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weight of rope through the loop； thus requiring less effort on his part to
send it along on its journey。
〃Side pole！ Side pole！〃 shouted the boy； barely making himself heard
above the shouts below。
At first they did not catch the meaning of his words。 Mr。 Sparling； of
course； was the first to do so。
〃That's it！ Oh； you idiots！ You wooden Indians！ You thick heads！
Get a side pole； don't you understand？〃 and the owner made a dive at the
nearest man to him； whereat the fellow quickly side…stepped and started
off on a run for the pole for which Phil had asked。 But； even then； some of
the hands did not understand what he could want of a side pole。
The instant it was brought Mr。 Sparling snatched it from the hands of
the tentman。 Raising the pole； assisted by the boss canvasman； he was
able to reach the loop。 The iron spike in the end of the pole was thrust
through the loop； and by exerting considerable pressure they were able to
force the loop slowly toward the ground。
〃You'll have to hurry！ I can't hang on much longer；〃 cried Phil
weakly。
〃We'll hurry； my lad。 It won't be half a minute now；〃 encouraged Mr。
Sparling。 〃Stand by here you blockheads； ready to fall on that rope the
minute it gets within reach。 Three of you grab hold of the coil end and
pay it out gradually。 Be careful。 Watch your business。〃
Three men sprang to do his bidding。
〃Here es the loop！〃
Ready hands grasped the dangling rope。
The two strands were quickly carried together and the weight of a
dozen men thrown on them； instantly relieving the strain on Phil Forrest's
body。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Phil had saved the big top； and perhaps a few lives at the same time。
Now a sudden dizziness seemed to have overtaken him。 Everything
appeared to be whirling about him； the big top spinning like a giant top
before his eyes。
〃Slide down the rope！〃 manded Mr。 Sparling。
The lad slowly unwound the rope from his arm and feebly motioned to
them that they were to walk around the pole with their end so they might
hoist the iron ring to the splice of the center pole。
〃Never mind anything but yourself！〃 ordered Mr。 Sparling。 〃We'll
attend to this mix…up ourselves。〃
Very cautiously and deliberately； more from force of habit than
otherwise； the lad had let his feet down； and with them was groping for the
rope。
〃Swing the line between his legs！〃 roared the owner。 〃Going to let
him stay up there all day？〃
〃That's what we're trying to do；〃 answered a tentman。
〃Yes； I see you trying。 That's the trouble with you fellows。 You
always think you're trying； and if you are； you never acplish anything。
Got； it； Phil？〃
〃Yyeyes。〃
Twisting his legs about the rope the boy next took a weak grip on it
with both hands； then started slowly to descend。 This he knew how to do；
so the feat was attended with no difficulty other than the strength required；
and of which he had none to spare just at the present moment。
〃Look out！〃 he called。 He thought he had shouted it in a loud tone。
As a matter of fact no sound issued from his lips。
But Mr。 Sparling whose eyes had been fixed upon the boy； saw and
understood。
〃He's falling。 Catch him！〃
Phil shot downward head first。 Yet with the instinct of the showman
he curled his head up ever so little as he half consciously felt himself
going。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER VI
THE SHOWMAN'S REWARD
Phil struck the net with a violent slap that was heard outside the big
top； though those without did not understand the meaning of it； nor did
they give it heed。
Mr。 Sparling was the first to reach him。 The lad had landed on his
shoulders and then struck flat on his back； the proper way to fall into a net。
Perhaps it was instinct that told him what to do。
The lad was unconscious when the showman lifted him tenderly from
the net and laid him out on the ground。
〃Up with that peak！〃 manded Mr。 Sparling。 〃Get some water
here； and don't crowd around him！ Give the boy air！ Tucker； you hike
for the surgeon。〃
A shove started Teddy for the surgeon。 In the meantime Mr。 Sparling
was working over Phil； seeking to bring him back to consciousness； which
he finally succeeded in doing before the surgeon arrived。
〃Did I fall？〃 asked Phil； suddenly opening his eyes。
〃A high dive；〃 nodded Mr。 Sparling。
Phil cast his eyes up to the dome where he saw the canvas drawing
taut。 He knew that he had succeeded and he smiled contentedly。
By the time the surgeon arrived the boy was on his feet。
〃How do you feel？〃
〃I'm a little sore； Mr。 Sparling。 But I guess I'll be fit in a few
minutes。〃
〃Able to walk over to my tent？ If not； I'll have some of the fellows
carry you。〃
〃Oh； no； I can walk if I can get my legs started moving。 They don't
seem to be working the way they should this morning；〃 laughed the lad。
〃My； that tent weighs something doesn't it？〃
〃It does；〃 agreed the showman。
Just then the surgeon arrived。 After a brief examination he
announced that Phil was not injured； unless； perhaps； he might have
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
injured himself internally by subjecting himself to the great strain of
holding up the tent。
〃I think some breakfast will put me right again；〃 decided the lad。
〃Haven't you had your breakfast yet？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling。
〃No； I guess I've been too busy。〃
〃e with me； then。 I haven't had mine either；〃 said the showman。
Linking his arm within that of the Circus Boy； Mr。 Sparling walked
from the tent； not speaking again until they had reached the manager's
private tent。 This was a larger and much more modious affair than it
had been last year。
He placed Phil in a folding easy chair； and sat down to his desk where
h