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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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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
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 hurry！ I can't hang on much longer；〃 cried Phil
weakly。
〃We'll hurry； my lad。 It won't be half a minute now；〃 encouraged Mr。
Sparling。 〃Stand by here you blockheads； ready to fall on that rope the
minute it gets within reach。 Three of you grab hold of the coil end and
pay it out gradually。 Be careful。 Watch your business。〃
Three men sprang to do his bidding。
〃Here es the loop！〃
Ready hands grasped the dangling rope。
The two strands were quickly carried together and the weight of a
dozen men thrown on them； instantly relieving the strain on Phil Forrest's
body。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
Phil had saved the big top； and perhaps a few lives at the same time。
Now a sudden dizziness seemed to have overtaken him。 Everything
appeared to be whirling about him； the big top spinning like a giant top
before his eyes。
〃Slide down the rope！〃 manded Mr。 Sparling。
The lad slowly unwound the rope from his arm and feebly motioned to
them that they were to walk around the pole with their end so they might
hoist the iron ring to the splice of the center pole。
〃Never mind anything but yourself！〃 ordered Mr。 Sparling。 〃We'll
attend to this mix…up ourselves。〃
Very cautiously and deliberately； more from force of habit than
otherwise； the lad had let his feet down； and with them was groping for the
rope。
〃Swing the line between his legs！〃 roared the owner。 〃Going to let
him stay up there all day？〃
〃That's what we're trying to do；〃 answered a tentman。
〃Yes； I see you trying。 That's the trouble with you fellows。 You
always think you're trying； and