The World eBook Library: The Circus Boys On the Mississippi, Or Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River, by Edgar B. P. Darlington
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The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
Or
Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River
By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I MAKING A LIVELY START
II JANUARY LENDS A FOOT
III A DAY OF MEMORIES
IV THEIR CURIOSITY AROUSED
V THE CIRCUS BOYS' SURPRISE
VI A BOLT FROM THE CLOUDS
VII IN NEW QUARTERS
VIII JANUARY ON THE RAMPAGE
IX PHIL FORREST TO THE RESCUE
X ALL ABOARD FOR THE GULF!
XI EGG, EGG, WHO'S GOT THE EGG?
XII TRYING OUT A NEW ACT
XIII A NARROW ESCAPE
XIV THE PILOT GETS A SURPRISE
XV AN UNWELCOME VISITOR
XVI BETRAYED BY A SNEEZE
XVII EAVESDROPPERS!
XVIII MAKING A CAPTURE
XIX TEDDY JOINS THE BAND
XX A CAPTURE IN THE AIR
XXI A CIRCUS BOY MISSING
XXII OVERBOARD INTO THE RIVER
XXIII THE ROMAN CHARIOT RACES
XXIV CONCLUSION
The Circus Boys on the Mississippi
CHAPTER I
MAKING A LIVELY START
"Have you had any trouble with Diaz, Teddy?"
"Who's he?"
"The new Spanish clown."
"Oh!"
Teddy Tucker's face grew serious.
"What about him, Phil?"
"That is what I am asking you. Have you had any
misunderstanding--angry words or anything of the sort with him?"
persisted Phil Forrest, with a keen, inquiring glance into the
face of his companion.
"Well, maybe," admitted the Circus Boy, with evident reluctance.
"What made you think I had?"
"From the way he looked at you when you were standing in the
paddock this afternoon, waiting for your cue to go on."
"Huh! How did he look at me?"
"As if he had a grudge against you. There was an expression in
his eyes that said more plainly than words, 'I'll get even with
you yet, young man, you see if I do not.'"
"Wonderful!" breathed Teddy.
"What do you mean?"
"You must be a mind reader, Phil Forrest," grumbled Teddy,
digging his heel into the soft turf of the circus lot. "Can you
read my mind? If you can, what am I thinking about now?"
"You are thinking," answered Phil slowly, "that you will make me
forget the question I asked you just now. You are thinking you
would rather not answer my question."
Teddy opened his eyes a little wider.
"You ought to go into the business."
"What business?"
"Reading people's minds, at so much per read."
"Thank you."
"I wish you'd read the mind of that donkey of mine, and find
out what he's got up his sleeve, or rather his hoofs, for me
this evening."
"Do you know of what else you are thinking?"
"Of course I do. Think I don't know what I am thinking about?
Well! What am I thinking about?"
"At the present moment you are thinking that you will do to Diaz
what he hopes to do to you some of these days--get even with him
for some fancied wrong. Am I right?"
"I'll hand him a good stiff punch, one of these fine spring
mornings, that's what I'll do," growled Tucker, his face
flushing angrily.
"Teddy Tucker, listen to me!"
"I'm listening."
"You will do nothing of the sort."
"I won't?"
"No."
"You just wait and see."
"Since we started out on our fourth season with the Sparling
Combined Shows this spring, you have behaved yourself
remarkably well. I know it must have pained you to do so.
I give you full credit, but don't spoil it all now, please."
"Spoil it?"
"Yes. You must remember that this is now a Big show--larger this
season than ever before, and you must not expect Mr. Sparling to
excuse your shortcomings as he did in the old days."
"I'm not afraid of Boss Sparling."
"You have no occasion to be, as long as you do your duty and
attend to business. We owe him a heavy debt of gratitude,
both of us. You know that, don't you, Teddy?"
"I--I guess so."
"What is the trouble between you and Diaz?" persisted
Phil Forrest, returning to his original inquiry.
"Well," drawled Teddy, "you know their act?"
"Yes."
"Throwing those peaked hats clear across the arena and catching
the hats on their heads, just like a couple of monkeys."
"I didn't know monkeys ever did that," smiled Phil.
"Well, maybe they don't. The trained seals do, anyhow."
Phil nodded.
"They--the Spaniards--were doing that the other day when I was
going out after my clown act. I had picked up the ringmaster's
whip, and as one of the hats went sailing over my head I just
took a shot at it."
"Took a shot at it?"
"Yes. I fired at it on the wing, as it were. Don't you
understand?" demanded the lad somewhat impatiently.
Phil shook his head.
"I hit it a crack with the ringmaster's whip and I hit the mark
the first shot. Down came the hat and it caught me on the nose."
"Then what did you do?"
"Knocked it on the ground, then kicked it out of the ring,"
grinned Teddy.
"Of course you spoiled their act," commented Phil.
"I--I guess I did."
"That was an ungentlemanly thing to do, to say the least.
It is lucky for you that Mr. Sparling did not happen to see you.
Do you know what would have happened to you if he had?"
"He would have fined me, I suppose."
"No. You would have closed right there. He would have had you
sent back home by the first train if he had seen you do a thing
like that."
"I don't care. I can get a job with the Yankee Robinson show any
time, now."
"Not if you were to be discharged from this outfit for
bad conduct. I don't wonder Diaz is angry. Did he say
anything to you at the time?"
Teddy nodded.
"What did he say?"
"I didn't understand all he said. Some of it was in Spanish,
but what I did understand was enough," grinned the boy.
"Strong language, eh?"
"Phil, he can beat the boss canvasman in that line."
"I am surprised, Teddy Tucker."
"So was I."
"I don't mean that. I am surprised that you should so far forget
yourself as to do such a thing. I don't blame Diaz for being
angry, and I warn you that you had better look out for him.
Some of those foreigners have very violent tempers."
"Well, he didn't tell the boss, at any rate."
"No. Perhaps in the long run it might have been better for you
if he had. Diaz is awaiting his opportunity to get even with you
in his own way. Look out for him, Teddy."
"He had better look out for me."
"Don't irritate him. Were I in your place I should go to the
clown and apologize. Tell him it was a thoughtless act on your
part and that you are sorry you did it--"
"I won't."
"As you please, but that is what I would do."
"You--you would do that?"
"I certainly would."
"And let him give you the laugh?"
"That would make no difference to me. I should be doing what is
right, and that would be satisfaction enough, no matter what he
said or did after that."
Teddy reflected for a moment.
"Well, maybe that would be a good idea. And if he won't accept
my apology, what then--shall I hand him a--"
"Smile and leave him. You will have done the best you could to
make amends."
"All right, I'll apologize," nodded the Circus Boy. "I'll shed a
tear or two to show him how sorry I am. Want to see me do it?"
"I should say not. You will do it better provided I am not
looking on, but for goodness' sake don't make a mess of the
whole business. It would be too bad to make an enemy of one of
your associates so early in the season. Think how uncomfortable
it would be for you all through the summer. He has not been
with us long enough to become used to your practical jokes.
Perhaps after he gets better acquainted with you, he may not
mind your peculiar ways so much," added Phil, with a
short laugh. "Now run along and be good."
Teddy turned away and slipped through the paddock opening, in
front of which the lads had been standing just outside the tent,
leaving Phil looking after him with a half smile on his face.
The Circus Boys were again on the road with the Great Sparling
Combined Shows. This was their fourth season out, and the
readers will remember them as the same lads who in "THE CIRCUS
BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS," had made their humble start in the
circus world. During that first season both lads had
distinguished themselves--Phil for his bravery and cool
headedness, Teddy for getting himself into trouble under all
circumstances and conditions. They had quickly risen, however,
to the grade of real circus performers, the owner of the show
recognizing in each, the making of a fine performer.
In "THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT," it will be recalled
how Phil and his companion won new laurels in the sawdust arena,
and how the former ran down and captured a bad man who had been a
thorn in the side of the circus itself for many weeks through his
efforts to avenge a fancied wrong. By this time the boys had
become full-fledged circus performers, each playing an important
part in the performance.
It will be recalled, too, how Phil and Teddy in "THE CIRCUS BOYS
IN DIXIE LAND," advanced rapidly in their calling; how Phil was
captured by a rival show, held prisoner on the owner's private
car, and later was obliged to become a performer in the ring of
the rival show. His escape, his long tramp to rejoin his own
show, followed by the battle of the elephants--will be well
remembered by all the readers of the previous volumes in
this series.
During the winter just passed, the lads had been attending the
high school at Edmeston, where they made their home, working hard
after school hours to keep themselves in good physical condition
for the next season's work.
Spring came. The lads passed their final examinations, and, with
their diplomas in their pockets, set out one bright May morning
to join the show which, by this time, had come to be looked upon
by them as a real home.
They had been on the road less than two weeks now, and were
looking forward with keen anticipation to their summer under the
billowing canvas of the Great Sparling Shows.
"I think I will take a peep to see how Teddy is getting
along with his apology," decided Phil, turning and entering
the paddock. Then he stepped quietly into the dressing tent.
He saw Teddy approach the clown, Diaz, who sat on his trunk
making up his face before a hand mirror.
Teddy halted a few feet from the clown, waiting until the latter
should have observed him. The clown glanced up, glowered, and
slowly placed the mirror on the trunk beside him. He seemed
astonished that the boy should have the courage to face him.
Then Teddy, solemn-faced, made his apology. To Phil Forrest's
listening ears it was the most amazing apology he ever had
listened to.
"I'm sorry I made a monkey of you," said Teddy.
"What!" fairly exploded the clown.
"I'm sorry I made a monkey of you," repeated the Circus Boy in a
slightly louder tone. "Maybe I wouldn't have done so if I had
had time to think about it."
"You make apology to me--to me?" questioned Diaz, tapping his own
chest significantly.
"Yes; to whom did you think I was making an apology--to the hyena
out under the menagerie top, eh?"
"Bah!"
"I am sorry I made a 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 business of yours," growled Diaz.
"That remains to be seen. I'll decide whether it is any of my
affair or not. Phil, what does this mean?"
"Just a little matter between ourselves. Thank you for helping
me out."
"Did he attack you, Phil?"
"He did, but he no doubt thought he had sufficient provocation.
Perhaps we should not be too hard on Mr. Diaz."
"Then the best thing to do is to tell Mr. Sparling. I--"
"Please don't do anything of the sort," begged Phil. "In the
first place, Diaz's anger was directed against Teddy, and I had
to mix myself in their quarrel. Teddy did something to him a
few weeks ago that made the clown very angry, and I don't
blame Diaz."
"Was there any excuse for his pitching into you in this manner?"
"Well," laughed Phil, "perhaps the situation did not demand
exactly that sort of treatment."
"How did you come to let him get you so easily?"
"I fell over something."
"Oh, that's it?"
"Yes. I wasn't trying to hit him. I could have done so easily,
but I felt that I was in the wrong."
"Humph!" grunted the head clown. Then he turned to Diaz.
"See here, you fellow!"
"What you want?" demanded Diaz in a surly tone.
"I want to advise you to let those boys alone in the future.
They have been with this show a long time, and they are highly
thought of by Mr. Sparling. Were he to hear what you have done
tonight I rather think you would pack your trunk and quit
right here. I shall not tell him. Next time I see you doing
any such thing you will have to answer to me. I'm the head
clown here, and I won't stand for one of my men pitching
on a boy."
Teddy was chuckling to himself over the severe rebuke that Miaco
was administering to his clown.
"Do you boys intend going on tonight?" Miaco demanded suddenly,
turning on Teddy.
"Certainly," answered Phil.
"Then I should advise you to be getting into your makeups."
"Why, what time is it?"
"A quarter to eight."
"Whew! Come on, Teddy."
A few moments more and peace had been restored in the dressing
tent, though Diaz was muttering to himself as he laid the powder
over his face, preparatory to his first entry into the ring.
"I am afraid we have not heard the last of Diaz, Teddy,"
confided Phil to his companion. "You see what your moment
of thoughtlessness has brought upon us, don't you?"
"You didn't have to mix in the row. I could have handled him."
"I am forced to admit that you are right. I sought to avoid
trouble and I was the direct cause of a lot of it. There goes
the first call. Hurry up!"
