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CHAPTER XVII. LEFT BEHIND
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 “Is he hurt much?”
 
“Don’t know. Maybe he’s broken his neck.”
 
This brief dialogue ensued between two painted clowns hurrying to their stations.
 
In the meantime the band struck up a lively air, the clowns launched into a merry medley1 of song and jest and in a few moments the spectators forgot the scene they had just witnessed, in the noise, the dash and the color. It would come back to them later like some long-past dream.
 
Mr. Kennedy, with grim, set face, uttered a stern command to Emperor, who for a brief instant had stood irresolute2, as if pondering as to whether he should turn and plunge3 for the red silk curtains behind which his little friend had disappeared in the arms of the attendants.
 
The trainer’s voice won, and Emperor trumpeting4 loudly, took his way to his quarters without further protest.
 
In the dressing5 tent another scene was being enacted6. On two drawn-up trunks, over which had been thrown a couple of horse blankets, they had laid the slender, red-clad figure of Phil Forrest.
 
The boy’s pale face appeared even more ashen7 than it really was under the flickering8 glare of the gasoline torches. His head had been propped9 up on a saddle, while about him stood a half circle of solemn-faced performers in various stages of undress and makeup10.
 
“Is he badly hurt?” asked one.
 
“Can’t say. Miaco has gone for the doc. We’ll know pretty soon. That was a dandy tumble he took.”
 
“How did it happen?”
 
“Wire broke. You can’t put no faith on a wire with a kink in it. I nearly got my light put out, out in St. Joe, Missouri, by a trick like that. No more swinging wire for me. Guess the kid, if he pulls out of this, will want to hang on to a rope after this. He will if he’s wise.”
 
“What’s this? What’s this?” roared Mr. Sparling, who, having heard of the accident, came rushing into the tent. “Who’s hurt?”
 
“The kid,” informed someone.
 
“What kid? Can’t you fellows talk? Oh, it’s Forrest, is it? How did it happen?”
 
One of the performers who had witnessed the accident related what he had observed.
 
“Huh!” grunted11 the showman, stepping up beside Phil and placing a hand on the boy’s heart.
 
“Huh!”
 
“He’s alive, isn’t he, Mr. Sparling?”
 
“Yes. Anybody gone for the doctor?”
 
“Miaco has.”
 
“Wonder any of you had sense enough to think of that. I congratulate you. Somebody will suffer when I find out who was responsible for hanging that boy’s life on a rotten old piece of wire. I presume it’s been kicking around this outfit12 for the last seven years.”
 
“Here comes the doc,” announced a voice.
 
There was a tense silence in the dressing tent, broken only by the patter of the rain drops on the canvas roof, while the show’s surgeon was making his examination.
 
“Well, well! What about it?” demanded Mr. Sparling impatiently.
 
The surgeon did not answer at once. His calm, professional demeanor13 was not to be disturbed by the blustering15 but kind- hearted showman, and the showman, knowing this from past experience, relapsed into silence until such time as the surgeon should conclude to answer him.
 
“Did he fall on his head?” he questioned, looking up, at the same time running his fingers over Phil’s dark-brown hair.
 
“Looks that way, doesn’t it?”
 
“I should say so.”
 
“What’s the matter with him?”
 
“I shall be unable to decide definitely for an hour or so yet, unless he regains16 consciousness in the meantime. It may be a fracture of the skull17 or a mere18 concussion19.”
 
“Huh!”
 
Mr. Sparling would have said more, but for the fact that the calm eyes of the surgeon were fixed20 upon him in a level gaze.
 
“Any bones broken?”
 
“No; I think not. How far did he fall?”
 
“Fell from Emperor’s head when the bull was up in the air. He must have taken all of a twenty-foot dive, I should say.”
 
“Possible? It’s a great wonder he didn’t break his neck. But he is very well muscled for a boy of his age. I don’t suppose they have a hospital in this town?”
 
“Of course not. They never have anything in these tank towns. You ought to know that by this time.”
 
“They have a hotel. I know for I took dinner there today. If you will get a carriage of some sort I think we had better take him there.”
 
“Leave him, you mean?” questioned Mr. Sparling.
 
“Yes; that will be best. We can put him in charge of a local physician here. He ought to be able to take care of the boy all right.”
 
“Not by a jug21 full!” roared Mr. James Sparling. “We’ll do nothing of the sort.”
 
“It will not be safe to take him with us, Sparling.”
 
