第 5 节
作者:
希望之舟 更新:2021-02-20 15:44 字数:9322
get their heads down for a nibble of the fresh green grass at the side of the
road。
〃There come the bulls;〃 called Teddy。
〃Yes; I see them。〃
〃The bulls?〃 wondered Mrs。 Cahill。 〃I didn't know they had bulls in
the circus。〃
〃That's what the show people call the elephants;〃 laughed Phil。 〃Teddy
is talking show…talk now。 We have a language of our own。〃
〃I should say you do?〃 grumbled the widow。
〃What's the bull in front got on his trunk; Phil?〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land (Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South)
Phil shaded his eyes and gazed off down the street。
〃That's my friend Emperor。 I don't know what it is he is carrying。
That's queer。 I never saw him carrying anything in parade before; did
you?〃
〃No。〃
For a moment both lads directed their attention to making out what it
was that Emperor was carrying along。
〃It looks to me like a basket of flowers;〃 finally decided Phil。
〃Has somebody been handing him a bouquet;〃 grunted Teddy。
〃It certainly looks that way。〃
〃Why; I really believe he is coming in here。〃
〃Coming herean elephant coming into my front yard? Mercy me!〃
exclaimed Mrs。 Cahill; starting up。
〃Why; Mrs。 Cahill; Emperor wouldn't hurt a little baby。 I hope he
does come in。 Sit still。 Don't be afraid。〃
〃He'll spoil my flower bedshe'll trample them all down and after I've
worked four weeks getting〃
〃Yes; here he comes;〃 exulted Phil。
At that moment Emperor; with his trainer; Mr。 Kennedy; swung out of
line and entered the garden gate。 Turning to the left they headed directly
across the lawn。 The precious flower beds lay right in his path。
〃Oh; my flowers! They're ruined;〃 moaned the widow。
〃Watch him and you'll see;〃 answered Phil; his face wreathed in
smiles。
She did; and her eyes opened wider when Emperor cautiously raised
one ponderous foot after another until he had stepped clear of the first bed
of flowers。 The same thing happened when he got to the second bed。
Not even the imprint of his footfalls was left on the fresh green grass of
the lawn。
Mrs。 Cahill's eyes were large and wondering。 A sudden impulse
stirred her to spring up and flee into the house。
Phil; noting it; laid a restraining hand lightly; on her arm。
〃Don't be afraid;〃 he reassured。 〃Emperor will not harm you。 You see
how careful he is of your lawn and your flower beds。 I think he is coming
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land (Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South)
here for some purpose。〃
Emperor and his trainer came to a half right in front of the porch; the
elephant's little eyes fixed upon the slender form of Phil Forrest。
〃Good boy; Emperor!〃 breathed Phil。 〃Did somebody present a
basket of flowers to you?〃
It was a big basket; and such a handsome collection of flowers did it
contain as to cause Mrs。 Cahill to open her eyes in wonder。 A card was
tied to the handle of the basket with a big pink ribbon。 Phil began to
understand the meaning of the scene; and he felt sure the name on the card
was that of Mrs。 Cahill。
A low spoken command from the trainer; and Emperor cautiously got
down on his knees; keeping those small eyes on Phil Forrest all the time。
〃Mrs。 Cahill; Emperor has been commissioned by the Great Sparling
Combined Shows to present a basket of flowers to you in the name of Mr。
Sparling himself; and the show people; too。 He has carried it all the way
from the lot this morning;〃 declared Mr。 Kennedy。
The people on the street were now pressing closer; in order to see what
was going to happen。 Phil was smiling broadly; while Teddy was
hugging himself with delight at Mrs。 Cahill's nervousness。
〃Emperor; give the flowers to the lady;〃 commanded the trainer。
Slowly; the big elephant's trunk stretched out; extending the basket
toward her inch by inch; while the widow instinctively shrank far back in
her chair。 At last the trunk reached her。
〃Take it;〃 said Phil。
She grasped the basket with a muttered; 〃thank you。〃
〃Say good…bye; Emperor;〃 directed the trainer。
Emperor curled his trunk on high; coughed mightily; then rising on his
hind legs until he stood almost as high as the widow's cottage; he uttered a
wild; weird trumpeting that fairly shook the house。
Mrs。 Cahill; in her fright; suddenly started back; her chair tipped over
and she landed in a heap on the ground at the end of the porch。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land (Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South)
CHAPTER IV
A FRIENDLY AUDIENCE
The afternoon performance had passed without a hitch。 While there
were many town people there the greater part of the audience; which
nearly filled the big tent; was composed of visitors from the country。
Great applause greeted the performances of Phil Forrest and Teddy
Tucker; but the two Circus Boys were saving their best efforts for the
evening performance when all their friends would be present。
Mrs。 Cahill; after her tumble; had been picked up by the lads who
insisted that she shake the trunk of Emperor before he left the lawn。 And
now that she had seen the afternoon show; taking a motherly pride in the
performance of her boys; as she proudly called them; the kindhearted
woman sat down to a meal in the cook tent; which proved one of the most
interesting experiences of her life。
As the hour for the evening performance approached there was an
unusual bustle in the dressing tent。 By this time the whole show had
taken a keen interest in the affairs of the Circus Boys; who had been
known to the performersat least; to most of themfor the past two years。
Teddy had paid sundry mysterious visits to the horse tent; and held
numerous confidential conversations with the equestrian director; all of
which was supposed to have been unknown to Mr。 Sparling; the owner of
the show。
But; while Teddy was nursing his secret; Mr。 Sparling also was
keeping one of his own; one which was to be a great surprise to the two
Circus Boys。
The first surprise was given when the clowns came out for their first
entry。 Lining up in front of the reserved seats; where the high school
boys and girls sat; they sang a song in which they brought in the names of
every member of Phil's class。 This elicited roars of laughter from the
spectators; while the school boys and girls waved their crimson and white
class flags wildly。
The whole class was there as the guests of the management of the
show。 This was one of Mr。 Sparling's surprises; but not the only one he
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land (Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South)
was to give them that night。
Next came the leaping act; somersaulting from a springboard and in
the end jumping over the herd of elephants。 Teddy was so effectively
disguised by his clown makeup that; for some time; the class did not
recognize him。 When finally they did; through some familiar gesture of
his own; the boys and girls set up a perfect howl of delight in which the
audience joined with enthusiastic applause; for Teddy; with all his clumsy
ways; was one of the best tumblers in the show。 He had developed
marvelously since the close of the show the fall before。
Never had Teddy tumbled as he did that night。 He took so many
chances that Mr。 Sparling; who was on the side lines; shouted a word of
caution to him。
〃You'll break your neck; if you're not careful。〃
In answer to the warning; Teddy took a long running start and did a
double turn in the air; over the backs of the elephants; landing plump int