登陆注册
5162100000032

第32章

As he sat on the back of the broad-backed ring horse that afternoon, his eyes were looking over the tent questioningly.

"I believe I can do it," mused Phil."If conditions are the same tonight that they are this afternoon I am going to try it."Just then the band struck up and the lad rose gracefully to his feet ready to go through his act for the edification of the great audience.

Phil was making more money than ever before in his circus career, and he now had only one act instead of several.But he cared little for this.It was merely a means to an end.

At night he accompanied Sully to the lot as usual.Phil might have appealed to a policeman, or to one of the many people about him.It will be remembered, however, that he had given his word that he would do nothing of the sort, and Phil Forrest was not the boy to break his word after once having given it.He proposed to get away by his own efforts or else wait until rescued by the Sparling show.

As had been the case with the afternoon show Sully remained over by the bandstand while Phil went through his act.

"I'll finish my performance," decided the lad."I want to give him his money's worth whether he deserves such treatment or not, and then I'll make my try.I can do it, I believe."Nothing of what was passing in the mind of the Circus Boy, of course, was suspected by the owner of the show.Phil had just rounded off his act by a backward somersault and the attendant had slipped the bridle over the head of the ring horse preparatory to leading the animal back to the paddock and horse tent.

"You run along.I will ride him back," directed Phil innocently."Why?""Because I prefer to."

"Very well," answered the groom, turning away and walking slowly toward the paddock, while Phil, who had in the meantime slipped off to the ring, was quickly drawing on his slippers.

By this time Mr.Sully was looking at him, wondering why Phil did not get out of the ring, for another act was coming on, the performers for which already were moving down the concourse.

All at once the Circus Boy threw himself to the back of his mount, landing astride.

Phil brought his riding whip down on the back of the surprised animal with a force that sent the horse forward with a snort.They bounded out of the ring.Instead, however, of turning toward the paddock exit, Phil headed straight for the other end of the tent.There an exit led into the menagerie tent, or where that tent had been, for by this time it had been taken down and carted away to the train.A canvas flap hung loosely over the entrance, but it was not fastened down, as Phil well knew, being left free so people could pass in and out at will.

"Stop him!"

It was the voice of Sully and might have been heard in every part of the big top, though the people did not know what the command meant.

For the moment the circus attendants did not understand either.They had not noticed Phil riding away in the wrong direction.

"Stop him, I say!"

An attendant discovered what was going on and started on a run for Phil, who brought his whip down on the flanks of the ring horse again and again, driving the animal straight at the attendant.The result was that the fellow was bowled over in a twinkling.The horse cleared the man at a bound.

At this the audience roared.They saw that something unusual was taking place, though they did not understand what it all meant.

Half a dozen men ran toward Phil, while Sully himself was charging down the concourse as fast as he could go, roaring out his commands at the top of his powerful voice.

"Get a horse and follow him!" he shouted."Run back and send one of the men out around the tent to head him off! He's running away withmy best ring horse!"

Phil swept through the exit, bowling over two men who were standing there on guard, and nearly running down a group of boys who were standing just outside trying to get a glimpse into the tent.

As he gained the outer air he heard the hoof beats of a running horse bearing down on him from the left side of the big top.

The Circus Boy knew what that meant.They were after him already.

同类推荐
  • 请缨日记

    请缨日记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Voyages of Dr.Doolittle

    Voyages of Dr.Doolittle

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诗说

    诗说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孝子经

    孝子经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Darrow Enigma

    The Darrow Enigma

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 张恨水经典作品系列:巴山夜雨(上)

    张恨水经典作品系列:巴山夜雨(上)

    本书以抗战时期重庆郊区为背景,通过作家去南泉为轴心,展现了一幅川东风俗图,小公务员、教员、卖文为生的知识分子生活清贫,巨贾达官则是奢华腐败。
  • 盛宠奸妃

    盛宠奸妃

    他是罪无可赦的奸臣,她却是大清官的庶女,不料他一指,就选中了她!“本王要娶这个女人!”洛宁磨牙,想娶她,那就要看他有没有这个本事了!自此,奸妃之名盛传天下!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 诗传通释