The Circus Boys had, indeed, made an enemy. It was noticed,
however, that Manuel, the assistant of Diaz, had taken no part in
the row. The young man had calmly proceeded with his making up
without appearing to take the slightest interest in the affair.
Whether or not his apparent indifference was merely assumed was
not known.
The two boys were not performing on the flying rings this season.
They had retained all their other acts, however, though the star
act was the flying trapeze, in which Phil Forrest was now one of
the leading performers.
Teddy rode his donkey, January, took part in the ground tumbling,
acted as shadow again for the clown Shivers, besides making
himself generally useful in some of the other acts.
As for Phil's bareback riding, he occupied the center ring in
this act, as he had done the season before. He had come to be
perhaps the most useful man with the Sparling show.
"I advise you to look out for that fellow. He is a dangerous
customer," warned Miaco under his breath, as Phil sat down on his
horse during a rest in the performance.
The Circus Boy nodded his understanding, but appeared little
disturbed at Miaco's warning. Like the seasoned circus man that
he was, he had learned to take things as they came, making the
best of every situation when he came face to face with it.
Diaz and his assistant were entering the ring as Phil left it.
They began throwing their hats, winning great applause, for their
act was a clever one of its kind. At about the same time, Teddy
Tucker and January came on, the Circus Boy howling, January
braying and bucking, beating the air with his heels, for he had
been taught some entirely new tricks during the winter.
The ringmaster held up his hand for silence.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, January.
As January is the first month of the year, so is this January
first in the donkey world. You will observe how docile and kind
he appears. Yet, ladies and gentlemen, the management of this
show will give a hundred dollars to any person who can stick
on his back for a full minute--only sixty seconds, ladies
and gentlemen. Do you know of any easier or faster way to
make money? Six thousand dollars an hour if you stay that long.
Who will be the first to earn the money?"
It was the first time the announcement had been made from
the ring. Mr. Sparling had given his consent, even though
he had not seen the act. He had, however, observed Teddy
engaged in a tussle with the beast that afternoon, and could
readily understand that what Teddy told him about January's
contrariness was not overdrawn.
A colored man came down from the audience, and, throwing off his
coat, announced his intention of riding the mule.
January appeared to have no objection, permitting the colored
man to get on his back without offering the least opposition.
To Teddy, who stood in front of the animal, grinning, there was
a glint in the eye of the mule that spelled trouble for the
colored man.
Suddenly January reared, then as quickly tipped the other way
until it appeared to the spectators as if he were standing on
his head.
The rider suddenly landed on his back in the sawdust.
"The gentleman loses," announced the ringmaster. "Is there any
other gentleman in the audience who thinks he can earn one
hundred dollars a minute--six thousand dollars an hour?"
No one appeared to be anxious to make the attempt.
Manuel, in the meantime, had drawn closer, paying strict
attention to the words of the ringmaster.
"You give money for riding the burro?" questioned the
little Spaniard.
"Burro? This is no Mexican burro, this is a donkey!" sniffed
Teddy contemptuously.
The ringmaster instantly scented an opportunity to have some fun,
and at the same time make the audience laugh. He glanced about
to see if Mr. Sparling were under the big top, and not seeing
him, instantly decided to take a long chance.
"Do you think you can ride January, sir?"
"I ride burro."
"Very well, it is your privilege to do so if you can. Ladies and
gentlemen, this clown has never before attempted this feat.
He thinks he can ride the donkey. If he succeeds he will receive
the reward offered by the management of the show, just the same
as you would have done had you performed the feat."
Teddy stroked January's nose, then leaning over, the Circus Boy
whispered in the animal's ear.
"January," he said, "you've got a solemn duty to perform.
If you shirk it you are no longer a friend of mine, and you
get no more candy--understand? No more candy."
January curled his upper lip ever so little and brayed dismally.
"That's right; I knew you would agree to the sentiment."
"Get away from his head, Master Teddy. The Spanish clown is
about to distinguish himself," announced the ringmaster.
Manuel was an agile little fellow. While the announcement was
being made he had been taking mental measurement of the beast
and deciding upon his course of action.
Ere Teddy had stepped back the Spaniard took a running start,
and, with a leap, landed fairly on the back of the donkey.
The latter, taken by surprise, cleared the ground with all
four feet and bucked, but the rider had flung his arms about
the donkey's neck, clinging with both feet to the beast's
body, grimly determined to win that hundred dollars or die
in the attempt.
"Go it, January," encouraged Teddy. "Give it to him!
Soak him hard!"
January stood on his hind feet, then on his head, as it were,
but still the Spaniard clung doggedly.
By this time the donkey had begun to get angry. He had been
taken an unfair advantage of and he did not like it. Suddenly he
launched into a perfect volley of kicks, each kick giving the
rider such a violent jolt that he was rapidly losing his hold.
"Keep it up! Keep it up! You've got him!" exulted the
Circus Boy.
The audience was howling with delight.
"There he goes!" shrieked Teddy.
Manuel, now as helpless as a ship without a rudder, was being
buffeted over the back of the plunging animal.
Manuel was yelling in his native language, but if anyone
understood what he was saying, that one gave no heed. Teddy, on
the other hand, was urging January with taunt and prod of the
ringmaster's whip.
Suddenly the Spanish clown was bounced over the donkey's rump,
landing on the animal's hocks. It was January's moment--the
moment he had been cunningly waiting and planning for.
The donkey's hoofs shot up into the air with the clown on them.
The hoofs were quickly drawn back, but the Spanish clown
continued right on, sailing through the air like a great
gaudy projectile.
The audience yelled its approval.
Manuel landed with a crash in the midst of the lower
grandstand seats. A second later there was a mix-up that
required the united services of a dozen ring attendants to
straighten out.
In the meantime, Teddy Tucker was rolling on the ground near the
center pole, howling with delight, while January, with lowered
head, was trotting innocently toward the paddock.
The ringmaster's whistle trilled for the next act, and the show
went on with its characteristic dash and sprightliness.
However, Teddy Tucker's plan to get one of the Spanish
hat-throwing clowns into trouble had been an entire success.
He had succeeded, also, in making another bitter enemy for
the Circus Boys.
CHAPTER III
A DAY OF MEMORIES
Mr. Sparling, the owner of the show, had been a witness of
the latter part of Teddy's act. The showman was standing
over near the entrance to the menagerie tent when Manuel took
his unexpected flight, and the proprietor sat down on the
grass, laughing until the tears started from his eyes.
The act had been a breach of discipline, so Mr. Sparling
prudently kept himself out of sight until the show had
progressed further.
Later in the evening he chanced to pass Teddy out in the paddock.
"Well, my lad, how is January working tonight?" he asked, with a
twinkle in his eyes.
"Never better, sir, thank you."
"I presume he obeys your commands perfectly, eh?"
"Does everything I tell him to, Mr. Sparling. I can do anything
with that donkey. Why, I could wink at him and make him kick
your head off. I--"
"I'll take your word for it, young man--I'll take your word
for it. Let me warn you to be careful that you do not tell
him to do anything that will interfere with the programme.
We must have our acts clean cut, and embodying nothing that
has not been arranged for in advance. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," answered Teddy, giving the owner a keen,
inquiring glance.
"I'll bet he saw that," mused the lad. "He's letting me off
easy because he had to laugh, just the same as the rest of the
people did."
"What did Mr. Sparling have to say?" questioned Phil, who had
emerged from the dressing tent just as Teddy was walking away
from the showman.
Teddy told him.
"You got off pretty easy, I must say. It is a wonder he did not
discipline you for that."
"Do you think he saw Manuel fly?"
"He did, or else someone told him. Be careful, Teddy! You are
laying up trouble for all of us," warned Phil.
"I got even with Mr. Hat Thrower, just the same," grinned Tucker.
Teddy was the happiest boy in the show that night, and he went to
his sleeping quarters chuckling all the way.
The show, this season, had opened in Chicago, and was now working
its way across the state of Illinois. The route had caused
considerable comment among the show people. They did not
understand what the plans of the owner might be.
Ordinarily, give a showman the first week or two of the show's
route and he will tell you just what parts of the country the
show will visit during that particular season. The performers
were unable to do so in this instance. Phil Forrest was as much
perplexed as the others, but he made no mention of this to
Mr. Sparling.
"He has some surprise up his sleeve, I am sure," decided
Phil shrewdly.
The next morning Phil asked Mr. Miaco, the head clown,
if he knew where they were going.
"I do not," answered the clown. "This route has kept
me guessing. Boss Sparling may be headed for Australia
for all I know. He's just as likely to go there as
anywhere else. Has the Spaniard bothered you since
that mix-up?"
"No."
"Well, keep away from him. That is my advice."
"I shall not bother him. You may depend upon that, Mr. Miaco.
I can't say as much for Teddy."
"Teddy put up that job with January last night, didn't he?"
"He hasn't said so."
"Not necessary. I saw the whole thing. Lucky for Teddy that
Mr. Sparling did not happen to be about."
"I am not so sure that he was not."
"What?"
Phil explained what Mr. Sparling had said to Teddy out in
the paddock.
"Yes, he saw it all right, but I guess he doesn't know about the
trouble in the dressing tent yesterday."
"No, I think not. I hope he does not hear of it, either.
I do not wish Mr. Sparling to think that I am a troublemaker,
or that I was mixed up in an unseemly row in the dressing tent.
I should feel very much humiliated were I to be called to
account for a thing like that. What are all those flags flying
for in town today?"
"Don't you know?"
"No, I don't."
"You don't know what day this is?"
"No, sir."
"This is Decoration Day."
"Oh, that's so."
"We lose all track of days in the show business. I'll wager you
do not even know what town we are performing in today," laughed
the clown.
"I shall have to confess that I do not."
"I thought so. Of course you know we are in the state
of Illinois?"
"Yes, I think I have heard something to that effect,"
grinned Phil.
By the time the boys had eaten their breakfast, and had strolled
over toward the tents, they found the dressing tents in place and
the performers busily engaged in unpacking their belongings,
hanging their costumes on lines stretched across the dressing
tent, and making such repairs in the costumes as were found to be
necessary, for a showman must be handy with the needle as well as
with bar and trapeze.
Phil's trunk was next to that of Diaz. The Circus Boy did not
mind this at all, but the clown appeared to feel a continual
resentment at the fact.
"Good morning, Mr. Diaz," greeted the lad, with a sunny smile.
"Shall we shake hands and be friends?"
Diaz glared at him, but made no reply. He did not even appear to
have observed the hand that was extended toward him.
"I am sorry you feel that way about it, sir. If I was hasty I
beg you will forgive me," urged Phil.
Diaz turned his back on him.
"Very well, sir," said the Circus Boy, a little proudly and with
slightly heightened color, "I shall not trouble you again."
Phil turned away and began unpacking his trunk, giving no further
heed to the sullen clown.
"The Honorable Mr. Diaz says 'nix,'" laughed Teddy, who had been
an amused witness to the one-sided conversation, the word "nix"
being the circus man's comprehensive way of saying, "I refuse."
"Don't stir him up, Teddy," warned Phil.
"Say, what's going on over in the women's dressing tent?"
"I did not know that anything out of the ordinary was happening
there," said Phil. "Why?"
"I see a lot of folks going in and out."
"Nothing unusual about that, I guess."
"Yes, there is."
"What makes you think so?"
" 'Cause they're carrying flowers in and making a great fuss.
I'm going over to find out. Come along?"
"No, thank you. You had better keep out. You know you are not
supposed to go in the other dressing tent."
Teddy was not disturbed by the warning. He turned and started
for the women's dressing tent, where he saw several of the other
performers passing through the entrance. Phil, who had stepped
to the door of his own dressing tent, observed the same thing.
"I guess there must be something going on over there. I shall
have to find out what it means," he thought.
"May I come in, Mrs. Waite?" called Phil from the entrance.
"Sure. Come in Phil," smiled the wardrobe woman.
Teddy had not wasted the breath to ask permission to enter, but
the moment he stepped inside something caught his eyes, causing
them to open a little wider.
Two trunks had been drawn up in the center; over them was thrown
an American flag. At one end a flag on a standard had been
planted, and on the trunks, flowers and wreaths had been placed.
