the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第7部分
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and color always observable in the circus paddock； a canvas walled
enclosure where performers and ring stock await the call to enter the ring。
〃Here we are； Billy；〃 greeted Phil。
〃Oh； so quick？〃 Billy started guiltily。
〃That's the way we always do things；〃 answered Teddy。 〃Have to do
things on the jump； we circus men do。〃
〃So I see。 What are you going to do now？〃
〃Going to the car； of course。 We always go right to the sleeper after
the show。 Why？〃
〃Oh； nothing special。 I thought maybe you might like to go
downtown and visit with the boys for a while。〃
〃I should like to do so very much； but I do not think it will be best。
We make it a rule to go straight home； as we call our car； and I've never
broken over that rule yet； Billy。〃
〃Very well； Phil； then I will walk along with you。 I guess you know
the way。〃
〃That's more than I do every night；〃 laughed Phil。 〃It's a case of
getting lost 'most every night； especially in the big towns； for the cars
seldom are found at night where we left them in the morning。〃
〃I shouldn't like that；〃 objected Billy。
〃We don't。 But we can't help ourselves。〃
〃Here； where you going？〃 demanded Teddy suddenly。
〃Taking the path across the lot here。 It is much shorter；〃 replied Billy。
〃Oh； all right。 I had forgotten about the path。〃
〃I should think you would〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Phil got no further in his remark。 He was interrupted by President
Billy； crying loudly：
〃Here we are！〃
Instantly fifteen or twenty shadowy forms sprang up from the grass
and hurled themselves upon the Circus Boys。
Taken by surprise as they were； Phil and Teddy gave a good account of
themselves。 Shadow after shadow went down under a good stiff punch；
for it must be remembered that both boys were able to make a handsome
living because of the possession of well trained muscles。
Yet no two men could have stood up for long under the onslaught； and
Phil and Teddy very soon went down with their assailants piling on top of
them。
Up to this point not a word had been spoken； nor did either of the lads
have time to speculate as to who their enemies might be。
〃Here； you fellow； get off my neck！〃 howled Teddy。 〃Let me get up
and I'll clean up the whole bunch of you two at a time； if you'll give me
half a chance。〃
No reply was made to this。
〃Get the blankets！〃 commanded a deep voice。
A moment later the two lads were quickly wound in the folds of a pair
of large horse blankets。 They were then picked up； none too gently and
borne off to the other side of the field； kicking and squirming in their
efforts to escape。
Their captors； however； did not for an instant relax their hold； and
further struggle proved vain。
Reaching the other side of the field； the Circus Boys were dumped into
a wagon。 This they knew because they heard the driver give the
directions regarding letting down the tail board。
Placing their burdens on the wagon floor； the captors very coolly sat
down on the boys。 Then the wagon started。 Never in the old days of
the road show； when Phil and Teddy were riding and sleeping in a
springless canvas wagon； had they experienced a rougher ride。 It seemed
as if every stone in the county had been placed in the path of the rickety
old wagon in which they were being spirited away。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
About this time Phil Forrest began to wonder。 He could not
understand the meaning of the attack。 And what had become of President
Billy？ He knew Teddy was lying beside him； but Billy must have made
his escape。 If so Billy would give the alarm； and the show people would
quickly overtake the kidnappers。
No such interruption occurred； however； rather greatly to Phil's
surprise； so he lay still and waited for a favorable moment when he might
take a hand in the affair himself。
Teddy's voice could be heard under his blanket； in muffled； angry
protestations； his feet now and then beating a tattoo on the wagon bottom。
Such an act brought down the weight of his captors upon the offending
feet each time。
Once Teddy managed to work the covering from his mouth for one
brief instant。
〃Hey； Rube！〃 he howled lustily； this being the signal known to circus
men the world over； when one or more of them is in trouble。
But there were no strong…armed circus men to come to their rescue。
All the circus laborers were working off on the lot striking the tents and
loading the show on the wagons。 Teddy was given no further opportunity
to protest。
After a journey of what seemed hours； and during which； Phil Forrest
had lost all sense of direction； the wagon came to a halt。
He could hear the hum of conversation as his captors consulted in low
tones。 Then all at once he found himself jerked from the wagon and
plumped down on the ground。
Teddy went through a similar experience； excepting that his fall was
considerably more severe。 Teddy struck the ground with a jolt that made
him utter a loud 〃Wow！〃
He was on his feet in a twinkling； only to find himself pounced upon
and borne heavily to earth again。
Fuming and threatening； Teddy was roughly picked up； Phil being
served likewise。
The boys felt themselves being borne up a short flight of steps and
down a long hall。 Then came more steps。 This time it was a long flight
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
of stairs； the kidnappers getting their burdens up this with evident effort。
〃I hope they don't drop me； now；〃 thought Phil。 〃I shall surely roll all
the way to the bottom； though it might enable me to get away。〃
Finally an upper floor was reached。 The captors bore their burdens in
and placed them on the floor。 The Circus Boys realized； at the same
instant； that the vigilance of the kidnappers had been relaxed for the
second。
Throwing； the blankets off Phil and Teddy leaped to their feet ready
for flight。 As they did so they met with the surprise of their lives。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER VI
IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY
Teddy had squared off； and was landing sledge…hammer blows on the
empty air。
Phil； too； had squared himself prepared to give battle； but his hands
fell sharply to his sides。
〃Whawhat〃 he gasped。
〃Come on！〃 bellowed Teddy。
They were in a large room； brilliantly lighted； and about them； in a
semi…circle； was a line of laughing faces。 From them the eyes of the
astonished Circus Boys wandered to a long table on which were flowers
and plenty of good things to eat。
〃Why； it's our old recitation room in the high school； Teddy；〃 breathed
Phil。
〃I don't care what it is。 I can lick the whole outfit！〃 shouted Teddy
Tucker advancing belligerently。
〃It's the boys； Teddy； don't you understand？〃 laughed Phil。 〃Well； of all
the ways of inviting a fellow to dinner； this beats anything I ever saw
before。〃
〃How does it feel to be kidnaped？〃 grinned President Billy； extending
his hand。
〃So you are the young gentleman who put up this job on us； are you？〃
demanded Phil。
〃I guess I am one of them。 But I wasn't unlucky enough to get a
black eye； like Walter over there。 You gave that to him； Teddy。 My； what
a punch you have！〃 laughed Billy。
〃That isn't a circumstance to what's coming to you。 I'll wait till I get
back to school； next fall； and then I'll take it out of you。 You'll have
something coming to you all summer。 Did I paint Walt's eye that way？〃
〃You did。 It's up to you to apologize to him now。〃
〃Apologize？〃
〃Yes； that's what I said。〃
〃I like that！ I have a good notion to apologize by painting the other
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eye the same color；〃 growled Teddy。
〃But； what does all this mean？〃 urged Phil； looking about him； still a
bit dazed。
〃It means that we fellows wanted to give you and Teddy a little supper。
It isn't much； but there are sandwiches and cookies and pie and lots of
other stuff that you'll like。〃
〃Cookies？〃 interrupted Teddy； his face relaxing into a half smile。
〃Yes。〃
〃We knew you wo
