CHAPTER III. KIT ASTONISHES TWO ACROBATS.

 The circus tent was nearly ready for the regular performance. Kit¹ and Dan regarded the sawdust arena² with the interest which it always inspires in boys of sixteen. Already it was invested with fascination³ for them. Two acrobats⁵ who performed what is called the "brothers' act" were rehearsing. They were placarded as the Vincenti brothers, though one was a French Canadian and the other an Irishman, and there was no relationship between them. At the time the boys entered, one had climbed upon the other's shoulders, and was standing⁶ erect⁷ with folded arms. This was, of course, easy, but the next act was more difficult. By a quick movement he lowered his head, and grasping the uplifted hands of the lower acrobat⁴, raised his feet and poised⁸ himself aloft, with his feet up in the air, sustained by the muscular arms of his associate.

 

"That must take strength, Kit," said Dan.

 

"So it does."

 

"No one but a circus man could do it, I suppose?"

 

"I can do it," said Kit quietly.

 

Dan regarded him with undisguised astonishment⁹.

 

"You are joking," he said.

 

"No, I am not."

 

"Where did you learn to do such a thing?" asked Dan, incredulous, though he knew Kit to be a boy of truth.[Pg 14]

 

"I will tell you. In the town where I attended boarding school there is a large gymnasium, under the superintendence of a man who traveled for years with a circus. He used to give lessons to the boys, but most contented¹⁰ themselves with a few common exercises. I suppose I should also, but there was an English boy in the school, very supple¹¹ and muscular, who was proud of his strength, and ambitious to make himself a thorough gymnast. He persuaded me to take lessons in the most difficult acrobatic feats¹² with him, as two had to work together."

 

"Did you pay the professor extra to instruct you?" asked Dan.

 

"He charged nothing. He was only too glad to teach us all he knew. It seems he was at one time connected with Barnum's circus, and prepared performers for the arena. He told us it made him think of his old circus days to teach us. At the close of last term we gave him five dollars apiece as an acknowledgment of his services. He assured us then that we were competent to perform in any circus."

 

"Could you really do what the Vincenti brothers are doing?"

 

"Yes; and more."

 

"I wish I could see you do it."

 

The boys were seated near the sawdust arena, and the last part of their conversation had been heard by the acrobats. It was taken as an illustration of boyish braggadocio¹⁴, and as circus men are always ready for practical jokes, particularly at the expense of greenhorns, they resolved that there was a good chance for a little fun.

 

One tipped the wink¹⁵ to the other, and turning to Kit, said: "What's that you're saying, kid?"

 

"How does he know your name?" said Dan, mis[Pg 15]taking kid, the circus name for boy, for his friend's nickname.

 

"He said kid, not Kit," answered our hero.

 

"Do you think you can do our act?" continued the acrobat.

 

"I think I can," replied Kit.

 

This elicited¹⁶ a broad grin from the acrobat.

 

"Look here, kid," he said, "do you know how long it took me to learn the business?"

 

"I don't know, but I should like to know."

 

"Three years."

 

"No doubt you can do a great deal more than I."

 

"Oh, no, certainly not!" said the acrobat, ironically.

 

"I see you don't believe me," said Kit.

 

"I'll tell you what you remind me of, kid. There was a fellow came to our circus last summer, and wanted to get an engagement as rider. He said he'd been a cowboy out in New Mexico, and had been employed to break horses. So we gave the fellow a trial. We brought out a wild mustang, and told him to show what he could do. The mustang let him get on, as was his custom, but after he was fairly on, he gave a jump, and Mr. Cowboy measured his length on the sawdust."

 

Kit and Dan both smiled at this story.

 

"I am not a cowboy, and don't profess¹³ to ride bucking¹⁷ mustangs," he said, "though my friend Dan may."

 

"I'd rather be excused," put in Dan.

 

"I'll tell you what, kid, if you'll go through the performance you've just seen I'll give you five dollars."

 

The fellow expected Kit would make some hasty excuse, but he was mistaken. Our hero rose from his[Pg 16] seat, removed his coat and vest, and bounded into the arena.

 

"I am ready," he said, "but I am not strong enough to be the under man. I'll do the other."

 

"All right! Go ahead!"

 

The speaker put himself in position. Kit gave a spring, and in an instant was upon his shoulders.

 

There was an exclamation¹⁸ of surprise from the second acrobat.

 

"Christopher!" he exclaimed. "The boy's got something in him, after all."

 

"Now what shall I do?" asked Kit, as with folded arms he stood on the acrobat's shoulders.

 

"Keep your place while I walk round the arena."

