登陆注册
14924900000039

第39章 CHAPTER XIX(2)

"The boss has an awful grouch on." "Yes; I wonder what's the matter with him," pondered the clown. His brother fun-maker shrugged his shoulders. "Guess he's mad because of young Forrest's accident. Just got a good act started when he had to go and spoil it." Not a hint of the suspicion entertained by the owner and his elephant trainer had been breathed about the show. Nearly a week had passed since Phil's narrow escape from death; yet, despite all the efforts of Kennedy or the shrewd observation of his employer, they were no nearer a solution of the mystery than before. The days passed, and with them the anger of James Sparling increased. "That chum of Forrest's is a funny fellow," continued the first speaker. "He'd make a good clown?" "Make? He's one already. Look at him." Teddy was perched on the back of Jumbo, the trick mule of the show, out in the paddock, where the performers were indulging in various strange antics for the purpose of limbering themselves up prior to entering the ring for their acts. The bright, warm sunlight was streaming down, picking up little flames from the glistening spangles sprinkled over the costumes of many of the circus folks. Teddy and Jumbo had become fast friends--a strangely assorted pair, and whenever the opportunity presented itself Teddy would mount the ugly looking mule, riding him about the paddock or the ring when there was nothing going on under the big top. Every time the pair made their appearance it was the signal for a shout of merriment from the performers. Teddy had perched himself on Jumbo's back while the mule was awaiting his turn to enter the ring, which he did alone, performing his act with nothing save the crack of the ringmaster's whip to guide him. Somebody had jammed a clown's cap on Teddy's head, while someone else had hit it a smash with the flat of his hand, until the peak of the cap lopped over to one side disconsolately. Teddy's face wore an appreciative grin, Jumbo's long ears lying as far back on his head as they would reach. To the ordinary observer it might have been supposed that the mule was angry about something. On the contrary, it was his wayof showing his pleasure. When a pan of oats was thrust before Jumbo, or he chanced upon a patch of fresh, tender grass, the ears expressed the animal's satisfaction. Jumbo could do pretty much everything except talk, but occasionally the stubbornness of his kind took possession of him. At such times the trick mule was wont to do the most erratic things. "How'd you like to ride him in?" chuckled Miaco, who stood regarding the lad with a broad smile. "If I had a saddle I wouldn't mind it," grinned Teddy's funny face as an accompaniment to his words. Jumbo's equipment consisted of a cinch girth and a pair of bridle reins connected with a headstall. There was no bit, but the effect was to arch his neck like that of a proud stallion. "You'd make the hit of your life if you did," laughed Miaco. "Wonder the boss don't have you do it." "Would if he knew about it," spoke up a performer. "The really funny things don't get into the ring in a circus, unless by accident." In the meantime the ringmaster was making his loud-voiced announcement out under the big top. "Ladies and gentlemen," he roared, after a loud crack of his long-lashed whip, to attract the attention of the people to him, "we are now about to introduce the wonderful performing mule Jumbo, the only broncho-bucking, bobtailed mule in the world. You will notice that he performs without a rider, without human interference. Please do not speak to Jumbo while he is going through his act. Ladies and gentlemen, Jumbo, the great educated mule, will now make his appearance unaided by human hand." The audience applauded the announcement. At that moment the band struck up the tune by which Jumbo always made his entrance. At the first blare of the brass a fun-loving clown jabbed Jumbo with a pin. The mule did the rest. "Here! Here! Get off that mule!" shouted the animal's trainer. "He's going on!" "Let him go!" roared clowns and other performers. Jumbo had never made as quick a start in all his circus career as he did that day. He fairly leaped into the air, though only one man understood the reason for the mule's sudden move. With a bray that was heard all over the big top Jumbo burst through the red curtains like a tornado. There he paused for one brief instant, as if uncertain whether to do a certain thing or not. Recalling the ringmaster's words, the spectators at first were at a loss to account for the odd-looking figure that was clinging to the back of theeducated mule. Suddenly they broke out into roars of laughter, while the performers peering through the red curtain fairly howled with delight. Teddy was hanging to the cinch girth uncertain what to do. The ringmaster, amazed beyond words, stood gaping at the spectacle, for the moment powerless to use his usually ready tongue. Jumbo launched into the arena. "Get off!" thundered the ringmaster, suddenly recovering himself. "I can't!" howled Teddy, though from present indications it appeared as if he would dismount without any effort on his own part. Jumbo's heels flew into the air, then began a series of lunges, bucking and terrific kicking such as none among the vast audience ever had witnessed in or out of a show ring. One instant Teddy would be standing on his head on the mule's back, the next lying on his back with feet toward the animal's head. Next he would be dragged along the ground, to be plumped back again at the next bounce. No feat seemed too difficult for Jumbo to attempt that day. "Stop him! Stop him!" howled the ringmaster. Ring attendants rushed forward to obey his command, but they might as well have tried to stop a tornado. Jumbo eluded them without the least trouble, but their efforts to keep out of range of his flying hoofs were not so easy. Some of them had narrow escapes from being seriously injured. Mr. Sparling, attracted by the roars of laughter of the audience and the unusual disturbance, had hurried into the big top, where he stood, at first in amazement, then with a broad grin overspreading his countenance. Now Jumbo began a race with himself about the arena, following the concourse, now and then sending his heels into the air right over the heads of the spectators of the lower row of seats, sending them scrambling under the seats for protection. A clown ran out with half a dozen paper covered hoops, which he was holding in readiness for the next bareback act. He flaunted them in the face of the runaway mule. Jumbo ducked his head under them and Teddy Tucker's head went through the paper with a crash, the mule's heels at that instant being high in the air. With the rings hung about his neck, Teddy cut a more ridiculous figure than ever. The audience went wild with excitement. Now the ringmaster, angered beyond endurance, began reaching for Teddy with the long lash of his whip. The business end of the lash once brushed the boy's cheek. It stung him. "Ouch!" howled Teddy as he felt the lash.

