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Phil； at that moment； was up forward in Mr。 Sparling's car； else he
would have tried to stop the train； or； failing to do that； he would have
gone to his companion's assistance。
By this time Teddy had turned and was bracing his back against the
Fat Woman； his heels digging into the shifting cinders in a desperate
attempt to prevent the woman's slipping further down。
〃You'll have to do something。 I'm no Samson。 I can't hold the
world on my back all the time； though I can support a piece of it part of
the time。 Do something！〃
〃II can't；〃 wailed the Fat Woman。 〃There goes the train； too。 We'll
be left。〃
〃No； we won't。〃
〃Yes； we shall。〃
〃No； we won't be left； 'cause'cause we're left already。 Wow！ I'm
going！ Save yourself！〃
The cinders slipped from under Teddy's feet； and； with the heavy
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burden bearing down upon him； he was unable to get sufficient foothold to
save himself。
The result was that Teddy sat down suddenly。 Fat Marie sat down on
him； and Teddy's yell might have been heard a long distance away。
Those on the tail end of the circus train saw the collapse； then lost sight of
the couple as the train rolled around a bend in the road。
Down the bank slid the Fat Woman； using Tucker as a toboggan； with
the boy yelling lustily。 Faster and faster did they slide。
Suddenly they landed in the muddy stream with a mighty splash；
Teddy still on the bottom of the heap。 When she found herself in the
water Marie struggled to get out； and Teddy quickly scrambled up； mouth；
eyes and ears so full of water that he could neither see； hear nor speak for
a moment。 He was blowing like a porpoise and trying to swim out； but
the swift current was tumbling him along so rapidly that he found himself
unable to reach the bank only a few feet away。
Marie； screaming for help； floated down rapidly with the current。
When finally Teddy succeeded in getting his eyes open he discovered that
she had lodged against a tree across the stream； where her cries grew
louder and more insistent than ever。
Teddy was swept against her with a bump。 He frantically grabbed for
a limb of the fallen tree。 As he did so his legs were drawn under it； so
that it required all his strength to pull himself up to the tree trunk。
He sat there rubbing the water out of his eyes and breathing hard。
〃Quick； get me out of here or I'll drown！〃 moaned the Fat Woman。
〃Drown； if you want to。 I've got my own troubles just this minute。
What did you ever get me into this mix…up for？ That's what I get for trying
to be a good thing〃
Marie's screams waxed louder。
〃All right。 If you'll only stop that yelling I'll get you on dry land
somehow。 Can't you pull yourself up nearer the bank？〃
〃No。 My dress is caught on something。〃
Teddy peered over； and； locating the place where she was caught； tried
to free her。 The lad was unable to do so with one hand； so； in a
thoughtless moment； he brought both hands to the task。 He lost his balance
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and plunged into the torrent head first； his body disappearing under the log。
Teddy shot to the surface on the other side； flat on his back。
The Circus Boy did not shout this time。 He was too angry to do so。
He turned over and struck out for the bank which he was fortunate enough
to reach。 Quickly clambering up； Teddy sat down to repeat his process of
rubbing the water out of his eyes。
〃Are you going to let me lie here and drown？〃 cried the Fat Woman。
〃It looks that way； doesn't it； eh？〃
Teddy got up and hurried to her just the same。 Throwing off his wet
coat he set to work with a will to get Marie out。 The water was shallow
and she managed to help herself somewhat； therefore after great effort
Teddy succeeded in towing her to land。 The woman was a sight and
Teddy a close second in this respect。
〃I'm drowned；〃 she moaned as he dragged her out on the bank； letting
her drop sharply。
〃You only think you are。 I suppose you know what we've got to do
now； don't you？〃
〃N…n…n…no。〃
〃We've got to walk to the next stand。〃
〃Howhow far is it？〃
〃Maybe a hundred miles。〃
〃Oh； help！〃
As a matter of fact they were within five miles of St。 Charles； where
the Sparling show was billed to exhibit that afternoon and evening。
〃I'm afraid they'll miss you in the parade today； but what do you think
will happen if we don't reach the show in time for the performance this
afternoon？〃
〃II don't know。〃
〃I do。 We'll get fined good and proper。〃
〃Itit's all your fault； Teddy Tucker。〃
Teddy surveyed her wearily。
〃If you'd held me up I shouldn't have fallen in andand〃
〃Drowned；〃 growled Teddy。
〃Yes。〃
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〃And if you hadn't sat on me I shouldn't have fallen in； and there you
are。 Now； get up and we'll find a place to climb up the bank。 We can't
stay here all day and starve to death。 Come on； now。〃
〃II can't。〃
〃All right； then I'll go without you。〃 Teddy started away； whereupon
the Fat Woman wailed to him to come back； at the same time struggling to
her feet； bedraggled and wet； her hair full of sand and her clothes torn。
〃If they'd only start a beauty show in the side top you would take first
prize；〃 grinned the boy。 〃Hurry up。〃
Marie waddled along with great effort； making slow headway。
〃We shall have to go further along before we can get up the bank。 That
is； unless you want to take the chance of falling into the creek again。〃
It was some distance to the place where the creek curved under the
railroad bed； and they would be obliged to go beyond that if they expected
to get the Fat Woman out without a repetition of the previous disaster。
After a while they reached the spot for which Teddy had been heading。
Marie surveyed the bank up wh