Part 43 (2/2)
”All over. A party went west, another north and the third to the east.”
”What about the village--did no one go that way to hunt for him?”
”No; he wouldn't go to town.”
”Think not?”
”Sure of it.”
”Why not?”
”He'd want to get away from the people as quick as he could.
You don't catch Wallace going into any town or any other place where there's people.”
”I noticed that he came in under the big top where there were about three thousand of them,” replied Phil dryly.
”He was scared; that's what made him do that.”
”And that very emotion may have sent him into the town.
I'm going over there to start something on my own hook.
Are you going along Teddy?”
”You bet I am. I always did like to hunt lions.”
”When you are sure you are going away from the lion, instead of in his direction,” suggested Phil, laughingly. ”What's that you have in your hand?”
”It's an iron tent stake I picked up on the lot. I'll fetch him a wallop that'll make him see stars if I catch close enough sight of him.”
”I don't think you will get quite that close to Wallace.”
”I'll show you.”
By this time the word had spread all over town that the whole menagerie of the Sparling Combined Shows had escaped.
The streets were cleared in short order. Here and there, from an upper window, might be seen the whites of the frightened eyes of a Negro peering down, hoping to catch sight of the wild beasts, and fearful lest he should. ”If it was an elephant we might trail him,” suggested Teddy.
”That's not a half bad idea. The dust is quite thick. I wish we had thought to bring a torch with us.”
”I'll tell you where we can get one.”
”Where?”
”One of the markers set up to guide the wagon drivers to the railroad yards. There's a couple on the next street above here.
I saw them just a minute ago.”
”Teddy you are a genius. And to think I have known you all this time and never found it out before. Come on, we'll get the torches.”
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