the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第10部分
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hurried back to the elephants with the package。 〃What are their names？〃
〃The big one is Emperor and the smaller one is called Jupiter；〃 answered
the keeper； who had already recognized his young visitor。 〃Are they ever
ugly？〃 〃Never have been。 But you can't tell。 An elephant is liable to go
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bad most any time； then you〃 〃But how can you tell； or can't you？〃
〃Most always； unless they are naturally bad。〃 〃How do you know？〃 〃See
that little slit on the cheek up there？〃 〃Yes；〃 said Phil； peering at the great
jowls wonderingly。 〃Well； several days before they get in a tantrum you
will see a few tear dropsthat's what I call themoozing from that little
slit。 I don't know whether it's water on the brain or what it is。 But when
you see the tear drops you want to get from under and chain Mr。 Elephant
down as quickly as possible。 〃That is strange。〃 〃Very。 But it's a sure sign。
Never knew it to fail； and I've known some elephants in my time。 But
Emperor and Jupiter never have shed a tear drop since I've known them。
They are not the crying kind； you know。〃 The lad nodded understandingly。
〃How about the lions and the tigerscan you tell when they are going to
have bad spells？〃 〃Well；〃 reflected the showman； 〃it's safe to say that
they've always got a grouch on。 The cats are always〃 〃Cats？〃 〃Yes。
All that sort of animals belong to the cat family and they've got only one
ambition in life。〃 〃What's that？〃 〃To kill somebody or something。〃 〃But
their keepersdon't they become fond of their keepers or trainers？〃 The
elephant tender laughed without changing the expression of his face。 His
laugh was all inside of him； as Phil characterized it。 〃Not they！ They
may be afraid of their keeper； but they would as soon chew him up as
anybody elseI guess they would rather； for they've always got a bone to
pick with him。〃 〃Do any of the men go in the cages and make the animals
perform here？〃 〃Oh； yes。 Wallace； the big lion over there； performs
every afternoon and night。 So does the tiger in the cage next to him。〃
Phil had dumped the bag of peanuts into his hat； which he held out before
him while talking。 Two squirming trunks had been busy conveying the
peanuts to the pink mouths of their owners； so that by the time Phil
happened to remember what he had brought them； there was not a nut left
in the hat。 He glanced up in surprise。 〃Emperor； you are a greedy old
elephant；〃 laughed Phil； patting the trunk。 Emperor trumpeted loudly； and
the call was immediately taken up even more loudly by his companion。
〃No； you can't have any more；〃 chided Phil。 〃You will have indigestion
from what you've already eaten； I'm afraid。 Behave； and I'll bring you
some more tonight if I come to the show；〃 he laughed。 Two caressing
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trunks touched his hands； then traveled gently over his cheeks。 They
tickled； but Phil did not flinch。 〃You could do most anything with them
now； you see；〃 nodded the keeper。 〃They'd follow you home if I would
let them。〃 〃Especially if my pockets were full of sweets。〃 〃There's the
animal trainer getting ready to go into the lion cage； if you want to see
him；〃 the attendant informed him。 〃Yes； I should like to。 And thank you
very much for your kindness。〃 〃You're welcome。 Come around again。〃
The boy hurried over to the lion cage。 The people were now crowding
into the menagerie tent in throngs。 There seemed to Phil to be thousands
already there。 But all eyes now being centered on Wallace's cage； they
had no time to observe Phil； for which he was duly thankful。 The animal
trainer； clad in red tights； his breast covered with spangles； was already at
the door of the cage； whip in hand。 When a sufficient crowd had gathered
about him； he opened the door； and； entering the cage threw wide the iron
grating that shut Wallace off from the door end of the wagon。 The big
lion bounded out with a roar that caused the people to crowd back
instinctively。 Then the trainer began putting the savage beast through its
paces； causing it to leap over his whip； jump through paper hoops；
together with innumerable other tricks that caused the spectators to open
their mouths in wonder。 All the time Wallace kept up a continual
snarling； interspersed now and then with a roar that might have been heard
a quarter of a mile away。 This was a part of the exhibition； as Phil
shrewdly discovered。 The boy was a natural showman； though unaware of
the fact。 He noted all the little fine points of the trainer's work with as
much appreciation as if he had himself been an animal trainer。 〃I half
believe I should like to try that myself；〃 was his mental conclusion。 〃But
I should want to make the experiment on a very little lion at first。 If I got
out with a whole skin I might want to tackle something bigger。 I wonder
if he is going into the tiger cage？〃 As if in answer to his question； an
announcer shouted out the information that the trainer would give an
exhibition in the cage of the tiger just before the evening performance。 〃I'll
have to see that；〃 muttered Phil。 〃Guess I had better get in and find my
seat now。〃 At the same time the crowd； understanding that the lion
performance was over； began crowding into the circus tent。 The band
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inside swung off into a sprightly tune and Phil could scarcely repress the
inclination to keep time to it with his feet。 Altogether； things were moving
pretty well with Phil Forrest。 They had done so ever since he left home the
day before。 In that one day he had had more fun than had come to him in
many years。 But his happy day would soon be ended。 He sighed as he
thought of it。 Then his face broke out into a sunny smile as he caught a
glimpse of the ropes and apparatus； seen dimly through the afternoon haze；
in the long circus tent。 As he gained the entrance between the two large
tents he saw the silk curtains at the far end of the circus arena fall apart；
while a troop of gayly caparisoned horses and armored riders suddenly
appeared through the opening。 The grand entry was beginning。 〃Gracious；
here the show has begun and I am not anywhere near my seat；〃 he
exclaimed。 〃But； if I am going to be late I won't be alone。 There are a
whole lot more of us that were too much interested in the animal trainer to
think to come in and get our seats。 I guess I had better run。 I〃 Phil
started to run； but he got no further than the start。 All at once his waist was
encircled in a powerful grip and he felt his feet leaving the ground。 Phil
was being raised straight up into the air by some strange force； the secret
of which he did not understand。
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CHAPTER VIII
IN THE SAWDUST ARENA
The lad repressed an inclination to cry out； for the thing that had
encircled his waist and raised him up seemed to be tightening about him。
A familiar voice just behind him served to calm Phil's disquieted nerves。
〃Don't be frightened； kid。 It's only Emperor having a little joke。 He's a
funny fellow；〃 said the elephant's attendant。 Phil had read somewhere that
elephants possessed a keen sense of humor； and now he was sure of it。
But he never thought he would have an opportunity to have the theory
demonstrated on himself。 The elephants were on their way to participate in
the grand entry； and there was not a minute to spare now。 Emperor on his
way into the other tent had come across his new…found friend and
recognized him instantly； while Phil had not even heard the approach of
the elephants。 No sooner had the elephant discovered the lad than he
picked him up with his trunk； slowly hoisting the boy high in the air。
〃Steady； Emperor！ Steady！〃 cautioned the attendant。 But Emperor
needed no admonition to deal gently with his young friend。 He handled
Phil with almost the gentleness of a mother lifting a babe。 Phil Forrest
experienced a thrill that ran all through him when he realized what was
taking place。 〃We can't stop to put you down now； my boy。 You'll have to
go through the performance
