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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XV
EMPEROR TO THE RESCUE
〃Get back！〃 shouted the boy。
He had descried Teddy Tucker driving his own mount toward him。
Teddy was ing to the rescue in the face of almost certain death。
〃You can't make it！ Go back！〃
Whether or not Teddy heard and understood； did not matter； for at that
moment the view of the plucky lad was shut off by the elephants forming
their charging line into crescent shape。
〃Emperor！〃 he called in a shrill penetrating voice。 But in the dust of
the charge he could not make out which one was Emperor； yet he
continued calling lustily。
〃Emperor！〃
Phil threw his hands above his head as was his wont when desirous of
having the old elephant pick him up。
Right across the center of the crescent careened a great hulking figure；
uttering loud trumpetingstrumpetings that were taken up by his
panions until the very ground seemed to shake。
Phil's back was half toward the big elephant； and in the noise he did
not distinguish a familiar note in the call。
All at once he felt himself violently jerked from the ground。 The lad
was certain that his time had e。 But out of that cloud of dust； in
which those who looked； believed that the little Circus Boy had gone
down to his death； Phil Forrest rose right up into the air and was dropped
unharmed to the back of old Emperor。
For the moment he was so dizzy that he was unable to make up his
mind what had happened or where he was。 Then it all came to him。 He
was on Emperor's back。
〃Hurrah！〃 shouted Phil。 〃Good old Emperor！ Steady； steady；
Emperor！ That's a good fellow。〃
He patted the beast's head with the flat of his hand； crooned to him；
using every artifice that he knew to quiet the nerves of his big friend。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Little by little Emperor appeared to e out of his fright； until the lad
felt almost certain that the big beast would take orders。 He tried the
experiment。
〃Left； Emperor！〃
The elephant swerved sharply to the left； aided by a sharp tap of the
riding crop which Phil still carried。
Phil uttered a little cry of exultation。
〃Now； if I can head them off！〃
With this in mind he gradually worked Emperor around until the herd
had been led into a narrow street。 Here； Phil began forcing his mount
back and forth across the street in an effort to check the rush of the
stampede； all the time calling out the mand to slow down； which he
had learned from Mr。 Kennedy。
He was more successful than he had even dreamed he could be。
〃Now； if I am not mistaken； that street beyond there leads out to the lot。
I'll see if I can make them go that way。〃
All did save Jupiter； who charged straight ahead for some distance；
then turning sharply tore back and joined his fellows。
〃If I had a hook I believe I could lead him。 He's a very bad elephant。
I hope nobody has been killed。〃
It was more quiet in the street where Forrest now found himself； and
by degrees the excitement that had taken possession of the huge beasts
began to wear off。
Phil uttered his mands to them in short； confident tones； all the
time drawing nearer and nearer to the circus lot。
Very soon the fluttering flags from the big top were seen above the
intervening housetops。
〃I'm going to winoh； I hope I do！〃 breathed the Circus Boy。
With rapid strides； at times merging into a full run； the beasts tore
along； now understanding that they were nearing their quarters； where
safety and quiet would be assured。
And； beyond that； it was time for their dinners。 Already bales of hay
had been placed in front of their quarters； and the elephants knew it。
As the procession burst into the circus lot a dozen attendants started on
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
a run toward them。
〃Keep off！〃 shouted Phil。 〃Do you want to stampede them again？
Keep away； I tell you and I'll get them home。 Drive all the people out of
the way in case the bulls make another break。 That's all you can do now。〃
Now young Forrest urged Emperor to the head of the line of bobbing
beasts； feeling sure that the others would follow him in now。
They did。 The whole line of elephants swept in through the opening
that the attendants had quickly made by letting down a section of the side
walls of the menagerie tent； with Phil Forrest a proud and happy boy；
perched on the head of old Emperor。
〃Halt！〃
He went at it with all the confidence and skill of a professional
elephant trainer。
〃Stations！〃
Each beast walked to his regular place； a dozen sinuous trunks
gathering up as many wisps of hay。
〃Back up！ Back； Jupiter！〃
As docile as if they never had left the tent； each huge beast slowly felt
his way into his corner。
〃Good boy； Emperor！〃 glowed Phil holding out a small bag of peanuts；
which Emperor quickly stowed away in his mouth bag and all。
〃You greedy fellow！ Now get back into your own corner！〃
The elephant did so。
〃You fellows keep away from here；〃 warned Phil as the anxious tent
men began crowding around him。 〃Don't let anybody get these big
fellows excited。 We've had trouble enough for one day。〃
Phil then began chaining down the beasts； his first care being to secure
the unruly Jupiter。 But Jupiter's fit of bad temper seemed to have left him
entirely。 He was as peaceful as could be； and； to show that he was good；
he showered a lot of hay all over Phil。
〃You bad； bad boy！〃 chided the lad。 〃All this is just because you let
your temper get the best of you。 I think perhaps Mr。 Sparling may have
something to say to you if anyone has been killed or seriously hurt。 Oh；
you want some peanuts； do you？ I haven't any； but I'll get you some；
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