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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Greg Berckes + + + + + +The Circus Boys In Dixie Land +Or +Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South + +by Edgar B. P. Darlington + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + +I UNDER CANVAS AGAIN +II IN THEIR HOME TOWN +III THE CIRCUS MAKES A CALL +IV A FRIENDLY AUDIENCE +V TAKEN BY SURPRISE +VI IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY +VII SHIVERS AND HIS SHADOW +VIII A RIVAL IN THE FIELD +IX PHIL MAKES A DISCOVERY +X THE CIRCUS BOY IS RECOGNIZED +XI ON SULLY'S PRIVATE CAR +XII LOCKED IN THE LINEN CLOSET +XIII THROUGH RINGS OF FIRE +XIV A DASH FOR FREEDOM +XV OUTWITTING THE PURSUERS +XVI THE BATTLE OF THE ELEPHANTS +XVII MONKEYS IN THE AIR +XVIII TEDDY TAKES A DROP +XIX THE CIRCUS ON AN ISLAND +XX DISASTER BEFALLS THE FAT LADY +XXI ON A FLYING TRAPEZE +XXII IN A LIVELY BLOW-DOWN +XXIII THE LION HUNT +XXIV CONCLUSION + + + +The Circus Boys in Dixie Land + + + +CHAPTER I + +UNDER CANVAS AGAIN + +"I reckon the fellows will turn out to see us tomorrow +night, Teddy." + +"I hope so, Phil. We'll show them that we are real circus +performers, won't we?" + +Phil Forrest nodded happily. + +"They know that already, I think. But we shall both feel proud +to perform in our home town again. They haven't seen us in the +ring since the day we first joined the show two years ago, and +then it was only a little performance." + +"Remember the day I did a stunt in front of the circus billboard +back home?" + +"And fell in the ditch, head first? I remember it," and +Phil Forrest laughed heartily. + +"You and I weren't circus men then, were we?" + +"No." + +"But we are now." + +"I guess we are," nodded Phil with emphasis. "Still, we have +something to learn yet. We are a couple of lucky boys, you and +I, Teddy Tucker. Had it not been for Mr. Sparling we might still +have been doing chores for our board in Edmeston." + +"Instead, we are getting our envelopes with sixty dollars +apiece in them from the little red ticket wagon every Tuesday +morning, eh?" + +"Just so." + +"I never thought I'd be able to earn so much money as that in a +whole year," reflected Teddy. + +"Nor I." + +"Do you think we'll get any more 'raises' this season?" + +"I haven't the least idea that we shall. You know our contracts +are signed for the season at sixty dollars a week. That surely +should be enough to satisfy us. We shall be able to save a whole +lot of money, this year; and, if we have good luck, in five years +more we'll be able to have a little show of our own." + +Teddy agreed to this with a reflective nod. + +"What kind of show?" + +"Well, that remains to be seen," laughed Phil. "We shall be +lucky to have most any kind." + +"Do you know what sort I'd like to have?" + +"No. What kind?" + +"Wild West show, a regular Buffalo Bill outfit, with wild +Indians, cowboys, bucking ponies and whoop! whoop! Hi-yi-yi! +You know?" + +Teddy's eyes were glowing with excitement, while a dull red glow +showed beneath the tan on his face. + +"I wouldn't get so excited about it," answered Phil, +highly amused. + +"How'd you like that kind?" + +"Not at all. It's too rough. Give me the circus every time, +with its life, its color, it's--oh, pshaw! What's the use +talking about it? Is there anything in the world more attractive +than those tents over there, with the flags of every nation +flying from center and quarter poles? Is there, Teddy?" + +"Well, no; I guess that's right." + +For a moment the lads were silent. They were sitting beneath a +spreading maple tree off, on the circus lot, a few rods from +where the tents were being erected. A gentle breeze was stirring +the flags, billowing the white canvas of the tents in slow, +undulating waves. + +"And to think that we belong to that! Do you know, sometimes I +think it is all a dream, and I'm afraid I shall suddenly wake up +to find myself back in Edmeston with Uncle Abner Adams driving me +out of the house with a stick." + +Phil's face grew solemn as those unhappy days under his uncle's +roof came back to him in a flood of disquieting memories. + +"Don't wake up, then," replied Teddy. + +"I think perhaps we had better both wake up if we expect to get +any breakfast. The red flag is flying on the cook tent, which +means that breakfast is ready--in fact, breakfast must be pretty +well over by this time. First thing we know the blue flag will +suddenly appear in its place, and you and I will have to hustle +downtown for something to eat. It will be parade time pretty +soon, too." + +"Breakfast? Say, Phil, I'd forgotten all about breakfast." + +"There must be something wrong with you, then, if you forget when +it's meal time. As for myself, I have an appetite that would put +the Bengal tiger to shame. Come along." + +"I'm with you. I'll show you whether my appetite has a reef in +it or not. I can eat more than the living skeleton can, and for +a thin man he's got anything stopped for appetite that I ever +saw," answered Teddy Tucker, scrambling to his feet and starting +for the cook tent. + +Yes; Teddy Tucker and Phil Forrest are the same boys who, two +seasons before, began their circus career by joining a road show, +each in a humble capacity. It will be remembered how in "THE +CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS," Teddy and Phil quickly rose to +be performers in the ring; how Phil, by his coolness and bravery, +saved the life of one of the performers at the imminent risk of +losing his own; how he saved the circus from a great pecuniary +loss, as well as distinguishing himself in various other ways. + +In "THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT," the lads won new +laurels in their chosen career, when Phil became a bareback +rider, scoring a great hit at his first performance. It will be +recalled too, how the circus lad proved himself a real hero at +the wreck of the dining car, saving the lives of several persons, +finally being himself rescued by his companion, Teddy Tucker. + +The Great Sparling Combined Shows had been on the road a week, +and by this time the various departments had gotten down to +fairly good working order, for, no matter how perfect such an +organization may be, it requires several days for the show people +to become used to working together. This extends even to the +canvasmen and roustabouts. After being a few weeks out they are +able to set the tents in from half an hour to an hour less time +than it takes during the first two or three stands of the season. + +The next stand was to be Edmeston, the home of the two +Circus Boys. The lads were looking forward with keen +expectation to the moment when, clad in tights and spangles, +they would appear before their old school fellows in a +series of daring aerial flights. + +The lads had spent the winter at school and now only one year +more was lacking to complete their course at the high school that +they had been attending between circus seasons, practicing in +their gymnasium after school hours. + +"I'd like to invite all the boys of our class to come to the show +on passes. Do you suppose Mr. Sparling would let me?" + +"I am afraid you had better not ask him," laughed Phil. "If you +were running a store do you think you would ask the crowd to come +over and help themselves to whatever they wanted?" + +"Well, no-o." + +"I thought not." + +"But this is different." + +"Not so much so. It would be giving away seats that could be +sold and that probably will be sold. No; I guess the boys had +better pay for their seats." + +Teddy looked disappointed. + +"Don't you think it is worth fifty cents to see us perform?" +queried Phil. + +Teddy grinned broadly. The idea appealed to him in a new light. + +"That's so. I guess it's worth more than fifty cents, at that. +I guess I don't care if they do have to pay, but I want them to +come to the show. What do you suppose I've been working two +years for, if it wasn't to show off before the fellows? +Haven't you?" + +"No." + +"What then?" + +"Why, what do you think?" + +"I don't think. It's too hot to think this morning." + +"All right. Wait till someday when the weather is cooler; then +think the matter over," laughed Phil, hurrying on toward where +breakfast was waiting for them in the cook tent. + +The lads were performing the same acts in which they had +appeared the previous season; that is, doing the flying rings +as a team, while Phil was a bareback rider and Teddy a tumbler. +Something had happened to the bucking mule that Teddy had +ridden for two seasons, and the manager had reluctantly been +forced to take this act from his bill. + +"I'm thinking of getting another mule for you, if we can pick up +such a thing," said Mr. Sparling at breakfast that morning. + +Teddy's eyes twinkled. He had in mind a surprise for the +manager, but was not quite ready to tell of his surprise yet. +All during the winter the lad had been working with a donkey that +he had picked up near Edmeston. His training of the animal had +been absolutely in secret, so that none of his school fellows, +save Phil, knew anything about it. + +"All right," answered Teddy carelessly. "Wait till we get to +Edmeston and see what we can pick up there." + +Mr. Sparling bent a shrewd, inquiring glance on the impassive +face of the Circus Boy. If he suspected Teddy had something in +mind that he was not giving voice to, Mr. Sparling did not +mention it. By this time he knew both boys well enough to form a +pretty clear idea when there was anything of a secret nature in +the wind. + +"We'll never get another mule like Jumbo," he sighed. + +"Hope not," answered Teddy shortly. + +"Why not?" + +" 'Cause, I don't want to break my neck this season, at least +not till after we've passed Edmeston and the fellows have +seen perform." + +"So that's it, is it?" + +"It is. I'm going to show myself tomorrow, and I don't care who +knows it." + +"If I remember correctly you already have shown yourself pretty +thoroughly all the way across the continent." + +"And helped fill the big top at the same time," added Teddy, with +a shrewd twinkle in his eyes. + +Mr. Sparling laughed outright. + +"I guess you have a sharp tongue this morning." + +"I don't mean to have." + +"It's all right. I accept your apology. What's this you say +about the fellows--whom do you mean?" + +"He means our class at the high school," Phil informed +the showman. + +"Oh, yes. How many are there in the class?" + +"Let me see--how many are there, Teddy?" + +"Thirty or forty, not counting the fat boy who's the anchor in +the tug of war team. If you count him there are five more." + +"I presume they'll all be wanting to come to the show?" +questioned Mr. Sparling. + +"Any fellow who doesn't come is no friend of mine." + +"That's the way to talk. Always have the interest of the show in +mind, and you'll get along," smiled the owner. + +"We-e-l-l," drawled the lad. "I wasn't just thinking about the +interest of the show. I was thinking more about what a figure +I'd be cutting before the boys." + +Mr. Sparling laughed heartily. + +"You are honest at any rate, Master Teddy. That's one thing +I like about you. When you tell me a thing I do not have to +go about asking others to make sure that you have told me +the truth." + +"Why shouldn't I? I'm not afraid of you." + +"No; that's the worst of it. I should like to see something you +really are afraid of." + +"I know what he is afraid of," smiled Phil maliciously. + +"What?" demanded Mr. Sparling. + +"He is afraid of the woman snake charmer under the black top. +He's more afraid of her than he is of the snakes themselves. +Why, you couldn't get him to shake hands with her if you were +to offer him an extra year's salary. There she is over there +now, Teddy." + +Teddy cast an apprehensive glance at the freak table, where +the freaks and side show performers were laughing and chatting +happily, the Lady Snake Charmer sandwiched in between the +Metal-faced Man and Jo-Jo the Dog-faced Wonder. + +"I've been thinking of an idea, Mr. Sparling," said Teddy by way +of changing the subject. + +Phil glanced at him apprehensively, for Teddy's ideas were +frequently attended by consequences of an unpleasant nature. + +"Along the usual line young man?" + +"Well, no." + +"What is your idea?" + +"I've been thinking that I should like to sign up as a dwarf for +the rest of the season and sit on the concert platform in the +menagerie tent. It wouldn't interfere with my other +performance," said Teddy in apparent seriousness. + +Mr. Sparling leaned back, laughing heartily. + +"Why, you are not a dwarf." + +"No-o-o. But I might be." + +"How tall are you?" + +"A little more than five feet," answered the lad with a touch of +pride in his tone. + +"You are almost a man. Why, Teddy, you are a full twenty inches +taller than the tallest dwarf in the show." + +Teddy nodded. + +"Don't you see you could not possibly be a`dwarf?" + +"Oh, yes, I could. All the more reason why I could." + +"What kind of a dwarf would you be, may I ask?" + +"I could be the tallest dwarf on earth, couldn't I?" asked Teddy, +gazing at his employer innocently. + +Everyone at the table broke out into a merry peal of laughter, +while Teddy Tucker eyed them sadly for a moment; then he too +added his laughter to theirs. + +"If you were not already getting a pretty big salary for a kid, +I'd raise your salary for that," exploded Mr. Sparling. + +"You can forget I'm getting so much, if you want to," suggested +Teddy humorously. + + + +CHAPTER II + +IN THEIR HOME TOWN + +"Hey, Phil!" + +"What is it, Teddy?" + +"Wake up! We are in the old town again." + +Phil Forrest pulled aside the curtain and peered out from his +berth into the railroad yards, the bright May sunshine flooding +the old familiar scenes at Edmeston. Far off he could just make +out the red brick chimney of his Uncle Abner's home. + +What recollections it brought back to Phil Forrest--recollections +that went back still further to a sweet face and laughing eyes +his mother! + +Phil dropped the curtain and lay face down in the pillow for +a moment. + +"I say, Phil." + +"What is it?" demanded the lad in a muffled voice. + +"Guess who's out there?" + +"I don't know." + +"The gang's out there." + +"Who?" + +"The gang. The whole high school crowd." + +"Oh!" + +"They're looking for us. Lucky we're on the last section, for +if it was dark, we couldn't make much of a splurge getting off +the train. Aren't you going to get up?" + +"Yes." + +Phil slowly pulled himself from his berth, then began drawing on +his clothes. Teddy was already up and nearly dressed, full of +expectation of what was before him. For Phil there was something +that tinged his joy with sadness, though he could not make up his +mind why it should be so. His reverie was broken in upon by the +voice of Teddy Tucker. + +"Come, hurry up!" + +"I am all ready now," answered Phil. "Have you washed?" + +"You bet. I always wash the first thing in the morning." + +Together the Circus Boys stepped out on the platform. +There, lined up by the side of the track, were their +companions and school fellows waiting to welcome them. + +The high school boys uttered a shout when they espied Phil +and Teddy. + +"How'dy, fellows!" greeted Teddy, posing on the car platform for +a moment, that they might gaze upon him admiringly. + +Phil was already on the ground, hurrying toward the boys with +both hands outstretched. A moment more and the two lads had been +grabbed by their schoolmates and literally overwhelmed, while a +crowd of villagers stood off against a pile of lumber, laughing +and calling out greetings to the Circus Boys. + +Phil and Teddy, as soon as they were able to get away, hurried to +the circus lot for their breakfast. There they found a great +crowd of people whom they knew, and for a few minutes they were +kept busy shaking hands, after which the boys with faces wreathed +in smiles, proudly entered the cook tent. Teddy glanced up +quizzically when they got inside. + +"Well I guess we're some, eh, Phil?" + +"I guess so. I hope everything goes all right today. I should +die of mortification if anything were to happen to our acts. +You want to keep your mind right on your work today. Don't pay +any attention to the audience. Remember a whole lot of people +are coming to this show today just because they are interested +in you and me." + +"I guess I know how to perform," sputtered Teddy. + +"I haven't said you do not. I know you do, but I don't want you +to forget that you do." + +"Look out for yourself. I'll take care of myself," +growled Teddy. + +"I'm going to." + +Having finished their breakfast the boys started for the +village, to call on Mrs. Cahill, their guardian and the +custodian of their earnings. As they were leaving the +grounds, Phil paused suddenly. + +"Look there," he said, pointing to Mr. Sparling's office tent. + +"Well, if it isn't Billy Ford, the president of our class," +breathed Teddy. "I didn't see him at the train when we came in +this morning; did you?" + +"No. He wasn't there." + +"Now, what do you suppose he is doing in Mr. Sparling's tent?" + +"I haven't the least idea unless he is trying to find out where +we are. Hey, Billy!" + +Billy Ford paused at the sound of the familiar call; then the +Circus Boys hurried toward him. Billy went suddenly red in the +face as if he were very much embarrassed. + +"What you doing in there?" demanded Teddy. + +"Why--why--perhaps I was trying to join the show," +stammered Billy. + +"We wouldn't have you. You and I couldn't travel in the +same show. They'd fire us both." + +"Why?" questioned Billy, now regaining his presence of mind. + +" 'Cause, between us we'd put the show out of business." + +"I believe you would," nodded Phil. + +"Where you going, boys?" + +"Mrs. Cahill's." + +"Then I'll walk down that way with you. What time do you get +through at night?" + +"We finish our last act about ten o'clock," answered Phil. +"Why?" + +"Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to know." + +Phil shot a swift, suspicious glance at the schoolboy, but +Billy's face bore an expression as serene as the May morning +of that very day. + +Mr. Sparling hailed the lads as they were leaving the lot. + +"You may be excused from parade today, both of you. You no doubt +will want to spend all the time you can with your friends." + +"Thank you," smiled Phil. "There's the finest man a fellow ever +worked for." + +"Worked? Do you call performing in a circus work?" + +"Well, at least it is a pretty good imitation of work, Billy." + +"I used to think just like you do," added Teddy rather ruefully. + +"Is it really work then?" + +"Oh, no; it's just play. Come to the show and you will see +us play." + +"By the way," inquired Phil, "the fellows are all coming this +afternoon, I suppose?" + +"Yes, but not this afternoon." + +"Evening?" + +"Yes." + +"That will be fine. We have a short run tonight, so the boss +will not be in any hurry to move the show. You'll see it all." + +"Why, don't you always give it all?" + +"No. Sometimes, when the weather is bad, or when we have a +long run before us, Mr. Sparling cuts some of the acts out +entirely, and shortens others. But, of course, the audience +doesn't know this." + +"Is that so?" wondered the surprised Billy. + +"Yes. Are you boys all going to sit together?" + +"Yes. We'll be where we can see you. And the girls are going +to be there, too. I reckon the whole school will be on hand." + +"How about Uncle Abner--will he go to the show, do you think?" + +"I know where you'll find him," spoke up Teddy. + +"Where?" + +"You'll find him hiding behind the hen house watching the parade +go by. He won't dare show himself after the way the clowns had +fun with him when the show was here before." + +"Poor Uncle Abner! I must go over and see him after we have +called on Mrs. Cahill." + +Arriving at Mrs. Cahill's, they found her out in the yard, +arrayed in her best dress in honor of their coming, and it was +a joyful meeting between the three. In a short time, however, +Teddy grew restless and decided that he would wander about town +and call on his other friends. + +"I'll tell you what let's do, Teddy," suggested Phil. + +"What?" + +"You come back before parade time and we three will sit on the +front door step and watch the parade go by, just as we used to +do before we went into the show business. I'll run over to see +Uncle Abner in the meantime, and we will both be back here by +half-past ten. The parade will not get along before then." + +"Yes, do, boys," urged Mrs. Cahill. "I'll have a lunch for you +after the parade. You will like that, will you not?" + +"I should say we shall," laughed Phil. "But, I had rather +thought you might like to eat with us under the circus tent." + +"Oh, my, my! Eat with the circus?" + +"Not with the animals, he doesn't mean," corrected Teddy. +"He means we should like to have you eat with we performers." + +"Yes, with the performers," grinned Phil. + +"Can I eat there with you just as well after the +afternoon performance?" + +"Surely." + +"Then we will have our noon meal here. I have some fresh +molasses cookies already baked for you." + +"Cookies?" Teddy's eyes brightened. + +"Yes; do you want some now?" + +"I always want cookies. Never knew a time when I didn't. I want +'em when I'm awake, and I want 'em when I'm asleep." + +He got a double handful in short order. + +"Well, I'm off!" announced Teddy. + +"How about the parade? Will you come back and see it from here?" + +"Yes; I guess that would be some fun. I can make faces at the +other performers who have to work. Yes; I'll come back." + +"Don't forget about