按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
His eyes sought the net。 It was empty。 He saw a figure clad in pink；
white and gold shooting right through the net。
Then； too； he saw something else。 A slender； pink…clad figure was
darting under the net with outstretched arms。
〃It's Phil。 He's going to catch her；〃 shouted Teddy jubilantly。
But Phil went down under the impact of the heavy blow as Zoraya
42
… Page 43…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
struck him。 A throng of ring attendants gathered about them； and in a
moment the two forms were picked up and borne quickly from the ring。
Once； years before； Shivers had been through an earthquake in South
America； when things about him were topsy…turvy； when the circus tent
came tumbling down about him； and ring curbs went up into the air in
most bewildering fashion。
Now； that same sensation was upon him again； and quarter poles
seemed to dance before his eyes like giddy marionettes； while the long
rows of blue seats appeared to be tilted up at a dangerous angle。 Then
slowly the clown's bewilderment merged into keen understanding； but his
painted face reflected none of the anguish that was gripping at his heart
strings。
Teddy brushed a hand across his own eyes。
〃II guess they're both killed；〃 he said falteringly。
Just then the voice of the head clown broke out in the old Netherlands
harvest song：
〃Yanker didel doodle down； Didel； dudel lanter；
Yankee viver； voover vown； Botermilk und tanther。〃
〃Poor Zoraya！〃 muttered the clown under cover of the applause that
greeted his vocal effort。 And his associates looked down from their
perches high in the air； gazing in wonder upon the clown who was bowing
so low that； each time he did so； he was obliged to turn a somersault to
gain his equilibrium。
〃Dangerously hurtwent through the net head first。 Hurry！〃 panted a
belated clown； running by to his station。 〃Boy hurt； too。〃
〃Told you so！〃 grumbled Teddy。
But Shivers did not flinch； and； as he neared the reserved seats on the
grandstand； his voice again rang out； this time in a variation of the ancient
harvest song：
〃Yankee doodle； keep it up； Yankee doodle； dandy；
Mind the music and the step； And with your feet be handy。〃
Never had the show people seen Shivers so uproariously funny。 Under
the spell of his merriment； the audience quickly forgot the tragic scene that
they had just witnessed。
43
… Page 44…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Teddy； however； noticed little dark trenches that had ploughed their
courses down through the makeup of the clown's cheeks from his eyes。
Teddy knew that tears had caused those furrows。
As Shivers looked down the long； grassy stretch ahead of him； that he
still must cover before his act would be finished； the goal seemed far away。
He flashed one longing glance toward the crimson curtains that shut off
the view of the paddock and the dressing tents； vaguely wondering what
lay beyond for him and for little Zoraya。 Then Shivers set his jaws hard；
plunging into a mad whirl of handsprings and somersaults； each of which
sent him nearer to the end of that seemingly endless way。
〃Here； here； what are you trying to do？〃 gasped Tucker； unable to keep
up with the clown's rapid progress by doing the same things。 Teddy solved
the problem by running。 He could keep up in no other way。
At last Shivers reached the end。 With a mighty leap he sprang for the
paddock and the dressing tent。 And how he did run！ Such sprinting never
had been seen in the big show； even between man and horse in the act
following the Roman chariot races。
Once a rope caught Shivers' toes。 He fell forward； but cleverly
landed on his shoulders and the back of his neck； bouncing up like a
rubber man and plunging on。
Shivers had darted through the crimson curtain by the time Teddy
Tucker had succeeded in picking himself up from having fallen over the
same rope。
Stretched out on a piece of canvas in the dressing tent； her head
slightly elevated on a saddle pad； they found Zoraya； her pallor showing
even through the roughly laid on makeup。
Phil was sitting on a trunk holding his head in his hands； for he had
received quite a severe shock。
〃If she regains consciousness soon she may live；〃 announced the
surgeon。 〃If not〃
〃No； no！〃 protested the white…faced clown； dropping on his knees by
the side of the child； folding Zoraya tenderly in his arms。 〃She must not
die！ She cannot die！〃
His jaunty baker's cap tilted off and fell upon her tinseled breast； while
44
… Page 45…
The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
groups of curious； sorrowful painted faces pressed about them in silent
sympathy。
Teddy crushed his white cap between his hands twisting it nervously。
〃She isn't hurt。 Can't you see？ Look； she is smiling now；〃 pleaded
the clown。
The surgeon shook his head sadly； and Shivers buried his head on
Zoraya's shoulder； pressing his painted cheek close to hers； while the dull
roar of the circus； off under the big top； drifted to them faintly； like the
sighing of a distant cataract。
An impressive silence hovered over the scene； which was broken； at
last； by the quiet voice of the circus surgeon。
〃The child is coming back； Shivers。 She has fought it out； but she
will perform no more； I am afraid； for bones broken as are hers never will
be quite the same again。〃
〃She don't have to perform any more； sir；〃 snapped the clown。 〃I'll do
that for her。 You put that down in your fool's cap and smoke it。 Yes； sir；
I'll〃
〃Daddy！〃 murmured the lips that were pressed close to Shivers' ear。
It was scarcely a whisper； more a breath that Shivers caught； but faint
as it was； it sent the blood pounding to his temples until they showed red；
like blotches of rouge under powder。
〃D…