the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第3部分
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voice。 〃Now。〃 〃Very well； I'll go。 But what do you think my mother
would say； could she know this？〃 〃That will do； young man。 Do your
chores； and then〃 〃I am not working for you now； Uncle； you know； so I
shall have to refuse to do the chores。 There is fifty cents due me from Mr。
Churchill for fixing his chicken coop。 You may get that； I don't want it。〃
Phil turned away once more； and with head erect entered the house； going
straight to his room； leaving Abner Adams fuming and stamping about in
the front yard。 The old man's rage knew no bounds。 He was so beside
himself with anger over the fancied impudence of his nephew that； had the
boy been present； he might have so far forgotten himself as to have used
his cane on Phil。 But Phil by this time had entered his own room； locking
the door behind him。 The lad threw his books down on the bed； dropped
into a chair and sat palefaced； tearless and silent。 Slowly his eyes rose to
the old…fashioned bureau； where his comb and brush lay。 The eyes halted
when at length they rested on the picture of his mother。 The lad rose as if
drawn by invisible hands； reached out and clasped the photograph to him。
Then the pent…up tears welled up in a flood。 With the picture pressed to
his burning cheek Phil Forrest threw himself on his bed and sobbed out his
bitter grief。 He did not hear the thump of Abner Adams' cane on the
bedroom door； nor the angry demands that he open it。 〃Mother； Mother！〃
breathed the unhappy boy； as his sobs gradually merged into long…drawn；
trembling sighs。 Perhaps his appeal was not unheard。 At least Phil
Forrest sprang from his bed； holding the picture away from him with both
hands and gazing into the eyes of his mother。 Slowly his shoulders drew
back and his head came up； while an expression of strong determination
flashed into his own eyes。 〃I'll do itI'll be a man； Mother！〃 he exclaimed
in a voice in which there was not the slightest tremor now。 〃I'll fight the
battle and I'll win。〃 Phil Forest had come to the parting of the ways； which
he faced with a courage unusual in one of his years。 There was little to
be done。 He packed his few belongings in a bag that had been his
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mother's。 The lad possessed one suit besides the one he wore； and this he
stowed away as best he could； determining to press it out when he had
located himself。 Finally his task was finished。 He stood in the middle of
the floor glancing around the little room that had been his home for so
long。 But he felt no regrets。 He was only making sure that he had not
left anything behind。 Having satisfied himself on this point； Phil
gathered up his bundle of books； placed the picture of his mother in his
inside coat pocket； then threw open the door。 The lad's uncle had stamped
to the floor below； where he was awaiting Phil's coming。 〃Good…bye；
Uncle；〃 he said quietly； extending a hand。 〃Let me see that bag；〃 snapped
the old man。 〃The bag is mineit belonged to my mother；〃 explained the
boy。 〃Surely you don't object to my taking it with me？〃 〃You're welcome
to it； and good riddance； but I'm going to find out what's inside of it。〃 〃You
surely don't think I would take anything that doesn't belong to meyou
can't mean that？〃 〃Ain't saying what I mean。 Hand over that bag。〃 With
burning cheeks； Phil did as he was bid； his unwavering eyes fixed almost
sternly on the wrathful face of Abner Adams。 〃Huh！〃 growled the old man；
tumbling the contents out on the floor； shaking Phil's clothes to make sure
that nothing was concealed in them。 Apparently satisfied； the old man
threw the bag on the floor with an exclamation of disgust。 Phil once
more gathered up his belongings and stowed them away in the satchel。
〃Turn out your pockets！〃 〃There is nothing in them； Uncle； save some
trinkets of my own and my mother's picture。〃 〃Turn them out！〃 thundered
the old man。 〃Uncle； I have always obeyed you。 Obedience was one of
the things that my mother taught me； but I'm sure that were she here she
would tell me I was right in refusing to humiliate myself as you would
have me do。 There is nothing in my pockets that does not belong to me。
I am not a thief。〃 〃Then I'll turn them out myself！〃 snarled Abner Adams；
starting forward。 Phil stepped back a pace； satchel in hand。 〃Uncle； I am a
man now；〃 said the boy； straightening to his full height。 〃Please don't
force me to do something that I should be sorry for all the rest of my life。
Will you shake hands with me？〃 〃No！〃 thundered Abner Adams。 〃Get
out of my sight before I lay the stick over your head！〃 Phil stretched out an
appealing hand； then hastily withdrew it。 〃Good…bye； Uncle Abner；〃 he
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breathed。 Without giving his uncle a chance to reply； the lad turned；
opened the door and ran down the steps。
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
CHAPTER III
MAKING HIS START IN THE WORLD
The sun was just setting as Phil Forrest strode out of the yard。 Once
outside of the gate he paused； glancing irresolutely up and down the street。
Which way to turn or where to go he did not know。 He had not thought
before of what he should do。 Phil heard the clatter of Abner Adams' stick
as the old man thumped about in the kitchen。 Suddenly the door was
jerked open with unusual violence。 〃Begone！〃 bellowed Mr。 Adams；
brandishing his cane threateningly。 Phil turned down the street； without
casting so much as a glance in the direction of his wrathful uncle； and
continued on toward the open country。 To anyone who had observed him
there was nothing of uncertainty in the lad's walk as he swung along。 As a
matter of fact； Phil had not the slightest idea where he was going。 He
knew only that he wanted to get away by himself。 On the outskirts of the
village men had been at work that day； cutting and piling up hay。 The
field was dotted with heaps of the fragrant； freshly garnered stuff。 Phil
hesitated； glanced across the field； and； noting that the men had all gone
home for the day； climbed the fence。 He walked on through the field
until he had reached the opposite side of it。 Then the lad placed his bag on
the ground and sat down on a pile of hay。 With head in hands； he tried to
think； to plan； but somehow his mind seemed unable to perform its proper
functions。 It simply would not work。 〃Not much of a start in the world；
this；〃 grinned Phil； shifting his position so as to command a better view of
the world； for he did not want anyone to see him。 〃I suppose Uncle
Abner is getting supper now。 But where am I going to get mine？ I
hadn't thought of that before。 It looks very much as if I should have to go
without。 But I don't care。 Perhaps it will do me good to miss a meal；〃
decided the boy sarcastically。 〃I've been eating too much lately；
anyhow。〃 Twilight came； then the shadows of night slowly settled over the
landscape； while the lad lay stretched out on the sweet…smelling hay； hands
supporting his head； gazing up into the starlit sky。 Slowly his heavy
eyelids fluttered and closed； and Phil was asleep。 The night was warm and
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he experienced no discomfort。 He was a strong； healthy boy； so that
sleeping out of doors was no hardship to him。 All through the night he
slept as soundly as if he had been in his own bed at home。 Nor did he
awaken until the bright sunlight of the morning finally burned his eyelids
apart。 Phil started up rubbing his eyes。 At first he wondered where he was。
But the sight of his bag lying a little to one side brought back with a rush
the memory of what had happened to him the evening before。 〃Why； it's
morning；〃 marveled the lad； blinking in the strong sunlight。 〃And I've slept
on this pile of hay all night。 It's the first time I ever slept out of doors；
and I never slept better in my life。 Guess I'll fix myself up a little。〃 Phil
remembered that a little trout stream cut across the field off to the right。
Taking up his bag； he started for the stream； where he made his toilet as
best he could； finishing up by lying flat on his stomach； taking a long；
satisfying drink of the sparkling water。 〃Ah； that feels better；〃 he breathed；
rolling over on the bank。 After a little he helped himself to another drink。
〃But I've got to do something。 I can't stay out here in this field all the
rest of my life。 And if I don't find someth
