Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
Ought to ha been a lord or summat of the sort, this worthy sneered one day as Phil passed the doorway round which they were lounging. Thinks he owns the show thats what it is. Ill take the gent down; see if I dont, and right away too. Hi, you, Phil Western, or whatevers yer name, he shouted, come here! I want to speak to yer. Now look here, Mr Dook, youre a pretty fine bird, but where do you come from? Thats what were arter. Chaps of your sort dont take to being hands in a menagerie every day, and thats the truth, I reckon. I suppose yer wanted to hide away. Thats it, aint it?
Now Phil had often been annoyed by this same young man, who went by the name of Tony, and in particular by the jeering way in which he shouted names and various other pleasantries after him every time he happened to pass.
You want to know where I come from, he replied calmly, standing close to the circle. Then Im afraid you will have to want.
Eh! What! Have to want, shall I? Tony growled. Now none of yer cheek. Youre too proud, thats what you are, my young peacock, and youve got to get taken down.
Thats possible, Phil rejoined, and was on the point of turning away to avoid a quarrel when the pleasant Tony sprang to his feet and shouting Possible! Should just about think it is! grasped him by the arm and swung him round till they faced one another.
Leave go! cried Phil, losing his temper.
Shant till Ive took yer down, Tony snapped.
Then take that! and Phil dashed his fist into the young mans face.
A scuffle at once ensued, and after a short and fiercely contested round, a ring was formed. But at this moment the owner of the menagerie put in an appearance and stopped the fight, with the natural result that there was bad blood between Phil and Tony from that day, and the latter never ceased to vow that he would have an ample revenge for the black eye he had received.
Now Tony had another disagreeable trait. Besides being a bully, he was also cruel, and took every opportunity of teasing a big brown bear which happened to be his special charge. The more Bruin snarled and showed his teeth, the harder Tony prodded him with his stick, till at times the poor beast was almost mad with rage. It was a dangerous game to play, and could have but one ending, and that was within an ace of being a fatal one for Tony.
It happened upon a day when Phil and his two companions had returned to London and were enjoying a well-earned rest after a few longer tramps than usual. By the merest chance, too, it was a holiday in the menagerie, for some valuable animals had recently arrived, and in consequence, the wives and children and other relatives of the various hands had gathered, by the owners special request, to have tea with their friends and see the wild beasts in their new home.
Phil was sitting in the van with Jim, sipping a cup of tea, and quite unaware of the fact that Tony was engaged in his usual practice of stirring up the bear for his own amusement and to excite the fear of a few by-standers.
Suddenly there was a snarl, a crash, and the sound of breaking woodwork, and then shrieks of terror and the noise of a wild stampede.
Whats that? Somethings up, cried Phil, and springing down the steps he ran towards the spot where the animals were kept.
A fearful sight met his eye, for the end of the flimsy cage in which Bruin was kept a prisoner was splintered, and close beside it. Tony lay motionless, and full length upon the ground, with the bear crouching over him and clutching his head with a paw armed with murderous-looking claws.
Not a soul was near, for all had fled for their lives. As Phil ran forward, the enraged animal crouched lower over its victim, and snarled fiercely, showing a row of teeth and gums.
Help, Jim! The bear is killing Tony, shouted Phil, turning his head for a moment, but still running towards the scene of the conflict.
As he passed a wagon he snatched up a long pitchfork. Rushing at the bear, which reared itself on end, Phil swung the fork above his head and brought it down with a smash on the animals nose, shouting at the same time in the hope of frightening it.
But Bruin was thoroughly aroused, and, stung to further anger by the tap upon his head, he darted from the prostrate man and came open-mouthed at Phil.
It was a terrifying sight, and many another might have taken to his heels and not been called a coward. But Phils mouth hardened till it was a thin, straight line. Standing with his feet planted wide apart, and the fork well in front of him, he kept his ground and lunged at the animal with all his might, driving the prongs well into its chest.
There was a roar of pain and anger, and Bruin drew back for a moment, but only to rise upon his hind-legs and advance with arms ready to crush the life out of Phils body, and gleaming teeth with which to tear his flesh.
On he came, and, waiting his time, Phil once more plunged the prongs deep into his chest, where they remained fast. A second later the bear had shattered the pole with his paw, and, rushing at his enemy, had beaten him to the ground and fallen upon him dead.
It was a narrow shave, as Jim remarked.
Youre the biggest, yes, the biggest idiot I ever see, young un, he said severely, as Phil lay in his bunk. Here you go and attack a bear as is always pretty wild, and only with a thing as is little better than a toothpick. I cant make yer out. If it was me as was laid under that there beast I might see some reason for it, though even then youd be pretty mad, I reckon; but when its Tony, whos always a-naggin at yer, why, it fairly does for me.
I didnt think of that, though, answered Phil cheerfully, for by a piece of good fortune he had escaped with a severe shaking and a fright. There was the bear killing someone, and I was the first on the spot and therefore bound to do something.
Get on with yer! Bound to do something! Yes, its run away most of us would do least I dont know, though; I expects wed have had a try to drive the brute off. But for you, a kid like you, Phil, to tackle the job all alone, and with only a pitchfork too, why, it just knocks all the stuffin out of me. Give us yer flipper, mate. Youre a true un, and dont you go a-telling me yer didnt know it was Tony as lay there. I heard yer shout it. So no more of them fibs.
Jim got quite indignant, and then shook Phils hand, squeezing it so hard that he could have shouted with the pain.
And that chap Tonys goin to live too, he went on. If he dont say summat out o the ordnary, blest if I wont set to work and give him the biggest hidin he ever had. That is, when hes strong again. Now, young un, turn over and get to sleep. Youve had a roughish time, and a go of grog aint sufficient to pull yer round.
Phil obediently curled himself up and promptly fell asleep, but only to dream that it was. Joe Sweetman who lay helpless upon the ground, while the figure that was crouching over him, and that rushed at himself when he ran to the rescue, was none other than old Bumble, rendered furious by the joke played upon his statue. It was an awful moment when Phil plunged the fork into the old gentlemans massive chest, and so upset him that he awoke, to find himself drenched with perspiration, but decidedly better for all that, while through the open door he could see Jim, pipe in mouth and in his shirt sleeves, squatting over the fire and preparing breakfast.
Another month passed, making the third that Phil had spent in his new employment, and ending also his seventeenth year. Short as the time had been it had done much for him. He had filled out a little, and though his face was still that of a boy, his limbs and body were big, so that, if he could only pass inspection, he was quite fitted to take his place in the ranks as a full-grown man. By this time he had completed a long journey into the country, and having returned to London with Jim and the old soldier, he was not long in looking up his friend, Sergeant-major Williams.