Just then the ball burst only a few feet above his head,
scattering fire in all directions.
Teddy fell flat to the ground.
He was up almost at once.
"I'm all right! How's the rest of the family?" he howled.
The rest of the family were too much concerned with what was
taking place in the big top to notice the Circus Boy's humor.
Then Teddy observed that the center pole was split from end
to end. The lightning bolt had followed it from its peak to
the ground. Several of the side poles had already given way,
and the lad saw the dome of the tent slowly settling.
"Hitch it! Anchor it!" he bellowed.
The attendants were too frightened to give heed to his words.
Phil Forrest was coming down a rope, hand under hand, as rapidly
as he could travel.
"Snub the rope or you'll have the tent down on you!" he shouted.
Teddy darted forward, throwing himself upon the heavy rope that
held the dome in place.
At that instant the rope on which Phil Forrest was descending
gave way, and Phil came straight down.
He landed on Teddy Tucker's head and shoulders, knocking Teddy
flat on the ground, where the little Circus Boy lay still.
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