rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第33部分
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The solution of the mystery was at hand； however； and was to come in
a most unexpected manner。
Supper had been eaten； and most of the performers were out on the lot；
enjoying the balmy air of the early evening for the few moments left to
them before they would be obliged to repair to the dressing tent to make
ready for the evening performance。
Phil decided to go in； after finishing a talk with Mr。 Sparling in the
latter's private tent。 As the lad passed through the menagerie tent the
attendants were lighting the gasoline lamps there and hauling them up the
center poles。
Under the big top； however； one could not see half its length。 The
lights there would not be turned on for fifteen or twenty minutes yet。 Not
a person was in sight as Phil entered the tent； making his way slowly down
the concourse。 He paused half…way down； seating himself on a
grandstand chair in one of the arena boxes； where he thought over the
latest exploit of the show's enemy。
〃This time they were not after me； but after the outfit itself；〃 he
muttered。 〃That is the time the fellow showed his hand； and it gives me
an idea。 Ihello； there is someone who acts as if he did not wish to be
seen。〃
Phil sat still and watched。 Someone had slipped in under the tent
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down at the other end； directly across the arena from where the bandstand
was located。 It had now become so dark in the tent that Phil could not
make out the fellow's features。 In fact； the man was a mere shadow。
〃I wonder what he is doing there？〃
Then a thought struck Phil Forrest like a blow。
〃That's where they put the big net between performances。〃
Phil crept down into the arena and made his way back to the entrance
to the menagerie tent； where he quickly slipped out into the open and ran
down along the outside of the big top at his best speed。 As he drew
near the spot where he had seen the man； he moved cautiously。
Finally Phil dropped down and peered under the tent。 He was less
than ten feet from where the fellow was at work。 The Circus Boy could
catch a 〃rip； rip〃 now and then。
〃The fiend is cutting the net；〃 he muttered。 〃I wonder who he is。
Ah； I know him now！ He is one of the tent men。 I never thought he
was in this thing。 I must catch himI must make the attempt； for he may
get away。 I don't even know the fellow's name； nor do I understand his
enmity toward the show or myself。〃
Phil wriggled in under the tent； now； not fearing discovery； for inside
the tent； it was quite dark。 Slowly raising himself to his feet； he edged
nearer； step by step； to where the man was at work。 The man had partly
spread the net out by this time； to make sure that he was cutting it in the
right place so that it would give way beneath the weight of the performer
unfortunate enough to drop into it first。
〃The fiend！〃 repeated Phil； clenching his fists。 〃I'm glad I am the one
to discover him。 Mr。 Man； I have a score to settle with you and I'm going
to begin the settling up now。〃
Phil crouched low。 He was now only a few feet from the stooping
figure。
All at once the boy threw himself forward。 He landed on the man；
forcing him to the ground。 As he struck； Phil raised his voice in the
showmen's rallying cry。
〃_Hey； Rube！_〃 he shouted in a sing…song voice that was heard in the
dressing tents and even out in the menagerie tent。
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His first care； then； was to pinion the man so he could not use his
hands； for the Circus Boy knew that his captive had a knife in one hand。
Men came running from all directions； Mr。 Sparling among the
number； for he had been in the menagerie tent when the cry reached him；
and feared some fresh trouble was at hand。
〃What is it？ Where is it？〃 roared the showman。
〃Here； here！ Bring lights。 Bring〃
The man beneath him began to struggle。 In fact the fellow staggered
to his feet； the boy being too light to hold him down。
Phil grabbed him about the waist； pinioning the man's arms to his
sides。 Then began a desperate struggle； during which the combatants fell
to the ground； rolling over and over in their fierce battle。
〃It's Phil Forrest！〃 shouted the owner。
He sprang forward and with a mighty tug； jerked the tentman free of
the Circus Boy's body。 At that instant the fellow leaped to his feet and
started to run。
〃Stop him！〃 howled Phil。
Teddy； who had come running up； suddenly stooped over and
constituting himself a battering ram； ran full tilt into the tentman； the boy's
head landing in the pit of the circus hand's stomach。 The fellow went
down； whereupon Teddy promptly sat on him until the others reached
the scene。
〃Now； what does this mean？〃 demanded the showman sternly。
〃It means that I caught this fellow cutting the net。 If you will look at
it you will find it to be badly mutilated； I think。〃 An examination proved
that Phil was right。 Mr。 Sparling had all he could do to prevent the angry
circus men from wreaking their vengeance on the wretch then and there。
Teddy； in the meantime； had been peering into the man's face。
〃I know him！ I know him！〃 howled the Circus Boy； dancing about。
〃You know him？〃
〃Yes； do you remember Bad Eye who was mixed up with Red Larry；
the fellow we sent to jail two or three seasons ago？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃That's Bad Eye；〃 pointing to the prisoner； 〃and he is bad medicine；
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besides。〃
〃Is it possible？〃 muttered Phil； a new light breaking over him。
Suddenly Teddy uttered a yell。
〃I've got him！ He's the fellow who stole my egg。〃 Teddy made a
dive for the prisoner； but strong hands pulled him away。
Bad Eye； it developed； smarting under the punishment that had been
meted out to his companion； had once more joined the show； determined
upon revenge。 He had in the meantime grown a full beard； so that no one
recognized him。 Now； Phil Forrest knew why the voice was dimly
familiar to him when he had heard it that night out on the lot。
Caught red…handed； Bad Eye made a full confession。 And to the
surprise of everyone； he implicated Manuel； the assistant to the Spanish
clown。 Bad Eye admitted having thrown Phil Forrest overboard； as well。
He denied having stolen Tucker's egg； placing the full responsibility for
this on the shoulders of Manuel。
What was done with the egg was never known； though Manuel was
believed to have thrown it overboard。 Diaz； after his one violent
outbreak； had made no further evil attempts。
Bad Eye and Manuel were tried and convicted in due time； and placed
where they would do the show no further harm。
The show went on； and after several successful weeks； reached New
Orleans； where the final performance of the season was given。 All hands
then turned their faces northward。 Teddy and Phil decided to take a
steamship for New York； thence proceeding to their home by train。 Each
lad was a few thousand dollars richer than when he had joined out in the
spring。
They waved their adieus to Mr。 Sparling from the deck of an ocean
steamer next morning as the big ship slowly poked its nose out into the
gulf。
〃You can't down the Circus Boys；〃 said Phil； with a pleased smile as
they leaned over the rail。
〃At least； not this season；〃 added Teddy。
But the exciting experiences of the Circus Boys were not yet at an end。
The lads will be heard from further in another volume； under the title：
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〃THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE PLAINS； Or； The Young Advance Agents
Ahead of the Show。〃
In this forthcoming volume the lads pass through a phase of circus life
never experienced by them before。 They will find； too； that all the thrills
of the circus life are not confined to the sawdust arena； but that there is
every whit as much excitement and real peril in the daily life of the
advance man on the advertising car ahead of the show。
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