the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第37部分
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cling to it as he got nearer the top。 The air was close； and soon after the
boy began going up； the sun beat down on the canvas cover suffocatingly。
Now he had reached the top。 High seats intervened between him and
the other end； so that he could not see far ahead of him。 Phil dropped
down into the wagon and began creeping toward the rear。
He stumbled over some properties that had been stowed in the wagon；
making a great clatter。 Instantly there was a motion in the other end
of the car。
Phil scrambled up quickly and crawled over the high seat ahead of him。
As he did so he uttered an exclamation。 The red head of Red Larry could
be seen； his beady eyes peering over the back of a seat。
〃I've got you this time； Red！〃 exulted Phil； clambering over the seat in
such a hurry that he fell in a heap on the other side of it。
The lad seemed to have no sense that he was placing himself in grave
peril。 He had no fear in his makeup； and his every nerve was centered on
capturing the desperate； revengeful man who had not only assaulted Phil；
but who had caused so much damage to the Sparling Shows。
〃Don't you dare e near me； you young cub！〃 threatened Red； as
with rage…distorted face he suddenly whipped out a knife。
Phil picked up a club and started toward him。 The club happened to
be a tent stake。 Red observed the action； and crouching low waited as the
lad approached him。
〃I'm going to get you； Red！ I'm not afraid of your knife。 You can't
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touch me with it because before you get the chance I'm going to slam you
over the head with this tent stake；〃 grinned Phil Forrest。
Red snarled and showed his teeth。
〃Oh； you needn't think you can get away。 The men are hunting for
you further up the train。 They'll be along here in a minute； and then I
reckon you'll be tied up and dumped into the lion cage； though I don't
think even a lion would eat such a mean hound as you are。〃
Suddenly the man straightened up。 Now； he held something in his
hand besides the knife。 It was a stake。
Red drew back his arm； hurling the heavy stick straight at his young
adversary's head。 Phil； observing the movement let drive his own tent
stake； but having to throw so hurriedly； his aim was poor。 Red Larry's
aim； on the other hand was better。 Phil dodged like a flash。
Had he not done so the stake would have struck him squarely in the
face。 As it was the missile grazed the side of his head； causing the lad to
fall in a heap。
Red Larry hesitated only for a second； then leaping to the high rear
seat of the wagon drew his knife along the canvas above him； opening a
great slit in it。 Through the opening thus made he peered cautiously。
What he saw evidently convinced him of the truth of what Phil had just
said。 Up toward the head of the train the searchers were at work； and
from what Red had heard he realized they were looking for him。
Red did not delay a second。 He scrambled out through the canvas
just as Phil pulled himself to his feet。 The lad could see the fellow's legs
dangling through the canvas。
Phil uttered a yell； hurling himself wildly over the high…backed seats in
an effort to catch and hold the legs ere Red could get out。 But Larry
heard him ing； and quickly clambered down the back of the wagon to
the deck of the flat car。
Phil once more grabbed up his own tent stake as he stumbled back
through the wagon。
〃I've got you！〃 yelled the boy as he pulled himself up through the
opening； observing Red standing hesitatingly on the flat car with a
frightened look in his eyes。
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〃Hi！ Hi！〃 cried Phil； turning and gesticulating wildly at the men
further up the train 〃I've got him！ Hurry！ I〃
Something sang by his head and dropped quivering in the canvas
beyond him。 It was the discharged tentman's knife which he had aimed
at Phil； his aim having been destroyed by a lurch of the car； thus saving the
Circus Boy's life。
〃Want to kill me； do you？ I've got you now！ The men are ing。
Don't you dare move or I'll drop this stake on you。 I can't miss you this
time。〃
Red after one hesitating glance； faced the front and leaped from the
train down the long； sloping cinder…covered bank。
Phil let drive his tent stake。 It caught Red on the shoulder； bowling
the rascal over like a nine pin。
Phil Forrest uttered a yell of exultation； suddenly dropping to the floor
of the car at the imminent risk of his life。
The men were now piling over the cars in his direction。 He did not
know whether they had seen Red jump or not。 Phil did not waste any
time in idle speculation。
〃e on！〃 he shouted； springing to the edge of the car； keeping
himself from falling by grasping a wheel of the wagon。
Then Phil Forrest did a daring thing。 Crouching low； choosing his
time unerringly； he jumped from the train。 Fortunately for him； the cars
were running slowly up the heavy grade。 But； slowly as they were going；
the lad turned several rapid handsprings after having struck the ground；
ing to a stop halfway down the slope； somewhat dazed from the shock
and sudden whirling about。
But he was on his feet in a twinkling； and running toward the spot
where Red was painfully picking himself up。 Phil slipped and stumbled
as the cinders gave way beneath his feet but ran on with a grim
determination not to let his man escape him this time。
Both were now weaponless； so far as the lad knew。 Red had
possessed a revolver； but in his sudden jump from the train he had lost it；
and there was now no time to look for it。
When he saw Phil pursuing； Larry started on a run； but the lad； much
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more fleet of foot； rapidly overhauled him； despite the handicap that Phil
had at the start。
〃You may as well give up！ I'm going to catch you； if I have to run all
the way across the Sierra Nevada Range；〃 shouted Phil。
Red halted suddenly。 Phil thought he was going to wait for him； but
the lad did not slacken his speed a bit because of that。
All at once； as Phil drew near； Red picked up a stone and hurled it at
his pursuer。 Phil saw it ing in time to 〃duck；〃 and it was well he did
so； for Larry's aim was good。
〃He must have been a baseball pitcher at sometime；〃 grinned the lad。
However； the fellow continued to throw until Phil saw that he must do
something to defend himself else he would surely be hit and perhaps put
out of the race altogether。
〃So that's your game is it？〃 shouted the boy。 〃I can play ball； too。〃
With that the lad coolly began hunting about for stones； of which he
gathered up quite an armful； choosing those that were most nearly round。
In the meantime Red had kept up his bombardment； Phil dodging the
stones skillfully。 Then he too； began to throw； gradually drawing nearer
and nearer to his adversary。
A small stone caught Phil a glancing blow on the left shoulder causing
him to drop his ammunition。 He could scarcely repress a cry； for the
blow hurt him terribly。 He wondered if his shoulder had not been broken；
but fortunately he had received only a severe bruise。
It served； however； to stir Phil to renewed activity。 Grabbing all the
stones he could gather in one sweep of his hands he started on a run
toward Red Larry； letting one drive with every jump。 They showered
