登陆注册
14924900000019

第19章

Sparling?" "Yes. Anybody gone for the doctor?" "Miaco has." "Wonder any of you had sense enough to think of that. I congratulate you. Somebody will suffer when I find out who was responsible for hanging that boy's life on a rotten old piece of wire. I presume it's been kicking around this outfit for the last seven years." "Here comes the doc," announced a voice. There was a tense silence in the dressing tent, broken only by the patter of the rain drops on the canvas roof, while the show's surgeon was making his examination. "Well, well! What about it?" demanded Mr. Sparling impatiently. The surgeon did not answer at once. His calm, professional demeanor was not to be disturbed by the blustering but kind- hearted showman, and the showman, knowing this from past experience, relapsed into silence until such time as the surgeon should conclude to answer him. "Did he fall on his head?" he questioned, looking up, at the same time running his fingers over Phil's dark-brown hair. "Looks that way, doesn't it?" "I should say so." "What's the matter with him?" "I shall be unable to decide definitely for an hour or so yet, unless he regains consciousness in the meantime. It may be a fracture of the skull or a mere concussion." "Huh!" Mr. Sparling would have said more, but for the fact that the calm eyes of the surgeon were fixed upon him in a level gaze. "Any bones broken?" "No; I think not. How far did he fall?" "Fell from Emperor's head when the bull was up in the air. He must have taken all of a twenty-foot dive, I should say." "Possible? It's a great wonder he didn't break his neck. But he is very well muscled for a boy of his age. I don't suppose they have a hospital in this town?" "Of course not. They never have anything in these tank towns. You ought to know that by this time." "They have a hotel. I know for I took dinner there today. If you will get a carriage of some sort I think we had better take him there." "Leave him, you mean?" questioned Mr. Sparling. "Yes; that will be best. We can put him in charge of a local physician here. He ought to be able to take care of the boy all right." "Not by a jug full!" roared Mr. James Sparling. "We'll do nothing of the sort." "It will not be safe to take him with us, Sparling." "Did I say it would? Did I? Of course, he shan't be moved, nor will he be left to one of these know- nothing sawbones.You'll stay here with him yourself, and you'll takecare of him if you know what's good for you. I'd rather lose most any five men in this show than that boy there." The surgeon nodded his approval of the sentiment. He, too, had taken quite a fancy to Phil, because of the lad's sunny disposition and natural brightness. "Get out the coach some of you fellows. Have my driver hook up and drive back into the paddock here, and be mighty quick about it. Here, doc, is a head of lettuce (roll of money). If you need any more, you know where to reach us. Send me a telegram in the morning and another tomorrow night. Keep me posted and pull that boy out of this scrape or you'll be everlastingly out of a job with the Sparling Combined Shows. Understand?" The surgeon nodded understandingly. He had heard Mr. Sparling bluster on other occasions, and it did not make any great impression upon him. The carriage was quickly at hand. Circus people were in the habit of obeying orders promptly. A quick drive was made to the hotel, where the circus boy was quickly undressed and put to bed. All during the night the surgeon worked faithfully over his little charge, and just as the first streaks of daylight slanted through the window and across the white counterpane, Phil opened his eyes. For only a moment did they remain open, then closed again. The surgeon drew a long, deep breath. "Not a fracture," he announced aloud. "I'm thankful for that." He drew the window shades down to shut out the light, as it was all important that Phil should be kept quiet for a time. But the surgeon did not sleep. He sat keen-eyed by the side of the bed, now and then noting the pulse of his patient, touching the lad's cheeks with light fingers. After a time the fresh morning air, fragrant with the fields and flowers, drifted in, and the birds in the trees took up their morning songs. "I guess the storm must be over," muttered the medical man, rising softly and peering out from behind the curtain. The day was dawning bright and beautiful. "My, it feels good to be in bed!" said a voice from the opposite side of the room. "Where am I?" The surgeon wheeled sharply. "You are to keep very quiet. You had a tumble that shook you up considerably." "What time is it?" demanded Phil sharply. "About five o'clock in the morning." "I must get up; I must get up." "You will lie perfectly still. The show will get along without you today, I guess." "You don't mean they have gone on and left me?" "Ofcourse; they couldn't wait for you." The boys eyes filled with tears. "I knew it couldn't last. I knew it." "See here, do you want to join the show again?" "Of course, I do." "Well, then, lie still. The more quiet you keep the sooner you will be able to get out. Try to go to sleep. I must go downstairs and send a message to Mr. Sparling, for he is very much concerned about you." "Then he will take me back?" asked Phil eagerly. "Of course he will." "I'll go to sleep, doctor." Phil turned over on his side and a moment later was breathing naturally. The doctor tip-toed from the room and hastened down to the hotel office where he penned the following message:

James Sparling, Sparling Combined Shows, Boyertown. Forrest recovers consciousness. Not a fracture. Expect him to be all right in a few days. Will stay unless further orders. Irvine.