"What's that thing?" asked Teddy.
"That is my grave, Master Teddy," answered Mrs. Waite in a
low tone.
"Your grave?"
"Yes."
"Pshaw! That's a funny kind of grave. What's buried there--your
pet poodle?"
"Teddy! Teddy!" whispered Phil reprovingly.
"Go 'way. This is some kind of a joke," growled Teddy.
"It is not a joke, though I do not understand the meaning of it
just yet. You say this is your grave, Mrs. Waite?" asked Phil.
"Yes, Phil. You know my husband was a soldier?"
"No, I did not know that, Mrs. Waite. Will you tell me all
about it?"
Phil was deeply interested now.
"My husband was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. He lies in
Woodlawn Cemetery. I am never at home on Decoration Day. I am
always on the road with the circus, so I cannot decorate the
real grave."
"I understand," breathed the Circus Boy.
"Being unable to decorate my husband's real grave, I carry my
grave with me. Each Memorial Day morning I prepare my grave
here in the dressing tent, and decorate it as you see here,
and all my friends of the circus are very good and thoughtful
on that occasion."
"How long have you been with the show--how many years have
you been decorating this little property grave, Mrs. Waite?"
asked Phil.
"Thirty years, Phil."
"Is it possible?"
"Yes, and it seems no more than two."
"Do you intend remaining with the show much longer--aren't you
ever going to retire?"
"Yes. I am going to retire. I am getting old. I have laid up
enough money to keep me for the rest of my life, and I am going
to take a rest after two years more with this outfit."
"I am afraid you will miss the show," smiled the lad.
"I know I shall. I shall miss the life, the color, and I shall
miss my boys and my girls. I love them all very much."
One after another, the women of the circus had come in to the
dressing tent, depositing their little floral remembrances on the
property grave while Mrs. Waite was talking.
Teddy, as soon as he fully comprehended the meaning of the scene,
had slipped out. In a little while he returned. He brought with
him a bunch of daisies that he had gathered on the circus lot.
These he had tied with a soiled pink ribbon that he had ripped
from one of his ring costumes.
Phil saw the daisies, and, noting their significance,
smiled approvingly.
"Teddy has a heart, after all," was his mental comment.
Teddy Tucker proceeded to the flag-draped grave, gently placed
his offering upon it, then turned away.
As he did so, he was observed to brush a hand across his eyes as
if something there were blurring his sight.
CHAPTER IV
THEIR CURIOSITY AROUSED
"Phil, I have an idea that you are wondering where we are bound
for?" said Mr. Sparling, with a merry twinkle in his eyes.
"I will confess that I have been somewhat curious," smiled
the boy. "From the route I could not imagine where you
were heading."
"You are not the only one who has been guessing. Our rivals are
positively nervous over the movements of this show. They think
we are going to jump into the Mississippi River, or something of
the sort--"
"Or float on it," added Phil.
Mr. Sparling eyed him keenly.
They were in the owner's private tent, discussing the business
of the show itself, as these two did every day of the season, for
Mr. Sparling had come to place no little reliance on the judgment
of his young Circus Boy.
"What made you say that, Phil?"
"I had no particular reason. Perhaps I thought I was saying
something funny."
"Nothing very funny about that," answered the showman.
"I agree with you."
"I thought perhaps you might ask me where we were routed for
this season."
"And I thought you would tell me when you wished me to know,"
answered the boy.
"It was not because I did not wish you to know our route, Phil.
I rather thought I should like to give you a surprise."
"Yes, sir."
"We are going to surprise the show world at the same time, so you
see you are not the only one who will be surprised."
"You arouse my curiosity, Mr. Sparling."
"Still you refuse to ask where we are going," replied the
showman, laughing heartily. "I have made my arrangements with
the utmost secrecy because I did not wish any of the opposition
shows to get a line on my plans. Not one of them has done so
thus far. Tomorrow they will know. Or at least by the day
after tomorrow. I am not going to let you in on my little
secret today either. Do you think you can possess your soul
in patience until then?"
"I think there will be no trouble about that. If I have
restrained my curiosity so far I surely can control it
until tomorrow. We show at Milledgeville tomorrow, do
we not?"
"That's what the route card says and I guess the route card
is right."
"Small town, is it not?"
"Yes, one of the little river towns. Do you know much about
the river?"
"Nothing except what I observed when we played the southern
states last season. I should like to take a trip down the river,
and hope I may have an opportunity to do so one of these days."
"You'll have the opportunity, all right."
"Sir?"
"I said you would have the opportunity."
"I hope so."
"Perhaps sooner than you think, too. How is your friend, Tucker,
getting along?"
"Pretty well, thank you. I guess he is working better this
season than he did last. His acts are much more finished, don't
you think so?"
"Yes. I noticed that he nearly finished a clown with one of
his acts the other night," answered Mr. Sparling dryly, whereat
both laughed heartily. "Have you had any trouble, with any of
the men?"
"Do you mean myself, personally?"
"Either or both of you?"
"Some slight disagreements. What trouble we have had has been
due wholly to our own fault," answered Phil manfully.
"With whom?"
"I would rather not say anything about it, if you will permit me
to remain silent."
"You are a queer boy, Phil."
"So I have been told before," answered the lad, laughing.
"And your friend Teddy is a confounded sight more so. I'm afraid
he would have a hard time with most any other show in spite of
the fact that he is an excellent performer."
"I have told him as much."
"Oh, you have?"
"Yes, sir."
"What does he say?"
"He doesn't take my advice very seriously, I am afraid. Teddy is
all right at heart, however."
"I agree with you."
Phil then related to Mr. Sparling the incident of the dressing
tent, when Teddy gathered the daisies to place on the "grave" in
memory of Mrs. Waite's soldier dead, to all of which the showman
listened with thoughtful face. Mr. Sparling rose, walked to the
door of the tent, then returned and sat down.
"You never knew that I was a soldier, too, did you, Phil?"
"No, sir. Were you really?"
"Yes. I fought with the South. I was a drummer boy in a Georgia
regiment," said the showman reminiscently. "Perhaps had I been
older I might have done differently, but I loved my Sunny South
and I love it now."
"So do I," added Phil Forrest fervently.
"But the war is over. It is the show business that concerns us
most intimately at the present moment. I want to say that you
are doing excellent work on the flying trapeze this season."
"Thank you. I am doing my best."
"You always do. Whatever you attempt you go at with all the
force you possess, and that is no slight factor, either. I have
been waiting to talk seriously with you for sometime. You have
finished your studies, have you not?"
"Yes."
"What are your plans for the future?"
"I have no immediate plans beyond continuing in the
show business. I am trying to lay up some money so I
can go into business some of these days."
"What business?"
"Circus business, of course. It is the only business I know
anything about, and I know very little about that, it seems
to me."
"Let me tell you something, Phil. Nine-tenths of the men who
have been in it nearly all their lives know no more about the
circus business than you do. Many of them not so much. You are
a born showman. Take my word for it, you have a very brilliant
career before you. You spoke, sometime ago, about wishing to go
to college."
"I should like to go."
"Under the circumstances I would advise against it, though I am a
thorough believer in the value of an education. You have a good
start now. Were you to go to college you would spend four years
there and when you finished, you would find that the show world
had been moving right along just the same. You would be out of
it, so to speak. You would have been standing still so far as
the circus was concerned, for four full years. Think it over and
some of these days we will have another talk."
"What would you advise, Mr. Sparling?"
"I don't advise. I am simply pointing out the facts for you to
consider, that's all."
"I thank you, Mr. Sparling. I already owe you a debt
of gratitude. I shall never forget all you have done for
Teddy and myself, and I am sure Teddy also appreciates it."
"You owe me nothing."
"Oh, yes, I do! I shall never be able wholly to pay the
debt, either."
"We will drop that side of the case, my boy. You will want to
pack all your things for moving tonight."
"You mean my dressing-room trunk?"
"I mean all your belongings."
Phil looked his surprise.
"I have special reference to your stuff in the sleeper."
"May I ask why, Mr. Sparling."
"Because tonight will be the last night you will spend on the
sleeping car for sometime, in all probability."
"I don't understand. Am I to leave the show?"
"Leave the show?"
"Yes, sir."
"I should say not. You leave the show? I would rather lose any
ten men in it than to have you go away. I trust you never will
leave it for any length of time--at least not while I am in
the business. No, you are going on a little trip--the show is
going on a little trip. That is the surprise I have in store
for you. You will know tomorrow morning. Not another word now,
Phil Forrest. Run along and get ready for the performance."
The Circus Boy hurried over to the dressing tent, full of
curiosity and anticipation of what awaited him on the morrow.
Strange to say, Phil had not the least idea what the plan of the
owner of the show might be.
The surprise was to be a complete one.
CHAPTER V
THE CIRCUS BOYS' SURPRISE
"Come, Phil and Teddy. I want you to take a little walk with
me," called Mr. Sparling early next morning after they had
finished their breakfast.
That morning orders had been given in each of the sleeping cars,
for the performers to pack their belongings, ready to be moved
from the cars.
The show people could not understand it, and gossip was rife
among them as to the meaning of the unusual order.
Orders also had been given to the various heads of departments to
prepare to desert the train, bag and baggage.
"Where are we going?" demanded Teddy suspiciously.
"For a walk. You need not go along, unless you wish to," added
the showman.
"Of course I wish to go. Do you think I want to stay on the lot
when anything is going on somewhere else, eh?"
"There would be plenty going on, if you remained. I am
sure of that," replied Mr. Sparling, with a short laugh.
"Come along, boys."
Still wondering what it was all about, Phil and Teddy
walked along with their employer. They passed on through
the business street of the town, then turned off sharply,
heading for the north. A few moments of this and they
turned to the left again.
"Hello, there's the river," announced Teddy.
"Yes, that is the river."
"I wish I could take a boat ride."
"You shall have one tonight."
"Good!"
Phil glanced at Mr. Sparling inquiringly.
"Oh, look at that funny boat!" cried Teddy. "It's yellow.
I've heard of a yellow dog, but I can't say that I ever heard
of a yellow boat. And it has a paddle wheel on behind.
Well, if that isn't the limit! Why, there are three of them.
What are they, Mr. Sparling?"
Phil's eyes already were widening. He had caught sight of
something that shed a flood of light on the mystery--the surprise
that Mr. Sparling had in store for them. But he was not positive
enough to commit himself.
A moment more, and he knew he was not wrong.
"Teddy, if you will read the words on the side of that boat
nearest to us, you will understand, I think."
"T-h-e," spelled Teddy.
"The," finished Phil.
"S-p-a-r-l-i-n-g, Sparling. C-o-m-b-i-n-e-d Shows. Well, what
do you think of that?"
"I hardly know what to think, yet," answered Phil Forrest.
"The Sparling Combined Shows. Do you mean to say--?"
"I haven't said a word," answered Mr. Sparling, with a merry
twinkle in his eyes. "I am waiting for you to say something."
"I--I am afraid I am too much astonished to say much. Do you
mean we are going to take to the river?"
"Exactly."
"With the show?"
"Yes."
"Hooray!"
"What's that?" demanded Teddy.
"Didn't you hear?"
"I heard, but I don't understand. What's it all about? What is
it about those yellow boats over there?"
"The Sparling Circus is going down the Mississippi," Mr. Sparling
informed him.
"On those things?"
"On those boats."
"Then I think I'll walk. You don't catch me riding on any
boat that has to have a wheel on behind to help push it along.
No, siree, not for mine!"
"But, Teddy, they are fine boats," said Phil.
"They are among the few typical Mississippi River steamers,"
broke in Mr. Sparling. "I got them far up the river last winter.
When I first conceived the plan of sending my show down the
river, on the river itself, I took a trip out here to look over
the ground--"
"You mean the water," corrected Teddy innocently.
"A little of both, my boy. I found that no show since the early
days of the barnstorming outfits had ever attempted the feat.
I learned a number of things that made me all the more anxious
to try it. The next question was a boat. I heard of some of
the old broad-beamed river craft that were out of commission
up stream. I found them exactly suited to our requirements, and
I rented them for the season. It cost quite a sum to have them
fixed up, but you will find them just the thing for our work.
