the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第27节
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down to the serial bars。
〃I'll drive you all over the top of this tent； but I'll get you；〃 Teddy
cried。
Down below the audience was shouting and jeering。 The people
refused to leave the tent so long as such an exhibition was going on。 No
one paid the least attention to the 〃grand concert〃 that was in progress at
one end of the big top； so interested were all in the Circus Boy's giddy
chase。
〃I'm afraid he will fall and kill himself；〃 groaned Mr。 Sparling。
〃You can't hurt Teddy；〃 laughed Phil。 〃He can go almost anywhere
that a monkey could climb。 But he'll never get them。〃 Phil was laughing
with the others； for the sight was really a funny one。
〃Oh； look what they've done！〃 exclaimed one of the performers。
〃They've pulled up the rope；〃 said Mr。 Sparling hopelessly。
〃Now he certainly is in a fix；〃 laughed Phil。
The monkeys； after shinning the rope； had mischievously hauled it up
after them； acting with almost human intelligence。 One of them carried
the free end of it off to one side and dropped it over a guy rope。 This left
Tucker high and dry on the aerial bars with no means at hand to enable
him to get back to earth。
The audience caught the significance of it and howled lustily。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Now； I should like to know how you are going to get down？〃 shouted
Mr。 Sparling。
Teddy looked about him questioningly； and off at the grinning
monkeys； that perched on rope and trapeze； appeared to be enjoying his
discomfiture to the full。
〃II guess I'll have to do the world's record high dive！〃 he called down。
There seemed no other way out of it。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XVIII
TEDDY TAXES A DROP
〃Throw him a rope！〃 shouted someone。
〃Yes； give him a rope；〃 urged Mr。 Sparling。
〃No one can throw a rope that high；〃 answered Phil。 〃I think the first
thing to be done is to get the monkeys and I have a plan by which to
accomplish it。〃
〃What's your plan？〃
〃Have their cage brought in。 We should have thought of that before。〃
〃That's a good idea；〃 nodded Mr。 Sparling。 〃I always have said you
had more head than any of the others of this outfit； not excepting myself。
Get the monkey cage in here。〃
While this was being done Phil hurried out into the menagerie tent；
where； at a snack stand； he filled his pockets with peanuts and candy； then
strolled back； awaiting the arrival of the cage。
〃We shall be able to capture our monkeys much more easily if the
audience will please leave the tent；〃 announced Mr。 Sparling。 〃The show is
over。 There will be nothing more to see。〃
The spectators thought differently。 There was considerable to be seen
yet。 No one made a move to leave； and the manager gave up trying to
make them； not caring to attempt driving the people out by force。
The cage finally was drawn up between the two rings。 This instantly
attracted the attention of the little beasts。 Phil stood off from the cage a
few feet。
〃Now everybody keep away； so the monkeys can see me；〃 he directed。
Phil then began chirping in a peculiar way； giving a very good imitation of
the monkey call for food。 At the same time he began slowly tossing
candy and peanuts into the cage。
There was instant commotion aloft。 Such a chattering and scurrying
occurred up there as to cause the spectators to gaze in open…mouthed
wonder。 But still Phil kept up his weird chirping； continuing to toss
peanuts and candy into the cage。
〃As I live； they are coming down；〃 breathed Mr。 Sparling in
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
amazement； 〃never saw anything like it in my life！〃
〃I always told you that boy should have been a menagerie man instead
of a ring performer；〃 nodded Mr。 Kennedy； the elephant trainer。
〃He is everything at the same time；〃 answered Mr。 Sparling。 〃It is a
question as to whether or not he does one thing better than another。
There they come。 Everybody stand back。 I hope the people keep quiet
until he gets through there。 I am afraid the monkeys never will go back
into the cage； though。〃
There was no hesitancy on the part of the monkeys。 They began
leaping from rope to rope； swinging by their tails to facilitate their descent；
until finally the whole troop leaped to the top of the cage and swung
themselves down the bars to the ground。
Phil lowered his voice to a low； insistent chirp。 One monkey leaped
into the cage； the others following as fast as they could stretch up their
hands and grab the tail board of the wagon。 Instantly they began
scrambling for the nuts and candies that lay strewn over the floor。
The last one was inside。 Phil sprang to the rear of the cage and
slammed the door shut； throwing the padlock in place and snapping it。
〃There are your old monkeys；〃 he cried； turning to Mr。 Sparling with
flushed； triumphant face。
The audience broke out into a roar； shouting； howling and stamping on
the seats at the same time。
〃Now； you may go；〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling to the audience。 〃Phil； you
are a wonder。 I take off my hat to you；〃 and the showman； suiting the
action to the word； made a sweeping bow to the little Circus Boy。
Still the audience remained。
〃Well； why don't you go？〃
〃What about the kid up there near the top of the house？〃 questioned a
voice in the audience。
〃That's so。 I had forgotten all about him；〃 admitted the owner of the
show。
〃Oh； never mind me。 I'm only a human being；〃 jeered Tucker； from
his perch far up near the top of the tent。 This brought a roar of laughter
from everybody。
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〃We shall have to try to cast a rope up to him。〃
〃You can't do it；〃 answered Phil firmly。 Nevertheless the effort was
made； Teddy watching the attempts with lazy interest。
〃No； we shan't be able to reach him that way；〃 agreed Mr。 Sparling
finally。
〃Hey down there；〃 called Teddy。
〃Well； what is it？ Got something to suggest？〃
〃Maybemaybe if you'd throw some peanuts and candy in my cage I
might come down。〃
This brought a howl of laughter。
〃I don't see how we are going to make it；〃 said Mr。 Sparling； shaking
his head hopelessly。
〃I'll tell you how we can do it；〃 said Phil。
〃Yes； I was waiting for you to make a suggestion。 I thought it funny
if you didn't have some plan in that young head of yours。 What is it？〃
〃What's the matter with the balloon？〃
〃The balloon？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Hurrah！ That's the very thing。〃
The balloon was a new act in the Sparling show that season。 A huge
balloon had been rigged； but in place of the usual basket； was a broad
platform。 Onto this； as the closing act of the show； a woman rode a horse；
then the balloon was allowed to rise slowly to the very dome of the big
tent； carrying the rider and horse with it。
The act was a decided novelty； and was almost as great a hit as had
been the somersaulting automobile of a season before。
The balloon stood swaying easily at its anchorage。
〃Give a hand here； men。 Let the bag up and the boy can get on the
platform； after which you can pull him down。〃
〃That won't do；〃 spoke up Phil。 〃He can't reach the platform。
Someone will have to go up and toss him a rope。 He can make the rope
fast and slide down it。〃
〃I guess you are right； at that。 Who will go up？〃
〃I will；〃 answered the Circus Boy。
