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It sent a shiver down the backs of nearly everyone who heard it the
shrill laugh of the hyenas reaching clear back to the dressing tent。
Teddy Tucker's eyes always grew large when he heard the laugh of the
hyena。
〃B…r…r…r！〃 exclaimed Teddy。
〃You'll 'b…r…r…r' worse than that before you get through；〃 growled a
performer。
〃Why？〃
〃 'Cause it means what somebody said the other nighttrouble。〃
〃What kind of trouble does it mean？〃 asked Phil。
〃I don't know。 Some kind of a storm； I guess。 You can't always tell。
Those animals know more than we human beings； when it comes to
weather and that sort of thing；〃 broke in Mr。 Miaco the head clown。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃Well； you expected something would happen in a town called Tucker；
didn't you？〃
〃Are you going to be with this show next season； Teddy？〃 questioned
the clown who had taunted him before。
〃I hope to。〃
〃Then I sign out with some other outfit。 I refuse to travel with a
bunch that carries a hoodoo like you with it。 I feel it in my bones that
something is going to happen tonight； and just as soon as I can get through
my act I'm going to runrun； mind you； not walkback to the train as fast
as my legs will carry me。 That won't be any snail's pace； either。〃
The performers joked and passed the time away until the band started
the overture； off under the big top。 This means that it is about time for
the show to begin； and that the music is started to hurry the people to their
seats。
All hands fell silent as they got busy putting the finishing touches to
their makeup。
〃All acts cut short five minutes tonight；〃 sang the voice of the
ringmaster at the entrance to the dressing tent。
〃You see；〃 said the clown； nodding his head at Teddy。
〃No； I hear；〃 grumbled Teddy。 〃What's it all about？〃
〃Don't ask me。 I don't know。 I'm not running this show。〃
〃Lucky for the show that you aren't；〃 muttered the Circus Boy。
〃What's that？〃
〃I was just thinking out loud； I guess。〃
〃It's a bad habit。 Don't do it when I'm around。 All hoodoos talk to
themselves and in their sleep。〃
The show was started off with a rush； the Grand Entry having been cut
out again； as is frequently the case with a show where there is a long run
ahead； or a storm is expected。 That night those in the dressing tent could
only surmise the reason。 The hyena's warning was the only thing to
guide the performers in their search for a reason for the haste。 But they
took the situation philosophically； as they always had； and prepared for the
performance as usual。
The performance had gotten along well toward the end； and without
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
the slightest interruption。 All hands were beginning to feel a certain
sense of relief； when the shrill blasts of the boss canvasman's emergency
whistle were heard outside the big top。
Phil had just completed his trapeze act and was dropping into the net
when the whistle sounded。
He glanced up and made a signal to the others in the air。 They dropped；
one by one； to the net and swung themselves to the ground； where they
stood awaiting the completion of the piece that the band was playing。
〃Wind； isn't it？〃 questioned Mr。 Prentice。
Phil nodded。
He was listening intently。 His keen ears caught a distant roar that
caused him to gaze apprehensively aloft。
〃I am afraid we are going to have trouble；〃 he said。
〃It has been in the air all the evening；〃 was the low answer。 〃Wonder if
they have the menagerie tent out of the way？〃
It was being taken down at that moment； the elephants having been
removed to the train； as had part of the cages。
All at once there was a roar that sent the blood from the faces of the
spectators。 The boss canvasman's whistle trilled excitedly。
〃There go the dressing tents；〃 said Phil calmly as a ripping and rending
was heard off by the paddock。 〃I hope it hasn't taken my trunk with it。
Glad I locked the trunk before coming into the ring。〃
The band stopped playing suddenly。 The tent was in absolute silence。
〃It's a cyclone！〃 shouted a voice among the spectators。
A murmur ran over the assemblage。 In a moment they would be in a
mad rush； trampling each other under foot in their efforts to escape。
Phil bounded toward the band。
〃Play！ Play！〃 he shouted。 〃They'll stampede if you don't。 Play； I tell
you！〃
The bandmaster waved his baton and the music of the band drowned
out the mutterings of the storm for the moment。
Suddenly the roaring without grew louder。 Ropes were creaking；
center and quarter poles lifting themselves a few inches from the ground；
dangerously。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃It's blowing end on；〃 muttered Phil； running full speed down the
concourse in his ring costume。
〃Keep your seats！〃 he shouted。 〃There may be no danger。 If the
tent should go down you will be safer where you are。 Keep your seats；
everybody。〃
Phil dashed on； shouting his warning until he had gotten halfway
around the tent。 Mr。 Prentice had taken up the lad's cry on the other side。
Then the blow fell。
The big top bent under the sweep of the gale until the center poles
were leaning far over to the north。 Had the wind not struck the tent on
the end it must have gone down under the first blast。 As it was； canvas；
rope and pole were holding； but every stitch of canvas and every pole was
trembling under its burden。
〃Sit steady； everybody！ We may be able to weather it。〃
Phil saw that； if the people were to run into the arena and the tent
should fall； many must be crushed under the center and quarter poles。
Up and down he ran shouting words of encouragement； and he was
thus engaged when Mr。 Sparling worked his way in from the pad room； as
the open enclosure between the two dressi