the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第26部分
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chosen for pitching the tents was on a strip of ground higher than anything
about it； so the footing remained fairly solid。 But it was a cheerless
outlook。 The performers； with their rubber boots on； came splashing
through a sea of mud and water on their way to the cook tent that morning；
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Phil and Teddy with the rest。
〃Looks like rain； doesn't it；〃 greeted Teddy； as he espied Mr。 Sparling
plodding about with a keen eye to the safety of his tents。
〃I wish the outlook for business today were as good；〃 was the
comprehensive answer。
When the hour for starting the parade arrived； the water over the flats
about them was so deep and the mud so soft that it was decided to
abandon the parade for that day。
〃I almost wish we hadn't unloaded；〃 said the owner。 〃It looks to me
as if we might be tied up here for sometime。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Phil。 〃The next question is how are the people going to
get here to see the show？〃
〃I was thinking of that myself。 The answer is easy； though。〃
〃What〃
〃They won't come。〃
〃Why？ Are they drowned out？〃
〃No； the town is high enough so they will not suffer much of any
damage； except as the water gets into their cellars。 No； they are all right。
I wish we were as much so； but there'll be no use in giving a show this
afternoon。〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 spoke up Phil； raising one hand while he considered
briefly。
〃Of course； you have an idea。 It wouldn't be you if you hadn't。 But I
am afraid that； this time； you will fall short of the mark。〃
〃No； not if you will let me carry out a little plan。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃When I came over I noticed a strip of ground just a few rods to the
north of the lot； and running right into it； that was higher than the flats。 It
was a sort of ridge and fairly level on top。〃
〃I didn't see that。〃
〃I did。 It was showing above the water a few inches and looked like
hard ground。 If you don't mind getting wet I'll take you over and point it
out。〃
The showman agreed； though as yet he did not understand what Phil's
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plan was。
Phil led the way to the north side of the lot； then turning sharply to the
left after getting his bearings； walked confidently out into the water
followed by Mr。 Sparling。 The ground felt firm beneath their feet。 As a
matter of fact it was a stratum of rock running out from the nearby
mountains。
〃Boy； you've struck a way for us to get out when time comes for us to
do so。 That mud on the flats will be so soft； for several days； that the
wheels would sink in up to the hubs。 The stock would get mired now；
were they to try to go through。〃
〃But not here。〃
〃No； I rather think that's so。 What's your plan？〃
〃We have plenty of wagons that are not in usetake for instance the
pole wagons。 Why not send our wagons over to the village and bring the
people here？ I am sure they will enjoy that；〃 suggested Phil。
〃Splendid；〃 glowed the showman。 〃But I'm afraid the horses never
would be able to pull them over。〃
〃Think not？〃
〃I said I was afraid they would not be able to。〃
〃I had considered that； sir。〃
〃Oh； you had？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Of course； I might have known you had。 Well； what is it？〃
〃I have an even better scheme； and it will be great advertising one
that few people in town will be able to resist。〃
〃Yes？ I am listening。〃
〃Well； in the first place； have the long pole wagons fixed up to bring
the people over。 We can use our ring platforms to make a bottom for the
passengers to sit on。〃
〃Yes； that will be easy。〃
〃Then； take some side wall poles； stand them up along the sides of the
wagon and build a roof with canvas。 That will keep the inside of the
wagon as dry as a barn。〃
〃A splendid idea。 But how are you going to get the folks over here
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after you have done that？〃
〃Wait； I am coming to that。 What do you say to hitching the
elephants to the wagons and hauling the people back and forth？ Nothing
like that has ever been done； has it？〃
Mr。 Sparling tossed up his hat regardless of the fact that the rain was
beating down on his head and running down his neck。
〃Nothing ever been done to compare with it； since P。 T。 Barnum
ploughed up his farm with Jumbo。 By the great Dan Rice； that's a
scheme！〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling enthusiastically。
〃But you will have to hurry if you are going to put the plan into
operation；〃 urged Phil。
〃What would you suggest； Phil？〃
〃I would suggest that you send men into town on horseback； right
away； having them call at every house； at the post office； the hotel and
every other place they can think of； telling the people what we propose to
do。 Teddy and I will take horses and go out with the rest； if you say so。
The rain won't hurt us； and besides； it will be great fun。 What do you say；
sir？〃
Mr。 Sparling hesitated for one brief second。
〃Come on！〃 he shouted as with hat in hand he splashed toward the lot
followed a short distance behind by Phil。
The arrangements suggested by the Circus Boy were quickly made；
and a company of horsemen rode over to the village to tell the people how
they might see the show without getting wet。 While this was being done
the pole wagons were being rigged for the purpose； and the elephants were
provided with harness strong enough to stand the strain of the heavy loads
they would have to draw。
The wagons were to be driven along the village streets at one o'clock；
the circus to begin at half…past two。 That would give the show people
plenty of time to prepare for the performance。
The suggestion met with great enthusiasm。 Few people had ever had
the privilege of riding behind an elephant team； and they gladly welcomed
the opportunity。
At Phil's further suggestion a separate wagon had been prepared for
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the colored people。 When all was ready the elephants were first driven
across the ridge without their wagons； to show the animals that the footing
was safe。 Then they were hooked to the covered pole wagons and the
work of transporting the village to the lot was begun。
The show grounds were on an island； now； entirely surrounded by
water。 Some of the clowns had rigged up fishing outfits and sat on the
bank in the rain trying to catch fish； though there probably was not a fish
within a mile of them； according to Phil's idea。
〃That's good work for a fool；〃 gloated Teddy。
〃It takes a wise man to be a fool； young man；〃 was the clown's retort。
〃Perhaps you don't know that the river has overflowed a few miles
above here； and that this place is full of fish？〃
〃No； I don't know anything of the sort。 The only water I see coming
is from right overhead。 Maybe there's fish swimming around up there； I
don't know。 Never caught any up there myself。〃
After a time the clowns tired of their sport and went back to their
dressing tent to prepare for the afternoon performance； the only
performance that would be given that day； as it would not be safe to try to
transport the people across the water in the dark。 And； besides； the owner
of the show hoped to be able to get his show aboard the cars before night。
In the big top a slender rope had been stretched across the blue seats
from the arena back to the sidewall。 This was the 〃color line。〃 On one
side of it sat the colored people； on the other the white people。
After all were seated； however； the line was taken down and colored
and white people sat elbow to elbow。 All were perfectly satisfied； for the
color line had been drawn。 The rest did not matter。
The show people entered into the spirit of the unusual exhibition with
the keenest zest； and the Sparling show had never given a better
entertainment than it did that afternoon。 The clowns； even though they
had not been successful as fishermen； where wholly so when they entered
the ring。 Teddy and his donkey； which he had named January； after the
manner of most clowns who own these animals； set the whole tent roaring；
while Shivers and his 〃shadow〃 made a hit from the moment they entered。
〃I've got the greatest bunch of people to be found in this country；〃
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The Circus B
