the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第11章
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The Queen of the Sawdust Arena； will now perform her thrilling； death…
defying； unexcelled； unequaled feat of turning a somersault on the back of
a running horse。 I might add in this connection that Little Miss Dimples
is the only woman who ever succeeded in going through this feat without
finishing up by breaking her neck。 The band will cease playing while
this perilous performance is on； as the least distraction on the part of the
rider might result fatally for her。 Ladies and gentlemen； I introduce to
you Little Miss Dimples；〃 concluded the ringmaster； with a
prehensive wave of the hand toward the young woman and her gray
ring horse。
Dimples dropped to the ring； swept a courtesy to the audience； then
leaped to the animal's back with a sharp little 〃yip！ yip！〃
During the first round of the ring she removed the bridle； tossing it
mischievously in Phil's direction。 He caught it deftly； placing it on the
ground beside him； then edged a little closer to the ring that he might the
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better observe her work。
The ring horse started off at a lively gallop； the rider allowing her
elbows to rise and fall with the motion of the horse； in order that she might
the more thoroughly bee a part of the animal itselfthat the motion of
each should be the same。
Suddenly Dimples sprang nimbly to her feet； tossing her riding whip
to the waiting hands of the ringmaster。
Phil half scrambled to his feet as he saw her poise for a backward
somersault。 He had noted another thing； too。 She was going to throw
herself； it seemed； just as the horse was on the roughest part of the ring。
He wondered if she could make it。 To him it was a risky thing to try； but
she no doubt knew better than he what she was about。
The ringmaster held up his hand as a signal to the audience that the
daring act was about to take place。
Phil crept a little nearer。
All at once the girl gracefully threw herself into the air。 He judged she
had cleared the back of the animal by at least three feet； a high jump to
make straight up with unbent knees。
But just as she was leaving the back of the horse； the animal suddenly
stumbled； thus turning her halfway around； and for the instant taking her
mind from her work。 Dimples already had begun to turn backward； but
he noted that all at once she stopped turning。
Phil knew what that meant。 As show people term it； she had 〃frozen〃
in the air。 She was falling； head first； right toward the wooden ring
curbing。
〃Turn！ Turn！〃 cried Phil sharply。
The girl was powerless to do so； while the ringmaster； being on the
opposite side of the ring； could be of no assistance to her。
〃Turn！〃 shouted Phil； more loudly this time； giving a mighty spring in
the direction of the falling woman。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER IX
THE MULE DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF
The audience had half risen； believing that the girl would surely be
killed。 It did seem that it would be a miracle if she escaped without
serious injury。
But the Circus Boy； his every faculty centered on the task before him；
proposed to save her if he could。
He sprang up on the ring curbing； stretching both hands above his head
as far as he could reach； bracing himself with legs wide apart to meet the
shock。
It is not an easy task to attempt to catch a person； especially if that
person be falling toward you head first。 But Phil Forrest calculated in a
flash how he would do it。 That is； he would unless he missed。
It all happened in much less time than it takes to tell it； of course； and
a moment afterwards one could not have told how it had occurred。
The Circus Boy threw both hands under Dimples' outstretched arms
with the intention of jerking her down to her feet； then springing from the
curbing with her before both should topple over。
His plan worked well up to the point of catching her。 But instantly
upon doing so he realized that she was moving with such speed as to make
it impossible for him to retain his balance。
Dimples was hurled into his arms with great force； bowling Phil over
like a ninepin。 Yet； in falling； he did not lose his presence of mind。 He
hoped fervently that he might be fortunate enough not to strike on a stake；
of which there were many on that side of the ring。
〃Save yourself！〃 gasped the girl。
Instead； Phil held her up above him at arm's length。 When he struck
it was full on his back； the back of his head ing in contact with the