What do you think of the idea?"
"Great!" breathed Phil. "It fairly takes my breath away."
"When--when do we move in?" asked Teddy Tucker wonderingly.
"We begin moving in this morning. I have given the
orders to have the property removed from the trains and
brought here, now--that is, all that will not be needed
for today's performances. Tonight all hands will sleep
on the boats. How will you like that, boys?"
"Fine!" answered Phil, with glowing eyes.
"I'll tell you after I try it," added Teddy prudently.
Across the sides of each boat, in big black letters, were the
words, "The Sparling Combined Shows." Below this lettering
appeared the names of the boats. The "River Queen" was the name
emblazoned on one, several shades more yellow than the other two.
"I guess we shall have to call her the 'Yellow Peril,'"
laughed Phil. "Don't you think that would be an
appropriate name?"
Mr. Sparling laughed good-naturedly.
The companion boat to the "Queen" was named the "Mary Jane."
Teddy promptly renamed her the "Fat Marie," in honor of The
Fattest Woman on Earth, much to the amusement of Phil and
Mr. Sparling.
The "Nemah" was the third boat of the fleet, a much smaller
craft than either of the others. The owner intended to use
the "Nemah" as the Flying Squadron of the show, the boat that
went ahead of the main body of the show, bearing the cook
tent, kitchen equipment and as much other property as could
be loaded on it.
"Well, Teddy," said Mr. Sparling, "in view of the fact that you
and Phil have renamed the 'River Queen' and the 'Mary Jane,'
I suppose you will not be satisfied until you have rechristened
the 'Nemah.' What will you call her?"
"'Little Nemo,'" answered the lad promptly.
"You boys beat anything I ever came across in all my circus
experience," remarked Mr. Sparling.
"Where do we sleep?" asked Phil.
"The cabins are all on the upper decks. The lower decks will be
used wholly for the equipment. I have had all the partitions
ripped out, down there, and the deck flooring lowered a little
so that the elephants will have room to stand. I have also had
smaller wheels put on all the wagons. Had I not done so the
wagons would not have gone in through the openings on the sides."
"What about the tent poles?" asked Phil. "You never will be able
to drive a pole wagon on board."
"You have an eye to business, I see. Have you noticed that the
center poles are spliced this season?"
"Yes, I did observe that."
"It was for the purpose of easier handling. The poles will
all be swung to the upper decks in bundles. In the morning
they will be lowered to the wagons, which can be done
without much difficulty. All the poles, except those
belonging to the big top, will go out on the 'Little Nemo,'
as you have named her. At first, handling the show will be
a little awkward, but we shall soon get the hang of it and
fit into the new arrangement just as if we had been always
traveling on boats. Traveling on the water, you see, we
shall be able to show on both sides of the river all the way
down, which we could not do were we traveling by train.
That will give us a long season, short runs overnight and a
fine outing. Everybody will be delighted with the change,
don't you think so?"
"If not, they will be pretty hard to please, I should say,"
rejoined Phil. "Why, it will be a regular vacation--all summer!"
"How far do we go?" asked Teddy.
"The length of the river."
"To the Gulf of Mexico?"
"Yes. New Orleans probably will be our last stand of the season.
That is, if we do not get wrecked on the big river."
"We can swim out if we do," suggested Teddy.
"I hope nothing of the sort will occur. I think our new plans
will make a great hit along the river."
"They cannot help but do so. We shall have a fine business,
I know," smiled Phil," and our rivals will be green with envy."
"May we go on board?"
"I hardly think you will have time this morning, Teddy. You boys
had better get back to the lot now. I will let you run the show,
Phil, as I shall be busy most of the day arranging for the
transfer to our new quarters. I chose Saturday for the purpose,
as it will give us plenty of time. We probably shall not get
away from here much before daylight."
"What boat do we berth on?"
"The 'Fat Marie,'" answered the showman, with a laugh.
"I believe I'll have these new names of yours painted
on the boats. They certainly make a hit with me.
Skip along, now!"
Almost too full of the new plans to talk, the Circus Boys hurried
back to the circus lot. Mr. Sparling's surprise had been a
surprise, indeed.
By the time they reached the lot the news had been circulated
that the show was to take to the river, and the show people were
discussing excitedly the new plan.
All was bustle and excitement, and the occupants of the dressing
tent, who were preparing for the parade, crowded about the boys
to hear of the new boats.
The Sparling show had never gone along with the snap and
enthusiasm that it did that afternoon. The performers were on
their mettle and the little town was treated to a performance
such as it had never seen before.
Teddy distinguished himself by landing on his head on the
somersaulting mat, narrowly escaping breaking his neck, and
Phil took an unexpected header into the big net during his
trapeze act, getting a jolt that made his head ache for an
hour afterwards. Nothing else of an exciting nature occurred
during the afternoon performance, but at the evening show the
circus people were not so fortunate.
At that performance they met with excitement enough to last them
for a long time.
CHAPTER VI
A BOLT FROM THE CLOUDS
"The old hen has laid an egg! The old hen has laid an egg!"
The performance was moving merrily on, the gasoline lamps
shedding a bright glow over the golden haze of the circus tent,
when a diminutive clown rushed into the arena bearing something
in his arms.
To the spectators it was just another clownish act, and they
laughed uproariously. The circus people, however, realized at
once that something not down on the bills was taking place, and
they cast wondering glances at the little clown, who was dancing
about in high glee.
"Get out of here!" growled the ringmaster angrily. "What do you
mean by breaking into the performance in this way. Out of here,
I say!"
"The old hen has laid an egg!" repeated the clown, holding aloft
the object that all might see.
Teddy Tucker, for it was he, cared nothing for the crowds
occupying the seats. In fact, it is doubtful that he gave
any thought to them at all.
"What do you mean?" demanded the ringmaster.
"The ostrich. Don't you see?"
"The ostrich?"
"Yes, she's laid an egg."
Quick to appreciate the value of the clown's interruption, the
ringmaster took the great egg that Teddy had brought in, and held
it aloft.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, as the band suddenly ceased
playing, "wonders never cease in the Great Sparling Shows.
You have been treated to startling feats of skill upon the lofty
flying swings; you have witnessed desperately dangerous displays
of unrivaled aerialism, and you are about to observe the
thundering, furious Roman chariot races three times about
the arena--"
"Say, what are you trying to get at?" growled Teddy Tucker.
"Give me back that egg."
"But a sensation greater than all of these is in store for you,
though you did not know it. The tallest hen in the world has
laid an egg for your instruction and amusement--the ostrich has
immortalized the town of Milledgeville by laying an egg within
its sacred precincts, and my friend, Teddy Tucker, in discovering
it, has accomplished an achievement beside which the discovery of
the north or south pole is a cheap side show."
The audience yelled its approval and appreciation.
"Young man, what do you intend to do with this wonderful and
rare specimen?"
"What do I intend to do with it?"
"Yes. Is it your purpose to present it to this beautiful little
city, to be placed among its other treasures in the city hall?"
"Well, I guess not!"
"What, then?"
"I'm going to eat it. That's what I'm going to do with it,"
answered Teddy in a voice loud enough to be heard all over
the big top.
The people shouted.
"Give me that egg!" demanded the Circus Boy, grabbing the big
white ball and marching off toward the paddock with it, to the
accompaniment of the laughter and applause of the audience.
"Now that we have seen this remarkable Easter achievement, the
performance will proceed," announced the ringmaster, blowing his
whistle and waving his hand.
The band struck up; the performers, grinning broadly, took up
their work where they had left off upon the entrance of Teddy
Tucker with the giant egg.
The incident had served to put both performers and audience in
high good humor. Mr. Sparling was not present to witness it.
He was busy down by the docks, attending to the loading of such
of the show's equipment as was ready to be packed away for
shipment on the Sparling fleet.
Perhaps it was just as well for Teddy, that the owner of the show
was not present, as he might have objected to the Circus Boy's
interruption of the performance.
Teddy was irrepressible. He stood in awe of no one except
the Lady Snake Charmer, and did pretty much as he pleased all
the time. Yet, beneath the surface, there was the making of a
manly man, a resolute, sturdy character of whom great things
might be expected in the not far distant future.
As the performance proceeded an ominous rumbling was
suddenly heard.
"I think it is going to storm," Phil confided to his working mate
on the flying trapeze.
"Sounds that way. Is that thunder I hear?"
"Yes."
"Guess it won't amount to much. Just a spring shower. You will
find a lot of them along the river for the next month or so."
"I have always heard that rivers were wet," replied Phil
humorously, swinging off into space, landing surely and
gracefully in the arms of the catcher in the trapeze act.
"I think we had better cut the act short."
"Oh, no, let's go on with it," answered Phil. "I am not afraid
if you are not."
"Afraid nothing. I remember still what a narrow escape we had
last season just before that blow-down, when Wallace, the big
lion, made his escape. That was a lively time, wasn't it?"
"Rather," agreed Phil.
The ringmaster motioned to them to bring their act to a close,
and the band leader, catching the significance of the movement,
urged his musicians to play louder. The crash of cymbals and the
boom of the bass drum and the big horns almost drowned out the
rumbling of the thunder.
Those up near the dome of the tent, still going through their
acts, now heard the patter of heavy rain drops on the canvas top.
The lights throughout the tent flickered a little under the
draught that sucked in through the openings in the tent and
the open space at the top of the side walls.
The audience showed signs of restlessness.
"It is only a spring shower, ladies and gentlemen," announced
the ringmaster. "You have no cause for alarm. The hats of the
ladies are perfectly safe. This tent is waterproof. You could
soak it in the Mississippi without getting a drop of water
through it. That's the way the Sparling show looks out for
its patrons. Nothing cheap about the Sparling outfit!"
A laugh greeted his remarks.
A blinding flash faded the gasoline lamps to a ghostly flame.
A few seconds later a crash that shook the earth followed,
causing the audience to shiver with nervous apprehension.
Teddy had come out and was gazing aloft. He grinned at Phil,
noting at the same time that all the lofty performers were
preparing to come down.
"Hello, fraid-cats up there!" jeered the Circus Boy.
"You get out of here!" snapped the ringmaster. "What are you
doing here, anyway?"
"I'm working."
"Yes, I see you working. Go on about your business and don't
bother me. Don't you think I have anything else to do except to
watch you, in order to prevent your breaking up the performance?"
"You ought to thank me for keeping you busy," chuckled Teddy,
making a lively jump to get out of the way of the long lash that
snapped at his heels.
Perhaps there was method in Teddy Tucker's movements.
He strolled out into the concourse, gazing up at the crowded
seats, winking and making wry faces at the people, as he moved
slowly along, causing them to laugh and shout flippant remarks
at him.
This was exactly what he wanted them to do. It gave Teddy an
opportunity to talk back, and many a keen-pointed shaft did he
hurl at the unwary who had been imprudent enough to try to make
sport of him.
While this impromptu act was going on the minds of the people
were so occupied that they forgot all about the storm.
The rain was now beating down on the big top in a deluge, and
despite the ringmaster's assurance that the canvas would not
leak, a fine spray was filling the tent like a thin fog, through
which the lights glowed in pale circles.
"Even the lamps have halos," Teddy informed the people. "I had
one once, but the ringmaster borrowed it and forgot to return it.
But I don't care. He needs a halo more than I do."
A howl greeted this sally.
Teddy was about to say something else, after the first wave of
laughter had swept over the audience, but no one heard him speak.
Another flash, more brilliant, more blinding than any that had
gone before it, lighted up the tent. The big top seemed suddenly
to have been filled with fire. Thin threads of it ran down
quarter and center pole; circles of it raced about the iron rings
used in various parts of the tent, then jumped into the rigging,
running up and down the iron braces and wire ropes used to brace
the apparatus.
The flash was accompanied by a report that was terrifying.
At that instant a great ball of fire descended from the damp
top of the tent, dropping straight toward the concourse.
Teddy Tucker chanced to be standing just beneath it. He had
glanced up when the report came, to see if any damage had
been done aloft.
"Wow!" breathed Teddy.
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.
