rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第9部分
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his feet and shook him vigorously。
This restored the boy to his normal condition。
〃Hello； folks！〃 howled Teddy； turning a handspring； falling over a ring
curbing as he did so。
The people forgot their fear and greeted Teddy with wild applause。
The Circus Boy had saved a blow…down and perhaps many lives as well。
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The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
CHAPTER VII
IN NEW QUARTERS
Though the center pole had been struck by lightning； repairs were soon
sufficiently advanced to enable the show to go on and complete the
performance。 The pole itself was practically ruined。
Fortunately； the show had another one； and the wrecked pole was left
on the lot that night as worthless。
After the Roman races the people stood up in their seats and gave three
cheers for the boy who had saved many of them from perhaps serious
injury or death。
Teddy heard the cheer。 He was in his dressing tent changing his
clothes； having thus far gotten on only his trousers and undershirt。
He could not restrain his curiosity； so trotting to the entrance he
inquired the cause of the commotion。
〃They're cheering for you；〃 a canvasman informed him。
〃For me？〃
〃Yes。〃
Teddy needed no more。 Without an instant's hesitation he ran out into
the ring； where he stood smiling； bowing and throwing kisses to them。
〃Come and see us again！〃 yelled the Circus Boy。
〃We will that！〃 answered a chorus of voices。
〃I'll have the big hen lay another egg for you。 I〃 His voice was
drowned in the roar of laughter that followed this sally。
Already the attendants were ripping up the seats； loading them into the
wagons； with a rattle and bang。 Men were shouting； horses neighing；
here and there an animal uttered a hoarse…voiced protest at something； it
knew not what。
Circus animals often scent a change； perhaps more quickly than do the
people about them。
Performers and others； whose duties did not keep them on the lot； were
hurrying to get to the dock where the circus boats were waiting； and where
Mr。 Sparling was attending to the loading。
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Phil and Teddy were in no less haste。 Quickly getting their trunks
packed； they started off for the river。 The moon had come out after the
storm and the air was fresh and fragrant； though underfoot the evidences
of the storm were still present。
〃Did I hurt you much when I fell on you tonight； Teddy？〃
〃Hurt me？〃
〃Yes？〃
〃You knocked the breath out of me。 But don't let a little thing like
that worry you。 I thought the tent had fallen on me； or at least a center
pole。 Lucky I was there； wasn't it？〃
〃It was。〃
〃You might have received a bump that you wouldn't have gotten over
right away。〃
〃I might have done so。〃
〃I saved your life； didn't I？〃
〃Perhaps you did。 I had only a few feet to drop； you know。 I was
ready to drop on all fours lightly when you happened to get in the way〃
〃When I happened to get in the way？〃
〃Yes。 Didn't you？〃
〃Well； I like that；〃 growled Teddy indignantly。 〃Here I run in and
save your life； willing to sacrifice my own for you and you say when I
'happened to get in the way。'〃
Phil laughed heartily。
〃Of course； I appreciate your wonderful self…sacrifice。 It was very
kind of you to get in the way and let me fall on you。 Nothing like having
a soft place to fall； is there； old chap？〃
Teddy uttered an unintelligible growl。
〃That's right； insult me。 I'm only a clown andand a life…saver〃
〃And one of the best fellows a chap could have for his friend； eh？ I
was only joking； Teddy。〃
〃I accept your apology。 My hand on it；〃 answered Teddy
condescendingly。 〃Next time you can fall on the ground or any old
place。 I don't care。 I shan't try to catch you。〃 〃If I remember
correctly； you could not very well help yourself in this instance。 You did
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The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
not catch me。 I caught youcaught you unawares。 There is Mr。
Sparling and there are the boats。 Don't they look fine； all lighted up
inside； their signal lights burning on the outside？〃
〃They look wet to me。〃
Thin wisps of smoke were curling lazily from the funnels of the three
boats； for the stokers had not yet started to get up steam。 Some hours
would elapse before the fleet would be ready to begin its journey down the
big river。
〃There goes the 'Little Nemo；'〃 cried Teddy。
The smaller of the three steamboats moved slowly out into the stream；
and there came to anchor to await the other boats。 The 〃Fat Marie〃 was
already alongside the long dock； but she now moved up a little further to
make room for her companion boat； the 〃River Queen；〃 which latter Phil
had nicknamed the 〃Yellow Peril。〃
〃Let's see； where do we stow our belongings； Phil？〃
〃On the 'Fat Marie。'〃
〃If that name don't sink her； nothing will；〃 said Teddy； with a broad
grin。 〃I hope the boat floats better than Fat Marie did when she fell in the
creek last season。 If not； we're lost。 Let's go on board and find out
where we are going to live。〃
〃After we speak to Mr。 Sparling。 Is there anything we can do to help
you； Mr。 Sparling？〃 asked Phil； stepping up to the owner of the show； who；
hatless； coatless； his hair looking as if it had not been combed in days； was
giving orders in sharp； short sentences； answering questions and shouting
directions almost in the same breath。
〃Oh； is that you； Phil？〃
〃It is myself； sir；〃 smiled the lad。 〃How are you getting along？〃
〃Much better than I had hoped。 You see the 'Little Nemo' is already
loaded。 The 'Fat Marie' is well loaded and the 'Queen' is taking stuff on
board at a two…forty gait。〃
〃I see you haven't driven the bulls on yet；〃 meaning the elephants。
The elephants were standing off beyond the docks； huge shadowy
figures； swaying silently in the faint light； for there was a slight haze in the
air that even the brilliant moonlight could not wholly pierce。
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〃No； I thought it best to load the bulls and the ring stock later on。
The bulls might get frightened with all the unusual noises around them。
After they become more used to this method of traveling they will be all
right。〃
〃What time do we pull out？〃
〃It will be three o'clock； I think。 Perhaps a little later than that。〃
〃You mean earlier；〃 suggested Teddy。
The showman turned on him sharply。
〃Why； hello； Teddy。 Really； you are so small that I did not see
you。〃
Teddy winced。
〃I guess I'm some； even if I am little；〃 protested the lad warmly。
〃You are right。 You are not only some； but _much。_ What's this I
hear about trouble on the lot？ Some of the men said they heard there had
been an accident； but they guessed it didn't amount to much。〃
〃It was not very serious；〃 said Phil。
〃Oh； no； nothing of any consequence；〃 jeered Teddy。 〃I was struck
by lightning； that's all。〃
〃What！〃
〃Hit by balls of fireand the big hen laid an egg。〃
〃See here； what are you driving at〃
〃And crushed； utterly crushed by my best friend； Phil Forrest。 Now；
what do you think of that？〃
〃Teddy； please hitch your tongue to the roof of your mouth for a
moment。 Now； Phil； tell me what happened。 I get so dizzy when Teddy
is talking that I almost imagine I am going to be seasick。〃
〃Pshaw！〃 growled Teddy。
〃We did have a little trouble。〃
〃Tell me about it。〃
〃The storm came up while the aerial acts were on。 We all shortened
our acts at the direction of the ringmaster； and it was well we did so。 We
had not all gotten down when a bolt of lightning struck the main center
pole。〃
〃You don't say！ Here； men； stow those canvas wagons forward！
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You must learn to trim the boat； giving her an even load all over！ Did
the bolt do any damage？〃
〃Slivered the pole。〃
〃Wreck it？〃
〃Yes。 Not worth carrying off the lot。〃
〃What else？〃
〃Some excitement〃
〃Panic？〃
〃No； but I think there would have been had it not been for my friend；
Teddy Tucker。 He amused the audience while things were happening up
a