"Stop that!" exploded Mr. Sparling, who, by this time, had gotten into the ring to take a hand in the performance himself. He grabbed the irate ringmaster by the collar, giving him a jerk that that functionary did not forget in a hurry. Jumbo, however, was no respecter of persons. He had taken a short cut across the ring just as the owner had begun his correction of the ringmaster. Jumbo shook out his heels again. They caught the owner's sombrero and sent it spinning into the air. Mr. Sparling, in his excitement, forgot all about the ringmaster. Picking up a tent stake, he hurled it after the educated mule, missing him by a full rod. The audience by this time was in a tempest of excitement. At first they thought it was all a part of the show. But they were soon undeceived, which made their enjoyment and appreciation all the greater. Jumbo took a final sprint about the arena, Teddy's legs and free arm most of the time in the air. He had long since lost his clown's cap, which Jumbo, espying, had kicked off into the audience. "You fool mule! You fool mule!" bellowed Mr. Sparling. Jumbo suddenly decided that he would go back to the paddock. With him, to decide was to act. Taking a fresh burst of speed, he shot straight at the red curtains. To reach these he was obliged to pass close to the bandstand, where the band was playing as if the very existence of the show depended upon them. Teddy's grip was relaxing. His arm was so benumbed that he could not feel that he had any arm on that side at all. His fingers slowly relaxed their grip on the cinch girth. In a moment he had bounced back to the educated mule's rump. In another instant he would be plumped to the hard ground with a jolt that would shake him to his foundations. But Jumbo had other plans--more spectacular plans--in mind. He put them into execution at once. The moment he felt his burden slipping over his back that active end grew busy again. Jumbo humped himself, letting out a volley of kicks so lightning-like in their swiftness that human eye could not follow. Teddy had slipped half over the mule's rump when the volley began. "Catch him! He'll be killed!" shouted someone. All at once the figure of Teddy Tucker shot straight up into the air, propelled there by the educated mule. The lad's body described what somebody afterwards characterized as "graceful somersault in the air," then began its downward flight. He landed right in the midst of the band.

