rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第8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！
〃Now that we have seen this remarkable Easter achievement； the
performance will proceed；〃 announced the ringmaster； blowing his whistle
and waving his hand。
The band struck up； the performers； grinning broadly； took up their
work where they had left off upon the entrance of Teddy Tucker with the
giant egg。
The incident had served to put both performers and audience in high
good humor。 Mr。 Sparling was not present to witness it。 He was busy
down by the docks； attending to the loading of such of the show's
equipment as was ready to be packed away for shipment on the Sparling
fleet。
Perhaps it was just as well for Teddy； that the owner of the show was
not present； as he might have objected to the Circus Boy's interruption of
the performance。
Teddy was irrepressible。 He stood in awe of no one except the
34
… Page 35…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
Lady Snake Charmer； and did pretty much as he pleased all the time。
Yet； beneath the surface； there was the making of a manly man； a resolute；
sturdy character of whom great things might be expected in the not far
distant future。
As the performance proceeded an ominous rumbling was suddenly
heard。
〃I think it is going to storm；〃 Phil confided to his working mate on the
flying trapeze。
〃Sounds that way。 Is that thunder I hear？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Guess it won't amount to much。 Just a spring shower。 You will
find a lot of them along the river for the next month or so。〃
〃I have always heard that rivers were wet；〃 replied Phil humorously；
swinging off into space； landing surely and gracefully in the arms of the
catcher in the trapeze act。
〃I think we had better cut the act short。〃
〃Oh； no； let's go on with it；〃 answered Phil。 〃I am not afraid if you
are not。〃
〃Afraid nothing。 I remember still what a narrow escape we had last
season just before that blow…down； when Wallace； the big lion； made his
escape。 That was a lively time； wasn't it？〃
〃Rather；〃 agreed Phil。
The ringmaster motioned to them to bring their act to a close； and the
band leader； catching the significance of the movement； urged his
musicians to play louder。 The crash of cymbals and the boom of the bass
drum and the big horns almost drowned out the rumbling of the thunder。
Those up near the dome of the tent； still going through their acts； now
heard the patter of heavy rain drops on the canvas top。 The lights
throughout the tent flickered a little under the draught that sucked in
through the openings in the tent and the open space at the top of the side
walls。
The audience showed signs of restlessness。
〃It is only a spring shower； ladies and gentlemen；〃 announced the
ringmaster。 〃You have no cause for alarm。 The hats of the ladies are
35
… Page 36…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
perfectly safe。 This tent is waterproof。 You could soak it in the
Mississippi without getting a drop of water through it。 That's the way the
Sparling show looks out for its patrons。 Nothing cheap about the
Sparling outfit！〃
A laugh greeted his remarks。
A blinding flash faded the gasoline lamps to a ghostly flame。 A few
seconds later a crash that shook the earth followed； causing the audience
to shiver with nervous apprehension。
Teddy had come out and was gazing aloft。 He grinned at Phil； noting
at the same time that all the lofty performers were preparing to come
down。
〃Hello； fraid…cats up there！〃 jeered the Circus Boy。
〃You get out of here！〃 snapped the ringmaster。 〃What are you doing
here； anyway？〃
〃I'm working。〃
〃Yes； I see you working。 Go on about your business and don't bother
me。 Don't you think I have anything else to do except to watch you； in
order to prevent your breaking up the performance？〃
〃You ought to thank me for keeping you busy；〃 chuckled Teddy；
making a lively jump to get out of the way of the long lash that snapped at
his heels。
Perhaps there was method in Teddy Tucker's movements。 He
strolled out into the concourse； gazing up at the crowded seats； winking
and making wry faces at the people； as he moved slowly along； causing
them to laugh and shout flippant remarks at him。
This was exactly what he wanted them to do。 It gave Teddy an
opportunity to talk back； and many a keen…pointed shaft did he hurl at the
unwary who had been imprudent enough to try to make sport of him。
While this impromptu act was going on the minds of the people were
so occupied that they forgot all about the storm。
The rain was now beating down on the big top in a deluge； and despite
the ringmaster's assurance that the canvas would not leak； a fine spray was
filling the tent like a thin fog； through which the lights glowed in pale
circles。
36
… Page 37…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
〃Even the lamps have halos；〃 Teddy informed the people。 〃I had one
once； but the ringmaster borrowed it and forgot to return it。 But I don't
care。 He needs a halo more than I do。〃
A howl greeted this sally。
Teddy was about to say something else； after the first wave of laughter
had swept over the audience； but no one heard him speak。
Another flash； more brilliant； more blinding than any that had gone
before it； lighted up the tent。 The big top seemed suddenly to have been
filled with fire。 Thin threads of it ran down quarter and center pole；
circles of it raced about the iron rings used in various parts of the tent； then
jumped into the rigging； running up and down the iron braces and wire
ropes used to brace the apparatus。
The flash was accompanied by a report that was terrifying。 At that
instant a great ball of fire descended from the damp top of the tent；
dropping straight toward the concourse。 Teddy Tucker chanced to be
standing just beneath it。 He had glanced up when the report came； to see
if any damage had been done aloft。
〃Wow！〃 breathed Teddy。
Just then the ball burst only a few feet above his head； scattering fire in
all directions。
Teddy fell flat to the ground。
He was up almost at once。
〃I'm all right！ How's the rest of the family？〃 he howled。
The rest of the family were too much concerned with what was taking
place in the big top to notice the Circus Boy's humor。
Then Teddy observed that the center pole was split from end to end。
The lightning bolt had followed it from its peak to the ground。 Several of
the side poles had already given way； and the lad saw the dome of the tent
slowly settling。
〃Hitch it！ Anchor it！〃 he bellowed。
The attendants were too frightened to give heed to his words。
Phil Forrest was coming down a rope； hand under hand； as rapidly as
he could travel。
〃Snub the rope or you'll have the tent down on you！〃 he shouted。
37
… Page 38…
The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
Teddy darted forward； throwing himself upon the heavy rope that held
the dome in place。
At that instant the rope on which Phil Forrest was descending gave
way； and Phil came straight down。
He landed on Teddy Tucker's head and shoulders； knocking Teddy flat
on the ground； where the little Circus Boy lay still。 Yet he had； with rare
presence of mind； snubbed the heavy rope around a tent stake； keeping the
free end of the rope in hand； and holding desperately to it。
Nor did Teddy release his grip on the rope； now that he had been
knocked unconscious。 He held it in place； the strands wound firmly
about his arm； though inch by inch he was slipping toward the heavy tent
stake。 Phil had received a severe shaking…up； but he was on his feet
quickly； looking about to see on whom he had fallen。
When he discovered that Teddy had been the victim； Phil groaned。
〃I'm afraid I have finished him！〃
Teddy had now been drawn along by the rope until his head was
against the tent stake。
〃Quick！ Lend a hand here！〃 shouted Phil。
He wrenched the rope loose from Tucker's hands； taking a twist about
his own arms and holding on with all his might。
Several ring attendants came to their senses about that time and rushed
to his assistance。
〃Take care of Teddy！〃 cried Phil。
The ringmaster turned Teddy over and looked into the lad's face。 At
that； Teddy opened his eyes and winked。 The ringmaster jerked him to
his feet and shook him vigorously。
This restored the boy to his normal conditio
