the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第34部分
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heavy wagon； being driven rapidly along the paved street of the town。
〃It's a circus wagon；〃 breathed the lad； recognizing the sound instantly。
〃I hope it is the wagon。〃
He listened intently； keeping the torches moving； now and then
cracking his whip and uttering sharp commands to Wallace。
The animal was growing more and more restless。 His wild instincts
were returning to him。
The torches were so low； now； that Phil could scarcely see the beast。
Then； all at once； he realized that Wallace was creeping toward him
unmindful of the lash or of the fading torches。
Phil waited； peering into the shadows。 He was not afraid； as he
recalled his sensations afterwards； but a strange little thrill seemed to be
racing up and down his spinal column。
Then the lad did a daring thing。 He sprang forward to meet Wallace。
The astonished lion halted for a brief instant； and in that instant the Circus
Boy thrust one of the torches full in his face。 The flame burned the nose
of the king of beasts and singed his brow as well。
Uttering a mighty roar Wallace cleared the floor； springing backwards
and landing against the wall with such force as to jar several panes of glass
from the window nearby。
〃Phil！ Phil！ Are you there？〃 came a hesitating voice from behind
the lad。 It was the voice of Teddy Tucker on a ladder at one side of the
window from which he had jumped earlier in the evening。
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〃Yes； yes。 Be careful。 Did you bring them？〃
〃We've got the cage。 Mr。 Sparling is here； too。 He's half worried to
death。 What shall we do？〃
〃Have them draw the cage up in the back yard and back it against the
open door。 When that's done some of you come upstairs and throw the
door open。 Be sure to leave a light in the hall； but jump into the room
across the hall as soon as you open the door。 Wallace will scent his mate
and I'll wager he'll trot right downstairs and jump into his cage。 Have
someone standing by to close the doors on him。 Hurry now。 Tell them
my torches won't last five minutes longer。〃
Teddy slid down the ladder without waiting to place feet or hand on
the rungs； and Phil's anxious ears told him the men were drawing the cage
around to the rear yard。
Soon he heard footsteps on the back stairs。 Wallace was showing
new signs of agitation。
〃All ready； in there？〃
〃All ready；〃 answered Phil。
Teddy jerked the door open and leaping across the hall； shut himself in
the room opposite。 Wallace paused； his tail beating the wall behind him；
then uttering a roar that shook the building； the shaggy beast leaped into
the hall。 There he paused for an instant。 One bound took him to the
foot of the stairs。 The next landed him in the cage next to his mate。 The
cage doors closed behind him with a metallic snap。
Wallace was safe。
〃Got him！〃 shouted a voice from below。
Phil drew a long sigh of relief。 Someone dashed up the stairs on a
run。 It was Mr。 Sparling。 He grabbed Phil Forrest in his arms； hugging
him until the dead torches fell to the floor with a clatter and the lad begged
to be released。
〃My brave Phil； my brave boy！〃 breathed the showman。 〃No one but
you could have done a thing like that。 You have saved the lives of many
people this night； and what is more you have captured the most valuable
lion in the worldyou and Teddy。 I don't know what to say nor how to
say it。 I〃
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〃I wouldn't try were I in your place；〃 grinned Phil。 〃I presume you
will have to settle with these people for the slight damage that has been
done to their house。〃
〃I'll settle the bills； don't you worry about that。〃
〃Any more lions lying around loose in here？〃 questioned Teddy；
poking his head in through the open door。 〃I and my little club are ready
for them if there are。〃
〃Shall we be going； Mr。 Sparling？〃
〃Yes。〃
Together the three made their way down the stairs just as the cage was
being driven from the yard。 As soon as he could find the owner of the
house the showman paid him for the damages。
〃What shape is the big top in？〃 asked Phil as they walked slowly back
toward the lot。
〃Bad； very bad。 I might say that it comes pretty near being a
hopeless wreck。 Still it may be patched up。〃
〃I am sure of it。 I know a blown…down tent is not half as hopeless as
it looks。 I saw the Robinson shows with a blown…down tent once。〃
〃I have been thinking the matter over； Phil。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃We have only a few days more to go before the close of the season；
and it seems to me that the best plan would be to close right here and go in。
What do you think？〃
〃I think；〃 answered Phil Forrest slowly； 〃that I should turn all hands
loose and fix that tent up so the show will be able to make the next stand
and give a performance by tomorrow night at latest。 It can be done。 If
the tent is too badly torn to set up a six pole show； make it a four pole
show； or use the menagerie tent for the circus performance。 I should
never have it said that the Sparling Combined Shows were put out of
business by a gale of wind。〃
Mr。 Sparling halted。
〃Phil； there is an old saying to the effect that you can't 'teach an old
dog new tricks。' It's not true。 You have taught me a new trick。 The
Sparling shows shall go on to the close of the season。 We'll make the
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next town； somehow； and we'll give them a show the like of which they
never before have seen。〃
〃If they had been here tonight they would have seen one such as they
never saw before；〃 grinned Teddy。
〃Yes。〃
〃A sort of Wild South instead of Wild West show；〃 added the
irrepressible Teddy。
All that night the showmen worked； Phil not even taking the time to
discard his gaudy ring clothes。 The next morning both he and Teddy
were sights to behold； but the show had been loaded； and the big top
straightened out and put in shape so that it could be pitched when the next
town was reached。 At last the boys decided to hunt up their trunks。
They found them； after a long search。 Getting behind a pole wagon they
put on their clothes。 An hour later they were on their way to the next
stand； tired but proud of their achievements and happy。
The news of the accident to the show； as well as the capture of the big
lion； Wallace； by the Circus Boys； had preceded them to the next town。
Once more Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker were hailed as heroes； which
they really had proved themselves to be。
A very fair performance； considering their crippled condition； was
given that afternoon。 By the next day the show was on its feet again； and
from then on to the close of the season； no other exciting incidents
occurred。
Two weeks later the big top came down for the last time that year。
On the afternoon of that happy day； the associates of the Circus Boys gave
a banquet for the two lads under the cook tent； at which Teddy Tucker
distinguished himself by making a speech that set the whole tent in an
uproar of merriment。
Good…byes were said； and the circus folks departed that night bag and
baggage to scatter to the four quarters of the globe； some never to return to
the Sparling shows。 Phil and Teddy returned to Edmeston to finish their
course at the high school； from which they were to graduate in the
following spring。
How the lads joined out with the circus the next season will be told in
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
a succeeding volume entitled； 〃THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE
MISSISSIPPI； Or； Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River。〃 This was
destined to be one of the most interesting journeys of their circus careers
one filled with new and exciting experiences and thrilling adventures。
Until then we will leave them to continue their studies in the little
village of Edmeston。
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