the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第37节
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guide uttering a frightened yell； slammed the door shut； and Phil heard a
bolt shoot in place。
The boys found themselves in a large room running the full depth of
the house。 It had been rigged up； as a gymnasium； with the familiar
flying rings； parallel bars and other useful equipment。
All this they saw instinctively。 But what they saw beyond all this
caused the Circus Boys to pause almost spellbound。
〃He's in there！ He's in there！〃 shouted half a dozen voices at the
same moment。 Then the lads heard the people rush down the stairs and
out into the street shouting and screaming for help。
Crouching in the far corner of the room； lashing its tail； its evil eyes
fixed upon them； was the lion Wallace。
〃Wow！〃 breathed Teddy。
Phil with eyes fixed upon the lion reached back one hand and tried the
door behind him。 It was locked。
〃Teddy； don't make any sudden moves；〃 cautioned Phil in a low voice。
〃We're locked in。 Give me your torch。 Now edge over to that open
window and drop out。 We can't both try it； or Wallace will be upon us in
a flash。 When you get out； run for the lot。 Run as you never ran before。
Get the men here。 Have them rush Wallace's cage here。 Be careful until
you get out。 Those people have locked us in。 I shouldn't dare open the
door anyway； now； for he'd catch us before we could get out。 I know the
ways of these tricky cats。〃
〃Phil； he'll kill you！〃
〃He won't。 I've got the torches。 They're the best weapons a man
could havethey and the whip。〃
Teddy edged toward the window while Phil with a stern command to
the lion to 〃charge！〃 at the same time cracking the whip and thrusting the
torches toward the beast； checked the rush that Wallace seemed about to
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
make。
Teddy dropped from the window a moment later。 Then began an
experience for Phil Forrest that few boys would have had the courage to
face。
Not for an instant did the Circus Boy lose his presence of mind。 He
took good care not to crowd Wallace； giving him plenty of room；
constantly talking to him as he had frequently heard the animal's keeper do；
and keeping the beast's mind occupied as much as he could。
Now and then Wallace would attempt to creep up on Phil； whereupon
the lad would start forward thrusting the torches before him and crack the
whip again。 Wallace was afraid of fire； and under the menacing thrusts
of the torches would back cowering into his corner。
For a full half hour did Phil Forrest face this deadly peril； cool；
collected； his mind ever on the alert； standing there in his pink tights；
almost a heroic figure as he poised in the light of the flaring torches； the
smoke of which got into his lungs and made him cough。 He did all he
could to suppress this； for it disturbed and irritated Wallace； who showed
his disapproval by swishing his tail and uttering low； deep growls of
resentment。
Phil backed away a little so as to get nearer the window that he might
find more fresh air。 Wallace followed。 Phil sprang at him。
〃Charge！〃 he commanded making several violent thrusts with the
torches； at which Wallace backed away again and crouched lower。 Phil
saw that the lion was preparing to jump over his head； and； discovering
this； the lad held one torch high above his head and kept it swaying there
from side to side。
Suddenly he made another discovery。
The light seemed to be growing dim。 A quick glance at the flames of
the torches told him what the trouble was。
He dared not let his eyes dwell on the flame for more than a brief
instant for the glare would so blind him that he would not be able to
clearly make out the lion。 To lose sight of Wallace for a few seconds
might mean a sudden and quick end to Phil Forrest； and he knew it full
well。
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The lad backed a bit closer to the window； keeping his torches moving
rapidly to hide his movements。
Wallace； watching the torches did not observe the action。
〃The torches are going out；〃 breathed Phil。 〃If the folks don't come
soon I've got to jump through window glass and all or Wallace will
spring。〃
Phil was in a desperate situation。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
〃Down； Wallace！ Charge！〃
The Circus Boy's whip cracked viciously； while the dying torches
formed thin circles of fire as they were swung above the lad's head。
〃I shan't be able to hold him off much longer。 Wallace knows； as well
as I do； that his turn is coming in a short time。 If I happen to be within
reach then； something surely is going to happen。 Hark！ What's that？〃
Distant shouts were borne faintly to Phil's ears。 He listened intently；
catching another and welcome sound。 The latter was the rumble of a
heavy wagon； being driven rapidly along the paved street of the town。
〃It's a circus wagon；〃 breathed the lad； recognizing the sound instantly。
〃I hope it is the wagon。〃
He listened intently； keeping the torches moving； now and then
cracking his whip and uttering sharp commands to Wallace。
The animal was growing more and more restless。 His wild instincts
were returning to him。
The torches were so low； now； that Phil could scarcely see the beast。
Then； all at once； he realized that Wallace was creeping toward him
unmindful of the lash or of the fading torches。
Phil waited； peering into the shadows。 He was not afraid； as he
recalled his sensations afterwards； but a strange little thrill seemed to be
racing up and down his spinal column。
Then the lad did a daring thing。 He sprang forward to meet Wallace。
The astonished lion halted for a brief instant； and in that instant the Circus
Boy thrust one of the torches full in his face。 The flame burned the nose
of the king of beasts and singed his brow as well。
Uttering a mighty roar Wallace cleared the floor； springing backwards
and landing against the wall with such force as to jar several panes of glass
from the window nearby。
〃Phil！ Phil！ Are you there？〃 came a hesitating voice from behind
the lad。 It was the voice of Teddy Tucker on a ladder at one side of the
window from which he had jumped earlier in the evening。
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〃Yes； yes。 Be careful。 Did you bring them？〃
〃We've got the cage。 Mr。 Sparling is here； too。 He's half worried to
death。 What shall we do？〃
〃Have them draw the cage up in the back yard and back it against the
open door。 When that's done some of you come upstairs and throw the
door open。 Be sure to leave a light in the hall； but jump into the room
across the hall as soon as you open the door。 Wallace will scent his mate
and I'll wager he'll trot right downstairs and jump into his cage。 Have
someone standing by to close the doors on him。 Hurry now。 Tell them
my torches won't last five minutes longer。〃
Teddy slid down the ladder without waiting to place feet or hand on
the rungs； and Phil's anxious ears told him the men were drawing the cage
around to the rear yard。
Soon he heard footsteps on the back stairs。 Wallace was showing
new signs of agitation。
〃All ready； in there？〃
〃All ready；〃 answered Phil。
Teddy jerked the door open and leaping across the hall； shut himself in
the room opposite。 Wallace paused； his tail beating the wall behind him；
then uttering a roar that shook the building； the shaggy bea
