第 4 节
作者:飘雪的季节      更新:2023-05-02 09:53      字数:9322
  followed。
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  The Circus Boys Across The Continent (Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark)
  The lad soon became so interested in the progress of the work that he
  was   excitedly   shouting   out   orders   to   the   men;   offering   suggestions   and
  criticisms of the way they were doing that work。
  Now; most of the men in the labor gang were newthat is; they had
  not been with the Sparling show the previous season; and hence did not
  know   Teddy   by   sight。       After   a   time   they   tired   of   his   running   fire   of
  ment。        They had several times roughly warned him to go on about his
  business。     But   Teddy   did   not   heed   their   advice;   and   likewise   forgot   all
  about that which Phil had given him earlier in the evening。
  He kept right on telling the men how to load the circus; for; if there
  was one thing in the world that Teddy Tucker loved more than another it
  was to 〃boss〃 somebody。
  All at once the lad felt himself suddenly seized from behind and lifted
  off his feet。    At the same time a rough hand was clapped over his mouth。
  The Circus Boy tried to utter a yell; but he found it impossible for him
  to do so。     Teddy kicked and fought so vigorously that it was all his captor
  could do to hold him。
  〃e   and   help   me。      We'll   fix   the   fresh   kid   this   time;〃   called   the
  fellow in whose grip the lad was struggling。
  〃What's   the   matter;   Larry?      Is   he   too   much   for   you?〃   laughed   the
  other man。
  〃He's   the   biggest   little   man   I   ever   got   my   fists   on。 Gimme   a   hand
  here。〃
  〃What are you going to do with him?〃
  〃I'll show you in a minute。〃
  〃Maybe he's with the show。           He's slippery enough to be a performer。〃
  〃No   such   thing。      And   I   don't   care   if   he   is。 I'll   teach   him   not   to
  interfere with the men。         Grab hold and help me carry him。〃
  Together they lifted the kicking; squirming; fighting boy; carrying him
  on   down   the   tracks;   not   putting   him   down   until   they   had   reached   the
  standpipe   of   a   nearby   water   tank;   where   the   lootives   took   on   their
  supply of fresh water。
  〃Jerk   that   spout   around!〃   manded   Larry;  sitting   down on Tucker
  with a force that made the lad gasp。
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  The Circus Boys Across The Continent (Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark)
  〃Can't reach the chain。〃
  〃Then get   a   pike   pole; and   be   quick   about it。    The   foreman   will   be
  looking for us first thing we know。           If he finds us here he'll fire us before
  we get started。〃
  〃See   here;   Larry;   what   are   you   going   to   do?〃   demanded   the   other
  suspiciously。
  〃My eyes; but you're inquisitive!           Going to wash the kid down。 Next
  time mebby he won't be so fresh。〃
  And 〃wash〃 they did。
  Suddenly      the  full  stream    from    the  standpipe    spurted    down。    Larry
  promptly      let  go  of  his   captive。   Teddy      was   right  in  the   path   of  the
  downpour; and the next instant he was struggling in the flood。
  The showman dropped him and started to run。
  Teddy let out a choking howl; grasping frantically for his tormentor。 A
  moment   later   the   lad's   hands   closed   over   Larry's   ankles;   and   before   the
  man was   able   to   free   himself   from  the   boy's   grip Teddy  had pulled him
  down   and   dragged   him   under   the   stream   that   was   pouring   down   in   a
  perfect deluge。       The Circus Boy; being strong and muscular; was able to
  acplish this with slight exertion。
  Larry's panion was making no effort to assist his fallen rade。
  Instead; the fellow was howling with delight。
  No   sooner;   however;   had   Teddy   raised   the   man   and   slammed   him
  down on   his   back under the   spout; than the   lad let   go of his victim  and
  darted off into the shadows。          Teddy realized that it was high time he was
  leaving。
  The man; fuming with rage; uttering loud…voiced threats of vengeance;
  scrambled out of the flood and began rushing up and down the tracks in
  search of Teddy。
  But the boy was nowhere to be found。              He had hastily climbed over a
  fence; where he crouched; dripping wet; watching the antics of the enraged
  Larry。    〃Guess he won't bother another boy right away;〃 grinned Teddy;
  not heeding his own wet and bedraggled condition。
  The two showmen finally gave up their quest; and all at once started
  on a run in the opposite direction。
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  The Circus Boys Across The Continent (Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark)
  〃Now; I wonder what's made   them run away like that?                    Surely  they
  aren't scared of me。       I wonder?      Guess I'll go over and find out。〃
  Leaving   his hiding   place;   the   lad   retraced his  steps   across   the   tracks
  until finally; ing up with a man; who proved to be the superintendent
  of   the   yard;   Teddy   asked   him   where   sleeping   car   number   eleven   was
  located。
  〃Eleven?      The sleepers have all gone; young man。〃
  〃G…g…gone?〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃But I thought〃
  〃Went out regular on the 9:30 express。〃
  Teddy   groaned。      Here   he   was;   left   behind   before   the   show   had   all
  gotten away from its winter quarters。            But he noted that the train bearing
  the   cages   and   other   equipment   was   still   in   the   yard。 There   was   yet   a
  chance for him。
  〃Whawhat   time   does   that   train   go?〃   he   asked   pointing   to   the   last
  section。
  〃Going now。       Why; what's the matter with you youngster? The train is
  moving now。〃
  〃Going?      The matter is that I've got to go with them;〃 cried the lad;
  suddenly darting toward the moving train。
  〃e back here!         e back!        Do you want to be killed?〃
  〃I've    got   to   get   on    that   train!〃   Teddy     shouted     back     at  the
  superintendent。
  The great stock cars were rumbling by as the boy drew near the track;
  going faster every moment。            By the light of a switch lamp Teddy could
  make out a ladder running up to the roof of one of the box cars。
  He could hear the yard superintendent running toward him shouting。
  〃He'll have me; if I don't do something。             Then I will be wholly left;〃
  decided Teddy。        〃I'm going to try it。〃
  As the big stock car slipped past him the lad sprang up into the air; his
  eyes   fixed   on   the   ladder。  His   circus   training   came   in   handy   here;   for
  Teddy hit the mark unerringly; though it had been considerably above his
  head。     The next second his fingers closed over a rung of the ladder; and
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  The Circus Boys Across The Continent (Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark)
  there he hung; dangling in the air; with the train now rushing over switches;
  rapidly gaining momentum as it stretched out headed for the open country。
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  The Circus Boys Across The Continent (Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark)
  CHAPTER III
  PHIL TO RESCUE
  Phil Forrest was in a panic of uneasiness。
  No sooner had his own section started than he made the discovery that
  Teddy Tucker was not on board。            Then the lad went through the train in
  the hope that his panion had gotten on the wrong car。               There was no
  trace of Teddy。
  In the meantime Teddy had slowly clambered to the roof of the stock
  car; where he stretched himself out; clinging to the running board; with the
  big car swaying beneath him。         The wind seemed; up there; to be blowing
  a perfect gale; and it was all the boy could do to hold on。            After a while
  he   saw    a  light  approaching    him。    The    light  was   in  the  hands   of   a
  brakeman who was working his way over the train toward the caboose。
  He soon came up to where Teddy was lying。              There he stopped。
  〃Well; youngster; what are you doing here?〃 he demanded; flashing his
  light into the face of the unfortable Teddy。
  〃Trying to ride。〃
  〃I suppose you know you are breaking the law and that I'll have to turn
  you over to a policeman or a constable the next town we stop at?〃
  〃Nothing of  the sort!      What do   you take   me for?       Think I'm  s