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had turned on。 Then he fled down the rattling board seats。
Outside a sudden roar broke the stillness。 No sooner had he reached
the bottom of the seats than several men raised up the side wall and came
tumbling in； yelling like anche Indians。 Teddy cast one frightened
look at them； then ran like all possessed。 What he had seen was a red…
haired man in the lead； dripping wet with hair and clothes plastered with
mud and sawdust。 Larry was after the lad in full cry。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER VII
TRYING THE CULPRIT
〃Stop him！〃 howled Larry； as he； followed by half a dozen blue…shirted
fellows； bolted into the arena in pursuit of the lad who had emptied the
pail of muddy water over him。
Teddy； still clinging to the pail； was sprinting down the concourse as if
his very life depended upon it。 A canvasman； hearing Larry's call； and
suspecting the boy was wanted for something quite serious； rushed out；
heading Teddy off。 It looked as if the lad were to be captured right here。
But Teddy Tucker was not yet at the end of his resources。 He ran
straight on as if he had not observed the canvasman。 Just as he reached
the man； and the latter's hands were stretched out to intercept him； Teddy
hurled the pail full in the fellow's face。 Then the lad darted to one side and
fled toward the paddock。
The canvasman had joined the procession by this time。 Into the
dressing tent burst the boy； followed by Larry； the others having brought
up sharply just before reaching the dressing room； knowing full well that
they had no business there and that their presence would be quickly and
effectively resented。 Larry； consumed with rage； did not stop to think
about this； so he dashed on blindly to his fate。
At first the circus performers in the dressing tent could not imagine
what was going on。 Clotheslines came down； properties were upset and
in a moment the tent was in confusion。
〃Stop that！〃 bellowed an irate performer。
Larry gave no heed to the mand； and Teddy was in too big a hurry
to stop to explain。
Suddenly Phil Forrest； realizing that his little panion was in danger；
gave a leap。 He landed on Larry's back； pinioning the fellow's arms to
his sides。
〃You stop that now！ You let him alone！〃 manded Phil。
Before the canvasman could make an effort to free himself； Mr。 Miaco；
the head clown； took a hand in the proceedings。 Throwing Phil from the
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tentman； Miaco jerked Larry about； and demanded to know what he meant
by intruding on the privacy of the dressing tent in that manner。
〃I want that kid；〃 he growled。
〃Put him out！〃 howled a voice。
〃What do you want him for？〃
〃Hehe dumped a pail of water over me。 I'll get even with him。 I'll
〃
〃How about this； Master Teddy？〃 questioned Mr。 Miaco。
Teddy explained briefly how the fellow Larry and a panion had
ducked him under the water tank； and had ruined his clothes； together with
causing him to miss his train。
〃This demands investigation；〃 decided Mr。 Miaco gravely。 〃Fellows； it
is evident that we had better try this man。 That is the best way to dispose
of his case。〃
〃Yes； yes； try him！〃 they shouted。
〃Whom shall we have for judge？〃
〃Oscar； the midget！〃
The Smallest Man on Earth was quickly boosted to the top of a
property box。
〃Vot iss？〃 questioned the midget； his wizened； yellow little face
wrinkling into a questioning smile。
〃We are going to try this fellow； Larry； and you are to be the judge。〃
〃Yah；〃 agreed Oscar； after which he subsided； listening to the
proceedings that followed； with grave； expressionless eyes。 It is doubtful if
Oscar understood what it was all about； but his gravity and judicial
manner sent the whole dressing tent into an uproar of merriment。
After the evidence was all in； the entire pany taking part in
testifying； amid much merrimentfor the performers entered into the spirit
of the trial like a lot of schoolboysOscar was asked to decide what
should be done with the prisoner Larry。
Oscar was at a loss to know how to answer。
〃Duck him；〃 suggested one。
This was an inspiration to Oscar。 He smiled broadly。
〃Yah； dat iss。〃
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〃What iss？〃 demanded the Tallest Man On Earth。 〃Talk United
States。〃
〃Yah；〃 agreed Oscar； smiling seraphically。 〃Duck um。〃
〃Larry； it is the verdict of this court that you be ducked； as the only
fitting punishment for one who has mitted the crime of laying hands
on a Circus Boy。 Are we all agreed on the punishment meted out by the
dignified judge？〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 they shouted。 〃The rain barrel for him。〃
〃Men； do your duty！〃 cried Mr。 Miaco。
〃I wouldn't do that；〃 interposed Phil。 〃You haven't any more right to
duck him than he had to put Teddy under the water tank。 It isn't right。〃
