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第20章

the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第20章


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severely beaten; though both lads had given a good account of themselves 

and finally driven off their assailants。 

     They   did   not   report   their   experience   to   Mr。   Sparling   until   the   next 

morning; having gone directly to their car and put themselves to bed after 

having     been   fixed   up   with   plasters   and   bandages     by   some    of  their 

panions。       The next morning neither lad was particularly attractive to 

look at。    However; bearing the taunts of the show people good…naturedly; 

they started for the cook tent just as they were in the habit of doing every 

day。 

     But Mr。 Sparling had seen them as they passed his car on their way。 

     〃Now;     I  wonder    what   those   boys   have    been   up  to?〃   he  scowled; 

watching their receding forms thoughtfully。            〃I'll find out。〃 

     And he did。      He summoned the lads to his office in the tent soon after 

breakfast。 

     〃I expected you would send for us;〃 grinned Phil; as he walked in with 

Teddy。     〃What about it?       You are both sights!〃 

     〃Grease paint and powder will cover it up; I guess; Mr。 Sparling。〃 

     〃I'll hear how it happened。〃 

     〃I can't tell you much about it;〃 said Phil。          〃We were on our way to 

the car when a couple of men suddenly jumped out from a fence corner 

and went at us hammer and tongs。            That's when we got these beauty spots。 

If we had seen the fellows ing we might not have been hit at all。〃 

     〃Wait a minute; where did this occur?〃 demanded the showman。 

     〃Just outside the lot at Franklin。        It was very dark there; and; as you 



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know; the sky was overcast。〃 

     〃Did you know the menhad you ever seen them before?〃 

     〃I couldn't say as to that。〃 

     〃No; sir; we couldn't say;〃 added Teddy; nodding。 

     Mr。 Sparling turned a cold eye upon Tucker。 

     〃I haven't asked for remarks from you; young man。                  When I do you 

may answer。〃 

     Teddy subsided for the moment。 

     〃But;  had   it   been   anyone   you knew;   you   must   have   recognized   their 

voices。〃 

     〃They didn't say a word。         Just pitched into us savagely。         I think they 

might have done us serious injury had we not defended ourselves pretty 

well。〃 

     〃It occurs to me that you were rather roughly handled as it was;〃 said 

the showman; with a suspicion of a grin on his face。 〃Doctor fixed you up; 

I suppose?〃 

     〃Oh; no; it wasn't so bad as that。〃 

     〃Have     you   any   suspiciondo      you   think   it  was   any   of  the   show 

people?〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling; eyeing Phil penetratingly。 

     〃I don't know。      Here is a button I got from the coat of one of the men。 

That may  serve to   identify  him if   he   is one   of our   men。  I haven't   had   a 

chance to look around this morning。〃 

     The showman quickly stretched forth his hand for the button; which he 

examined curiously。 

     〃And here's a collar; too;〃 chuckled Teddy。 

     〃A collar?     Where did you get that; young man?〃 

     〃Oh; I just yanked it off the other fellow。           Guess it hasn't been to the 

laundry this season。〃 

     Mr。 Sparling leaned back and laughed heartily。 

     〃Between you;  you   boys   will be   the ruination  of   me。         You   take   my 

mind   off   business   so   that   I  don't   know   what   I'm  about   half   of   the   time。 

But I can't get along without you。           I'll look into this matter;〃 he went on 

more gravely。       〃Tell   the   boss   canvasman   to send   Larry  and   Bad   Eye   to 

me。〃 



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     〃Yes; sir。〃 

     The lads delivered the message。 

     Mr。   Sparling's   eyes   twinkled   as   these   two   worthies   sneaked   into   his 

tent; each with a hangdog expression on his face。 〃Red〃 Larry had a black 

eye; while Bad Eye's nose appeared to have listed to one side。 

     The   showman   glanced   at   Larry's   coat;   then   at   the   button   in   his   own 

hand。     He nodded understandingly。            Bad Eye was collarless。 

     〃Here's a button that I think you lost off your coat last night; Larry;〃 

smiled Mr。 Sparling sweetly。           〃And; Bad Eye; here's your collar。            Better 

send it to the washerwoman。〃 

     The men were speechless for the moment。 

     〃Go to the boss; both of you; and get your time。               Then I want you to 

clear out of here。〃 

     〃Whawhatwe ain't done nothing;〃 protested Larry。 

     〃And you had better not。          If I see you about the circus lot again this 

season; I'll have you both in the nearest jail quicker than you can say 'scat!' 