Crash! There was a yell of warning, a jingle and clatter of brass, several chairs went down under the impact, the floor gave way and half the band, with Teddy Tucker in the middle of the heap, sank out of sight.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 医妃万万岁:夜王欺上瘾

    医妃万万岁:夜王欺上瘾

    她本是法医特种兵,却一朝穿越成了纳兰府受人欺凌的痴傻大小姐,被指控毒死夜王的爱宠,马上要被处以极刑……想砍头?对不起,她可以剖尸证明自己的清白!想陷害?对不起,她可以手撕贱人维护自己的名誉!一段被强迫的大婚,她成为凶残暴戾的夜王王妃,被送上了专吸鲜血的残王榻上。新婚之夜,他目光炙热,却被她阻止:想“吃肉”?对不起,王爷,我们不约!他阴狠暴戾,还从未有人敢于挑战他的底线:“本王一定要睡服你,怎么当好夜王王妃!”【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 热情、魅力、责任:班主任工作漫谈

    热情、魅力、责任:班主任工作漫谈

    怎样增进师生关系呢?首先教师要尊重学生的人格和尊严,真正的关怀、鼓励和赞美学生,并且尽可能多地营造师生互动的机会,以增进师生的关系。马斯洛认为人有受尊重的需求,学生害怕的事情之一就是当场出丑、难堪。师生关系建立的前提之一,就是要尊重学生的尊严,并给予其下台阶的机会。关怀就是给予学生温暖。同学生对话应给予其关怀,并时时想着要鼓励学生,赞美学生。赞美要是鉴赏式赞美而非评价式赞美,也就是不对人而对事。教师对每位学生的潜力或优点要进行挖掘,多多进行强调。有些话语或行为适宜私底下进行,有些教师会和同学约定特定的时间,和学生一一单独地谈话,这样既可增加对学生的了解和认识,也增加了师生间沟通的渠道和情感。
  • 如果当时没有离开

    如果当时没有离开

    十年,我们相互纠缠了十年。你有没有想过十年过后是这样一个结果?现在又会不会后悔?
  • 别闹,有佛呢

    别闹,有佛呢

    万万年前,仙界有一大佛,方寸之间可断天下事,某一天,觉得当佛太无聊了,于是去人间历劫;万万年前,有一只横行霸道的魔王,好不容易碰到对手,还没打上一战呢,人却跑了,于是魔王生气了……
  • 三世桃花缘

    三世桃花缘

    如果说每一对恋人都有三生三世的情缘,情缘一到第四世就会不再相见,去寻找下一个三世情缘的恋人,不过如果当你遇到永世不想离开的人的时候,请好好珍惜,说不定那有可能是你跟他/她的最后一世的情缘。
  • 中老年健康千问千答

    中老年健康千问千答

    本书介绍了老年人常见疾病预防保健、运动健身、饮食营养、常见心理疾病等基本知识。
  • 疯狂的岁月

    疯狂的岁月

    这是一个传奇,也是一个属于这个时代的传说。当刘帅走进职专的那一天就注定这他的一生从此改变。职专里就像是个黑社会,看他们怎样演绎这属于他们的传说,属于他们的传说。兄弟走起来!
  • 短篇:埋骨

    短篇:埋骨

    有一些村落与世隔绝,有一些故事不为人知。我要讲的故事,就是发生在一个已经被遗忘很久的村子里。村子的名字已经无从考证了,我只知道,包裹着村子的这些大山,叫“埋骨山”。
  • 异世强者:狂傲小姐

    异世强者:狂傲小姐

    当她醒来却发现自己身在一个强者为尊的世界里。强者生存,弱者淘汰,这便是这个世界的生存守则。她有狂傲的资本,她有绝世的容颜,她有最强的武功。那她就是这个世界的强者!
  • 永乐纪事

    永乐纪事

    大明永乐年间,看似平静祥和的盛世,其中蕴藏各类纷争!江湖一统,镖局争霸,御驾亲征!倭寇来袭,元蒙寇边!武林世家,明争暗斗!各色精彩,纷纷呈现!