the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第30章
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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 make somebody hear；〃 Phil cried； springing up
and groping for the door again。
He shouted at the top of his voice； then beat against the heavy door
with fists and feet； but not a sign could he get that anyone heard him。
As a matter of fact； no one was near him at that moment。 The long
freight train had stopped at a water tank far out in the country； and the
trainmen were at the extreme ends of the train。
In a few moments the train started with such a jerk that Forrest was
thrown off his feet。 He sprang up again； hoping that the train might be
going past a station there； and that someone might hear him。 Then he
began rattling at and kicking the door again。
It was all to no purpose。
Finally； in utter exhaustion； the lad sank to the floor； soon falling into a
deep sleep。 How long he slept he did not know when at last he
awakened。
〃Why； the train has stopped；〃 Forrest exclaimed； suddenly sitting up
and rubbing his eyes。 〃Now I ought to make somebody hear me because
it's daylight。 I can see the light underneath the door。 I'll try it again。〃
He did try it； hammering at the door and shouting at intervals during
the long hours that followed。 Once more he lighted matches and began
examining his surroundings with more care。 Phil discovered a trap door in
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
the roof； but it was closed。
〃If only there were a rope hanging down； I'd be up there in no time；〃
he mused。 I wonder if I couldn't climb up and hang to the braces。 I might
reach it in that way。 I'm going to try it。〃
Deciding upon this； the Circus Boy； after no little effort； succeeded in
climbing up to one of the side braces in the car。 》From the plates long；
narrow beams extended across the car； thus supporting the roof。
Choosing two that led along near the trap； Phil； after a few moments' rest；
gripped one firmly in each hand from the underside and began swinging
himself along almost as if he were traveling on a series of traveling rings；
but with infinitely more effort and disfort。
His hands were aching frightfully； and he knew that he could hold on
but a few seconds longer。
〃I've got to make it；〃 he gasped； breathing hard。
At last he had reached the goal。 Phil released one hand and quickly
extended it to the trap door frame。
There was not a single projection there to support him； nor to which he
might cling。 His hand slipped away； suddenly throwing his weight upon
the hand grasping the roof timber。 The strain was too much。 Phil Forrest
lost his grip and fell heavily to the floor。
But this time he did not rise。 The lad lay still where he had fallen。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XX
THE BARNYARD CIRCUS
When next Phil opened his eyes he was lying on the grass on the shady
side of a freight car with someone dashing water in his face； while two or
three others stood around gazing at him curiously。
〃Whewhere am I？〃 gasped the boy。
〃I reckon you're lucky to be alive；〃 laughed the man who had been
soaking him from a pail of water。 〃Who be ye？〃
〃My name is Phil Forrest。〃
〃How'd ye git in that car？ Stealing a ride； eh？ Reckon we'd better
hand ye over to the town constable。 It's again the law to steal rides on
freight trains。〃
〃I've not stolen a ride。 It's no such thing；〃 protested Phil indignantly。
〃Ho； ho； that's a rich one！ Paid yer fare； hey？ Riding like a
gentleman in a side…door Pullman。 Good； ain't it； fellows？〃
〃Friends； I assure you I am not a tramp。 Someone assaulted me and
locked me in that car last night。 I've got money in my pocket to prove
that I am not a tramp。〃
The lad thrust his hands into his trousers' pockets； then a blank
expression overspread his face。 Reaching to his vest to see if his watch
were there； he found that that； too； was missing。
〃I've been robbed；〃 he gasped。 〃That's what it was。 Somebody
robbed and threw me into this car last night。 See； I've got a lump on my
head as big as a man's fist。〃
〃He sure has；〃 agreed one of the men。 〃Somebody must a given him
an awful clout with a club。〃
〃What town is this； please？〃
〃Mexico； Missouri。〃
〃Mexico？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How far is it from St。 Joseph？〃
〃St。 Joseph？ Why； I reckon St。 Joe is nigh onto a hundred and fifty
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miles from here。〃
Phil groaned。
〃A hundred and fifty miles and not a cent in my pocket！ What shall I
do？ Can I send a telegram？ Where is the station？〃
〃Sunday。 Station closed。〃
〃Sunday？ That's so。〃
Phil walked up and down between the tracks rather unsteadily；
curiously observed by the villagers。 They had heard his groans in the
freight car on the siding as they passed； and had quickly liberated the lad。
〃Do you think I could borrow enough money somewhere here to get
me to St。 Joseph？ I would send it back by return mail。〃
The men laughed long and loud。
〃What are you in such a hurry to get to St。 Joe for？〃 demanded the
spokesman of the party。
〃Because I want to get back to the circus。〃
〃Circus？〃 they exclaimed in chorus。
〃Yes。 I belong with the Sparling bined Shows。 I was on my
way to my train； in the railroad yards； when I was knocked out and thrown
into that car。〃
〃You with a circus？〃 The men regarded him in a new light。
〃Yes； why not？〃
This caused them to laugh。 Plainly they did not believe him。 Nor did
Phil care much whether they did or not。
〃What time is it？〃 he asked。
〃Church time。〃
He knew that； for he could hear the bells ringing off in the village to
the east of them。
〃I'll tell you what； sirs； I have got to have some breakfast。 If any of
you will be good enough to give me a meal I shall be glad to do whatever
you may wish to pay for it。 Then； if I cannot find the telegraph operator；
I shall have to stay over until I do。〃
〃What do you want the telegraph man for？〃
〃I want to wire the show for some money to get back with。 I've got to
be there tomorrow； in time for the show。 I must do it； if I have to run all
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the way。〃
The men were impressed by his story in spite of themselves； yet they
were loath to believe that this slender lad； much the worse for wear； could
belong to the organization he had named。
〃What do you do in the show？〃
〃I perform on the flying rings； ride the elephant and ride bareback in
the ring。 What about it？ Will one of you put me up？〃
The villagers consulted for a moment； then the spokesman turned to
Phil。
〃I reckon； if you be a circus feller； you kin show us some tricks； eh？〃
〃Perform for you； you mean？〃
〃Yep。〃
〃Well； I don't usually do anything like that on Sunday；〃 answered the
Circus Boy reflectively。
〃Eat on Sunday； don't you？〃
〃When I get a chance；〃 Phil grinned。 〃I guess your argument wins。
I've got to eat and I have offered to earn my meal。 What do you want me
to do？〃
〃Kin you do a flip？〃
Phil threw himself into a succession of cartwheels along the edge of
the railroad tracks； ending in a backward somersault。
〃And you ride a hoss without any saddle； standing up on his backyou
do that； too？〃
〃Why； yes；〃 laughed Phil； his face red from his exertion。
〃Then； e along。 e on； fellers！〃
Phil thought； of course； that he was being taken to the man's home just
outside the village； where he would get his breakfast。 He wa
