登陆注册
5162100000046

第46章

The Circus Boy did not shout this time.He was too angry to do so.He turned over and struck out for the bank which he was fortunate enough to reach.Quickly clambering up, Teddy sat down to repeat his process of rubbing the water out of his eyes.

"Are you going to let me lie here and drown?" cried the Fat Woman."It looks that way, doesn't it, eh?"Teddy got up and hurried to her just the same.Throwing off his wet coat he set to work with a will to get Marie out.The water was shallow and she managed to help herself somewhat, therefore after great effort Teddy succeeded in towing her to land.The woman was a sight and Teddy a close second in this respect.

"I'm drowned," she moaned as he dragged her out on the bank, letting her drop sharply.

"You only think you are.I suppose you know what we've got to do now, don't you?""N-n-n-no."

"We've got to walk to the next stand." "How--how far is it?""Maybe a hundred miles." "Oh, help!"

As a matter of fact they were within five miles of St.Charles, where the Sparling show was billed to exhibit that afternoon and evening.

"I'm afraid they'll miss you in the parade today, but what do you think will happen if we don't reach the show in time for the performance this afternoon?""I--I don't know."

"I do.We'll get fined good and proper." "It--it's all your fault, Teddy Tucker." Teddy surveyed her wearily.

"If you'd held me up I shouldn't have fallen in and--and--" "Drowned," growled Teddy.

"Yes."

"And if you hadn't sat on me I shouldn't have fallen in, and there you are.Now, get up and we'll find a place to climb up the bank.We can't stay here all day and starve to death.Come on, now.""I--I can't."

"All right; then I'll go without you." Teddy started away, whereupon the Fat Woman wailed to him to come back, at the same time struggling to her feet, bedraggled and wet, her hair full of sand and her clothes torn.

"If they'd only start a beauty show in the side top you would take first prize," grinned the boy."Hurry up."Marie waddled along with great effort, making slow headway.

"We shall have to go further along before we can get up the bank.That is, unless you want to take the chance of falling into the creek again."It was some distance to the place where the creek curved under the railroad bed, and they would be obliged to go beyond that if they expected to get the Fat Woman out without a repetition of the previous disaster.

After a while they reached the spot for which Teddy had been heading.Marie surveyed the bank up which she must climb.

"Can you make it?" "I--I'll try."

"That's the talk.Take a running start, but slow up before you get to the top, or with your headway you'll go right on over the other side and down that embankment.You ought to travel with a net under you, but it would have to be a mighty strong one, or you'd go through it."Marie uttered a little hopeless moan and began climbing up the bank once more, but bracing each foot carefully before throwing her weight upon it.Teddy, in the meantime, had run up to the top where he sat down on the end of a tie watching the Fat Woman's efforts to get up to him.

"Oh, help!"

"Help, help," mimicked Teddy.

"I can't go any further, unless you come down here and push.""Push? No thank you.I tried that before.It would take a steam engine to push you up that bank, because you'd let the engine do all the pushing.You wouldn't help yourself at all.""I'll fall if you don't help me."

"Well, fall then.You've got a nice soft piece of grass to land on down there.I'll tell you what I'll do.""What?"

"I'll take hold of your hand if you'll promise to let go the minute you feel you're going to fall.""I--I don't want to let go.I want to hold on if I feel I'm going to fall," wailed Marie.

"No, you don't.'United we stand, divided we fall,'" quoted Teddy solemnly.

"I'll promise; I'll promise anything, if you will come help me." Teddy rose and slid down the bank to her.

"Give me your hand."

Marie extended a fat hand toward him, which he grasped firmly.

"Now gather all your strength and run for it.We'll be at the top before you know it.Run, run, run!"The command was accompanied by a jerk on Marie's arm, and together they started plowing up the bank.

"Here we are.One more reach, and we'll be on hard ground.Then--" "Help!" screamed Marie.

