the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第8章
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〃I do。〃
〃Very well； then I'll let Mr。 Kennedy know。 You had better lie down
and rest while the parade is out。〃
〃Thank you； I hardly think that will be necessary。 I feel fit enough
for work right now。〃
〃Such is youth and enthusiasm；〃 mused the showman； passing on out
of the cook tent； once more to go over his arrangements； for there were
many details to be looked after on this the first day of the show's season on
the road。
Phil called on Mrs。 Sparling after breakfast； receiving from the
showman's wife a most hospitable wele。 She asked him all about
how he had spent the winter； and seemed particularly interested in Mrs。
Cahill； who was now the legal guardian of both the boys。 Mrs。 Sparling
already had a letter in her pocket； with the check for one hundred dollars
which the showman had drawn for Phil。 It was going to Mrs。 Cahill to be
deposited to the lad's credit； but he would know nothing of this until the
close of the season。 After he had gone home he would find himself a
hundred dollars richer than he thought。
His call finished； Phil went out and rejoined Teddy。 Together they
started back toward the dressing tent to set their trunks in order and get out
such of their costumes as they would need that afternoon and evening。
Then again； the dressing tent was really the most attractive part of the
show to all the performers。 It was here that they talked of their work and
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life； occasionally practiced new acts of a minor character； and indulged in
pranks like a lot of schoolboys at recess time。
As they were passing down along the outside of the big top； Phil
noticed several laborers belonging to the show sitting against the side wall
sunning themselves。 He observed that one of the men was eyeing Teddy
and himself with rather more than ordinary interest。
Phil did not give it a second thought； however； until suddenly Teddy
gave his arm a violent pinch。
〃What is it？〃
〃See those fellows sitting there？〃
〃Yes。 What of it？〃
〃One of them is the fellow who ducked me under the water tank back
at Germantown。〃
〃You don't say？ Which one？〃
〃Fellow with the red hair。 I heard them call him Larry as I passed； or
I might not have noticed him particularly。 His hair is redder than Rod
Palmer's。 I should think it would set him on fire。〃
〃It certainly would seem so。〃
〃Mister Larry has got something ing to him good and proper； and
he's going to get it； you take my word for that。〃
Phil laughed good naturedly。
〃Please； now； Teddy； forget it。 Don't go and get into any more mix…
ups。 You'll be sending yourself back home first thing you know。 Then
it will be a difficult matter to get into any other show if you are sent away
from this one in disgrace。〃
〃Don't you worry about me。 I'll take care of myself。 I always do；
don't I？〃
〃I'm afraid I can't agree to that；〃 laughed Phil。 〃I should say that
quite the contrary is the case。〃
Teddy fell suddenly silent as they walked on in the bright morning
light； drinking in the balmy air in long…drawn breaths。 Entering the
paddock they turned sharply to the left and pushed their way through the
canvas curtains into the dressing tent。
〃Hurrah for the Circus Boys；〃 shouted someone。 〃Hello Samson； are
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you the strong…armed man that held the tent up by your feet？〃
〃Strong…footed man； you mean；〃 suggested another。 〃A strong…armed
man uses his arms not his feet。〃
〃e over here and show yourself；〃 shouted another voice。
Phil walked over and stood smilingly before them。 Nothing seemed
to disturb his persistent good nature。
〃Huh； not so much！ I guess they stretched that yarn；〃 grunted a new
performer。
〃I guess not；〃 interposed Mr。 Miaco。 〃I happened to see that stunt
pulled off myself。 It was the biggest thing I ever saw a manlet alone a
boyget away with。〃 Then Mr。 Miaco went over the scene with great
detail； while Phil stole away to his own corner； where he busied himself
bending over his trunk to hide his blushes。
But Teddy felt no such emotion。 Almost as soon as he entered the
dressing tent he began searching about for something。 This he soon
found。 It was a pail； but he appeared to be in a hurry。 Picking up the pail
he ran with it to the water barrel； that always stands in the dressing tent；
filled the pail and skulked out as if he did not desire to attract attention。