“Did I say it would? Did I? Of course, he shan’t be moved, nor will he be left to one of these know-nothing sawbones. You’ll stay here with him yourself, and you’ll take care of him if you know what’s good for you. I’d rather lose most any five men in this show than that boy there.”
 
The surgeon nodded his approval of the sentiment. He, too, had taken quite a fancy to Phil, because of the lad’s sunny disposition22 and natural brightness.
 
“Get out the coach some of you fellows. Have my driver hook up and drive back into the paddock here, and be mighty23 quick about it. Here, doc, is a head of lettuce24 (roll of money). If you need any more, you know where to reach us. Send me a telegram in the morning and another tomorrow night. Keep me posted and pull that boy out of this scrape or you’ll be everlastingly25 out of a job with the Sparling Combined Shows. Understand?”
 
The surgeon nodded understandingly. He had heard Mr. Sparling bluster14 on other occasions, and it did not make any great impression upon him.
 
The carriage was quickly at hand. Circus people were in the habit of obeying orders promptly26. A quick drive was made to the hotel, where the circus boy was quickly undressed and put to bed.
 
All during the night the surgeon worked faithfully over his little charge, and just as the first streaks27 of daylight slanted28 through the window and across the white counterpane, Phil opened his eyes.
 
For only a moment did they remain open, then closed again.
 
The surgeon drew a long, deep breath.
 
“Not a fracture,” he announced aloud. “I’m thankful for that.” He drew the window shades down to shut out the light, as it was all important that Phil should be kept quiet for a time. But the surgeon did not sleep. He sat keen-eyed by the side of the bed, now and then noting the pulse of his patient, touching29 the lad’s cheeks with light fingers.
 
After a time the fresh morning air, fragrant30 with the fields and flowers, drifted in, and the birds in the trees took up their morning songs.
 
“I guess the storm must be over,” muttered the medical man, rising softly and peering out from behind the curtain.
 
The day was dawning bright and beautiful.
 
“My, it feels good to be in bed!” said a voice from the opposite side of the room. “Where am I?”
 
The surgeon wheeled sharply.
 
“You are to keep very quiet. You had a tumble that shook you up considerably31.”
 
“What time is it?” demanded Phil sharply.
 
“About five o’clock in the morning.”
 
“I must get up; I must get up.”
 
“You will lie perfectly32 still. The show will get along without you today, I guess.”
 
“You don’t mean they have gone on and left me?”
 
“Of course; they couldn’t wait for you.”
 
The boys eyes filled with tears.
 
“I knew it couldn’t last. I knew it.”
 
“See here, do you want to join the show again?”
 
“Of course, I do.”
 
“Well, then, lie still. The more quiet you keep the sooner you will be able to get out. Try to go to sleep. I must go downstairs and send a message to Mr. Sparling, for he is very much concerned about you.”
 
“Then he will take me back?” asked Phil eagerly.
 
“Of course he will.”
 
“I’ll go to sleep, doctor.”
 
Phil turned over on his side and a moment later was breathing naturally.
 
The doctor tip-toed from the room and hastened down to the hotel office where he penned the following message:
 
James Sparling,
 
Sparling Combined Shows,
 
Boyertown.
 
Forrest recovers consciousness. Not a fracture. Expect him to be all right in a few days. Will stay unless further orders.
 
Irvine.
 
“I think I’ll go upstairs and get a bit of a nap myself,” decided33 the surgeon, after having directed the sleepy clerk to see to it that the message was dispatched to its destination at once.
 
He found Phil sleeping soundly. Throwing himself into a chair the surgeon, used to getting a catnap whenever and wherever possible, was soon sleeping as soundly as was his young patient.
 