the donkey," called Phil. "When are you +going to take him over to the horse tent?" + +"I'm not going to give myself away by leading that fright through +the streets. I've fixed it with one of the hostlers to smuggle +him over to the stable tent," grinned Teddy. + +"Taking him in this afternoon?" + +"Not I. Saving that for a grand surprise tonight. What are you +going to do to surprise the fellows?" + +"I hadn't thought. Nothing quite so sensational as your feat +will be, I guess," laughed Phil. + +In the course of an hour both lads had returned to Mrs. Cahill's +humble home. But while they were away from the show grounds, the +owner of the show, without the knowledge of the lads, had paid a +visit to the principal of the school and was back on the lot in +time to head the parade when it finally started. + +"Kinder wish I had gone in the parade," regretted Teddy. + +"Why?" + +"Good place to show off." + +"You have a much better one." + +"Where?" + +"In the ring. Anybody can ride a horse in a parade, but not +everyone can perform on the flying rings and leap over elephants +to boot." + +Teddy instinctively threw out his chest. + +"You're right, at that. Hark!" + +"Yes; they are coming. I can hear Billy English blow the +big bass horn. You could hear him over three counties, I +really believe." + +Laughing and chatting, the boys settled themselves on Mrs. +Cahill's hospitable doorstep to await the arrival of the parade +which could be heard far off on the other side of the village. + +Now and then the high, metallic notes of the calliope rose +above all the rest, bringing a glint of pride to the eyes of +Teddy Tucker. + +"I just love that steam music machine." + +"Well, I must say that I do not admire your taste," laughed Phil. +"It's the most hideous discord of noises I ever heard. I never +did like the steam piano, but a circus wouldn't be a circus +without it." + +"Nope," agreed Teddy with emphasis. + +Down the street a gorgeously colored rainbow slowly reached +around a bend and began straightening away toward the +Cahill home. The parade was approaching. + +As the gay procession drew nearer the boys began to evince some +of the enthusiasm that they had known before they themselves had +become a part of the big show. + +"Remember the parade two years ago, Phil?" asked Mrs. Cahill. + +"I could not very well forget it. That was a red letter day in +my life, the day when I fell into the show business." + +"And that wasn't all you fell in either," added Teddy. + +"What else did I fall in?" + +"In a ditch when you stopped the runaway pony." + +Phil did not laugh. He was thinking. + +"That was a lucky fall, too." + +"Why?" + +"Because it was the means of giving you and me our start in the +circus business." + +"Hurrah! Here they come. Now see me make faces at them when +they go by," said Teddy. + +The Cahill home was near the outskirts of the village, and as the +golden chariot of the band, glistening in the bright morning +sunlight, approached, the lads could not repress an exclamation +of delight. + +"I used to think the band wagon was solid gold," breathed Teddy. + +"When did you find out differently?" + +"That day, two years ago, when I scraped off some of the gold +with my knife and found it was nothing but wood," grunted Teddy +in a disgusted tone. + +"What is that band wagon trying to do?" demanded Phil suddenly. + +"Guess they are going to turn around," said Teddy. + +The six white horses attached to the band wagon slowly drew out +of the line just before reaching the Cahill home, and pointed +toward the roadside fence. The boys could not understand what +the move meant. An instant later the leaders straightened out +and began moving along the side of the road close to the fence. + +They slowly drew up to the door yard, coming to a stop at the +far end of it. + +"Wha--wha--" stammered Teddy. + +"They are going to serenade us," cried Phil. "That's Mr. +Sparling all over. What do you think of that, Mrs. Cahill? +You never were serenaded by a circus band before, were you?" + +"N-n-no," answered the widow, a little tremulously. + +The band wagon drew up a few feet further, coming to a stop again +just to the left of the dooryard gate, so as not to interfere +with the party's view of the parade. + +"There's Mr. Sparling," shouted Phil, as the owner in his +handsome carriage drawn by four black horses, came abreast +of the yard. + +Both boys sprang up and cheered him in their enthusiasm, to which +the showman responded by taking off his hat, while the band +struck up "Yankee Doodle." + +It was a glorious moment for the Circus Boys, and they were +even more surprised and gratified by what followed a few +moments later. + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CIRCUS MAKES A CALL + +While the band played, the clown wagon came to a halt and +the whole body of funny men sang a song in front of Mrs. +Cahill's house, while the widow and her two young guests +applauded enthusiastically. + +As the clown's wagon drew on, a horse ridden by a young woman was +seen dashing straight at the dooryard fence, which it took in a +graceful leap, causing the Widow Cahill to gasp her amazement. +The rider was none other than Little Dimples, the star bareback +rider of the Sparling Shows, who had chosen this way to pay +homage to her young associates and to Mrs. Cahill as well. + +It was an unusual procedure in a circus parade, but though it had +been arranged by Mr. Sparling out of the kindness of his heart, +he shrewdly reasoned that it would make good business for the +show as well. That the people lined up along the street agreed +with his reasoning was evidenced by their shouts of applause. + +"Mrs. Cahill, this is our very good friend, Mrs. Robinson, +otherwise known as Little Dimples," announced Phil proudly. + +Mrs. Cahill bowed and smiled, not the least bit embarrassed. + +"You haven't introduced my pony, Phil. The pony is part of +little me, you know." + +"I beg pardon, Mrs. Cahill; let me introduce to you Mrs. +Robinson's pony, Cinders, who, though he cannot talk, comes +pretty close to it," said Phil, with great dignity. + +Cinders bowed and bowed, the bits rattling against his teeth +until it sounded to the little gathering as if he were trying +to chatter his pleasure at the introduction. + +"Now, shake hands with Mrs. Cahill, Cinders," directed +Little Dimples. + +Cinders extended a hoof, which Mrs. Cahill touched gingerly. +She was not used to shaking hands with horses. Teddy and Phil, +however, each grasped the pony's extended foot, giving it a good +shake, after which Phil thrust a lump of sugar into the waiting +lips of Cinders. + +"Naughty boy!" chided Little Dimples, tapping the neck of her +mount with the little riding crop she carried. "You would spoil +him in no time. I must be going, now. I hope we shall see you +at the show this afternoon, Mrs. Cahill," smiled Dimples, her +face breaking out into dimples and smiles. + +The widow nodded. + +"This afternoon and tonight. She is going to dine with us under +the cook tent this afternoon," Phil informed the rider. + +"That will be fine." + +Dimples nodded, tossed her whip in the air and clucking to +Cinders, went bounding over the fence. A moment more and she +had taken her place in the line and was moving along with the +procession, bowing and smiling. + +"That's what I call right fine," glowed Mrs. Cahill. "Did you +say that little thing was Mrs. Robinson?" + +"Yes." + +"Why, she looks like a young girl." + +"That's what I thought when I first saw her. But she has a son +as old as I am." + +"Land sakes!" wondered Mrs. Cahill. "You never can tell about +these circus folks, anyhow." + +Phil laughed heartily, but Teddy was too much interested in what +was going on outside the fence to indulge in laughter. The band +was still playing as if its very existence depended upon keeping +up the noise, while the white horses attached to the band wagon +were frantically seeking to get their heads down for a nibble of +the fresh green grass at the side of the road. + +"There come the bulls," called Teddy. + +"Yes, I see them." + +"The bulls?" wondered Mrs. Cahill. "I didn't know they had bulls +in the circus." + +"That's what the show people call the elephants," laughed Phil. +"Teddy is talking show-talk now. We have a language of our own." + +"I should say you do?" grumbled the widow. + +"What's the bull in front got on his trunk, Phil?" + +Phil shaded his eyes and gazed off down the street. + +"That's my friend Emperor. I don't know what it is he +is carrying. That's queer. I never saw him carrying +anything in parade before, did you?" + +"No." + +For a moment both lads directed their attention to making out +what it was that Emperor was carrying along. + +"It looks to me like a basket of flowers," finally decided Phil. + +"Has somebody been handing him a bouquet," grunted Teddy. + +"It certainly looks that way." + +"Why, I really believe he is coming in here." + +"Coming here--an elephant coming into my front yard? Mercy me!" +exclaimed Mrs. Cahill, starting up. + +"Why, Mrs. Cahill, Emperor wouldn't hurt a little baby. I hope +he does come in. Sit still. Don't be afraid." + +"He'll spoil my flower beds--he'll trample them all down and +after I've worked four weeks getting--" + +"Yes; here he comes," exulted Phil. + +At that moment Emperor, with his trainer, Mr. Kennedy, swung out +of line and entered the garden gate. Turning to the left they +headed directly across the lawn. The precious flower beds lay +right in his path. + +"Oh, my flowers! They're ruined," moaned the widow. + +"Watch him and you'll see," answered Phil, his face wreathed +in smiles. + +She did, and her eyes opened wider when Emperor cautiously raised +one ponderous foot after another until he had stepped clear of +the first bed of flowers. The same thing happened when he got to +the second bed. Not even the imprint of his footfalls was left +on the fresh green grass of the lawn. + +Mrs. Cahill's eyes were large and wondering. A sudden impulse +stirred her to spring up and flee into the house. + +Phil, noting it, laid a restraining hand lightly, on her arm. + +"Don't be afraid," he reassured. "Emperor will not harm you. +You see how careful he is of your lawn and your flower beds. +I think he is coming here for some purpose." + +Emperor and his trainer came to a half right in front of the +porch, the elephant's little eyes fixed upon the slender form +of Phil Forrest. + +"Good boy, Emperor!" breathed Phil. "Did somebody present a +basket of flowers to you?" + +It was a big basket, and such a handsome collection of +flowers did it contain as to cause Mrs. Cahill to open her +eyes in wonder. A card was tied to the handle of the basket +with a big pink ribbon. Phil began to understand the meaning +of the scene, and he felt sure the name on the card was that +of Mrs. Cahill. + +A low spoken command from the trainer, and Emperor cautiously got +down on his knees, keeping those small eyes on Phil Forrest all +the time. + +"Mrs. Cahill, Emperor has been commissioned by the Great Sparling +Combined Shows to present a basket of flowers to you in the name +of Mr. Sparling himself, and the show people, too. He has +carried it all the way from the lot this morning," declared +Mr. Kennedy. + +The people on the street were now pressing closer, in order +to see what was going to happen. Phil was smiling broadly, +while Teddy was hugging himself with delight at Mrs. +Cahill's nervousness. + +"Emperor, give the flowers to the lady," commanded the trainer. + +Slowly, the big elephant's trunk stretched out, extending the +basket toward her inch by inch, while the widow instinctively +shrank far back in her chair. + +At last the trunk reached her. + +"Take it," said Phil. + +She grasped the basket with a muttered, "thank you." + +"Say good-bye, Emperor," directed the trainer. + +Emperor curled his trunk on high, coughed mightily, then rising +on his hind legs until he stood almost as high as the widow's +cottage, he uttered a wild, weird trumpeting that fairly shook +the house. + +Mrs. Cahill, in her fright, suddenly started back, her chair +tipped over and she landed in a heap on the ground at the end +of the porch. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A FRIENDLY AUDIENCE + +The afternoon performance had passed without a hitch. +While there were many town people there the greater part +of the audience, which nearly filled the big tent, was +composed of visitors from the country. + +Great applause greeted the performances of Phil Forrest and +Teddy Tucker, but the two Circus Boys were saving their best +efforts for the evening performance when all their friends +would be present. + +Mrs. Cahill, after her tumble, had been picked up by the lads +who insisted that she shake the trunk of Emperor before he left +the lawn. And now that she had seen the afternoon show, taking +a motherly pride in the performance of her boys, as she proudly +called them, the kindhearted woman sat down to a meal in the +cook tent, which proved one of the most interesting experiences +of her life. + +As the hour for the evening performance approached there was an +unusual bustle in the dressing tent. By this time the whole show +had taken a keen interest in the affairs of the Circus Boys, who +had been known to the performers--at least, to most of them--for +the past two years. + +Teddy had paid sundry mysterious visits to the horse tent, and +held numerous confidential conversations with the equestrian +director, all of which was supposed to have been unknown to +Mr. Sparling, the owner of the show. + +But, while Teddy was nursing his secret, Mr. Sparling also was +keeping one of his own, one which was to be a great surprise to +the two Circus Boys. + +The first surprise was given when the clowns came out for their +first entry. Lining up in front of the reserved seats, where +the high school boys and girls sat, they sang a song in which +they brought in the names of every member of Phil's class. +This elicited roars of laughter from the spectators, while +the school boys and girls waved their crimson and white class +flags wildly. + +The whole class was there as the guests of the management of +the show. This was one of Mr. Sparling's surprises, but not +the only one he was to give them that night. + +Next came the leaping act, somersaulting from a springboard and +in the end jumping over the herd of elephants. Teddy was so +effectively disguised by his clown makeup that, for some time, +the class did not recognize him. When finally they did, through +some familiar gesture of his own, the boys and girls set up a +perfect howl of delight in which the audience joined with +enthusiastic applause, for Teddy, with all his clumsy ways, +was one of the best tumblers in the show. He had developed +marvelously since the close of the show the fall before. + +Never had Teddy tumbled as he did that night. He took so many +chances that Mr. Sparling, who was on the side lines, shouted a +word of caution to him. + +"You'll break your neck, if you're not careful." + +In answer to the warning, Teddy took a long running start and +did a double turn in the air, over the backs of the elephants, +landing plump into the waiting arms of a bevy of painted clowns, +the spectators evincing their appreciation by shouting out +Teddy's name. + +Teddy's chest swelled with pride as he waved his hand and shook +his head as if to say: "Oh, that's nothing! You ought to see me +when I'm really working." + +The band played on and the show moved along with a merry medley +of daring deeds and furious fun from the clowns. + +At last, in response to the command of the ringmaster's whistle, +the band ceased playing and silence fell over the tent as the +ringmaster raised his hand for silence. + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he said. "The next act will be a +bareback riding feat unexcelled in any show in the world. +In ring No. 1 the famous equestrienne, Little Dimples, will +entertain you with her Desperate, Daring Dips of Death that +defy imitation. In ring No. 2 you will recognize a fellow +townsman--a townsboy, I should say. It will not be necessary +for me to mention his name. Suffice it to say that, although +he has been riding for less than a year, he has already risen +to the enviable position of being one of the foremost bareback +riders of the sawdust arena. I think that's all I have to say. +Your friends will do the rest." + +The ringmaster waved his hand to the band, which instantly blared +forth and to its music Phil Forrest tripped lightly down the +concourse, being obliged to go three-fourths of its length to +get to the ring where he was to perform. + +His journey led him right past the grandstand seats where his +admiring school fellows were sitting, or rather standing. As a +matter of fact, every one of them had risen to his feet by this +time and was shouting out Phil's name. + +As he drew nearer they began to chant, keeping time with his +footsteps and the music of the band: + +"Phil, Phil--Phillip F! Rah, rah! Siss-boom-ah!" + +The Circus Boy grinned happily and waved his whip at them as +he passed. + +"I hope I won't make a fool of myself," he thought. + +He had no intention of doing so. He had a few tricks that he was +going to show his friends, and incidentally surprise Mr. Sparling +himself, for Phil, who now owned his own ring horse, had been +practicing in secret all winter on the act that he was going to +attempt for the first time in public that evening. + +Discarding his slippers and chalking the bottoms of his riding +pumps, Phil began his act by riding standing on the rump of +his mount, to get his equilibrium and his confidence at the +same time. + +Then the lad began throwing himself into his work, which +increased in speed as the moments passed, until his supple, +slender body was flashing here and there on the back of the +handsome gray, causing the eyes of the spectators fairly to ache +in their efforts to keep track of him. + +The people voiced their excitement by yells of approval and howls +of delight. + +"My, but that boy can ride!" muttered Mr. Sparling, who had been +watching the act critically. "In fact, I should like to know +what he cannot do. If he had to do so, he could run this show +fully as well as can I--and perhaps better at that," added the +showman, with a grin. + +Now the band struck up the music for the concluding number of +the act. + +"I wonder what he has up his sleeve," mused Mr. Sparling +shrewdly, suspecting that Phil was about to try something he had +never done in the ring before. "I hope he won't take any long +chances, for I can't afford to have anything happen to my little +star performer." + +As a matter of fact both Phil and Teddy Tucker had become star +performers, and were so featured on the circus bills, where +their pictures had been placed for this, their third season out. +The year before they had appeared on the small bills in the shop +windows, but now they had the satisfaction of seeing themselves +portrayed in life-size on the big boards. + +Phil sent his ring horse forward at a lively gait, which grew +faster and faster, as he sat lightly on the animal's rump, urging +it along. + +All at once he bounded to his feet, poised an instant, then threw +himself into a succession of handsprings until he resembled a +whirling pink and gold wheel. + +This was a new act in the circus world, and such of the other +performers as were under the big top at the moment paused to +watch it. + +No one was more surprised than Mr. Sparling himself. He knew +what a difficult feat it was that the Circus Boy had not only +essayed, but succeeded in doing. Phil kept it up at such length, +and with such stubborn persistence, that the owner of the show +feared lest the lad, in his dizziness might get a bad fall. + +Doing a series of such rapid handsprings on the level ground is +calculated to make a performer's head swim. But how much more +difficult such an effort is on the slippery back of a moving +horse may well be imagined. + +Finally, red of face, panting, breathless, Phil Forrest alighted +on his feet, well back on the ring horse's rump. + +"Be ready to catch me," he gasped. + +The ringmaster understood. + +Phil urged his horse to a run about the sawdust arena. + +"Now, what's that fool boy going to do?" wondered Mr. Sparling. + +All at once Phil Forrest threw himself up into the air, his body +doubling like a ball as he did so. + +One--two--three times he whirled about in his marvelous +backward somersault. + +"Let go your tuck!" commanded the ringmaster, meaning that Phil +was to release the grip of his hands which were holding his legs +doubled close against his body. + +The lad quickly straightened up, spreading his arms to steady +himself in his descent. Fortunately he was dropping feet first, +due to his instant obedience of the ringmaster's order. + +Perhaps that alone saved the Circus Boy from breaking his neck, +for so dizzy was he that he was unable to tell whether he was +dropping feet or head first. + +He alighted on his feet and the ringmaster caught him deftly. + +"Stand steady a minute, till you get your bearings, Phil." + +Phil needed that moment to steady himself, for the big top seemed +to be whirling about on a pivot. + +Now he began dimly to hear the thunders of applause that greeted +his really wonderful performance. + +"Can you stand alone now?" + +"I think so," came the faint reply that was instantly drowned in +the great uproar. + +But the lad wavered a little after the ringmaster had released +his grip. Steadying himself quickly, Phil pulled on his slippers +and walked slowly