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of large horse blankets。 They were then picked up； none too gently and
borne off to the other side of the field； kicking and squirming in their
efforts to escape。
Their captors； however； did not for an instant relax their hold； and
further struggle proved vain。
Reaching the other side of the field； the Circus Boys were dumped into
a wagon。 This they knew because they heard the driver give the
directions regarding letting down the tail board。
Placing their burdens on the wagon floor； the captors very coolly sat
down on the boys。 Then the wagon started。 Never in the old days of
the road show； when Phil and Teddy were riding and sleeping in a
springless canvas wagon； had they experienced a rougher ride。 It seemed
as if every stone in the county had been placed in the path of the rickety
old wagon in which they were being spirited away。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
About this time Phil Forrest began to wonder。 He could not
understand the meaning of the attack。 And what had become of President
Billy？ He knew Teddy was lying beside him； but Billy must have made
his escape。 If so Billy would give the alarm； and the show people would
quickly overtake the kidnappers。
No such interruption occurred； however； rather greatly to Phil's
surprise； so he lay still and waited for a favorable moment when he might
take a hand in the affair himself。
Teddy's voice could be heard under his blanket； in muffled； angry
protestations； his feet now and then beating a tattoo on the wagon bottom。
Such an act brought down the weight of his captors upon the offending
feet each time。
Once Teddy managed to work the covering from his mouth for one
brief instant。
〃Hey； Rube！〃 he howled lustily； this being the signal known to circus
men the world over； when one or more of them is in trouble。
But there were no strong…armed circus men to come to their rescue。
All the circus laborers were working off on the lot striking the tents and
loading the show on the wagons。 Teddy was given no further opportunity
to protest。
After a journey of what seemed hours； and during which； Phil Forrest
had lost all sense of direction； the wagon came to a halt。
He could hear the hum of conversation as his captors consulted in low
tones。 Then all at once he found himself jerked from the wagon and
plumped down on the ground。
Teddy went through a similar experience； excepting that his fall was
considerably more severe。 Teddy struck the ground with a jolt that made
him utter a loud 〃Wow！〃
He was on his feet in a twinkling； only to find himself pounced upon
and borne heavily to earth again。
Fuming and threatening； Teddy was roughly picked up； Phil being
served likewise。
The boys felt themselves being borne up a short flight of steps and
down a long hall。 Then came more steps。 This time it was a long flight
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
of stairs； the kidnappers getting their burdens up this with evident effort。
〃I hope they don't drop me； now；〃 thought Phil。 〃I shall surely roll all
the way to the bottom； though it might enable me to get away。〃
Finally an upper floor was reached。 The captors bore their burdens in
and placed them on the floor。 The Circus Boys realized； at the same
instant； that the vigilance of the kidnappers had been relaxed for the
second。
Throwing； the blankets off Phil and Teddy leaped to their feet ready
for flight。 As they did so they met with the surprise of their lives。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER VI
IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY
Teddy had squared off； and was landing sledge…hammer blows on the
empty air。
Phil； too； had squared himself prepared to give battle； but his hands
fell sharply to his sides。
〃Whawhat〃 he gasped。
〃Come on！〃 bellowed Teddy。
They were in a large room； brilliantly lighted； and about them； in a
semi…circle； was a line of laughing faces。 From them the eyes of the
astonished Circus Boys wandered to a long table on which were flowers
and plenty of good things to eat。
〃Why； it's our old recitation room in the high school； Teddy；〃 breathed
Phil。
〃I don't care what it is。 I can lick the whole outfit！〃 shouted Teddy
Tucker advancing belligerently。
〃It's the boys； Teddy； don't you understand？〃 laughed Phil。 〃Well； of all
the ways of inviting a fellow to dinner； this beats anything I ever saw
before。〃
〃How does it feel to be kidnaped？〃 grinned President Billy； extending
his hand。
〃So you are the young gentleman who put up this job on us； are you？〃
demanded Phil。
〃I guess I am one of them。 But I wasn't unlucky enough to get a
black eye； like Walter over there。 You gave that to him； Teddy。 My； what
a punch you have！〃 laughed Billy。
〃That isn't a circumstance to what's coming to you。 I'll wait till I get
back to school； next fall； and then I'll take it out of you。 You'll have
something coming to you all summer。 Did I paint Walt's eye that way？〃
〃You did。 It's up to you to apologize to him now。〃
〃Apologize？〃
〃Yes； that's what I said。〃
〃I like that！ I have a good notion to apologize by painting the other
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eye the same color；〃 growled Teddy。
〃But； what does all this mean？〃 urged Phil； looking about him； still a
bit dazed。
〃It means that we fellows wanted to give you and Teddy a little supper。
It isn't much； but there are sandwiches and cookies and pie and lots of
other stuff that you'll like。〃
〃Cookies？〃 interrupted Teddy； his face relaxing into a half smile。
〃Yes。〃
〃We kn