As soon as the dome of the big top left the ground the boys
crawled under and went inside. Here all was excitement
and confusion. Men were shouting their commands, above which
the voice of the boss canvasman rose distinctly.
The dome of the tent by this time was halfway up the long, green
center pole, while men were hurrying in with quarter poles on
their shoulders, and which they quickly stood on end and guided
into place in the bellying canvas.
The eyes of the Circus Boys sparkled with enthusiasm.
"I wish we were up there on the rings," breathed Teddy.
"We shall be soon, old fellow," answered Phil, patting him on
the shoulder. "And for many days after this, I hope. Hello, I
wonder what's wrong up there?"
Phil's quick glance had caught something up near the half-raised
dome that impressed him as not being right.
"Look out aloft!" he sang out warningly.
"The key rope's going. Grab the other line!" bellowed the
boss canvasman.
"You fools!" roared Mr. Sparling from the opposite side
of the tent, as he quickly noted what was happening. "Run for
your lives! You'll have the whole outfit down on your heads!"
The men fled, letting go of ropes and poles, diving for places of
safety, many of them knowing what it meant to have that big tent
collapse and descend upon them.
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