rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第2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！
thorn in the side of the circus itself for many weeks through his efforts to
avenge a fancied wrong。 By this time the boys had become full…fledged
circus performers； each playing an important part in the performance。
It will be recalled； too； how Phil and Teddy in 〃THE CIRCUS BOYS
IN DIXIE LAND；〃 advanced rapidly in their calling； how Phil was
captured by a rival show； held prisoner on the owner's private car； and later
was obliged to become a performer in the ring of the rival show。 His
escape； his long tramp to rejoin his own show； followed by the battle of
the elephantswill be well remembered by all the readers of the previous
volumes in this series。
During the winter just passed； the lads had been attending the high
school at Edmeston； where they made their home； working hard after
school hours to keep themselves in good physical condition for the next
season's work。
Spring came。 The lads passed their final examinations； and； with
their diplomas in their pockets； set out one bright May morning to join the
6
… Page 7…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
show which； by this time； had come to be looked upon by them as a real
home。
They had been on the road less than two weeks now； and were looking
forward with keen anticipation to their summer under the billowing canvas
of the Great Sparling Shows。
〃I think I _will_ take a peep to see how Teddy is getting along with his
apology；〃 decided Phil； turning and entering the paddock。 Then he
stepped quietly into the dressing tent。
He saw Teddy approach the clown； Diaz； who sat on his trunk making
up his face before a hand mirror。
Teddy halted a few feet from the clown； waiting until the latter should
have observed him。 The clown glanced up； glowered； and slowly placed
the mirror on the trunk beside him。 He seemed astonished that the boy
should have the courage to face him。
Then Teddy； solemn…faced； made his apology。 To Phil Forrest's
listening ears it was the most amazing apology he ever had listened to。
〃I'm sorry I made a monkey of you；〃 said Teddy。
〃What！〃 fairly exploded the clown。
〃I'm sorry I made a monkey of you；〃 repeated the Circus Boy in a
slightly louder tone。 〃Maybe I wouldn't have done so if I had had time to
think about it。〃
〃You make apology to meto me？〃 questioned Diaz； tapping his own
chest significantly。
〃Yes； to whom did you think I was making an apologyto the hyena
out under the menagerie top； eh？〃
〃Bah！〃
〃I am sorry I made a fool of you； Mr。 Diaz。〃
〃Mefool？〃
〃Yes； I guess you are about right。 You certainly look the part； and〃
Diaz sprang up with a growl of rage； Tucker giving ground a little as
he observed the anger in the painted face before him。 Before the lad
could raise his hands to protect himself Diaz had grasped Teddy and
hurled him across the dressing tent； where he landed in a pail of water。
He was up in a twinkling。 His face was flushed and his hands were
7
… Page 8…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
clenched。
No sooner had he gotten to his feet than he observed that the clown
had started for him again。 Teddy squared off； prepared for fight。 At that
moment； however； there came an interruption that turned the attention of
the enraged clown in another direction。
Phil Forrest quickly stepped between them facing Diaz。
〃What are you going to do？〃 demanded the Circus Boy in a quiet
voice。
〃Do？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I punish the monkey…face〃
〃You will； eh？〃 howled Teddy； starting forward。
Phil thrust his companion aside。
〃Go away。 I will see if I can explain to him；〃 cautioned Phil； turning
to the clown again； just as the latter was making a rush at Teddy。
〃One moment； Mr。 Diaz。 My friend Teddy is not very diplomatic； but
he means well。 He apologized to you for what he had done； did he not？〃
〃Yes；〃 growled the clown。 〃Then why not call it square and〃
〃I punish him。 I fix him！〃 roared Diaz； making a leap for Teddy； who
had managed to edge up nearer to them。
〃You will do nothing of the sort；〃 answered Phil Forrest firmly； again
stepping between them。
An angry light glowed in the eyes of the clown。 For an instant he
glared into Phil's steady gray eyes； then all of a sudden launched a vicious
blow at the boy。
The blow failed to reach the mark。 Phil dodged and stepped back a
couple of feet。
Another； as swift as the first was sent straight for his head。 This blow
the Circus Boy skillfully parried； but made no effort to return。
〃Mr。 Diaz！ Mr。 Diaz！〃 warned Phil。 〃You forget yourself。 Please
don't do anything you will be sorry for afterwards。〃
〃I fix you！〃 snarled the clown。
〃I don't want to hit you； sir； but you may force me to do so。〃
Phil had no time to warn the fellow further； for the clown began to rain
8
… Page 9…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
blows upon him； though with no great exhibition of boxing skill。 Phil
could have landed effectively anywhere on the clown's body had he
chosen to do so。
Instead； the boy slowly gave ground； defending himself cleverly。 Not
one single blow from the powerful fist of Diaz reached him； Phil
exhibiting the wonderful self…control that was characteristic of him。 He
even found opportunity to warn Teddy to get out of the tent until the
tempest had blown over。
Teddy； however； stood with hands thrust in his trousers pockets；
shoulders hunched forward； glaring at Diaz。
〃Don't you get in this now；〃 breathed Phil。 〃Keep away！ Keep
away！ I'll〃
At that moment Phil stumbled over a trunk； landing on his head and
shoulders。 Quick as he was he found himself unable to turn over and roll
away soon enough to get beyond reach of the angry clown。
Diaz hurled himself upon the slender； though athletic figure of the
Circus Boy； almost knocking the breath out of Phil。
No sooner had he done so than something else happened。 A body
launched itself through the air。 The body belonged to Tucker。 Teddy
landed with great force on the head and shoulders of the enraged clown；
flattening the latter down upon Phil with crushing weight； and nearly
knocking Forrest senseless。
9
… Page 10…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
CHAPTER II
JANUARY LENDS A FOOT
〃Stop it！〃 roared a voice。 〃We don't allow 'roughhouse' in the
dressing tent。〃
〃Yes；〃 added another； 〃go out on the lot if you want to settle your
differences。〃
Mr。 Miaco； the head clown； who had been a true friend to the boys
from the beginning of their circus career； had discovered what was going
on about the time Teddy decided to mix in in the disagreement。 Mr。
Miaco sprang up and ran to the struggling heap。 Grasping Teddy firmly
by the shoulder he tossed the lad aside。
〃Now； you stay out of this； unless you want a thrashing from me；〃 the
head clown warned。
The next to feel the grip of his powerful hand was the clown； Diaz；
and when Mr。 Miaco discovered that the clown had Phil Forrest down； he
could scarcely restrain himself from severely punishing the fellow。
However； Miaco satisfied himself with hauling Diaz from his victim with
little ceremony。 Then he jerked the angry clown to his feet。
〃Well； sir； what have you to say for yourself？〃 demanded Miaco；
gazing at the other sternly。
〃This no business of yours；〃 growled Diaz。
〃That remains to be seen。 I'll decide whether it is any of my affair or
not。 Phil； what does this mean？〃
〃Just a little matter between ourselves。 Thank you for helping me
out。〃
〃Did he attack you； Phil？〃
〃He did； but he no doubt thought he had sufficient provocation。
Perhaps we should not be too hard on Mr。 Diaz。〃
〃Then the best thing to do is to tell Mr。 Sparling。 I〃
〃Please don't do anything of the sort；〃 begged Phil。 〃In the first place；
Diaz's anger was directed against Teddy； and I had to mix myself in their
quarrel。 Teddy did something to him a few weeks ago that made the
10
… Page 11…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
clown very angry； and I don't blame Diaz。〃
〃Was there any excuse for his pitching into you in this manner？〃
〃Well；〃 laughed Phil； 〃perhaps the
