Phil had the inner ring, and could of course move much faster around
than the enemy. Still, it was not long before he became heartily tired
of that continual and useless work. It began to make him dizzy, too. He
found himself wondering whether the moose meant to keep going in these
spirals until he had exhausted the boy; and how long it was possible to
keep this sort of thing up before he fell over.
It was in vain that he shouted in the face of the animal; the sound of a
human voice did not seem to have any effect, unless it was to make the
beast show fresh animation, as though spurred on to renewed vigor.
"However am I to get the better of the old fool?" Phil asked himself
between his puffs; for this happened after he had been chased another
dozen times around the well-worn path.
There was a breathing spell, as the moose halted for a brief time. Phil
did not cherish any hope or expectation that the beast meant to retire,
and leave him to himself. In fact he began to believe the big animal was
having the time of his life, and enjoying it immensely.
"Which is more than I can say I'm doing," Phil grumbled; "this
ring-around-the-rosy business is played out, and I've just got to find
some way to stop it."
Taking advantage of the breathing spell he cast a hurried look back of
him. Of course he did not dream that such a thing as help could come; on
the contrary his only expectation was that he might find some way by
means of which he could extricate himself from his dilemma.
"Bully! if I can only make that clump of small trees I ought to manage
it!" was what Phil exclaimed.
There was no time for more just then. Mr. Bull Moose was ready for
another frolic, having freshened up. So again they chased madly around
that tree, the hoofs of the animal tearing up the ground until it looked
as though he had made a regular race-track there.
When finally the new inning came to a close Phil was fairly panting for
breath, and more dizzy than ever.
"A few more turns like that would do me up!" he gasped; and then gritted
his teeth with a determination to make the break he had figured on.
Fortunately the moose always seemed to come to a stand at about the same
spot. This brought the little clump of trees exactly behind Phil, which
fact would give him a chance to get fairly started before the moose
became aware of his intention.
Taking in a long breath the boy suddenly darted away.
He instantly heard the moose rushing after him. The distance was short,
and so Phil managed to swing around his new shelter, with those ugly
horns not more than five feet behind him.
Well, that was all the margin he needed for safety. The new barrier
would cause him to cover much more ground with every revolution; but
then it was not his purpose to keep this up any longer than was
absolutely necessary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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