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clambered aboard； their school panions set up a mighty shout； with
three cheers for the Circus Boys。
〃Don't stick your head in the lion's mouth； Teddy！〃 was the parting
salute Phil and Teddy received from the boys as the train drew out。
〃Well； Teddy； we're headed for the Golden Gate at last！〃 glowed Phil。
〃You bet！〃 agreed Teddy with more force than elegance。
〃I wonder if old Emperor will remember me； Teddy？〃
〃Sure thing！ But； do you think that 'fool mule；' as Mr。 Sparling calls
him； will remember me？ Or will he want to kick me full of holes before
the season has really opened？〃
〃I shouldn't place too much dependence on a mule；〃 laughed Phil。
〃e on； let's go inside and sit down。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER II
ON THE ROAD ONCE MORE
All was bustle and excitement。
Men were rushing here and there； shouting out hoarse mands。
Elephants were trumpeting shrilly； horses neighing； while； from many a
canvas…wrapped wagon savage beasts of the jungle were emitting roar
upon roar； all voicing their angry protest at being removed from the winter
quarters where they had been at rest for the past six months。
The Great Sparling bined Shows were moving out for their long
summer's journey。 The long trains were being rapidly loaded when Phil
Forrest and Teddy Tucker arrived on the scene late in the afternoon。
It was all new and strange to them； unused as they were to the ways of
a railroad show。 Their baggage had been sent on ahead of them； so they
did not have that to bother with。 Each carried a suitcase； however； and
the boys were now trying to find someone in authority to ask where they
should go and what they should do。
〃Hello； Phil； old boy！〃 howled a familiar voice。
〃Who's that？〃 demanded Teddy。
〃Why； it's Rod Palmer； our working mate on the rings！〃 cried Phil；
dropping his bag and darting across the tracks； where he had espied a
shock of very red hair that he knew could belong only to Rodney Palmer。
Teddy strolled over with rather more dignity。
〃Howdy？〃 he greeted just as Phil and the red…haired boy were
wringing each other's hands。 〃Anybody'd think you two were long lost
brothers。〃
〃We are； aren't we； Rod？〃 glowed Phil。
〃And we have been； ever since you boys showed me the brook where I
could wash my face back in that tank town where you two lived。 That was
last summer。 Seems like it was yesterday。〃
〃Yes； and we work together again； I hear？ I'm glad of that。 I guess
you've been doing something this winter；〃 decided Rodney； after a critical
survey of the lads。 〃You sure are both in fine condition。 Quite a little
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
lighter than you were last season； aren't you； Phil？〃
〃No； I weigh ten pounds more。〃
〃Then you must be mighty hard。〃
〃Hard as a keg of nails； but I hope not quite so stiff；〃 laughed Phil。
〃What you been working at？〃
〃Rings； mostly。 We've done some practicing on the trapeze。 What did
you do all winter？〃
〃Me？ Oh； I joined a team that was playing vaudeville houses。 I was
the second man in a ring act。 Made good money and saved most of it。
Why didn't you join out for the vaudeville？〃
〃We spent our winter at school；〃 answered Phil。
〃That's a good stunt at that。 In the tank town； I suppose？〃 grinned the
red…haired boy。
〃You might call it that； but it's a pretty good town； just the same；〃
replied Phil。 〃I saw many worse ones while we were out last season。〃
〃And you'll see a lot more this season。 Wait till we get to playing
some of those way…back western towns。 I was out there with a show
once； and I know what I'm talking about。 Where are you berthed？〃
〃I don't know；〃 answered Phil。 〃Where are you？〃
〃Car number fourteen。 Haven't seen the old man； then？〃
〃Mr。 Sparling？ No。 And I want to see him at once。 Where shall I
find him？〃
〃He was here half an hour ago。 Maybe he's in his office。〃
〃Where is that？〃
〃Private car number one。 Yes； the old man has his own elegant car
this season。 He's living high； I tell you。 No more sleeping out in an old
wagon that has no springs。 It will be great to get into a real bed every
night； won't it？〃
Teddy shook his head doubtfully。
〃I don't know 'bout that。〃
〃I should think it would be pretty warm on a hot night；〃 nodded Phil。
〃And what about the rainy nights？〃 laughed Rodney。 〃Taking it
altogether； I guess I'll take the Pullman for mine〃
〃There goes Mr。 Sparling now；〃 interjected Teddy。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Where？〃
〃Just climbing aboard a car。 See him？〃
〃That's number one；〃 advised Rodney。 〃Better skip； if you want to
catch him。 He's hard to land today。 There's a lot for him to look after。〃
〃Yes； e on； Teddy。 Get your grip；〃 said Phil； hurrying over to
where he had dropped his suitcase。
〃But it's going to be a great show；〃 called Rodney。
