the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第16部分
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attendants who either had not heard or failed to heed his call。 〃What did he
do that f…f…for？〃 stammered Teddy。 〃To drive the tiger back。 It was a
blank cartridge that he fired。 I think the tiger is going to attack him。 Yes；
there he goes！ Oh； that's _terrible！_〃 The trainer had been forced against
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the bars at the back of the cage by the animal； whose length was more than
the width of the cage itself。 In an unsuspected moment the beast had
sprung upon the unfortunate man； and with one sweep of his powerful paw
had laid the man low。 With a growl of savage joy； the brute settled back
against the bars of the cage near which the lads were standing。 Women
shrieked and men grew pale as they stood helpless to do aught to avert the
impending tragedy。 Teddy slipped out from under the rope； his face ashen
gray。 But Phil stood his ground。 He felt that he _must_ do something。
Then his opportunity came。 The beast's great silken tail popped out
through the bars against which he was backing。 Phil Forrest； without an
instant's thought of the danger into which he was placing himself； sprang
forward。 His hands closed over the tail； which he twisted about his right
arm in a flash； at the same time throwing up his feet and bracing them
against a wheel of the wagon。 No sooner had he done so than Bengal；
uttering a frightful roar； whirled。 The force of the jerk as the brute turned
hurled Phil Forrest against the bars of the cage with a crash； and Bengal's
sharp…clawed feet made a vicious sweep for the body of the lad pressed so
tightly against the bars。
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
CHAPTER XII
A THRILLING RESCUE
〃Open the door and let the man out！〃 shouted Phil； with great presence
of mind。 But no one seemed to have the power to move。 One sweep of
the powerful claw and one side of the lad's clothes was literally stripped
from him； though he had managed to shrink back just far enough to save
himself from the needle like claws of the tiger。 At this moment men came
rushing from other parts of the tent。 Some bore iron rods； while two or
three carried tent poles and sticksanything that the circus men could lay
their hands upon。 Mr。 Sparling was in the lead of the procession that
dashed through the crowd； hurling the people right and left as they ran。
With every spring of the tiger Phil was being thrown against the bars with
terrific force； but still he clung to the tail that was wrapped about his arm；
hanging on with desperate courage。 Though the lad was getting severe
punishment； he was accomplishing just what he had hoped forto keep
Bengal busy until help arrived to liberate the unconscious trainer； who lay
huddled against the bars on the opposite side of the cage。 〃Poke one of the
tent poles in to him and let him bite it！〃 roared Mr。 Sparling。 〃Half a
dozen of you get around behind the cage and when we have his attention
one of you pull Bob out。 Keep your poles in the opening when you open
the door； so Bengal doesn't jump out。 Everybody stand back！〃 The
commands of the showman came out like so many explosions of a pistol。
But it had its effect。 His men sprang to their work like machines。 In the
meantime Mr。 Sparling himself had grabbed the tail of the beast； taking a
hold higher up than Phil's。 〃Pull the boy off。 He's hanging on like a bull
dog。 If you had half his sense you'd have put a stop to this mix…up
minutes ago。〃 Teddy by this time had gotten in under the ropes again； and；
grasping his companion about the waist； he held on until he had untwisted
the tiger's tail from his companion's arm and released Phil； staggering back
with his burden against the rope。 Phil's limp body； the moment Teddy let
go of him； collapsed in a heap。 The circus men were too busy at the
moment to notice him。 One of the men had thrust a short tent pole
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between the bars。 Bengal was upon it like an avalanche。 Biting； clawing；
uttering fierce growls； he tore the hard wood into shreds； the man at the
other end poking at the beast with all his might。 Cautiously the rear door
of the cage was opened。 Two men grasped Bob by the shoulders and
hauled him out with a quick pull。 The crowd shouted in approval。 〃All out！
Let go！〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling。 It took the strength of two men to pull the
tent pole from Bengal's grip。 The instant he lost the pole the beast
whirled and pounced upon the spot where he had left his victim。 Finding
that he had lost his prey； the savage beast uttered roar upon roar； that made
every spectator in the tent tremble and draw back； fearing the animal
would break through the bars and attack them。 〃Where's that boy？〃 〃Here
he is； and I guess he's hurt；〃 answered Teddy。 〃Give him to me。 I'll get
him outside where we can get some decent air into him。 Is he much
hurt？〃 〃II don't know。〃 The showman grabbed Phil； and as a helper lifted
the bottom of the tent's side wall； Mr。 Sparling ran to his own small tent
with the unconscious Phil。 〃Fetch a pail of water。〃 Teddy ran for the cook
tent to get the water。 He was amazed to find no cook tent there。 Instead；
there remained only the open plot of grass； trampled down； with a litter of
papers and refuse scattered about。 By the time he had dashed back to the
tent to inquire where he could find a pail； one of the showmen had brought
some water and Mr。 Sparling was bathing Phil's face with it。 He had made
a hasty examination of the unconscious boy's wounds； which he did not
believe were serious。 Phil soon came to； and by that time the show's doctor
had arrived； having been in attendance on the wounded animal trainer。 〃No；
he'll be sore for a few days； but there's nothing dangerous about those
scratches； I should say。 I'll dress the wounds and he can go on about his
business；〃 was the surgeon's verdict。 〃I've got to ride Emperor in tonight；〃
objected Phil。 〃You'll do nothing of the sort。 You'll get into my wagon
and go to bed。 That's what you will do； and right quick； at that。〃 〃But；〃
urged the lad； 〃the people will all think I am seriously hurt if they see no
more of me。 Don't you think it would be a good plan for me to show
myself？ They are liable to be uneasy all through the performance。 If I
show myself they will settle down and forget all about it in a few
minutes。〃 Mr。 Sparling turned to his assistant with a significant nod。 〃I
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told you that boy was a natural born showman。 You can't stop that kind
with a club。 Can you stand up alone？〃 〃Yes。〃 Phil scrambled to his feet；
steadying himself with a hand on the table。 〃I'll be all right after I walk
about a bit。 How long before the elephants go in？〃 〃You've got fifteen
minutes yet。〃 〃Then I may go on？〃 〃Yes； yes； go on。 You'll never be
satisfied if you don't。 But I ought to take you over my knee and give you
a sound walloping。〃 〃Thank you。 How is Mr。Mr。the trainer？〃 〃He
isn't badly hurt； thanks to your presence of mind； young man；〃 answered
the surgeon。 〃That makes two people you've saved today； Forrest；〃
emphasized Mr。 Sparling。 〃We will call that a day's work。 You have
earned your meal ticket。 Better run back to the dressing tent and ask
them to fix up some clothes for you。 Ask for Mrs。 Waite； the wardrobe
woman。 Teddy Tucker； you run in and tell Mr。 Kennedy； who has charge
of the elephants； that Phil will ride tonight； and to wait until he gets in。〃
Both boys hurried away on their respective missions。 All that Mrs。 Waite
had that would come anywhere near fitting Phil was a yellow robe that
looked like a night gown。 Phil grinned as he tucked it under his arm and
hurried back to the menagerie tent。 As he passed through the 〃big top〃 he
saw that it was filling up rapidly。 〃I guess we are going to have a good
house tonight；〃 muttered the lad with a pleased smile。 It did not occur to
him that he himself was responsible for a large part of the attendancethat
the part he had played in the exciting incidents of the day had done more
to advertise the Great Sparling Combined Shows than any other one factor。
〃I am all ready； Mr。 Kennedy；〃 announced Phil； running to the elephant
quarters。 The horns were blowing the signal for the grand entry； so the
lad grasped the head harness； as Emperor stooped； and was quickly
hoisted to the position in which he
