the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第28部分
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The Circus Boy did not shout this time。 He was too angry to do so。
He turned over and struck out for the bank which he was fortunate enough
to reach。 Quickly clambering up； Teddy sat down to repeat his process of
rubbing the water out of his eyes。
〃Are you going to let me lie here and drown？〃 cried the Fat Woman。
〃It looks that way； doesn't it； eh？〃
Teddy got up and hurried to her just the same。 Throwing off his wet
coat he set to work with a will to get Marie out。 The water was shallow
and she managed to help herself somewhat； therefore after great effort
Teddy succeeded in towing her to land。 The woman was a sight and
Teddy a close second in this respect。
〃I'm drowned；〃 she moaned as he dragged her out on the bank； letting
her drop sharply。
〃You only think you are。 I suppose you know what we've got to do
now； don't you？〃
〃N…n…n…no。〃
〃We've got to walk to the next stand。〃
〃Howhow far is it？〃
〃Maybe a hundred miles。〃
〃Oh； help！〃
As a matter of fact they were within five miles of St。 Charles； where
the Sparling show was billed to exhibit that afternoon and evening。
〃I'm afraid they'll miss you in the parade today； but what do you think
will happen if we don't reach the show in time for the performance this
afternoon？〃
〃II don't know。〃
〃I do。 We'll get fined good and proper。〃
〃Itit's all your fault； Teddy Tucker。〃
Teddy surveyed her wearily。
〃If you'd held me up I shouldn't have fallen in andand〃
〃Drowned；〃 growled Teddy。
〃Yes。〃
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〃And if you hadn't sat on me I shouldn't have fallen in； and there you
are。 Now； get up and we'll find a place to climb up the bank。 We can't
stay here all day and starve to death。 Come on； now。〃
〃II can't。〃
〃All right； then I'll go without you。〃 Teddy started away； whereupon
the Fat Woman wailed to him to come back； at the same time struggling to
her feet； bedraggled and wet； her hair full of sand and her clothes torn。
〃If they'd only start a beauty show in the side top you would take first
prize；〃 grinned the boy。 〃Hurry up。〃
Marie waddled along with great effort； making slow headway。
〃We shall have to go further along before we can get up the bank。 That
is； unless you want to take the chance of falling into the creek again。〃
It was some distance to the place where the creek curved under the
railroad bed； and they would be obliged to go beyond that if they expected
to get the Fat Woman out without a repetition of the previous disaster。
After a while they reached the spot for which Teddy had been heading。
Marie surveyed the bank up which she must climb。
〃Can you make it？〃
〃II'll try。〃
〃That's the talk。 Take a running start； but slow up before you get to
the top； or with your headway you'll go right on over the other side and
down that embankment。 You ought to travel with a net under you； but it
would have to be a mighty strong one； or you'd go through it。〃
Marie uttered a little hopeless moan and began climbing up the bank
once more； but bracing each foot carefully before throwing her weight
upon it。 Teddy； in the meantime； had run up to the top where he sat down
on the end of a tie watching the Fat Woman's efforts to get up to him。
〃Oh； help！〃
〃Help； help；〃 mimicked Teddy。
〃I can't go any further； unless you come down here and push。〃
〃Push？ No thank you。 I tried that before。 It would take a steam
engine to push you up that bank； because you'd let the engine do all the
pushing。 You wouldn't help yourself at all。〃
〃I'll fall if you don't help me。〃
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〃Well； fall then。 You've got a nice soft piece of grass to land on down
there。 I'll tell you what I'll do。〃
〃What？〃
〃I'll take hold of your hand if you'll promise to let go the minute you
feel you're going to fall。〃
〃II don't want to let go。 I want to hold on if I feel I'm going to fall；〃
wailed Marie。
〃No； you don't。 'United we stand； divided we fall；'〃 quoted Teddy
solemnly。
〃I'll promise； I'll promise anything； if you will come help me。〃