Neither awakened34 until the day was nearly done.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 medley vCfxg     
n.混合
参考例句:
  • Today's sports meeting doesn't seem to include medley relay swimming.现在的运动会好象还没有混合接力泳这个比赛项目。
  • China won the Men's 200 metres Individual Medley.中国赢得了男子200米个人混合泳比赛。
2 irresolute X3Vyy     
adj.无决断的,优柔寡断的,踌躇不定的
参考例句:
  • Irresolute persons make poor victors.优柔寡断的人不会成为胜利者。
  • His opponents were too irresolute to call his bluff.他的对手太优柔寡断,不敢接受挑战。
3 plunge 228zO     
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲
参考例句:
  • Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
  • That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。
4 trumpeting 68cf4dbd1f99442d072d18975013a14d     
大声说出或宣告(trumpet的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • She is always trumpeting her son. 她总是吹嘘她儿子。
  • The wind is trumpeting, a bugle calling to charge! 风在掌号。冲锋号! 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
5 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
6 enacted b0a10ad8fca50ba4217bccb35bc0f2a1     
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
  • Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
7 ashen JNsyS     
adj.灰的
参考例句:
  • His face was ashen and wet with sweat.他面如土色,汗如雨下。
  • Her ashen face showed how much the news had shocked her.她灰白的脸显示出那消息使她多么震惊。
8 flickering wjLxa     
adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的
参考例句:
  • The crisp autumn wind is flickering away. 清爽的秋风正在吹拂。
  • The lights keep flickering. 灯光忽明忽暗。
9 propped 557c00b5b2517b407d1d2ef6ba321b0e     
支撑,支持,维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。
  • This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。
10 makeup 4AXxO     
n.组织;性格;化装品
参考例句:
  • Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
  • Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗?
11 grunted f18a3a8ced1d857427f2252db2abbeaf     
(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说
参考例句:
  • She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声,继续看书,不屑抬起头来看一眼。
  • She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。
12 outfit YJTxC     
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装
参考例句:
  • Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
  • His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。
13 demeanor JmXyk     
n.行为;风度
参考例句:
  • She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
  • The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。
14 bluster mRDy4     
v.猛刮;怒冲冲的说;n.吓唬,怒号;狂风声
参考例句:
  • We could hear the bluster of the wind and rain.我们能听到狂风暴雨的吹打声。
  • He was inclined to bluster at first,but he soon dropped.起初他老爱吵闹一阵,可是不久就不做声了。
15 blustering DRxy4     
adj.狂风大作的,狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 );咆哮;(风)呼啸;狂吹
参考例句:
  • It was five and a half o'clock now, and a raw, blustering morning. 这时才五点半,正是寒气逼人,狂风咆哮的早晨。 来自辞典例句
  • So sink the shadows of night, blustering, rainy, and all paths grow dark. 夜色深沉,风狂雨骤;到处途暗路黑。 来自辞典例句
16 regains 2b9d32bd499682b7d47a7662f2ec18e8     
复得( regain的第三人称单数 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地
参考例句:
  • It will take a lot of repair work before the theatre regains its former splendour. 要想剧院重拾昔日的辉煌,必须进行大规模整修。
  • He lays down the book and regains the consciousness. 他惊悸初定,掩卷细思。
17 skull CETyO     
n.头骨;颅骨
参考例句:
  • The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
  • He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去,跌裂了颅骨。
18 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
19 concussion 5YDys     
n.脑震荡;震动
参考例句:
  • He was carried off the field with slight concussion.他因轻微脑震荡给抬离了现场。
  • She suffers from brain concussion.她得了脑震荡。
20 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
21 jug QaNzK     
n.(有柄,小口,可盛水等的)大壶,罐,盂
参考例句:
  • He walked along with a jug poised on his head.他头上顶着一个水罐,保持着平衡往前走。
  • She filled the jug with fresh water.她将水壶注满了清水。
22 disposition GljzO     
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署
参考例句:
  • He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
  • He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。
23 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
24 lettuce C9GzQ     
n.莴苣;生菜
参考例句:
  • Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿,我好做色拉。
  • The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。
25 everlastingly e11726de37cbaab344011cfed8ecef15     
永久地,持久地
参考例句:
  • Why didn't he hold the Yankees instead of everlastingly retreating? 他为什么不将北军挡住,反而节节败退呢?
  • "I'm tired of everlastingly being unnatural and never doing anything I want to do. "我再也忍受不了这样无休止地的勉强自己,永远不能赁自己高兴做事。
26 promptly LRMxm     
adv.及时地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
  • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
27 streaks a961fa635c402b4952940a0218464c02     
n.(与周围有所不同的)条纹( streak的名词复数 );(通常指不好的)特征(倾向);(不断经历成功或失败的)一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 );使布满条纹
参考例句:
  • streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
  • Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
28 slanted 628a904d3b8214f5fc02822d64c58492     
有偏见的; 倾斜的
参考例句:
  • The sun slanted through the window. 太阳斜照进窗户。
  • She had slanted brown eyes. 她有一双棕色的丹凤眼。
29 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
30 fragrant z6Yym     
adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的
参考例句:
  • The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
  • The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。
31 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
32 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
33 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
34 awakened de71059d0b3cd8a1de21151c9166f9f0     
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
参考例句:
  • She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
  • The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》


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