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in it； and some fine day she won't。 I never did like those freak acts。 But
the public does；〃 sighed the old circus man。 〃The really difficult feats； that
require years of practice； patrons don't seem to give a rap for。 But let
somebody do a stunt in which he is in danger of suddenly ending his life；
then you'll see the people howl with delight。 I sometimes think they
would be half tickled to death to see some of us break our necks。 There's a
friend of yours； Phil。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Emperor； the old elephant that you rode last year。 They are taking
him to the menagerie tent。〃
〃Whistle to him； Phil；〃 suggested Teddy。
Phil uttered a low； peculiar whistle。
The big elephant's ears flapped。 The procession that he was leading
came to a sudden stop and Emperor trumpeted shrilly。
〃He hasn't forgotten me；〃 breathed Phil happily。 〃Dear old
Emperor！〃
〃Pipe him up again；〃 urged Teddy。
〃No； I wouldn't dare。 He would be likely to break away from Mr。
Kennedy and might trample some of the people about here。 See； Mr。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Kennedy is having his troubles as it is。〃
〃Done any tumbling since you closed last fall？〃 questioned Mr。 Miaco。
〃We have practiced a little。 I want to learn； if you will teach me〃
〃Why； you can tumble already； Phil。〃
〃Yes； but I want to do something betterthe springboard。〃
〃They've got a leaping act this year。〃
〃How？〃
〃Performers and clowns leap over a herd of elephants。 You've seen the
act； haven't you？〃
〃Oh； yes； I know what it is。 I wish I were able to do it。〃
〃You will be。 It is not difficult； only one has to have a natural bent
for it。 Now； your friend Teddy ought to make a fine leaper。〃
〃I am；〃 interposed Teddy pompously。 〃I always was。〃
〃Yes； you're the whole show from your way of thinking；〃 laughed Mr。
Miaco。 〃I must go see if my trunk is placed。 See you later； boys。〃
After leaving the clown； the lads strolled about the lot。 They soon
discovered that the Sparling Shows was a big organization。 The tents had
been very much enlarged and the canvas looked new and white。
In the menagerie tent the boys found many new cages； gorgeous in red
and gold； with a great variety of animals that had not been in the show the
previous summer。
Emperor's delight at seeing his little friend again was expressed in loud
trumpetings； and his sinuous trunk quickly found its way into Phil
Forrest's pocket in search of sweets。 And Emperor was not disappointed。
In one coat pocket he found a liberal supply of candy； while the other held
a bag of peanuts； to all of which the big elephant helped himself freely
until no more was left。
〃Have you got my trappings ready； Mr。 Kennedy？〃 asked Phil of the
keeper。
〃You'll find the stuff in fine shape。 The old man has had a new
bonnet made for Emperor and a new blanket。 He'll be right smart when
he enters the ring today。 Been over to the cook tent yet？〃
〃Yes； but not for breakfast。 We are going soon now。 We want to see
them raise the big top first。〃
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When the boys had passed out into the open they observed the big
circus tent rising slowly from the ground where it had been laid out； the
various pieces laced together by nimble fingers。 Mr。 Sparling was on the
lot watching everything at the same time。 This was the first time the tent
had been pitched； and； as has been said before； most of the men were
green at their work。 Yet； under the boisterous prodding of the boss
canvasman； the white city was going up rapidly and with some semblance
of system。
As soon as the dome of the big top left the ground the boys crawled
under and went inside。 Here all was excitement and confusion。 Men
were shouting their mands； above which the voice of the boss
canvasman rose distinctly。
The dome of the tent by this time was halfway up the long； green
center pole； while men were hurrying in with quarter poles on their
shoulders； and which they quickly stood on end and guided into place in
the bellying canvas。
The eyes of the Circus Boys sparkled with enthusiasm。
〃I wish we were up there on the rings；〃 breathed Teddy。
〃We shall be soon； old fellow；〃 answered Phil； patting him on the
shoulder。 〃And for many days after this； I hope。 Hello； I wonder what's
wrong up there？〃
Phil's quick glance had caught something up near the half…raised dome
that impressed him as not being right。
〃Look out aloft！〃 he sang out warningly。
〃The key rope's going。 Grab the other line！〃 bellowed the boss
canvasman。
〃You fools！〃 roared Mr。 Sparling from the opposite side of the tent； as
he quickly noted what was happening。 〃Run for your lives！ You'll have
the whole outfit down on your heads！〃
The men fled； letting go of ropes and poles； diving for places of safety；
many of them knowing what it meant to have that big tent collapse and
descend upon them。
The man who had held the key rope was the one who had been at fault。