from the ring, dizzy, but happy with the shouts +of his school fellows ringing in his ears. + +He heard the voice of Mr. Sparling close by him, saying: + +"Great, great, my boy! Finest exhibition ever seen in a +sawdust ring!" + +Phil tripped proudly past the grandstand seats, where the boys +were howling like a pack of wild Indians. + +But just then something else occurred to attract their attention. + +A donkey, long-eared, long-haired, dirty and unkempt trotted into +the ring and spun about like a top for a full minute. + +On the ludicrous-looking beast's back sat a boy in the makeup of +a blackface clown. In his mouth was a harmonica, that he played +lustily, as he sat facing to the rear with his back toward the +donkey's head. + +At that moment something else was observable. Instead of +traveling head first, as any self-respecting donkey is supposed +to do, this particular donkey was walking backwards. Yes, he was +galloping backwards. + +The instant the audience noted that, their cheers changed to +howls of delight. The clown was Teddy Tucker, and the donkey +was the surprise he had been storing up for this very occasion. +While the audience laughed and jeered, Mr. Sparling looked on in +surprise not unmixed with amazement. Here was the very thing he +had been looking for, but had been unable thus far to find. + +"It's a winner!" he cried, as Teddy Tucker and his strange mount +ambled by him in a gait such as never had been seen in a sawdust +arena before. + +Right around the arena traveled boy and donkey. When opposite +the grandstand seats, where the high school students were +sitting, Teddy nearly drove them wild by drawing out the class +colors which he had been hiding under his coat. + +In a shrill, high-pitched voice he gave utterance to the high +school class yell, which was instantly taken up by the class and +eventually by the spectators themselves, until all seemed near +the verge of hysterics. + +Phil, instead of proceeding directly to the dressing tent, had +waited by the bandstand to watch the new act of his companion, +and he, with others of the performers, was laughing heartily as +he leaned against the bandstand. Teddy knew he made a funny +appearance, but just how ludicrous he could have little idea. + +"Whose donkey is that?" demanded Mr. Sparling, hurrying up just +as Phil and the other circus folks were congratulating the lad. + +"He's mine," rejoined Teddy. + +"Where did you get him?" + +"I bought him. Think I stole him? Been training him all winter. +Like him?" + +"It's a great comedy act. He's engaged. Turn him over to the +superintendent of ring stock and tell him to make a place on the +train for the brute." + +"I've already done so." + +"Oh, you have, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Anybody would think you owned this show, the way you give orders +around here." + +"I'm willing, and so's the donkey," grinned Teddy. + +"For what---to go on at every performance?" + +"No; to own the show. We're going on right along, anyway. +Gid-dap!" + +"Hopeless!" muttered Sparling, shaking his head. + + + +CHAPTER V + +TAKEN BY SURPRISE + +"Hurry up, Teddy!" + +"What for?" + +"Billy Ford is waiting for us out in the paddock." + +"Oh, is that so? What does he want?" + +"He's going to walk to the train with us, he says." + +"That's good. I wonder if any of the other fellows will +be along?" + +"No; I think not. I asked him if he were alone, and he said +he was." + +"We might give him a feed in the accommodation car," +suggested Teddy. + +"No; you and I are going to bed right quick after we get back to +the train. I, for one, am tired after this strenuous day." + +"It has been lively, hasn't it?" + +"It has," answered Phil, laying special emphasis on the "has." + +"Say, young man, where did you get that freak donkey?" demanded +Mr. Miaco, the head clown, approaching at that moment. + +"Drew him in a prize package of chewing gum," called one of +the performers. + +"Where did you get him, anyway?" called another. + +"You seem to know all about it, so what's the use of my +telling you?" retorted Teddy. + +The lads had finished their work for the day, and nothing now +remained to be done except to disrobe, take a quick scrub down +after their severe exercise, don their clothes and take their +time in getting to the train. + +There was plenty of time for this, as their sleeper being on the +third and last section of the circus train, they would not leave +for nearly two hours yet, at the earliest. + +The baths of the Circus Boys were more severe than pleasant, and +in taking them each one had to perform a service for the other. +The bath consisted of the performer's standing still while his +companion emptied several buckets of cold water over him, +following it with a liberal smearing of soap and then some more +pailfuls of water. + +Once a week, over Sunday, the performers were allowed to sleep +at hotels, providing the circus did not have an all day run. +At such times they were able to enjoy the luxury of a hot bath, +but at other times it was cold water--sometimes colder and more +chilling than at others. Yet, they thrived under it, growing +strong and healthy. + +Having once more gotten into their street clothes, refreshed and +rested to a degree that would be scarcely believed after their +severe exercise, both lads repaired to the paddock, where they +found the president of the high school class waiting for them, +interestedly watching the scene of life and color always +observable in the circus paddock, a canvas walled enclosure where +performers and ring stock await the call to enter the ring. + +"Here we are, Billy," greeted Phil. + +"Oh, so quick?" Billy started guiltily. + +"That's the way we always do things," answered Teddy. "Have to +do things on the jump, we circus men do." + +"So I see. What are you going to do now?" + +"Going to the car, of course. We always go right to the sleeper +after the show. Why?" + +"Oh, nothing special. I thought maybe you might like to go +downtown and visit with the boys for a while." + +"I should like to do so very much, but I do not think it will +be best. We make it a rule to go straight home, as we call our +car, and I've never broken over that rule yet, Billy." + +"Very well, Phil; then I will walk along with you. I guess you +know the way." + +"That's more than I do every night," laughed Phil. "It's a +case of getting lost 'most every night, especially in the big +towns, for the cars seldom are found at night where we left +them in the morning." + +"I shouldn't like that," objected Billy. + +"We don't. But we can't help ourselves." + +"Here, where you going?" demanded Teddy suddenly. + +"Taking the path across the lot here. It is much shorter," +replied Billy. + +"Oh, all right. I had forgotten about the path." + +"I should think you would--" + +Phil got no further in his remark. He was interrupted by +President Billy, crying loudly: + +"Here we are!" + +Instantly fifteen or twenty shadowy forms sprang up from the +grass and hurled themselves upon the Circus Boys. + +Taken by surprise as they were, Phil and Teddy gave a good +account of themselves. Shadow after shadow went down under a +good stiff punch, for it must be remembered that both boys were +able to make a handsome living because of the possession of well +trained muscles. + +Yet no two men could have stood up for long under the onslaught, +and Phil and Teddy very soon went down with their assailants +piling on top of them. + +Up to this point not a word had been spoken, nor did either of +the lads have time to speculate as to who their enemies might be. + +"Here, you fellow, get off my neck!" howled Teddy. "Let me get +up and I'll clean up the whole bunch of you two at a time, if +you'll give me half a chance." + +No reply was made to this. + +"Get the blankets!" commanded a deep voice. + +A moment later the two lads were quickly wound in the folds of a +pair of large horse blankets. They were then picked up, none too +gently and borne off to the other side of the field, kicking and +squirming in their efforts to escape. + +Their captors, however, did not for an instant relax their hold, +and further struggle proved vain. + +Reaching the other side of the field, the Circus Boys were dumped +into a wagon. This they knew because they heard the driver give +the directions regarding letting down the tail board. + +Placing their burdens on the wagon floor, the captors very coolly +sat down on the boys. Then the wagon started. Never in the old +days of the road show, when Phil and Teddy were riding and +sleeping in a springless canvas wagon, had they experienced a +rougher ride. It seemed as if every stone in the county had been +placed in the path of the rickety old wagon in which they were +being spirited away. + +About this time Phil Forrest began to wonder. He could not +understand the meaning of the attack. And what had become of +President Billy? He knew Teddy was lying beside him, but Billy +must have made his escape. If so Billy would give the alarm, and +the show people would quickly overtake the kidnappers. + +No such interruption occurred, however, rather greatly to Phil's +surprise, so he lay still and waited for a favorable moment when +he might take a hand in the affair himself. + +Teddy's voice could be heard under his blanket, in muffled, angry +protestations, his feet now and then beating a tattoo on the +wagon bottom. Such an act brought down the weight of his captors +upon the offending feet each time. + +Once Teddy managed to work the covering from his mouth for one +brief instant. + +"Hey, Rube!" he howled lustily, this being the signal known +to circus men the world over, when one or more of them is +in trouble. + +But there were no strong-armed circus men to come to +their rescue. All the circus laborers were working off on +the lot striking the tents and loading the show on the wagons. +Teddy was given no further opportunity to protest. + +After a journey of what seemed hours, and during which, +Phil Forrest had lost all sense of direction, the wagon +came to a halt. + +He could hear the hum of conversation as his captors consulted in +low tones. Then all at once he found himself jerked from the +wagon and plumped down on the ground. + +Teddy went through a similar experience, excepting that his fall +was considerably more severe. Teddy struck the ground with a +jolt that made him utter a loud "Wow!" + +He was on his feet in a twinkling, only to find himself pounced +upon and borne heavily to earth again. + +Fuming and threatening, Teddy was roughly picked up, Phil being +served likewise. + +The boys felt themselves being borne up a short flight of steps +and down a long hall. Then came more steps. This time it was a +long flight of stairs, the kidnappers getting their burdens up +this with evident effort. + +"I hope they don't drop me, now," thought Phil. "I shall +surely roll all the way to the bottom, though it might enable +me to get away." + +Finally an upper floor was reached. The captors bore their +burdens in and placed them on the floor. The Circus Boys +realized, at the same instant, that the vigilance of the +kidnappers had been relaxed for the second. + +Throwing, the blankets off Phil and Teddy leaped to their feet +ready for flight. As they did so they met with the surprise of +their lives. + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY + +Teddy had squared off, and was landing sledge-hammer blows on the +empty air. + +Phil, too, had squared himself prepared to give battle, but his +hands fell sharply to his sides. + +"Wha--what--" he gasped. + +"Come on!" bellowed Teddy. + +They were in a large room, brilliantly lighted, and about them, +in a semi-circle, was a line of laughing faces. From them the +eyes of the astonished Circus Boys wandered to a long table on +which were flowers and plenty of good things to eat. + +"Why, it's our old recitation room in the high school, Teddy," +breathed Phil. + +"I don't care what it is. I can lick the whole outfit!" shouted +Teddy Tucker advancing belligerently. + +"It's the boys, Teddy, don't you understand?" laughed Phil. +"Well, of all the ways of inviting a fellow to dinner, this beats +anything I ever saw before." + +"How does it feel to be kidnaped?" grinned President Billy, +extending his hand. + +"So you are the young gentleman who put up this job on us, +are you?" demanded Phil. + +"I guess I am one of them. But I wasn't unlucky enough to get a +black eye, like Walter over there. You gave that to him, Teddy. +My, what a punch you have!" laughed Billy. + +"That isn't a circumstance to what's coming to you. I'll wait +till I get back to school, next fall, and then I'll take it out +of you. You'll have something coming to you all summer. Did I +paint Walt's eye that way?" + +"You did. It's up to you to apologize to him now." + +"Apologize?" + +"Yes; that's what I said." + +"I like that! I have a good notion to apologize by painting the +other eye the same color," growled Teddy. + +"But, what does all this mean?" urged Phil, looking about him, +still a bit dazed. + +"It means that we fellows wanted to give you and Teddy a +little supper. It isn't much, but there are sandwiches and +cookies and pie and lots of other stuff that you'll like." + +"Cookies?" interrupted Teddy, his face relaxing into a +half smile. + +"Yes." + +"We knew you wouldn't come, so we planned to kidnap you both +and bring you over here by main force. After we eat supper +we'll have a little entertainment among ourselves. Walter is +going to sing--" + +"What's that? Walt going to sing?" demanded Teddy, halting on +his way to inspect the table. + +"Yes." + +"Then I'm going, right now!" answered the lad, turning sharply +and heading for the door. + +"Why, why--" + +"I've heard him sing before. Good night!" + +"Come back here," laughed Phil, grabbing his companion +by the shoulder. "We can stand even Walter's singing if +he can. But really, fellows, we can't stay more than +fifteen or twenty minutes." + +"Why not?" + +"Because we must get to the train. Were we to be left we might +come in for a fine. Mr. Sparling is very strict. He expects +everybody to live up to the rules. I'm sorry, but--" + +"It's all fixed, Phil. No need to worry," President Billy +informed him. + +"Fixed? What do you mean?" + +"With Mr. Sparling." + +"You--you told him?" + +"Yes." + +"See here, Billy Ford," interrupted Teddy. + +"What is it, Teddy?" + +"Did you say Boss Sparling was in on this little kidnaping game-- +did he know you were going to raise roughhouse with--with us?" + +"I--I guess he did," admitted President Billy. + +"I'll settle with him tomorrow," nodded Teddy, swelling out +his chest. + +"Did you tell him you were going to have a supper up here?" +asked Phil. + +"He knows all about it. You need not worry about the train going +away without you. Mr. Sparling said you had a short run tonight, +and that the last section would not pull out until three o'clock +in the morning. That's honest Injun, Phil." + +"Well, if that is the case, then we'll stay." + +"Hurrah for the Circus Boys!" shouted the class, making a rush +for seats at the table. + +"Ready for the coffee," announced the President. + +Who should come in at that moment, with a steaming coffeepot, but +the Widow Cahill. + +"Are you in this, too?" Teddy demanded. + +"I am afraid I am," laughed Mrs. Cahill. "The boys needed some +grown-ups to help them out." + +"You're no friend of mine, then. I'll--" + +"But you are going to have some of those molasses cookies that I +told you I baked for you--" + +"Cookies? Where?" exclaimed Teddy, forgetting his +anger instantly. + +"Help yourself. There they are." + +"It isn't much of a spread," apologized the president. "We have +a little of everything and not much of anything--" + +"And a good deal of nothing," added Teddy humorously. + +"Everybody eat!" ordered Mrs. Cahill. + +They did. Thirty boys with boys' appetites made the home-cooked +spread disappear with marvelous quickness. Each had brought +something from home, and Mrs. Cahill, whom they had taken into +their confidence two days before the Sparling Shows reached +town, had furnished the rest. Everything was cold except the +coffee, but the feasters gave no thought to that. It was food, +and good wholesome food at that, and the lads were doing full +justice to it. + +"Say, Phil, that was a wonderful act of yours," nodded +President Billy, while the admiring gaze of the class was +fixed on Phil Forrest. + +"I wish I might learn to do that," said Walter. + +"You? You couldn't ride a wooden rocking horse without falling +off and getting a black eye," jeered Teddy, at which there was a +shout of laughter. + +"Can you?" cut in Phil. + +"I can ride anything from a giraffe to a kangaroo--that is, until +I fall off," Teddy added in a lower voice. "I rode a greased pig +at a country fair once. Anybody who can do that, can sit on a +giraffe's neck without slipping off." + +"Where was that?" questioned a voice. "I never heard of your +riding a greased pig around these parts." + +"I guess that must have been before you were born," retorted +Teddy witheringly. + +"Say, Phil," persisted Walter, this time in a confidential tone. + +"Yes?" + +"Do you suppose you could get me a job in the circus?" + +"I don't know about that, Walt. What do you think you could do?" + +"Well, I can do a cartwheel and--" + +"Oh, fudge!" interrupted Teddy. + +"That's more than Tucker could do when he joined the show. +Do you know what he did, first of all?" said Phil. + +"No; what did he do?" chorused the boys. + +"He poured coffee in the cook tent for the thirsty roustabouts. +That's the way he began his circus career." + +"I didn't do it more than a day or two," Tucker explained, +rather lamely. + +"But you did it!" jeered Walter. + +"Then his next achievement was riding the educated mule. I guess +you boys never saw him do that." + +"Not until tonight." + +"This is different. The other was a bucking mule, and Teddy made +a hit from the first time he entered the ring on Jumbo. He hit +pretty much everything in the show, including the owner himself." +Phil leaned back and laughed heartily at the memory of his +companion's exhibition at this, his first appearance in a circus +ring as a performer. + +"No, Walt, I wouldn't advise you to join. Some people are +cut out for the circus life. They never would succeed at +anything else. Teddy and myself for instance. Besides, your +people never would consent to it. You will be a lawyer, or +something great, some of these days, while we shall be cutting +up capers in the circus ring at so much per caper. It's a +wonderful life but you keep out of it," was Phil Forrest's +somewhat illogical advice. + +"How far are you going this year?" asked one of the boys. + +"I can't say. I understand we are going south--to Dixie Land for +the last half of the season. I think we are headed for Canada, +just now, swinging around the circuit as it were. Isn't it about +time we were getting back to the train, Teddy?" + +"No, I guess not. I haven't eaten up all the cookies yet. +Please pass the cookies, you fellow up there at the head of +the table." + +"We shall have our little entertainment before you fellows go to +your sleeper. We reckon Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker ought to +do some stunts for us. Isn't that so?" asked President Billy. + +"Yes," shouted the boys. + +"What, after a meal like that? I couldn't think of it," +laughed Phil. "Never perform on a full stomach unless you want +to take chances. It might do you up for good." + +"Well, it won't hurt Teddy to be funny. Do something +funny, Teddy." + +Teddy looked up soulfully as he munched a cookie. + +"Costs money to see me act funny," he said. + +"Go on; go on!" urged the boys. "You never showed us any of your +tricks except what you did in the ring this evening." + +"Do you know, it's a funny thing, but I never can be funny +unless there is a crop of new-mown sawdust under my feet," +remarked Teddy. + +"Nothing very funny about that!" growled a voice at the further +end of the table. + +Teddy fixed him with a reproving eye. + +"Very well, but you'll be sorry. I will now present to you the +giddiest, gladdest, gayest, grandest, gyrating, glamorous and +glittering galaxy--as the press agent says--that ever happened." + +Teddy, who sat at the extreme end of the table, placed both hands +carelessly on the table, then drew his body up by slow degrees, +until a moment later as his body seemed to unfold, he was doing +a hand stand right on the end of the supper table. + +The boys shouted with delight and Teddy kicked his feet in +the air. + +"Go on! Don't stop," urged the lads. + +"You'll be wishing I had stopped before I began," retorted the +lad, starting to walk on his hands right down the center of +the table. + +There were dishes in the way, but this did not disturb Tucker in +the least. He merely pushed them aside, some rolling off on the +floor and breaking, others falling into the laps of the boys. + +"Here, here, what are you doing?" called Phil. + +"This is what I call the topsy-turvy walk." + +Teddy paused when halfway down the table, to let his mouth down +to the table, where he had espied another cookie. When he pulled +himself up, the cookie was between his lips, and the boys roared +at the ludicrous sight. + +Then, the lad who was walking on his hands, continued right on. +He was nearing the foot of the table when something occurred that +changed the current of their thoughts, sending the heart of every +boy pounding in his throat. + +Crash! + +It seemed as if the roof had been suddenly hurled down upon +their heads. + +Teddy instantly fell off the table, tumbling into the laps of two +of the boys, the three going down to the floor in a heap, finally +rolling under the table. The other boys sprang to their feet in +sudden alarm. + +"It's a band," cried Phil. "Don't be afraid." + +Then the circus band, that had been waiting in the hall just +outside the dining place, marched in with horns blaring, drums +beating, and took up their position at the far end of the room. + +"It's the circus band," cried the lads, now recovering from +their fright. "How did they get here?" + +By this time Teddy, his face red and resentful, was poking his +head from beneath the table. + +"Hey, Rube!" he shouted, then ducked back again. + +Phil understood instantly that this was one of +Mr. Sparling's surprises. But there were still other surprises +to come. No sooner had the band taken up its position than there +was again a commotion out in the hall. The lads opened their +eyes wide when a troop of painted clowns came trotting in, +followed by half a dozen acrobats, all in ring costume. A mat +was quickly spread by some attendants that Mr. Sparling had sent. + +Then began the merriest hodge-podge of acrobatic nonsense that +the high school boys ever had seen. The clowns, entering into +the spirit of the moment, grew wonderfully funny. They sang +songs and told stories, while the acrobats hurled themselves into +a mad whirl of somersaults, cartwheels and Wild Dervish throws. + +Thus far the boys were too amazed to speak. + +All at once some of the performers began to form a pyramid, one +standing on the other's shoulders. + +"Here, I'm going to be the top-mounter!" cried Teddy, taking +a running start and beginning to clamber up the human column. +He was assisted up and up until he was standing at the top, +his head almost touching the high ceiling in the room. + +"Speech!" howled the delighted high school boys. + +"Fellow citizens," began Teddy. + +Just then the human pyramid toppled over and Teddy had to leap to +save himself, striking the mat, doing a rolling tumble and coming +up on his feet. + +When all the fun making in the hall was over one surprise proved +yet to be in the reserve. The high school boys of Edmeston +turned out with lighted torches. Forming in column of fours they +escorted Phil and Teddy to their car on the circus train. It was +not many minutes later that the boys, tired out but happy, +tumbled into their berths, where they were asleep immediately, +carrying on, even in their dreams, the joyous scenes through +which they had just passed. