
There goes the band。 I must be off； or you'll hear Emperor screaming for
me。〃 〃He's at it now。 Hear him？〃 〃I couldn't well help hearing that roar；〃
laughed Phil； starting off on a run。 The grand entry was made； Phil
crouching low in the bonnet on the big beast's head。 It was an
uncomfortable position； but he did not mind it in the least。 The only
thing that troubled Phil was the fear that the head gear might become
disarranged and spoil the effect of his surprise。 There were many in the
tent who had seen him make his flight at the afternoon performance； and
had returned with their friends almost solely to witness the pretty spectacle
again。 The time had arrived for Emperor to rise for his grand salute to the
audience。 Mr。 Kennedy had given Phil his cue； the lad had braced
himself to straighten up suddenly。 A strap had been attached to the
elephant's head harness for Phil to take hold of to steady himself by when
he first straightened up。 Until his position was erect Emperor could not
grasp the boy's legs with his trunk。 〃Right！〃 came the trainer's command。
The circus boy thrust out his elbows； and the bonnet fell away； as he rose
smiling to face the sea of white； expectant faces before him。 While they
were applauding he fastened the flying wire to the ring in his belt。 The
wire； which was suspended from above； was so small that it was wholly
invisible to the spectators； which heightened the effect of his flight。 So
absorbed were the people in watching the slender figure each time that
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they failed to observe an attendant hauling on a rope near the center pole；
which was the secret of Phil's ability to fly。 Throwing his hands out before
him the little performer dove gracefully out into the air。 There was a slight
jolt。 Instantly he knew that something was wrong。 The audience； too；
instinctively felt that the act was not ending as it should。 Phil was falling。
He was plunging straight toward the ring； head first。 He struck heavily；
crumpling up in a little heap； then straightening out； while half a dozen
attendants ran to the lad； hastily picking him up and hurrying to the
dressing tent with the limp； unconscious form。
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CHAPTER XVII
LEFT BEHIND
〃Is he hurt much？〃 〃Don't know。 Maybe he's broken his neck。〃 This
brief dialogue ensued between two painted clowns hurrying to their
stations。 In the meantime the band struck up a lively air； the clowns
launched into a merry medley of song and jest and in a few moments the
spectators forgot the scene they had just witnessed； in the noise； the dash
and the color。 It would come back to them later like some long…past
dream。 Mr。 Kennedy； with grim； set face； uttered a stern command to
Emperor； who for a brief instant had stood irresolute； as if pondering as to
whether he should turn and plunge for the red silk curtains behind which
his little friend had disappeared in the arms of the attendants。 The trainer's
voice won； and Emperor trumpeting loudly； took his way to his quarters
without further protest。 In the dressing tent another scene was being
enacted。 On two drawn…up trunks； over which had been thrown a couple
of horse blankets； they had laid the slender； red…clad figure of Phil Forrest。
The boy's pale face appeared even more ashen than it really was under the
flickering glare of the gasoline torches。 His head had been propped up
on a saddle； while about him stood a half circle of solemn…faced
performers in various stages of undress and makeup。 〃Is he badly hurt？〃
asked one。 〃Can't say。 Miaco has gone for the doc。 We'll know pretty
soon。 That was a dandy tumble he took。〃 〃How did it happen？〃 〃Wire
broke。 You can't put no faith on a wire with a kink in it。 I nearly got my
light put out； out in St。 Joe； Missouri； by a trick like that。 No more
swinging wire for me。 Guess the kid； if he pulls out of this； will want to
hang on to a rope after this。 He will if he's wise。〃 〃What's this？ What's
this？〃 roared Mr。 Sparling； who； having heard of the accident； came
rushing into the tent。 〃Who's hurt？〃 〃The kid；〃 informed someone。
〃What kid？ Can't you fellows talk？ Oh； it's Forrest； is it？ How did it
happen？〃 One of the performers who had witnessed the accident related
what he had observed。 〃Huh！〃 grunted the showman； stepping up beside
Phil and placing a hand on the boy's heart。 〃Huh！〃 〃He's alive； isn't he； Mr。
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Sparling？〃 〃Yes。 Anybody gone for the doctor？〃 〃Miaco has。〃 〃Wonder
any of you had sense enough to think of that。 I congratulate you。
Somebody will suffer when I find out who was responsible for hanging
that boy's life on a rotten old piece of wire。 I presume it's been kicking
around this outfit for the last seven years。〃 〃Here comes the doc；〃
announced a voice。 There was a tense silence in the dressing tent； broken
only by the patter of the rain drops on the canvas roof； while the show's
surgeon was making his examination。 〃Well； well！ What about it？〃
demanded Mr。 Sparling impatiently。 The surgeon did not answer at once。
His calm； professional demeanor was not to be disturbed by the blustering
but kind… hearted showman； and the showman； knowing this from past
experience； relapsed into silence until such time as the surgeon should
conclude to answer him。 〃Did he fall on his head？〃 he questioned； looking
up； at the same time running his fingers over Phil's dark…brown hair。
〃Looks that way； doesn't it？〃 〃I should say so。〃 〃What's the matter with
him？〃 〃I shall be unable to decide definitely for an hour or so yet； unless
he regains consciousness in the meantime。 It may be a fracture of the
skull or a mere concussion。〃 〃Huh！〃 Mr。 Sparling would have said more；
but for the fact that the calm eyes of the surgeon were fixed upon him in a
level gaze。 〃Any bones broken？〃 〃No； I think not。 How far did he fall？〃
〃Fell from Emperor's head when the bull was up in the air。 He must have
taken all of a twenty…foot dive； I should say。〃 〃Possible？ It's a great
wonder he didn't break his neck。 But he is very well muscled for a boy
of his age。 I don't suppose they have a hospital in this town？〃 〃Of course
not。 They never have anything in these tank towns。 You ought to know
that by this time。〃 〃They have a hotel。 I know for I took dinner there
today。 If you will get a carriage of some sort I think we had better take
him there。〃 〃Leave him； you mean？〃 questioned Mr。 Sparling。 〃Yes； that
will be best。 We can put him in charge of a local physician here。 He
ought to be able to take care of the boy all right。〃 〃Not by a jug full！〃
roared Mr。 James Sparling。 〃We'll do nothing of the sort。〃 〃It will not be
safe to take him with us； Sparling。〃 〃Did I say it would？ Did I？ Of
course； he shan't be moved； nor will he be left to one of these know…
nothing sawbones。 You'll stay here with him yourself； and you'll take
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care of him if you know what's good for you。 I'd rather lose most any
five men in this show than that boy there。〃 The surgeon nodded his
approval of the sentiment。 He； too； had taken quite a fancy to
