rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第18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！
performers right in the middle of the season；〃 laughed the owner。
〃Oh； I hardly think so。 I do not wish to leave this show。 Had it not
been for you I should still be doing chores for my board and clothes back
in Edmeston。 Now wouldn't that be fine？〃
〃Very；〃 grinned the showman。
〃Whatever I have accomplished I have you to thank for。〃
〃You mean you owe to your own brightness and cleverness。 No； Phil；
you are a boy who would have succeeded anywhere。 They can't keep
you downno； not even were they to sit on you。〃
〃If Fat Marie； with her five hundred and odd pounds； were to sit on
me； I rather think I would be kept down；〃 answered the Circus Boy； with a
hearty laugh in which Mr。 Sparling joined uproariously。
〃What is Teddy doing out in the ring？〃
〃I left him there to keep an eye on the injured horse。〃
〃Why； Phil？〃
〃Until I could get back and make an examination。〃
〃Very well； I want to see you after you have done so。〃
〃I will look you up。〃
80
… Page 81…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
With that Phil hurried out into the arena。 None of the spectators
appeared to recognize the lad in his street clothes。 Besides； he tried to
avoid observation。 He might have been one of the spectators； except that
he picked his way； among the ropes and properties down through the
center； where the public were not allowed to go。
〃The rest of you may go；〃 said Phil； reaching the ring where Jim lay
breathing heavily。 〃Thank you for easing off old Jim。 I know he
appreciates it。〃
Jim looked up pleadingly as Phil bent over him； patting the animal on
his splendid old gray head。
The attendants went about their duties。
〃How'd this happen； Phil？〃 questioned Teddy。
〃I fell off； that's what happened。〃
〃Yes； I know you did； but there's more to it。 I wonder if it's got
anything to do with the loss of my egg？〃
〃I guess not。〃
〃You guess not？ Well； I know something； Phil。〃
〃I should hope you do。〃
〃I mean about this accident。〃
Phil gazed at his companion keenly。
〃What do you know？〃
〃Look here；〃 said Teddy； pointing to a depression in the sawdust arena。
Phil bent over； examining the spot closely。 When he rose； his lips
were tightly compressed and his face was pale。
〃Don't mention this to anyone； Teddy。 Promise me？〃
〃 'Course I won't tell。 Why should I？ But I found out about it；
didn't I？〃
〃Yes； at least you have made a pretty good start in that direction。 I
shall have to tell Mr。 Sparling。 It would not be right to keep this
information from him。〃
〃N…n…o…o。 Then maybe he'll organize a posse to hunt for my egg。〃
〃Oh； hang your old egg！〃
The Roman chariot races were on； the rattle of the wheels； the shouts
of the drivers drowning the voices of the two boys。
81
… Page 82…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
〃Teddy； you'll have to get back and change your clothes。 The
performance is about over。 That makes me think。 I have on my ring
clothes under this suit and I must hurry back to my bath and my change。〃
The performance closed and the rattle and bang of tearing down the
big white city had begun。 The boys were engaged in packing their trunks
now； as were most of their fellow performers。
〃What's that？〃 demanded Teddy； straightening up suddenly。
〃Somebody fired a shot；〃 answered another performer。
Phil knew what it meant。
A bullet had ended the sufferings of the faithful old ring horse off
under the big top。 The Circus Boy turned away； with a blinding mist in
his eyes。
〃Poor old Jim！〃 he groaned。
Off under the women's dressing tent another pair of ears had heard and
understood； and Little Dimples； burying her head in her hands wept softly。
〃Poor old Jim！〃 she； too； murmured。
82
… Page 83…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
CHAPTER XIV
THE PILOT GETS A SURPRISE
The happiness of the day had been marred by the accident； but； like
true circus men； all hands took the disaster in the matter…of…fact manner
characteristic of their kind。
The show people； in couples and singly； took their way to the river；
where they boarded the boats。 Already wagons were rumbling down on
the docks and cages were being quickly shunted into position for their
journey down the river that night。
Everything moved with as much method as if the show had been
traveling in this way from the beginning of the season。
The performers were enjoying the novel experience of river traveling
too thoroughly to turn into their berths early。 A cold lunch had been
spread in the main cabins of the 〃Marie〃 and the 〃River Queen〃 for the
performers； while from the cook tent； baskets had been prepared and sent
in for the use of the laborers after they had completed their night's work
and finished loading the show。
All this was appreciated； and it was a jolly company that lined the
tables in the two larger boats。 Leather upholstered seats were built into
the sides of the cabin； and with mouths and hands full； the circus people
soon took possession of the seats； where they ate and chatted noisily。
〃Funny thing about Jim；〃 said one of the performers。 〃What do you
suppose made him fall； Mr。 Miaco？〃
〃I don't know。 Probably for the same reason that anyone falls。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃Stumbled over something； I guess。〃
〃Hey； Teddy； what ailed the ring horse？〃 called a voice as the Circus
Boy sauntered in and espying the tables made a dive for them。
〃I guess he was hungry；〃 mumbled Teddy； his mouth full of ham
sandwich。
〃Hungry？〃
〃Yes。〃
83
… Page 84…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
〃What makes you think that？〃
〃 'Cause he bit the dust。〃
A general groan was heard in the cabin。
〃Throw him overboard！〃
〃I know a better way to punish him for that ghastly joke。〃
〃How？〃
〃Take the food away from him； tie him up and make him watch us
eat；〃 was the answer。
A shout of laughter greeted the proposition。
The pilot of the 〃Marie；〃 a heavily bearded man named Cummings；
broke out in a loud guffaw。
All eyes were turned upon him。
〃I reckon I kin tie him up if you says the word；〃 he volunteered。
〃All right； tie him up；〃 shouted the performers； scenting fun。
Teddy eyed the pilot out of the corners of his eyes and placidly
munched his sandwich。 The pilot； in the meantime； had stepped to the
rear end of the cabin； where； from a box of life…preservers he took a piece
of Manila rope。
〃I believe he is going to do it；〃 said a clown； nudging his companion。
〃You mean he is going to try it；〃 answered the other。 〃Watch for
some fun。 He thinks Teddy is an easy mark。〃
〃He will be in this case。 That fellow； Cummings； is hard as a rail
fence。 He could handle two of Teddy。〃
In the meantime Tucker had strolled to the table； from which he took a
large sandwich； buttered it well； then returned to his seat； not appearing to
observe the pilot's movements at all。
As he sat down the lad was observed to open the sandwich； removing
the thin slice of ham and stowing the latter in his coat pocket。 Then he
sat thoughtfully contemplating the two pieces of buttered bread as if trying
to decide whether or not he should eat them。
〃Get up； kiddie；〃 said Cummings； grasping the boy by the shoulder。
〃Get up and take your punishment like a little dear。〃
Teddy got up； carelessly； indifferently； while the pilot stretched the
rope to its full length。
84
… Page 85…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
The boy saw that he was in earnest。
Smack！
Quick as a flash Teddy had plastered one half of the sandwich；
buttered side in； right over the eyes of Cummings。
Smack！
The second half of the sandwich landed neatly over his mouth； pressed
home by a firm fist。
Cummings could not speak； neither could he see。 At that moment
he was perhaps the most surprised man on the Mississippi River。 At least
he appeared to be； for he stood still。 He stood still just a few seconds too
long。
Teddy had seized the rope。 With it he made a quick twist about the
body of the pilot； taking two turns； then drawing the rope tight and tying it；
thus pinioning the hands and arms of the pilot to his sides。
〃Yip…yeow！〃 howled Teddy。
