the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第6节
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double turn in the air； over the backs of the elephants； landing plump into
the waiting arms of a bevy of painted clowns； the spectators evincing their
appreciation by shouting out Teddy's name。
Teddy's chest swelled with pride as he waved his hand and shook his
head as if to say： 〃Oh； that's nothing！ You ought to see me when I'm
really working。〃
The band played on and the show moved along with a merry medley
of daring deeds and furious fun from the clowns。
At last； in response to the command of the ringmaster's whistle； the
band ceased playing and silence fell over the tent as the ringmaster raised
his hand for silence。
〃Ladies and gentlemen；〃 he said。 〃The next act will be a bareback
riding feat unexcelled in any show in the world。 In ring No。 1 the famous
equestrienne； Little Dimples； will entertain you with her Desperate； Daring
Dips of Death that defy imitation。 In ring No。 2 you will recognize a
fellow townsmana townsboy； I should say。 It will not be necessary for
me to mention his name。 Suffice it to say that； although he has been
riding for less than a year； he has already risen to the enviable position of
being one of the foremost bareback riders of the sawdust arena。 I think
that's all I have to say。 Your friends will do the rest。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
The ringmaster waved his hand to the band； which instantly blared
forth and to its music Phil Forrest tripped lightly down the concourse；
being obliged to go three…fourths of its length to get to the ring where he
was to perform。
His journey led him right past the grandstand seats where his admiring
school fellows were sitting； or rather standing。 As a matter of fact； every
one of them had risen to his feet by this time and was shouting out Phil's
name。
As he drew nearer they began to chant； keeping time with his footsteps
and the music of the band：
〃Phil； PhilPhillip F！ Rah； rah！ Siss…boom…ah！〃
The Circus Boy grinned happily and waved his whip at them as he
passed。
〃I hope I won't make a fool of myself；〃 he thought。
He had no intention of doing so。 He had a few tricks that he was
going to show his friends； and incidentally surprise Mr。 Sparling himself；
for Phil； who now owned his own ring horse； had been practicing in secret
all winter on the act that he was going to attempt for the first time in
public that evening。
Discarding his slippers and chalking the bottoms of his riding pumps；
Phil began his act by riding standing on the rump of his mount； to get his
equilibrium and his confidence at the same time。
Then the lad began throwing himself into his work； which increased in
speed as the moments passed； until his supple； slender body was flashing
here and there on the back of the handsome gray； causing the eyes of the
spectators fairly to ache in their efforts to keep track of him。
The people voiced their excitement by yells of approval and howls of
delight。
〃My； but that boy can ride！〃 muttered Mr。 Sparling； who had been
watching the act critically。 〃In fact； I should like to know what he cannot
do。 If he had to do so； he could run this show fully as well as can Iand
perhaps better at that；〃 added the showman； with a grin。
Now the band struck up the music for the concluding number of the
act。
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〃I wonder what he has up his sleeve；〃 mused Mr。 Sparling shrewdly；
suspecting that Phil was about to try something he had never done in the
ring before。 〃I hope he won't take any long chances； for I can't afford to
have anything happen to my little star performer。〃
As a matter of fact both Phil and Teddy Tucker had become star
performers； and were so featured on the circus bills； where their pictures
had been placed for this； their third season out。 The year before they had
appeared on the small bills in the shop windows； but now they had the
satisfaction of seeing themselves portrayed in life…size on the big boards。
Phil sent his ring horse forward at a lively gait； which grew faster and
faster； as he sat lightly on the animal's rump； urging it along。
All at once he bounded to his feet； poised an instant； then threw
himself into a succession of handsprings until he resembled a whirling
pink and gold wheel。
This was a new act in the circus world； and such of the other
performers as were under the big top at the moment paused to watch it。
No one was more surprised than Mr。 Sparling himself。 He knew
what a difficult feat it was that the Circus Boy had not only essayed； but
succeeded in doing。 Phil kept it up at such length； and with such
stubborn persistence； that the owner of the show feared lest the lad； in his
dizziness might get a bad fall。
Doing a series of such rapid handsprings on the level ground is
calculated to make a performer's head swim。 But how much more
difficult such an effort is on the slippery back of a moving horse may well
be imagined。
Finally； red of face； panting； breathless； Phil Forrest alighted on his
feet； well back on the ring horse's rump。
〃Be ready to catch me；〃 he gasped。
The ringmaster understood。
Phil urged his horse to a run about the sawdust arena。
〃Now； what's that fool boy going to do？〃 wondered Mr。 Sparling。
All at once Phil Forrest threw himself up into the air； his body
doubling like a ball as he did so。
Onetwothree times he whirled about in his marvelous backward
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
somersault。
〃Let go your tuck！〃 commanded the ringmaster； meaning that Phil was
to release the grip of his hands which were holding his legs doubled close
against his body。
The lad quickly straightened up； spreading his arms to steady himself
in his descent。 Fortunately he was dropping feet first； due to his instant
obedience of the ringmaster's order。
Perhaps that alone saved the Circus Boy from breaking his neck； for so
dizzy was he that he was unable to tell whether he was dropping feet or
head first。
He alighted on his feet and the ringmaster caught him deftly。
〃Stand steady a minute； till you get your bearings； Phil。〃
Phil needed that moment to steady himself； for the big top seemed to
be whirling about on a pivot。
Now he began dimly to hear the thunders of applause that greeted his
really wonderful performance。
〃Can you stand alone now？〃
〃I think so；〃 came the faint reply that was instantly drowned in the
great uproar。
But the lad wavered a little after the ringmaster had released his grip。
Steadying himself quickly； Phil pulled on his slippers and walked slowly
from the ring； dizzy； but happy with the shouts of his school fellows
ringing in his ears。
He heard the voice of Mr。 Sparling close by him； saying：
〃Great； great； my boy！ Finest exhibition ever seen in a sawdust
ring！〃
Phil tripped proudly past the grandstand seats； where the boys were
howling like a pack of wild Indians。
But just then something else occurred to attract their attention。
A donkey； long…eared； long…haired； dirty and unkempt trotted into the
ring and spun about like a top for a full minute。
On the ludicrous…looking beast's back sat a boy in the makeup of a
blackface clown。 In his mouth was a harmonica； that he played lustily； as
he sat facing to the rear with his back toward the donkey's head。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
At that moment something else was observable。 Instead of traveling
head first； as any self…