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SHIVERS AND HIS SHADOW + +Half a hundred motley fools came trooping into the sawdust arena, +their voices raised in song and shout. + +Mud clown, character clown, harlequin, fat boy, jester, funny +rustic, vied with each other in mirth-provoking antics so aptly +described by the circus press agent as a "merry-hodgepodge of +fun-provoking, acrobatic idiosyncrasies of an amazing character." + +And so they were. + +Children screamed with delight, while their elders smiled a +dignified approval of the grotesque, painted throng that trooped +gayly down the uneven course. + +The music of the circus band stopped short. Then came a fanfare +of trumpets, and far down the line from behind the crimson +curtains near to the bandstand, a dignified figure all in white, +emerged and tripped along the grassy way, halting now and then +to gaze fixedly at some imaginary object just above the heads of +those on the upper row of seats, the very drollery of which gaze +was irresistible. + +Shivers, Prince of Clowns, the greatest fun maker and character +clown of all that mad, painted throng, had made his entry. + +Shivers had joined out with the Sparling show for the first time +that season. He was known as the leading clown in the business. +>From the first, Shivers had taken a liking to Teddy Tucker, and +shortly after leaving Edmeston he had conceived the idea of +making a full-fledged clown of Teddy. The permission of the +manager had been obtained and this was Teddy's first appearance +as assistant to Shivers. Teddy was considerably smaller, +of course, and made up as the exact counterpart of Shivers +trailing along after him like a shadow, the lad made a most +amusing appearance. Every move that the clown made, Teddy +mimicked as the two minced along down the concourse. + +Shivers was a shining model of the clown both in method +and makeup. His stiffly starched bulging trousers disappeared +under the stiff ruffles of a three-quarter waist. A broad +turnover collar of the nurse style was set off with a large bow +of bright red ribbon, and a baker's cap, perched jauntily on one +side of the head, completed his merry makeup. This too describes +Teddy Tucker's outfit. + +"Now, be funny!" directed Shivers. + +"I can't help but be if I act like you," retorted Teddy, whereat +the clown grinned. + +Pausing before the dollar seats the clown pulled out the +ruffles of his snow-white waist, poising with crossed legs on +one toe. Teddy did the same, and a great roar was the reward +of their drollery. + +"La, la! La, la, la!" hummed the clown, stumbling over a rope +to the keen delight of those in the reserved seats--the same +rope, by the way, that he had been falling over twice each day +for the past month. Then he blew a kiss to a fragile slip of a +girl who was perched on a trapeze bar far up toward the dome of +the great tent. + +Zoraya, for that was her name, smiled down, gracefully swung off +into space, soaring lightly into the strong, sure arms of her +working mate. + +Just the suspicion of an approving smile lighted up the face +of the clown for the moment, for he dearly loved this little +motherless daughter of his, who had been his care since she +was a child. + +Shivers had taught her all she knew, and Zoraya was the +acknowledged queen of the lofty tumblers. + +But the clown half unconsciously caught his breath as the lithe +form of Zoraya shot over the trapeze bar, described a graceful +"two-and-a-half" in the air, and, shooting downward, hit the net +with a resounding smack that caused the spectators to catch their +breath sharply. + +The clown shook a warning head at her, and Teddy so far forgot +himself as to stub his toe and measure his length upon +the ground. + +"Don't do it, Bright Eyes!" cautioned Shivers, shaking his head +warningly at the girl, as the child bounced up from the impact, +kicking her little feet together and turning a somersault on the +swaying net. "It isn't in your contract. Folks sometimes break +their necks trying kinkers that's not in the writings." + +Her answer was a merry, mocking laugh, and Zoraya ran lightly +up a rope ladder to the platform where she balanced easily for +another flight. + +"My, I wish I could do stunts like that!" breathed Teddy. + +"Just like a bird. La, la, la! La, la, la!" sang the painted +clown, turning a handspring and pivoting on his head for a grand, +spectacular finish. + +His refined comedy, so pleasing to the occupants of the reserved +seats, had now been changed to loud, uproarious buffoonery as he +bowed before the blue, fifty cent seats where his auditors were +massed on boards reaching from the top of the side wall clear +down to the edge of the arena. + +He took liberties with their hats, passed familiar criticisms on +their families and told them all about the other performers in +the ring, arousing the noisy appreciation of the spectators. + +Teddy was put to his wits end to keep up with this rapid-fire +clowning, and the perspiration was already streaking the powder +on his face. + +All at once, above the din and the applause, the ears of +the clown caught a sound different from the others--a scream +of alarm. Shivers had heard such a cry many times before during +his twenty years in the sawdust ring, and, as he expressed it, +the sound always gave him "crinkles up and down his spine." + +There was no need to start and look about for the cause. +He understood that there had been an accident. But the clown +looked straight ahead and went on with his work. He knew, by +the strains of the music, exactly what Zoraya should be doing at +the moment when the cry came--that her supple body was flashing +through the air in a "passing leap," one of the feats that +always drew such great applause, even if it were more +spectacular than dangerous. + +"No, it can't be Zoraya!" he muttered. But the clown cast one +nervous, hesitating glance up there where her troupe was working +in the air. The cold sweat stood out upon him. Zoraya was not +with them. His eyes sought the net. It was empty. He saw a +figure clad in pink, white and gold shooting right through +the net. + +Then, too, he saw something else. A slender, pink-clad figure +was darting under the net with outstretched arms. + +"It's Phil. He's going to catch her," shouted Teddy jubilantly. + +But Phil went down under the impact of the heavy blow as Zoraya +struck him. A throng of ring attendants gathered about them, and +in a moment the two forms were picked up and borne quickly from +the ring. + +Once, years before, Shivers had been through an earthquake in +South America, when things about him were topsy-turvy, when the +circus tent came tumbling down about him, and ring curbs went up +into the air in most bewildering fashion. + +Now, that same sensation was upon him again, and quarter poles +seemed to dance before his eyes like giddy marionettes, while +the long rows of blue seats appeared to be tilted up at a +dangerous angle. Then slowly the clown's bewilderment merged +into keen understanding, but his painted face reflected none of +the anguish that was gripping at his heart strings. + +Teddy brushed a hand across his own eyes. + +"I--I guess they're both killed," he said falteringly. + +Just then the voice of the head clown broke out in the old +Netherlands harvest song: + + "Yanker didel doodle down, + Didel, dudel lanter, + Yankee viver, voover vown, + Botermilk und tanther." + +"Poor Zoraya!" muttered the clown under cover of the applause +that greeted his vocal effort. And his associates looked down +from their perches high in the air, gazing in wonder upon the +clown who was bowing so low that, each time he did so, he was +obliged to turn a somersault to gain his equilibrium. + +"Dangerously hurt--went through the net head first. Hurry!" +panted a belated clown, running by to his station. +"Boy hurt, too." + +"Told you so!" grumbled Teddy. + +But Shivers did not flinch, and, as he neared the reserved seats +on the grandstand, his voice again rang out, this time in a +variation of the ancient harvest song: + + "Yankee doodle, keep it up, + Yankee doodle, dandy; + Mind the music and the step, + And with your feet be handy." + +Never had the show people seen Shivers so uproariously funny. +Under the spell of his merriment, the audience quickly forgot the +tragic scene that they had just witnessed. + +Teddy, however, noticed little dark trenches that had ploughed +their courses down through the makeup of the clown's cheeks from +his eyes. Teddy knew that tears had caused those furrows. + +As Shivers looked down the long, grassy stretch ahead of him, +that he still must cover before his act would be finished, the +goal seemed far away. He flashed one longing glance toward the +crimson curtains that shut off the view of the paddock and the +dressing tents, vaguely wondering what lay beyond for him and for +little Zoraya. Then Shivers set his jaws hard, plunging into a +mad whirl of handsprings and somersaults, each of which sent him +nearer to the end of that seemingly endless way. + +"Here, here, what are you trying to do?" gasped Tucker, unable to +keep up with the clown's rapid progress by doing the same things. +Teddy solved the problem by running. He could keep up in no +other way. + +At last Shivers reached the end. With a mighty leap he sprang +for the paddock and the dressing tent. And how he did run! +Such sprinting never had been seen in the big show, even between +man and horse in the act following the Roman chariot races. + +Once a rope caught Shivers' toes. He fell forward, but cleverly +landed on his shoulders and the back of his neck, bouncing up +like a rubber man and plunging on. + +Shivers had darted through the crimson curtain by the time +Teddy Tucker had succeeded in picking himself up from having +fallen over the same rope. + +Stretched out on a piece of canvas in the dressing tent, her head +slightly elevated on a saddle pad, they found Zoraya, her pallor +showing even through the roughly laid on makeup. + +Phil was sitting on a trunk holding his head in his hands, for he +had received quite a severe shock. + +"If she regains consciousness soon she may live," announced +the surgeon. "If not--" + +"No, no!" protested the white-faced clown, dropping on his knees +by the side of the child, folding Zoraya tenderly in his arms. +"She must not die! She cannot die!" + +His jaunty baker's cap tilted off and fell upon her tinseled +breast, while groups of curious, sorrowful painted faces pressed +about them in silent sympathy. + +Teddy crushed his white cap between his hands twisting +it nervously. + +"She isn't hurt. Can't you see? Look, she is smiling now," +pleaded the clown. + +The surgeon shook his head sadly, and Shivers buried his head on +Zoraya's shoulder, pressing his painted cheek close to hers, +while the dull roar of the circus, off under the big top, drifted +to them faintly, like the sighing of a distant cataract. + +An impressive silence hovered over the scene, which was broken, +at last, by the quiet voice of the circus surgeon. + +"The child is coming back, Shivers. She has fought it out, but +she will perform no more, I am afraid, for bones broken as are +hers never will be quite the same again." + +"She don't have to perform any more, sir," snapped the clown. +"I'll do that for her. You put that down in your fool's cap +and smoke it. Yes, sir, I'll--" + +"Daddy!" murmured the lips that were pressed close to +Shivers' ear. + +It was scarcely a whisper, more a breath that Shivers caught, but +faint as it was, it sent the blood pounding to his temples until +they showed red, like blotches of rouge under powder. + +"D-a-d-d-y--y-o-u-r--Zory got an awful--b-u-m-p." + +Three harlequins who had been poising each on one knee, chins in +hands, gazing down into the face of the little performer, +suddenly threw backward somersaults in their joy. + +"Yes, Phil's quickness saved you," spoke up the surgeon. "Had it +not been for him you would be dead now." + +Teddy Tucker, the tears streaming down his cheeks, was hopping +about on one foot, vigorously kicking a shin with the other foot, +trying to punish himself for his tears. + +"I'm a fool! I'm a fool! But--but--I can't help it," he sobbed, +wheeling suddenly and dashing into his own dressing tent. + +"Call for Shivers!" bellowed the voice of the callboy, thrusting +his head inside the entrance flap. "All the Joeys out for the +round off!" + +"Coming!" + +Shivers gently laid the broken form of Zoraya back, pressed a +hurried kiss on her painted lips and bounded away to take his +cue, the circus band out there by the crimson curtains swinging +brazenly into the enlivening strains of "There'll Be a Hot Time +in the Old Town Tonight!" + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A RIVAL IN THE FIELD + +Zoraya was left behind. She was sent to a hospital where she was +destined to remain many weeks, before she would be able to be +moved to her little home in Indiana. She never performed again. + +In the meantime the Great Sparling Combined Shows had moved +majestically along. They had left the United States and were +touring Canada, playing in many of the quaint little French +villages and larger towns, where the Circus Boys found much to +interest and amuse them. + +Teddy and Shivers had made a great hit in their "brother" clown +act, which was daily added to and improved upon as the show +worked its way along the Canadian border. + +One day Phil, who had been downtown after the parade, where he +went to read the papers when he got a chance, came back and +sought out Mr. Sparling in the latter's private tent. + +"Well, Phil," greeted the owner cordially, "what's on your mind?" + +"Perhaps a good deal, but possibly nothing of any consequence. +You will have to decide that." + +"What is it?" questioned Mr. Sparling sharply. + +"Do we show in Corinto?" + +"Yes; why?" + +"I thought I had heard you mention that we were to do so." + +"Why do you ask that question?" + +"I'll answer it by asking another," smiled the Circus Boy. +"When do we make that stand?" + +The showman consulted his route book. + +"A week from next Tuesday," he said. "Anything wrong +about that?" + +"Yes." + +"What?" + +"Nothing except that there is another show billed to play there +the day before." + +"What?" + +Mr. Sparling bent a keen gaze on Phil's face, to make sure the +lad was not joking. + +"Yes, the Sully Hippodrome Circus is billed there for Monday." + +"Where did you find that out?" + +"I read it in a St. Catharines' paper down at the hotel +this morning. I thought you would be interested in knowing +of it." + +"Interested? Why, boy, it will kill our business. So Sully +is cutting in on us, is he? I thought he was playing the +eastern circuit. He threatened to get even with me." + +"Even?" + +"Yes. Sully was once a partner in this show, but he proved +himself so dishonest that I had to take legal measures to get +him out. He got money from some source last season, and put +a show of his own on the road. He has a twenty-five car +show, I understand. Not such a small outfit at that. But I +hear it is a graft show." + +"What's a graft show? I must confess that I never heard of +that before." + +"A graft show, my boy, is a show that gets money in various ways. +They frequently carry a gang of thieves and confidence men with +them, who work among the spectators on the grounds before the +show, robbing them and getting a commission on their earnings." + +"Is it possible that there are such dishonest people in the +show business?" marveled the lad. + +"Not only possible, but an actual fact. I am happy to say, +however, that there are few shows that will tolerate anything +of that sort." + +"I'm glad I did not have the misfortune to get with one of them," +smiled Phil. "Are any of the big shows graft shows?" + +"None of them. But about this heading us off?" + +"Yes; what will you do about it?" + +"We'll be there on Monday, too," decided the showman after a +moment's reflection. + +"On Monday?" + +"Yes." + +"Then--then you intend to skip a date somewhere?" + +"We shall have to." + +Mr. Sparling was a man of resource and quick action. He made up +his mind in a minute as to what course to follow. + +"I'm going to detach you from the show for a few days, if you +don't mind, Phil," decided Mr. Sparling. + +"I am glad to serve you in any way that you think I can," +answered the lad with a flash of surprise in his glance. + +"I know that. What I want you to do is to join that show +right away." + +"Join them?" + +"I do not mean that exactly. I want you to go to the town where +they are playing tomorrow, I will get the name of the town before +the day is over. Follow the show right along from town to town +until next Monday, paying your way when you go in and keeping +your eyes open for their game. You, with your shrewdness, ought +to have no difficulty in getting sufficient evidence to help me +carry out my plans." + +"What sort of evidence do you wish me to get?" + +"Make a mental note of everything you see that is not regular, +and if they have a route card get a copy of that. It's perfectly +regular, young man," hastened the showman, noting Phil's look +of disapproval. "You are not doing anything improper. I do not +ask you to pry into their private affairs. We have a right, +however, to find out if we can, what their plans are with +relation to ourselves. If they are playing Corinto the day +before we do, just by mere chance, then I shall make no further +objections, but if they are planning to move along ahead of us +and kill our business--well, that's a different matter." + +"I see," nodded Phil. "Who will take my place in the ring +work here?" + +"We will get along without it, that's all. It doesn't matter so +much in these small towns. I don't care if you do not join out +until we get to Niagara Falls. We'll be playing in the real +country then." + +"And working south?" + +"Yes. As soon as the weather gets cooler we will head for the +south and stay there until the close of the season. They are +going to have a big cotton crop in the south this fall, and there +will be lots of money lying around loose to be picked up by a +show like ours." + +"When do you want me to start?" asked Phil. + +"Just as soon as I can get an answer to a telegram that I'm +going to send now. You will be off sometime this afternoon. +But perhaps you can go on in your acts--no, I guess you had +better not. You'll be missed at night if you do." + +"Yes; that's so." + +"I shall have some further directions for you. So long, for +the present." + +Phil turned away thoughtfully. Shortly after the afternoon +performance Mr. Sparling sent for Phil again, the lad having +in the meantime packed a few necessary articles in his bag +preparatory to the journey that lay before him. + +"The other show will be at St. Catharines tomorrow. +Are you ready?" + +"Yes, sir. What time can I get away?" + +"Five o'clock. You will be there in the morning in time to +see them set the tents. Let me warn you that Sully is ugly +and unscrupulous. If he were to know what you are there for +it might get you into a mix-up, so be careful." + +"I'll be careful. Have you any further instructions?" + +"I want to give you some money. You can't travel without money." + +"I have plenty," answered Phil. "I will keep my expense account +and turn it in to you when I get back. Where do you wish me to +join you?" + +"Corinto, unless you think best to come back in the meantime. +That is, if you get sufficient information. You know what I want +without my going into details, don't you?" + +"I think so." + +"Now, look out for yourself." + +"I'll try to." + +"You have not mentioned to anyone what you are going to do, +of course?" + +"Certainly not. Not even to Teddy. Perhaps if you will, you +might make the explanation to him," suggested Phil. + +"Yes; I'll do that as soon as you have gotten away. He'll be +raising the roof off the big top when he misses you." + +Phil extended his hand to his employer, then turned and hurried +from the tent. First, the boy proceeded to the sleeping car in +which he berthed, for his bag. Securing this he had just time to +reach the station before the five o'clock train rumbled in. + +The lad boarded a sleeping car and settled himself for the +long ride before him, passing the time by reading the current +magazines with which he provided himself when the train agent +came through. Late in the evening the lad turned in. Riding in +a sleeping car was no novelty to him, and he dropped asleep +almost instantly, not to awaken again until the porter shook him +gently by the shoulder. + +"What is it?" questioned Phil, starting up. + +"St. Catharines." + +The lad pulled the curtains of his berth aside. Day was just +breaking as he peered out. + +"There they are," he muttered, catching sight of a switch +full of gaudily painted cars bearing the name of the Sully +Hippodrome Circus. "They have just got in," he decided from +certain familiar signs of which he took quick mental note. +"Looks like a cheap outfit at that. But you never can tell." + +Phil Forrest dressed himself quickly and grasping his bag hurried +from the car, anxious to be at his task, which, to tell the +truth, he approached with keen zest. He was beginning to enter +into the spirit of the work to which he had been assigned, and +which was to provide him with much more excitement than he at +that moment dreamed. