rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第27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！
disturbance among the horses he ran that way； soon coming upon
Bruiser。 With a scream of defiance； the animal bolted up the
companionway； hurriedly investigated the corridors and the main cabin；
then leaped out through an open window to the hurricane deck。
Two other men had joined in the chase now； and it was their shouts
that had awakened the Circus Boys。
〃Come on； here's sport！〃 shouted Teddy Tucker starting on a run after
the fleeing Bruiser。 The latter tried to climb up the smoke stack and
narrowly missed being captured in the attempt。 At the same time he
burned his feet； filling him with rage and resentment； so that； when the
keeper grabbed him； the former's face was badly scratched。
121
… Page 122…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
Round and round the deck ran pursued and pursuers； the baboon
having not the slightest difficulty in eluding his followers； Teddy chasing
gleefully and howling at the top of his shrill voice。
Others joined the chase； until well nigh half the boat's company raced
yelling up and down the decks。 Mr。 Sparling was one of the number；
though he devoted most of his attention to directing the others。
One mast had been erected on the boat from which to fly flags； and
from this rope braces ran off forward and aft。
Finally Bruiser was so hard pressed that he took to this rigging and ran
up one of the ropes to the mast； where he perched on the end of a spar and
appeared to mock his pursuers。
Poles were brought； at the direction of the owner； with which the men
sought to poke Bruiser down。 But the poles were too short。 Then the
men threw ropes and missiles at the baboon； most of which went
overboard and were lost。
〃It is no use。 We shall have to wait until he gets ready to come
down；〃 decided Mr。 Sparling。 〃How did he get away？〃
The keeper explained。
〃He won't come down today；〃 added the man。 〃That is； so long as we
are here。 He is a bad one。〃
〃You do not have to tell me that。 Can any of you offer suggestions？
I am not very strong on capturing escaped animals。 Phil； how about it？〃
Phil shook his head。
〃I have an idea； Mr。 Sparling；〃 spoke up Teddy。
〃I knew you had； from the expression on your face。 What is it？〃
〃I'll climb up and shake him down。〃
A loud laugh greeted this remark。
〃You couldn't climb up there。 The mast is too slippery。〃
〃I'll show you。〃
〃Very well； go ahead。〃
〃Teddy； I think I would keep out of this； were I in your place；〃
remarked Phil。
〃You keep out of it yourself。 I'll show you that I know how to catch
wild beasts。 I haven't ridden January all this time for nothing。〃
122
… Page 123…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
Teddy started in bravely to climb the mast。 After a great struggle he
managed to get up about eight feet。 Suddenly he lost his grip and came
sliding down； landing at the foot of the mast in a heap。
A shout greeted his ludicrous drop。
〃I think you had better give it up；〃 laughed Mr。 Sparling。
〃I won't give it up。〃
〃You cannot climb the mast。〃
〃I don't intend to。 I have an idea。〃
〃What is your idea？〃
〃I will show you。 Bring me a rope。〃
The rope was quickly handed to him。 The Circus Boy coiled it neatly；
closely observed by the show people； who did not understand what he was
about to do。
〃I'm a sailor； you know；〃 he grinned。 Measuring the distance
accurately； Teddy swung the coil about his head a few times； then let it fly
up into the air； keeping the free end in one hand as he did so。
The coil tumbled over the yard or cross piece and came down； hitting
the deck with a thump。
〃There。 Can you beat that？〃 he demanded triumphantly。
〃Very well done；〃 agreed Mr。 Sparling。 〃Now that it is over； what do
you propose to do next？〃
〃Watch me！〃
The lad made fast one end of the rope to the ship's rail； the baboon
peering down suspiciously。
〃Oh； I'm after you； you rascal；〃 jeered Teddy； shaking a fist at the ugly
face above him。
After testing the rope； Teddy began climbing it hand over hand。 Then
the spectators divined his purpose。
〃The boy is all right；〃 nodded Mr。 Sparling approvingly。 〃That is the
time that he got the best of you； Phil。〃
〃He is welcome to the job；〃 answered Phil。 〃You haven't captured the
baboon yet。〃
Teddy； by this time； was halfway up the mast。 It seemed a dizzy
climb； but the lad was so used to being up high that he did not mind it in
123
… Page 124…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
the least。
〃Hey； down there！〃 he called。
〃What is it？〃
〃Better get out a small net so you can catch him。 I'm going to shake
him down as I would a ripe apple。 If you catch him in the net he will
tangle himself up so that he cannot get away。〃
〃That is a good idea；〃 approved Mr。 Sparling。 〃Get the net； and hold
it in readiness。〃
Teddy； in the meantime； was working his way up。 After a time his
hands grasped the crossbar and he pulled himself up astride it； waving one
hand to those below him。
Bruiser； however； was not there。 The baboon had scrambled to the
top of the mast on which there was a golden ball； and on this he perched
some eight or nine feet above Teddy Tucker's head。
〃Now where is your baboon？〃 called a voice。
〃Where he cannot get away from me unless he jumps into the
Mississippi；〃 answered Teddy quickly。
〃How are you going to get him？〃 called Mr。 Sparling。
〃I'll see when I get to him。〃
With great caution； the lad climbed up the slender top of the mast。
Bruiser's tail hung over； while he clung with his feet； glaring down at
Teddy。 The baboon realized that he could not get away。
〃Come down here！〃 commanded Teddy； grabbing the beast's tail and
giving it a mighty tug。
Bruiser's grip gave way。 Down shot Teddy and the baboon。 But
the cross…tree saved him； as the lad figured that it would。 One hand was
clinging to Bruiser's tail； the other arm thrown about the mast。
Now； Bruiser took a hand。 With a snarl of rage he fastened in the hair
of Teddy Tucker's head； causing that young man to howl lustily。
For a moment boy and baboon 〃mixed it up〃 at such a lively rate that it
was difficult for the spectators below to tell which was boy and which
baboon。 Teddy seemed to be getting the worst of it。
〃Look out！ Let go of him！ You will be in the river the first thing
you know！〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling warningly。
124
… Page 125…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
Teddy did not hear him。 He was too busy； at the moment； trying to
keep those savage teeth from fastening themselves in his neck； for which
the beast seemed to be aiming。 At the same time the boy was getting
more and more angry。 It was characteristic of Teddy that； the angrier he
became； the cooler he grew。
He was guarding himself as best he could and watching his chance to
get the upper hand of his antagonist。
All at once Teddy let drive a short…arm blow at the head of the baboon。
Few things could withstand that blow； and least of all a baboon。 It
landed fairly on the grinning jaws and Bruiser's head jolted backwards as
if it were going right on into the river。
Teddy lost his balance； aided in this by the fact that Bruiser had
fastened to the lad's pajamas。
〃They're going to fall！〃 roared Mr。 Sparling。 〃Catch them！ Catch
them！〃
The men hastened to move the net； and none too soon； for Teddy and
Bruiser came whirling down； the lad making desperate efforts to right
himself so as to drop on his feet。 But the baboon prevented his doing
this。
They struck the net； which was jerked from the hands of the men； and
Teddy hit the deck with a terrific bump。
125
… Page 126…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
CHAPTER XXI
A CIRCUS BOY MISSING
〃Grab the beast！〃
Teddy was still clinging to the baboon so firmly that they had to use
force to get Bruiser away from him。
As for the baboon； he was too dazed from the shock of the fall to offer
any resistance； and was quickly captured and returned to his cage。
Teddy had not fared quite so well。 He was unconscious； and for a
time it was feared that he had been seriously injured。
As it turned out； however； he had es