"I think I'll go upstairs and get a bit of a nap myself," decided the surgeon, after having directed the sleepy clerk to see to it that the message was dispatched to its destination at once. He found Phil sleeping soundly. Throwing himself into a chair the surgeon, used to getting a catnap whenever and wherever possible, was soon sleeping as soundly as was his young patient. Neither awakened until the day was nearly done.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 离火案

    离火案

    落雨纷纷……她,躺在水晶棺内他,站于旁边脸上到底是雨水,还是泪水,他讲不明白,也不愿明白。我愿历经万险,只为你能重活一遍。
  • 双骄绝代

    双骄绝代

    兄与弟,天才和废物。一对至亲兄弟截然不同的求道历路。“感谢起点论坛封面组提供封面!”
  • TFBOYS之星在心中

    TFBOYS之星在心中

    六岁那年,有两个不速之客闯进了她的家,也闯进了她的生活,挥之不去...八年后,三个少年意外闯进了她的世界,有一位闯进了她的心。于是乎,一场虐心暗恋开始了...曾天真做梦的少年...发誓要带着她远走到海角天边但......年少轻狂的他们,在黑暗中迷失...看着哭红的眼睛才想起从前的过往........多年以后一场大雨惊醒沉睡的她,望着窗外,都市的霓虹早已不再天边有颗模糊的星偷偷探出了头,是他依旧在远方等候...等候她
  • 妖之道途

    妖之道途

    本以为自己幸运,获得新生。时间推移,才发现自己不是幸运,只是一枚棋子,可用可弃。为了自己的性命苟活在世间。且看妖族银霆是怎样一般般在人类门派中站稳脚步。
  • 周天之主

    周天之主

    少年修为被废,险死还生,幸得无上传承,凝练星辰之力,主宰周天万界。
  • 未曾不配

    未曾不配

    每个人年少时分,都曾有过轻狂,有过梦想,只因为我们青春。青春,是年轻的标志,是梦想的启航,但我们却不能因为青春而肆意挥霍,去浪费,我们应该在正确的时间做正确的事。在青春的路上,我们有迷茫,有懵懂,但最终,我们会选择一条路,天堂or地狱?这都是我们自己的选择。我们青春可以原谅,却不能一直迷茫下去。
  • 婚内婚外:偷心前任

    婚内婚外:偷心前任

    三年的婚姻,他的一句,“我们我们离婚吧。“而曲终人散。再次相遇,他嫉妒着陪在她身边的男人,可她却据他于千里之外,不能明抢那就暗偷好了,看男主如何以退为进,一步一步再次偷走女主的心......再度重相逢,从未想过你会不爱我。假如人生不曾相遇,她没有在那一天,那一时,那一眼,被会发光的他所迷恋……假如人生没有别离,执子之手,与子偕老……假如人生不会上演那场再度重相逢……可是生活,没有假如。厉景镐说:在看到她的那一眼,感觉整个世界都美好了。萧浩煜说:一直都以为,陪伴就是给她最好的承诺。萧沛语说:有些记忆,注定无法抹去,就好比有些人,注定无法替代一样。
  • 问鼎邪世

    问鼎邪世

    邪问天,一代枭雄。因为一段一世情愿,退隐江湖。因为自己的儿子啊文被人偷袭不知生死。从出江湖。追寻有关一点自己儿子的一点消息。可是。被一股强势崛起的势力。打的不可开交。但是谁也没有想到这股势力的老大,就是自己的儿子。邪文。展开一场歃血的交锋......
  • 苍老之前,请你爱我

    苍老之前,请你爱我

    在这个世界上,工作那么容易失去,住所那么容易失去,食物那么容易失去,朋友那么容易失去……那么,你可不可以,在我被这世间繁琐弄得心神疲惫之前,就爱上我?我不要很大的房子,不要很多的包包,也不要朋友的羡慕……让我们拥抱、接吻,像相濡以沫的鱼。让我们一起携手老去,不放另一个人在这水泥森林里孤单寂寞地变老……我们拉钩,好不好?
  • 倾国倾城水墨清花

    倾国倾城水墨清花

    她,名墨清花他,名杨纷凯她憧憬未来向往未来生活…守望重生为自己轰轰烈烈的爱死去了无数回他不可思议为了寻找儿时的‘女神’不惜生命…向往自由不会被任何困倦束缚看缘分如何让二人在茫茫人海中相遇又如何被茫茫人海吞没……