rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第10部分
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Teddy Tucker。 He amused the audience while things were happening up
above。〃
〃Good for you； Teddy Tucker；〃 said the showman； slapping the Circus
Boy on the back。
〃Ouch！〃 howled Teddy。
〃I was congratulating you； that's all；〃 laughed Mr。 Sparling。
〃If it is all the same to you； please use a club when you congratulate
me。 I won't feel it so much。〃
Phil next went on to relate how Teddy had； by his quickness； made fast
the rope and probably saved the top from falling in on them； and how he；
Phil； had fallen on the boy and knocked him out。
Mr。 Sparling surveyed the flushed face of Teddy approvingly。
〃Thank you； Teddy；〃 he said。 〃I'll give you a day off to go fishing；
sometime； for that。〃
〃I don't want to go fishing。〃
〃Then you are the first showman I ever knew who did not。 They are
simply crazy over fishing。 You'll see every one of them hanging over the
rails in the early morning trying to catch fish。〃
〃I won't。 You'll see me asleep about that time； if you look in the right
place；〃 answered Teddy very promptly。
〃Teddy deserves your praise； Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃He does； and he has it。 I will show my appreciation more fully
when I get all this rush out of the way。 The loss of the center pole doesn't
amount to much； but the rest does。〃
〃And the hen laid an egg；〃 reiterated Teddy。
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〃Oh； yes； I forgot to tell you。 The big ostrich hen laid an egg this
evening。〃
〃Is it possible？〃
〃Yes； Teddy found it in the hay behind the concert platform。〃
The showman's eyes twinkled。
〃What were you doing back there？〃
〃Looking for a place to take a catnap between acts。〃
Mr。 Sparling laughed heartily。
〃There's only one Teddy in the whole wide world！〃
〃I hope not；〃 added the boy quickly。
〃Where is the eggwhat did you do with it？〃
〃Got it in my bag here； want to see it？〃
He handed the egg to Mr。 Sparling who turned it over； glancing at it
curiously。
〃Look out！ You'll drop it！〃
〃And what are you going to do with it； may I ask？〃
〃Eat it。〃
〃What； eat up my property？〃
〃Eggs belongs to the finder； and〃
〃You mean eggs _belong_ to the finder；〃 corrected Phil。
〃Yes； I guess so。 Any way； so you say it。 I'm going to eat this egg；
even if it does give me indigestion all the rest of my life。 How do you
cook ostrich eggs？〃
〃I never cooked any； my boy。 You will have to consult the cook on
that point。 Perhaps he may consent to cook it for you。〃
〃I'll give you a slice off the white when it's cooked。〃
〃Thank you。 You are welcome to the whole egg。 Better go up and
locate yourselves； boys。〃
〃What number is our room； Mr。 Sparling？〃 asked Phil。
〃Number twenty…four； on the upper deck。 I have given you a nice；
roomy； light and airy cabin that I think will please you。 It is one of the
best on the ship and you should be very comfortable there。〃
〃I am sure we shall be； and thank you very much；〃 said Phil。 〃Come
along； Teddy。〃
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Together they made their way to the boat and through the crowded；
bustling lower deck； where the big canvas…covered wagons were being
warped into place； a sort of orderly confusion reigning over everything；
the scene lighted by lanterns swinging from hooks all about the deck。
The lads found their cabin； and after lighting the lamp； uttered
exclamations of surprise。 Instead of the narrow berths they had expected
to see； there were white enameled iron bedsteads； a washstand with the
same neat finish； and several pictures on the walls。
The cabin was a large one。 In the center of it stood a table on which
lay a large portfolio and inscribed in gold letters on the outside they read
the words； 〃For the Circus Boys。〃
The portfolio was filled with writing materials。
〃Oh； isn't that fine？〃 exclaimed Phil。
〃Yes； it's a fine egg。 I'm going to have the feast of my life when I get
it baked〃
〃Teddy Tucker！〃
〃What？〃
〃What do you think I am talking about？〃
〃Eggs。〃
