The storm did not break until late in the afternoon when the show
was more than half over. Phil had made his grand entry on
Emperor, and Teddy had nearly sent the spectators into hysterics
by his funny antics on the back of Jumbo, the educated mule.
All at once the circus men glanced aloft as the shrill whistle of
the boss canvasman trilled somewhere outside the big top. The
audience, if they heard, gave no heed. They were too much
interested in the show.
To the showmen the whistle meant that the emergency gang was
being summoned in haste to stake down emergency ropes to protect
the tent from a windstorm that was coming up.
Phil took a quick survey of the upper part of the tent. Two acts
were just beginning up there. A trapeze act was on, and the four
performers were swinging out on the flying rings.
Both sets of performers were in rather perilous positions were
the wind to blow very hard, as Phil well understood. He stepped
off until he found a quarter pole at his back against which he
leaned that he might watch the better the lofty performers.
All at once there was a blast against the big top that sounded as
if a great blow had been delivered.
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