Teddy rose and slid down the bank to her。
〃Give me your hand。〃
Marie extended a fat hand toward him； which he grasped firmly。
〃Now gather all your strength and run for it。 We'll be at the top
before you know it。 Run； run； run！〃
The command was accompanied by a jerk on Marie's arm； and
together they started plowing up the bank。
〃Here we are。 One more reach； and we'll be on hard ground。 Then〃
〃Help！〃 screamed Marie。
Both her feet flew out。 One caught Teddy； tripping him and down
they rolled amid a shower of cinders； both landing in a heap at the foot of
the embankment。
〃That settles it。 I thought you were going to let go；〃 growled Teddy。
〃II couldn't。〃
〃You mean you didn't。 Now； you can take your choice； go up the
bank alone or stay here。 I suppose I have got to stay here with you； but I
really ought to leave you。 Somehow； I'm not mean enough to do it； but I
want to。〃
Teddy stretched out on the grass in the bright sunlight to dry himself；
for he was still very wet； while Marie sat down helplessly and shook out
her hair。
They had been there for nearly two hours when the rails above them
began to snap。
〃Guess there's a train coming。 Just my luck to have it run off the
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track and fall on me about the time it gets here。〃
The sound told him the train was coming from the direction his own
train had gone sometime before。
〃It's a handcar；〃 shouted the lad as a car swung around the bend and
straightened out down the track。
〃Oh； help；〃 wailed the Fat Woman。
〃Hey； hey！〃 Teddy shouted。
Someone on the handcar waved a hat and shouted back at him。
〃It's Phil； it's Phil！ They're coming for us； Marie；〃 cried Teddy。
〃Now； you've got to climb that bank unless you want to stay here and
starve to death。 Let me tell you it's me for the handcar and a square
meal。〃
Phil； hearing of his companion's misfortune； had requested Mr。
Sparling to get him a handcar that he might go in search of Marie and
Teddy。 This had been quickly arranged； and with three Italian trackmen
Phil had set out； he himself taking his turn at the handle to assist in
propelling the car。
〃What's happened？〃 shouted Phil； leaping from the car and running
down the bank； falling the last half of the way and bringing up in a heap at
the feet of Teddy Tucker。
〃That's the way we came down； a couple of times；〃 grinned Teddy。
〃Marie took a header into the creek and I went along。 Got a rope？〃
〃Yes； there's one on the handcar。 Why？〃
〃Marie can't get up the bank。 You'll have to pull her up。〃
The rope was hurriedly brought； and after being fastened about her
waist； the Italians were ordered to pull； while Phil and Teddy braced
themselves against the Fat Woman's waist and pushed with all their might。
At last they landed her； puffing and blowing and murmuring for more help；
at the top of the embankment。 She was quickly assisted to the handcar；
when the return journey was begun。
〃Next time you fall off a train； I'll bet you go to the bottom alone；〃
growled Teddy。 〃The show ought to carry a derrick for you。〃
〃Oh； help！〃 moaned the Fat Woman； gasping for breath as she sat
dangling over the rear end of the handcar。
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〃We shall miss the parade； I fear；〃 announced Phil consulting his
watch。
〃Well； I don't mind for myself； but I could weep that Fat Marie has to
miss it；〃 answered Teddy soberly。 〃I don't like to see her miss anything
that comes her way。〃
〃She doesn't； usually；〃 grinned Phil。
After a long hard pull they succeeded in reaching the next town with
their well loaded handcar。 With the help of Phil and Teddy； the Fat Lady
was led puffing to the circus lot。 The parade had just returned and the
paraders were hurrying to change their costumes； as the red flag was up on
the cook tent。 Mr。 Sparling saw the Circus Boys and their charge
approaching； and motioned them to enter his office tent。
〃Where did you find them； Phil？〃
〃At the bottom of a railroad embankment； about five miles back；
according to the mile posts。〃
〃A couple of fine specimens you are；〃 growled the showm