〃I am not。 I am talking about this beautiful cabin that Mr。 Sparling
has fixed for us。 Look at itlook at this portfolio。 I am afraid you
don't appreciate how good our employer is to us。 There is an easy chair
for each of us； too。 Why； we ought to be very happy。〃
〃I am happy。 So would you be if a hen had laid a five pound egg for
you；〃 retorted Teddy。
〃Hopeless； hopeless；〃 groaned Phil。
Teddy； muttering to himself； carefully laid the egg away in his trunk；
first wrapping it up in an old silk ring shirt； then locking the trunk and
putting the key in his pocket。
The lad then made a personal and critical examination of the room；
tried the springs of the bed； nodded approvingly； sat down in one of the
easy chairs and put his feet on the table。
Phil promptly pushed the feet off。
〃Here； what are you doing？〃
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〃This is not the dressing room of a circus； Teddy。 This is the living
room of a couple of young gentlemen。 Let's not forget that。 Let us try
to keep our cabin looking nice and shipshape； else Mr。 Sparling will think
we do not appreciate his kindness。〃
〃Say； Phil！〃
〃Yes？〃
〃I'll tell you what we'll do！〃
〃I am listening。〃
〃We'll have a spread up here all by ourselves； tomorrow night； after the
show。 We'll eat the egg。 I'll get the cook to boil it all day tomorrow
does it take a day to boil an ostrich egg？〃
〃I should think it might take a month；〃 laughed Phil。 〃Yes； I'll make
a martyr of myself and help you eat the egg。 I shall never have any peace
until that egg is finally disposed of〃
〃What's going on downstairs？〃 interrupted Teddy。
A commotion was heard out on the dock。 There was the tramping of
many feet； mingled with loud； angry shouts and sharp commands。
〃It sounds to me as if something has been let loose；〃 said Teddy
Tucker wisely。
Something had been 〃let loose。〃
With one accord the Circus Boys sprang up。 Rushing out into the
corridor they leaped down the after companionway four steps at a jump。
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The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
CHAPTER VIII
JANUARY ON THE RAMPAGE
〃What's the row？ What's the row？〃 bellowed Teddy； who； bolting
under a cage and； leaving his hat under the wagon； dashed out to the dock；
where their vessel was moored。
The two boys saw an object leaping into the air； performing strange
and grotesque antics。
〃It's January！〃 yelled Teddy。 〃Whoa； January！〃
But January refused to 〃whoa。〃 The donkey had objected to going
aboard the boat。 When the workmen tried to force him； he protested
vigorously； biting those in front and kicking those behind him。
〃Teddy； get that fool donkey out of here or I'll throw him in the river；〃
bawled the owner of the show。
Perhaps January understood the threat。 At least he started for Mr。
Sparling； snorting。
The showman ducked under a canvas wagon and climbed up the other
side of it； giving his orders from the top of the wagon。 He knew January。
He had had business dealings with the donkey on other occasions。
〃Get him out of here； I tell you！〃
〃Drive him in yourself；〃 answered a groom。 〃I wouldn't try it for a
present of the whole confounded show。〃
Up to this point those who had not left the dock willingly January had
assisted with his ever ready hoofs； and； by the time Teddy reached the
scene the donkey had kicked every man off and into the street； excepting
the owner of the show himself。 As already related； Mr。 Sparling had
seen fit to leave in haste when January directed his attention to him。
〃Whoa； January！〃 commanded Teddy in a soothing tone。
The donkey； at sound of the Circus Boy's voice； reared and came down
facing Teddy。
〃Come here； you beast。 Don't you know you're going to have a ride
on the river？ You don't know enough to know when you are well off。
Come； Jany； Jany； Jany。 Wow！〃
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January had responded with a rush。 Teddy stepped aside just in time
to save himself from being bowled over。 But as the donkey ran by him
the boy threw both arms about the animal's neck。
Then began the liveliest scrimmage
