Part 29 (1/2)
”They don't dare!”
”They do and they will. Swing your elephants out of line and throw them across that intersecting street. I'll bet they won't get by our bulls in a hurry.”
”Great! Great, kid! I'd never thought of that.”
”You'll have to hurry. The other fellows are almost here and their elephants are leading the parade. Sully's just looking for trouble!”
The voice of the elephant trainer uttered a series of shrill commands that sounded like so many explosions.
The elephants understood. They swung quickly out of line and went lumbering down the street.
”Hey, there, that you, Phil?”
It was Teddy on old Emperor's back in the same frog costume that he had worn for that purpose the first season with the show.
”Yes, what's left of me,” answered Phil, running fast to keep up with the swiftly moving elephants.
Just before reaching the intersecting street he managed to get ahead of Kennedy and his charges.
”Hurry, hurry! They're right here,” howled the Circus Boy.
The trainer, with prod and voice, urged the elephants into even quicker action than before. Two minutes later they swung across the street down which the rival parade was coming, and, at the command of their keeper, the huge animals turned, facing the other body of paraders.
”We're just in time! There they are!” cried Phil excitedly.
”I should say so. They were going to do what you said they would, the scoundrels!”
”Can you hold them till our people get by, do you think?”
”Can I hold them? I can hold them till all the mill ponds in Canada freeze up!” exploded the elephant trainer.
Phil walked forward to meet the Sully parade. The owner of that show was well up toward the front of the line on horseback.
”You'll have to wait till our line gets by, sir,” announced Phil, with a suggestive grin. ”We've got your little game blocked, you see.”
”You!”
Sully fairly hurled the word at the disreputable looking Circus Boy.
”Yes; you see I got away. Are you going to stop?”
”No, not for any outfit that James Sparling runs. Where is he?
Afraid to come out and show himself, eh? Sends a runaway kid out to speak for him. Get out of the way, or I'll run you down!”
Phil's eyes snapped.
”You had better not try it, if you know what's good for you!”
”Move on! Break through their line!” commanded Sully.
Phil turned and waved his hand.
”They are going to try to break through, Mr. Kennedy,” he called.