the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第30部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
an employee。 〃Dobbsville； Ohio。 We'll be over the line before daybreak。〃
〃Oh。〃 The circus tent was rapidly disappearing now。 〃In another state in
the morning；〃 mused Phil。 One by one the wagons began moving from the
circus lot。 〃Get aboard the sleeping car；〃 called the driver of the wagon
that Phil and Teddy usually slept in； as he drove past。 〃Hey； Phil！〃 called
Teddy； suddenly appearing above the top of the box。 〃Hello； Teddy！〃
〃What are you standing there for？〃 〃Perhaps I'm getting the night air；〃
laughed Phil。 〃Fine； isn't it？〃 〃It might be better。 But get in； get in。
You'll be left。〃 〃Never mind me。 I am not going on your wagon tonight。
You may have the bed all to yourself。 Don't forget to leave your window
open；〃 he jeered。 〃I have it open already。 I'm going to put the screen in
now to keep the mosquitoes out；〃 retorted Teddy； not to be outdone。 〃Has
Mr。 Sparling gone yet do you know？〃 〃No； he and Kennedy are over
yonder where the front door was； talking。〃 〃All right。〃 Teddy's head
disappeared。 No sooner had it done so than Phil Forrest turned and ran
swiftly toward the opposite side of the lot。 He ran in a crouching position；
110
… Page 111…
The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
as if to avoid being seen。 Reaching a fence which separated the road from
the field； he threw himself down in the tall grass there and hid。 〃In Ohio
tomorrow。 I'm going to try it；〃 he muttered。 〃It can't be wrong。 They
had no business； no right to do it；〃 he decided； his voice full of indignation。
He heard the wagons rumbling by him on the hard road； the rattle of
wheels accompanied by the shouts of the drivers as they urged their horses
on。 And there Phil lay hidden until every wagon had departed； headed for
the border； and the circus lot became a barren； deserted and silent field。
111
… Page 112…
The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
CHAPTER XXII
EMPEROR ANSWERS THE SIGNAL
Making sure that everybody had left； Phil Forrest ran swiftly toward
the village。 He knew the way； having been downtown during the day。 A
light twinkled here and there in a house； where the people； no doubt； were
discussing the exciting events of the day。 As Phil drew near the cemetery
he heard voices。 It would not do to be discovered； so the lad climbed the
fence and crept along the edge of the open plot。 He was nearing the
blacksmith shop and it was soon apparent to him that quite a number of
men had gathered in front of the shop itself。 Skulking up to the corner； the
last rod being traversed on all fours； the circus boy flattened himself on the
ground to listen； in an effort to learn if possible what were the plans of the
villagers。 If they had any he did not learn them； for their conversation
was devoted principally to discussing what they had done to the Sparling
show and what they would do further before they had finished with this
business。 Phil did learn； however； that the man who had been hurled
through the store window was not fatally injured； as had been thought at
first。 Someone announced that the doctor had said the man would be
about again in a couple of weeks。 〃I'm glad of that；〃 muttered Phil。 〃I
shouldn't like to think that Emperor had killed anyone。 I wonder how he
likes it in there。〃 Evidently the elephant was not well pleased； for the lad
could hear him stirring restlessly and tugging at his chains。 〃Won't he be
surprised； though？〃 chuckled Phil。 〃I shouldn't be surprised if he made a
lot of noise。 I hope he doesn't； for I don't want to stir the town up。 I
wonder if those fellows are going to stay there all night？〃 The loungers
showed no inclination to move； so there was nothing for the boy to do but
to lie still and wait。 After a little he began to feel chilled； and began
hopping around on hands and feet to start his blood moving。 A little of
this warmed him up considerably。 This time he sat down in the fence
corner。 The night was moonless； but the stars were quite bright； enabling
Phil to make out objects some distance away。 He could see quite plainly
the men gathered in front of the blacksmith shop。 After a wait of what
112
… Page 113…
The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
seemed hours to Phil； one of the watchers stirred himself。 〃Well； fellows；
we might as well go home。 The brute's settled down for the night； I
reckon。〃 〃What time is it？〃 〃Half past two；〃 announced the first speaker。
〃Well； well； I should say it was time to go。 Not going to stay with him；
are you； sheriff？〃 〃Not necessary。 He can't get out。〃 After listening at the
closed door； the one whom Phil judged to be an officer joined his
companions and all walked leisurely down the road。 The lad remained in
the fence corner for sometime； but he stood up after they had gone。 He
did not dare move about much； fearing that Emperor might hear and know
him and raise a great tumult。 Phil waited all of half an hour； then he
climbed the fence and slipped cautiously to the door of the shop。 It was
securely locked。 〃Oh； pshaw！ That's too bad；〃 grumbled the lad。 〃How
am I going to do it？〃 Phil ran his fingers lightly over the fastening； which
consisted of a strong hasp and a padlock。 〃What shall I do？ I dare not try
to break the lock。 I should be committing a crime if I did。 Perhaps I am
already。 No； I'm not； and I shall not。 I'll just speak to Emperor； then
start off on foot after the show。 It was foolish of me to think I could do
anything to help Mr。 Sparling and the elephant out of his trouble。 I ought
to be able to walk to the next stand and get there in time for the last
breakfast call； providing I can find the way。〃 Perhaps Phil's conscience
troubled him a little； though he had done nothing worse than to follow the
dictates of his kind heart in his desire to be of assistance to his employer
and to befriend old Emperor。 Placing his lips close to the door； Phil called
softly。 〃Emperor！〃 he said。 The restless swaying and heavy breathing
within ceased suddenly。 〃Emperor！〃 repeated the lad； at the same time
uttering the low whistle that the big elephant had come to know so well。 A
mighty cough from the interior of the blacksmith shop answered Phil
Forrest's signal。 〃Be quiet； Emperor。 Be quiet！ We are going to get you
out as soon as we can； old fellow！ You just behave yourself now。 Do
you hear？〃 Emperor emitted another loud cough。 〃Good old Emperor。
I've got some peanuts for you； but I don't know how I am going to give
them to you。 Wait a minute。 Perhaps there is a window somewhere that
I can toss them through。〃 Phil； after looking around； found a window with
the small panes of glass missing。 The window was so high that he could
113
… Page 114…
The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
not reach it； so he stood on the ground and tossed the peanuts in； while the
big elephant demonstrated the satisfaction he felt； in a series of sharp
intakes of breath。 〃Now I'm going；〃 announced Phil。 〃Goodbye；
Emperor。 Here's a lump of sugar。 That's all I have for you。〃 Phil turned
away sorrowfully。 His purpose had failed。 Not because he doubted his
ability to carry it out； but he was not sure that he would be right in doing
so。 A few rods down the road he paused； turned and uttered his shrill
signal whistle； with no other idea in mind than to bring some comfort to
the imprisoned beast。 Emperor interpreted the signal otherwise； however。
He uttered a loud； shrill trumpet； then things began to happen with a
rapidity that fairly made the circus boy's head whirl。 A sudden jingle of
metal； a crashing and rending from within the shop； caused Phil to halt
sharply after he had once more started on his way。 Crash！ Bang！
Emperor had brought his wonderful strength to bear on his flimsily
constructed prison with disastrous results to the latter。 First he had torn the
blacksmith's bellows out by the roots and hurled it from him。 Next he set
to work to smash everything within reach。 A moment of this and the
elephant had freed himself from the light chains with which the keeper had
secured him。 〃Whaoh； what is he doing？〃 gasped Phil Forrest。 The
boards on one side of the shop burst out as from a sudden explosion。
Down came half a dozen of the light studdings that supported the roof on
that s