Yet he had, with rare presence of mind, snubbed the heavy rope
around a tent stake, keeping the free end of the rope in hand,
and holding desperately to it.
Nor did Teddy release his grip on the rope, now that he had been
knocked unconscious. He held it in place, the strands wound
firmly about his arm, though inch by inch he was slipping toward
the heavy tent stake. Phil had received a severe shaking-up,
but he was on his feet quickly, looking about to see on whom he
had fallen.
When he discovered that Teddy had been the victim, Phil groaned.
"I'm afraid I have finished him!"
Teddy had now been drawn along by the rope until his head was
against the tent stake.
"Quick! Lend a hand here!" shouted Phil.
He wrenched the rope loose from Tucker's hands, taking a twist
about his own arms and holding on with all his might.
Several ring attendants came to their senses about that time and
rushed to his assistance.
"Take care of Teddy!" cried Phil.
The ringmaster turned Teddy over and looked into the lad's face.
At that, Teddy opened his eyes and winked. The ringmaster jerked
him to his feet and shook him vigorously.
This restored the boy to his normal condition.
"Hello, folks!" howled Teddy, turning a handspring, falling over
a ring curbing as he did so.
The people forgot their fear and greeted Teddy with
wild applause. The Circus Boy had saved a blow-down
and perhaps many lives as well.
CHAPTER VII
IN NEW QUARTERS
Though the center pole had been struck by lightning, repairs
were soon sufficiently advanced to enable the show to go on
and complete the performance. The pole itself was
practically ruined.
Fortunately, the show had another one, and the wrecked pole was
left on the lot that night as worthless.
After the Roman races the people stood up in their seats and gave
three cheers for the boy who had saved many of them from perhaps
serious injury or death.
Teddy heard the cheer. He was in his dressing tent changing
his clothes, having thus far gotten on only his trousers
and undershirt.
He could not restrain his curiosity, so trotting to the entrance
he inquired the cause of the commotion.
"They're cheering for you," a canvasman informed him.
"For me?"
"Yes."
Teddy needed no more. Without an instant's hesitation he ran out
into the ring, where he stood smiling, bowing and throwing kisses
to them.
"Come and see us again!" yelled the Circus Boy.
"We will that!" answered a chorus of voices.
"I'll have the big hen lay another egg for you. I--" His voice
was drowned in the roar of laughter that followed this sally.
Already the attendants were ripping up the seats, loading them
into the wagons, with a rattle and bang. Men were shouting,
horses neighing; here and there an animal uttered a hoarse-voiced
protest at something, it knew not what.
Circus animals often scent a change, perhaps more quickly than do
the people about them.
Performers and others, whose duties did not keep them on the lot,
were hurrying to get to the dock where the circus boats were
waiting, and where Mr. Sparling was attending to the loading.
Phil and Teddy were in no less haste. Quickly getting their
trunks packed, they started off for the river. The moon had come
out after the storm and the air was fresh and fragrant, though
underfoot the evidences of the storm were still present.
"Did I hurt you much when I fell on you tonight, Teddy?"
"Hurt me?"
"Yes?"
"You knocked the breath out of me. But don't let a little thing
like that worry you. I thought the tent had fallen on me, or at
least a center pole. Lucky I was there, wasn't it?"
"It was."
"You might have received a bump that you wouldn't have gotten
over right away."
"I might have done so."
"I saved your life, didn't I?"
"Perhaps you did. I had only a few feet to drop, you know.
I was ready to drop on all fours lightly when you happened
to get in the way--"
"When I happened to get in the way?"
"Yes. Didn't you?"
"Well, I like that," growled Teddy indignantly. "Here I run in
and save your life, willing to sacrifice my own for you and you
say when I 'happened to get in the way.'"
Phil laughed heartily.
"Of course, I appreciate your wonderful self-sacrifice. It was
very kind of you to get in the way and let me fall on you.
Nothing like having a soft place to fall, is there, old chap?"
Teddy uttered an unintelligible growl.
"That's right; insult me. I'm only a clown and--and
a life-saver--"
"And one of the best fellows a chap could have for his
friend, eh? I was only joking, Teddy."
"I accept your apology. My hand on it," answered
Teddy condescendingly. "Next time you can fall
on the ground or any old place. I don't care.
I shan't try to catch you."
"If I remember correctly, you could not very well help yourself
in this instance. You did not catch me. I caught you--caught
you unawares. There is Mr. Sparling and there are the boats.
Don't they look fine, all lighted up inside, their signal lights
burning on the outside?"
"They look wet to me."
Thin wisps of smoke were curling lazily from the funnels of the
three boats, for the stokers had not yet started to get up steam.
Some hours would elapse before the fleet would be ready to begin
its journey down the big river.
"There goes the 'Little Nemo,'" cried Teddy.
The smaller of the three steamboats moved slowly out into the
stream, and there came to anchor to await the other boats.
The "Fat Marie" was already alongside the long dock, but she now
moved up a little further to make room for her companion boat,
the "River Queen," which latter Phil had nicknamed the
"Yellow Peril."
"Let's see, where do we stow our belongings, Phil?"
"On the 'Fat Marie.'"
"If that name don't sink her, nothing will," said Teddy, with a
broad grin. "I hope the boat floats better than Fat Marie did
when she fell in the creek last season. If not, we're lost.
Let's go on board and find out where we are going to live."
"After we speak to Mr. Sparling. Is there anything we can do to
help you, Mr. Sparling?" asked Phil, stepping up to the owner of
the show, who, hatless, coatless, his hair looking as if it had
not been combed in days, was giving orders in sharp, short
sentences, answering questions and shouting directions almost in
the same breath.
"Oh, is that you, Phil?"
"It is myself, sir," smiled the lad. "How are you
getting along?"
"Much better than I had hoped. You see the 'Little Nemo' is
already loaded. The 'Fat Marie' is well loaded and the 'Queen'
is taking stuff on board at a two-forty gait."
"I see you haven't driven the bulls on yet," meaning
the elephants.
The elephants were standing off beyond the docks, huge shadowy
figures, swaying silently in the faint light, for there was a
slight haze in the air that even the brilliant moonlight could
not wholly pierce.
"No; I thought it best to load the bulls and the ring stock
later on. The bulls might get frightened with all the unusual
noises around them. After they become more used to this method
of traveling they will be all right."
"What time do we pull out?"
"It will be three o'clock, I think. Perhaps a little later
than that."
"You mean earlier," suggested Teddy.
The showman turned on him sharply.
"Why, hello, Teddy. Really, you are so small that I did not
see you."
Teddy winced.
"I guess I'm some, even if I am little," protested the
lad warmly.
"You are right. You are not only some, but much.
What's this I hear about trouble on the lot? Some of the
men said they heard there had been an accident, but they
guessed it didn't amount to much."
"It was not very serious," said Phil.
"Oh, no; nothing of any consequence," jeered Teddy. "I was
struck by lightning, that's all."
"What!"
"Hit by balls of fire--and the big hen laid an egg."
"See here, what are you driving at--"
"And crushed, utterly crushed by my best friend, Phil Forrest.
Now, what do you think of that?"
"Teddy, please hitch your tongue to the roof of your mouth for
a moment. Now, Phil, tell me what happened. I get so dizzy when
Teddy is talking that I almost imagine I am going to be seasick."
"Pshaw!" growled Teddy.
"We did have a little trouble."
"Tell me about it."
"The storm came up while the aerial acts were on. We all
shortened our acts at the direction of the ringmaster, and it
was well we did so. We had not all gotten down when a bolt of
lightning struck the main center pole."
"You don't say! Here, men, stow those canvas wagons forward!
You must learn to trim the boat, giving her an even load
all over! Did the bolt do any damage?"
"Slivered the pole."
"Wreck it?"
"Yes. Not worth carrying off the lot."
"What else?"
"Some excitement--"
"Panic?"
"No, but I think there would have been had it not been for my
friend, Teddy Tucker. He amused the audience while things were
happening up above."
"Good for you, Teddy Tucker," said the showman, slapping the
Circus Boy on the back.
"Ouch!" howled Teddy.
"I was congratulating you, that's all," laughed Mr. Sparling.
"If it is all the same to you, please use a club when you
congratulate me. I won't feel it so much."
Phil next went on to relate how Teddy had, by his quickness, made
fast the rope and probably saved the top from falling in on them,
and how he, Phil, had fallen on the boy and knocked him out.
Mr. Sparling surveyed the flushed face of Teddy approvingly.
"Thank you, Teddy," he said. "I'll give you a day off to go
fishing, sometime, for that."
"I don't want to go fishing."
"Then you are the first showman I ever knew who did not.
They are simply crazy over fishing. You'll see every one
of them hanging over the rails in the early morning trying
to catch fish."
"I won't. You'll see me asleep about that time, if you look in
the right place," answered Teddy very promptly.
"Teddy deserves your praise, Mr. Sparling."
"He does, and he has it. I will show my appreciation more fully
when I get all this rush out of the way. The loss of the center
pole doesn't amount to much, but the rest does."
"And the hen laid an egg," reiterated Teddy.
"Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you. The big ostrich hen laid an egg
this evening."
"Is it possible?"
"Yes; Teddy found it in the hay behind the concert platform."
The showman's eyes twinkled.
"What were you doing back there?"
"Looking for a place to take a catnap between acts."
Mr. Sparling laughed heartily.
"There's only one Teddy in the whole wide world!"
"I hope not," added the boy quickly.
"Where is the egg--what did you do with it?"
"Got it in my bag here, want to see it?"
He handed the egg to Mr. Sparling who turned it over, glancing at
it curiously.
"Look out! You'll drop it!"
"And what are you going to do with it, may I ask?"
"Eat it."
"What, eat up my property?"
"Eggs belongs to the finder, and--"
"You mean eggs belong to the finder," corrected Phil.
"Yes, I guess so. Any way, so you say it. I'm going to eat this
egg, even if it does give me indigestion all the rest of my life.
How do you cook ostrich eggs?"
"I never cooked any, my boy. You will have to consult the cook
on that point. Perhaps he may consent to cook it for you."
"I'll give you a slice off the white when it's cooked."
"Thank you. You are welcome to the whole egg. Better go up and
locate yourselves, boys."
"What number is our room, Mr. Sparling?" asked Phil.
"Number twenty-four, on the upper deck. I have given you a nice,
roomy, light and airy cabin that I think will please you. It is
one of the best on the ship and you should be very
comfortable there."
"I am sure we shall be, and thank you very much," said Phil.
"Come along, Teddy."
Together they made their way to the boat and through the crowded,
bustling lower deck, where the big canvas-covered wagons were
being warped into place, a sort of orderly confusion reigning
over everything, the scene lighted by lanterns swinging from
hooks all about the deck.
The lads found their cabin, and after lighting the lamp, uttered
exclamations of surprise. Instead of the narrow berths they had
expected to see, there were white enameled iron bedsteads, a
washstand with the same neat finish, and several pictures on
the walls.
The cabin was a large one. In the center of it stood a table on
which lay a large portfolio and inscribed in gold letters on the
outside they read the words, "For the Circus Boys."
The portfolio was filled with writing materials.
"Oh, isn't that fine?" exclaimed Phil.
"Yes, it's a fine egg. I'm going to have the feast of my life
when I get it baked--"
"Teddy Tucker!"
"What?"
"What do you think I am talking about?"
"Eggs."
"I am not. I am talking about this beautiful cabin that
Mr. Sparling has fixed for us. Look at it--look at
this portfolio. I am afraid you don't appreciate how
good our employer is to us. There is an easy chair for
each of us, too. Why, we ought to be very happy."
"I am happy. So would you be if a hen had laid a five pound egg
for you," retorted Teddy.
"Hopeless, hopeless," groaned Phil.
Teddy, muttering to himself, carefully laid the egg away in his
trunk, first wrapping it up in an old silk ring shirt, then
locking the trunk and putting the key in his pocket.
The lad then made a personal and critical examination of the
room, tried the springs of the bed, nodded approvingly, sat down
in one of the easy chairs and put his feet on the table.
Phil promptly pushed the feet off.
"Here, what are you doing?"
"This is not the dressing room of a circus, Teddy. This is
the living room of a couple of young gentlemen. Let's not
forget that. Let us try to keep our cabin looking nice and
shipshape, else Mr. Sparling will think we do not appreciate
his kindness."