    诗传通释

    本书收录现存元代诗经类文献。在文献整理中,选择一个好的底本,旁搜现寻各种版本进行校勘、标点,同时撰写成各个著述的内容提要,对该著述作者、著作内容、特点及在《诗经》研究史上的地位,做全面的介绍。本套丛书是收录现存元代经部文献的大型丛书,有助于推进元代政治、经济、文化各个领域的学术研究,以及中国古代哲学思想史等不同专门史的研究。
  • 安徒生经典

    安徒生经典

    书稿精选安徒生童话代表作《海的女儿》《丑小鸭》《野天鹅》《坚定的锡兵》《白雪皇后》《没有画的画册》等,以及安徒生自传精华,基本呈现出安徒生童话的风貌和精华,同时由苏州市语文学科带头人陈丹老师,从审美、阅读和写作等角度进行详细导读,使本书更适合课堂内外阅读使用。
  • 新七宗罪(一)

    新七宗罪(一)

    你能听到么?在这个虚无的世界里,我可以看到月出,然后月落。不论阴晴圆缺,世上已经没有什么能让我动容。我只倍感孤独,没有一个人理我。哪怕是最微弱的伤,也无法在我的胸口愈合。而你,却一去不归,你为何偏爱那里。是他们满足了你么?还是你满足了人类。 “罪 ” ——曾是我们共同的名字,却被神无情的分成了7个。你走了,你们都走了,唯留下我。在这没有阳光的天际,我已经忘记了自己是谁。我泪流满面,我快要疯了,你能体会到么?我真的不行了,我也要和你一样,放纵自己。人类的灵魂对于我们就像一张纸,上面密密麻麻的写满了字。
  • 健康是最大的财富(健康篇)

    健康是最大的财富(健康篇)

    健康,不只是身体的健康,更重要是心理的健康。心理健康比身体健康更重要!
  • 苦栎树底下的人生

    苦栎树底下的人生

    苦栎沟因村口有棵苦栎树而得名。苦栎沟只有两户人家,一户姓刘,一户姓林。据说他们的祖先是太平军战士,失败以后为了逃避官兵的追杀,躲进这与世隔绝的地方。往后割草搭棚,开山辟地,后来又留住那些讨饭的、逃荒的、发疯的女人,与之成婚,繁衍后代。只是死的死,嫁的嫁,到了上世纪八十年代,苦栎沟仍然只有两户人家,共四口人。两家只隔一道坎,上屋住着林家,母亲叫春兰,儿子叫青苗;下屋住着刘家,母亲叫凤梅,女儿叫翠月。凤梅与春兰,姐妹相称,当年一起逃荒嫁到苦栎沟,不幸的是她们的男人都是“短命鬼”,留下一个后代便匆匆“归西”了。两姐妹只好相依为命,互帮互助,共同维持生活,抚养儿女长大。
  • 中国古代文化知识(语文知识小丛书)

    中国古代文化知识(语文知识小丛书)

    《语文知识小丛书:中国古代文化知识》以国家正式颁布的语言文字规范为依据,以中学课本经典文章为实例,对常见的语文现象进行明晰透彻的辨析。从字、词、句、段、文,循序渐进、深入浅出地讲析,包含了语文常识的方方面面。是酎亍各业不同年龄、不同层次读者的好帮手,特别有助于学生提高正确使用语言文字的能力。
  • 生气不如争气 斗气不如斗志

    生气不如争气 斗气不如斗志

    生气不如争气,要争气,就要有为自己争一口气的毅力和气魄,与其总生别人的气,不如学会自己争口气。人生道路很漫长,途中难免会有杂草、碎石阻挡,而这些只是一种考验,锻炼我们的毅力、耐心,使我们变得更勇敢、坚强,失败乃成功之母!我们不必为了身边的那几块毫不起眼的石头,而放弃一整片绮丽、明媚的景色。我们一定要把握每一分、每一秒,生气不如争气,斗气不如斗志!
  • 我能挂机修炼

    我能挂机修炼

    苏毅肝游戏猝死,醒来之后,成为东泉村一个十五岁少年。而这里,有江湖。而他安身立命的东西,就是随他而来的脑中的小镇。那小镇正是游戏世界的小镇。而同时,苏毅的游戏人物,成为他的分身,让他得以实现游戏最强功能挂机。“再让我挂机三十年,就是天都给你翻过来……”