the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第14部分
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Thunders of applause greeted this； the audience getting to its feet in its
excitement。 Had it been possible； both the boy and Miss Dimples would
have been borne in triumph from the ring。
〃e back and sit down while I finish my act；〃 she whispered。
〃You're not going to try that again； are you？〃 questioned Phil。
〃Of course I am。 You'll see what a hit it will make。〃
〃I saw that you came near making a hit a few moments ago；〃 answered
the lad。
〃There； there； don't be sarcastic；〃 she chided； giving him a playful tap。
〃If you feel strong enough； please help me up。〃
Phil did so smilingly； then he retired to his place by the center pole；
against which he braced his aching back。
〃Turn after you have gotten over the rough spot；〃 he cautioned her。
Dimples nodded her understanding。
This time Phil held his breath as he saw her crouching ever so little for
her spring。
Dimples uttered another shrill 〃yip！〃 and threw herself into the air
again。
He saw； with keen satisfaction； that this time she was not going to miss。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Dimples turned in the air with wonderful grace； alighting far back on the
broad hips of the gray horse with bird…like lightness。
Phil doffed his hat； and； getting to his feet； limped away； with the
audience roaring out its applause。 They had forgotten all about the boy
who but a few moments before had saved Little Dimples' life； and he was
fully as well satisfied that it should be so。
Just as he was passing the bandstand the educated mule； with Teddy
Tucker on its back； bolted through the curtains like a projectile。 The
mule nearly ran over Phil； then brought up suddenly to launch both heels
at him。 But the Circus Boy had seen this same mule in action before； and
this time Phil had discreetly ducked under the bandstand。
Then the mule was off。
〃Hi…yi…yi…yip…yi！〃 howled Teddy； as the outfit bolted into the arena。
The old hands with the show discreetly darted for cover when they saw
Teddy and his mule ing。 Like Phil Forrest； they had had experience
with this same wild outfit before。 There was no knowing what the bucking
mule might not do； while there was a reasonable certainty in their minds as
to what he would do if given half a chance。
〃Hi！ Hi！ Look out！〃 howled Teddy as they neared the entrance to
the menagerie tent； where a number of people were standing。 The boy saw
that the mule had taken it into his stubborn head to enter the menagerie
tent； there to give an exhibition of his contrariness。
In they swept like a miniature whirlwind； the mule twisting this way
and that； stopping suddenly now and then and bracing its feet in desperate
efforts to unseat its rider。
But Teddy held on grimly。 This rough riding was the delight of his
heart； and the lad really was a splendid horseman； though it is doubtful if
he realized this fact himself。
A man was crossing the menagerie tent with a pail of water in each
hand。 The mule saw him。 Here was an opportunity not to be lost。
Teddy's mount swept past the fellow。 Then both the beast's heels shot
out； catching both the pails at the same time。 The two pails took the air
in a beautiful curve； like a pair of rockets； distributing water all the way
across the tent； a liberal portion of which was spilled over the water carrier
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as the pails left his hands。
The man chanced to be Larry； Teddy's enemy。 Teddy was traveling at
such a rapid rate that he did not recognize the fellow； but Larry recognized
him； and thereby another account was charged up against the Circus Boy。
But the mule； though the time limit for his act had expired； had not
quite satisfied his longing for excitement。 Whirling about； he plunged
toward the big top again。
〃Whoa！ Whoa！〃 howled Teddy； tugging at the reins。 But he might
as well have tried to check the wind。 Nothing short of a stone wall could
stop the educated mule until he was ready to stop。 The ringmaster had
blown his whistle for the next act and the performers were running to their
stations when Teddy and his mount suddenly made their appearance again。
〃Get out of here！〃 yelled the ringmaster。
〃I am trying to do so；〃 howled Teddy in a jeering voice。 〃Can't go any
faster than I am。〃
〃Stop him！ You'll run somebody down！〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling；
dodging out of the way as the mule； with ears laid back on his head；
dashed straight at the showman。
〃Can't stop。 In a hurry；〃 answered Teddy。
On they plunged past the bandstand again； the mule pausing at the
paddock entrance long enough to kick the silk curtains into ribbons。
Next he made a dive for the dressing tent。
In less time than it takes to tell it； the dressing tent looked as if it had
been struck by a cyclone。
Clubs and side poles were brought down on the rump of the wild mule；
most of which were promptly kicked through the side of the tent。 Teddy； in
the meantime； had landed in a performer's trunk； smashing through the
tray； being wedged in so tightly that he could not extricate himself。
Added to the din was Teddy's voice howling for help。
The performers； in all stages of dress and undress； had fled to the
outside。
Then； the mule being suddenly meek； pricked forward his ears；
ambled out into the paddock and began contentedly nibbling at the fresh
grass about the edges of the enclosure。
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About this time Mr。 Sparling came running in。 His face was red and
the perspiration was rolling down it。
〃Where's that fool boy？〃 he bellowed。 〃Where is he； I say？〃
〃Here he is；〃 answered the plaintive voice of Teddy Tucker。
〃e out of that！〃
〃I can't。 I'm stuck fast。〃
The showman jerked him out with scant ceremony； while Teddy began
pulling pieces of the trunk tray out of his clothes。
〃Do you want to put my show out of business？ What do you think
this isa cowboy picnic？ I'll fire you。 I'll〃
〃Better fire the mule。 I couldn't stop him；〃 answered the boy。
By this time the performers； after making sure that the mule had gone；
were creeping back。
〃I'll cut that act out。 I'll have the mule shot。 I'll Get out of here；
before I take you over my knee and give you what you deserve。〃
〃I'm off；〃 grinned Teddy； ducking under the canvas。
He was seen no more about the dressing tent until just before it was
time to go on for the evening performance。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER X
HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON
〃Where's that boy？〃
〃He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent
again。〃
This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers
of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted。
〃Don't blame him； blame the mule；〃 advised Mr。 Miaco； the head
clown。
〃Yes； Teddy wasn't to blame；〃 declared Phil； who had entered at that
moment。 〃Did he do all this？〃 he asked； looking about at the scene of
disorder。
〃He did。 Lucky some of us weren't killed；〃 declared one。 〃If that
mule isn't cut out of the programme I'll quit this outfit。 Never safe a
minute while he and the kid are around。 First； the kid gets us into a
scrimmage with the roustabouts； then he slam bangs into the dressing tent
with a fool mule and puts the whole business out of the running。〃
〃Was Mr。 Sparlingwas he mad？〃 asked Phil； laughing until the tears
started。
〃Mad？ He was red headed；〃 replied Miaco。
〃Where