But they gave no heed to his protests。 Willing hands grabbed the red…
headed tentman； whose kicks and struggles availed him nothing。 Raising
him over the barrel of water they soused him in head first； ducking him
again and again。
〃Take him out。 You'll drown him；〃 begged Phil。
Then they hauled Larry out； shaking the water out of him。 As soon as
his coughing ceased； he threatened dire vengeance against his assailants。
Four performers then carried their victim to the opening of the
dressing tent and threw him out bodily。
Instantly Larry's panions saw him fall at their feet； and heard his
angry explanation of the indignities that had been heaped upon him。
There was a lively scrambling over the ground； and the next instant a
volley of stones was hurled into the dressing tent。
Phil was just ing out on his way to the main entrance as the row
began。 A stone just grazed his cheek。 Without giving the least heed to
the assailants； he turned to cross the paddock in order to slip out under the
tent and go on about his business。 Most lads would have run under the
circumstances。 Not so Phil。 His were steady nerves。
〃There he is！ Grab him！〃 shouted Larry； catching sight of Phil and
charging that Phil had been one of those who had helped duck him。
Such was not the case； however； for instead of having taken part in the
ducking； Phil Forrest had tried to prevent it。
Larry and another man were running toward him。 The lad halted；
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turned and faced them。
〃What do you want of me？〃 he demanded。
〃I'll show you what I want of you。 You started this row。〃
〃I did nothing of the sort； sir。 You go on about your business and I
shall do the same； whether you do or not。〃
Phil raised the canvas and stepped out。 But no sooner had he gotten
out into the lot than the two men burst through the flapping side wall。
The boy saw them ing and knew that he was face to face with
trouble。
He adopted a ruse； knowing full well that he could not hope to cope
with the brawny canvasmen single handed and alone。 Starting off on a run；
Phil was followed instantly； as he felt sure he would be； but managing to
keep just ahead of the men and no more。
〃I've got you！〃
The voice was almost at his ear。
Phil halted with unexpected suddenness and dropped on all fours。
The canvasman was too close to check his own speed。 He fell over
Phil； landing on his head and shoulders in the dirt。
The lad was up like a flash。 Larry was close upon him now； and with
a snarl of rage launched a blow full at Phil Forrest's face。 But he had not
reckoned on the lad's agility； nor did he know that Phil was a trained
athlete。 Therefore； Larry's surprise was great when his fist beat the
empty air。
Thrown off his balance； Larry measured his length on the ground。
〃I advise you to let me alone；〃 warned Phil coolly； as the tentman was
scrambling to his feet。 Already Larry's panion had gotten up and was
gazing at Phil in a half dazed sort of way。
〃Get hold of him； Bad Eye！ What are you standing there like a
dummy for？ He'll run in a minute。〃
Phil's better judgment told him to do that very thing； but he could not
bring himself to run from danger。 Much as he disliked a row； he was too
plucky and courageous to run from danger。
Bad Eye was rushing at him； his eyes blazing with anger。
Phil side…stepped easily； avoiding his antagonist without the least
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difficulty。 But now he had to reckon with Larry； who； by this time； had
gotten to his feet。
It was two to one。
〃Stand back unless you want to get hurt！〃 cried Phil； with a warning
glint in his eyes。
Larry； by way of answer； struck viciously at him。 Phil； with a glance
about him； saw that he could not expect help； for there was no one in sight；
the performers being engaged at that moment in driving off the angry
laborers； which they were succeeding in doing with no great effort on their
part。
The lad cleverly dodged the blow。 But instead of backing away as
the canvasman's fist barely grazed his cheek； Phil； with a short arm jolt；
caught his adversary on the point of his chin。 Larry instantly lost all desire
for fight。 He sat down on the hard ground with a bump。
Now Bad Eye rushed in。 Again Phil sidestepped； and； thrusting a
foot between the fellow's legs； tripped him neatly。
Half a dozen men came running from the paddock。 They were the
fellows whom the performers had put to rout。 At that moment the bugle
blew for all hands to prepare for the parade。
〃I guess I have done about enough for one day；〃 decided Phil。 〃And for
a sick man it wasn't a half bad job。〃
With an amused glance at his fallen adversaries Phil ran to the big top；
less than a rod away； and； lifting the sidewall； slipped under and
disappeared within。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER VIII