"Say, Phil!"
"Yes?"
"I'll tell you what we'll do!"
"I am listening."
"We'll have a spread up here all by ourselves, tomorrow night,
after the show. We'll eat the egg. I'll get the cook to boil it
all day tomorrow--does it take a day to boil an ostrich egg?"
"I should think it might take a month," laughed Phil. "Yes; I'll
make a martyr of myself and help you eat the egg. I shall never
have any peace until that egg is finally disposed of--"
"What's going on downstairs?" interrupted Teddy.
A commotion was heard out on the dock. There was the tramping of
many feet, mingled with loud, angry shouts and sharp commands.
"It sounds to me as if something has been let loose," said Teddy
Tucker wisely.
Something had been "let loose."
With one accord the Circus Boys sprang up. Rushing out into the
corridor they leaped down the after companionway four steps at
a jump.
CHAPTER VIII
JANUARY ON THE RAMPAGE
"What's the row? What's the row?" bellowed Teddy, who, bolting
under a cage and, leaving his hat under the wagon, dashed out to
the dock, where their vessel was moored.
The two boys saw an object leaping into the air, performing
strange and grotesque antics.
"It's January!" yelled Teddy. "Whoa, January!"
But January refused to "whoa." The donkey had objected to going
aboard the boat. When the workmen tried to force him, he
protested vigorously, biting those in front and kicking those
behind him.
"Teddy, get that fool donkey out of here or I'll throw him in the
river," bawled the owner of the show.
Perhaps January understood the threat. At least he started for
Mr. Sparling, snorting.
The showman ducked under a canvas wagon and climbed up the
other side of it, giving his orders from the top of the wagon.
He knew January. He had had business dealings with the donkey
on other occasions.
"Get him out of here, I tell you!"
"Drive him in yourself," answered a groom. "I wouldn't try it
for a present of the whole confounded show."
Up to this point those who had not left the dock willingly
January had assisted with his ever ready hoofs, and, by the
time Teddy reached the scene the donkey had kicked every man off
and into the street, excepting the owner of the show himself.
As already related, Mr. Sparling had seen fit to leave in haste
when January directed his attention to him.
"Whoa, January!" commanded Teddy in a soothing tone.
The donkey, at sound of the Circus Boy's voice, reared and came
down facing Teddy.
"Come here, you beast. Don't you know you're going to have a
ride on the river? You don't know enough to know when you are
well off. Come, Jany, Jany, Jany. Wow!"
January had responded with a rush. Teddy stepped aside just in
time to save himself from being bowled over. But as the donkey
ran by him the boy threw both arms about the animal's neck.
Then began the liveliest scrimmage that the spectators had
ever witnessed. Kicking and bucking, the donkey raced from
side to side, varying his performance now and then by making
a dive toward the crowd, which quickly gave gangway as the
people sought for safety.
"Whoa, January! I--I'll break your neck for this, hang you!
Some other donkey has taught you these tricks. You never knew
anything about them way back in Edmeston. You--"
Bang!
Teddy was slapped against the side of the "Fat Marie."
By this time Tucker's temper was beginning to rise. His first
inclination was to hit the donkey on the nose with his free hand,
but he caught himself in time. He was too fond of animals, even
donkeys, to strike one on the head. It was a rule too, in the
Sparling shows, that any man who so far forgot himself as to
strike a horse over the head closed with the show then and there.
Now Teddy thought of a new plan. He watched his opportunity.
Suddenly, Teddy put his plan into operation.
It must be remembered that the Circus Boy was strong and agile,
and that his work in the ring had given him added quickness.
He therefore applied the trick he had thought of; then something
happened to January. The donkey struck the planking of the pier
flat on his back, his feet beating the air viciously.
"Whoa, January!"
Teddy flopped the animal on its side, then calmly sat down on the
donkey's head. He had thrown the beast as prettily as ever had a
wrestler an adversary.
The Circus Boy began mopping the perspiration from his brow.
"Warm, isn't it?" he said, tilting his eyes up to where
Mr. Sparling had been watching the proceedings from the
top of a wagon.
"You certainly look the part. Now, what are you going to do with
that fool donkey?"
"I'm going to sit on his head until I get ready to get up.
Then, if somebody will lend me a whip, I'll tan his jacket
to my own taste."
January uttered a loud bray.
"Well, do something," shouted a canvasman. "We can't wait all
night on the gait of that donkey."
"All right; if any of you fellows think you know the inside
workings of a donkey's mind better than I do, just come and
lead this angelic creature on board the 'Fat Marie.'"
"No, no; we don't know anything about donkeys," came a chorus
of voices. "We don't want to know anything about
donkeys, either."
"Somebody bring me a bridle, then. Don't be afraid of him, he
is as gentle as a lamb. You wouldn't hurt a fly, would you,
dear January?"
January elevated both hind feet, narrowly missing the groom who
had brought the bridle.
After some difficulty the bystanders succeeded in getting the bit
between his teeth and the bridle over his head.
"Now, take tight hold of the bridle and lead him. I'll use
persuasive measures at the other end," directed Teddy.
January fairly hurled himself forward, jerking the groom off his
feet at once. But the man hung on stubbornly.
A moment more, and Teddy had fastened a firm grip on January's
tail, not appearing to be in the least afraid of the flying hoofs
that were beating a tattoo in the air.
How Teddy did twist that tail! Finally January, in sheer
desperation, was forced to give ground. One leap carried him
over the gangplank and into the boat. Once within, there was
a repetition of the scenes enacted on the dock, except that
this time it was the groom who was getting the worst of it,
while Teddy sat on the gangway, howling with delight.
At last the donkey was subdued and led to the place where he was
to spend the night. But they had to rope him in to prevent his
kicking the other stock through the side of the boat.
Fat Marie herself came waddling along about this time, blowing
like a miniature steam engine.
"Gangway! Gangway!" shrieked Marie, in a high-pitched,
shrill voice.
Teddy was nearly crowded off the gangplank.
"See here, where are you going? Don't you know there's a crazy
donkey in there?"
"Going to my cabin to seek sweet repose," squeaked Marie.
"What! Are you going to live on this boat?"
"That's what. If I can get up to the sky parlor where my
'boodwah' is. Come, help me up the stairs; that's a
good boy, Teddy."
"I helped you once. That was enough for me. Say, Marie?"
"What is it, my lad?"
"If the boat should be wrecked in one of the terrible storms
that sweep this raging river you had better grab the anchor the
first thing."
"Why grab the anchor?"
"You'll sink quicker," laughed the Circus Boy, darting out to the
dock and leaning against a wagon wheel.
By this time Mr. Sparling had descended from his haven of safety,
and began issuing orders again.
"Get the bulls in now. No more nonsense. Teddy, you did a good
job, but it took you a long time to do it."
"Yes, sir. Do you think anybody else could have done
it quicker?"
"I know they could not. Where is Phil?"
"Guess he went back to his cabin after I finished off January.
Going to load the elephants, did you say?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you afraid they will sink the boat?"
"Don't bother us now. You know we did not bother you when you
were trying to get your livestock in."
"I noticed that you didn't," answered Teddy, humorously, which
remark brought a shout of laughter from everyone within hearing
of his voice.
Mr. Kennedy, the elephant-trainer, now ranged his charges in
line, with Jupiter, the ill-tempered member of the herd, in
the lead. He wanted to get Jupiter in ahead, knowing that the
others would follow willingly enough after him. Emperor, the
great beast that had such a warm regard for Phil, was third in
the line.
"Everybody keep away and don't make a racket or they will
get nervous. I expect to have a little trouble with those
bulls the first time. After that they will go one board as
meek as a flock of spring mutton," declared Kennedy.
Teddy was close at hand. If there was any prospect of
trouble or excitement he wanted to be near enough not to
miss a single feature of it.
Mr. Kennedy gave the command for attention.
Each of the elephants to the rear of Jupiter stretched forth a
trunk and grasped the tail of the elephant directly in front
of him.
"Forward, march!"
"Hip! Hip!" began Teddy.
"That will do, young man," warned Mr. Sparling.
The line moved slowly forward, Jupiter offering no objection to
going where he was ordered.
Just as he reached the gangplank, however, Jupiter halted.
"Forward!"
The elephant's trunk curled upward and a mighty trumpeting sent
the villagers scurrying for places of safety.
Mr. Kennedy prodded the elephant with the sharp point of
his hook. The act forced Jupiter to place one foot on the
gang plank, throwing his weight upon the planking to test
its stability. He felt it give ever so little beneath his
feet, and quickly withdrew the foot.
Once more the prod was brought into use. Jupiter waxed angry.
With a great cough, he curled his trunk about the heavy
gangplank, wrenching it free from its resting place.
Raising the planking high above his head he hurled it into
the river.
"Ladies and gentlemen," announced Teddy Tucker, in a loud voice,
"you have witnessed a most satisfying, edifying, gratifying,
ennobling, superb and sublime spectacular prelude, as our press
agent would say. But, if you know what's good for you, you will
now hasten to the high places, for there's going to be something
doing around here in about a minute."
Teddy was no false prophet in this instance.
Strutting up to the angry Jupiter the Circus Boy slapped him
playfully on the trunk.
"You bad boy. I thought January was the limit, but I have
changed my mind. You--"
Suddenly Jupiter's trunk curled about the lad. The angry
elephant raised the boy far above his head and hurled him up
into the air as he had done with the gangway, except that he
threw Teddy in another direction.
CHAPTER IX
PHIL FORREST TO THE RESCUE
"Catch Teddy! Catch him!" shouted Mr. Sparling.
"The boy has gone into the river!" cried half a dozen voices
at once.
"No; the bull threw him toward the boat. He may have shot right
on over and into the water or he may still be on the upper deck,"
answered Mr. Kennedy, as he plied his prod industriously,
shouting his orders to the other elephants that already were
showing signs of restlessness.
By this time a boat had been launched from the dock, and half a
dozen men had gone in search of the lost gangway that was now
floating slowly down the river some distance away.
"Ahoy, boat!" bellowed Mr. Sparling. "Row around to the other
side and see if Tucker is in the river."
At the same time the owner of the show was running toward
the "Marie." He plunged into the mass of equipment on
the lower deck, lost his footing and went rolling under a
lion's cage. He was on his feet and bounding up the stairs
almost in the next second.
Just as he reached the upper deck he met Phil Forrest emerging
from the cabin, attracted by the uproar.
"What's the matter, sir?"
"Teddy," answered the showman shortly.
"Oh, that boy again! What is it?"
"Jupiter tossed him."
"Where is he?"
"Maybe in the river. Help me look for him up here. They are
searching for him on the other side of the boat."
Phil started on a run along one side of the deck, Mr. Sparling
taking the other side.
"Here he is. Ahoy, boat! Go and get the gangway. I have the
boy here," called Mr. Sparling.
Phil hurried over to where Mr. Sparling was bending over Teddy,
who lay doubled up against the pilot house.
"Is he hurt?"
"I don't know. I'll tell you when I get him untangled. He seems
to be standing on his head. Lucky if his neck isn't broken."
"Teddy's neck is too tough to be easily broken. I think he is
merely stunned," said Phil.
The showman straightened the Circus Boy out, and Teddy suddenly
sat up, rubbing his head and neck gingerly.
"Did January kick me?" he demanded wonderingly.
"No; Jupiter threw you up here. Are you hurt?"
"Hurt?"
"Yes."
"I'm worse than that. I'm like the carpenter who swallowed a
tape measure. I'm dying by inches."
Mr. Sparling uttered an impatient exclamation.
"Take care of him, Phil. I must get back. There is trouble
down there."
The showman hurried away, and Phil saw at once that his companion
had sustained a severe shock, but nothing of a serious nature.
"You're all right, Teddy. What is the trouble down there?"
Teddy, still rubbing himself, explained what had happened.
Just then there came a call from below.
"Oh, Phil!"
"Yes."
"Can you come down here?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"Mr. Sparling wants you."
"I'll be right there."
The lad, instead of taking the time to go down the companionway,
swung over the side of the boat and dropped lightly to the wharf.
