the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第36节
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〃And that very emotion may have sent him into the town。 I'm going
over there to start something on my own hook。 Are you going along
Teddy？〃
〃You bet I am。 I always did like to hunt lions。〃
〃When you are sure you are going away from the lion； instead of in his
direction；〃 suggested Phil； laughingly。 〃What's that you have in your
hand？〃
〃It's an iron tent stake I picked up on the lot。 I'll fetch him a wallop
that'll make him see stars if I catch close enough sight of him。〃
〃I don't think you will get quite that close to Wallace。〃
〃I'll show you。〃
By this time the word had spread all over town that the whole
menagerie of the Sparling Combined Shows had escaped。 The streets were
cleared in short order。 Here and there； from an upper window； might be
seen the whites of the frightened eyes of a Negro peering down； hoping to
catch sight of the wild beasts； and fearful lest he should。 〃If it was an
elephant we might trail him；〃 suggested Teddy。
〃That's not a half bad idea。 The dust is quite thick。 I wish we had
thought to bring a torch with us。〃
〃I'll tell you where we can get one。〃
〃Where？〃
〃One of the markers set up to guide the wagon drivers to the railroad
yards。 There's a couple on the next street above here。 I saw them just a
minute ago。〃
〃Teddy you are a genius。 And to think I have known you all this time
and never found it out before。 Come on； we'll get the torches。〃
They started on a run across an open lot； then turning into the street
above； saw the torches flaring by the roadside half a block away。 Jerking
the lights up the lads ran back to the street they had previously left。
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〃Where shall we look？〃
〃We might as well begin right here； Teddy。 I can't help believing that
Wallace is somewhere in the town。 I don't believe； for a minute； that he
would run off into the country。 If he has he'll be back in a very short time。
You remember what I tell you。 If we can get track of him we'll follow
and send word back to the lot so they can come and get him。〃
〃Why not catch him ourselves？〃
〃I don't think we two boys had better try that。 I am afraid it would
prove too much for us。〃
〃I've got a tent stake。 I'm not afraid。 Why didn't you bring a club？〃
〃I have the ringmaster's whip。 I prefer that to a club when it comes to
meeting a wild lion。 Hello； up there！〃 called Phil； discovering two men
looking out of a window above him。
〃Hello yourself。 You fellows belong to the circus？〃
〃Yes。 Have you seen anything of a lion around this part of the
town？〃
〃A tall fellow about my size； with blue eyes and blonde hair；〃 added
Teddy。
〃Stop your fooling； Teddy。〃
〃A lion？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Only one？〃
〃That's all；〃 replied Phil a bit impatiently。 〃Have you seen him？〃
〃Why； we heard the whole menagerie had escaped。〃
〃That is a mistake。 Only one animal got awaythe lion。〃
〃No； we haven't seen him； but we heard him a little while ago。〃
〃Where； where？〃 questioned the boy eagerly。
〃Heard him roar； and it sounded as if he was off in that direction。〃
〃O； thank you； thank you；〃 answered Phil。
〃Say； are you in the show did you say？〃 now catching sight of Phil's
tights under the bright moonlight。
〃Yes。〃
〃What do you do？〃
〃I am in the big trapeze act； the flying rings and a few other little
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things。〃
〃Is that so？〃
〃Yes。 Well； you'll have to excuse us。 We must be going。〃
〃You boys are not going out after that lion alone； are you？〃
〃Yes； of course。〃
〃Great Caesar！ What do you think of that？ Wait a minute； we'll get
our guns and join you。〃
〃Please； I would rather you would not。 We don't want to kill the lion；
you see。〃
〃Don't want to kill him？〃 questioned the man in amazement。
〃Certainly not。 We want to capture him。 If the town's people will
simply stay in their homes； and not bother us； we shall get him before
morning and no one will be the worse for his escape。 Wallace is worth a
few thousand dollars； I suppose you are aware。 Come along； Teddy。〃
Leaving the two men to utter exclamations of amazement； the lads
started off in the direction indicated by the others。
〃What did I tell you； Teddy？ That lion is in the town at this very
minute。 He's probably eating up someone's fresh meat by this time。
Hold your torch down and keep watch of the street。 You keep that side and
I'll watch this。 We will each take half of the road。〃
The Circus Boys had been around the animals of the menagerie for
nearly three years now； it will be remembered； and they had wholly lost
that fear that most people outside the circus feel for the savage beasts of
the jungle。 They thought little more of this lion hunt； so far as the danger
was concerned； than if they had been chasing a runaway circus horse or
tame elephant。
All at once Teddy Tucker uttered an exclamation。
〃What is it？〃
〃I've landed the gentleman。〃
〃You sure？〃
〃Yes； here are his tracks。〃
〃That's so； you have。 Don't lose them now。 We'll run him down yet。
Won't Mr。 Sparling be pleased？〃
〃I reckon he will。 But we have got to catch the cat first before we can
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please anybody。 I wonder how we're going to do it？〃
〃We shall see about that later。〃
The boys started on a trot； holding their torches close to the ground。
Their course took them about on another street leading at right angles to
the one they had been following。
All at once they seemed to have lost the trail。 Before them stood a
handsome house； set well back in a green lawn。 The house was lighted
up； and evidently some kind of an entertainment was going on within。
〃He's gone over in some of these yards；〃 breathed Phil。 〃Let's take the
place that's lighted up； first。 He'd be more likely to go where there is life。
He〃
Phil's words were cut short by a shriek of terror from the lighted house
followed by another and another。
〃He's there！ Come on！〃
Both boys vaulted the fence and ran to the front door。 By this time
shriek upon shriek rent the air。 The lads burst into the house without an
instant's hesitation。
〃Upstairs！〃 cried Phil； bounding up three steps at a time。
A woman； pale and wide…eyed； had pointed that way when she saw the
two boys in their circus tights and realized what they had come there for。
In a large room a dozen people； pale and frightened were standing； one
man with hand on the door ready to slam it shut at first sign of the
intruder。
〃Wherewhere is he？〃 demanded Phil breathlessly。
〃We were playing cards； and when somebody looked up he saw that
beast standing in the door here looking in。 Hehe went down in the back
yard。 Maybe you will be able to see him if you go in the room across the
hall there。 There's a yard fenced off there for the dogs to run in。〃
Phil bounded across the hall followed by two of the men。
〃Does that stairway lead down into the back yard？〃 questioned Phil。
〃Yes； yes。〃
〃Was the door open？〃
〃Yes； yes。〃
〃Is it open now？〃
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〃Yes。 We can feel the draft。〃
〃Show me into the room and I'll take a look。〃
One of the men； who evidently lived in the house； stepped gingerly
across the hall； turned the knob and pushed the door in ever so little。 Phil
and Teddy； with torches still in hand； crowded in。 As they did so their
guide uttering a frightened yell； slammed the door shut； and Phil heard a
