the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第33节
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shot toward the net head first。
Though he had lost his bearings during the turn he had not lost his
presence of mind。
〃Turn！〃 shouted a voice from below； the watchful ringmaster having
observed at once that the lad was falling； and that he was liable to strike on
his head in the net with the possible chance of breaking his neck。
Phil understood； then； exactly what his position was； and； with a slight
upward tilt of his head； brought his body into position so that he would
strike the net on his shoulders。
He hit the net with a smack； bounded high into the air； rounding off his
accident by throwing a somersault on the net； bounding up and down a
few times on his feet。
The audience； quick to appreciate what he had done； gave Phil a
rousing cheer。
He shook his head and began clambering up the rope again。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃What happened to me？〃 he called across to the catcher。
〃You turned too quickly。〃
〃I'll do it right this time。〃
The band stopped playing； that its silence might emphasize the act。
Then Phil； measuring his distance with keen eyes； launched into the air
again。 But instead of turning one somersault he turned two； landing
fairly into the outstretched arms of Mr。 Prentice； who gave him a mighty
swing； whereat Phil hurled himself into a mad whirl； performing three
more somersaults before he struck the net。
The audience howled with delight； and Mr。 Sparling rushed forward
fairly hugging the Circus Boy in his delight。
〃Wonderful！〃 cried the showman。 〃You're a sure…enough star this
time。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XXII
IN A LIVELY BLOW…DOWN
》From that moment on； until the close of the season； Phil Forrest
retained his place on the aerial trapeze team； doubling up with his other
work； and putting the finishing touches to what Mr。 Sparling called 〃a
great career on the bars。〃
But Phil； much as he loved the work； did not propose to spend all his
life performing above the heads of the people。 He felt that a greater
future was before him on the ground at the front of the house。
Only a week remained now before the show would close for the
season。 Even in Texas； where they were showing； the nights had begun
to grow chilly； stiffening the muscles of the performers and making them
irritable。 All were looking forward to the day when the tents should be
struck for the last time that season。
〃What's the next stand？〃 asked Phil in the dressing tent a few nights
after his triumphal performance on the trapeze。
〃Tucker； Texas；〃 answered a voice。
〃What's that？〃 shouted a clown。
〃Tucker； I said。〃
〃Any relation to Teddy Tucker？〃
〃I hope not；〃 laughed the head clown。
〃A place with that name spells trouble。 Anything by the name of
Tucker； whether it's Teddy or not； means that we are in for some kind of a
mix…up。 I wish I could go fishing tomorrow。〃
All in the dressing tent chuckled at the clown's sally。
〃I know what you'd catch if you did；〃 grumbled Teddy。
〃Now； what would I catch； young man？〃 demanded the clown。
〃You'd catch cold。 That's all you can catch；〃 retorted Teddy； whereat
the laugh was turned on the clown； much to the latter's disgust。
Tucker proved to be a pretty little town on the open plain。 There was
nothing in the appearance of the place to indicate that they might look for
trouble。 However； as the clown had prophesied； trouble was awaiting
themtrouble of a nature that the showman dreads from the beginning to
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
the end of the circus season。
The afternoon performance passed off without a hitch； the tent being
crowded almost to its capacity； Phil Forrest throwing himself into his work
in the air with more spirit and enthusiasm than he had shown at any time
since he took up his new work。
At Mr。 Sparling's request； however； the lad had omitted his triple
somersault from the trapeze bar。 The showman considered the act too
dangerous； assuring Phil that sooner or later he would be sure to break his
neck。
Phil laughed at the owner's fears； but promised that he would try
nothing beyond a double after that。 He remembered how quickly he had
lost himself when he attempted the feat before。 Few men are able to do it
without their brains becoming so confused that they lose all sense of
direction and location。
The evening house was almost as large as that of the afternoon； as
usual the audience being made up principally of town people； the country
spectators having returned to their homes before night。 The night set in
dark and oppressive。
Soon after the gasoline lights were lighted the animals began growling；
pacing their cages restlessly； while the lions roared intermittently； and the
hyenas laughed almost hysterically。
It sent a shiver down the backs of nearly everyone who heard it the
shrill laugh of the hyenas reaching clear back to the dressing tent。
Teddy Tucker's eyes always grew large when he heard the laugh of the
hyena。
〃B…r…r…r！〃 exclaimed Teddy。
〃You'll 'b…r…r…r' worse than that before you get through；〃 growled a
performer。
〃Why？〃
〃 'Cause it means what somebody said the other nighttrouble。〃
〃What kind of trouble does it mean？〃 asked Phil。
〃I don't know。 Some kind of a storm； I guess。 You can't always tell。
Those animals know more than we human beings； when it comes to
weather and that sort of thing；〃 broke in Mr。 Miaco the head clown。
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〃Well； you expected something would happen in a town called Tucker；
didn't you？〃
〃Are you going to be with this show next season； Teddy？〃 questioned
the clown who had taunted him before。
〃I hope to。〃
〃Then I sign out with some other outfit。 I refuse to travel with a
bunch that carries a hoodoo like you with it。 I feel it in my bones that
something is going to happen tonight； and just as soon as I can get through
my act I'm going to runrun； mind you； not walkback to the train as fast
as my legs will carry me。 That won't be any snail's pace； either。〃
The performers joked and passed the time away until the band started
the overture； off under the big top。 This means that it is about time for
the show to begin； and that the music is started to hurry the people to their
seats。
All hands fell silent as they got busy putting the finishing touches to
their makeup。
〃All acts cut short five minutes tonight；〃 sang the voice of the
ringmaster at the entrance to the dressing tent。
〃You see；〃 said the clown； nodding his head at Teddy。
〃No； I hear；〃 grumbled Teddy。 〃What's it all about？〃
〃Don't ask me。 I don't know。 I'm not running this show。〃
〃Lucky for the show that you aren't；〃 muttered the Circus Boy。
〃What's that？〃
〃I was just thinking out loud； I guess。〃
〃It's a bad habit。 Don't do it when I'm around。 All hoodoos talk to
themselves and in their sleep。〃
The show was started off with a rush； the Grand Entry having been cut
out again； as is frequently the case with a show where there is a long run
ahead； or a storm is expected。 That night those in the dressing tent could
only surmise the reason。 The hyena's warning was the only thing to
guide the performers in their search for a reason for the haste。 But they
took the situation philosophically； as they always had； and prepared for the
performance as usual。
The performance had gotten along