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +PHIL MAKES A DISCOVERY + +"I guess I'll leave my bag in the station and go over to the +lot," decided the lad. + +"The stake and chain gang will just about be on the job by +this time." + +It is a well known fact in the circus world that there is no +better place to get information than from the stake and chain +gang, the men who hurry to the lot the moment their train gets +in and survey it, driving stakes to show where the tents are to +be pitched, and it is a familiar answer, when one is unable to +answer a question to say: "Ask the stake and chain gang." + +That was exactly what Phil Forrest had in mind to do. + +He followed a show wagon to the circus lot, where he found the +men already at work measuring off the ground with their +surveyor's chains, in the faint morning light. + +"Morning," smiled Phil, sauntering over to where he observed the +foreman watching the work of his men. + +"Morning," growled the showman. Phil knew he would growl because +the fellow had not yet had his breakfast. + +"Seems to me the circuses are coming this way pretty fast?" +suggested the lad. + +"What d'ye mean?" + +"I hear that there are to be two over in Corinto within two +days--yours and--and. What's the name of the other one?" + +"Sparling's," grunted the foreman. + +Phil grinned appreciatively. He had drawn his man out on the +first round. + +"That's it. That's the name. I shouldn't think he'd want to +show in the same place the day after you had been there?" + +"Why not?" + +" 'Cause the folks will all spend their money going to +your show." + +The foreman threw back his head and laughed. + +"That's exactly what they will do, kid. That's what we want +them to do. We'll make that Sparling outfit get off the earth +before we get through with them. The boss has his axe out for +that outfit." + +"Indeed?" cooed Phil. + +"Yes. He's going, between you and me, to keep a day ahead of +them all the way over this circuit." + +"Smart, very smart," laughed Phil, slapping his thigh as if he +appreciated the joke fully. "Have an orange. I always carry +some about with me when I'm going to visit a circus." + +"Thanks, that will taste good at this time of the morning. +It will keep me going until the cook tent is ready. The cook +tent is where we get our meals, you understand. 'Course you +don't know about those things." + +"No indeed!" + +"Outsiders never do," replied the man. + +"I was wondering something a moment ago, when you told me about +getting ahead of the other fellow." + +"Wondering?" + +"Yes." + +"What?" + +"Wondering how you know where the other fellow is going?" + +"That's a dark secret, kid," answered the stake and chain +foreman, with a very knowing wink. + +"But if you know where he is going he must know where you are +billed for at the same time," urged Phil. + +"He don't." + +"But why not?" + +"In the first place we bill ourselves only a few days ahead. +And, in the second, we have a way of finding out where Sparling +is going for the next month or so ahead. Sometimes further +than that." + +"Well, well, that's interesting--" The foreman hurried off to +give some directions to his men, slowly returning a few +minutes later. + +"I should like to know how you do it?" + +"Say kid, there's tricks in the show business just the same as in +any other. Mebby there's somebody with the Sparling outfit who +keeps us posted. Mind you, I ain't saying there is; but that +there might be." + +"Oh, I see," muttered Phil, suddenly enlightened. "Then someone +in the other show is giving away his employer's secrets. +Fine for you, but pretty rough on the other fellow." + +"Let the other fellow take care of himself, the same way we do," +growled the foreman, following it with a threatening command to +one of his men. + +"That hardly seems fair," objected Phil. + +"All is fair in war and the circus business. You seem a good +deal interested in this competition business?" snapped the man +with sudden suspicion in voice and face. + +"I am. But where is this--this Sparling show going to--do you +know what towns they are going to play for the next month? +Can you tell that, too?" + +"I can come pretty close to it," grinned the showman, whereupon +he named the towns on Phil's route list without so much as +missing one of them. But the stake and chain foreman did not +stop here; he went on and gave a further list that Phil only knew +of as having heard mentioned by Mr. Sparling in his various +conversations with the circus lad. + +Phil was amazed. + +"Then they must be going west. I see," nodded the boy. + +"No, you don't see. You only think you do." + +"No?" + +"No. If you was a showman and knew your business you'd know that +the Sparling outfit was going to make a sudden turn after a +little, and head for Dixie Land." + +"Down south," exclaimed Phil. + +"Sure. Why not? You see you lubbers don't know any more about +the show business than--" + +"And you are going to follow them?" + +"Follow them? No. We're going to lead them. They'll follow us." + +"You're like a wildcat train then?" + +"Something of the sort." + +"Where's the boss?" + +"There he comes now. I'll have to hustle the men, or he'll +scorch the grass off the lot with his roars." + +The foreman hastened to stir up his surveyors and Phil moved +off that he might get a better look at Mr. Sully, the owner of +the show. Phil found him to be a florid-faced, square jawed man +whose expression was as repulsive as it was brutal. Sully wore a +red vest and red necktie with a large diamond in it. He gave the +Circus Boy a quick sharp look as he passed. "I'll bet he will +know me the next time he sees me," muttered Phil. "But whether +he does or not I have made some discoveries that Mr. Sparling +will be glad to know about, though they will not make him +particularly happy, I'm thinking." + +Phil was hungry, and he was anxious to get back to the village to +write a letter, but decided that he would wait until the tents +were up. Then again, he wanted to see the wagons brought on so +he could count them and get a fair inventory of the show and what +it possessed. He soon discovered that the Sully Hippodrome +Circus was no one-horse affair, though considerably smaller than +the one with which he was connected. + +Not until the people were getting ready for the parade did Phil +leave the lot. Then he hastened downtown and got his dinner and +breakfast all in one, after which he sat down to write a full +account of what he had learned to Mr. Sparling. + +"There, if anything happens to me he is pretty well informed +so far. It's enough to enable him to lay those plans he has +in mind, whatever they may be. I can see him hammering his +desk and getting red in the face when he reads this letter." + +Phil was cautious enough not to mention the name of the Sully +show in his letter, and tried to couch it in such terms, that +while Mr. Sparling would understand perfectly, another might not. + +Phil took the letter to the post office, then went out on the +sidewalk where he stood leaning against a lamp post to watch the +parade, which he did with critical eyes. + +"A pretty good-sized show," he mused. "But all their trappings +are second hand. They have bought them up from some show that +has discarded them. That's one thing the Sparling outfit +never does. All their stuff is new nearly every season. +Sully may have some of our old trappings, for all I know." + +The parade was a long one; there were a good many cages, besides +a fair-sized herd of elephants. + +"Hm-m-m! Three tuskers among the bulls," muttered Phil. +"Pretty well up to our herd, but I wouldn't trade Emperor +for any two of them, at that." + +After the parade had passed, Phil once more strolled over to +the circus lot and hung about until time for the afternoon +performance to begin, when he bought a ticket and entered, +occupying a reserved seat where he could see all that was +going on. + +The lad smiled at the thought of how his position had changed. +He was so used to being over there in the ring that it did not +seem quite right for him to be occupying a chair in the audience. +He could scarcely resist the impulse to hurry back to the +dressing tent and prepare for the ring. + +The grand entry came on; then his attention was centered on the +performance, which he watched with the keen eyes of an expert, +noting the work of every performer, completely forgetting the +cheering audience in his absorption. + +It was really a fair performance. He was forced to admit this, +especially of the aerial acts. But the bareback riding he did +not think compared favorably with his own, especially so far as +the men riders were concerned. One woman rider was very +good, indeed. + +Phil drew a long breath when the performance had come to +an end. A circus performance, to him, was a matter of the +keenest interest. The fact that he himself was a circus +performer did not lessen that interest one whit, but rather +intensified it. Yet the glamour of his youthful days had passed. +It was now a professional interest, rather than the wondering +interest of a boy who never had seen the inside of the +dressing tent. + +Phil did not hang about the grounds. He went downtown, but was +once more on hand for the evening performance, where he noted +that the show was cut short fully half an hour, and this without +apparent good reason. + +He had made the acquaintance of a "candy butcher" during the hour +before the show, and from him had learned some further details +that were of interest to him and his investigation. + +The Circus Boy, after watching the striking of the tents, +returned to the railroad station and took a late train for the +town where the circus was to show next day. It was not a long +run, so he took a day coach. In it he saw several familiar +faces--faces that he had noticed about the circus lot that +afternoon, and from their appearance he was forced to conclude +that these men belonged to the shows. + +"Those fellows are crooks, as sure as I am alive," decided the +lad, after listening to the conversation of the couple just ahead +of him. "That's what Mr. Sparling told me. I could hardly +believe it. I'll spend part of the time outside tomorrow and +make sure. I shall know those fellows when I see them, if they +are on the grounds." + +It had not occurred to Phil Forrest that he might be recognized +also, though he knew full well that circus people had keen eyes, +especially in an outfit such as this. + +The next morning he hunted up his friend the candy butcher, +inviting that worthy to take breakfast with him which the lad, +a boy about his own age, was glad to do. From the "butcher" +Phil learned a whole lot of things that added to his store of +knowledge, among them being the fact that Sully's outfit was +even worse than it had been painted. + +Mingling with the crowds about the main entrance, before the +doors were opened that afternoon, Phil once more saw the same men +he had observed on the train the previous evening. From their +actions he was more than ever satisfied that he had not been +mistaken in his estimate of them. + +"I shouldn't be surprised if they were looking for some +pockets to pick," mused the lad, "but I do not see them +doing anything yet." + +As a matter of fact, the men were plying their trade, but +his eyes had not been quick enough to catch them at it. +Phil, however, was more successful just before the +evening show. + +Standing among the people massed out in front he saw a man's +hand steal slowly toward the handbag of a well-dressed woman. +Phil traced the hand back until he made out the owner, who was +one of the same men that had come through on the train with him. + +A gasoline torch lighted the operation faintly, and Phil gazed +with fascinated eyes while the stealthy hand opened the bag +quickly extracting its contents. + +Almost at the instant the woman looked down, perhaps attracted by +the tug at the bag. + +"I've been robbed!" she cried. + +The words stirred Phil to instant action. + +In another second the thief felt a vise-like grip about the wrist +that held the plunder. + +"Here's the man that did it, madam. Call an officer," said +Phil calmly. + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE CIRCUS BOY IS RECOGNIZED + +Giving the wrist of his prisoner a sharp twist, Phil snatched +away the small handful of bills that the fellow had stolen, +returning them to the woman. + +By this time the thief had suddenly recovered his wits and sought +to jerk his hand away, seeing that it was merely a boy who had +grabbed him. To the surprise of the crook he found it was not an +easy matter to free himself from that grip. After making several +desperate efforts the fellow adopted other methods. + +"Let go of me, I tell you. I'll have you put away for this." + +"I'll let go of you when a policeman has hold of you, and not +before," retorted Phil. "You are a thief. I saw you steal that +woman's money." + +The man suddenly uttered an angry exclamation and launched a blow +at Phil's head, which the lad avoided, allowing it to pass over +his shoulder. + +"Hurry! Get a policeman! This man is a thief," urged Phil, as +he closed with his antagonist. + +"Thief! Thief," cried several voices at once. It was a cry that +had been heard before about the Sully shows. + +Phil had not struck back at his enemy. Instead the lad, by a +skillful twist, had whirled the fellow about until his back was +toward the boy. Then Phil suddenly let go his hold on the wrist, +clasping the man around the body and pinioning his arms to +his sides. + +"You might as well stand still," said the lad coolly. "You can't +get away until I permit you to, and that won't be until something +that looks like a policeman comes along." + +In the meantime the captive was struggling and threatening. +All at once he raised his voice in a peculiar, wailing cry. +The Circus Boy felt sure that it was some sort of a signal, +though it was new to him. But he was not to be cowed. + +"Police!" shouted Phil. + +"Police!" cried many voices. + +Half a dozen men came rushing into the crowd, thrusting the +people aside as they ran, looking this way and that to learn from +where the cry for assistance had come. + +Phil's captive uttered a sharp cry, and the lad realized what +was going to happen. At first he had thought it was the police +coming, but he was undeceived the moment he caught his prisoner's +appeal to them. The men dashed toward the two, and as they rushed +in Phil whirled his man so that the latter collided violently +with the newcomers. That checked the rush briefly. He knew, +however, that he could not hope to stand off his assailants for +more than a few seconds. Yet the lad calculated that in those +few seconds the police might arrive. He did not know that they +had been well bribed neither to see nor to hear what occurred on +the circus grounds. + +A moment more and the lad had been roughly jerked from his +captive and hurled violently to the ground. + +Phil sprang up full of fight while the angry fellows closed in +on him. He saw that they were showmen. A sudden idea occurred +to him. + +"Hey, Rube!" he shouted at the top of his voice, hoping that the +rest of the show people within reach of his voice might crowd in +and in the confusion give him a chance to get away. + +And they did crowd in. They came on like a company of soldiers, +sweeping everything before them. Phil, in that brief instant, +while he was sparring to keep his opponents off, found time to +smile grimly. + +The fellow he had first made captive now attacked Phil +viciously, the lad defending himself as best he could, while the +people who had come to attend the show got out of harm's way as +rapidly as possible. Phil could hope for no assistance from +that quarter. + +"I guess I have gotten myself into a worse scrape by calling +the rest of the gang," he muttered, noting that he was being +surrounded as some of the first comers pointed him out to +the others. + +Suddenly they fell upon Phil with one accord. He was jerked +this way and that, but succeeded pretty well in dodging the +blows aimed at his head, though his clothes were torn and he +was pretty badly used. + +Suddenly a voice roared out close behind him. + +"Stop it!" + +Turning his head a little Phil recognized Sully, the owner of +the show. Sully's face was redder than ever. + +"What--what's all this row about? Haven't you fellows anything +more important to do than raising a roughhouse? Get out of here, +the whole bunch of you! What's he done? Turn him over to the +police and go on about your business." + +One of the men said something in a low tone to Sully. +The showman shot a keen, inquiring glance at the lad. + +"Who are you?" he demanded. + +"I don't know that it makes any difference. I saw a fellow +robbing a woman, and it was my duty to stop him. I did it, then +a lot of his companions, who, I suppose, belong to your show +pitched into me." + +"So, you are trying to run the whole show, are you?" + +"I am not." + +"Well, you get off this lot as fast as you can hoof it. If I +find you butting in again it will be the worse for you." + +"That's the fellow who was hanging around the lot at +St. Catharines yesterday," spoke up someone. + +"Yes; I remember now, he was asking me questions," said another, +whose voice Phil recognized as belonging to the foreman of the +stake and chain gang. "I got to thinking about it afterwards, +and realized that he was a little too inquisitive for +a greenhorn. He's been on the lot all day again." + +Mr. Sully surveyed Phil with an ugly scowl. + +"What are you doing around here, young man?" + +"For one thing, I am trying to prevent one of your followers +robbing a woman," answered Phil boldly. + +"Who are you?" + +"That is my own affair." + +"I know him! I know him! I Know!" shouted another. + +Sully turned to him inquiringly. + +"Who is he, if you know so much?" + +"He's a fellow what was with the Sparling outfit last year. +He was always butting in then, and I can tell you he ain't +here for any good now, Boss." + +"So, that's the game is it?" sneered Sully. "You come with me. +I've got a few questions I want to ask you." + +"I don't have to go with you," replied Phil. + +"Oh, yes you do! Bring him along and if he raises a row just +hand him one and put him to sleep." + +Two men grabbed Phil roughly by his arms. + +He jerked away and started to run when he was pounced upon and +borne to the ground. Phil found himself grasped by the collar +and jerked violently to his feet, with the leering face of Sully +thrust up close to his own. + +"I'll see that you don't get away this time," growled +the showman. + +Dragging the lad along by the collar further off on the lot, the +showman finally paused. + +"Get the carriage," he commanded sharply. + +"What you going to do with me?" demanded Phil. + +"That depends. I'm going to find out something about you first, +and decide what to do with you later." + +"And, when you get through, I shall have you arrested +for assault. It will be my turn to act then," retorted the +Circus Boy. "I have done nothing except to stop a miserable +thief from plying his trade. I understand that's a game you--" + +"That will do, young man. Here's the wagon. Now, if you +go quietly you will have no trouble. But just try to call +for help, or raise any sort of a ruction, and you'll see +more stars than there are in the skies when the moon's on +a strike. Get in there." + +Phil was thrust into the closed carriage, which the showman used +for driving back and forth between the train and the lot. + +Quick as a flash Phil Forrest dived through the open coach window +on the other side, and with equal quickness he was pounced upon +by the driver, who had gotten off on that side, probably at a +signal from Sully. + +Had Sully not run around to the other side of the wagon Phil +would have quickly disposed of the driver, strong as was +the latter. + +With an enraged cry Sully sprang upon Phil, and raised his hand +to strike. + +"If you attempt to do that you'll serve the rest of the season +in jail," dared Phil, taking a bold course. "You know they +don't trifle with brutes like you up here in Canada?" + +Sully growled an unintelligible reply, but that he recognized the +truth of the lad's words was evident when he slowly dropped his +clenched fist to his side. + +"I'll see that you don't get away this time," he said once more +thrusting Phil into the carriage, this time, however, keeping a +firm grip on the lad's arm. + +The driver whipped up the horse and the carriage rumbled away, +soon reaching the village street and turning sharply off into a +side street. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +ON SULLY'S PRIVATE CAR + +"Where are you taking me?" Phil demanded. + +"You'll see in a minute." + +"And so will you. There are laws to punish such high-handed +methods as yours, and I'll see that you are punished, and well +punished, too. If I can't do it, there are others who will--who +will see that you get what you deserve." + +"Keep on talking. It will be my turn pretty soon," +answered Sully. + +In a short time Phil discovered that they were driving along by +the railroad tracks. He knew that the yards where the circus +train was standing were only a short distance beyond. + +"I guess he's going to take me to the train, for some reason +or other," decided Phil, but he could not understand what the +showman's motive might be. + +The Circus Boy was not afraid, but he was thoroughly angry. +His grit and stubbornness had been aroused and he was ready to +take any desperate chance. However, he felt that, after all, +this capture might be the means of giving him the further +information of which he was in search. He might possibly be +able to draw some admission from Sully. + +They drew up beside the tracks and the carriage halted. + +"Now, not a sound!" warned the showman. "If you raise your +voice, or so much as speak to anyone you see, I'll forget that +you are a kid and--" + +"I am not afraid of your threats," interrupted Phil. "I know you +are brute enough to do what you say you will, but it won't be +good for you if you do. Go on. I'll follow till I get a chance +to escape." + +"You'll not get the chance," retorted Sully, taking firm hold of +the boy's arm. + +They made their way through the yards, avoiding the gasoline +torches that flared familiarly here and there among the mass +of cars, then turned toward the station. As the lights of the +latter came into view, the showman halted, looked up and down +the tracks, then led Phil to the platform of a car which the +boy recognized as being one of the show's sleepers. + +"That's what I thought he was up to," muttered Phil, watching for +an opportunity to leap off the other side and lose himself among +the cars. + +No such opportunity was offered to him, however, and a moment +later the door of the sleeper had been opened, and he was pushed +roughly inside, Mr. Sully following in quickly, slamming and +locking the door behind them. + +"Get in there and sit down!" + +"Where?" + +"In the private office there." + +"So this is your private car, is it?" + +"Yes." + +"Hm-m-m!" + +"You seem to know a lot about the show business." + +Phil made no reply, but dropped into the owner's chair at the +latter's desk. + +"Get out of that chair!" + +"I thought you invited me to sit down?" + +"I did, but I might have known you wouldn't have had sense enough +to sit where you ought to." + +"Where's that?" + +"On the floor." + +"I am not in the habit of being received that way," taunted Phil, +making no move to vacate the chair. + +Sully, with a grunt of disapproval, sat down in another chair, +placing himself so the light would fall fully on Phil's face. + +"Now, what's your name?" + +"You'll have to guess that," smiled Phil. + +"That's where you're wrong. I know it." + +"What is my name?" + +"Forrest. You're a bareback rider in the Sparling outfit. +You thought you would not be known, but you see you are. +You can't fool a man in the show business so easily. After you +have grown older in the business you will learn a few things." + +"I am learning fast," laughed the lad. "I am learning a lot of +things that I wish I did not have to learn." + +"What, for instance?" + +"That there are such men as you in the show business." + +"Be careful, boy. You will go too far, the first thing you know. +Now, what are you doing here?" + +"If you know so much I don't see why you should have to ask +that question." + +"I'm asking." + +"And I'm not telling. I'll answer none of your questions, unless +it is about something that I can tell you without getting others +into trouble." + +"You already have admitted that you are with the Sparling show. +You have made several slips of the tongue since I got hold +of you." + +"I haven't denied that I am with the Sparling show, neither have +I admitted it. I decline to lie or to give you any information +of any nature whatever." + +"When is the Sparling show coming here?" + +"I was not aware that it was coming here. Is it?" + +"No, I didn't mean that. I mean when are they going to show +in Corinto?" + +Phil was silent. + +"You might as well make a clean breast of the whole business, +young man. I've caught you red-handed, snooping about the lot +for two days quizzing everybody. Now what's the game?" + +"There is no game." + +"What is Sparling trying to find out?" + +"You will have to ask him, I guess." + +Sully surveyed the lad in silence for a minute or two. + +"I couldn't understand, at first, why he should send a kid like +you to spy upon us; but I begin to see that you are a sharp +little monkey--" + +Just then the showman was interrupted by the entrance of the +foreman of the stake and chain gang. + +"Bob, I want you to tell me exactly what questions this cub asked +you yesterday?" + +"I thought he was some curious town fellow, so I didn't pay much +attention to his questions. When I saw him on the lot, again +today, and heard him asking other folks, kind of careless like, +I began to smell a rat." + +"What did he want to know, I'm asking you?" + +The foreman related as well as he could remember, just +what conversation had taken place between himself and +Phil Forrest, omitting, however, the fact that he had furnished +any information. It would have ended his connection with the +show right there, had he let the owner know how much he really +had told. + +Phil grinned appreciatively, but it was not for him to get the +foreman into trouble. + +"Hm-m!" mused Sully. "You found out a lot, I presume?" + +"I can truthfully say that I found out that what I had heard +about the show is true." + +"And what's that, if I may ask?" + +"Thieves. I happen to know that they travel right along with the +show, and I shouldn't be surprised if you got part of their +stealings, either," Phil boldly flung at the showman. + +Sully's face went redder than ever, while his fingers clenched +and unclenched. It was evident that the man feared to let his +anger get the better of him. + +"If he ever lets go at me, I'm a goner," thought Phil +understanding that, besides an almost ungovernable temper, the +man possessed great physical strength. "I guess he won't do +anything of the sort, unless I goad him to it. I believe that I +have said about enough." + +"Watch him a minute, Bob," directed Sully, rising and stepping to +the other end of the car. He returned a minute later. + +"Young man," he said, "if you had been more civil you might have +gotten away with your bluff--" + +"I have not tried to bluff you," interjected Phil. + +"As it is, I think I'll lock you up until morning, and, if you +are ready then to make a clean breast of the whole affair, +perhaps I shall let you go back with a message to your boss--a +message that he won't like, I reckon." + +"You won't send any such message by me," retorted Phil. +"Carry your own messages. Where you going to lock me up?" + +"In a place where you will be safe. But I shouldn't advise you +to get red-headed about it. There will be someone nearby to take +all the howl out of you if you try it." + +"You had better not!" + +"What do you think, Bob? Is it safe to let this fellow go?" + +"Well, I suppose you've got to let him go sometime. He'll be +getting us into trouble if you keep him." + +"I'll take the chance of that. We can drop him just before +crossing the line back into the United States." + +"That's a good game." + +"Then the United States authorities can't take any action on +an offense committed across the border. I don't believe they +would, anyway. It is all a part of the show game. I'd like to +drop the spy over the Falls when we get to Niagara," added Sully. + +"I might get wet if you did that," grinned Phil. + +"You'll be lucky if you don't get worse, which you will unless +you keep a more civil tongue in your head. Yes; I guess that +will be the best plan, Bob." + +"You--you don't mean that you will drop him over the Falls?" +gasped the foreman. + +"No," laughed Sully. "Not that, much as I'd like to. But it +would serve him right. I'm going to lock him up; that's what +I mean." + +"Where?" + +"Here." + +"But he'll get out." + +"Not from where I put him." + +The foreman looked about him a puzzled expression in his eyes. + +"What do you say to the linen closet?" + +"The linen closet?" + +"Yes. I have just looked at it. There will be room enough for +him, and there's no opening through which he can call to anyone +on the outside. If he does make an outcry some of us will be +here to look after him." + +"That's a good game. I hadn't thought of it before." + +"Come along, my fine young bareback rider. You'll wish you'd +stuck to your own business before you get through with us!" + +Phil was led down the side passageway of the car and thrust into +a narrow compartment, about three sides of which were shelves +loaded down with the linen used on the car. + +There was room for a chair in the compartment and he could +stand upright. However, had he wished to lie down he would +have been unable to do so. + +"So this is the prison you have decided to lock me in, is it?" +grinned the lad. + +"It looks that way. I guess it will bring you to your senses. +You'll talk by tomorrow morning, I'll guarantee." + +"I guess you will have another guess coming," warned Phil. + +Without further parley Sully slammed the door and locked it, +leaving Phil in absolute darkness. + +"Now I am in a fix, for sure. If Sully hadn't been quite so big +I should have taken a chance and pitched into him. He is strong +enough to eat me alive. I could handle the fellow, Bob, all +right, but not Sully. So I have got to stay here all night? +Fine, fine! I hope I don't smother." + +The car soon settled down to quiet again. Phil knew, however, +that he was not alone--that undoubtedly there was someone +watching his prison. He examined the place as well as he could +in the darkness, tried the door, ran his hands over the sides and +up among the piles of linen. There was scant encouragement to be +found, though Phil believed that if he had room to take a running +start he might break the door down. + +He decided to remain quiet, and after his exciting experiences he +was quite willing to rest himself for a time. The lad pulled a +lot of the linen down to the floor, and making a bed for himself, +doubled up like a jackknife and settled himself for the night. +It was not a comfortable position, but Phil Forrest was used to +roughing it. In a few minutes he was sound asleep. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +LOCKED IN THE LINEN CLOSET + +Phil roused himself for a moment. + +"We're going," he muttered, realizing that the train was +in motion. Then he dropped off to sleep again. + +When next he awakened it was broad daylight, though the lad +did not know it until after he had struck a match and looked +at his watch. + +"Eight 'clock in the morning," he exclaimed. "My, how I must +have slept, and on such a bed too!" + +The lad was lame and sore from the cramped position in which he +had been obliged to lie all night, but he was just as cheerful as +if he had awakened in his own berth on sleeper number eleven on +the Sparling train. He began to feel hungry, though. + +Phil tapped on the door. There was no response, so he rapped +again, this time with more force. Still failing to arouse anyone +Phil delivered a series of resounding kicks against the door. + +"If no one answers that I'll know there is nobody here and I'll +see if I can't break the door down." + +There was someone there, however, as was made plain a moment +later, when the door was thrown suddenly open, revealing the +grinning face of Sully, the owner of the show. + +"Morning," greeted Phil. "I thought maybe breakfast was being +served in the dining car, and I didn't want to miss it." + +"You're a cheerful idiot, aren't you?" + +"So I have been told. But about that breakfast? If you'll +kindly conduct me to the wash room, so I can make myself +beautiful and prepare for breakfast, I shall be obliged to you." + +"Huh!" grunted the showman. + +"Where are we?" + +"Brant." + +"Is this where we show today?" + +"Yes, this is where we show today. As if you didn't know that as +well as I do." + +"I may have heard something to that effect. I don't just +remember for the moment. But, how about that breakfast?" + +"How do you know you are going to get any breakfast?" + +"Because I smelled it a few minutes ago." + +"That's my breakfast that your keen nose scented, young man." + +"Well, I guess I can stand it for once." + +Sully was forced to smile at his young captive's good nature. +So he took Phil by the arm and led him to the wash room, where +the showman remained until Phil had completed his preparations +for breakfast. Then Sully led the way to a compartment at the +rear of the car where a small table had been set. + +"This looks good to me," grinned Phil, rubbing his +palms together. "You live high in this outfit, don't you?" + +The lad ate his breakfast with a will. + +"I hope I am not depriving you of your meal?" questioned Phil, +glancing up quickly. + +"I've had my breakfast. If there had been only enough for one, +you'd have gone hungry." + +"You don't have to tell me that. I know it. That's about +your measure." + +"That will be about all from you," snapped the showman. +"The trouble with you is that you can't appreciate +decent treatment. You're just like your boss." + +"I'll not hear you say a word against Mr. Sparling," bristled +Phil, then suddenly checked himself. + +"So, I caught you that time, did I?" exclaimed Sully, slapping +his thighs and laughing uproariously, while Phil's face grew red +with mortification at the slip he had made. "You are not half as +smart as you think you are, young man. I'll keep at you until I +get out of you all the information I want." + +"I'm afraid the show season isn't long enough for you to do +that," was the boy's quick retort. + +"You'll find out whether it is or not." + +"I shall not be with you that long. Now that I have admitted +that I have been connected with the Sparling show, what do you +think my employer will do when he finds I am missing?" + +"Nothing." + +"I rather guess he will do something. Wait." + +"When does he expect you back?" + +Phil looked at the showman, laughing. + +"Did I mention that I was expected? I said that when he missed +me there would be an inquiry, and there will." + +"Little good that will do him," growled the showman. + +"Then you don't know James Sparling." + +"How'll he know you are here?" + +"Trust him to find out, and then--wow! There will be +an explosion that you can hear on the other side of the +St. Lawrence. Do I take a walk for my health +after breakfast?" + +"You do." + +"Thank you." + +"To the other end of the car, to the linen closet, where you are +to stay until--" + +"Until what?" questioned Phil sharply. + +"Until you tell me what I want to know." + +"What is it that you wish to know?" + +"Why were you sent to spy on my outfit?" + +"Perhaps for the same reason that you keep a spy in his camp," +retorted Phil, bending a keen gaze on the face of his jailer. + +Sully's face went violently red. Without another word he grasped +Phil roughly by the shoulder, jerked him from the table and +hurried the lad down the corridor. + +"Here, here, I haven't finished my breakfast yet," protested +the boy. + +"You have, but you don't know it. You will know in a minute." + +With that the showman thrust Phil into the linen closet again and +slammed the door. + +"My, I wouldn't have a temper like yours if you were to make me a +present of a six-pole circus!" called the Circus Boy. + +He chuckled as Sully uttered a grunt of anger and strode off to +the other end of the car. + +"He'll be going to the lot after a while, then I'll get busy," +muttered Phil. In the meantime there was nothing for him to do +but to sit down and make the best of his situation, which he did. +Once, during the morning, Phil, believing himself to be alone, +made several desperate attempts to break the door down. + +His efforts brought a threat from the corridor as to what would +happen if he tried that again. Phil knew, then, that he was not +to be left alone. + +After a while the lad went to sleep, not awakening until late in +the afternoon. + +He got no supper that night, nor did the showman come near him +until late on the following morning. Phil was ravenously hungry, +not having had a thing to eat in twenty-four hours, but he had +too much grit to utter a word of complaint. + +An excellent breakfast was served, but instead of Mr. Sully one +of his men sat at the table while another stood out in the +corridor ready to take a hand in case the boy made an effort +to escape. + +Had there been an open window near him Phil would have tried a +dive through it, taking the chance of getting away. The windows +in the room where the breakfast was served had been prudently +shut, however. + +He had just finished his breakfast when Sully came storming in. +The lad could see that he was very angry about something. + +"Good morning, sir. Aren't you feeling well this morning?" +questioned Phil innocently. + +"Feeling--feeling--" The words seemed to choke in the +showman's throat. + +"Yes, feeling." + +"Why--why--why didn't you tell me that Sparling had changed +his date and was planning to make Corinto the same day we are +billed there?" thundered Sully. + +"Is he?" + +"Is he? You know very well that he is, and it was your report +that put him up to doing this trick. We've got you to thank for +this piece of business, and you're going to pay dear for your +part in it. Is he going to follow us all around the country--is +that what he's planning to do?" + +"I guess you had better ask Mr. Sparling himself. He hasn't seen +fit to tell me, as yet." + +"I'll show him that he can't trifle with me, and I'll show you, +so you won't forget it for the rest of your circus career." + +"I wouldn't make threats were I in your place, Mr. Sully. +Wait until you get over your mad fit; then you'll be glad you +didn't say anything you might have to take back later on," +advised Phil. + +"Take back? Take back?" + +"Yes." + +For the moment the showman was too far overcome with emotion +to speak. Then he uttered a roar and stamped out of the car. + +"Say, when is he going to let me out of here?" + +"Not till we get to the border," answered the attendant. + +"When will that be?" + +"I don't know for sure. I guess maybe a month." + +"You don't mean he is going to keep me in that linen cupboard for +a full month--you can't mean that?" + +"Can't say about that. I guess that's it. If you're finished +with your breakfast--" + +"I have been finished for sometime." + +"Then you'll have to git back to the coop again." + +Phil reluctantly rose, but his keeper kept tight hold of him, and +the man on guard out in the corridor walked ahead of the boy on +down to the linen closet, where Phil was once more thrust in and +the door closed on him. + +He had not been there long before he heard Sully enter the car +with one of his men. All at once their voices seemed to come to +him clearly and distinctly. The lad did not remember to have +heard voices there so plainly before. + +This time Phil began looking about to see if there were not +really an opening in his chamber. He found it at the top +over one of the shelves, a small grill, over which a curtain +had been stretched. Phil lost no time in climbing up to it. +He peered out and saw the men plainly. With Sully was his +parade manager, and they were talking excitedly. + +Phil opened his eyes wide when he began to realize the enormity +of the plan that they were discussing. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THROUGH RINGS OF FIRE + +"If there should happen to be a wind we might cut a rope or two +and let the big top down on them," suggested parade manager. + +"Yes; it would put them out of business for the night +performance, but we don't want them to fill up for the +afternoon show. That's when they are going to get the money. +You see, Sparling's show is bigger and better known than ours, +and showing there the same day we are liable to get the worst +of it. Can't you suggest anything else?" + +"If you don't like letting the big top down on their heads, +and providing there is no wind to make the attempt worthwhile, +I would suggest another way." + +"The scoundrels!" breathed the listener above their heads. + +"What's your suggestion?" + +"Stampede the elephants." + +"That's a dandy! And we know how to do it, eh, Lawrence?" + +The parade manager nodded emphatically. + +"They'll never know what happened to them. We can do it before +the show gets to the lot if you think best?" + +Sully shook his head. + +"No. We'll wait till just as the doors are about to open for +the afternoon show. Mind you, I'm not saying we shall do it. +I'll think about the matter. Perhaps I can think up a better +plan after I have gone over the matter." + +"Where's that boy you told me about?" + +Sully motioned toward the end of the car where Phil was locked in +the linen closet. + +"What you going to do with him?" + +"Drop him when I get ready." + +"But aren't you afraid the other outfit will get wind of what you +are doing? It's pretty dangerous business to lock up a fellow +like that." + +"I don't care whether they get wise to it or not. They won't +know where he is. After we get to the border I don't care a rap +for them," and the showman snapped his fingers disdainfully. +"They can't touch us on the other side of the Niagara River and +they'd better not try it. Maybe Sparling won't be in business by +that time," grinned the showman with a knowing wink. + +Sully rose, and shortly afterwards left the car with his +parade manager. + +Phil sat down on the floor of his compartment with head in hands, +trying to think what he had better do. These men were planning a +deliberate campaign to wreck his employer's show. + +"Something must be done!" breathed the boy, clenching his fists +until the nails bit into the flesh, "But what can I do, I can do +nothing unless I can get away from here, and they will not let me +out, at least not until we have gotten by Corinto." + +The more he thought and planned the greater his +perplexity became. There seemed no way out of it. His only +hope now seemed to lie in Mr. Sparling becoming alarmed at his +absence, and instituting a search for him. His employer would +quickly divine something of the truth after Phil had remained +silent for two or three days. Perhaps, even now, the owner of +the Great Sparling Combined Shows had sent someone on to learn +what had become of his star +bareback rider. + +Phil's train of thought was suddenly interrupted by the door of +his compartment being violently jerked open. + +The lad's first impulse was to tell Sully, who now stood facing +him, what he had overheard. Upon second thought, however, Phil +decided that it would be much better to give the showman no +intimation of what he had learned. + +"Come out, young man." + +Phil complied, glad to be free of his narrow chamber, no matter +what the reason for the summons might be. + +"What do you wish of me now?" + +"Come into my office and I'll tell you. I understand you are +a bareback rider," continued Sully, after they had seated +themselves in his little office, the door being locked +behind them. + +"So you say." + +"And a good one at that?" + +Phil made no answer. He had not the least idea what was coming. + +"My principal bareback rider stepped on a switch frog this +morning and turned his ankle. He is out of the running for +a week. I need a man more than I ever did. Do you want to +join this show?" + +Phil gazed at him in amazement. + +"You haven't money enough to induce me to." + +"Perhaps I have, but I won't induce with it," grinned the owner. +"I've a plan to suggest." + +"What is it?" + +"If you will ride for me until we get to Corinto I'll give you +seventy-five dollars." + +The Circus Boy was on the point of making an emphatic refusal, +when he suddenly checked himself and remained silent, as if +thinking the proposition over. + +"Well, what do you say?" + +"If I do as you wish, when will you let me go?" + +"Perhaps after we leave Corinto." + +"I don't believe you intend to do anything of the sort." + +"You think I'd lie to you?" blustered Sully. + +"I'm not saying that. But I know you are not above doing +worse things. I'll tell you what I will do." + +"Yes." + +"I'll ride for you today for twenty-five dollars." + +"Done!" + +"Payable in advance, you know." + +"I guess you don't trust me?" + +"Not for a minute." + +"Well, I must say you are brutally frank." + +"That's the way I do business," answered the lad proudly. + +"But see here, young man, you must agree that you will make no +effort to get away," demanded the showman a sudden thought +occurring to him. + +"I shall make no such agreement. If I get a chance to get away +I'll do it, you may depend upon that. I will agree, however, to +make no outcry nor to appeal to anyone to help me. If I can't +manage it my own way, I'll stay here till I can. Remember, I'm +going to beat you if I can, and if I can't, why Mr. Sparling will +settle with you. He will do it properly, too." + +The showman leaned back and guffawed loudly. + +"I never saw a kid like you yet. You beat anything that ever got +into a freak tent. You are so infernally honest that you give me +notice you're going to try to escape from me. Thanks, my boy, +for the timely warning. I'll see to it that you don't get away +until I am ready to lose you. If you try it you must expect some +rough treatment, and you'll get it too." + +"Very well; I accept the terms. How about the payment +in advance?" + +Sully drew a roll of bills from his pocket counting out the sum +agreed upon. + +"If you should happen to get away I'd be out the money?" + +"I'll send it back to you in that event." + +"Ho, ho, ho! I believe you would, at that." + +"I certainly shall." + +"Say, kid, don't it ever give you pain to be so awfully honest?" + +"I'll confess that it does when I am doing business with a man +like you." + +"Oh! That one landed. That was a knockout," chuckled the +showman, rising. "I'll be back after you with the rig +pretty soon. We've got to fix up some togs for you to ride in, +but I guess we can do that all right. I'll have to put you back +in your cage in the meantime." It lacked an hour and a half of +the time for the afternoon performance to begin when Sully called +with his carriage for his new star. Phil was ready, as far as he +was able to be, and really welcomed the opportunity to get out in +the air again. But he was so stiff from the confinement in the +narrow linen closet that he did not feel as if he should be able +to ride at all. + +The drive to the circus lot was without incident, and Phil +embraced the opportunity to familiarize himself with the +town and its surroundings as fully as was possible under +the circumstances. He had tried to form some plan by which +to make his escape, but had given it up and decided to +trust to luck. + +There was another reason for his having decided to ride in +the Sully Hippodrome Show that day, and every day thereafter, +providing he was not able to get away before leaving Corinto. +He hoped that Mr. Sparling might have sent someone on to find +out what had become of him. This was sure to be done sooner or +later, especially when the showman found that his letters were +not being answered, but were being returned to him, as had been +arranged for before Phil left his own show. + +Reaching the lot they drove around to the paddock where Phil +and his new employer entered the dressing tent. Even there the +lad was given no chance to break away. It seemed to him that +every person connected with the show had been set to watch him. +When he entered the dressing tent he was subjected to the +curious gaze of the performers, most of whom understood that he +was to ride that day in the place of the injured performer, but +who knew nothing further about the matter. + +Some difficulty was experienced in getting a pair of tights that +would fit Phil, but after awhile this was arranged. + +"You sit down here and wait now," directed Mr. Sully. + +"No; I've got something else to do. Bring the horse out in the +paddock and let me see what I have to ride," answered Phil. + +While they were getting out the ring horse, the lad indulged in a +series of bends and limbering exercises out in the paddock, +working until the perspiration stood out in great beads. + +This done Phil sprang up to the back of the ring horse, and +while an attendant held the animal in a circle with a long +leading strap, Phil rode the horse about the paddock a few +times until he had become familiar with the motion and +peculiarities of the animal. + +"How is he in the ring, fast or slow?" + +"Just steady. Been at it a long time," the attendant +informed him. "He's steady. You can depend on him." + +"Yes; he acts so. I'll look at the ring when I go in." + +The owner of the show had been a keen observer of +these preparations. He noted, too, Phil appeared +entirely to have forgotten about his desire to escape. + +"That kid acts to me as if he knew his business," he reflected. +"If he rides the way I think he can, I'm going to get him away +from Sparling if I have to double the wages he's drawing now. +And money talks!" + +The band began to play in the big top. Phil glanced at +the showman. + +"When do I go on?" + +"Second number." + +The lad nodded, and sat awaiting his turn to enter +the arena. He did not have to ask when the moment had arrived. +The attendant started to lead the ring horse in and Phil quickly +fell in behind, following them in. + +Right behind the Circus Boy came Sully, the owner of the show, +never taking his eyes off his captive for a moment. This amused +the lad. He grinned broadly. It was a novel experience for him. + +Soon the strains of music told him this was where he was to begin +his act. The boy swung gracefully to the back of his mount. +Instantly he had leaped to his feet Sully clapped his hands +together approvingly. + +"That's the way to do it. You've got the other fellow skinned +forty ways!" he cried. + +"In some ways," replied Phil significantly. "Otherwise not." + +The ring was in excellent shape, much to the boy's surprise, and +the horse was the best he ever had ridden. In a few moments Phil +began to feel very much at home and to enjoy himself thoroughly. + +The ring attendants brought out strips of bright yellow cloth, +which two clowns held across the ring for the Circus Boy to leap +over as his horse passed under. This did not bother him in the +least, though he had never tried the act before. It was a relic +of the old circus days that few shows had retained. + +But Phil was on the point of balking when a clown came out with a +handful of hoops covered with paper. + +"You want me to jump through those things?" he questioned, during +a brief intermission. + +"Sure." + +"Does the other man do that?" + +"He does." + +"Then I can do it, I guess." + +"I reckon you can do anything on a horse that you happen to feel +like," said the showman. + +The band started up again and Phil sprang to his feet. A paper +hoop was raised on the opposite side of the ring, the lad eyeing +it hesitatingly. + +"I'll go through it if I break my neck trying," he muttered, +shutting his lips tightly together. + +Smash! + +The Circus Boy hurled himself through the tender paper, but the +breaking paper stung his face like the crack of a whip lash, and +Phil, instead of landing on his feet as he should have done, +struck the back of his ring horse on all fours. + +Sully growled angrily. + +"You make a blunder like that again, and you'll be sorry for it," +he bullied, shaking an angry fist at Phil, who turned a pair of +surprised eyes on the showman. + +"See here," retorted the lad with rising color, "I'm not in the +habit of being talked to like that. If you don't like my riding +I'll end the act right here. I'm not obliged to ride for you, +you know." + +"Go on, go on!" snapped the owner. + +The next hoop Phil took as easily as if he had been doing that +very same thing all through the season. + +"Fine!" chuckled Sully. "He's a star performer, even if he does +give me as good as I send." + +Phil was hurling himself through a succession of hoops now. +Then all at once, to his surprise and disapproval, five hoops +of fire flared up before him and on all sides of him. + +"Go through them!" shouted the showman. + +"I won't!" + +"You can't stop now. Are you going to let a little thing like +that give you an attack of cold feet?" demanded Sully. + +Thus appealed to, Phil Forrest thought better of it. + +"Yip!--yip!" he cried sharply to the ring horse, riding straight +at the first ring which he took without difficulty, though the +hot flame on his cheeks made him shrink himself into a smaller +compass than had been the case with the paper rings. + +The audience was applauding him wildly, for somehow this slender, +youthful figure appealed to them more strongly than had any other +performer in the show thus far. One after another Phil took the +flaming rings until he came to the last one which he approached +with more confidence than he had any of the others. + +He hurled himself at it with less caution than before. As he +entered the hoop of fire his elbows caught it, and instantly the +lad felt the fire burning through his silk ring shirt. + +Without an instant's hesitation the boy leaped up into the air, +clearing his horse by a full two feet. + +The force of his throw sent the ring of fire soaring through the +air, as he had, with quick intuition, imagined that it would. + +Phil threw a splendid backward somersault almost slipping off the +hips of the ring horse. + +"Great!" exploded the owner. + +The audience applauded wildly. + +But the next instant Sully was not shouting approving words. +The burning ring had slipped neatly over his own head and before +he could throw it off, his clothes, as well, were on fire. +Throwing himself down in the sawdust the showman rolled and +rolled, uttering loud imprecations and threats, while audience +and performers fairly screamed with delight. + +He was up in a flash, expecting to find Phil making a dash +for freedom. + +"Stop him!" he bellowed. + +Phil Forrest sat on the rump of the ring horse, grinning broadly +at the predicament of the owner of the Sully Hippodrome Circus. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A DASH FOR FREEDOM + +"Well, you are a star rider, anyway," announced Sully, with +emphasis when he was once more leading Phil to the carriage to +take him back to the linen closet on board the private car. + +But Sully was less violent, and there was a twinkle in his eyes +that Phil did not fail to catch. + +"He's planning something," thought the boy, after being once more +locked in his compartment. "I shouldn't be surprised if I had +ridden a little too well today. But it's going to be the means +of getting me my freedom. Someone surely will see me and +recognize me." + +That night Phil rode again, winning even greater applause than he +had done at the afternoon performance. But a closer watch was +kept over him, as Sully had imagined that the opportunities were +greater for escape than in broad daylight. Phil had reasoned it +out the same way, but he was in no hurry. He had done up his +money in a little bag which he hung about his neck each time +before going into the ring, so that it might not be stolen while +he was performing, for, it will be remembered that the lad had no +trunk in which to keep his valuables. + +No chance to escape presented itself during the evening, however, +and the lad was forced to return to his imprisonment again after +the night performance. + +"If you expect me to be in working order you should give me a +decent place to sleep," he told Sully, while they were sitting +at lunch in the private car that night. + +Sully grinned and winked an eye. + +"See anything green in my eye?" + +"No. It's all red. I guess you see red most of the time." + +"If you'll give me a promise, I'll let you sleep in a berth in +this car tonight." + +"What promise?" asked Phil, though he knew pretty well what the +showman would demand. + +"That you won't try to escape." + +"I'll make no such promise." + +"Then it's the linen closet for your." + +"All right; I will sleep in the linen closet. I suppose you will +want me to ride again tomorrow?" + +"Sure thing!" + +"Then don't forget the twenty-five dollars in advance." + +"Say, that's more money than I'll pay for that act, good as it +is," protested the showman. + +"Very well; then I will stay in the closet and you can cut your +bareback out. You do not have to pay it unless you want to." + +Sully growled and handed out the money. + +Phil put it in his pocket with a smile and half audible chuckle +that did not tend to make Sully feel any the less irritable. + +"Perhaps it is a good thing that I am a prisoner if I have got to +stay with this outfit." + +"Why?" snapped the showman. + +"Because some of your light-fingered gentlemen would be dipping +into my pocket, when I wasn't looking, and take the money away +from me. That's the way you would get it back." + +"That will be about all for you, boy," growled the showman. +"That is, unless you are willing to tell me what you are +here for?" + +The Circus Boy laughed lightly. + +"I have nothing new to say to that question." + +"You've done your part well. You must have got busy pretty quick +to have tipped off Sparling before we caught you." + +"Tipped him off to what?" inquired Phil. + +"Well, never mind what. You know and so do I." + +After that the lad was sent to his closet to spend the night. +The next day was a repetition of the previous one, except that +Phil rode better than ever, if that were possible. But as he +was riding under the name of the performer who had been injured, +he could not make himself known. + +Saturday came along, with the lad apparently as far from making +his escape as ever. But what he had hoped would come to pass had +done so in a measure. That is, the owner of the show had become +a little careless in watching the boy. + +Instead of accompanying Phil into the ring, Sully satisfied +himself with standing by the entrance to the paddock, next to +the bandstand. + +This left Phil free to do pretty much as he chose, but he was +almost as closely confined as if he were in the owner's private +car, so far as getting away was concerned. But the boy's mind +was working actively. + +As he sat on the back of the broad-backed ring horse that +afternoon, his eyes were looking over the tent questioningly. + +"I believe I can do it," mused Phil. "If conditions are the same +tonight that they are this afternoon I am going to try it." + +Just then the band struck up and the lad rose gracefully to his +feet ready to go through his act for the edification of the +great audience. + +Phil was making more money than ever before in his circus career, +and he now had only one act instead of several. But he cared +little for this. It was merely a means to an end. + +At night he accompanied Sully to the lot as usual. Phil might +have appealed to a policeman, or to one of the many people +about him. It will be remembered, however, that he had given +his word that he would do nothing of the sort, and Phil Forrest +was not the boy to break his word after once having given it. +He proposed to get away by his own efforts or else wait until +rescued by the Sparling show. + +As had been the case with the afternoon show Sully remained over +by the bandstand while Phil went through his act. + +"I'll finish my performance," decided the lad. "I want to give +him his money's worth whether he deserves such treatment or not, +and then I'll make my try. I can do it, I believe." + +Nothing of what was passing in the mind of the Circus Boy, of +course, was suspected by the owner of the show. Phil had just +rounded off his act by a backward somersault and the attendant +had slipped the bridle over the head of the ring horse +preparatory to leading the animal back to the paddock and +horse tent. + +"You run along. I will ride him back," directed Phil innocently. + +"Why?" + +"Because I prefer to." + +"Very well," answered the groom, turning away and walking slowly +toward the paddock, while Phil, who had in the meantime slipped +off to the ring, was quickly drawing on his slippers. + +By this time Mr. Sully was looking at him, wondering why Phil did +not get out of the ring, for another act was coming on, the +performers for which already were moving down the concourse. + +All at once the Circus Boy threw himself to the back of his +mount, landing astride. + +Phil brought his riding whip down on the back of the surprised +animal with a force that sent the horse forward with a snort. +They bounded out of the ring. Instead, however, of turning +toward the paddock exit, Phil headed straight for the other end +of the tent. There an exit led into the menagerie tent, or where +that tent had been, for by this time it had been taken down and +carted away to the train. A canvas flap hung loosely over the +entrance, but it was not fastened down, as Phil well knew, being +left free so people could pass in and out at will. + +"Stop him!" + +It was the voice of Sully and might have been heard in every +part of the big top, though the people did not know what the +command meant. + +For the moment the circus attendants did not understand either. +They had not noticed Phil riding away in the wrong direction. + +"Stop him, I say!" + +An attendant discovered