rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第7部分
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one； several shades more yellow than the other two。
〃I guess we shall have to call her the 'Yellow Peril；'〃 laughed Phil。
〃Don't you think that would be an appropriate name？〃
Mr。 Sparling laughed good…naturedly。
The companion boat to the 〃Queen〃 was named the 〃Mary Jane。〃
Teddy promptly renamed her the 〃Fat Marie；〃 in honor of The Fattest
Woman on Earth； much to the amusement of Phil and Mr。 Sparling。
The 〃Nemah〃 was the third boat of the fleet； a much smaller craft than
either of the others。 The owner intended to use the 〃Nemah〃 as the
Flying Squadron of the show； the boat that went ahead of the main body of
the show； bearing the cook tent； kitchen equipment and as much other
property as could be loaded on it。
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〃Well； Teddy；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； 〃in view of the fact that you and Phil
have renamed the 'River Queen' and the 'Mary Jane；' I suppose you will
not be satisfied until you have rechristened the 'Nemah。' What will you
call her？〃
〃'Little Nemo；'〃 answered the lad promptly。
〃You boys beat anything I ever came across in all my circus
experience；〃 remarked Mr。 Sparling。
〃Where do we sleep？〃 asked Phil。
〃The cabins are all on the upper decks。 The lower decks will be used
wholly for the equipment。 I have had all the partitions ripped out； down
there； and the deck flooring lowered a little so that the elephants will
have room to stand。 I have also had smaller wheels put on all the wagons。
Had I not done so the wagons would not have gone in through the
openings on the sides。〃
〃What about the tent poles？〃 asked Phil。 〃You never will be able to
drive a pole wagon on board。〃
〃You have an eye to business； I see。 Have you noticed that the center
poles are spliced this season？〃
〃Yes； I did observe that。〃
〃It was for the purpose of easier handling。 The poles will all be
swung to the upper decks in bundles。 In the morning they will be
lowered to the wagons； which can be done without much difficulty。 All
the poles； except those belonging to the big top； will go out on the 'Little
Nemo；' as you have named her。 At first； handling the show will be a little
awkward； but we shall soon get the hang of it and fit into the new
arrangement just as if we had been always traveling on boats。 Traveling
on the water； you see； we shall be able to show on both sides of the river
all the way down； which we could not do were we traveling by train。
That will give us a long season； short runs overnight and a fine outing。
Everybody will be delighted with the change； don't you think so？〃
〃If not； they will be pretty hard to please； I should say；〃 rejoined Phil。
〃Why； it will be a regular vacationall summer！〃
〃How far do we go？〃 asked Teddy。
〃The length of the river。〃
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〃To the Gulf of Mexico？〃
〃Yes。 New Orleans probably will be our last stand of the season。
That is； if we do not get wrecked on the big river。〃
〃We can swim out if we do；〃 suggested Teddy。
〃I hope nothing of the sort will occur。 I think our new plans will
make a great hit along the river。〃
〃They cannot help but do so。 We shall have a fine business； I
know；〃 smiled Phil；〃 and our rivals will be green with envy。〃
〃May we go on board？〃
〃I hardly think you will have time this morning； Teddy。 You boys had
better get back to the lot now。 I will let you run the show； Phil； as I shall
be busy most of the day arranging for the transfer to our new quarters。 I
chose Saturday for the purpose； as it will give us plenty of time。 We
probably shall not get away from here much before daylight。〃
〃What boat do we berth on？〃
〃The 'Fat Marie；'〃 answered the showman； with a laugh。 〃I believe
I'll have these new names of yours painted on the boats。 They certainly
make a hit with me。 Skip along； now！〃
Almost too full of the new plans to talk； the Circus Boys hurried back
to the circus lot。 Mr。 Sparling's surprise had been a surprise； indeed。
By the time they reached the lot the news had been circulated that the
show was to take to the river； and the show people were discussing
excitedly the new plan。
All was bustle and excitement； and the occupants of the dressing tent；
who were preparing for the parade； crowded about the boys to hear of the
new boats。
The Sparling show had never gone along with the snap and enthusiasm
that it did that afternoon。 The performers were on their mettle and the
little town was treated to a performance such as it had never seen before。
Teddy distinguished himself by landing on his head on the
somersaulting mat； narrowly escaping breaking his neck； and Phil took an
unexpected header into the big net during his trapeze act； getting a jolt that
made his head ache for an hour afterwards。 Nothing else of an exciting
nature occurred during the afternoon performance； but at the evening show
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the circus people were not so fortunate。
At that performance they met with excitement enough to last them for
a long time。
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CHAPTER VI
A BOLT FROM THE CLOUDS
〃The old hen has laid an egg！ The old hen has laid an egg！〃
The performance was moving merrily on； the gasoline lamps shedding
a bright glow over the golden haze of the circus tent； when a diminutive
clown rushed into the arena bearing something in his arms。
To the spectators it was just another clownish act； and they laughed
uproariously。 The circus people； however； realized at once that
something not down on the bills was taking place； and they cast
wondering glances at the little clown； who was dancing about in high glee。
〃Get out of here！〃 growled the ringmaster angrily。 〃What do you
mean by breaking into the performance in this way。 Out of here； I
say！〃
〃The old hen has laid an egg！〃 repeated the clown； holding aloft the
object that all might see。
Teddy Tucker； for it was he； cared nothing for the crowds occupying
the seats。 In fact； it is doubtful that he gave any thought to them at all。
〃What do you mean？〃 demanded the ringmaster。
〃The ostrich。 Don't you see？〃
〃The ostrich？〃
〃Yes； she's laid an egg。〃
Quick to appreciate the value of the clown's interruption； the
ringmaster took the great egg that Teddy had brought in； and held it aloft。
〃Ladies and gentlemen；〃 he announced； as the band suddenly ceased
playing； 〃wonders never cease in the Great Sparling Shows。 You have
been treated to startling feats of skill upon the lofty flying swings； you
have witnessed desperately dangerous displays of unrivaled aerialism； and
you are about to observe the thundering； furious Roman chariot races three
times about the arena〃
〃Say； what are you trying to get at？〃 growled Teddy Tucker。 〃Give
me back that egg。〃
〃But a sensation greater than all of these is in store for you； though
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you did not know it。 The tallest hen in the world has laid an egg for your
instruction and amusementthe ostrich has immortalized the town of
Milledgeville by laying an egg within its sacred precincts； and my friend；
Teddy Tucker； in discovering it； has accomplished an achievement beside
which the discovery of the north or south pole is a cheap side show。〃
The audience yelled its approval and appreciation。
〃Young man； what do you intend to do with this wonderful and rare
specimen？〃
〃What do I intend to do with it？〃
〃Yes。 Is it your purpose to present it to this beautiful little city； to be
placed among its other treasures in the city hall？〃
〃Well； I guess not！〃
〃What； then？〃
〃I'm going to eat it。 That's what I'm going to do with it；〃 answered
Teddy in a voice loud enough to be heard all over the big top。
The people shouted。
〃Give me that egg！〃 demanded the Circus Boy； grabbing the big white
ball and marching off toward the paddock with it； to the accompaniment
of the laughter and applause of the audience。
〃Now that we have seen this remarkable Easter achievement； the
performance will pro
