the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第6部分
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tongue。 It was a novel sight for the two boys； and they watched it with the
keenest interest。 A man dressed in riding clothes； carrying a short crop in
his hand； was observing the operations with equal interest。 He was
James Sparling； the proprietor and manager of the Great Combined Shows；
but the lads were unaware of that fact。 Even had they known； it is doubtful
if Mr。 Sparling would have been of sufficient attraction to draw their
attention from the working elephant。 All at once there was a warning shout
from Mr。 Sparling。 The men set up a yell； followed by a sudden scurrying
from the immediate vicinity of the cage that the elephant had been
shunting about。 〃Stop it！ Brace it！〃 bellowed the owner of the show；
making frantic motions with his free hand； cutting circles and dashes in
the air with the short crop held in the other。 〃What's the row？〃 wondered
Teddy。 〃II don't know；〃 stammered Phil。 〃The elephant's tipping the lion
cage over！〃 shouted someone。 〃Run for your lives！〃 For once in his life
Teddy Tucker executed a lightning…like movement。 He was one of several
dark streaks on the landscape running as if Wallace； the biggest lion in
captivity； were in reality hard upon his heels。 As he ran； Teddy uttered a
howl that could have been heard from one end of the circus lot to the other。
A few of the more fearless ones； the old hands of the show； did not attempt
to run。 Instead they stood still； fairly holding their breaths； waiting to see
what would happen next。 Mr。 Sparling was too far away to be able to do
anything to prevent the catastrophe that was hanging over them； but it did
not prevent him from yelling like a madman at the inactive employees of
the show。 At the first crythe instant he comprehended what was
happening Phil Forrest moved every bit as quickly as had his companion；
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
though he leaped in the opposite direction。 All about on the ground lay tent
poles of various length and thickness； side poles； quarter poles and the
short side poles used to hold the tent walls in place。 These were about
twenty feet in length and light enough to be easily handled。 With ready
resourcefulness and quick comprehension； Phil pounced upon one of these
and darted toward the cage which was toppling over in his direction。 The
roof of the lion cage that housed Wallace projected over the edge some six
inches； and this had caught the keen eyes of the lad at the first alarm。 His
plan had been formed in a flash。 He shot one end of the side pole up under
the projecting roof； jammed the other end into the ground； throwing his
whole weight upon the foot of the pole to hold it in place。 For an instant
the tent pole bent like a bow under the pull of the archer。 It seemed as if
it must surely snap under the terrific strain。 Phil saw this； too。 Now that
the foot of the pole was firmly imbedded in the ground； there was no
further need for him to hold it down。 He sprang under the pole with the
swaying cage directly over him； grabbed the pole at the point where it was
arching so dangerously； and pulling himself from the ground； held to the
slippery stick desperately。 Light as he was the boy's weight saved the pole。
It bent no further。 The cage swayed from side to side； threatening to topple
over at one end or the other。 〃Get poles under the ends；〃 shouted the boy
in a shrill voice。 〃I can't hold it here all day。〃 〃Get poles； you lazy good…
for…nothings！〃 bellowed the owner。 〃Brace those ends。 Look out for the
elephant。 Don't you see he's headed for the cage again？〃 Orders flew
thick and fast； but through it all Phil Forrest hung grimly to the side pole；
taking a fresh overhand hold； now and then； as his palms slipped down the
painted stick。 Now that he had shown the way； others sprang to his
assistance。 Half a dozen poles were thrust up under the roof and the cage
began slowly settling back the other way。 〃Hadn't you better have some
poles braced against the other side； sir？〃 suggested Phil； touching his hat
to Mr。 Sparling； who； he had discovered； was some person in authority。
〃The cage may tip clear over on the other side； or it may drop so heavily
