the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第7节
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At that moment something else was observable。 Instead of traveling
head first； as any self…respecting donkey is supposed to do； this particular
donkey was walking backwards。 Yes； he was galloping backwards。
The instant the audience noted that； their cheers changed to howls of
delight。 The clown was Teddy Tucker； and the donkey was the surprise
he had been storing up for this very occasion。 While the audience laughed
and jeered； Mr。 Sparling looked on in surprise not unmixed with
amazement。 Here was the very thing he had been looking for； but had
been unable thus far to find。
〃It's a winner！〃 he cried； as Teddy Tucker and his strange mount
ambled by him in a gait such as never had been seen in a sawdust arena
before。
Right around the arena traveled boy and donkey。 When opposite the
grandstand seats； where the high school students were sitting； Teddy
nearly drove them wild by drawing out the class colors which he had been
hiding under his coat。
In a shrill； high…pitched voice he gave utterance to the high school
class yell； which was instantly taken up by the class and eventually by the
spectators themselves； until all seemed near the verge of hysterics。
Phil； instead of proceeding directly to the dressing tent； had waited by
the bandstand to watch the new act of his companion； and he； with others
of the performers； was laughing heartily as he leaned against the
bandstand。 Teddy knew he made a funny appearance； but just how
ludicrous he could have little idea。
〃Whose donkey is that？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling； hurrying up just as
Phil and the other circus folks were congratulating the lad。
〃He's mine；〃 rejoined Teddy。
〃Where did you get him？〃
〃I bought him。 Think I stole him？ Been training him all winter。
Like him？〃
〃It's a great comedy act。 He's engaged。 Turn him over to the
superintendent of ring stock and tell him to make a place on the train for
the brute。〃
〃I've already done so。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Oh； you have； eh？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Anybody would think you owned this show； the way you give orders
around here。〃
〃I'm willing； and so's the donkey；〃 grinned Teddy。
〃For what…to go on at every performance？〃
〃No； to own the show。 We're going on right along； anyway。 Gid…
dap！〃
〃Hopeless！〃 muttered Sparling； shaking his head。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER V
TAKEN BY SURPRISE
〃Hurry up； Teddy！〃
〃What for？〃
〃Billy Ford is waiting for us out in the paddock。〃
〃Oh； is that so？ What does he want？〃
〃He's going to walk to the train with us； he says。〃
〃That's good。 I wonder if any of the other fellows will be along？〃
〃No； I think not。 I asked him if he were alone； and he said he was。〃
〃We might give him a feed in the accommodation car；〃 suggested
Teddy。
〃No； you and I are going to bed right quick after we get back to the
train。 I； for one； am tired after this strenuous day。〃
〃It has been lively； hasn't it？〃
〃It has；〃 answered Phil； laying special emphasis on the 〃has。〃
〃Say； young man； where did you get that freak donkey？〃 demanded Mr。
Miaco； the head clown； approaching at that moment。
〃Drew him in a prize package of chewing gum；〃 called one of the
performers。
〃Where did you get him； anyway？〃 called another。
〃You seem to know all about it； so what's the use of my telling you？〃
retorted Teddy。
The lads had finished their work for the day； and nothing now
remained to be done except to disrobe； take a quick scrub down after their
severe exercise； don their clothes and take their time in getting to the train。
There was plenty of time for this； as their sleeper being on the third
and last section of the circus train； they would not leave for nearly two
hours yet； at the earliest。
The baths of the Circus Boys were more severe than pleasant； and in
taking them each one had to perform a service for the other。 The bath
consisted of the performer's standing still while his companion emptied
several buckets of cold water over him； following it with a liberal
smearing of soap and then some more pailfuls of water。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Once a week； over Sunday； the performers were allowed to sleep at
hotels； providing the circus did not have an all day run。 At such times they
were able to enjoy the luxury of a hot bath； but at other times it was cold
watersometimes colder and more chilling than at others。 Yet； they
thrived under it； growing strong and healthy。
Having once more gotten into their street clothes； refreshed and rested
to a degree that would be scarcely believed after their severe exercise；
both lads repaired to the paddock； where they found the president of the
high school class waiting for them； interestedly watching the scene of life
and color always observable in the circus paddock； a canvas walled
enclosure where performers and ring stock await the call to enter the ring。
〃Here we are； Billy；〃 greeted Phil。
〃Oh； so quick？〃 Billy started guiltily。
〃That's the way we always do things；〃 answered Teddy。 〃Have to do
things on the jump； we circus men do。〃
〃So I see。 What are you going to do now？〃
〃Going to the car； of course。 We always go right to the sleeper after
the show。 Why？〃
〃Oh； nothing special。 I thought maybe you might like to go
downtown and visit with the boys for a while。〃
〃I should like to do so very much； but I do not think it will be best。
We make it a rule to go straight home； as we call our car； and I've never
broken over that rule yet； Billy。〃
〃Very well； Phil； then I will walk along with you。 I guess you know
the way。〃
〃That's more than I do every night；〃 laughed Phil。 〃It's a case of
getting lost 'most every night； especially in the big towns； for the cars
seldom are found at night where we left them in the morning。〃
〃I shouldn't like that；〃 objected Billy。
〃We don't。 But we can't help ourselves。〃
〃Here； where you going？〃 demanded Teddy suddenly。
〃Taking the path across the lot here。 It is much shorter；〃 replied Billy。
〃Oh； all right。 I had forgotten about the path。〃
〃I should think you would〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Phil got no further in his remark。 He was interrupted by President
Billy； crying loudly：
〃Here we are！〃
Instantly fifteen or twenty shadowy forms sprang up from the grass
and hurled themselves upon the Circus Boys。
Taken by surprise as they were； Phil and Teddy gave a good account of
themselves。 Shadow after shadow went down under a good stiff punch；
for it must be remembered that both boys were able to make a handsome
living because of the possession of well trained muscles。
Yet no two men could have stood up for long under the onslaught； and
Phil and Teddy very soon went down with their assailants piling on top of
them。
Up to this point not a word had been spoken； nor did either of the lads
have time to speculate as to who their enemies might be。
〃Here； you fellow； get off my neck！〃 howled Teddy。 〃Let me get up
and I'll clean up the whole bunch of you two at a time； if you'll give me
half a chance。〃
No reply was made to this。
〃Get the blankets！〃 commanded a deep voice。
A moment later the two lads were quickly wound in the folds of a pair
of large horse blankets。 They were then picked up； none too gentl
