CHAPTER XIII. BREAKFAST IN THE CIRCUS TENT.

 Achilles entered the circus inclosure—the "lot," as it is generally called,—and made his way to a small tent situated¹ not far from the one devoted² to the performances. An attendant was carrying in a plate of hot steak and potatoes from the cook tent near by.

 

"Is breakfast ready?" asked Achilles.

 

"Yes; any time you want it."

 

"Is anybody inside?"

 

"Only Mademoiselle Louise."

 

"Well, I want three breakfasts—for myself and my two young friends here."

 

"I didn't know you had sons," said Mike, the attendant, regarding Kit³ and William with some curiosity.

 

"I haven't. One of these young men is an acrobat⁴, who will be one of us. The other is his friend. Bring along the grub as quick as possible—we are all hungry."

 

"All right, sir."

 

Running the length of the tent, which was about twenty feet by ten, was a long table surrounded by benches.

 

The giant took his seat and placed the boys one on[Pg 66] each side of him. Just opposite sat a woman of twenty-five or thereabouts, who was already eating breakfast.

 

"Good morning, Mlle. Louise," said the giant.

 

"Good morning, Mr. Henderson," responded the lady. "Who are your young companions?"

 

"I don't know their names, but this one," placing his hand on Kit's shoulder, "has been engaged by Mr. Barlow as an acrobat."

 

"Indeed! He looks young."

 

"I am sixteen," volunteered Kit.

 

"What circus have you traveled with before this season?" asked Mlle. Louise.

 

"I have never traveled with any, madam."

 

"But you are an acrobat?"

 

"I have had my practice in a gymnasium."

 

"How came Mr. Barlow to engage you?"

 

"At Smyrna I practiced a little with the Vincenti brothers."

 

"At Smyrna? Why, that's where the lion dashed into the arena⁵!"

 

"Yes."

 

"Do you know the boy who had the courage to face him?"

 

Kit blushed.

 

"I am the boy," he said.

 

"You don't mean it!" exclaimed the lady, vivaciously⁶. "Why, you're a hero. I must shake hands with you," and she reached across the table and gave Kit a hearty⁷ grasp of the hand.

 

"Is that so?" interposed Achilles. "Why, I didn't know you were the boy. I was not present at the time, and only heard of it afterwards. Mlle. Louise is right. You are a brave fellow."

 

"I am much obliged to you both for your favor[Pg 67]able opinion," said Kit modestly, "but I didn't realize my danger till afterwards."

 

"Oh, heavens! I can see him now—that wicked beast!" exclaimed the lady. "I was nearly scared out of my senses. As for poor Dupont, he was nearer death than I ever want to be till my time comes."

 

"Was Dupont the clown?" asked Kit.

 

"Yes. The lion held him down, with his foot upon the poor clown's back, and but for your brave act he would have torn the poor fellow to pieces. Mr. Henderson, you missed the most thrilling act of the evening."

 

"So I begin to think. By the way, boys, I ought to have introduced this lady. She is the famous aerial artist, whom you saw the other evening in her wonderful feats⁸ upon the trapeze."

 

"Yes," said Mlle. Louise, complacently⁹, "I think I have a pretty good act. I get plenty of applause, eh, Mr. Henderson?"

 

"That's true. I think I should leave the circus if I had to appear in your act. I never could summon up courage."

 

The lady laughed.

 

"Monsieur Achilles," she said, "I wouldn't advise you to emulate¹⁰ me. I don't believe you could find a rope strong enough to support you, and if you should fall, I pity the audience."

 

"You have convinced me. I shall give up all thoughts of it," said the giant, with mock gravity. "It would suit better our young friend here, who is an acrobat."

 

"Did you ever practice on a trapeze?" asked Mlle. Louise, turning to Kit.

 

"Yes, often," answered Kit, "but never at a great height."[Pg 68]

 

"Would it frighten you to find yourself so high up in the air?"

 

"I don't think so; I have a cool head."

 

"You must practice. I will give you a few hints myself. If you are cool and courageous¹¹, as I judge you will soon learn. By the way, what is your name?"

 

"Kit Watson."

 

"It'll be something else when you begin work."

 

"Do all performers have assumed names?"

 

"Generally. Here I am Mademoiselle Louise Lefroy, but it isn't a bit like my real name."

 

Before this the boys had been served with breakfast. The steak was rather tough, and the coffee not of the best quality, but Kit and William thoroughly¹² enjoyed it, and thought it about the best breakfast they had ever eaten. Mlle. Louise continued to converse¹³ with them, and was very gracious.

 

"Are you too an acrobat?" she asked William.

 

William became so confused that he swallowed some coffee the wrong way, and came near choking.

 

"No, ma'am," he answered bashfully, "but I'd like to go round with the show."

 

"You'll be better off at home if you've got one," said the giant. "You are not a performer; you are too small for a property man, and not strong enough for a razorback."

 

"What's a razorback?" asked William, in amazement¹⁴.

 

Achilles smiled.

 

"It's a boy or man who helps load and unload the circus cars," he answered. "It is heavy work, and you would be thrown among a low lot of people—canvasmen, and such. Our young friend here, on the other hand, will have a good sleeping berth¹⁵, eat at the first table, and be well provided for generally."[Pg 69]

 

William looked disappointed. He had never thought particularly about traveling with a circus till now, but his meeting with Kit had given him a circus fever.

 

At ten o'clock Mr. Barlow came to the grounds, and Achilles volunteered to go with Kit to speak with him about his engagement.

1 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

2 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

3 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。

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 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。

6 vivaciously   

adv.快活地；活泼地；愉快地

参考例句：

• He describes his adventures vivaciously. 他兴奋地谈论着自己的冒险经历。 来自互联网

7 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

8 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。

9 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

10 emulate   

v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿

参考例句：

• You must work hard to emulate your sister.你必须努力工作，赶上你姐姐。
• You must look at the film and try to emulate his behavior.你们必须观看这部电影，并尽力模仿他的动作。

11 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

12 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

13 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

14 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

15 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。