Understand?        Get out of here!〃 

     The   showman   half   rose   from   his   chair;   glaring   angrily   at   them。   His 

good…nature   had   suddenly   left   him;   and   the   canvasmen;   knowing   what 

they might expect from the wrathful showman; stood not upon the order of 

their going。     They ran。 

     Larry had left some of his belongings behind a cage in the menagerie 

tent; and he headed directly for that place to get it out and foot it for the 

village before Mr。 Sparling should discover him on the grounds。 

     In going after his bundle Larry was obliged to pass the elephant station; 

where the elephants were taking their morning baths; throwing water over 

their backs   from  tubs   that had   been   placed   before   them。       A  pail   full   of 

water had been left near old Emperor's tub by the keeper; because the tub 

would hold no more。 

     Emperor   apparently   had   not   observed   it;   nor   did   he   seem   to   see   the 

red…headed canvasman striding his way。              Mr。 Kennedy; the keeper; was at 

the far end of the line sweeping off the baby elephant with a broom; while 

Phil and Teddy were sitting on a pile of straw back of Emperor discussing 

their experience the previous evening。 



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     〃There's Red;〃 said Teddy; pointing。 

     〃Yes; and he seems to be in a great hurry about something。 I'll bet Mr。 

Sparling has discharged him。            I'm sorry。      I hate to see anybody lose his 

job; but I guess Red deserves it if anybody does。               He's one of the fellows 

that attacked us last night。        I haven't the least doubt about that。〃 

     〃Yes;   and   he's   got   a   button   off   his   coat;   too;〃   added   Teddy;   peering 

around Emperor。         〃What I want now is to see a fellow with his collar torn 

off。    I got a tent stake here by me that I'd like to meet him with。〃 

     〃You   would   do      nothing   of   the   sort;   Teddy   Tucker!     Hello;    what's 

going on there?〃 

     As Larry passed swiftly in front of Emperor; the old elephant's trunk 

suddenly       wrapped     itself  about    the   pail  of   water    unobserved      by   the 

discharged canvasman。 

     Emperor lifted the pail on high; quickly twisted it bottom side up and 

jammed it down over the head of Larry。                The latter went down under the 

impact and before he could free himself from the pail and get up; Emperor 

had performed the same service for him with the tub of water。 

     Under      the   deluge    Red    Larry    was    yelling    and   choking;     making 

desperate   efforts   to   get   up。  He   struggled   free   in   a   moment;   and   in   his 

blind   rage   he   hurled   the   empty   pail   full   in   Emperor's   face;   following   it 

with a blow over the animal's trunk with a tent stake。 

     It   was   the   elephant's   turn   to   be   angry   now。  He   did   not   take   into 

consideration that it was he that was to blame for the assault。 Stretching 

out his trunk; he encircled the waist of the yelling canvasman; and; raising 

him on high; dashed him to the ground almost under his ponderous feet。 

     Phil had risen about the time the tub came down。                At first he laughed; 

but when   the   elephant   caught his victim;   the   lad knew   that the situation 

was critical。 

     〃Emperor!       Down!〃 he shouted。 

     It was then that the elephant cast Red under his feet。 

     Phil darted forward just as a ponderous foot was raised to trample the 

man     to  death。    Without      the  least   sense   of  fear   the  lad   ran   in  under 

Emperor; and; grabbing Larry by the heels; dragged him quickly out。 

     The elephant was furious at the loss of his prey; and; raising his trunk; 



                               

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