Part 9 (1/2)

What he was seeking to do was to get the rope they had tossed to hi loop In his effort to do so, the coil slipped fro 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 nohat Phil's purpose was About the same time the others down there made the same discovery

They set up a cheer of approval

”Wait!” commanded 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 hihty hard with you”

”We'll catch hiood for you Goodness, but he's got the strength and the grit! I never saw anything like it in all my circus experience”

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 h the loop, thus requiring less effort on his part to send it along on its journey

”Side pole! Side pole!” shouted the boy, barelyhimself heard above the shouts below

At first they did not catch the , 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 fro 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 er,” cried Phil weakly

”We'll hurry, ed Mr Sparling ”Stand by here you blockheads, ready to fall on that rope the rab hold of the coil end and pay it out gradually Be careful

Watch your business”

Three

”Here co rope

The two strands were quickly carried together and the weight of a dozenthe strain on Phil Forrest's body

Phil had saved the big top, and perhaps a few lives at the same time Now a sudden dizziness see appeared to be whirling about hiiant top before his eyes