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the open enclosure between the two dressing tents is called。 Phil had
picked up the ringmaster's whip and was cracking it to attract the attention
of the people to what he was trying to tell them。
Somehow； many seemed to gain confidence from this plucky； slender
lad clad in silk tights； who was rushing up and down as cool and collected
as if three thousand persons were not in deadly peril。
Nothing but Phil Forrest's coolness saved many from death that night。
A mighty roar suddenly drew every eye in the tent to the south end
where the wind was pressing against the canvas with increasing force。
Phil stood near the entrance； the flap of which had been quickly laced
and staked down when the canvasmen saw the gale coming upon them。
He turned quickly； for the roar had seemed to be almost at his side。
What he saw drew an exclamation from Phil that； at other times； might
have been humorous。 There was no humor in it now。
〃Gracious！〃 exclaimed the lad。
There； within twenty feet of him stood a lion； a huge； powerful beast；
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
with head up； the hair standing straight along its back； the mane rippling in
the breeze。
〃It's Wallace；〃 breathed the lad； almost unable to believe his eyes。
The biggest lion in captivity； somehow in the excitement had managed to
escape from his cage。
〃Now there'll be a panic for sure！ They've seen him！〃
〃Sit still and keep still！ He won't hurt you！〃 shouted Phil。 〃Now； you
get out of here！〃 commanded Phil； starting toward Wallace and cracking
the ringmaster's whip in the animal's face。
Just for the briefest part of a second did Wallace give way； then with a
terrific roar； he bounded clear over the Circus Boy's head； bowling Phil
over as he leaped； and on down to the center of the arena。
Phil had not been hurt。 He was up and after the dangerous beast in a
twinkling。 The audience saw what he was trying to do。
〃Keep away from him！〃 bellowed Mr。 Sparling。
〃Throw a net over him！〃 shouted Phil。
However； between the storm and the escaped lion； none seemed to
have his wits about him sufficiently to know what was best to do。 Had the
showmen acted promptly when Phil called； they might have been able to
capture the beast then and there。
Seeing that they were not going to do so； and that the lion was walking
slowly toward the reserved seats； Phil sprang in front of the dangerous
brute to head him off。
The occupants of the reserved seats were standing up。 The panic
might break at any minute。
〃Sit down！〃 came the command； in a stern； boyish voice。
Phil faced the escaped lion； starting toward it with a threatening
motion of the whip。
〃Are you ever going to get a net？〃
〃Get a net！〃 thundered Mr。 Sparling。 〃Get away from him； Phil！〃
Instead of doing so； the Circus Boy stepped closer to the beast。 No one
made the slightest move to capture the beast； as Phil realized might easily
be done now； if only a few had the presence of mind to attempt it。
Crack！
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
The ringmaster's whip in Phil's hands snapped and the leather lash bit
deep into the nose of Wallace。
With a roar that sounded louder than that of the storm outside the lion
took a quick step forward； only to get the lash on his nose again。
Suddenly he turned about and in long； curving bounds headed for the
lower end of the tent。 Mr。 Sparling sprang to one side； knowing full well
that it would be better to lose the lion than to stir up the audience more
than they already were stirred。
Phil was in full pursuit； cracking his whip at every jump。
Wallace leaped through the open flap at the lower end of the tent and
disappeared in the night。
Just as he did so there came a sound different from anything that had
preceded it。 A series of reports followed one another until it sounded as
if a battery of small cannon were being fired； together with a ripping and
tearing and rending that sent every spectator in the big tent； to his feet
yelling and shouting。
〃The tent is coming down！ The tent is coming down！〃
Women fainted and men began fighting to get down into the arena。
〃Stay where you are！〃 shouted Phil。 Then the Circus Boy did a bold
act。 Running along in front of the seats he let drive the lash of his long
whip full into the faces of the struggling people。 The sting of the lash
brought many of them to their senses。 Then they too turned to help hold
the others back。
With a wrench； the center poles were lifted several feet up into the air。
〃Look out for the quarter poles！ Keep back or you'll be killed！〃
shouted Phil。
〃Keep back！ Keep back！〃 bellowed Mr。 Sparling。
And now the quarter polesthe poles that stand leaning toward the
center of the arena； just in front of the lower row of seatsbegan to fall；
crashing inward； forced to the north。
The center poles snapped like pipe stems； pieces of them being hurled
half the length of the tent。
Down came the canvas； extinguishing the lights and leaving the place
in deep darkness。 The people were fairly beside themselves with fright。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
But still that boyish voice was heard above the uproar：
〃Sit still！ Sit still！〃
The whole mass of canvas collapsed and went rolling northward like a
sail suddenly ripped from the yards of a ship。
The last mighty blow of the storm had been more than canvas and
painted poles could stand。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XXIII
THE LION HUNT
For a moment there was silence。 Then the people began shouting。
〃Bring lights； men！〃 thundered the owner of the show。
Being so near the outer edges of the tent； the people had escaped
almost without injury。 Many had been bruised as the canvas swept over