the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第23章
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Emperor！ That's a good fellow。〃
He patted the beast's head with the flat of his hand； crooned to him；
using every artifice that he knew to quiet the nerves of his big friend。
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Little by little Emperor appeared to e out of his fright； until the lad
felt almost certain that the big beast would take orders。 He tried the
experiment。
〃Left； Emperor！〃
The elephant swerved sharply to the left； aided by a sharp tap of the
riding crop which Phil still carried。
Phil uttered a little cry of exultation。
〃Now； if I can head them off！〃
With this in mind he gradually worked Emperor around until the herd
had been led into a narrow street。 Here； Phil began forcing his mount
back and forth across the street in an effort to check the rush of the
stampede； all the time calling out the mand to slow down； which he
had learned from Mr。 Kennedy。
He was more successful than he had even dreamed he could be。
〃Now； if I am not mistaken； that street beyond there leads out to the lot。
I'll see if I can make them go that way。〃
All did save Jupiter； who charged straight ahead for some distance；
then turning sharply tore back and joined his fellows。
〃If I had a hook I believe I could lead him。 He's a very bad elephant。
I hope nobody has been killed。〃
It was more quiet in the street where Forrest now found himself； and
by degrees the excitement that had taken possession of the huge beasts
began to wear off。
Phil uttered his mands to them in short； confident tones； all the
time drawing nearer and nearer to the circus lot。
Very soon the fluttering flags from the big top were seen above the
intervening housetops。
〃I'm going to winoh； I hope I do！〃 breathed the Circus Boy。
With rapid strides； at times merging into a full run； the beasts tore
along； now understanding that they were nearing their quarters； where
safety and quiet would be assured。
And； beyond that； it was time for their dinners。 Already bales of hay
had been placed in front of their quarters； and the elephants knew it。
As the procession burst into the circus lot a dozen attendants started on
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a run toward them。
〃Keep off！〃 shouted Phil。 〃Do you want to stampede them again？
Keep away； I tell you and I'll get them home。 Drive all the people out of
the way in case the bulls make another break。 That's all you can do now。〃
Now young Forrest urged Emperor to the head of the line of bobbing
beasts； feeling sure that the others would follow him in now。
They did。 The whole line of elephants swept in through the opening
that the attendants had quickly made by letting down a section of the side
walls of the menagerie tent； with Phil Forrest a proud and happy boy；
perched on the head of old Emperor。
〃Halt！〃
He went at it with all the confidence and skill of a professional
elephant trainer。
〃Stations！〃
Each beast walked to his regular place； a dozen sinuous trunks
gathering up as many wisps of hay。
〃Back up！ Back； Jupiter！〃
As docile as if they never had left the tent； each huge beast slowly felt
his way into his corner。
〃Good boy； Emperor！〃 glowed Phil holding out a small bag of peanuts；
which Emperor quickly stowed away in his mouth bag and all。
〃You greedy fellow！ Now get back into your own corner！〃
The elephant did so。
〃You fellows keep away from here；〃 warned Phil as the anxious tent
men began crowding around him。 〃Don't let anybody get these big
fellows excited。 We've had trouble enough for one day。〃
Phil then began chaining down the beasts； his first care being to secure
the unruly Jupiter。 But Jupiter's fit of bad temper seemed to have left him
entirely。 He was as peaceful as could be； and； to show that he was good；
he showered a lot of hay all over Phil。
〃You bad； bad boy！〃 chided the lad。 〃All this is just because you let
your temper get the best of you。 I think perhaps Mr。 Sparling may have
something to say to you if anyone has been killed or seriously hurt。 Oh；
you want some peanuts； do you？ I haven't any； but I'll get you some；
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though goodness knows you don't deserve any。 Bring me some peanuts；
will you please？〃
An attendant came running with a bag of them。 Phil met him
halfway； not wishing the man to approach too near。 With the bag in his
hand the boy walked slowly down the line； giving to each of his charges a
small handful。
This was the final act in subduing them。 They were all thoroughly at
home and perfectly contented now； and Phil had chained the last one down；
except the baby elephant； that usually was left free to do as it pleased；
providing it did not get too playful。
At this moment Phil heard a great shouting out on the lot。
〃Go out there and stop that noise！〃 the boy manded。 He was as
much in charge of the show at that moment as if he had been the
proprietor himself。
Shortly after that Mr。 Kennedy came rushing in on one of the circus
ponies that he had taken from a parade rider。 Phil was delighted to see
that the keeper was uninjured。
〃Did you do this； Phil Forrest？〃 he shouted bursting in。
〃Yes。 But I'll have to do it all over again if you keep on yelling like
that。 What happened to you？〃
〃Jupiter threw me over a fence； into an excavation where they were
digging for a new building。 I thought I was dead； but after a little I came
to and crawled out。 It was all over but the shouting then。〃
〃Did you know I had them？〃
〃No； not until I got near the lot。 I followed their tracks you see。
Finally some people told me a kid was leading the herd back here。 I
knew that was you。 Phil Forrest； you are a dandy。 I can't talk now！ I'm
too winded。 I'll tell you later on what I think of your kind。 Now I'm
going to whale the daylights out of that Jupiter。〃
〃Please don't do anything of the sort；〃 begged Phil。 〃He is quiet now。
He has forgotten all about it。 I am afraid if you try to punish him you
will only make him worse。〃
〃Good elephant sense；〃 emphasized the keeper。 〃You ought to be on
the animals。〃
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〃It seems to me that I have been pretty well on them today；〃 grinned
the lad。 〃Oh； was anybody killed？〃
〃I think not。 Don't believe anyone was very seriously hurt。 You see；
that open lot there gave the people plenty of chance to see what was
ing。 They had plenty of time to get away after that。〃
〃I'm so glad。 I hope no one was killed。〃
〃Reckon there would have been if you hadn't got busy when you did。〃
〃Have you seen Mrs。 Robinson？ I'm rather anxious about her。〃
〃There she is now。〃
Dimples had changed her torn white dress for a short riding skirt； and
when Phil turned about she was running toward him with outstretched
arms。 He braced himself and blushed violently。
〃Oh； you dear；〃 cried the impulsive little equestrienne； throwing both
arms about Phil's neck。 〃I wish my boy could have seen you do that！ It
was splendid。 You're a hero！ You'll see what a craze the people will
make of you〃
〃II think they are more likely to chase us out of town；〃 laughed Phil。
〃We must have smashed up things pretty thoroughly downtown。〃
〃Never mind； Mr。 Sparling will settle the damage。 The only trouble
will be that he won't
