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just enough to slacken his speed。 Instantly he threw himself around the
center pole； twisting the rope around and around it； each twist slackening
his upward flight a little。 He knew that； were his head to strike the iron
ring in the dome at the speed he was traveling； he would undoubtedly be
killed。 It was as much to prevent this as to save the tent that Phil took the
action he did； though his one real thought was to save his employer's
property。
Now the rapid upward shoot had dwindled to a slow； gradual slipping
of the rope as it moved up the center pole inch by inch。 But Phil's peril
was even greater than before。 The moment that heavy iron ring began
pressing down on his head and shoulders with the weight of the canvas
behind it； there would be nothing for him to do but to let go。
A forty…foot fall to the hard ground below seemed inevitable。 Yet he
did not lose his presence of mind for an instant。
〃Give him a hand！〃 yelled the boss canvasman。
〃How？ How？〃 shouted the canvasmen。 〃We can't reach him。〃
〃Get a net under that boy； you blockheads！〃 thundered Mr。 Sparling；
rushing over from his station。 〃Don't you see he's bound to fall； and if he
does he'll break his neck？〃
The boss canvasman ordered three of his men to get the trapeze
performers' big net that lay in a heap near the ring nearest the dressing tent；
for there were two rings now in the Great Sparling bined Shows。
They dragged it over as quickly as possible； then willing hands
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
grabbed it and stretched the heavy net out。 At Mr。 Sparling's direction
the four corners of the net were manned and the safety device raised from
the ground； ready to catch the lad should he fall。
〃Now let go and drop！〃 roared Mr。 Sparling。
They heard Phil laugh from his lofty perch。
〃Jump； I say！〃
〃What； and let the tent down on you all？〃
By this time the lad had curled his feet up over his head； and they saw
that he was bracing his feet against the iron ring； literally holding the tent
up with his own powerful muscles。 Of course； as a matter of fact； Phil was
holding a very small part of the weight of the tent； but as it was； the strain
was terrific。
Hanging head down； his face flushed until it seemed as if the blood
must burst through the skin； he hung there as calmly as if he were not in
imminent peril of his life。 Then； too； there was the danger to those below
him。 If the tent should collapse some of them would be killed； for there
were now few quarter poles in place to break the fall of the heavy canvas。
〃I say； down there！〃 he cried； finally managing to make himself heard
above the uproar。
〃Are you going to drop？〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling。
〃No； do you want me to let the tent drop on you？ If you'll all get out
there'll be fewer hurt in case I have to let go。〃
〃That boy！〃 groaned the showman。
〃Toss me a line and be quick about it；〃 called Phil shrilly。
〃What can you do with a line？〃 demanded the showman； now more
excited than he had ever been in his life。
〃Toss it！〃
〃Give him a line！〃
〃A strong one；〃 warned Phil； his voice not nearly as far reaching as it
had been。
〃A line！〃 bellowed Mr。 Sparling。 〃He knows what he wants it for；
and he's got more sense than the whole bunch of us。〃
A coil of rope shot up。 But it missed Phil by about six feet。
Another one was forthing almost instantly。 This time； however；
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Mr。 Sparling snatched it from the hands of the showman who had made
the wild cast。
〃Idiot！〃 he roared； pushing the man aside。
Once more the coil sailed up； unrolling as it went。 This time Phil
grasped it with his free hand； which he had liberated for the purpose。
〃Now； be careful；〃 warned Mr。 Sparling。 〃I don't know what you
think you're going to do； but whatever you start you're sure to finish。〃
To this Phil made no reply。 He was getting too weak to talk； and his
tired body trembled。
In the end of the key rope a big loop had been formed； this after the
tent was up； was slipped over a cleat to prevent a possibility of the rope
slipping its fastenings and letting the tent down。
Phil had discovered the loop when it finally slipped up so his one hand
was pressed against the knot。
Every second the weight on his feeton his whole body； in fact； was
getting heavier。
〃If I can hold on a minute longer； I'll make it！〃 he muttered； his breath
ing in short； quick gasps。
What he was seeking to do was to get the rope they had tossed to him；
through the big loop。 In his effort to do so； the coil slipped from his
hands； knocking a canvasman down as it fell； but the lad had held to the
other end with a desperate grip。
Now he began working it through the loop inch by inch。 It was a
slow process； but he was succeeding even better than he had hoped。
Mr。 Sparling now saw what Phil's purpose was。 About the same time
the others down there made the same discovery。
They set up a cheer of approval。
〃Wait！〃 manded the owner of the show。 〃The lad isn't out of the
woods yet。 You men on the net look lively there。 If you don't catch him
should he fall； you take my word for it； it'll go mighty hard with you。〃
〃We'll catch him。〃
〃You'd better； if you know what's good for you。 Goodness； but he's
got the strength and the grit！ I never saw anything like it in all my circus
experience。〃
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They could not help him。 There was no way by which any of them
could reach Phil； and all they could do was to stand by and do the best
they could at breaking his fall should he be forced to let go； as it seemed
that he must do soon。
Nearer and nearer crept the line toward the ground； but it was yet far
above their heads。 It was moving faster； however； as Phil got more
weight of rope through the loop； thus requiring less effort on his part to
send it along on its journey。
〃Side pole！ Side pole！〃 shouted the boy； barely making himself heard
above the shouts below。
At first they did not catch the meaning of his words。 Mr。 Sparling； of
course； was the first to do so。
〃That's it！ Oh； you idiots！ You wooden Indians！ You thick heads！
Get a side pole； don't you understand？〃 and the owner made a dive at the
nearest man to him； whereat the fellow quickly side…stepped and started
off on a run for the pole for which Phil had asked。 But； even then； some of
the hands did not understand what he could want of a side pole。
The instant it was brought Mr。 Sparling snatched it from the hands of
the tentman。 Raising the pole； assisted by the boss canvasman； he was
able to reach the loop。 The iron spike in the end of the pole was thrust
through the loop； and by exerting considerable pressure they were able to
force the loop slowly toward the ground。
〃You'll have to hurr