the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第9部分
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can see you！〃 admonished a clown。 〃If you're going to be a showman you
mustn't be afraid to get yourself in the spotlight。〃 Two of them hoisted the
blushing Phil to their shoulders and broke into a rollicking song； swaying
their bodies in imitation of the movements of an elephant as they sang。 At
this the populace fairly howled with delight。 〃He's the boy； even if he ain't
purty to look at；〃 jeered someone in the crowd。 〃Handsome is as
handsome does！〃 retorted a clown in a loud voice； and the people cheered。
After this the parade went on without further incident； though there could
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be no doubt that the exciting dash and rescue by one of their own boys had
aroused the town to a high pitch of excitement。 And the showmen smiled；
for they knew what that meant。 〃Bet we'll have a turn…away this
afternoon；〃 announced a clown。 〃Looks that way；〃 agreed another； 〃and all
on account of the kid。〃 〃What's a turn…away？〃 asked Phil。 〃That's when
there are more people want to get in than the tent will hold。 And it means；
too； that the boss will be good natured till it rains again； and the wagons
get stuck in the mud so that we'll make the next town behind time。 At
such times he can make more noise than the steam calliope。〃 〃He seems to
me to be a pretty fine sort of a man； even if he is gruff；〃 suggested Phil。
〃The best ever；〃 agreed several clowns。 〃You'll look a long way before
you'll find a better showman； or a better man to his help； than Jim Sparling。
Ever been in the show business； kid？〃 Phil shook his head。 〃Anybody'd
think you always had been； the way you take hold of things。 I'll bet you'll
be in it before you are many years older。〃 〃I'd like to；〃 glowed the lad。
〃Ask the boss。〃 〃No； he wouldn't want me。 There is nothing I could do
now； I guess。〃 Further conversation was interrupted by the bugle's song
announcing the disbanding of the parade； the right of the line having
already reached the circus lot。 The clowns piled from the hayrack like a
cataract； the cataract having all the colors of the rainbow。 Phil； not to be
behind； followed suit； though he did not quite understand what the rush
was about。 He ran until he caught up with Miaco。 〃What's the hurry
about？〃 he questioned。 〃Parade's over。 Got to hurry and get dinner； so as
to be ready for the afternoon performance。〃 All hands were heading for the
dressing tent in a mad rush。 Phil was halted by the assistant manager。 The
lad glanced down rather sheepishly at his costume； which was hanging in
tatters； then up at the quizzically smiling face of the showman。 〃II'm
sorry I've spoiled it； sir； but I couldn't help it。〃 〃Don't worry about that；
young man。 How did it happen？〃 he questioned； pretending not to know
anything about the occurrence in which Phil had played a leading part。
〃Well； you see； there was a horse ran away； and I happened to get in the
way of it。 I〃 〃Yes； Forrest； I understand all about it。 Somebody did
something to that animal to make it run away and the boss is red headed
over it。〃 〃II didn't。〃 〃No； that's right。 It was lucky that there was one
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person in the parade who had some sense left； or there would have been a
dead woman with this outfit；〃 growled the assistant。 〃Was she badly hurt？〃
〃No。 Only bruised up a bit。 These show people get used to hard
knocks。〃 〃I'm glad she is all right。 Who is she？〃 〃Don't you know？〃
〃No。〃 〃That was Mr。 Sparling's wife whose life you saved； and I reckon
the boss will have something to say to you when he gets sight of you
again。〃
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CHAPTER VII
MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE ELEPHANTS
〃Is it possible？ I didn't know that；〃 marveled the boy。 〃And does she
perform？〃 〃Everybody works in this outfit； young man；〃 laughed the
assistant； 〃as you will learn if you hang around long enough。 Going to the
show？〃 〃Yes； sir。〃 〃Got seats？〃 〃Mr。 Sparling provided me with tickets；
thank you。 But I've got to get home first and put on some other clothes。
This suit is about done for； isn't it？〃 〃I should say it was。 You did that
stopping the horse； didn't you？〃 Phil nodded。 〃Boss will buy you a new
suit for that。〃 〃Oh； no； I couldn't allow him to do that；〃 objected Phil。
〃Well； you are a queer youngster。 So long。 I'll see you when you come
in this afternoon。 Wait； let me see your tickets。〃 The lad handed them
over wonderingly； at which his questioner nodded approvingly。 〃They're
good seats。 Hope you will enjoy the show。〃 〃Thank you； I am sure I
shall；〃 answered Phil； touching his hat and starting on a run for home。
Arriving there； Mrs。 Cahill met him and threw up her hands in horror
when she observed the condition of his clothes。 〃I am afraid they are gone
for good；〃 grinned Phil rather ruefully。 〃No。 You leave them with me。
I'll fix them up for you。 I heard how you saved that show woman's life。
That was fine； my boy。 I'm proud of you； that I am。 You did more than
all those circus men could do； and the whole town is talking about it。〃 〃If
you are going to the show you had better be getting ready；〃 urged Phil；
wishing to change the subject。 〃All right； I will。 I'll fix your clothes
when I get back。 Will you be home to supper？〃 〃I don't know for sure。 If
I can I'll be back in time； but please don't wait for me。 Here is your
ticket。〃 The lad hurried to the room the good woman had set aside for him
and quickly made the change of clothing。 He was obliged to change
everything he had on； for even his shirt had been torn in his battle with the
broncho。 After bathing and putting on the fresh clothes； Phil hurried
from the house； that he might miss nothing of the show。 The sideshow
band was blaring brazenly when he reached the lot。 The space in front of
the main entrance was packed with people； many of whom pointed to him；
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nodding their heads and directing the attention of their companions to the
lad。 Phil wished he might be able to skulk in by the back door and thus
avoid their attention； but as this was impossible； he pulled his hat down
over his eyes and worked his way slowly toward the front of the crowd。
Getting near the entrance； he saw Mr。 Sparling's assistant。 The latter；
chancing to catch sight of Phil； motioned him to crawl under the ropes and
come in。 The boy did so gratefully。 〃The doors are not open yet； but you
may go in。 You will have time to look over the animals before the crowd
arrives； then you can reach your seat before the others get in。 Please let
me see those checks once more。〃 The assistant made a mental note of the
section and number of the seats for future reference and handed back the
coupons。 Phil stole into the menagerie tent； relieved to be away from the
gaze and comments of the crowd that was massed in front。 〃Gracious； I'm
afraid I wouldn't make a very good circus man。 I hate to have everybody
looking at me as if I were some natural or unnatural curiosity。 Wonder if
I will know any of the show people when they are made up； as they call it；
and performing in the ring？ I shouldn't wonder if they didn't know me in
my best clothes； though；〃 grinned the boy。 Phil had had the forethought to
bring a few lumps of sugar in his pocket。 Entering the menagerie tent； he
quickly made his way to the place where the elephants were chained；
giving each one of the big beasts a lump。 He felt no fear of them and
permitted them to run their sensitive trunks over him and into his pockets；
where they soon found the rest of the sugar。 After disposing of the sweets；
both beasts emitted a loud trumpeting。 At such close quarters the noise
they made seemed to shake the ground。 〃Why do they do that？〃
questioned Phil of the keeper。 〃That's their way of thanking you for the
sugar。 You've made friends of both of them for life。 They'll never
forget you； even if they don't see you for several seasons。〃 〃Do they like
peanuts？〃 〃Do they？ Just try them。〃 Phil ran to a snack stand at the
opposite side of the tent and bought five cents' worth of peanuts； then
hurried back to the elephants with the package。 〃What are their names？〃
〃The big one is Emperor and the smaller one is cal
