the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第20部分
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standing just outside trying to get a glimpse into the tent。
As he gained the outer air he heard the hoof beats of a running horse
bearing down on him from the left side of the big top。
The Circus Boy knew what that meant。 They were after him already。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XV
OUTWITTING THE PURSUERS
〃Oh； if only I had a faster horse！〃 Forrest breathed。 〃I am afraid this
old ring horse never will be able to get away from them。〃
Phil was urging the animal with voice and whip； but it was difficult to
get the animal into a faster pace than his regular ring gaitthe gait that he
had been following for many years。 This was scarcely faster than a man
could trot。
Phil espied a pole wagon partially loaded； just ahead of him。 At sight
of it a sudden idea occurred to him。 He acted at once。
Riding close to the wagon the lad slipped off and； giving the horse a
sharp blow with the whip over one hip； Phil ducked under the wagon。
The ring horse galloped on a few rods and then stopped。
〃I guess it's time I was getting away from here；〃 decided the lad。 〃I'll
be caught sure； if I do not hurry。〃
The lot was in an uproar。 Men were running this way and that； and
above the din could be heard the voice of the owner； roaring out orders。
Phil； being still in his pink tights； was a conspicuous figure。 He knew
that if a ray from a torch should chance to rest on him for a moment； they
would discover him at once。
Running in a crouching position the boy made for the further side of
the lot； where he hoped to get far enough away so that he could straighten
up and make better time。
He did finally reach a safe place； and climbing a board fence； dropped
on the other side and lay down to await developments。 These were not
long coming。 All at once he discovered half a dozen men running
directly toward him。 Whether they had caught sight of him or not； he did
not know。 He did know that it was time to leave。
Phil left。 Springing up； he fairly flew over the ground。
The men caught sight of him； as he realized when one of them uttered
a yell。 But Phil was a faster runner than any of them and in a few
minutes； darting this way and that； and finally doubling on his tracks in a
wide circle； he succeeded in outwitting them。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃The question is； what am I going to do now？〃 he asked himself；
pausing abruptly。 〃In this rig I don't dare go into the town； or they will
nab me on some trumped up charge and then I shall be worse off。 Now I
am free； even if I haven't got much on me in the way of clothing。 I might
as well not have anything so far as keeping warm is concerned。〃 Phil
shivered； for the night was cool and a heavy dew falling。
〃I know what I'll do。 I'll slip back to the lot and perhaps I shall be
able to find something to put on。 There's usually plenty of coats lying
about on the wagons。〃
Now that the uproar had ceased Phil crept back toward the circus lot；
lying down in the grass whenever he heard a sound near him and peering
into the darkness。
At the risk of being discovered he crawled up to a wagon； climbed
aboard and searched it diligently for clothes。 He found none。 Keenly
disappointed； Phil made his way to the pole wagon under which he had
taken refuge in his first effort at getting away。 This； he found； was loaded
ready to be taken to the train。 At any moment； now； a team might be
hitched to it。
〃I guess I'll have to hurry！〃 muttered the lad。 Phil's knowledge of
circus affairs stood him in good stead now。
To the boy's delight； he found a bundle in which were a coat and a pair
of overalls； rolled up and stowed under the driver's seat。
〃Fine！〃 chuckled Phil。 〃It's a good deal like stealing； but I have to
have them and I'll send the fellow a new pair if ever I get back to my own
show。 He'll be mad in the morning when he goes to get his clothes。 I
wish I had a hat and pair of shoes。 But I guess I ought to be thankful for
what I already have。〃
Saying this； Phil dropped from the wagon and quickly got into the
clothes。 They were old and dirty； but he did not mind that。 They were
clothes and they would cover his conspicuous ring costume； which was the
most important thing for him to consider at the present moment。
〃Now； I'll buy a ticket and get started for Corinto；〃 he decided。
Phil reached under the neck of his shirt for his little bag of money。
〃Oh； pshaw！ I've lost it。 Let me see； did I put my money in there
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
before I entered the ring？〃
For the life of him he was unable to say whether he had done so； or
whether his money was still in his clothes back in the dressing tent。
〃Well； I shall never see that money again； I am thinking。 If I left it in
my clothes it is gone by this time； and if I didn't it is gone anyway；〃 was
his logical conclusion。
The first thing to be done now was to get off the lot； which Phil did as
quickly as possible。 Clad in the soiled； well…worn garments with his coat
buttoned tightly about his neck； the lad attracted no special attention。
Getting well away from the circus grounds； he halted to consider what his
next move should he。
〃I guess I'll go over to the station and get some information；〃 he
decided。 This he did； but the lights looked so bright in the station that he
did not consider it prudent to enter。 So Phil waited about until he saw
one of the railroad switchmen coming in from the yards。
〃How far is it to Corinto； please？〃 he asked。
〃Fifty miles。〃
〃Whew！ So far as that？〃
〃Yes。 Belong to the show？〃
〃Well； not exactly。 I'm with them； but I can't say that I belong to the
outfit； and I'm glad I don't。〃
〃Should think you would be glad；〃 growled the switchman； who
evidently held the Sully combination in no high regard。
〃Which way do the trains go for Corinto？〃
〃That way。 That track runs right through without a break。 It's a single
track road all the way。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃Going to hit the ties？〃
〃I'm likely to before I get there；〃 laughed Phil； again thanking his
informant and starting away； for he saw some people approaching whom
he thought belonged to the show。
Leaning up against a freight car the lad considered what he had better
do。 At first he was inclined to try to steal a ride on the circus train； but
after thinking the matter over he concluded that this would be dangerous。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃If they catch me again they surely will handle me pretty roughly； and
they may throw me off the train。 A few knocks more or less might not
make much difference； but I am not anxious to be thrown from a rapidly
moving circus train。 I guess I'll walk。 Let me see； tomorrow will be
Sunday； and it is fifty miles to Corinto。 I should be able to make the
town by tomorrow night sometime。 Yes； I'll try it。〃
Having formed this resolve； Phil started manfully off for his long walk
to Corinto。 He did not stop to consider that he would be hungry before
he got there。
He left the yards； for these were now full of employees busily engaged
in loading the cars。 Off near the outskirts of the town he turned back to
the tracks。
For two hours he plodded along cheerfully； but by this time the rough
traveling over the ties so hurt his feet； clad as they were in light slippers；
that he could scarcely walk。 Phil took off the slippers and trotted about
in the damp grass at the side of the railroad track； until getting some relief；
then started on again。
An hour later the first of the circus trains thundered by him。 He could
see the dim lights in the sleepers； and now and then he made out the figure
of a man stretched out under a cage on a flat car。
〃Anyway； I would rather be walking than locked up in that narrow
linen closet；〃 decided the Circus Boy philosophically； once more taking up
his weary journey。
At sunrise Phil found that he was too tired to go much further without
taking a rest； so； as soon as he found a wooded place； he climbed a fence
and lay down in the shade of the trees； where he quickly went to sleep。
The afternoon was well along when finally he awakened； sore and stiff
in every joint。
〃If I should try to ride a bareback horse now I should fall off for sure；〃
he moaned； rubbing his lame spots vigorously。 〃My； but I am hungry！ I
wonder how far I am from Corinto？〃
A