〃Especially the flying…ring act；〃 laughed Phil。
A few minutes later both boys climbed aboard the private car； and；
leaving their bags on the platform； pushed open the door and entered。
Mr。 Sparling was seated at a roll…top desk in an office…like
partment； frowning over some document that he held in his hand。
The boys waited until he should look up。 He did so suddenly； peering
at them from beneath his heavy eyebrows。 Phil was not sure； from the
showman's expression； whether he had recognized them or not。 Mr。
Sparling answered this question almost at once。
〃How are you； Forrest？ Well； Tucker； I suppose you've e back
primed to put my whole show to the bad； eh？〃
〃Maybe；〃 answered Teddy carelessly。
〃Oh； maybe； eh？ So that's the way the flag's blowing； is it？ Well； you
let me catch you doing it andstand up here； you two； and let me look at
you。〃
He gazed long and searchingly at the Circus Boys； noting every line of
their slender； shapely figures。
〃You'll do；〃 he growled。
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered Phil； smiling。
〃Shake hands。〃
Mr。 Sparling thrust out both hands toward them with almost
disconcerting suddenness。
〃Ouch！〃 howled Teddy； writhing under the grip the showman gave him；
but if Phil got a pressure of equal force he made no sign。
〃Where's your baggage？〃
〃We sent our trunks on yesterday。 I presume they are here
somewhere； sir。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃If they're not in your car； let me know。〃
〃If you will be good enough to tell me where our car is I will find out
at once。〃
The showman consulted a typewritten list。
〃You are both in car number eleven。 The porter will show you the
berths that have been assigned to you； and I hope you will both obey the
rules of the cars。〃
〃Oh； yes； sir；〃 answered Phil。
〃I know you will； but I'm not so sure of your fat friend here。 I think it
might be a good plan to tie him in his berth； or he'll be falling off the
platform some night； get under the wheels and wreck the train。〃
〃I don't walk in my sleep；〃 answered Teddy。
〃Oh； you don't？〃
〃I don't。〃
Mr。 Sparling frowned； then his face broke out into a broad smile。
〃I always said you were hopeless。 Run along； and get settled now。
You understand that you will keep your berth all season； don't you？〃
〃Yes； sir。 What time do we go out？〃
〃One section has already gone。 The next and last will leave tonight
about ten o'clock。 We want to make an early start； for the labor is all
green。 It'll take three times as long to put up the rag as usual。〃
〃The rag？ What's the rag？〃 questioned Teddy。
〃Beg pardon；〃 mocked Mr。 Sparling。 〃I had forgotten that you are
still a Reuben。 A rag is a tent； in show parlance。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃Any orders after we get settled？〃 asked Phil。
〃Nothing for you to do till parade time tomorrow。 You will look to
the same executives that you did last year。 There has been no change in
them。〃
The lads hurried from the private car； and after searching about the
railroad yard for fully half an hour they came upon car number eleven。
This was a bright； orange…colored car with the name of the Sparling Shows
painted in gilt letters near the roof； just under the eaves。 The smell of
fresh paint was everywhere； but the wagons being covered with canvas
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made it impossible for them to see how the new wagons looked。 There
were many of these loaded on flat cars； with which the railroad yard
seemed to be filled。
〃Looks bigger than Barnum & Bailey's；〃 nodded Teddy； feeling a
growing pride that he was connected with so great an organization。
〃Not quite； I guess；〃 replied Phil； mounting the platform of number
eleven。
The boys introduced themselves to the porter； who showed them to
their berths。 These were much like those in the ordinary sleeper； except
that the upper berths had narrow windows looking out from them。
Across each berth was stretched a strong piece of twine。
Phil asked the porter what the string was for。
〃To hang your trousers on； sah；〃 was the enlightening answer。 〃There's
hooks for the rest of your clothes just outside the berths。〃
〃This looks pretty good to me；〃 said Phil； peering out through the
screened window of his berth。
〃Reminds me of when I used to go to sleep in the woodbox behind the
stove where I lived last year in Edmeston；〃 grumbled Teddy in a muffled
voice； as he rummaged about his berth trying to accustom himself to it。
Teddy never had ridden in a sleeping car； so it was all new and strange to
him。
〃Say； who sleeps upstairs？〃 he called to the porter。
〃The performers； sahsome of them。 This heah is the performers' car；
sah。〃
〃How do they get up there？ On a rope ladder？〃
Phil shouted。
〃You ninny； this isn't a circus performance。