Both her feet flew out.One caught Teddy, tripping him and down they rolled amid a shower of cinders, both landing in a heap at the foot of the embankment.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 总裁妈咪很风流

    总裁妈咪很风流

    匈牙利的夜晚,灯火辉煌。深蓝色的多瑙河蜿蜒曲折,流淌至天与地交汇的尽头。它缓缓地流淌,映倒着这座已有百年的城市,静静地倾听这座城市的所有心事。匈牙利,在夏末秋初的傍晚是最美丽的,透出一种静谧的天生丽质。河畔的一座精致别墅中,此时却激情四射!夜幕笼罩的卧房里狼藉一片,白色的大床上,纠缠不清!床上的女子风情万种,鲜艳的红唇在那个金发碧眼的匈牙……
  • 飞天小女警之黑与白

    飞天小女警之黑与白

    这是一本属于飞天小女警的同人小说,有兴趣的朋友可以来凑一下热闹,不过由于各种原因,更新不一定......
  • 宠妻无度:总裁请排队

    宠妻无度:总裁请排队

    一夜情缘,亿万家财的少爷与贫民窟少女,从此天上地下,将无她藏身之处,这个债,就用一辈子来偿还吧,看总裁大人如何宠溺新妻,又看新妻如何与总裁进行抗争。
  • 京极家的野望

    京极家的野望

    京极家,作为三管四职之一,历来都是幕府栋梁、武家名门。但盛极必衰,此时已经沦为一条咸鱼。主角穿越而来,成为京极家嫡子,是否能够在这战国乱世,实现咸鱼翻身的梦想呢?
  • 皇后大道

    皇后大道

    吴君,女,中国作协会员。曾获首届中国小说双年奖、广东新人新作奖。长篇小说《我们不是一个人类》被媒体评为2004年最值得记忆五部长篇之一。出版多本中篇小说集。根据其中篇小说《亲爱的深圳》改编的电影已在国内及北美地区发行放映。
  • 大自然的日历

    大自然的日历

    《大自然的日历》以春、夏、秋、冬为章节,记录了普里什文深入古老的俄罗斯北方森林里的故事。他远足大地,出入森林,把融入自然作为“开启文学的钥匙”。本书将人与自然的爱与善化为诗意和哲理融入本书,表现了作者对大自然的一往情深,是20世纪世界文坛不可多得的自然佳作。
  • 佛说最胜妙吉祥根本智最上秘密一切名义三摩地分

    佛说最胜妙吉祥根本智最上秘密一切名义三摩地分

    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。
  • 炮灰修真指南

    炮灰修真指南

    最牛修真指南三大秘诀:活着、好好活着、长长久久好好活着!成为出场三章就将身死道消的炮灰女配,张依依果断开启自救模式。这是一个小姑娘从亿亿万炮灰中拼杀而出,最终证道飞升踏破虚空的故事。 PS:本文有CP,但为剧情男主,感情线微乎其微,甚至于可以当成无CP看,介意者勿入,谢谢!
  • 邪天战尊

    邪天战尊

    叶云异界重生,受尽欺侮,意外得破妄之眼,掌控本源之力,洞穿天下一切虚妄,古塔盗陵园驯服九幽地皇鹰,修太阴魔焰走上绝强之路,终成一代邪天战尊。
  • 大宋帝国三百年:赵匡胤时间(下)

    大宋帝国三百年:赵匡胤时间(下)

    公元960年,赵匡胤践祚登基,大宋帝国肇造。大军入城之际,东京汴梁“市不易肆”,针对刁民趁乱打劫则“索得数辈斩于市,被掠者官偿其赀”。对于私有财产的尊重和保护预表了一代圣君将要开启传统中国最绚烂的篇章。公元960年至公元976年,是赵匡胤的“帝王时间”,历史迎来了百姓富足、兵强马壮的“建隆之治”。此后16年间,他笃行德政、偃武修文,而终怀揣未竟之志于斧声烛影中神秘而逝。大宋立国之初,赵匡胤在怀柔天下、偃武修文之际,先后征潞州、平扬州,采纳宰相赵普锦绣良策“侵削藩镇”,收兵权定祸乱,以至升平之世……