the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第31部分
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outside the village； where he would get his breakfast。 He was considerably
surprised； therefore； when the men passed the house that his acquaintance
pointed out as belonging to himself； and took their way on toward a
collection of farm buildings some distance further up the road。
〃I wonder what they are going to do now？〃 marveled Phil。 〃This surely
doesn't look much like breakfast ing my way； and I'm almost
famished。〃
The leader of the party let down the bars of the farmyard； conducting
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his guests around behind a large hay barn； into an enclosed space； in the
center of which stood a straw stack； the stack and yard being surrounded
by barns and sheds。
〃Where are you fellows taking me？ Going to put me in the stable
with the live stock？〃 questioned Phil； laughingly。
〃You want some breakfast； eh？〃
〃Certainly I do； but I'm afraid I can't eat hay。〃
The men laughed uproariously at this bit of humor。
〃Must be a clown；〃 suggested one。
〃No； I am not a clown。 My little friend who performs with me； and
es from the same town I do； is one。 I wish he were here。 He would
make you laugh until you couldn't stand without leaning against
something。〃
〃Here； Joe！ Here； Joe！〃 their guide began calling in a loud voice；
alternating with loud whistling。
Phil heard a rustling over behind the straw stack； and then out trotted a
big； black draft horse； a heavy…footed； broad…backed Percheron； to his
astonishment。
〃My； that's a fine piece of horse flesh；〃 glowed the lad。 〃We have
several teams of those fellows for the heavy work with the show。 Of
course we don't use them in the ring。 Is this what you brought me here to
see？〃
〃Yep。 Git up there。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Git up and show us fellers if you're a real circus man。〃
〃You mean you want me to ride him？〃 said Phil。
〃Sure thing。〃
〃How？〃
〃Git on his back and do one of them bareback stunts you was telling us
about；〃 and the fellow winked covertly at his panions； as much as if to
say； 〃we've got him going this time。〃
〃What； here in this rough yard？〃
〃Yep。〃
Phil considered for a moment； stamping about on the straw…covered
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ground； then sizing up the horse critically。
〃All right。 Bring me a bridle and fasten a long enough rein to the bit
so I can get hold of it standing up。〃
He was really going to do as they demanded。 The men were
surprised。 They had not believed he could； and now； at any rate； he was
going to make an effort to make good his boast。
A bridle was quickly fetched and slipped on the head of old Joe。 In
place of reins the farmer attached a rope to the bridle； Phil measuring on
the back of the horse to show how long it should be cut。
The preparations all plete； Phil grasped the rein and vaulted to the
high back of the animal； landing astride neatly。 This brought an
exclamation of approval from the audience。
〃Now git up on your feet。〃
〃Don't be in a hurry。 I want to ride him around the stack a few times
to get the hang of the ring；〃 laughed Phil。 〃It's a good； safe place to fall；
anyway。 Do I get some breakfast after this exhibition？〃 he questioned。
〃That depends。 Go on。〃
〃Gid…dap！〃 manded Phil； patting the black on its powerful neck。
Then they went trotting around the stack； the men backing off to get a
better view of the exhibition。
On the second round Phil drew up before them。
〃Got any chalk on the place？〃 he asked。
〃Reckon there's some in the barn。〃
〃Please fetch it。〃
They did not know what he wanted chalk for； but the owner of the
place hurried to fetch it。 In the meantime Phil was slowly removing his
shoes； which he threw to one side of the yard。 Bidding the men break up
the chalk into powder； he smeared the bottoms of his stockings with the
white powder； sprinkling a liberal supply on the back of the horse。
〃Here； here！ What you doing？ I have to curry that critter down
every morning；〃 shouted the owner。
Phil grinned and clucked to the horse； whose motion he had caught in
his brief ride about the stack； and once more disappeared around the pile。
When he hove in sight again； the black was trotting briskly； with Phil
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Forrest standing erect； far back on the animal's hips； urging him along with
sharp little cries； and dancing about as much at home as if he were on the
solid ground。
The farmers looked on with wide…open mouths； too amazed to speak。
Phil uttered a shout； and set the black going about the stack faster and
faster； throwing himself into all manner of artistic positions。
After the horse had gotten a little used to the strange work； Phil threw
down the reins and rode without anything of the sort to give him any
support。
Probably few farm barnyards had ever offered an attraction like it
before。
〃e up here！〃 cried the lad； to the lighter of the men。 〃I'll give you
a lesson。〃
The fellow protested； but his panions grabbed him and threw him
to old Joe's back。 Phil grabbed his pupil by the coat collar； jerking him to
his feet and started old Joe going at a lively clip。
You should have heard those farmers howl； at the ludicrous sight of
their panion sprawling all over the back of the black； with Phil； red…
faced； struggling with all his might to keep the fellow on； and at the same
time prevent himself taking a tumble！
At last the burden was too much for Phil； and his panion took an
inglorious tumble； head first into the straw at the foot of the stack； while
the farmers threw themselves down； rolling about and making a great din
with their howls of merriment。
〃There； I guess I have earned my breakfast；〃 decided the lad； dropping
off near the spot where he had cast his shoes。
〃You bet you have； little pardner。 You jest e over to the house
and fill up on salt pork and sauerkraut。 You kin stay all summer if you
want to。 Hungry？〃
〃So hungry that； if my collar were loose； it would be falling down over
my feet；〃 grinned the lad。
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CHAPTER XXI
WHEN THE CRASH CAME
There was rejoicing on the part of his fellows； and relief in the heart of
Mr。 Sparling when； along toward noon next day； Phil Forrest came
strolling on the circus lot at St。 Joseph。
His friends； the farmers； had not only given him food and lodging； but
had advanced him enough money for his fare through to join the show。
His first duty was to get some money from Mr。 Sparling and send it back
to his benefactors。
This done； Phil repaired to the owner's tent where he knew Mr。
Sparling was anxiously waiting to hear what had happened to him。
Phil went over the circumstances in detail； while Mr。 Sparling listened
gravely at first； then with rising color as his anger increased。
〃It's Red Larry！〃 decided Mr。 Sparling； with an emphasizing blow of
his fist on the desk before him。
〃After I thought the matter over that was what I decidedI mean that
was the decision I came to。〃
〃Right。 Another season I'll have an officer with this show。 That's the
only way we can protect ourselves。〃
〃Do all the big shows carry an officer？〃 asked Phil。
〃Yes； they have a detective with themnot a tin badge detective； but a
real one。 Don't try to go out today。 Get your dinner and rest up for the
afternoon performance。 I think you had better go to the train in my
carriage tonight。 I'm not going to
