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descend upon them。
The man who had held the key rope was the one who had been at fault。
Some of the new men had called to him to give them a hand on another
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
line； and he； a new man himself； all forgetful of the important task that had
been assigned to him； dropped the key rope； as it is called； turning to assist
his associate。
Instantly the dome of the big top began to settle with a grating noise as
the huge iron ring in the peak began slipping down the center pole。
The key rope coiled on the ground was running out and squirming up
into the air。 Only a single coil of it remained when Phil suddenly darted
forward。 With a bound； he threw himself upon the rope； giving it a quick
twist about his arm。
The instant Phil had fastened his grip upon the rope he shot up into the
air so quickly that the onlookers failed to catch the meaning of his sudden
flight。
One pair of eyes； however； saw and understood。 They belonged to
Mr。 Sparling； the owner of the show。
〃The boy will he killed！〃 he groaned。 〃Let go！〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER V
DOING A MAN'S WORK
For one brief instant Phil Forrest's head was giddy and his breath fairly
left his body from the speed with which he was propelled upward on the
key rope。
But the lad had not for a second lost his presence of mind。 Below him
was some eight feet of the rope dangling in the air。
With a sudden movement that could only have been executed by one
with unusual strength and agility； Phil let the rope slip through his hands
just enough to slacken his speed。 Instantly he threw himself around the
center pole； twisting the rope around and around it； each twist slackening
his upward flight a little。 He knew that； were his head to strike the iron
ring in the dome at the speed he was traveling； he would undoubtedly be
killed。 It was as much to prevent this as to save the tent that Phil took the
action he did； though his one real thought was to save his employer's
property。
Now the rapid upward shoot had dwindled to a slow； gradual slipping
of the rope as it moved up the center pole inch by inch。 But Phil's peril
was even greater than before。 The moment that heavy iron ring began
pressing down on his head and shoulders with the weight of the canvas
behind it； there would be nothing for him to do but to let go。
A forty…foot fall to the hard ground below seemed inevitable。 Yet he
did not lose his presence of mind for an instant。
〃Give him a hand！〃 yelled the boss canvasman。
〃How？ How？〃 shouted the canvasmen。 〃We can't reach him。〃
〃Get a net under that boy； you blockheads！〃 thundered Mr。 Sparling；
rushing over from his station。 〃Don't you see he's bound to fall； and if he
does he'll break his neck？〃
The boss canvasman ordered three of his men to get the trapeze
performers' big net that lay in a heap near the ring nearest the dressing tent；
for there were two rings now in the Great Sparling bined Shows。
They dragged it over as quickly as possible； then willing hands
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
grabbed it and stretched the heavy net out。 At Mr。 Sparling's direction
the four corners of the net were manned and the safety device raised from
the ground； ready to catch the lad should he fall。
〃Now let go and drop！〃 roared Mr。 Sparling。
They heard Phil laugh from his lofty perch。
〃Jump； I say！〃
〃What； and let the tent down on you all？〃
By this time the lad had curled his feet up over his head； and they saw
that he was bracing his feet against the iron ring； literally holding the tent
up with his own powerful muscles。 Of course； as a matter of fact； Phil was
holding a very small part of the weight of the tent； but as it was； the strain
was terrific。
Hanging head down； his face flushed until it seemed as if the blood
must burst through the skin； he hung there as calmly as if he were not in
imminent peril of his life。 Then； too； there was the danger to those below
him。 If the tent should collapse some of them would be killed； for there
were now few quarter poles in place to break the fall of the heavy canvas。
〃I say； down there！〃 he cried； finally managing to make himself heard
above the uproar。
〃Are you going to drop？〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling。
〃No； do you want me to let the tent drop on you？ If you'll all get out
there'll be fewer hurt in case I have to let go。〃
〃That boy！〃 groaned the showman。
〃Toss me a line and be quick about it；〃 called Phil shrilly。
〃What can you do with a line？〃 demanded the showman； now more
excited than he had ever been in his life。
〃Toss it！〃
〃Give him a line！〃
〃A strong one；〃 warned Phil； his voice not nearly as far reaching as it
had been。
〃A line！〃 bellowed Mr。 Sparling。 〃He knows what he wants it for；
and he's got more sense than the whole bunch of us。〃
A coil of rope shot up。 But it missed Phil by about six feet。
Another one was forthing almost instantly。 This time； however；
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The Circus Boys Across