Once outside the dressing tent Teddy ran at full speed across the
paddock and out into the big top。 A few men were working here putting
up apparatus for the performers。 They gave no heed to the boy with the
pail of water。
Teddy ran his eye along the inside of the tent； nodded and went on to
the middle section where he turned； climbing the steps to the upper row。
Arriving there he cautiously peered out over the top of the side wall。
What he saw evidently was not to his liking； for once more he picked up
the pail of water and ran lightly along the top seat toward the menagerie
tent。
All at once he paused； put down his pail and peered out over the side
wall again。 Nodding with satisfaction he picked up the pail； lifted it to
the top of the side wall； once more looked out measuring the distance well；
then suddenly turned the pail bottom side up。
In his course through the big top Teddy had gathered up several
handfuls of sawdust and dirt which he had stirred well into the water as he
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ran； making a pasty mess of it。
It was this mixture that he had now poured out over the side wall。
Teddy waited only an instant to observe the effect of the deluge that he
had turned on。 Then he fled down the rattling board seats。
Outside a sudden roar broke the stillness。 No sooner had he reached
the bottom of the seats than several men raised up the side wall and came
tumbling in； yelling like anche Indians。 Teddy cast one frightened
look at them； then ran like all possessed。 What he had seen was a red…
haired man in the lead； dripping wet with hair and clothes plastered with
mud and sawdust。 Larry was after the lad in full cry。
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CHAPTER VII
TRYING THE CULPRIT
〃Stop him！〃 howled Larry； as he； followed by half a dozen blue…shirted
fellows； bolted into the arena in pursuit of the lad who had emptied the
pail of muddy water over him。
Teddy； still clinging to the pail； was sprinting down the concourse as if
his very life depended upon it。 A canvasman； hearing Larry's call； and
suspecting the boy was wanted for something quite serious； rushed out；
heading Teddy off。 It looked as if the lad were to be captured right here。
But Teddy Tucker was not yet at the end of his resources。 He ran
straight on as if he had not observed the canvasman。 Just as he reached
the man； and the latter's hands were stretched out to intercept him； Teddy
hurled the pail full in the fellow's face。 Then the lad darted to one side and
fled toward the paddock。
The canvasman had joined the procession by this time。 Into the
dressing tent burst the boy； followed by Larry； the others having brought
up sharply just before reaching the dressing room； knowing full well that
they had no business there and that their presence would be quickly and
effectively resented。 Larry； consumed with rage； did not stop to think
about this； so he dashed on blindly to his fate。
At first the circus performers in the dressing tent could not imagine
what was going on。 Clotheslines came down； properties were upset and
in a moment the tent was in confusion。
〃Stop that！〃 bellowed an irate performer。
Larry gave no heed to the mand； and Teddy was in too big a hurry
to stop to explain。
Suddenly Phil Forrest； realizing that his little panion was in danger；
gave a leap。 He landed on Larry's back； pinioning the fellow's arms to
his sides。
〃You stop that now！ You let him alone！〃 manded Phil。
Before the canvasman could make an effort to free himself； Mr。 Miaco；
the head clown； took a hand in the proceedings。 Throwing Phil from the
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tentman； Miaco jerked Larry about； and demanded to know what he meant
by intruding on the privacy of the dressing tent in that manner。
〃I want that kid；〃 he growled。
〃Put him out！〃 howled a voice。
〃What do you want him for？〃
〃Hehe dumped a pail of water over me。 I'll get even with him。 I'll
〃
〃How about this； Master Teddy？〃 questioned Mr。 Miaco。
Teddy explained briefly how the fellow Larry and a panion had
ducked him under the water tank； and had ruined his clothes； together with
causing him to miss his train。
〃This demands investigation；〃 decided Mr。 Miaco gravely。 〃Fellows； it
is evident that we had better try this man。 That is the best way to dispose
of his case。〃
〃Yes； yes； try him！〃 they shouted。
〃Whom shall we have for judge？〃
〃Oscar； the midget！〃
The Smallest Man on Earth was quickly boosted to the top of a
property b
