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… Page 16…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Now； I wonder what's made them run away like that？ Surely they
aren't scared of me。 I wonder？ Guess I'll go over and find out。〃
Leaving his hiding place； the lad retraced his steps across the tracks
until finally； ing up with a man； who proved to be the superintendent
of the yard； Teddy asked him where sleeping car number eleven was
located。
〃Eleven？ The sleepers have all gone； young man。〃
〃G…g…gone？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But I thought〃
〃Went out regular on the 9：30 express。〃
Teddy groaned。 Here he was； left behind before the show had all
gotten away from its winter quarters。 But he noted that the train bearing
the cages and other equipment was still in the yard。 There was yet a
chance for him。
〃Whawhat time does that train go？〃 he asked pointing to the last
section。
〃Going now。 Why； what's the matter with you youngster？ The train is
moving now。〃
〃Going？ The matter is that I've got to go with them；〃 cried the lad；
suddenly darting toward the moving train。
〃e back here！ e back！ Do you want to be killed？〃
〃I've got to get on that train！〃 Teddy shouted back at the
superintendent。
The great stock cars were rumbling by as the boy drew near the track；
going faster every moment。 By the light of a switch lamp Teddy could
make out a ladder running up to the roof of one of the box cars。
He could hear the yard superintendent running toward him shouting。
〃He'll have me； if I don't do something。 Then I will be wholly left；〃
decided Teddy。 〃I'm going to try it。〃
As the big stock car slipped past him the lad sprang up into the air； his
eyes fixed on the ladder。 His circus training came in handy here； for
Teddy hit the mark unerringly； though it had been considerably above his
head。 The next second his fingers closed over a rung of the ladder； and
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… Page 17…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
there he hung； dangling in the air； with the train now rushing over switches；
rapidly gaining momentum as it stretched out headed for the open country。
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… Page 18…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER III
PHIL TO RESCUE
Phil Forrest was in a panic of uneasiness。
No sooner had his own section started than he made the discovery that
Teddy Tucker was not on board。 Then the lad went through the train in
the hope that his panion had gotten on the wrong car。 There was no
trace of Teddy。
In the meantime Teddy had slowly clambered to the roof of the stock
car； where he stretched himself out； clinging to the running board； with the
big car swaying beneath him。 The wind seemed； up there； to be blowing
a perfect gale； and it was all the boy could do to hold on。 After a while
he saw a light approaching him。 The light was in the hands of a
brakeman who was working his way over the train toward the caboose。
He soon came up to where Teddy was lying。 There he stopped。
〃Well； youngster； what are you doing here？〃 he demanded； flashing his
light into the face of the unfortable Teddy。
〃Trying to ride。〃
〃I suppose you know you are breaking the law and that I'll have to turn
you over to a policeman or a constable the next town we stop at？〃
〃Nothing of the sort！ What do you take me for？ Think I'm some
kind of tramp？〃 objected the lad。 〃Go on and let me alone。〃
The brakeman looked closer。 He observed that the boy was soaking
wet； but that； despite this； he was well dressed。
〃What are you； if not a tramp？〃
〃I'm with the show。〃
The brakeman laughed long and loud； but Teddy was more interested
in the man's easy poise on the swaying car than in what he said。
〃Wish I could do that；〃 muttered the lad admiringly。
〃What's that？〃
〃Nothing； only I was thinking out loud。〃
〃Well； you'll get off at the next stop unless you can prove that you
belong here。〃
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… Page 19…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃I won't；〃 protested Teddy stubbornly。
〃We'll see about that。 e down here on the flat car behind this one；
and we'll find out。 I see some of the show people there。 Besides； you're
liable to fall off here and get killed。 e along。〃
〃I can't。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I'll fall off if I try to get up。〃
〃And you a showman？〃 laughed the brakeman satirically； at the same
time grabbing Teddy by the coat collar and jerking him to his feet。
The trainman did not appear to mind the giddy swaying of the stock
car。 He permitted Teddy to walk on the running board while he himself
stepped carelessly along on the sloping roof of the car； though not relaxing
his grip on the collar of Teddy Tucker。
Bidding the boy to hang to the brake wheel； the brakeman began
climbing down the end ladder； so as to catch Teddy in case he were to fall。
After him came the Circus Boy； cautiously picking his way down the
ladder。
〃Any of you fellows know this kid？〃 demanded the trainman； flashing
his lantern into Teddy's face。 〃He says he's with the show。〃
〃Put him off！〃 howled one of the roustabouts who had been sleeping
on the flat car under a cage。 〃Never saw him before。〃
〃You sit down there； young man。 Next stop； off you go；〃 announced
the brakeman sternly。
〃I'll bet you I don't；〃 retorted Teddy Tucker aggressively。
〃We'll see about that。〃
〃Quit your music； we want to go to sleep；〃 growled a showman surlily。
The brakeman put down his lantern and seated himself on the side of
the flat car。 He did not propose to leave the boy until he had seen him
safely off the train。
〃How'd you get wet？〃 questioned Tucker's captor。
〃Some fellows ducked me。〃
The trainman roared； which once more aroused the ire of the
roustabouts who were trying to sleep。
They had gone on for an hour； when finally the train slowed down。
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… Page 20…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃Here's where you hit the ties；〃 advised the brakeman； peering ahead。
〃Where are we？〃
〃McQueen's siding。 We stop here to let an express by。 And I want
to tell you that it won't be healthy for you if I catch you on this train again。
Now； get off！〃
Teddy making no move to obey； the railroad man gently but firmly
assisted him over the side of the car； dropping him down the embankment
by the side of the track。
〃I'll make you pay for this if I ever catch you again；〃 threatened Teddy
from the bottom of the bank； as he scrambled to his feet。
Observing that the trainman was holding his light over the side of the
car and peering down at him； Teddy ran along on all fours until he was out
of sight of the brakeman； then he straightened up and ran toward the rear
of the train as fast as