the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第17章
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season； I'll have you both in the nearest jail quicker than you can say 'scat！'
Understand？ Get out of here！〃
The showman half rose from his chair； glaring angrily at them。 His
good…nature had suddenly left him； and the canvasmen； knowing what
they might expect from the wrathful showman； stood not upon the order of
their going。 They ran。
Larry had left some of his belongings behind a cage in the menagerie
tent； and he headed directly for that place to get it out and foot it for the
village before Mr。 Sparling should discover him on the grounds。
In going after his bundle Larry was obliged to pass the elephant station；
where the elephants were taking their morning baths； throwing water over
their backs from tubs that had been placed before them。 A pail full of
water had been left near old Emperor's tub by the keeper； because the tub
would hold no more。
Emperor apparently had not observed it； nor did he seem to see the
red…headed canvasman striding his way。 Mr。 Kennedy； the keeper； was at
the far end of the line sweeping off the baby elephant with a broom； while
Phil and Teddy were sitting on a pile of straw back of Emperor discussing
their experience the previous evening。
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〃There's Red；〃 said Teddy； pointing。
〃Yes； and he seems to be in a great hurry about something。 I'll bet Mr。
Sparling has discharged him。 I'm sorry。 I hate to see anybody lose his
job； but I guess Red deserves it if anybody does。 He's one of the fellows
that attacked us last night。 I haven't the least doubt about that。〃
〃Yes； and he's got a button off his coat； too；〃 added Teddy； peering
around Emperor。 〃What I want now is to see a fellow with his collar torn
off。 I got a tent stake here by me that I'd like to meet him with。〃
〃You would do nothing of the sort； Teddy Tucker！ Hello； what's
going on there？〃
As Larry passed swiftly in front of Emperor； the old elephant's trunk
suddenly wrapped itself about the pail of water unobserved by the
discharged canvasman。
Emperor lifted the pail on high； quickly twisted it bottom side up and
jammed it down over the head of Larry。 The latter went down under the
impact and before he could free himself from the pail and get up； Emperor
had performed the same service for him with the tub of water。
Under the deluge Red Larry was yelling and choking； making
desperate efforts to get up。 He struggled free in a moment； and in his
blind rage he hurled the empty pail full in Emperor's face； following it
with a blow over the animal's trunk with a tent stake。
It was the elephant's turn to be angry now。 He did not take into
consideration that it was he that was to blame for the assault。 Stretching
out his trunk； he encircled the waist of the yelling canvasman； and； raising
him on high； dashed him to the ground almost under his ponderous feet。
Phil had risen about the time the tub came down。 At first he laughed；
but when the elephant caught his victim； the lad knew that the situation
was critical。
〃Emperor！ Down！〃 he shouted。
It was then that the elephant cast Red under his feet。
Phil darted forward just as a ponderous foot was raised to trample the
man to death。 Without the least sense of fear the lad ran in under
Emperor； and； grabbing Larry by the heels； dragged him quickly out。
The elephant was furious at the loss of his prey； and； raising his trunk；
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trumpeted his disapproval； straining at his chains and showing every sign
of dangerous restlessness。
After getting Larry out of harm's way； Phil sprang fearlessly toward
his elephant friend。
〃Quiet； Emperor； you naughty boy！〃 Forrest chided。 〃Don't you
know you might have killed him？ I wouldn't want anything to do with
you if you had done a thing like that。〃
Gradually the great beast grew quiet and his sinuous trunk sought out
the Circus Boy's pockets in search of sweets； of which there was a limited
supply。
While this was going on Mr。 Kennedy； the keeper； had hurried up and
dashed a pail of water into the face of the now unconscious Larry。 By
this time Larry was well soaked down。 He could not have been more so
had he fallen in a mill pond。 But the last bucketful brought him quickly to
his senses。
〃Youyou'll pay for this；〃 snarled Larry； shaking his fist at Phil
Forrest。
〃Why； I didn't do anything； Larry；〃 answered the lad in amazement。
