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dazed Phil Forrest to the window。 There both boys were hauled out；
Teddy and Phil collapsing on the embankment from the smoke that they
had inhaled。
〃Phil！ Teddy！〃 begged Mr。 Sparling； throwing himself beside them。
〃Get a net！〃 muttered Teddy； then swooned。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XXII
WHAT HAPPENED TO A PACEMAKER
〃Find out how that car came to tumble off；〃 were the first words Phil
uttered after they had restored him to consciousness。
Teddy； however； was bemoaning the loss of the sandwich that he had
bought but had not eaten。
〃The accident shall be investigated by me personally before this
section leaves the yard；〃 said Mr。 Sparling。 〃I am glad you suggested it；
Phil。 How do you feel？〃
〃I am all right。 Did somebody pull me out？〃
〃Yes； Teddy did。 You are a pair of brave boys。 I guess this outfit
knows now the stuff you two are made of； if it never did before；〃 glowed
Mr。 Sparling。
〃How many were killed？〃
〃None。 The head steward has a broken leg； one waiter a few ribs
smashed in； and another has lost a finger。 I reckon the railroad will have
a nice bill of damages to pay for this night's work。 Were you in the car
when it occurred？〃
〃Yes。 They had been handling it rather roughly。 We spoke of it at
the time。 We were moving down the yard when suddenly one end
seemed to drop right off the track as if we had e to the end of it。〃
Mr。 Sparling nodded。
〃I'll go into it with the railroad people at once。 You two get into your
berths。 Can you walk？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃
〃How about you； Tucker；〃
〃I can creep all right。 I learned to do that when I was in long pants。〃
〃I guess you mean long dresses；〃 answered the showman。
〃I guess I do。〃
The boys were helped to the sleeper； where they were put to bed。 Phil
had been slightly burned on one hand while Teddy got what he called 〃a
free hair cut；〃 meaning that his hair had been pretty well singed。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Otherwise they were none the worse for their experiences； save for the
slight cuts Phil had received by ing in contact with broken glass and
some burns from the coffee boiler。
They were quite ready to go to sleep soon after being put to bed；
neither awakening until they reached the next show town on the following
morning。
When the two lads pulled themselves up in their berths the sun was
well up； orders having been given not to disturb them。
〃Almost seven o'clock； Teddy；〃 cried Phil。
〃Don't care if it's seventeen o'clock；〃 growled Teddy。 〃Lemme sleep。〃
〃All right； but you will miss your breakfast。〃
That word 〃breakfast〃 acted almost magically on Tucker。 Instantly he
landed in the middle of the aisle on all fours； and； straightening up； began
groping sleepily for his clothes。
Phil laughed and chuckled。
〃How do you feel； Teddy？〃
〃Like a roast pig being served on a platter in the cook tent。 Do you
need a net this morning？〃
〃No； I think not。 I'm rather sore where I got cut； but I guess I am
pretty fit otherwise。〃
After washing and dressing the lads set out across the fields for the lot；
which they could see some distance to the west of the sidings； where their
sleepers had been shifted。 Both were hungry； for it is not an easy matter
to spoil a boy's appetite。 Railroad wrecks will not do it in every case； nor
did they in this。
But； before the morning ended； the cook tent had seen more
excitement than in many daysin fact more than at any time so far that
season。
The moment Phil and Teddy strolled in； each bearing the marks of the
wreck on face and head everybody； except the Legless Man； stood up。
Three rousing cheers and a tiger for the Circus Boys； were given with a
will； and then the lads found themselves the center of a throng of
performers； roustabouts and freaks all of whom showered their
congratulations on the boys for their heroism in saving other's lives at the
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
risk of their own。
Little Dimples was not one whit behind the others。 She praised them
both； much to Phil's disfiture and Teddy's pleasure。
〃Teddy； you are a hero after all；〃 she beamed。
〃Me？ Me a hero？〃 he questioned； pointing to himself。
〃Yes； you。 I always knew you would be if you had half a chance。 Of
course Phil had proved before that he was。〃
Teddy threw out his chest； thrusting both hands in his trousers pockets。
〃Oh； I don't know。 It wasn't so much。 How'd you get out？〃
〃Your friend； Phil； here； is responsible for my not being in the freak
class this morning。 There's Mr。 Sparling beckoning to you。 I think he
wants you both。〃
The boys walked over as soon as they could get away from the others。
That morning they sat at the executive table with the owner of the show；
his wife and the members of Mr。 Sparling's staff。
For once Teddy went through a meal with great dignity； as befitted one
who was in the hero class。
〃What happened to cause the wreck last night？〃 asked Phil； turning to
his host of the morning at the first opportunity。
〃The car went off over a blind switch that had been opened。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃Ah； that's the question。〃
〃Perhaps one of the railroad men opened it by mistake；〃 suggested
Teddy。 〃Nobody else would have a key。〃
〃You'll find no railroad man made that blunder；〃 replied Phil。
〃No！ While the railroad is responsible for the damages； I hardly
think they are for the wreck。 No key was used to open the switch。〃
〃No key？〃
〃No。〃
〃How； then？〃
〃The lock was wrenched off with an iron bar and the switch wedged
fast； so there could be no doubt about what would happen。 It might have
happened to some other car not belonging to us； though it was a pretty safe
gamble that it would catch one of ours。〃