Such is the advantage of being a showman.
"Mr. Kennedy is having trouble with the bulls, Phil," explained
Mr. Sparling.
"Yes; so Teddy told me."
"He thinks you may be able to suggest some way out of
our difficulty. Mr. Kennedy has great confidence in
your resourcefulness."
"What have you done thus far?"
Mr. Sparling explained briefly, Phil giving close attention.
"Have they found the gangplank yet?"
"Yes; they are towing it up to the dock now."
Phil waited until they had hauled the gangway up and put it
in place.
"Will you try her, so that I can see how she works, Mr. Kennedy?"
asked the lad after the gangway had been chained down so securely
that the elephant would have difficulty in ripping it loose.
Jupiter was just as stubborn as he had been before.
Phil observed three or four showmen standing near him
on the other side.
"Please step back, all of you," he said. "Mr. Sparling, will
you see that no one comes near the elephants? I'll see what I
can do. Back him off, Mr. Kennedy."
This done, Phil stepped back along the line until he came to the
big elephant Emperor.
"Good old Emperor," cried the Circus Boy soothingly. "Here's a
lump of sugar."
Emperor tucked the sugar far back in his pink mouth. Then Phil,
taking hold of the trunk, petted it affectionately, next tucking
it under his arm.
"Come along, old fellow. You need not be afraid," he said,
starting toward the ship, with Emperor following meekly
and obediently. At the gangway he stopped and examined the
passageway carefully.
"Are you sure it is strong enough to support them, Mr. Kennedy?"
"Yes, it will hold two at once."
"Very well."
Once more Phil took hold of the trunk and led Emperor across and
into the boat, the elephant making no protest; though, knowing
him as he did, Phil saw that the animal was timid. The beast's
confidence in the little Circus Boy overcame his fears, however.
Emperor got another lump of sugar as the result of his obedience.
"See if Jupiter will follow," called Phil.
Jupiter would not.
Observing this, Phil swung Emperor around and led him to
the dock.
"What are you going to do?" asked Mr. Sparling.
"Perhaps nothing at all. If Mr. Kennedy failed I do not see how
I shall be able to accomplish anything. Get Jupiter up to the
gangway, please."
This was done.
"When I say the word, you give Jupiter the hook good and hard
and quick. I'll promise you that something will happen.
See here; didn't I tell you fellows to keep away from
those elephants?" demanded the boy, observing two figures
edging up toward Emperor.
"Clear the dock!" roared Mr. Sparling.
A sudden thought seemed to strike Phil. He left Emperor and
stepped around to the other side of the animal walking about and
peering into the faces of the people who now were standing back
at a respectful distance. Most of them proved to be villagers,
with a few circus people sprinkled among them.
"Did you notice who those two men were who were standing on the
other side, Mr. Sparling?" he asked in a low tone.
"No; why?"
"I wanted to know."
"Why do you ask that question?"
"Because I am suspicious of them, that's all."
Making sure that the dock was clear, Phil led Emperor up to
Jupiter, placing the former's head against the hips of the
stubborn elephant.
"Now!" he shouted, at the same time giving Emperor the signal
to push.
The big elephant threw all his great strength into a
forward movement. Jupiter, taken off his guard, plunged
across the gangplank, with Emperor pushing him along, the former
trumpeting wildly in his fear and rage. Another minute, and
Jupiter was landed safely on the lower deck of the "Fat Marie."
CHAPTER X
ALL ABOARD FOR THE GULF!
Day was breaking.
Clouds of dense black smoke were rolling from the funnels
of the Sparling fleet, while steam was hissing from the
overburdened safety valves.
The show was ready for its start down the river.
The "Little Nemo" had already hoisted anchor and
was drifting with the current awaiting the signal
to start her engines.
"All ashore that's going," sang a voice on each of
the two boats lying at the dock.
The boats' whistles broke out in three deafening,
prolonged blasts each.
"Cast off!" bellowed the pilots.
Hawsers were hauled in and the distance between the dock and
the boats slowly widened.
"We're off," shouted Teddy, waving his hat joyously.
"We will be more so, unless we get some sleep," warned Phil.
"I would suggest that you and I turn in for a few hours. We both
need a beauty sleep."
"I don't," answered Teddy promptly.
"Think not?"
"No, sir. I'm handsome enough as it is. Even the fool
donkey stands aghast when he comes face to face with my
surpassing beauty."
"How about the elephants?" twinkled Phil.
"Elephants don't count, at least not after twelve o'clock
at night."
"I move that we turn in just the same. We will sleep until
sometime before noon, then we can get up and enjoy the ride.
I understand we shall not reach the next stand until sometime
this evening. This is going to be a great trip, Teddy."
"It has been," nodded the other boy. "Where do we show first?"
"Milroy, I believe is the name of the place. I never heard of
it before."
"And probably you never will want to again, after you have
been there. That is the case with most of these little
tank towns. A fellow wonders where all the people come
from who go to the show."
The lads went to their cabin and were soon sound asleep.
They realized how tired they were when first they got into bed.
"This is great!" muttered Phil, as, lying in his bed, he felt the
cool air drifting in over him.
When they awakened the sun was at its zenith.
Phil consulted his watch.
"Wake up, Teddy. It is twelve o'clock."
Teddy sleepily dragged himself from his bed, pulled himself
wearily to the window and threw open the blinds.
"Where are we?" asked Phil.
"Ask the pilot," grumbled Teddy. "How do you suppose I know?
This water looks like a big mud puddle. I'm hungry; aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. What are we going to do for breakfast? I never
thought to bring along a lunch."
"I've got an egg," chuckled Teddy.
"You are welcome to it. I don't care for any, thank you."
Just then there came a rap on their door.
Phil opened it and looked out.
"Mr. Sparling wishes to know if you are ready for breakfast?"
asked the man, whom they recognized as the showman's
personal servant.
"Am I ready for breakfast?" shouted Teddy. "Tell Mr. Sparling
he ought to know better than to ask a question like that.
What's this, a joke? We can't get any breakfast on this
old tub."
"Mr. Sparling directs me to ask you to join him in his cabin for
breakfast in ten minutes."
"Thank you. Tell him we shall be on hand," smiled Phil.
"I hope it isn't a joke," grumbled Teddy, pulling on
his trousers.
"Now, isn't that fine of Mr. Sparling, old fellow?" asked Phil,
with glowing eyes.
"Tell you better after I sample the breakfast. I'm suspicious."
"You need not be. Mr. Sparling would not be so unkind as to
invite us to eat breakfast with him unless he had some breakfast
to offer us."
"Well, I hope it's straight," muttered the doubting Teddy. A few
minutes later the lads presented themselves at the door of the
owner's cabin.
"Good morning, boys; how did you sleep last night?" he greeted
them, with a cordial smile and a handshake for each.
"I was dead to the world," answered Teddy, with his customary
bluntness of speech.
"I guess we all were," smiled the showman. "All day and all
night was rather trying, but we shall not have the same trouble
after this; at least not after the next stand. Everything should
be in excellent working order after Monday. Sit down and have
some breakfast with me."
An appetizing meal had been spread in the cabin. Teddy surveyed
the table with wistful eyes.
"I did not know you were going to serve meals on board,"
said Phil.
"I am not, generally speaking. This is different. I would not
ask our people to go all day without anything to eat. I have had
a cold meal prepared in the main cabin, with hot coffee to wash
it down. I thought you boys might like to join me here for a
real meal. Having a real meal is one of the privileges of the
owner of the show, you know," replied Mr. Sparling, with a hearty
laugh, in which the boys joined.
"I was going to eat my egg," said Teddy humorously.
"It is very kind of you, Mr. Sparling," said Phil. "We were just
wondering what we should do for breakfast, and Teddy, as he has
just told you, was thinking of eating the ostrich egg."
"Raw?"
"I presume so," replied Phil, with a short laugh.
"It would make a fellow strong," declared Teddy in defense of
his egg.
"I agree with you, my boy. I ate a piece of one once, and it was
quite the strongest thing I ever tackled."
"That's a joke. Ha, ha!" replied Teddy, with serious face.
The lads were, by this time, on such terms of intimacy with their
employer that they felt free to talk with him as they would to
each other. At least Phil did, and in all probability Tucker
would have done so at any rate.
"Do we unload tonight, Mr. Sparling?" questioned Phil.
"No, I think not. Tomorrow morning will be time enough. I never
like to do any more work on Sunday than is absolutely necessary."
Phil nodded his approval.
"I believe in observing the day, and besides, our people need
the rest and the relaxation. That reminds me of what I wanted
to say. You did a very clever piece of work last night, both
of you."
Teddy glanced up in surprise.
"Yes; I got a roughhouse from the donkey and the elephant.
I'm a sort of a good thing all around. When the fool donkey
gets through wiping up a whole county with me, the elephant
takes a hand--a trunk, I mean--and lands me high and dry on
the roof of the 'Fat Marie.'"
"You mean the deck," corrected Phil.
"I don't know what you call it, but it was hard enough when I
struck it. Next time I'm going to have a net spread to catch me.
I'll bet I would have made a hit in the ring with that donkey
wrestling bout. I guess I will try it on some of these times,
providing I can get the donkey to work the way he did
last night."
"As I said before, there is something I want to ask you, Phil,"
repeated the showman.
"Yes, sir."
"Did it not strike you that Jupiter acted very peculiarly
last night?"
"Yes. I did not see the first of it, but I saw enough."
"What did you think about it?"
"I did not know what to think."
The showman shot a keen glance at the Circus Boy's thoughtful,
serious face.
"What do you think today?"
"That it was perfectly natural for Jupiter to balk going across
the gangplank."
"How about him having hurled Teddy to the deck of the
'Fat Marie'?"
"That is different."
"Did it arouse any suspicions in your mind, my boy?"
Phil reflected for a moment, toying absently with his fork.
"Candidly, it did, Mr. Sparling. It struck me as peculiar at
the time, and, as I thought it over, I became more and more
convinced that there was some reason for Jupiter's action
beyond what we saw."
The showman nodded, as if Phil's suggestion agreed with his
own ideas.
"What do you think happened?" he asked.
"What do you think?"
"I will confess that I don't know, Phil. You had some reason
for driving everyone away from the bulls there on the dock,
did you not?"
"Yes, I did not want anyone to bother them while we were trying
to get them on board."
"I understand," said Mr. Sparling, with a nod.
"Did you notice who was there on the dock at the time,
Mr. Sparling?"
"No, not particularly."
"Was it some of the show people?"
"I am unable to say. I saw you drive two men off in particular,
but I did not look at them closely. Did you know them?"
"Perhaps. They got away rather too quickly for me to make sure."
"Who do you think they were?"
Phil did not answer at once.
"Come, who were they, Phil?"
"I don't know, Mr. Sparling."
"I did not mean it exactly that way. You think you recognized
them, and as I said before, I want to know who you think the
men were?"
"I would rather not say, Mr. Sparling," answered the Circus Boy,
looking his employer squarely in the eye.
"It is your duty to tell me."
"Not unless I am sure. It would be unjust to do so, and I know
you would not wish to force me to be unjust."
"You are a queer boy, Phil Forrest," said the showman, gazing at
the lad intently.
"I wish I knew who I thought they were, if they had anything to
do with my aerial flight last night," growled Teddy. "They would
have reason to think a Kansas cyclone had struck them."
No one paid any attention to Teddy's remark.
"I will tell you what I think, however, Mr. Sparling,"
continued Phil.
"That's what I am trying to get you to do."
"I think some person with evil intent did something to Jupiter
to anger him, thus causing him to turn on Teddy. And it is my
opinion that if you will examine the animal you will find the
evidences on the animal himself," declared the Circus Boy boldly.
Mr. Sparling uttered an angry exclamation.
Teddy, who had tilted back in his chair as he listened to the
conversation, went crashing to the floor, overturning table,
dishes and all.
That broke up the conference of the morning.
CHAPTER XI
EGG, EGG, WHO'S GOT THE EGG?
"I've lost my egg! I've lost my egg!"
Teddy Tucker's shrill voice was heard from one end to the other
of the "Fat Marie." An hour had elapsed since his mishap in
Mr. Sparling's cabin, during which time the lads had been sitting
on the after deck of the boat.
