the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第25节
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leader weakening； the other elephants also began retreating until the line
was slowly forced back against Sully's line of march。 The owner was
riding up and down in a frightful rage； alternately urging his trainer to
rally his elephants； and hurling threats at Phil Forrest and the organization
he represented。
〃Had we better not call our bulls off； Mr。 Kennedy？〃 shouted Phil。
〃Our parade has gone by this time。〃
〃Yes； if I can。 I don't know whether I can stop them now or not。〃
〃You get the others away。 I'll try to take care of Emperor and Jupiter。
Emperor will give in shortly； after he knows the other elephant is
whipped。〃
〃He won't give in till he kills him；〃 answered Kennedy。 〃Better look
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out。 He's blind； crazy mad。〃
〃I'm not afraid of him。 Hang on now； Teddy。 We will have you out
of your difficulty in a few minutes。〃
Teddy had been hanging on desperately； his eyes large and staring。
Every time the long trunk of Sully's big tusker was raised in the air； Teddy
thought it was being aimed at his head and shrank closer to Emperor's
back。 But the tusker probably never saw Teddy at all。 He was too busy
protecting himself from old Emperor's vicious thrusts。
At last the tusker began to retreat in earnest。 First he would turn；
running back a few rods； then he would whirl to give a moment's battle to
Emperor。
Emperor was following him doggedly。
Phil decided that it was time to act。 He rushed up to Emperor's head
during one of these lulls and called commandingly。
Emperor； with a sweep of his trunk； hurled Phil Forrest to the side of
the street。 But Phil； though shaken up a bit； was not harmed in the least。
He was up and at his huge friend almost at once。
〃Emperor！ Emperor！〃 he shouted； getting nearer and nearer to the
head of the enraged beast。
Finally Phil stepped up boldly and threw both arms about Emperor's
trunk。
〃Steady； steady； Emperor！〃 he commanded。
This time the elephant did not hurl Phil away。 Instead； he stopped
hesitatingly； evidently not certain whether he should plunge on after his
enemy or obey the command of his little friend。
Phil tucked the trunk under his arm confidently。
〃That's a good fellow！ Come along now； and we'll have a whole bag
of peanuts when we get back to the lot。〃
The elephant coughed understandingly； it seemed。 At least he turned
about； though with evident reluctance； and meekly followed the Circus
Boy； his trunk still tucked under the latter's arm。
The Sully elephants had been whipped and driven off； though none
had been very seriously injured。 Some fences had been knocked over
and a number of people nearly frightened to deathbut that was all。 Phil
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had saved the day for his employer's show and had come out victorious。
The Circus Boy was in high glee as he led Emperor back toward the
lot； where the parade was drawing in by the time he reached there。
Teddy； on the big elephant's head； was waving his arms excitedly。
〃We licked 'em！ We licked 'em！〃 he howled； as he caught sight of Mr。
Sparling hurrying toward them。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XVII
MONKEYS IN THE AIR
As the result of that victory； the Sparling shows did a great business in
Corinto。 The owner； considering that his rival had been severely enough
punished； made no further effort to have him brought to justice； though
Phil could hardly restrain him from making Sully suffer for the indignities
he had heaped on young Forrest。
Phil found his money that day when he removed his ring shirt。 The
string that had fastened his money bag about his neck had parted； letting
the bag drop。 This money he handed to Mr。 Sparling as rightfully
belonging to him。
Of course the showman refused it； and wanted to make Phil a present
besides； for the great service he had rendered。 As it chanced； one of Mr。
Sparling's own staff was attending the Sully show when Phil made his
escape； and much of the latter's discomfort might have been prevented had
he only been aware of that fact。
Teddy assumed the full credit for the victory of old Emperor； and no
one took the trouble to argue the question with him。
Soon after these exciting incidents the Sparling shows left Canada
behind and crossed the Niagara River。 It was with a long drawn sigh of
relief that they set eyes on the Stars and Stripes again。
After showing at the Falls； the outfit headed southwest。 The season
was getting late； the cotton crop in the south was going to market； and it
was time for all well managed shows whose route lay that way to get into
Dixie Land。 The Circus Boys； too； were anxious to tour the sunny south
again。 This time they were going to follow a route they had never been
over before； something that was still a matter of great interest to the boys。
Mr。 Sparling upon learning that there was a traitor in his camp who
was supplying secret information to the Sully show as to the route of the
Sparling circus； had at once set a watch for the offender。 It was not long
before the traitor was caught red…handed。 He was； of course； dismissed
immediately； despised by all who knew what he had been doing。
No more had been seen of the Sully Hippodrome Circus after the
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meeting of the two organizations in Corinto； though that crowd had been
heard of occasionally as hovering on the flanks of the Sparling shows。
〃I don't care where they go；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； 〃so long as they don't
get in the same county with me。 I am liable to lose my temper if they get
that near to me again； and then something will happen for sure。〃
The Sparling show got into the real southland when it made Memphis；
Tennessee； on October first； a beautiful balmy southern fall day。 All
season Phil had been keeping up his practice on the trapeze bar； until he
had become a really fine performer。 He had never performed in public；
however； and hardly thought he would have a chance to do so that season。
He hoped not； if it were to be at some other performer's expense； as had
usually been the case。
〃When somebody gets hurt it's Phillip who takes his place；〃 said the
lad to himself。
〃Which means that you are always on the job；〃 replied Mr。 Sparling
who had chanced to overhear the remark。 No serious accidents had
occurred in sometime； however； and it was hoped by everyone that none
would。 Accidents； while they are accepted by show people in the most
matter…of…fact way； always cast a gloom over the show。 Even the loss of
a horse will make the sympathetic showman sad。
After a splendid business in Memphis the show ran into Mississippi
where it played a one day stand at Clarksdale； and where the showmen
experienced the liveliest time they had had since they met the Sully
organization in Canada。
The afternoon performance had just come to an end； and the people
were getting ready to leave their seats under the big top； when a great
commotion was heard under the menagerie top。
Most of the performers were in the dressing tent； changing their dress
for supper； but a roar from the audience； followed by shouts of laughter；
attracted their attention sharply； and as soon as they could clothe
themselves sufficiently； the performers rushed out into the ring again。
Suddenly the peopl
