“Yes; I wonder what’s the matter with him,” pondered the clown.
“Guess he’s mad because of young Forrest’s accident. Just got a good act started when he had to go and spoil it.”
Not a hint of the suspicion entertained by the owner and his elephant trainer had been breathed about the show. Nearly a week had passed since Phil’s narrow escape from death; yet, despite all the efforts of Kennedy or the shrewd observation of his employer, they were no nearer a solution of the mystery than before. The days passed, and with them the anger of James Sparling increased.
“That chum of Forrest’s is a funny fellow,” continued the first speaker. “He’d make a good clown?”
“Make? He’s one already. Look at him.”
Teddy was perched on the back of Jumbo, the trick mule3 of the show, out in the paddock, where the performers were indulging in various strange antics for the purpose of limbering themselves up prior to entering the ring for their acts.
The bright, warm sunlight was streaming down, picking up little flames from the glistening4 spangles sprinkled over the costumes of many of the circus folks.
Teddy and Jumbo had become fast friends—a strangely assorted5 pair, and whenever the opportunity presented itself Teddy would mount the ugly looking mule, riding him about the paddock or the ring when there was nothing going on under the big top. Every time the pair made their appearance it was the signal for a shout of merriment from the performers.
Teddy had perched himself on Jumbo’s back while the mule was awaiting his turn to enter the ring, which he did alone, performing his act with nothing save the crack of the ringmaster’s whip to guide him.
Somebody had jammed a clown’s cap on Teddy’s head, while someone else had hit it a smash with the flat of his hand, until the peak of the cap lopped over to one side disconsolately6.
Teddy’s face wore an appreciative7 grin, Jumbo’s long ears lying as far back on his head as they would reach. To the ordinary observer it might have been supposed that the mule was angry about something. On the contrary, it was his way of showing his pleasure. When a pan of oats was thrust before Jumbo, or he chanced upon a patch of fresh, tender grass, the ears expressed the animal’s satisfaction.
Jumbo could do pretty much everything except talk, but occasionally the stubbornness of his kind took possession of him. At such times the trick mule was wont8 to do the most erratic9 things.
“If I had a saddle I wouldn’t mind it,” grinned Teddy’s funny face as an accompaniment to his words.
Jumbo’s equipment consisted of a cinch girth and a pair of bridle11 reins12 connected with a headstall. There was no bit, but the effect was to arch his neck like that of a proud stallion.
“You’d make the hit of your life if you did,” laughed Miaco. “Wonder the boss don’t have you do it.”
“Would if he knew about it,” spoke13 up a performer. “The really funny things don’t get into the ring in a circus, unless by accident.”
In the meantime the ringmaster was making his loud-voiced announcement out under the big top.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he roared, after a loud crack of his long-lashed whip, to attract the attention of the people to him, “we are now about to introduce the wonderful performing mule Jumbo, the only broncho-bucking15, bobtailed mule in the world. You will notice that he performs without a rider, without human interference. Please do not speak to Jumbo while he is going through his act. Ladies and gentlemen, Jumbo, the great educated mule, will now make his appearance unaided by human hand.”
The audience applauded the announcement.
At that moment the band struck up the tune16 by which Jumbo always made his entrance. At the first blare of the brass17 a fun-loving clown jabbed Jumbo with a pin. The mule did the rest.
“Here! Here! Get off that mule!” shouted the animal’s trainer. “He’s going on!”
“Let him go!” roared clowns and other performers.
Jumbo had never made as quick a start in all his circus career as he did that day. He fairly leaped into the air, though only one man understood the reason for the mule’s sudden move.
With a bray18 that was heard all over the big top Jumbo burst through the red curtains like a tornado19. There he paused for one brief instant, as if uncertain whether to do a certain thing or not.
Recalling the ringmaster’s words, the spectators at first were at a loss to account for the odd-looking figure that was clinging to the back of the educated mule.
Suddenly they broke out into roars of laughter, while the performers peering through the red curtain fairly howled with delight.
Teddy was hanging to the cinch girth uncertain what to do. The ringmaster, amazed beyond words, stood gaping20 at the spectacle, for the moment powerless to use his usually ready tongue.
“Get off!” thundered the ringmaster, suddenly recovering himself.
“I can’t!” howled Teddy, though from present indications it appeared as if he would dismount without any effort on his own part.
Jumbo’s heels flew into the air, then began a series of lunges, bucking and terrific kicking such as none among the vast audience ever had witnessed in or out of a show ring.
