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The next variation of the act was what is known as a 〃passing leap；〃
where； while the catcher is throwing one performer back to his trapeze bar；
a second one is flying toward the catcher； the two supple bodies passing in
the air headed in opposite directions。 In this case； his opposite partner
was a young woman； the successor to little Zoraya who had been so
severely injured earlier in the season。
〃Fine； Phil！〃 she breathed as they passed each other； and the Circus
Boy's face took on a pleased smile。
〃Try a turn next time；〃 said Mr。 Prentice； as he threw Phil lightly into
the air toward his trapeze。 〃Think you can do it？〃
〃I can try； at least。〃
Phil got a wide swing and then at a signal from the catcher； shot up
into the air。 He threw a quick somersault； then stretched out his hands to
be caught。 He was too low down for Mr。 Prentice to reach him and Phil
shot toward the net head first。
Though he had lost his bearings during the turn he had not lost his
presence of mind。
〃Turn！〃 shouted a voice from below； the watchful ringmaster having
observed at once that the lad was falling； and that he was liable to strike on
his head in the net with the possible chance of breaking his neck。
Phil understood； then； exactly what his position was； and； with a slight
upward tilt of his head； brought his body into position so that he would
strike the net on his shoulders。
He hit the net with a smack； bounded high into the air； rounding off his
accident by throwing a somersault on the net； bounding up and down a
few times on his feet。
The audience； quick to appreciate what he had done； gave Phil a
rousing cheer。
He shook his head and began clambering up the rope again。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃What happened to me？〃 he called across to the catcher。
〃You turned too quickly。〃
〃I'll do it right this time。〃
The band stopped playing； that its silence might emphasize the act。
Then Phil； measuring his distance with keen eyes； launched into the air
again。 But instead of turning one somersault he turned two； landing
fairly into the outstretched arms of Mr。 Prentice； who gave him a mighty
swing； whereat Phil hurled himself into a mad whirl； performing three
more somersaults before he struck the net。
The audience howled with delight； and Mr。 Sparling rushed forward
fairly hugging the Circus Boy in his delight。
〃Wonderful！〃 cried the showman。 〃You're a sure…enough star this
time。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XXII
IN A LIVELY BLOW…DOWN
》From that moment on； until the close of the season； Phil Forrest
retained his place on the aerial trapeze team； doubling up with his other
work； and putting the finishing touches to what Mr。 Sparling called 〃a
great career on the bars。〃
But Phil； much as he loved the work； did not propose to spend all his
life performing above the heads of the people。 He felt that a greater
future was before him on the ground at the front of the house。
Only a week remained now before the show would close for the
season。 Even in Texas； where they were showing； the nights had begun
to grow chilly； stiffening the muscles of the performers and making them
irritable。 All were looking forward to the day when the tents should be
struck for the last time that season。
〃What's the next stand？〃 asked Phil in the dressing tent a few nights
after his triumphal performance on the trapeze。
〃Tucker； Texas；〃 answered a voice。
〃What's that？〃 shouted a clown。
〃Tucker； I said。〃
〃Any relation to Teddy Tucker？〃
〃I hope not；〃 laughed the head clown。
〃A place with that name spells trouble。 Anything by the name of
Tucker； whether it's Teddy or not； means that we are in for some kind of a
mix…up。 I wish I could go fishing tomorrow。〃
All in the dressing tent chuckled at the clown's sally。
〃I know what you'd catch if you did；〃 grumbled Teddy。
〃Now； what would I catch； young man？〃 demanded the clown。
〃You'd catch cold。 That's all you can catch；〃 retorted Teddy； whereat
the laugh was turned on the clown； much to the latter's disgust。
Tucker proved to be a pretty little town on the open plain。 There was
nothing in the appearance of the place to indicate that they might look for
trouble。 However； as the clown had prophesied； trouble was awaiting
themtrouble of a nature that the showman dreads from the beginning to
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
the end of the circus season。
The afternoon performance passed off without a hitch； the tent being
crowded almost to its capacity； Phil Forrest throwing himself into his work
in the air with more spirit and enthusiasm than he had shown at any time
since he took up his new work。
At Mr。 Sparling's request； however； the lad had omitted his triple
somersault from the trapeze bar。 The showman considered the act too
dangerous； assuring Phil that sooner or later he would be sure to break his
neck。
Phil laughed at the owner's fears； but promised that he would try
nothing beyond a double after that。 He remembered how quickly he had
lost himself when he attempted the feat before。 Few men are able to do it
without their brains becoming so confused that they lose all sense of
direction and location。
The evening house was almost as large as that of the afternoon； as
usual the audience being made up principally of town people； the country
spectators having returned to their homes before night。 The night set in
dark and oppressive。
Soon after the gasoline lights were lighted the animals began growling；
pacing their cages restlessly； while the lions roared intermittently； and the
hyenas laughed almost hysterically。
It sent a shiver down the backs of nearly everyone who heard it the
shrill laugh of the hyenas reaching cle