hard ground with such force as to stun him almost to the point of
unconsciousness。 As he struck he gave Dimples a little throw so that she
cleared his body； landing on the ground beyond him。
The girl stretched forth her hands and did a handspring； once more
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thorough master of herself； landing gracefully on her feet。 But Phil had
undoubtedly saved her life； as she well knew。
Without giving the slightest heed to the audience； which was howling
its delight； Dimples ran to the fallen lad； leaning over him anxiously。
〃Are you hurt？〃 she begged； placing a hand on his head。
〃II guess not；〃 answered Phil； pulling himself together a little。 〃I'll
get up or they'll think something is the matter with me。〃
〃Let me help you。〃
〃No； thank you；〃 he replied； brushing aside the hand she had extended
to him。 But his back hurt him so severely that he could only with
difficulty stand upright。
Phil smiled and straightened； despite the pain。
At that Dimples grasped him by the hand； leading him to the
concourse facing the reserved seats； where she made a low bow to the
audience； then； throwing both arms about Phil； she gave him a hearty kiss。
Thunders of applause greeted this； the audience getting to its feet in its
excitement。 Had it been possible； both the boy and Miss Dimples would
have been borne in triumph from the ring。
〃e back and sit down while I finish my act；〃 she whispered。
〃You're not going to try that again； are you？〃 questioned Phil。
〃Of course I am。 You'll see what a hit it will make。〃
〃I saw that you came near making a hit a few moments ago；〃 answered
the lad。
〃There； there； don't be sarcastic；〃 she chided； giving him a playful tap。
〃If you feel strong enough； please help me up。〃
Phil did so smilingly； then he retired to his place by the center pole；
against which he braced his aching back。
〃Turn after you have gotten over the rough spot；〃 he cautioned her。
Dimples nodded her understanding。
This time Phil held his breath as he saw her crouching ever so little for
her spring。
Dimples uttered another shrill 〃yip！〃 and threw herself into the air
again。
He saw； with keen satisfaction； that this time she was not going to miss。
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Dimples turned in the air with wonderful grace； alighting far back on the
broad hips of the gray horse with bird…like lightness。
Phil doffed his hat； and； getting to his feet； limped away； with the
audience roaring out its applause。 They had forgotten all about the boy
who but a few moments before had saved Little Dimples' life； and he was
fully as well satisfied that it should be so。
Just as he was passing the bandstand the educated mule； with Teddy
Tucker on its back； bolted through the curtains like a projectile。 The
mule nearly ran over Phil； then brought up suddenly to launch both heels
at him。 But the Circus Boy had seen this same mule in action before； and
this time Phil had discreetly ducked under the bandstand。
Then the mule was off。
〃Hi…yi…yi…yip…yi！〃 howled Teddy； as the outfit bolted into the arena。
The old hands with the show discreetly darted for cover when they saw
Teddy and his mule ing。 Like Phil Forrest； they had had experience
with this same wild outfit before。 There was no knowing what the bucking
mule might not do； while there was a reasonable certainty in their minds as
to what he would do if given half a chance。
〃Hi！ Hi！ Look out！〃 howled Teddy as they neared the entrance to
the menagerie tent； where a number of people were standing。 The boy saw
that the mule had taken it into his stubborn head to enter the menagerie
tent； there to give an exhibition of his contrariness。
In they swept like a miniature whirlwind； the mule twisting this way
and that； stopping suddenly now and then and bracing its feet in desperate
efforts to unseat its rider。
But Teddy held on grimly。 This rough riding was the delight of his
heart； and the lad really was a splendid horseman； though it is doubtful if
he realized this fact himself。
A man was crossing the menagerie tent with a pail of water in each
hand。 The mule saw him。 Here was an opportunity not to be lost。
Teddy's mount swept past the fellow。 Then both the beast's heels shot
out； catching both the pails at the same time。 The two pails took the air
in a beautiful curve； like a pair of rockets； distributing water all the way
across the tent； a liberal portion of which was spilled over the water carrier
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as the pails left his hands。
The man chanced to be Larry； Teddy's enemy。 Teddy was traveling a
