the circus boys on the flying rings(飞指环上的马戏团男孩)-第8部分
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Adams was too surprised to protest。 Then； uttering an angry snarl； he
threw the clown off； making a vicious pass at him with his heavy stick。
The clown dodged the blow； and made a run for the wagon； which was
now on the move again。 Phil breathed a sigh of relief。 The people had
roared at the funny sight of the clown shaking hands with the crabbed old
man； but to Phil Forrest there had been nothing of humor in it。 The sight of
his uncle brought back too many unhappy memories。 The lad soon forgot
his depression； however； in the rapid changes that followed each other in
quick succession as on a moving… picture film。 Reaching the end of the
village street the procession was obliged to turn and retrace its steps over
the same ground until it reached the business part of the town； where it
would turn off and pass through some of the side streets。 Now there were
two lines； moving in opposite directions。 This was of interest to Phil；
enabling him； as it did； to get a good look at the other members of the
troupe。 Mr。 Sparling was riding ahead in a carriage drawn by four
splendid white horses； driven by a coachman resplendent in livery and
gold lace； while the bobbing plumes on the heads of the horses added to
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
the impressiveness of the picture。 〃I'd give anything in the world to be able
to ride in a carriage like that；〃 decided Phil。 〃Maybe someday I shall。
We'll see。〃 Now came the elephants； lumbering along on velvet feet。 On
the second one there crouched a figure that somehow seemed strangely
familiar to Phil Forrest。 The figure was made up to represent a huge frog。
A peculiar gesture of one of the frog's legs revealed the identity of the
figure beneath the mask。 〃Teddy！〃 howled Phil。 〃Have a frog's leg；〃
retorted Teddy； shaking one of them vigorously at the motley collection of
clowns。 〃Not eating frogs legs today；〃 jeered a clown； as Teddy went
swinging past them； a strange； grotesque figure on the back of the huge；
hulking beast。 The clowns' wagon was just on the point of turning when
the men heard a loud uproar far down the line。 At first they thought it
was a part of the show； but it soon became apparent that something was
wrong。 Phil instinctively let the horn fall away from his lips。 He peered
curiously over the swaying line to learn what； if anything； had gone wrong。
He made out the cause of the trouble almost at once。 A pony with a
woman on its back had broken from the line； and was plunging toward
them at a terrific pace。 She appeared to have lost all control of the
animal； and the pony； which proved to be an ugly broncho； was bucking
and squealing as it plunged madly down the street。 The others failed to see
what Phil had observed almost from the first。 The bit had broken in the
mouth of the broncho and the reins hung loosely in the woman's helpless
hands。 They were almost up with the clowns' wagon when the woman was
seen to sway dizzily in her saddle； as the leather slipped beneath her。 Then
she plunged headlong to the ground。 Instead of falling in a heap； the circus
woman； with head dragging； bumping along the ground； was still fast to
the pony。 〃Her foot is caught in the stirrup！〃 yelled half a dozen men at
once； but not a man of them made an effort to rescue her。 Perhaps this was
because none of the real horsemen of the show were near enough to do so。
Mr。 Sparling； however； at the first alarm； had leaped from his carriage； and；
thrusting a rider from his mount； sprang into the saddle and came tearing
down the line in a cloud of dust。 He was bearing down on the scene at
express train speed。 〃The woman will be killed！〃 〃Stop him！ Stop him！〃
〃Stop him yourself！〃 But not a man made an effort to do anything。 It had
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all occurred in a few seconds； but rapidly as the events succeeded each
other； Phil Forrest seemed to be the one among them who retained his
presence of mind。 He fairly launched himself into the air as the ugly
broncho shot alongside the clowns' wagon。
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The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
CHAPTER VI
PROVING HIS METTLE
Familiar as they were with daring deeds； those of the circus people
who witnessed Phil Forrest's dive gasped。 They expected to see the boy
fall beneath the feet of the plunging pony； where he would be likely to be
trampled and kicked to death。 But Phil had looked before he leaped。 He
had measured his distance wellhad made up his mind exactly what he
was going to do； or rather what he was going to try to do。 The pony；
catching a brief glimpse of the dark figure that was being hurled through
the air directly toward him； made a swift leap to one side。 But the animal
was not quick enough。 The boy landed against the broncho with a jolt
that nearly knocked the little animal over； while to Phil the impact could
not have been much more severe； it seemed to him； had he collided with a
locomotive。 〃Hang on！〃 howled a voice from the wagon。 That was exactly
what he intended to do。 The cloud of dust； with Mr。 Sparling in the center
of it； had not reached them； but his keen eyes already had observed what
was going on。 〃G…g…g…grab the woman！〃 shouted Phil。 His left arm had
been thrown about the broncho's neck； while his right hand was groping
frantically for the animal's nose。 But during all this time the pony was far
from idle。 He was plunging like a ship in a gale； cracking the whip with
Phil Forrest until it seemed as if every bone in the lad's body would be
broken。 He could hear his own neck snap with every jerk。 With a howl
Miaco； the head clown； launched himself from the wagon； too。 Darting
in among the flying hoofsthere seemed to be a score of themhe caught
the woman； jerked her foot free of the stirrup and dragged her quickly
from her perilous position。 〃She's free。 Let go！〃 he roared to the boy
holding the pony。 But by this time Phil had fastened his right hand on the
pony's nostrils； and with a quick pressure shut off the animal's wind。 He
had heard the warning cry。 The lad's grit had been aroused； however； and
he was determined that he would not let go until he should have conquered
the fighting broncho。 With a squeal of rage； the pony leaped sideways。 A
deep ditch led along by the side of the road； but this the enraged animal
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had not noticed。 Into it he went； kicking and fighting； pieces of Phil's
yellow robe streaming from his hoofs。 The lad's body was half under the
neck of the pony； but he was clinging to the neck and the nose of the beast
with desperate courage。 〃Get the boy out of there！〃 thundered Mr。 Sparling；
dashing up and leaping from his pony。 〃Want to let him be killed？〃 By
this time others had ridden up； and some of the real horsemen in the outfit
sprang off and rushed to Phil Forrest's assistance。 Ropes were cast over the
flying hoofs before the men thought it wise to get near them。 Then they
hauled Phil out； very much the worse for wear。 In the meantime Mr。
Sparling's carriage had driven up and he was helping the woman in。 〃Is the
boy hurt？〃 he called。 〃No； I'm all right； thank you；〃 answered Phil； smiling
bravely； though he was bruised from head to foot and his clothing hung in
tatters。 His peaked clown's cap someone picked up in a field over the
fence and returned to him。 That was about all that was left of Phil
Forrest's gaudy makeup； save the streaks on his face； which by now had
become blotches of white and red。 The clowns picked him up and boosted
him to the wagon； jabbering like a lot of sparrows perched on a telephone
wire。 〃See you later！〃 shouted the voice of Mr。 Sparling as he drove
rapidly away。 Phil found his horn； and despite his aches and pains he
began blowing it lustily。 The story of his brave rescue had gone on ahead；
however； and as the clowns' wagon moved on it was greeted by
tremendous applause。 The onlookers had no difficulty in picking out the
boy who had saved the woman's life； and somehow the word had been
passed around as to his identity。 〃Hooray for Phil Forrest！〃 shouted the
multitude。 Phil flushed under the coating of powder and paint； and sought
to crouch down in the wagon out of sight。 〃Here； get up there where they
can see you！〃 admonished a clown。 〃If you're going to be a showman you
mustn't be afraid to get yourse
