the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第18部分
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right。 I'll have to put you back in your cage in the meantime。〃 It lacked
an hour and a half of the time for the afternoon performance to begin when
Sully called with his carriage for his new star。 Phil was ready； as far as
he was able to be； and really welcomed the opportunity to get out in the air
again。 But he was so stiff from the confinement in the narrow linen
closet that he did not feel as if he should be able to ride at all。
The drive to the circus lot was without incident； and Phil embraced the
opportunity to familiarize himself with the town and its surroundings as
fully as was possible under the circumstances。 He had tried to form some
plan by which to make his escape； but had given it up and decided to trust
to luck。
There was another reason for his having decided to ride in the Sully
Hippodrome Show that day； and every day thereafter； providing he was
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not able to get away before leaving Corinto。 He hoped that Mr。 Sparling
might have sent someone on to find out what had become of him。 This
was sure to be done sooner or later； especially when the showman found
that his letters were not being answered； but were being returned to him；
as had been arranged for before Phil left his own show。
Reaching the lot they drove around to the paddock where Phil and his
new employer entered the dressing tent。 Even there the lad was given no
chance to break away。 It seemed to him that every person connected with
the show had been set to watch him。 When he entered the dressing tent he
was subjected to the curious gaze of the performers； most of whom
understood that he was to ride that day in the place of the injured
performer； but who knew nothing further about the matter。
Some difficulty was experienced in getting a pair of tights that would
fit Phil； but after awhile this was arranged。
〃You sit down here and wait now；〃 directed Mr。 Sully。
〃No； I've got something else to do。 Bring the horse out in the
paddock and let me see what I have to ride；〃 answered Phil。
While they were getting out the ring horse； the lad indulged in a series
of bends and limbering exercises out in the paddock； working until the
perspiration stood out in great beads。
This done Phil sprang up to the back of the ring horse； and while an
attendant held the animal in a circle with a long leading strap； Phil rode
the horse about the paddock a few times until he had become familiar with
the motion and peculiarities of the animal。
〃How is he in the ring； fast or slow？〃
〃Just steady。 Been at it a long time；〃 the attendant informed him。
〃He's steady。 You can depend on him。〃
〃Yes； he acts so。 I'll look at the ring when I go in。〃
The owner of the show had been a keen observer of these preparations。
He noted； too； Phil appeared entirely to have forgotten about his desire to
escape。
〃That kid acts to me as if he knew his business；〃 he reflected。 〃If he
rides the way I think he can； I'm going to get him away from Sparling if I
have to double the wages he's drawing now。 And money talks！〃
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The band began to play in the big top。 Phil glanced at the showman。
〃When do I go on？〃
〃Second number。〃
The lad nodded； and sat awaiting his turn to enter the arena。 He did
not have to ask when the moment had arrived。 The attendant started to
lead the ring horse in and Phil quickly fell in behind； following them in。
Right behind the Circus Boy came Sully； the owner of the show； never
taking his eyes off his captive for a moment。 This amused the lad。 He
grinned broadly。 It was a novel experience for him。
Soon the strains of music told him this was where he was to begin his
act。 The boy swung gracefully to the back of his mount。 Instantly he had
leaped to his feet Sully clapped his hands together approvingly。
〃That's the way to do it。 You've got the other fellow skinned forty
ways！〃 he cried。
〃In some ways；〃 replied Phil significantly。 〃Otherwise not。〃
The ring was in excellent shape； much to the boy's surprise； and the
horse was the best he ever had ridden。 In a few moments Phil began to
feel very much at home and to enjoy himself thoroughly。
The ring attendants brought out strips of bright yellow cloth； which
two clowns held across the ring for the Circus Boy to leap over as his
horse passed under。 This did not bother him in the least； though he had
never tried the act before。 It was a relic of the old circus days that few
shows had retained。
But Phil was on the point of balking when a clown came out with a
handful of hoops covered with paper。
〃You want me to jump through those things？〃 he questioned； during a
brief intermission。
〃Sure。〃
〃Does the other man do that？〃
〃He does。〃
〃Then I can do it； I guess。〃
〃I reckon you can do anything on a horse that you happen to feel like；〃
said the showman。
The band started up again and Phil sprang to his feet。 A paper hoop
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was raised on the opposite side of the ring； the lad eyeing it hesitatingly。
〃I'll go through it if I break my neck trying；〃 he muttered； shutting his
lips tightly together。
Smash！
The Circus Boy hurled himself through the tender paper； but the
breaking paper stung his face like the crack of a whip lash； and Phil；
instead of landing on his feet as he should have done； struck the back of
his ring horse on all fours。
Sully growled angrily。
〃You make a blunder like that again； and you'll be sorry for it；〃 he
bullied； shaking an angry fist at Phil； who turned a pair of surprised eyes
on the showman。
〃See here；〃 retorted the lad with rising color； 〃I'm not in the habit of
being talked to like that。 If you don't like my riding I'll end the act right
here。 I'm not obliged to ride for you； you know。〃
〃Go on； go on！〃 snapped the owner。
The next hoop Phil took as easily as if he had been doing that very
same thing all through the season。
〃Fine！〃 chuckled Sully。 〃He's a star performer； even if he does give
me as good as I send。〃
Phil was hurling himself through a succession of hoops now。 Then all
at once； to his surprise and disapproval； five hoops of fire flared up before
him and on all sides of him。
〃Go through them！〃 shouted the showman。
〃I won't！〃
〃You can't stop now。 Are you going to let a little thing like that give
you an attack of cold feet？〃 demanded Sully。
Thus appealed to； Phil Forrest thought better of it。
〃Yip！yip！〃 he cried sharply to the ring horse； riding straight at the
first ring which he took without difficulty； though the hot flame on his
cheeks made him shrink himself into a smaller compass than had been the
case with the paper rings。
The audience was applauding him wildly； for somehow this slender；
youthful figure appealed to them more strongly than had any other
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performer in the show thus far。 One after another Phil took the flaming
rings until he came to the last one which he approached with more
confidence than he had any of the others。
He hurled himself at it with less caution than before。 As he entered
the hoop of fire his elbows caught it； and instantly the lad felt the fire
burning through his silk ring shirt。
Without an instant's hesitation the boy leaped up into the air； clearing
his horse by a full two feet。
The force of his throw sent the ring of fire soaring through the air； as
he had； with quick intuition； imagined that it would。
Phil threw a splendid backward somersault almost slipping off the hips
of the ring horse。
〃Great！〃 exploded the owner。
The audience applauded wildly。
But the next instant Sully was not shouting approving words。 The
burning ring had slipped neatly over his own head and before he could
throw it off； his clothes； as well； were on fire。 Throwing himself down in
the sawdust the showman rolled and rolled； uttering loud imprecations and
threats； while audience and performers fairly screamed with delight。
He was up in a flash； expecting to find Phil making a dash for
freedom。
〃Stop him！〃 he bellowed。
Phil Forrest sat on the rump of the ring horse； grinning broadly at the
predicament of the owner of the Sully Hippodrome Circus。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie L
