the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第6章
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as you did when we had the old road show。 What's your act this year？〃
〃Same as last。〃
〃Elephant？〃
〃Yes； and the rings。 My friend Teddy I expect will ride the educated
mule again。〃
While they were talking the steward was preparing a pot of steaming
coffee for them； which he soon handed over to the lads with a plate of
wafers； of which they disposed in short order。
It was broad daylight by this time； and the boys decided to go out and
watch the erection of the tents。 It was all new and full of interest to them。
As they caught the odor of trampled grass and the smell of the canvas their
old enthusiasm came back to them with added force。
〃It's great to be a circus man； isn't it； Phil？〃 breathed Teddy。
〃It is unless one is getting into trouble all the time； the way you do。 I
expect that； some of these days； you'll get something you don't want。〃
〃What？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 But I am sure it will be something quite serious。〃
〃You better look out for yourself；〃 growled Teddy。 〃I'll take care of
myself。〃
〃Yes； the way you did last night；〃 retorted Phil； with a hearty laugh。
〃e on； now； let's not quarrel。 I want to find some of our old friends。
Isn't that Mr。 Miaco over there by the dressing tent？〃
〃Sure。〃
Both lads ran toward their old friend； the head clown； with
outstretched hands； and Mr。 Miaco； seeing them ing； hastened forward
to greet them。
〃Well； well； boys！ How are you？〃
〃Oh； we're fine；〃 glowed Phil。 〃And we are glad to be back again； let
me tell you。〃
〃No more so than your old friends are to have you back。 Same old
act？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What have you boys been doing this winter？〃
〃Studying and exercising。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Yes； I knew； from your condition； that you have been keeping up your
work。 Got anything new？〃
〃Not much。 Trapeze。〃
〃Good！ I'll bet you will be in some of the flying…bar acts before the
season is over。 We have a lot of swell performers this season。〃
〃So I have heard。 Who are some of them？〃
〃Well； there's the Flying Four。〃
〃Who are they？〃 questioned Teddy。
〃Trapeze performers。 They're greatthe best in the business。 And
then there's The Limit。〃
〃Talk United States；〃 demanded Teddy。 〃The Limit？ Whoever
heard of that？〃
〃In other words； the Dip of Death。〃
Teddy shook his head helplessly。
〃That is the somersaulting automobile。 A pretty young woman rides
in it； and some fine day she won't。 I never did like those freak acts。 But
the public does；〃 sighed the old circus man。 〃The really difficult feats； that
require years of practice； patrons don't seem to give a rap for。 But let
somebody do a stunt in which he is in danger of suddenly ending his life；
then you'll see the people howl with delight。 I sometimes think they
would be half tickled to death to see some of us break our necks。 There's a
friend of yours； Phil。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Emperor； the old elephant that you rode last year。 They are taking
him to the menagerie tent。〃
〃Whistle to him； Phil；〃 suggested Teddy。
Phil uttered a low； peculiar whistle。
The big elephant's ears flapped。 The procession that he was leading
came to a sudden stop and Emperor trumpeted shrilly。
〃He hasn't forgotten me；〃 breathed Phil happily。 〃Dear old
Emperor！〃
〃Pipe him up again；〃 urged Teddy。
〃No； I wouldn't dare。 He would be likely to break away from Mr。
Kennedy and might trample some of the people about here。 See； Mr。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Kennedy is having his troubles as it is。〃
〃Done any tumbling since you closed last fall？〃 questioned Mr。 Miaco。
〃We have practiced a little。 I want to learn； if you will teach me〃
〃Why； you can tumble already； Phil。〃
〃Yes； but I want to do something betterthe springboard。〃
〃They've got a leaping act this year。〃
〃How？〃
〃Performers and clowns leap over a herd of elephants。 You've seen the
act； haven't you？〃
〃Oh； yes； I know what it is。 I wish I were able to do it。〃
〃You will be。 It is not difficult； only one has to have a natural bent
for it。 Now； your friend Teddy ought to make a fine leaper。〃
〃I am；〃 interposed Teddy pompously。 〃I always was。〃
〃Yes； you're the whole show from your way of thinking；〃 laughed Mr。
Miaco。 〃I must go see if my trunk is placed。 See you later； boys。〃
After leaving the clown； the lads strolled about the lot。 They soon
discovered that the Sparling Shows was a big organization。 The tents had
been very much enlarged and the canvas looked new and white。
In the menagerie tent the boys found many new cages； gorgeous in red
and gold； with a great variety of animals that had not been in the show the
previous summer。
Emperor's delight at seeing his little friend again was expressed in loud
trumpetings； and his sinuous trunk quickly found its way into Phil
Forrest's pocket in search of sweets。 And Emperor was not disappointed。
In one coat pocket he found a liberal supply of candy； while the other held
a bag of peanuts； to all of which the big elephant helped himself freely
until no more was left。
〃Have you got my trappings ready； Mr。 Kennedy？〃 asked Phil of the
keeper。
〃You'll find the stuff in fine shape。 The old man has had a new
bonnet made for Emperor and a new blanket。 He'll be right smart when
he enters the ring today。 Been over to the cook tent yet？〃
〃Yes； but not for breakfast。 We are going soon now。 We want to see
them raise the big top first。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
When the boys had passed out into the open they observed the big
circus tent rising slowly from the ground where it had been laid out； the
various pieces laced together by nimble fingers。 Mr。 Sparling was on the
lot watching everything at the same time。 This was the first time the tent
had been pitched； and； as has been said before； most of the men were
green at their work。 Yet； under the boisterous prodding of the boss
canvasman； the white city was going up rapidly and with some semblance
of system。
As soon as the dome of the big top left the ground the boys crawled
under and went inside。 Here all was excitement and confusion。 Men
were shouting their mands； above which the voice of the boss
canvasman rose distinctly。
The dome of the tent by this time was halfway up the long； green
center pole； while men were hurrying in with quarter poles on their
shoulders； and which they quickly stood on end and guided into place in
the bellying canvas。
The eyes of the Circus Boys sparkled with enthusiasm。
〃I wish we were up there on the rings；〃 breathed Teddy。
〃We shall be soon； old fellow；〃 answered Phil； patting him on the
shoulder。 〃And for many days after this； I hope。 Hello； I wonder what's
wrong up there？〃
Phil's quick glance had caught something up near the half…raised dome
that impressed him as not being right。
〃Look out aloft！〃 he sang out warningly。
〃The key rope's going。 Grab the other line！〃 bellowed the boss
canvasman。
〃You fools！〃 roared Mr。 Sparling from the opposite side of the tent； as
he quickly noted what was happening。 〃Run for your lives！ You'll have
the whole outfit down on your heads！〃
The men fled； letting go of ropes and poles； diving for places of safety；
many of them knowing what it meant to have that big tent collapse and
descend upon them。
The man who had held the key rope was the one who had been at fault。
Some of the new men had called to him