 

Kit maintained his position while the acrobat ran round the circle, increasing his pace on purpose to dislodge his young associate. But Kit was too well used to this act to be embarrassed. He held himself erect, and never swerved¹⁹ for an instant.

 

"Pretty good, kid!" said the acrobat. "Now reverse yourself and stand on my hands with your feet in the air."

 

Kit made the change skillfully, and to the equal surprise of Dan and the other acrobat, both of whom applauded without stint²⁰.

 

"Can you do anything else?" asked Alonzo Vincenti.

 

"Yes."

 

Kit went through a variety of other feats, and then descending²¹ from his elevated perch²², was about to resume his coat and vest, when the circus performer asked him, "Can you tumble?"

 

Kit's answer was to roll over the arena in a succession of somersaults and hand springs.

 

"Well, I'm beat!" said the acrobat. "You're the[Pg 17] smartest kid I ever met in my travels. Are you sure you're not a professional?"

 

"Quite sure," answered Kit, smiling.

 

"You never traveled with a show, then?"

 

Kit shook his head.

 

"Where on earth did you pick up all these acts?"

 

"I took lessons of Professor Donaldson."

 

"You did! Well, that explains it. I say, kid, you ought to join a circus. You'd command a fine salary."

 

"Would I? How much could I get?" asked Kit, with interest.

 

"Ten or twelve dollars a week and all expenses paid. That's pretty good pay for a kid, isn't it?"

 

"It's more than I ever earned yet," answered Kit, with a smile.

 

"I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Barlow would give you that now. If you ever make up your mind to join a show, come round and see him."

 

"Thank you," said Kit.

 

Soon after the boys left the circus lot and went home.

 

"Would you really join a circus, Kit?" asked Dan.

 

"It isn't the life I would choose," answered Kit, seriously, "but I may have to find some way of earning a living, and that very soon."

 

"I thought your father left you a fortune."

 

"So did I; but I hear that I am to be taken from boarding school, and possibly set to work. Ralph has given me a hint of it. I shall soon know, as my uncle intimates that he has a communication to make me."

 

"I hope it isn't as bad as you think, Kit."

 

"I hope so too, but I can tell you better to-morrow. We will meet to-night at the show."

1 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

2 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

3 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

4 acrobat   

n.特技演员，杂技演员

参考例句：

• The acrobat balanced a long pole on his left shoulder.杂技演员让一根长杆在他的左肩上保持平衡。
• The acrobat could bend himself into a hoop.这个杂技演员可以把身体蜷曲成圆形。

5 acrobats   

n.杂技演员( acrobat的名词复数 )；立场观点善变的人，主张、政见等变化无常的人

参考例句：

• I was always fascinated by the acrobats at the circus. 我总是着迷于马戏团里的杂技演员。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The acrobats' performance drew forth applause from the audience. 杂技演员的表演博得了观众的掌声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

8 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

9 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

10 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

11 supple   

adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺

参考例句：

• She gets along well with people because of her supple nature.她与大家相处很好，因为她的天性柔和。
• He admired the graceful and supple movements of the dancers.他赞扬了舞蹈演员优雅灵巧的舞姿。

12 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

13 profess   

v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰

参考例句：

• I profess that I was surprised at the news.我承认这消息使我惊讶。
• What religion does he profess?他信仰哪种宗教？

14 braggadocio   

n.吹牛大王

参考例句：

• He was disliked because his manner was always full of braggadocio.人们讨厌他，因为他老是吹牛。
• Underneath his goofball braggadocio lies a kind of purity.在他笨拙的自夸里蕴含着一丝纯洁。

15 wink   

n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁

参考例句：

• He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
• The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间，那颗卫星就消失了。

16 elicited   

引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Threats to reinstate the tax elicited jeer from the Opposition. 恢复此项征税的威胁引起了反对党的嘲笑。
• The comedian's joke elicited applause and laughter from the audience. 那位滑稽演员的笑话博得观众的掌声和笑声。

17 bucking   

v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的现在分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• a bucking bronco in the rodeo 牛仔竞技表演中一匹弓背跳跃的野马
• That means we'll be bucking grain bags, bustin's gut. 那就是说咱们要背这一袋袋的谷子，得把五脏都累坏。 来自辞典例句

18 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

19 swerved   

v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist. 她猛地急转弯，以躲开一个骑自行车的人。
• The driver has swerved on a sudden to avoid a file of geese. 为了躲避一队鹅，司机突然来个急转弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。

21 descending   

n. 下行 adj. 下降的

参考例句：

• The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
• The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

22 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。