on the wheels as to break the axles。〃 〃Right。 Brace the off side。 That's
right。 Now let it down slowly。 Not so hard on the nigh side there。 Ease
off there； Bill。 Push； Patsy。 What do you think this isa game of croquet？
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There you go。 Right。 Now let's see if you woodenheads know enough to
keep the wagon right side up。〃 Mr。 Sparling took off his hat and wiped the
perspiration from his forehead； while Phil stood off calmly surveying the
men who were straightening the wagon； but with more caution than they
had exercised before。 〃Come here； boy。〃 Someone touched Phil on the arm。
〃What is it？〃 〃Boss wants to speak to you。〃 〃Who？〃 〃Boss Sparling； the
fellow over there with the big voice and the sombrero。〃 Phil walked over
and touched his hat to Mr。 Sparling。 The showman looked the lad over
from head to foot。 〃What's your name？〃 He shot the question at the lad
as if angry about something； and he undoubtedly was。 〃Phil Forrest。〃 〃Do
they grow your kind around here？〃 〃I can't say； sir。〃 〃If they do； I'd like to
hire a dozen or more of them。 You've got more sense than any boy of
your age I ever saw。 How old are you？〃 〃Sixteen。〃 〃Huh！ I wish I had
him！〃 growled Mr。 Sparling。 〃What do you want？〃 〃I should like to have
a chance to earn a pass to the show this afternoon。 Rodney Palmer said
the boss canvasman might give me a chance to earn one。〃 〃Earn one？
Earn one？〃 Mr。 Sparling's voice rose to a roar again。 〃What in the name of
Old Dan Rice do you think you've been doing？ Here you've kept a cage
with a five…thousand…dollar lion from tipping over； to say nothing of the
people who might have been killed had the brute got out； and you want to
know how you can earn a pass to the show？ What d'ye think of that？〃
and the owner appealed helplessly to an assistant who had run across the
lot； having been attracted to the scene by the uproar。 The assistant grinned。
〃He's too modest to live。〃 〃Pity modesty isn't more prevalent in this show；
then。 How many do you want？ Have a whole section if you say the
word。〃 〃How many are there in a section？〃 asked Phil。 〃 'Bout a hundred
seats。〃 Phil gasped。 〃II guess two will be enough；〃 he made answer。
〃Here you are；〃 snapped the owner； thrusting a card at the lad； on which
had been scribbled some characters； puzzling to the uninitiated。 〃If you
want anything else around this show you just ask for it； young man。 Hey；
there！ Going to be all day getting that canvas up？ Don't you know
we've got a parade coming along in a few hours？〃 Phil Forrest； more light
of heart than in many days； turned away to acquaint his companion of his
good fortune。 Teddy Tucker was making his way cautiously back to the
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scene of the excitement of a few moments before。 〃Did he get away？〃
Teddy questioned； ready to run at the drop of the hat should the danger
prove to be still present。 〃Who； the manager？〃 〃No； the lion。〃 〃He's in
the cage where he's been all the time。 They haven't opened it yet； but I
guess he's all right。 Say； Teddy！〃 〃Say it。〃 〃I've got a pass to the show for
two people for both performancesthis afternoon and tonight。〃 The
interest that the announcement brought to Teddy's eyes died away almost
as soon as it appeared。 〃Going？〃 〃Am I going？ I should say so。 Want
to go in with me on my pass； Teddy？〃 The lad hitched his trousers； took a
critical squint at the canvas that was slowly mounting the center pole to
the accompaniment of creaking ropes； groaning tackle and confused
shouting。 〃They're getting the menagerie tent up。 I'll bet it's going to be a
dandy show；〃 he vouchsafed。 〃How'd you get the tickets？〃 〃Manager
gave them to me。〃 〃What for？〃 〃I did a little work for him。 Helped get
the lion's cage straightened up。 How about itare you going in on my
pass？〃 〃N…o…o；〃 drawled Teddy。 〃Might get me into bad habits to go in
on a pass。 I'd rather sneak in under the tent when the boss isn't looking。〃
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CHAPTER V
WHEN THE BANDS PLAYED
Phil started for the Widow Cahill's on the run after having procured his
tickets。 〃Here's a ticket for the circus； Mrs。 Cahill；〃 he shouted； bursting
into the room； with excited； flushed face。 〃What's this you saythe cir
