The Circus Boys On The Mississippi | Page 6

fool of you, Mr. Diaz."
"Me--fool?"
"Yes, I guess you are about right. You certainly look the part, and--"
Diaz sprang up with a growl of rage, Tucker giving ground a little as he
observed the anger in the painted face before him. Before the lad could
raise his hands to protect himself Diaz had grasped Teddy and hurled
him across the dressing tent, where he landed in a pail of water.
He was up in a twinkling. His face was flushed and his hands were
clenched.

No sooner had he gotten to his feet than he observed that the clown had
started for him again. Teddy squared off, prepared for fight. At that
moment, however, there came an interruption that turned the attention
of the enraged clown in another direction.
Phil Forrest quickly stepped between them facing Diaz.
"What are you going to do?" demanded the Circus Boy in a quiet voice.
"Do?"
"Yes."
"I punish the monkey-face--"
"You will, eh?" howled Teddy, starting forward.
Phil thrust his companion aside.
"Go away. I will see if I can explain to him," cautioned Phil, turning to
the clown again, just as the latter was making a rush at Teddy.
"One moment, Mr. Diaz. My friend Teddy is not very diplomatic, but
he means well. He apologized to you for what he had done, did he
not?"
"Yes," growled the clown.
"Then why not call it square and--"
"I punish him. I fix him!" roared Diaz, making a leap for Teddy, who
had managed to edge up nearer to them.
"You will do nothing of the sort," answered Phil Forrest firmly, again
stepping between them.
An angry light glowed in the eyes of the clown. For an instant he glared
into Phil's steady gray eyes, then all of a sudden launched a vicious
blow at the boy.

The blow failed to reach the mark. Phil dodged and stepped back a
couple of feet.
Another, as swift as the first was sent straight for his head. This blow
the Circus Boy skillfully parried, but made no effort to return.
"Mr. Diaz! Mr. Diaz!" warned Phil. "You forget yourself. Please don't
do anything you will be sorry for afterwards."
"I fix you!" snarled the clown.
"I don't want to hit you, sir, but you may force me to do so."
Phil had no time to warn the fellow further, for the clown began to rain
blows upon him, though with no great exhibition of boxing skill. Phil
could have landed effectively anywhere on the clown's body had he
chosen to do so.
Instead, the boy slowly gave ground, defending himself cleverly. Not
one single blow from the powerful fist of Diaz reached him, Phil
exhibiting the wonderful self-control that was characteristic of him. He
even found opportunity to warn Teddy to get out of the tent until the
tempest had blown over.
Teddy, however, stood with hands thrust in his trousers pockets,
shoulders hunched forward, glaring at Diaz.
"Don't you get in this now," breathed Phil. "Keep away! Keep away!
I'll--"
At that moment Phil stumbled over a trunk, landing on his head and
shoulders. Quick as he was he found himself unable to turn over and
roll away soon enough to get beyond reach of the angry clown.
Diaz hurled himself upon the slender, though athletic figure of the
Circus Boy, almost knocking the breath out of Phil.
No sooner had he done so than something else happened. A body
launched itself through the air. The body belonged to Tucker. Teddy

landed with great force on the head and shoulders of the enraged clown,
flattening the latter down upon Phil with crushing weight, and nearly
knocking Forrest senseless.

CHAPTER II
JANUARY LENDS A FOOT
"Stop it!" roared a voice. "We don't allow 'roughhouse' in the dressing
tent."
"Yes," added another; "go out on the lot if you want to settle your
differences."
Mr. Miaco, the head clown, who had been a true friend to the boys
from the beginning of their circus career, had discovered what was
going on about the time Teddy decided to mix in in the disagreement.
Mr. Miaco sprang up and ran to the struggling heap. Grasping Teddy
firmly by the shoulder he tossed the lad aside.
"Now, you stay out of this, unless you want a thrashing from me," the
head clown warned.
The next to feel the grip of his powerful hand was the clown, Diaz, and
when Mr. Miaco discovered that the clown had Phil Forrest down, he
could scarcely restrain himself from severely punishing the fellow.
However, Miaco satisfied himself with hauling Diaz from his victim
with little ceremony. Then he jerked the angry clown to his feet.
"Well, sir, what have you to say for yourself?" demanded Miaco,
gazing at the other sternly.
"This no