第 38 节
作者:飘雪的季节      更新:2023-05-02 09:53      字数:4834
  toward   Red   Larry;   letting   one   drive   with   every   jump。      They   showered
  around the desperate man like a rain of hail。
  All   at   once   Larry   uttered   a   yell   of   pain   and   anger。 One   of   Phil's
  missiles had landed in the pit of the fellow's stomach。 Larry doubled up
  like a jacknife; and; dropping suddenly; rolled rapidly toward the foot of
  the slope。
  Phil; still clinging to his weapons; ran as fast as his slender legs would
  carry him in pursuit of his man。
  〃I hit him!     I hit him!〃 he yelled。
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  In a moment he came up with Larry; but the lad prudently stopped a
  rod from his adversary to make sure that the fellow was not playing him a
  trick。    One glance sufficed to tell Phil that the man had really been hit。
  〃I hope he isn't much hurt; but I'm not going to take any chances。〃
  Phil jerked off his coat and began ripping it up; regardless of the fact
  that   it   was   his   best。  With   the   strands   thus   secured;   he   approached   his
  prisoner cautiously; then suddenly jumped on him。
  Larry was not able to give more than momentary resistance。 Inside of
  three   minutes   Phil   had the   fellow's   hands   tied securely  behind   his   back。
  Gathering   the   stones   about   him   in   case   of   need;   the   lad   sat   down   and
  wiped the perspiration from his brow。
  〃I   guess    that   about    puts   an   end    to  your    tricks;  my    fine   fellow;〃
  announced Phil。
  The   train   had   been   finally   stopped;   and   a   force   of   men   now   dashed
  back along the tracks。          They had been in time to view the last half of the
  battle    of   the  stones;    and    when     Red    went    down     they   set   up   a  loud
  triumphant   yell。      In   a   few   minutes   they  had   reached   the   scene   and   had
  taken the prisoner in tow。
  The train was at the top of the grade waiting; so the show people and
  their captive were obliged to walk fully a mile to reach it。 Mr。 Sparling;
  attracted by the uproar; had rushed from his private car。                   He now met the
  party a little way down the tracks。
  〃I got him!〃 cried Phil; when he saw the owner approaching。
  Red   was   carried   to   the   next   stop   on   the   circus   train。   He   was   not
  much hurt and had fully recovered before noon of that day; much to Phil's
  relief;   for  he   felt   very   badly  that   he   had   been   obliged   to   resort   to   stone
  throwing。       The   lad   would   have   preferred   to   use   his   fists。    But;   as   the
  result   of   the   capture;   Red   Larry   was   put   where   he   would   bother   circus
  trains   no   more   for   some   years。      He   was   sentenced   to   a   long   term   in
  prison。
  The   Great   Sparling   Shows   moved   on;   playing   in   a   few   more   towns;
  and;    one    beautiful    morning     drew     up   at  the  city   by   the  Golden     Gate。
  There the circus remained for a week; when the show closed for the season。
  But the lads were a long way from home; toward which they now looked
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  longingly。
  Mr。 Sparling invited them to return with him in his private car which
  was to cross the continent attached to regular passenger trains; the show
  proper following at its leisure。
  This   invitation   both   boys   accepted   gladly;   and   during   the   trip   there
  were   many   long   discussions   between   the   three   as   to   the   future   of   the
  Circus Boys。       They had worked hard during the season and had won new
  laurels on the tanbark。        But they had not yet reached the pinnacle of their
  success in the canvas…covered arena; though each had saved; as the result
  of his season's work; nearly twelve hundred dollars。
  Phil and Teddy will be heard from again in a following volume entitled:
  〃THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or; Winning the Plaudits of the
  Sunny      South。〃     Here     they   are   destined    to  meet    with    some    of   the
  pleasantest as well as the most thrilling experiences of their circus career;
  in    which     both    have    many     opportunities      to   show     their   grit   and
  resourcefulness。
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