the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第19章
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show them I am； too。〃
〃Get the pump；〃 directed the Iron…Jawed Man。
A bicycle pump was quickly produced； and； opening a valve； one of
the performers began pumping air into the suit。
〃Here； what are you doing？〃 demanded Teddy。
〃Blowing you up〃
〃Here； I don't want to be blown up。〃
〃With a bicycle pump；〃 added the performer； grinning through the
powder and grease paint on his face。
〃Say； you ought to use that on the press agent！〃
The performers howled at this sally。
Teddy began to swell out of all proportion to his natural size； as the
bicycle pump inflated his costume。 In a few moments he had grown so
large that he could not see his own feet； while the hood about his head left
only a small portion of his face visible。
〃Monster！〃 hissed a clown； shaking a fist in Teddy's face。
〃I guess I am。 I'd make a hit as the Fattest Boy on Earth in this rig；
wouldn't I？ I'll bet the Living Skeleton will be jealous when he sees me。〃
〃There； I guess he's pumped up；〃 announced the operator of the
bicycle pump。
〃Try it and see；〃 suggested a voice。
〃All right。〃
Teddy got a resounding blow that flattened him on the ground。 But
before he could raise his voice in protest he had bounded to his feet； and
someone caught him； preventing his going right on over the other way。
The performers howled with delight。
〃He'll do。 He'll do；〃 they shouted。
〃Don't you do that again；〃 warned the boy； a little dazed。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
The time was at hand for the clowns to make their own grand entry。
〃e on； that's our cue！〃 shouted one； as the band struck up a new
tune。
〃II can't run。 I'm too fat。〃
〃We'll help you。〃
And they did。 With a clown on either side of him； Teddy was rushed
through the silk curtains and out past the bandstand； his feet scarcely
touching the ground。 Part of the time the clowns were half dragging him；
and at other times carrying him。
At first the audience did not catch the significance of it。 Straight for
ring No。 1 Tucker's associates rushed him。 But just as they reached the
ring they let go of him。
Of course Teddy fell over the wooden ring curbing； and went rolling
and bouncing into the center of the sawdust arena。 Phil had made his
change in the menagerie tent after finishing his elephant act； and was just
entering the big top as Teddy made his sensational entrance。 He caught
sight of his panion at once。
〃Who's that？〃 he asked of Mr。 Sparling； who was standing at the
entrance with a broad grin on his face。
〃That； my dear Phil； is your very good friend； Mr。 Teddy Tucker。〃
〃Teddy？ You don't mean it？〃
〃Yes； he has decided to be a clown； and I guess he is on the way。 The
people are kicking on the seats and howling。〃
〃I should judge； from appearances； that the other clowns were getting
even more entertainment out of his act than is the audience。〃
〃It certainly looks that way。 But let them go。 It will do Master
Teddy a whole lot of good。〃
A clown jumped to the ring curbing and made a speech about the
wonderful human football； announcing at the same time that the
championship game was about to be played。
Then they began to play in earnest。 Some had slapsticks； others light
barrel staves； and with these they began to belabor the human football；
each blow being so loud that it could be heard all over the tent。 Of
course the blows did not hurt Teddy at all； but the bouncing and buffeting
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that he got aroused his anger。
One clown would pick the lad up and throw him to a panion； who；
in turn； would drop him。 Then the audience would yell with delight as
the ball bounced to an upright position again。 This the clowns kept up until
Teddy did not know whether he were standing on his feet or his head。
The perspiration was rolling down his face； getting into his eyes and
blinding him。
〃Quit it！〃 he howled。
〃Maybe you'll ride the educated mule through the dressing tent again？〃
jeered a clown。
〃Bring the mule out and let him knock the wind out of the rubber
man！〃 suggested another。
〃How do you like being a clown？〃
This and other taunts were shouted at the rubber man； Teddy
meanwhile expressing himself with unusual vehemence。
Mr。 Sparling had in the meantime sent a message back to the paddock。
He was holding his sides with laughter； while Phil himself was leaning
against a quarter pole shouting with merriment。
Suddenly there came the sound of a clanging gong； interspersed with
shouts from the far end of the tent。
The spectators quickly glanced in that direction； and they saw ing
at a rapid rate the little patrol wagon drawn by four diminutive ponies； the
outfit so familiar to the boys who attend the circus。
The clowns were surprised when they observed it； knowing that the
patrol was not scheduled to enter at this time。 Their surprise was even
greater when the wagon dashed up and stopped where they were playing
their game of football。 Three mock policemen leaped out and rushed into
the thick of the mock game。
As they did so they hurled the clowns right and left； standing some of
them on their heads and beating them with their clubs； which； in this
instance； proved to be slapsticks； that made a great racket。
This was a part of the act that the clowns had not arranged。 It was a
little joke that the owner of the show was playing on them。 Quick to
seize an opportunity to make a hit； Sparling had ordered out the show
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patrol； and the audience； catching the significance of it； shouted； swinging
their hats and handkerchiefs。
The three policemen； after laying the clowns low； grabbed the helpless
human football by the heels； dragging him to the wagon and dumping him
in。 They dropped the human football in so heavily that it bounced out
again and hit the ground。 The next time； as they threw Teddy in； one of
the officers sat on him to hold him。
The gong set up an excited clanging； and the ponies began racing
around the arena the long way； and took the stretch to the paddock at a
terrific speed； with the howls of the multitude sounding in their ears。
Reaching the dressing tent； the mock policemen let the air out of the
rubber ball； whereat Teddy sat down heavily in a pail of water。
The performers danced around Tucker； singing an improvised song
about the human football。 Gradually the angry scowl on the face of the
Circus Boy relaxed into a broad grin。
〃How do you like being a clown now？〃 jeered the Iron…Jawed Man。
〃Yes； how does it feel to be a football？〃 questioned another。
〃I guess you got even with me that time；〃 answered Teddy good…
naturedly。 〃But say； that's easy pared with riding the educated mule。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XIII
DUCKED BY AN ELEPHANT
The great white billows of the Sparling bined Shows were
moving steadily across the continent。 The receipts had exceeded Mr。
Sparling's most sanguine expectations； and he was in great good humor。
Only one unpleasant incident had happened and that occurred at
Franklin； Indiana。 Phil and Teddy； while on their way to their car after
the performance late at night； had been set upon by two men and quite
severely beaten； though both lads had given a good account of themselves
and finally driven off thei
