rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第17部分
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〃As I said； he is impulsive； like all of his race。〃
〃What has been going on with you lately； Phil？〃
〃I don't understand what you mean？〃
〃Oh； yes； you do。〃
〃You mean with regard to Diaz？〃
〃That's what I mean。 Have you had any trouble？〃
〃We had a slight disagreement；〃 admitted the lad。
〃Tell me about it。〃
〃Wait！ There goes the music。〃
The ringmaster's whip cracked its warning and the gray horse started at
a slow gallop。 Phil was up beside his companion with agility and grace。
The first round or two they stood poised on the horse； while Phil related
briefly what had taken place between himself and Diaz。
〃Come； aren't you two going to get to work？〃 demanded the
ringmaster。
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〃You attend to your own work。 We'll look out for ours；〃 snapped
Dimples。
〃Yes； and if you think you can do better just come up and try；〃 added
Phil； with a good…natured laugh。 〃Up； Dimples！〃
He threw her lightly to his shoulders； on which the woman stood
poised； making as graceful and pretty a picture as had ever been seen in a
circus ring。 Fragile as she was； it seemed as if Phil were all too slender
to support her weight。
The act brought a whirlwind of applause。
〃You look out for him； Phil。 I〃
〃Jump； Dimples！〃
The ring horse had suddenly stumbled； its nose plowing up the
sawdust in a cloud。
Phil； with rare presence of mind； lifted the feet from his shoulders and
hurled the girl far from him。
〃Land on your feet！〃 he shouted； then Phil plunged off； head first。
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CHAPTER XIII
A NARROW ESCAPE
Thanks to Phil's presence of mind； Dimples had landed lightly on her
feet well outside the ring curbing。 Had the lad held to her ankles even a
second too long the result must have been serious； if not fatal； for Dimples
would have been hurled to the ground head first。
As it was； Phil gave her a lift； enabling her to double and 〃ball；〃 a
circus term meaning to curl one's feet up under the body； then straighten
them as needed to give the body balance either in turning a somersault or
in falling。
In doing so； however； Phil had had no thought for his own safety。 He
plunged forward over the head of the ring horse； striking the ground on his
head and face。
The force of his fall had been broken somewhat by his quickly
throwing out his hands in front of him and relaxing the muscles of his
body。 Circus performers soon learn how to fallhow to make the best of
every situation with which they are confronted。 Despite this； his fall had
been a severe and dangerous one。
〃There； he has done it！ I knew he would；〃 cried Mr。 Sparling；
rushing to the ring。 Quick as he was； Dimples was ahead of him。 She
leaped the ring curbing and dropped down beside him； not caring for the
dust and the dirt that soiled her pretty costume。
〃Phil！ Phil！〃 she cried。
Phil did not answer at the moment。
〃Is he hurtis he killed？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling excitedly。
〃Of course he is hurt。 Can't you see he is？〃 answered Dimples testily。
She turned the boy over and looked into his face。 The dirt was so
ground into the handsome； boyish face as to make it scarcely
recognizable。
〃Lift him up。 Get some of the attendants to carry him back！〃
commanded the woman impatiently。
〃No； no！〃 protested Phil in a muffled voice； for his mouth was full of
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sawdust and dirt。 〃I'm all right。 Don't worry about me。〃
〃He's all right；〃 repeated the showman。 〃I'll help you up； Phil。〃
Phil； like the plucky performer that he was； declined their offers of
assistance and struggled to his feet。 He was dizzy and staggered a little；
but after a moment succeeded in overmastering his inclination to faint。
A fleck of blood on his lips showed through makeup and sawdust。
〃I'm all right。 Don't worry about me；〃 he said； with a forced smile。
Dimples sought to brush the dirt from his face with her handkerchief；
but he put her aside gently； and； with a low bow； threw a kiss to the
audience。
Their relief was expressed in a roar of applause。
Phil staggered over to where the ring horse still lay near the center of
the ring and knelt down beside it； examining the leg that was doubled up
under the animal。
The ringmaster cracked his whip lash as a signal for the animal to get
up； but the faithful old horse； despite its efforts to rise； was unable to do
so。
〃What is the matter with him？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling。
〃Jim has broken a leg； I think；〃 answered Phil sadly。 〃Too bad； too
bad！〃
The lad patted the head of the horse and ran his fingers through the
grey mane。 Tears stood in Phil Forrest's eyes； for he had ridden this
horse and won most of his triumphs on its resined back during the past
three years。
〃Dimples； I guess we have ridden Jim for the last time；〃 said Phil in a
low voice。 〃Hadn't you better start the other acts； Mr。 Sparling。 The
audience will become uneasy。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 answered the showman； waving his hand to the band； a
signal that they were to play and the show to go on as usual。 〃Are you
sure； Philsure Jim has not merely strained the leg？〃
〃I am sure。 He never will perform again。〃
Dimples brushed a hand across her eyes。
〃I shall cry when I get back to my dressing tent。 I know I shall；〃 she
said； with a tremor in her voice that she strove to control。
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Then Dimples smiled bravely； waving a hand at the audience； though
her heart was sad。
〃What had we better do with him； Phil？〃
〃We can do nothing at presentnot until the show is ended。 Then；
there is only one thing to do。〃
〃You mean he will have to be〃
〃Yes； Dimples； he will have to be shot；〃 answered Phil。
〃But the audience？〃
〃Have a couple of attendants come in here and pretend to be working
over Jim。 That will make the audience think the animal's foot is injured
rather than fatally hurt；〃 suggested Phil Forrest。
〃A good idea；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； giving the necessary orders。
Tell them not to disturb the spot； not trample it down。
〃Why？〃 questioned the showman in surprise。
〃I'll tell you later。 I have my own reasons。〃
Phil motioned to Teddy to approach。
〃Sit down here in the ring and watch the horse and the men around
him；〃 directed the Circus Boy。 〃I'll tell you why later。〃
The show went on with a snap and dash。 Meanwhile； Phil； his
clothes torn； his face grimy with dirt； started down the concourse toward
the pad room； hand in hand with Little Dimples。
Their progress was a triumphal one so far as the audience was
concerned； for the people cheered them all the way and until the slender
riders had disappeared behind the crimson curtain just beyond the
bandstand。
Phil quietly washed the dirt from his face； and pulling on his street
clothes over his ring costume； started to reenter the arena。
At that moment Mr。 Sparling came hurrying in。 The two met in the
pad room。
〃Phil； how did that accident happen？〃 demanded the showman。
〃You saw it； did you not； Mr。 Sparling？〃
〃Yes。 But I was unable to understand how it occurred。〃
〃That is exactly what is bothering me；〃 answered the lad； with a
peculiar smile that the owner of the show was not slow to catch。
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〃You suspect something？〃
〃I suspect I got a bump that I shan't forget soon；〃 laughed the Circus
Boy。 〃It is a wonder I did not break my neck。〃
〃You undoubtedly saved Dimples' life at the risk of your own。 You
are the pluckiest ladno； I'll say the pluckiest _man_ I have ever known。〃
〃Don't make me blush； Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃Nevertheless； I wish you wouldn't take chances on that act again。
Give the audience the same old act and they will be satisfied with that。〃
〃Didn't you like the act？〃
〃Like it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It was the finest exhibition of its kind that I ever saw。 I hope
neither the Ringlings； nor Barnum and Bailey； nor any of the big shows
get a peep at that act。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because were they to do so I would be sure to lose my little star
performers right in the middle of