〃You did。 You set him on to me。〃
〃That'll be about all from you； Mr。 Red Head；〃 warned Kennedy。 〃The
kid didn't do anything but save your life。 I wouldn't let a little thing like
that trouble me if I were you。 You've been doing something to that bull； or
he'd never have used you like that。 Why； Emperor is as gentle as a young
kitten。 He wouldn't hurt a fly unless the fly happened to bite him too hard。
Phil； did you see that fellow do anything to him？〃
Phil shook his head。
〃Not now。 He may have at some other time。〃
〃That's it！〃
Just then Mr。 Sparling came charging down on the scene； having heard
of the row out at the front door。
Larry saw him ing。 He decided not to argue the question any
further； but started on a run across the tent； followed by the showman； who
pursued him with long； angry strides。 But Larry ducked under the tent
and got away before his pursuer could reach him； while Phil and Teddy
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stood holding their sides with laughter。
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CHAPTER XIV
IN DIRE PERIL
Two days had passed and nothing more had been seen of the
discharged canvasmen。 Believing they were well rid of them all hands
proceeded to forget about the very existence of Larry and Bad Eye。
As Phil was passing the roped…off enclosure where the elephants were
tethered； the next morning just before the parade； he saw Mr。 Kennedy
regarding one of the elephants rather anxiously。
〃What's the trouble？ Anything gone wrong？〃 sang out the lad
cheerily。
〃Not yet；〃 answered the keeper without turning his head。
〃Something is bothering you or else you are planning out something
new for the bulls；〃 decided Phil promptly。 〃What is it？〃
〃I don't like the way Jupiter is acting。〃
〃How？〃
〃He is ugly。〃
Phil ducked under the ropes and boldly walked over toward the
swaying beast。
〃Better keep away from him。 He isn't to be trusted today。〃
〃Going to send him out in the parade？〃
〃Haven't decided yet。 I may think it best to leave Jupiter here with
perhaps the baby elephant for pany。 He would cut up； I'm afraid；
were I to leave him here alone。 No； I think； upon second thought； that we
had better take him out。 It may take his mind from his troubles。〃
〃What do you think is the matter with him？〃 questioned the Circus
Boy； regarding the beast thoughtfully。
〃That's what bothers me。 He has never acted this way before。
Usually there are some signs that I told you about once before that tells
one an elephant is going bad。〃
〃You mean the tear drops that e out from the slit under the eye？〃
〃Yes。 There has been nothing of that sort with Jupiter。〃
〃He acts to me as if he had a bad stomach；〃 suggested Phil wisely。
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〃That's right。 That expresses it exactly。 I guess we'll have to give
him a pill to set him straight。 But Jupiter never was much of a hand for
pills。 He'll object if we suggest it。〃
〃Then don't suggest it。 Just give it to him in his food。〃
〃You can't fool him；〃 answered Mr。 Kennedy； with a shake of the head。
〃He'd smell it a rod away； and that would make him madder than ever。
The best way is to make him open his mouth and throw the pill back as far
as possible in his throat。〃
〃Have you told Mr。 Sparling？〃
〃No。 He doesn't like to be bothered with these little things。 He leaves
that all to me。 It's a guess； though； as to just what to do under these
conditions。 No two cases； any more than any two elephants； are alike
when it es to disposition and treatment。〃
〃No； I suppose not。〃
〃Where are you going now； Phil？〃
〃Going back to the dressing tent to get ready for the parade。 Hope you
do not have any trouble。〃
〃No； I guess I shan't。 I can manage to hold him； and if I don't； I'll
turn Emperor loose。 He makes a first…rate policeman。〃
Phil hurried on to the dressing tent； for he was a little late this morning；
for which he was not wholly to blame； considerable time having been lost
in his interview with Mr。 Sparling。
In the hurry of preparation for the parade； Phil forgot all about Mr。
Kennedy's concern over Jupiter。 But he was reminded of it again when
he rode out to fall in line with the procession。 Mr。 Kennedy and his
charges； all well in hand； were just emerging from the menagerie tent to
take their places for the parade。 Jupiter was among them。 He saw； too；
that Mr。 Kennedy was walking by Jupiter's side； giving him almost his
exclusive attention。
