the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第16章
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rein to steady himself。
〃Begin moving about now。 Tread softly and lightly。 That's it。
You've caught it already。〃
〃Why not put a pad on the horse's back； as I've seen some performers
do？〃 he questioned。
〃No。 I don't want you to begin that way。 Start without a pad； and
you never will have to unlearn what you get。 That's my advice。 I'm going
to set him at a gallop now。 Stand straight and lean back a little。〃
The ring horse moved off at a slow； methodical gallop。
Phil promptly fell off； landing outside the ring； from where he picked
himself up rather crestfallen。
〃Never mind。 You'll learn。 You are doing splendidly；〃 encouraged
Dimples； assisting him to mount again。 〃There's the press agent； Mr。
Dexter； watching you。 Now do your prettiest。 Do you know him？〃
〃No； I have not met him。 He's the fellow that Teddy says blows up
his words with a bicycle pump。〃
〃That's fine。 I shall have to tell him that。 Remember； you always
want to keep good friends with the press agent。 He's the man who makes
or unmakes you after you have passed the eagle eyes of the proprietor；〃
Dimples laughed。 〃From what I hear I guess you stand pretty high with
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Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃I try to do what is rightdo the best I know how。〃
She nodded； clucking to the gray and Phil stopped talking at once； for
he was fully occupied in sticking to the horse； over whose back he
sprawled every now and then in the most ridiculous of positions。 But；
before the afternoon's practice had ended； the lad had made distinct
progress。 He found himself able to stand erect； by the aid of the bridle
rein； and to keep his position fairly well while the animal took a slow
gallop。 He had not yet quite gotten over the dizziness caused by the
constant traveling about in a circle in the narrow ring； but Dimples assured
him that； after a few more turns； this would wear off entirely。
After finishing the practice； Dimples led her horse back to the horse
tent； promising Phil that they should meet the next afternoon。
Phil had no more than changed to his street clothes before he received
a summons to go to Mr。 Sparling in his private tent。
〃I wonder what's wrong now？〃 muttered the lad。 〃But； I think I know。
It's about that row we had this morning out on the lot。 I shouldn't be
surprised if I got fined for that。〃
With a certain nervousness； Phil hurried out around the dressing tent；
and skirting the two big tents； sought out Mr。 Sparling in his office。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XI
SUMMONED BEFORE THE MANAGER
The lad was not far wrong in his surmise。 That Mr。 Sparling was
angry was apparent at the first glance。
He eyed Phil from head to foot； a fierce scowl wrinkling his face and
forehead。
〃Well； sir； what have you been up to this afternoon？〃
〃Practicing in the ring since the afternoon performance closed。〃
〃H…m…m…m！ And this forenoon？〃
〃Not much of anything in the way of work。〃
〃Have any trouble with any of the men？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Who？〃
〃A man by the name of Larry； and another whom they call Bad Eye。〃
〃Humph！ I suppose you know it's a bad breach of discipline in a
show to have any mixups； don't you？〃
〃I do。 I make no apologies； except that I was acting wholly in self
defense。 All the same； I do not expect any favoritism。 I am willing to
take my punishment； whatever it may be；〃 replied the lad steadily。
There was the merest suspicion of a twinkle in the eyes of the
showman。
〃Tell me what you did。〃
〃I punched Larry； tripped his friend； andwell； I don't exactly know all
that did happen；〃 answered Phil without a change of expression。
〃Knock them down？〃
〃II guess so。〃
〃H…m…m。 I suppose you know both those fellows are pretty bad
medicine； don't you？〃
〃I may have heard something of the sort。〃
〃Larry has quite a reputation as a fighter。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And you knocked him out？〃
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〃Something like that；〃 answered Phil meekly。
〃Show me how you did it？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling； rising and
standing before the culprit。
〃It was like this； you see；〃 began Phil； exhibiting a sudden interest in
the inquiry。 〃I was chased by the two men。 Suddenly I stopped and let
the fellow； Larry； fall over me。 During the scrimmage I tripped Bad Eye。
I didn't hit anyone until Larry crowded me so I had to do so in order to
save myself； or else run away。〃
〃Why didn't you run； young man？〃
〃II didn't like to do that； you know。〃
Mr。 Sparling nodded his head。
〃How did you hit him？〃
〃He made a pass at me like this；〃 and the lad lifted Mr。 Sparling's hand
over his shoulder。 〃I came up under his guard with a short arm jolt like
this。〃
〃Well； what next？〃
〃That was about all there was to it。 The others came out； about that
time； and I ducked in under the big top。〃
To Phil's surprise Mr。 Sparling broke out into a roar of laughter。 In a
moment he grew sober and stern again。
〃Be good enough to tell me what led up to this assault。 What happened
before that brought on the row？ I can depend upon you to give me the
facts。 I can't say as much for all the others。〃
Phil did as the showman requested； beginning with the ducking of
Teddy by the men when the show was leaving Germantown； and ending
with Teddy's having emptied a pail of muddy water over Larry's red head
that morning。
He had only just finished his narration of the difficulty； when who
should appear at the entrance to the office tent but Larry himself。 He was
followed； a few paces behind； by Bad Eye。
Mr。 Sparling's stern； judicial eyes were fixed upon them。 He demanded
to hear from them their version of the affair； which Larry related； leaving
out all mention of his having ducked Teddy。 His story agreed in the main
details with what Phil already had said； excepting that Larry's recital threw
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the blame on Teddy and Phil。
Mr。 Sparling took a book from his desk； making a memorandum
therein。
〃Is that all； sir？〃 questioned Larry。
〃Not quite。 If I hear of any further infraction of the rules of this show
on the part of either of you two； you close right then。 Understand？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃That's not all； I'll have you both jailed for assault。 As it is； I'll fine
you both a week's pay。 Now get out of here！〃
Larry hesitated； flashed a malignant glance at Phil Forrest； then；
turning on his heel； he left the tent。
〃Don't you think you had better fine me； too； sir？〃 asked Phil。
〃What for？〃
〃Because I shall have to do it again some of these days。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃That fellow is going to be even with me at the very first opportunity。〃
Mr。 Sparling eyed the lad for a moment。
〃I guess you will be able to give a good account of yourself if he tries
to do anything of the sort。 Let me say right here； though you need not
tell your friend so that I think Teddy did just right； and I am glad you gave
Larry a good drubbing。 But； of course； we can't encourage this sort of
thing with the show。 It has to be put down with an iron hand。〃
〃I understand； sir。〃
〃Mind； I don't expect you to be a coward。〃
〃I hope not。 My father used to teach me not to be。 He frequently said；
'Phil； keep out of trouble； but if you get into it； don't sneak out。' 〃
〃That's the talk；〃 roared Mr。 Sparling； smiting his des
