the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第10节
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their position at the far end of the room。
〃It's the circus band；〃 cried the lads； now recovering from their fright。
〃How did they get here？〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
By this time Teddy； his face red and resentful； was poking his head
from beneath the table。
〃Hey； Rube！〃 he shouted； then ducked back again。
Phil understood instantly that this was one of Mr。 Sparling's surprises。
But there were still other surprises to come。 No sooner had the band
taken up its position than there was again a commotion out in the hall。
The lads opened their eyes wide when a troop of painted clowns came
trotting in； followed by half a dozen acrobats； all in ring costume。 A mat
was quickly spread by some attendants that Mr。 Sparling had sent。
Then began the merriest hodge…podge of acrobatic nonsense that the
high school boys ever had seen。 The clowns； entering into the spirit of
the moment； grew wonderfully funny。 They sang songs and told stories；
while the acrobats hurled themselves into a mad whirl of somersaults；
cartwheels and Wild Dervish throws。
Thus far the boys were too amazed to speak。
All at once some of the performers began to form a pyramid； one
standing on the other's shoulders。
〃Here； I'm going to be the top…mounter！〃 cried Teddy； taking a running
start and beginning to clamber up the human column。 He was assisted up
and up until he was standing at the top； his head almost touching the high
ceiling in the room。
〃Speech！〃 howled the delighted high school boys。
〃Fellow citizens；〃 began Teddy。
Just then the human pyramid toppled over and Teddy had to leap to
save himself； striking the mat； doing a rolling tumble and coming up on
his feet。
When all the fun making in the hall was over one surprise proved yet
to be in the reserve。 The high school boys of Edmeston turned out with
lighted torches。 Forming in column of fours they escorted Phil and
Teddy to their car on the circus train。 It was not many minutes later that
the boys； tired out but happy； tumbled into their berths； where they were
asleep immediately； carrying on； even in their dreams； the joyous scenes
through which they had just passed。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER VII
SHIVERS AND HIS SHADOW
Half a hundred motley fools came trooping into the sawdust arena；
their voices raised in song and shout。
Mud clown； character clown； harlequin； fat boy； jester； funny rustic；
vied with each other in mirth…provoking antics so aptly described by the
circus press agent as a 〃merry…hodgepodge of fun…provoking； acrobatic
idiosyncrasies of an amazing character。〃
And so they were。
Children screamed with delight； while their elders smiled a dignified
approval of the grotesque； painted throng that trooped gayly down the
uneven course。
The music of the circus band stopped short。 Then came a fanfare of
trumpets； and far down the line from behind the crimson curtains near to
the bandstand； a dignified figure all in white； emerged and tripped along
the grassy way； halting now and then to gaze fixedly at some imaginary
object just above the heads of those on the upper row of seats； the very
drollery of which gaze was irresistible。
Shivers； Prince of Clowns； the greatest fun maker and character clown
of all that mad； painted throng； had made his entry。
Shivers had joined out with the Sparling show for the first time that
season。 He was known as the leading clown in the business。 》From the
first； Shivers had taken a liking to Teddy Tucker； and shortly after leaving
Edmeston he had conceived the idea of making a full…fledged clown of
Teddy。 The permission of the manager had been obtained and this was
Teddy's first appearance as assistant to Shivers。 Teddy was considerably
smaller； of course； and made up as the exact counterpart of Shivers trailing
along after him like a shadow； the lad made a most amusing appearance。
Every move that the clown made； Teddy mimicked as the two minced
along down the concourse。
Shivers was a shining model of the clown both in method and makeup。
His stiffly starched bulging trousers disappeared under the stiff ruffles of a
three…quarter waist。 A broad turnover collar of the nurse style was set off
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
with a large bow of bright red ribbon； and a baker's cap； perched jauntily
on one side of the head； completed his merry makeup。 This too describes
Teddy Tucker's outfit。
〃Now； be funny！〃 directed Shivers。
〃I can't help but be if I act like you；〃 retorted Teddy； whereat the clown
grinned。
Pausing before the dollar seats the clown pulled out the ruffles of his
snow…white waist； poising with crossed legs on one toe。 Teddy did the
same； and a great roar was the reward of their drollery。
〃La； la！ La； la； la！〃 hummed the clown； stumbling over a rope to the
keen delight of those in the reserved seatsthe same rope； by the way； that
he had been falling over twice each day for the past month。 Then he
blew a kiss to a fragile slip of a girl who was perched on a trapeze bar far
up toward the dome of the great tent。
Zoraya； for that was her name； smiled down； gracefully swung off into
space； soaring lightly into the strong； sure arms of her working mate。
Just the suspicion of an approving smile lighted up the face of the
clown for the moment； for he dearly loved this little motherless daughter
of his； who had been his care since she was a child。
Shivers had taught her all she knew； and Zoraya was the acknowledged
queen of the lofty tumblers。
But the clown half unconsciously caught his breath as the lithe form of
Zoraya shot over the trapeze bar； described a graceful 〃two…and…a…half〃 in
the air； and； shooting downward； hit the net with a resounding smack that
caused the spectators to catch their breath sharply。
The clown shook a warning head at her； and Teddy so far forgot
himself as to stub his toe and measure his length upon the ground。
〃Don't do it； Bright Eyes！〃 cautioned Shivers； shaking his head
warningly at the girl； as the child bounced up from the impact； kicking her
little feet together and turning a somersault on the swaying net。 〃It isn't
in your contract。 Folks sometimes break their necks trying kinkers that's
not in the writings。〃
Her answer was a merry； mocking laugh； and Zoraya ran lightly up a
rope ladder to the platform where she balanced easily for another flight。
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〃My； I wish I could do stunts like that！〃 breathed Teddy。
〃Just like a bird。 La； la； la！ La； la； la！〃 sang the painted clown；
turning a handspring and pivoting on his head for a grand； spectacular
finish。
His refined comedy； so pleasing to the occupants of the reserved seats；
had now been changed to loud； uproarious buffoonery as he bowed before
the blue； fifty cent seats where his auditors were massed on boards
reaching from the top of the side wall clear down to the edge of the arena。
He took liberties with their hats； passed familiar criticisms on their
families and told them all about the other performers in the ring； arousing
the noisy appreciation of the spectators。
Teddy was put to his wits end to keep up with this rapid…fire clowning；
and the perspiration was already streaking the powder on his face。
All at once； above the din and the applause； the ears of the clown
caught a sound different from the othersa scream of alarm。 Shivers had
heard such a cry many times before during his twenty years in the sawdust
ring； and； a