Phil had been very thoughtful. Perhaps he had not done right in
keeping his real suspicions from Mr. Sparling. Yet he was firm
in his purpose not to say who he thought the men were. He was
not at all certain, in his own mind, that his eyes had not
deceived him.
There could be no doubt, however, that some person or persons
had pricked Jupiter on a tender part of his anatomy just as
Teddy Tucker was patting the trunk of the great beast.
Teddy had gone to his cabin for a moment, and no sooner had he
opened the door than he discovered that all was not as it should
be there.
"What's this? What's all this fuss about?" questioned Phil.
"My egg! My egg!"
"What about your egg?"
"It's gone, it's gone!"
"Gone?"
"Yes, yes."
"But I thought you locked it in your trunk?"
"That's what I did."
"Then how can it be gone?"
"It is, I tell you. Come and see, if you don't believe me."
"Of course I believe you, but I do not see how it would be
possible for your egg to be taken when it was locked in your
trunk," objected Phil.
Teddy grasped his companion by the arm and rushed him to
the cabin.
"There, look!" exclaimed Teddy, pushing Phil into the room.
Teddy's trunk was open, most of its contents lying in a confused
heap on the cabin floor.
Phil's face grew serious.
"Now, let's understand this. Was your trunk in that condition
when you came in here a little while ago?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Well, some of the stuff was sticking out, but the cover
was down."
"The trunk was unlocked?"
"Sure it was."
"You are positive that you locked it?"
"I know it was locked."
"Is anything missing--have you looked to make sure?"
"I tell you my egg has been taken."
"I know. Has anything else been taken?"
"I was so excited that I didn't look."
"Then, do so now."
Teddy dropped down beside his trunk, and began going over his
belongings, most of which were lying heaped on the floor.
He examined everything closely.
"How about it?"
"I--I guess it is all here--but my egg is not, Phil."
"So I heard you say before."
"Where is it--where is it?"
"How do you suppose I know? You are lucky that nothing else
was taken. Is the lock broken?"
"No. Somebody had a key."
"Almost any key made for an ordinary trunk will fit these
steamer trunks." Phil proved this by selecting and trying
three keys on his own key ring, each of which locked and
unlooked Teddy's steamer trunk with ease.
"I'll bet you took my egg for a joke."
"Teddy Tucker, how can you say so," demanded Phil indignantly.
"Did I ever do a thing like that?"
"No, I guess you didn't," admitted the boy. "But it's gone."
"It is evident that we have a thief on board. Mr. Sparling must
be informed of this at once," decided Phil firmly. "You remain
here and I will go and fetch him."
In a few moments the Circus Boy returned with Mr. Sparling.
The showman made a careful examination of the room and the trunk
on his own account. His face was flushed and angry.
He went over the same ground with his questions that Phil already
had done.
"Do you suspect anyone, Phil?"
"I do not. Whom should I suspect? Nothing like this has
ever happened in the Sparling show since I have been
connected with it."
"You are right. It won't be healthful for the man who is
responsible for this, if I catch him," growled the showman.
"Somebody must be unusually fond of ostrich eggs to go to this
length for one. If anyone in this show chances to dine on
ostrich egg in the next twenty-four hours we shall know whom to
accuse of the theft."
"I do not think you will get the opportunity," said Phil, with a
peculiar smile.
"What do you mean by that remark?"
"That it was not taken because the thief wanted to eat it.
He would not be foolish enough to do that."
"Then why?"
"Probably to get even with Teddy."
Mr. Sparling eyed him sternly.
"You mean somebody had a grudge against Teddy?"
Phil nodded.
"Who?"
"I do not know."
"Teddy, who is it in this show who has a grudge against you?"
Teddy pondered.
"I don't know of anybody unless it's January," he made
solemn reply.
"The fool donkey? Bah!"
"I guess the donkey did not unlock your trunk and steal your egg,
Teddy," answered Phil, a half smile curling his lips.
"I am not going to ask you again whom you suspect. I take it for
granted that you will keep your eyes open from now on."
"I certainly shall, Mr. Sparling."
"If you are unable to find out who is responsible for certain
things I am sure there is no use in my trying to do so."
"I do not know about that, Sir. I shall try. If I find out
anything worthwhile I shall come to you and tell you."
"I shall expect you to do so. And, Teddy!"
"Yes, sir."
"You are to say nothing of this occurrence to anyone on the boat.
Do not mention that your precious egg has been lost or stolen,
nor appear as if anything out of the ordinary had occurred."
Teddy nodded his understanding.
Mr. Sparling understood his boys better than they knew. He was
confident that Phil Forrest had a shrewd idea as to who had
aroused the anger of the elephant, Jupiter, as well as to the
identity of the person who had stolen the egg from
Teddy Tucker's trunk.
The Circus Boy, however, kept his own counsel.
He made a trip down to the lower deck and had a long conversation
with Mr. Kennedy, the elephant trainer, while Teddy Tucker moped
in his cabin, mourning over the loss of his egg.
The show reached Milroy shortly before dark that evening, after
a most delightful trip down the river. The horse tents were
unloaded and pitched on the circus lot and the stock stabled in
them so the animals could get their rest and food.
Some of the show people strolled out through the little town,
while others remained on board the boat and went to bed.
All hands slept aboard that night. Bright and early, on the
following morning, the boats were unloaded and the tents pitched,
the men working much better for their day on the river.
Everyone appeared to be in high good humor and the wisdom of
Mr. Sparling's methods was apparent. The tents went up more
quickly that morning than at any time that season.
Breakfast under the cook tent was a jolly meal. Teddy had nearly
forgotten the loss of the ostrich egg, but Phil Forrest had not.
Phil, while not appearing to do so, was watching certain persons
in the dressing tent, among them being Diaz, the Spanish clown.
During the dressing hour before the afternoon performance the
clown had his trunk open to get out some costumes which were
at the bottom, beneath the lower tray.
Phil's trunk, it will be remembered, was close by that
of the clown's. The Circus Boy took advantage of the
opportunity to peep into the open trunk while Diaz was
rummaging over its contents. So absorbed did Phil become
in his own investigation that he forgot for the moment
that the owner of the trunk might resent such curiosity.
All at once Phil glanced down at the clown. He found the
dark eyes of Diaz fixed upon him, and the lad flushed in
spite of himself.
Diaz slowly rose to his feet. Thrusting his face close to that
of the lad he peered into the boy's face.
"What you want?"
"Nothing, thank you."
"You look for something in the trunk of Diaz, eh?"
"Perhaps."
"What for you look?"
"Maybe I was looking for an egg. Maybe I thought the clown
Diaz carried a supply of freshly laid eggs in his dressing-room
trunk," said Phil in a tone too low for the others to catch, all
the time holding the eyes of the clown in a steady gaze.
The eyes of the clown expressed surprise, but there was so much
grease paint and powder on his face that the boy could not tell
whether the fellow had flushed or not.
That Diaz was angry, however, was clear.
"What you mean?" demanded the clown, with a threatening gesture.
"If you do not know, I don't believe I care to explain just now."
"What you mean?" repeated the clown, his voice rising to a
higher pitch. "You--you think I a thief?"
"If I thought so I might be too courteous to say so," was the
calm retort. "What makes you imagine that I think you a thief?
You must have some reason--you must believe there is some truth
in your self-accusation, or you would not be so quick to
resent it."
"I--I--"
"Remember, I have not accused you of anything. You have
accused yourself."
Perhaps there was method in Phil's nagging--perhaps he was
trying to goad the Spaniard into an admission that could be
used against him. If that were his purpose he had only
partly succeeded.
Diaz, who had closed the cover of his trunk with a bang, now
sprang to the trunk again, jerking up the cover with such force
as to nearly wrench it from its hinges.
Two trays came out and were hurled to the ground as the owner
dived deeper and deeper into the chest.
"What's the matter? Have you gone crazy?" questioned Phil,
laughing in spite of himself. "Come on, now; don't lose
your temper. If you will stop to consider, you will recall
that I have said nothing at which you might possibly
take offence."
To this the clown made no reply.
All at once he straightened up with a snarl that reminded Phil of
the cough of the tiger out in the menagerie as the beast struck
viciously at its keeper when the latter chanced to step too close
to the bars of the cage.
Diaz stood all a-quiver.
"This looks like trouble of some sort," muttered Phil Forrest.
"But I don't quite understand what he could have been hunting for
in the trunk."
Phil's question was answered a few seconds later.
>From the folds of the clown's costume his hand suddenly
shot upward. The hand held a knife. The hand shook from
rage as the knife was brandished aloft.
"Hello, so that's the game, is it?"
The Circus Boy stood his ground unflinchingly. He did not appear
to be disturbed in the least, though his situation at that moment
was a critical one.
"Diaz! Diaz! Drop that knife!" ordered Phil sternly.
Instead of obeying the command the clown leaped upon him, or upon
the spot where Phil had been standing a second before. The lad
had sprung back far enough so that the descending knife cut only
the empty air.
Again the knife flashed up. Just as it was being raised, the boy
leaped again. This time he sprang toward the enraged clown,
rather than away from him.
Ere the knife could be brought down, Phil gripped the wrist
holding the weapon, giving the wrist a quick, sharp twist that
brought a roar of pain from Diaz.
The knife dropped to the ground. Phil calmly stooped and picked
it up, while the clown was nursing his wrist and groaning.
Several performers, realizing that something out of the ordinary
was going on in that corner of the tent, hurried over.
"What's the matter here?"
"Diaz was showing me his knife. It's a beauty, isn't it?"
answered Phil, with a pleasant smile. "I think, however, it is
a little too pretty for a circus. Were I in your place, Diaz,
I should keep it in my trunk else someone may steal it."
The lad coolly raised the lid of the trunk, dropping the
knife in. The others, not noting that the clown was hurt,
and that his wrist had been twisted by the Circus Boy almost
to the breaking point, turned back to their own corners and
continued their labors preparatory to entering the ring.
"Mr. Diaz," said Phil in a low voice, bending over the clown,
"your temper is going to get you into serious trouble one of
these fine days. I am sorry I had to hurt you. But let me tell
you one thing. If you attack me again I shall be compelled to
give you the worst licking you ever had in your life. Put that
in one of your fool caps that you throw around the arena, so you
won't forget it. Behave yourself and you will find that I am a
pretty good friend."
CHAPTER XII
TRYING OUT A NEW ACT
"Well, Dimples, I hope you and I do not make sad exhibitions of
ourselves this evening."
"I hope not, Phil. I am sure you will not, but I am not so sure
of myself."
The afternoon performance had passed off without incident, save
that the performers had given a much better show than usual.
Everyone felt fresh and strong after his Sunday rest.
It was now evening. The band was playing its loudest, the clowns
were fast and furious in their fun, and the animals out in the
menagerie tent were doing their part toward raising a din that
might have been heard at least half a mile away.
Phil Forrest had already been in for his trapeze act, and
after changing his costume had come out again for the
bareback riding number, to which he always looked forward
with pleasurable anticipation.
At the same time Little Dimples, the star female bareback rider,
had come up and joined him and the two fell to talking, as they
always did whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Long ago the circus woman had constituted herself the "mother of
the Circus Boys," as she expressed it. She always insisted on
doing their sewing for them, helped them to plan their costumes
and gave them friendly advice on all occasions.
The act which they were entering the ring to perform on this
particular evening was a new one. The two had been practicing it
since the beginning of the season--practicing in secret that they
might put it on as a surprise to Mr. Sparling.
This was what is known as a "brother and sister act." That is,
the strong man and woman proposed to perform on the back of the
same horse, and at the same time.
The brother and sister act was not a new act by any means,
but they had added ideas of their own to it until it had
become novel. They had essayed some daring and sensational
features which were sure to create a sensation with any
audience before which the act was performed.
"It is a small town," said Dimples. "We don't care if we do fall
off, do we, Phil, my boy?"
"We most certainly do care. At least, I do. Where's your
professional pride, Dimples?" demanded Phil, with an
indulgent smile.
"In my feet, I guess," answered the woman, with a merry laugh.
"I am making my living with my