the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第29章
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animals fell ill； in some instances with every evidence of poisoning； guy
ropes were cut； and the cars had been tampered with in the railroad yards。
All this was beginning to get on the nerves of the owner of the show；
as well as on those of some of his people who knew about it。 Things had
e to a point where it was necessary to place more men on guard about
the lot to protect the show's property。
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At each stand of late efforts had been made to get the police to keep an
eye open for one Red Larry； but police officials do not； as a rule； give very
serious heed to the plaints of a circus； especially unless the entire
department has been pretty well supplied with tickets。 Mr。 Sparling was
a showman who did not give away many tickets unless there were some
very good reason for so doing。
Phil； in the meantime； had been at work in an effort to satisfy his own
belief that Larry was responsible for their numerous troubles。 Yet up to
this moment the lad had not caught sight of Red； and now he had lost the
scoundrel through the laxity of a policeman。
There was no use 〃crying over spilled milk；〃 as Phil told himself。
The lad spent the next hour in tramping over the town where the circus
was to show that day。 He sought everywhere for Red； but not a sign of
the fellow was to be found。
As soon as the parade was over Phil hastened back to the lot to
acquaint Mr。 Sparling with what he suspected。
〃Do you know；〃 said Phil； 〃I believe that fellow and his panion are
riding on one of our trains every night？〃
〃What？〃 exclaimed the showman。
〃You'll find I'm right when the truth is known。 Then there's
something else。 There have been a lot of plaints about sneak thieves
in the towns we have visited since Red left us。 You can't tell。 There may
be some connection between these robberies and his following the show。
I'm going to get Larry before I get through with this chase。〃
〃Be careful； Phil。 He is a bad man。 You know what to expect from
him if he catches you again。〃
〃I am not afraid。 I'll take care of myself if I see him ing。 The
trouble is that Red doesn't go after a fellow that way。〃
Phil went on in his three acts as usual that afternoon； after having
spent an hour at the front door taking tickets； to which task he had
assigned himself soon after his talk with Mr。 Sparling。
It was instructive； it gave the boy a chance to see the people and to get
a new view of human nature。 If there is one place in the world where all
phases of human nature are to be found； that place is the front door of a
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circus。
The Circus Boys； by this time； had both fitted into their new acts as if
they had been doing them for yearsPhil doing the bareback riding and
Teddy tumbling in the leaping act； both lads gaining the confidence and
esteem more and more every day of their fellow performers and the owner
of the show。
That night； after the performance was ended； Phil stood around for a
time； watching the men at work pulling down the tent。 He had another
motive； too。 He had thought that perchance he might see something of
the man he was in search of； for no better time could be chosen to do
damage to circus property than when the canvas was being struck。
Then everyone was too busy to pay any attention to anyone else。
Teddy had gone on to pay his usual evening visit to the acmodation
car and at the same time make miserable the existence of the worthy who
presided over that particular car。
Phil waited until nearly twelve o'clock； then； deciding that it would be
useless to remain there longer； turned his footsteps toward the railroad
yards； for he was tired and wanted to get to bed as soon as possible。
He found the way readily； having been over to the car once during the
morning while out looking for Red Larry。 The night was very dark；
however； and the yards； at the end from which he approached them； were
enshrouded in deep shadows。
On down the tracks Phil could see the smoking torches where the men
were at work running the heavy cages and canvas wagons up on the flat
cars。 Men were shouting and yelling； the usual acpaniment to this
proceeding； while crowds of curious villagers were massed about the sides
of the yard at that point； watching the operations。
〃That's the way I used to sit up and watch the circus get out of town；〃
mused Phil； grinning broadly； as he began hunting for the sleeper where
his berth was。
All at once the lights seemed to disappear suddenly from before his
eyes。 Phil felt himself slowly settling to the ground。 He tried to cry out；
but could not utter a sound。
Then the lad understood that he was being grasped in a vise…like grip。
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That was the last he knew。
When Phil finally awakened he was still in deep； impenetrable
darkness。 The train was moving rapidly； but there seemed to the boy to
be something strange and unusual in his surroundings。 His berth felt
hard and unnatural。 For a time he lay still with closed eyes； trying to recall
what had happened。 There was a blank somewhere； but he could not find
it。
〃Funny！ This doesn't seem like No。 11。 If it is； we must be going
over a pretty rough stretch of road。〃
He put out both hands cautiously and groped about him。 Phil uttered
an exclamation of surprise。
〃Good gracious； I'm on the floor。 I must have fallen out of bed。〃
Then he realized that this could not be the case； because there was a
carpet on the floor of No。 11。
This was a hard； rough floor on which he was lying； and the air was
close； very different from that in the well…kept sleeping car in which he
traveled nightly from stand to stand。
In an effort to get to his feet the lad fell back heavily。 His head was
swimming dizzily； and how it did ache！
〃I wonder what has happened？〃 Forrest thought out loud。 〃Maybe I
was struck by a train。 No； that couldn't be the case； or I should not be
here。 But where am I？ I might be in one of the show cars； but I don't
believe there is an empty car on the train。〃
As soon as Phil felt himself able to sit up he searched through his
pockets until he found his box of matches； which he always carried now；
as one could not tell at what minute they might be needed。
Striking a light； he glanced quickly about him； then the match went
out。
〃I'm in a freight car；〃 he gasped。 〃But where； where？〃
There was no answer to this puzzling question。 Phil struggled to his
feet； and； groping his way to the door； began tugging at it to get it open。
The door refused to budge。
〃Locked！ It's locked on the outside！ What shall I do？ What shall I
do？〃 he cried。
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Phil sat down weak and dizzy。 There was nothing； so far as he could
see； that could be done to liberate himself from his imprisonment。
Chancing to put his hand to his head； he discovered a lump there as large
as a goose egg。
〃I knowlet me thinksomethingsomebody must have hit me an
awful crack。 Now I rememberyes； I remember falling down in the yard
there just as if something had struck me。 Who could have done such a
cruel thing？〃
Phil thought and thought； but the more he thought about it the more
perplexed did he bee。 All at once he started up； with a sudden
realization that the train was slowing down。 He could hear the air brakes
grating and grinding and squealing against the car wheels below him； until
finally the train came to a dead stop。
〃Now is my chance to
