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 jingle and clatter 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.
CHAPTER XX
THE RETURN TO THE SAWDUST LIFE
"Is he dead?"
"No; you can't kill a thick-head like that," snarled the
ringmaster.
The audience was still roaring.
With angry imprecations the members of the band who had fallen
through were untangling themselves as rapidly as possible.
Pages:
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201