One instant Teddy would be standing22 on his head on the mule’s back, the next lying on his back with feet toward the animal’s head. Next he would be dragged along the ground, to be plumped back again at the next bounce.
“Stop him! Stop him!” howled the ringmaster.
Ring attendants rushed forward to obey his command, but they might as well have tried to stop a tornado. Jumbo eluded24 them without the least trouble, but their efforts to keep out of range of his flying hoofs25 were not so easy. Some of them had narrow escapes from being seriously injured.
Mr. Sparling, attracted by the roars of laughter of the audience and the unusual disturbance26, had hurried into the big top, where he stood, at first in amazement27, then with a broad grin overspreading his countenance28.
Now Jumbo began a race with himself about the arena, following the concourse, now and then sending his heels into the air right over the heads of the spectators of the lower row of seats, sending them scrambling29 under the seats for protection.
A clown ran out with half a dozen paper covered hoops30, which he was holding in readiness for the next bareback act.
Jumbo ducked his head under them and Teddy Tucker’s head went through the paper with a crash, the mule’s heels at that instant being high in the air.
With the rings hung about his neck, Teddy cut a more ridiculous figure than ever. The audience went wild with excitement.
Now the ringmaster, angered beyond endurance, began reaching for Teddy with the long lash14 of his whip. The business end of the lash once brushed the boy’s cheek.
It stung him.
“Ouch!” howled Teddy as he felt the lash.
“Stop that!” exploded Mr. Sparling, who, by this time, had gotten into the ring to take a hand in the performance himself. He grabbed the irate33 ringmaster by the collar, giving him a jerk that that functionary34 did not forget in a hurry.
Jumbo, however, was no respecter of persons. He had taken a short cut across the ring just as the owner had begun his correction of the ringmaster. Jumbo shook out his heels again. They caught the owner’s sombrero and sent it spinning into the air.
Mr. Sparling, in his excitement, forgot all about the ringmaster. Picking up a tent stake, he hurled35 it after the educated mule, missing him by a full rod.
The audience by this time was in a tempest of excitement. At first they thought it was all a part of the show. But they were soon undeceived, which made their enjoyment36 and appreciation37 all the greater.
Jumbo took a final sprint38 about the arena, Teddy’s legs and free arm most of the time in the air. He had long since lost his clown’s cap, which Jumbo, espying39, had kicked off into the audience.
Jumbo suddenly decided41 that he would go back to the paddock. With him, to decide was to act. Taking a fresh burst of speed, he shot straight at the red curtains. To reach these he was obliged to pass close to the bandstand, where the band was playing as if the very existence of the show depended upon them.
Teddy’s grip was relaxing. His arm was so benumbed that he could not feel that he had any arm on that side at all.
His fingers slowly relaxed their grip on the cinch girth. In a moment he had bounced back to the educated mule’s rump. In another instant he would be plumped to the hard ground with a jolt42 that would shake him to his foundations.
But Jumbo had other plans—more spectacular plans—in mind. He put them into execution at once. The moment he felt his burden slipping over his back that active end grew busy again. Jumbo humped himself, letting out a volley of kicks so lightning-like in their swiftness that human eye could not follow.
Teddy had slipped half over the mule’s rump when the volley began.
“Catch him! He’ll be killed!” shouted someone.
All at once the figure of Teddy Tucker shot straight up into the air, propelled there by the educated mule. The lad’s body described what somebody afterwards characterized as “graceful somersault in the air,” then began its downward flight.
He landed right in the midst of the band.
Crash!
There was a yell of warning, a jingle43 and clatter44 of brass, several chairs went down under the impact, the floor gave way and half the band, with Teddy Tucker in the middle of the heap, sank out of sight.
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收听单词发音
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1
grouch
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| n.牢骚，不满；v.抱怨 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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4
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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5
assorted
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| adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的 | |
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6
disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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7
appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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12
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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15
bucking
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| 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 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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17
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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bray
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| n.驴叫声, 喇叭声；v.驴叫 | |
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tornado
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| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
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20
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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21
arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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24
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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25
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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29
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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30
hoops
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| n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓 | |
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31
flaunted
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| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的过去式和过去分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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32
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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35
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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36
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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38
sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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39
espying
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| v.看到( espy的现在分词 ) | |
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40
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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41
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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42
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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43
jingle
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| n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵 | |
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44
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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