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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Something like that；〃 answered Phil meekly。
〃Show me how you did it？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling； rising and
standing before the culprit。
〃It was like this； you see；〃 began Phil； exhibiting a sudden interest in
the inquiry。 〃I was chased by the two men。 Suddenly I stopped and let
the fellow； Larry； fall over me。 During the scrimmage I tripped Bad Eye。
I didn't hit anyone until Larry crowded me so I had to do so in order to
save myself； or else run away。〃
〃Why didn't you run； young man？〃
〃II didn't like to do that； you know。〃
Mr。 Sparling nodded his head。
〃How did you hit him？〃
〃He made a pass at me like this；〃 and the lad lifted Mr。 Sparling's hand
over his shoulder。 〃I came up under his guard with a short arm jolt like
this。〃
〃Well； what next？〃
〃That was about all there was to it。 The others came out； about that
time； and I ducked in under the big top。〃
To Phil's surprise Mr。 Sparling broke out into a roar of laughter。 In a
moment he grew sober and stern again。
〃Be good enough to tell me what led up to this assault。 What happened
before that brought on the row？ I can depend upon you to give me the
facts。 I can't say as much for all the others。〃
Phil did as the showman requested； beginning with the ducking of
Teddy by the men when the show was leaving Germantown； and ending
with Teddy's having emptied a pail of muddy water over Larry's red head
that morning。
He had only just finished his narration of the difficulty； when who
should appear at the entrance to the office tent but Larry himself。 He was
followed； a few paces behind； by Bad Eye。
Mr。 Sparling's stern； judicial eyes were fixed upon them。 He demanded
to hear from them their version of the affair； which Larry related； leaving
out all mention of his having ducked Teddy。 His story agreed in the main
details with what Phil already had said； excepting that Larry's recital threw
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
the blame on Teddy and Phil。
Mr。 Sparling took a book from his desk； making a memorandum
therein。
〃Is that all； sir？〃 questioned Larry。
〃Not quite。 If I hear of any further infraction of the rules of this show
on the part of either of you two； you close right then。 Understand？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃That's not all； I'll have you both jailed for assault。 As it is； I'll fine
you both a week's pay。 Now get out of here！〃
Larry hesitated； flashed a malignant glance at Phil Forrest； then；
turning on his heel； he left the tent。
〃Don't you think you had better fine me； too； sir？〃 asked Phil。
〃What for？〃
〃Because I shall have to do it again some of these days。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃That fellow is going to be even with me at the very first opportunity。〃
Mr。 Sparling eyed the lad for a moment。
〃I guess you will be able to give a good account of yourself if he tries
to do anything of the sort。 Let me say right here； though you need not
tell your friend so that I think Teddy did just right； and I am glad you gave
Larry a good drubbing。 But； of course； we can't encourage this sort of
thing with the show。 It has to be put down with an iron hand。〃
〃I understand； sir。〃
〃Mind； I don't expect you to be a coward。〃
〃I hope not。 My father used to teach me not to be。 He frequently said；
'Phil； keep out of trouble； but if you get into it； don't sneak out。' 〃
〃That's the talk；〃 roared Mr。 Sparling； smiting his desk with a mighty
fist。 〃You run along； now； and give your young friend some advice about
what he may expect if he gets into any more difficulty。〃
〃I have done that already。〃
〃Good！ Tell it to him again as ing from me。 He's going to
make a good showman； though he came near putting this outfit out of
business with the fool mule this afternoon。 I would cut the act out； but
for the fact that it is a scream from start to finish。 Feeling all right？〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Yes； thank you。 I am perfectly able to go on in the ring act tonight；
if you think best。〃
〃Wait until tomorrow； wait until tomorrow。 You'll be all the better for
it。〃
The cook tent was open； as Phil observed。 The red flag was flying
from the center pole of the tent； indicating that supper was being served。
In a short time the tent would e down and be on its way in the flying
squadron to the next stand。
The show was now less than a day out； but many things had happened。
Not a moment had been without its interest or excitement； and Phil
realized that as he walked toward the cook tent。 He found Teddy there；
satisfying his appetite； or rather exerting himself in that direction； for
Teddy's appetite was a thing never wholly satisfied。
After supper Phil took the boy aside and delivered Mr。 Sparling's
message。 Teddy looked properly serious； but it is doubtful if the warning
sank very deep into his mind； for the next minute he was turning
handsprings on the lot。
〃Know what I'm going to do； Phil？〃 he glowed。
〃There's no telling what you will do； from one minute to the next；
Teddy；〃 replied Phil。
〃Going to practice up and see if I can't get in the leaping act。〃
〃That's a good idea。 When do you begin taking lessons？〃
〃Taking 'em now。〃
〃From Mr。 Miaco？〃
〃Yes。 I did a turn off the springboard this afternoon with the
'mechanic on；' 〃 meaning the harness used to instruct beginners in the art
of tumbling。
〃How did you make out？〃
〃Fine！ I'd have broken my neck if it hadn't been for the harness。〃
Phil laughed heartily。
〃I should say you did do finely。 But you don't expect to be able to
jump over ten elephants and horses the way the others do？〃
〃They don't all do it。 Some of 'em leap until they get half a dozen
elephants in line； then they stand off and watch the real artists finish the