Some of the new men had called to him to give them a hand on another
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line； and he； a new man himself； all forgetful of the important task that had
been assigned to him； dropped the key rope； as it is called； turning to assist
his associate。
Instantly the dome of the big top began to settle with a grating noise as
the huge iron ring in the peak began slipping down the center pole。
The key rope coiled on the ground was running out and squirming up
into the air。 Only a single coil of it remained when Phil suddenly darted
forward。 With a bound； he threw himself upon the rope； giving it a quick
twist about his arm。
The instant Phil had fastened his grip upon the rope he shot up into the
air so quickly that the onlookers failed to catch the meaning of his sudden
flight。
One pair of eyes； however； saw and understood。 They belonged to
Mr。 Sparling； the owner of the show。
〃The boy will he killed！〃 he groaned。 〃Let go！〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER V
DOING A MAN'S WORK
For one brief instant Phil Forrest's head was giddy and his breath fairly
left his body from the speed with which he was propelled upward on the
key rope。
But the lad had not for a second lost his presence of mind。 Below him
was some eight feet of the rope dangling in the air。
With a sudden movement that could only have been executed by one
with unusual strength and agility； Phil let the rope slip through his hands
just enough to slacken his speed。 Instantly he threw himself around the
center pole； twisting the rope around and around it； each twist slackening
his upward flight a little。 He knew that； were his head to strike the iron
ring in the dome at the speed he was traveling； he would undoubtedly be
killed。 It was as much to prevent this as to save the tent that Phil took the
action he did； though his one real thought was to save his employer's
property。
Now the rapid upward shoot had dwindled to a slow； gradual slipping
of the rope as it moved up the center pole inch by inch。 But Phil's peril
was even greater than before。 The moment that heavy iron ring began
pressing down on his head and shoulders with the weight of the canvas
behind it； there would be nothing for him to do but to let go。
A forty…foot fall to the hard ground below seemed inevitable。 Yet he
did not lose his presence of mind for an instant。
〃Give him a hand！〃 yelled the boss canvasman。
〃How？ How？〃 shouted the canvasmen。 〃We can't reach him。〃
〃Get a net under that boy； you blockheads！〃 thundered Mr。 Sparling；
rushing over from his station。 〃Don't you see he's bound to fall； and if he
does he'll break his neck？〃
The boss canvasman ordered three of his men to get the trapeze
performers' big net that lay in a heap near the ring nearest the dressing tent；
for there were two rings now in the Great Sparling bined Shows。
They dragged it over as quickly as possible； then willing hands
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grabbed it and stretched the heavy net out。 At Mr。 Sparling's direction
the four corners of the net were manned and the safety device raised from
the ground； ready to catch the lad should he fall。
〃Now let go and drop！〃 roared Mr。 Sparling。
They heard Phil laugh from his lofty perch。
〃Jump； I say！〃
〃What； and let the tent down on you all？〃
By this time the lad had curled his feet up over his head； and they saw
that he was bracing his feet against the iron ring； literally holding the tent
up with his own powerful muscles。 Of course； as a matter of fact； Phil was
holding a very small part of the weight of the tent； but as it was； the strain
was terrific。
Hanging head down； his face flushed until it seemed as if the blood
must burst through the skin； he hung there as calmly as if he were not in
imminent peril of his life。 Then； too； there was the danger to those below
him。 If the tent should collapse some of them would be killed； for there
were now few quarter poles in place to break the fall of the heavy canvas。
〃I say； down there！〃 he cried； finally managing to make himself heard
above the uproar。
〃Are you going to drop？〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling。
〃No； do you want me to let the tent drop on you？ If you'll all get out
there'll be fewer hurt in case I have to let go。〃
〃That boy！〃 groaned the showman。
〃Toss me a line and be quick about it；〃 called Phil shrilly。
〃What can you do with a line？〃 demanded the showman； now more
excited than he had ever been in his life。
〃Toss it！〃
〃Give him a line！〃
〃A strong one；〃 warned Phil； his voice not nearly as far reaching as it
had been。
〃A line！〃 bellowed Mr。 Sparling。 〃He knows what he wants it for；
and he's got more sense than the whole bunch of us。〃
A coil of rope shot up。 But it missed Phil by about six feet。
Another one was forthing almost instantly。 This time； however；
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The Circus Boys Across The Co