what was going on and started on a +run for Phil, who brought his whip down on the flanks of the +ring horse again and again, driving the animal straight at +the attendant. The result was that the fellow was bowled +over in a twinkling. The horse cleared the man at a bound. + +At this the audience roared. They saw that something unusual was +taking place, though they did not understand what it all meant. + +Half a dozen men ran toward Phil, while Sully himself was +charging down the concourse as fast as he could go, roaring out +his commands at the top of his powerful voice. + +"Get a horse and follow him!" he shouted. "Run back and send one +of the men out around the tent to head him off! He's running +away with my best ring horse!" + +Phil swept through the exit, bowling over two men who were +standing there on guard, and nearly running down a group of +boys who were standing just outside trying to get a glimpse +into the tent. + +As he gained the outer air he heard the hoof beats of a running +horse bearing down on him from the left side of the big top. + +The Circus Boy knew what that meant. They were after +him already. + + + +CHAPTER XV + +OUTWITTING THE PURSUERS + +"Oh, if only I had a faster horse!" Forrest breathed. "I am +afraid this old ring horse never will be able to get away +from them." + +Phil was urging the animal with voice and whip, but it was +difficult to get the animal into a faster pace than his regular +ring gait--the gait that he had been following for many years. +This was scarcely faster than a man could trot. + +Phil espied a pole wagon partially loaded, just ahead of him. +At sight of it a sudden idea occurred to him. He acted at once. + +Riding close to the wagon the lad slipped off and, giving the +horse a sharp blow with the whip over one hip, Phil ducked under +the wagon. + +The ring horse galloped on a few rods and then stopped. + +"I guess it's time I was getting away from here," decided +the lad. "I'll be caught sure, if I do not hurry." + +The lot was in an uproar. Men were running this way and that, +and above the din could be heard the voice of the owner, roaring +out orders. + +Phil, being still in his pink tights, was a conspicuous figure. +He knew that if a ray from a torch should chance to rest on him +for a moment, they would discover him at once. + +Running in a crouching position the boy made for the further side +of the lot, where he hoped to get far enough away so that he +could straighten up and make better time. + +He did finally reach a safe place, and climbing a board fence, +dropped on the other side and lay down to await developments. +These were not long coming. All at once he discovered half a +dozen men running directly toward him. Whether they had caught +sight of him or not, he did not know. He did know that it was +time to leave. + +Phil left. Springing up, he fairly flew over the ground. + +The men caught sight of him, as he realized when one of them +uttered a yell. But Phil was a faster runner than any of them +and in a few minutes, darting this way and that, and finally +doubling on his tracks in a wide circle, he succeeded in +outwitting them. + +"The question is, what am I going to do now?" he asked himself, +pausing abruptly. "In this rig I don't dare go into the town, or +they will nab me on some trumped up charge and then I shall be +worse off. Now I am free, even if I haven't got much on me in +the way of clothing. I might as well not have anything so far as +keeping warm is concerned." Phil shivered, for the night was +cool and a heavy dew falling. + +"I know what I'll do. I'll slip back to the lot and perhaps I +shall be able to find something to put on. There's usually +plenty of coats lying about on the wagons." + +Now that the uproar had ceased Phil crept back toward the circus +lot, lying down in the grass whenever he heard a sound near him +and peering into the darkness. + +At the risk of being discovered he crawled up to a wagon, climbed +aboard and searched it diligently for clothes. He found none. +Keenly disappointed, Phil made his way to the pole wagon under +which he had taken refuge in his first effort at getting away. +This, he found, was loaded ready to be taken to the train. +At any moment, now, a team might be hitched to it. + +"I guess I'll have to hurry!" muttered the lad. Phil's knowledge +of circus affairs stood him in good stead now. + +To the boy's delight, he found a bundle in which were a coat and +a pair of overalls, rolled up and stowed under the driver's seat. + +"Fine!" chuckled Phil. "It's a good deal like stealing, but I +have to have them and I'll send the fellow a new pair if ever I +get back to my own show. He'll be mad in the morning when he +goes to get his clothes. I wish I had a hat and pair of shoes. +But I guess I ought to be thankful for what I already have." + +Saying this, Phil dropped from the wagon and quickly got into +the clothes. They were old and dirty, but he did not mind that. +They were clothes and they would cover his conspicuous ring +costume, which was the most important thing for him to consider +at the present moment. + +"Now, I'll buy a ticket and get started for Corinto," he decided. + +Phil reached under the neck of his shirt for his little bag +of money. + +"Oh, pshaw! I've lost it. Let me see, did I put my money in +there before I entered the ring?" + +For the life of him he was unable to say whether he had done so, +or whether his money was still in his clothes back in the +dressing tent. + +"Well, I shall never see that money again, I am thinking. If I +left it in my clothes it is gone by this time, and if I didn't it +is gone anyway," was his logical conclusion. + +The first thing to be done now was to get off the lot, which +Phil did as quickly as possible. Clad in the soiled, well-worn +garments with his coat buttoned tightly about his neck, the lad +attracted no special attention. Getting well away from the +circus grounds, he halted to consider what his next move +should he. + +"I guess I'll go over to the station and get some information," +he decided. This he did, but the lights looked so bright in the +station that he did not consider it prudent to enter. So Phil +waited about until he saw one of the railroad switchmen coming in +from the yards. + +"How far is it to Corinto, please?" he asked. + +"Fifty miles." + +"Whew! So far as that?" + +"Yes. Belong to the show?" + +"Well, not exactly. I'm with them, but I can't say that I belong +to the outfit, and I'm glad I don't." + +"Should think you would be glad," growled the switchman, who +evidently held the Sully combination in no high regard. + +"Which way do the trains go for Corinto?" + +"That way. That track runs right through without a break. +It's a single track road all the way." + +"Thank you." + +"Going to hit the ties?" + +"I'm likely to before I get there," laughed Phil, again thanking +his informant and starting away, for he saw some people +approaching whom he thought belonged to the show. + +Leaning up against a freight car the lad considered what he had +better do. At first he was inclined to try to steal a ride on +the circus train, but after thinking the matter over he concluded +that this would be dangerous. + +"If they catch me again they surely will handle me pretty +roughly, and they may throw me off the train. A few knocks more +or less might not make much difference, but I am not anxious to +be thrown from a rapidly moving circus train. I guess I'll walk. +Let me see, tomorrow will be Sunday, and it is fifty miles +to Corinto. I should be able to make the town by tomorrow +night sometime. Yes, I'll try it." + +Having formed this resolve, Phil started manfully off for his +long walk to Corinto. He did not stop to consider that he would +be hungry before he got there. + +He left the yards, for these were now full of employees busily +engaged in loading the cars. Off near the outskirts of the town +he turned back to the tracks. + +For two hours he plodded along cheerfully, but by this time the +rough traveling over the ties so hurt his feet, clad as they were +in light slippers, that he could scarcely walk. Phil took off +the slippers and trotted about in the damp grass at the side of +the railroad track, until getting some relief, then started +on again. + +An hour later the first of the circus trains thundered by him. +He could see the dim lights in the sleepers, and now and then +he made out the figure of a man stretched out under a cage on +a flat car. + +"Anyway, I would rather be walking than locked up in that narrow +linen closet," decided the Circus Boy philosophically, once more +taking up his weary journey. + +At sunrise Phil found that he was too tired to go much further +without taking a rest, so, as soon as he found a wooded place, +he climbed a fence and lay down in the shade of the trees, where +he quickly went to sleep. + +The afternoon was well along when finally he awakened, sore and +stiff in every joint. + +"If I should try to ride a bareback horse now I should fall +off for sure," he moaned, rubbing his lame spots vigorously. +"My, but I am hungry! I wonder how far I am from Corinto?" + +A mile post a little further along told him that he had covered +just twenty miles of his journey. He still had thirty miles to +go--a long distance for one in his condition. + +All during the rest of the day Phil was obliged to take +frequent rests. Whenever he came to a stream he would halt +and thrusting his feet into the cooling water, keep them there +for some time. This helped him considerably, for his feet +were swollen and feverish. The sun beating down on his head +made him dizzy and faint, which was made the more disturbing +because of his empty stomach. + +He managed, just before sunset, to get a sandwich at a farmhouse, +though he was looked upon with suspicion by the housewife who +gave him the food. Phil offered to do something to pay for the +slender meal, but the woman refused and bade him be on his way. + +"I don't blame her. I must be a tough looking customer," grinned +the boy, again climbing the fence and starting along the track. +He fought shy of villages during daylight, fearing that he might +be arrested for vagrancy and locked up. That would defeat +his plans. + +"I simply must get to Corinto and warn Mr. Sparling," he gritted. +"He doesn't know the plans these people have to harm him. If it +were not for that I wouldn't try to go any further today. +I could get somebody to help me out for a day or so, until I +could write to Mr. Sparling." + +Now and then he met a tramp or two, but none that he thought +looked any more disreputable than he himself did. He passed the +time of day pleasantly, with such, and continued on his way. + +Late in the evening he once more lay down for a rest. But Phil +did not permit himself to sleep long. He feared he should not +be able to wake up until morning if he did, and then he never +would reach the show town in time to warn Mr. Sparling of the +impending danger. + +At daylight he was still ten miles from his destination. + +"I must make it. I shall make it!" he breathed, starting on a +run, having found a path at the side of the track. + +However, he could not keep this up for long, and was soon obliged +to settle back into his former slow pace. + +At last Phil came in sight of the church spires of a town. + +"I believe that is Corinto," he said, shading his eyes and +peering off at the distant town. "At any rate I can't be far +from it now." + +The knowledge was almost as good as a meal. Its effect on Phil +Forrest was magical. He forgot all about his tender feet and +empty stomach as he swung into a good strong pace. + +All at once he halted and listened. The blare of the big horns +of a circus band reached his ears. + +"The parade has started. I must hurry now. The Sully wretches +may do something to the parade," Phil cried, starting away on +a run. Nor did he slacken his pace until he had gotten well into +the town. Now he could hear two bands playing, and knew that the +rival parades were under way. + +"Where is the circus lot--where is the parade," he asked a man as +he dashed by. + +The man pointed off to the right and Phil took the next corner +with a rush. As he swung into that street he saw the banners +of the Sparling show fluttering in the breeze as the parade +moved majestically toward him. Taking to the street, for the +sidewalks were crowded, Phil ran with all speed. Mr. Sparling, +in his carriage at the head, saw him coming. At first he did +not recognize the lad; then all at once he discovered who the +boy was. + +Phil dashed up to the carriage. Mr. Sparling reached out a hand +and pulled him in. + +"Phil!" he cried. + +"Quick, get the tents guarded! Sully's gang are going to cut the +guy ropes. Look out for the parade too. I suspect they will try +to break it up!" + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE BATTLE OF THE ELEPHANTS + +"What!" + +"Yes, hurry!" and Phil sank back, weak from lack of food and the +severe strain he had put upon himself. + +Mr. Sparling grasped the meaning of the lad's words in a flash. +Snatching a whistle from his pocket he blew two short, +shrill blasts. A mounted man came riding up at a gallop. + +"Go to the lot! Have the tents surrounded. Let no one through +who doesn't belong to the show. I trust you to look out for +our property. An attempt may be made to do us damage while we +are out on parade. Now, ride!" + +The man did ride. He whirled his horse and set it at a run down +the line, headed toward the circus lot. + +"I've got to get back there myself, Phil. Can you stand it to +stay in the carriage until it reaches the lot?" + +"Yes, but I don't look fit. I--" + +"Sit up and look wise. The people will think you are a clown and +they'll split their sides laughing. I'll talk with you later. +You must have had a rough time of it." + +"I have had." + +Mr. Sparling jumped out of the carriage, and, ordering a rider to +dismount, took the latter's horse, on which he, too, rode back to +the lot with all speed. + +Phil pulled himself together. Half a block further on the +people, espying him, did laugh as Mr. Sparling had said +they would. + +Phil grinned out of sheer sympathy. + +"I must look funny riding in this fine carriage with four +white horses drawing me through the streets. I don't blame +them for laughing. If I had something to eat, now, I would +be all right. I am getting to have as much of an appetite as +Teddy Tucker has. I--" + +Phil paused, listening intently. + +"I hear another band and it is coming nearer," he exclaimed. +"That must be the Sully show. I forgot in my excitement, to ask +Mr. Sparling about them. I wonder where they are?" + +The music of the rival band grew louder and louder, but strain +his eyes and ears as he would, Phil was unable to locate the +other show's line of parade. + +"Where's that band?" he called up to the driver of his carriage. + +"Off that side of the town, I guess," he answered, waving his +whip to the right of them. + +"Well, I think they are pretty close to us and I don't like the +looks, or rather the sound of things." + +At that moment Phil's carriage was drawn across an +intersecting street. He looked up the street quickly. + +"There they are!" he cried. + +Less than a quarter of a block up the street he saw the other +parade sweeping down upon them, bands playing, flags flying +and banners waving. Phil's quick, practiced eyes saw +something else too. The elephants were leading the rival +parade, with horsemen immediately at their rear, the band +still further back. + +This being so unusual in a parade, the Circus Boy knew that there +must be some reason for the peculiar formation. The elephants +should have been further back in the line, the same as were those +of the Sparling show. + +Phil divined the truth instantly. + +"They're going to break up our parade!" he cried. "That's what +they are hoping to do. Drive on! I'm going to get out and run +back to tell the parade manager. They'll do us a lot of damage." + +Phil leaped from the carriage and ran down the street, his coat +wide open showing his pink riding shirt beneath it. + +"Where's the parade manager?" he cried. + +"Gone to the lot. Boss sent him back." + +Phil groaned. Something must be done and done quickly. +The rival parade must be nearing their street by this time. + +A thought occurred to him. Phil dashed for the elephant herd. + +"Mr. Kennedy!" + +"Yes?" + +"Sully's show is going to run into us at that corner there." + +"They don't dare!" + +"They do and they will. Swing your elephants out of line and +throw them across that intersecting street. I'll bet they won't +get by our bulls in a hurry." + +"Great! Great, kid! I'd never thought of that." + +"You'll have to hurry. The other fellows are almost here and +their elephants are leading the parade. Sully's just looking +for trouble!" + +The voice of the elephant trainer uttered a series of +shrill commands that sounded like so many explosions. +The elephants understood. They swung quickly out of +line and went lumbering down the street. + +"Hey, there, that you, Phil?" + +It was Teddy on old Emperor's back in the same frog costume that +he had worn for that purpose the first season with the show. + +"Yes, what's left of me," answered Phil, running fast to keep up +with the swiftly moving elephants. + +Just before reaching the intersecting street he managed to get +ahead of Kennedy and his charges. + +"Hurry, hurry! They're right here," howled the Circus Boy. + +The trainer, with prod and voice, urged the elephants into even +quicker action than before. Two minutes later they swung across +the street down which the rival parade was coming, and, at the +command of their keeper, the huge animals turned, facing the +other body of paraders. + +"We're just in time! There they are!" cried Phil excitedly. + +"I should say so. They were going to do what you said they +would, the scoundrels!" + +"Can you hold them till our people get by, do you think?" + +"Can I hold them? I can hold them till all the mill ponds in +Canada freeze up!" exploded the elephant trainer. + +Phil walked forward to meet the Sully parade. The owner of that +show was well up toward the front of the line on horseback. + +"You'll have to wait till our line gets by, sir," announced Phil, +with a suggestive grin. "We've got your little game blocked, +you see." + +"You!" + +Sully fairly hurled the word at the disreputable looking +Circus Boy. + +"Yes; you see I got away. Are you going to stop?" + +"No, not for any outfit that James Sparling runs. Where is he? +Afraid to come out and show himself, eh? Sends a runaway kid out +to speak for him. Get out of the way, or I'll run you down!" + +Phil's eyes snapped. + +"You had better not try it, if you know what's good for you!" + +"Move on! Break through their line!" commanded Sully. + +Phil turned and waved his hand. + +"They are going to try to break through, Mr. Kennedy," he called. + +Kennedy uttered several quick commands. The Sully elephants +swung down toward him, their trunks raised high in the air. +The leader, a big tusker, uttered a shrill cry. + +It was the elephants' battle cry, but Phil did not know it. +Kennedy did. + +For the first time, thus far, the Sparling herd of elephants +began to show signs of excitement. Their trainer quieted them +somewhat with soothing words here, a sharp command there, and +occasionally a prod of the hook. + +All at once the leading tusker of the Sully herd lunged straight +at old Emperor. In another instant nearly every elephant in each +herd had chosen an opponent and the battle was on in earnest. + +Trumpetings, loud shrieks of rage and mighty coughs made the more +timid of the people flee to places of greater safety. + +As the crash of the meeting elephants came, Phil ran back to the +street where his own parade was standing. + +"Move on!" he shouted. "Follow your route without the elephants. +And you, bandmaster, keep your men playing. When you have gone +by, we will give the other show a chance to go on if there's +enough left of them to do so." + +Realizing that Phil had given them sensible advice, the Sparling +show moved on with band playing and colors waving, but above the +uproar could be heard the thunder of the fighting elephants. + +Two of the rival show's elephants had been tumbled into a ditch +by the roadside. Then Kennedy had a lively few minutes to keep +his own animals from following and putting an end to the enemies +they had tumbled over. + +The tusks of the two big elephants, when they met, sounded like +the report of a pistol. Such sledge hammer blows as these two +monsters dealt each other made the spectators of the remarkable +battle gasp. + +All at once they saw something else that made them stare +the harder. + +On the back of Emperor, lying prone was stretched a +strange figure. From it they saw the head of a boy emerge. +Slowly the frog costume that he had worn, slipped from him +and dropped to the ground. + +"Teddy!" shouted Phil. "He'll be killed!" + +"W-o-w!" howled Teddy Tucker, who had been so frightened in the +beginning that he could not get down, and now he could not if +he would. + +"Let go and jump off! I'll catch you!" shouted Phil. + +"I--I can't." + +"Mr. Kennedy, can't you get him off?" + +But the trainer had his hands more than full keeping his charges +in line, for at all hazards they must not be allowed to get away +from him, as in their present excited state there was no telling +what harm they might do. + +The Sparling people suddenly uttered a great shout. Emperor was +slowly forcing his antagonist backward, the Sully elephant +gradually giving ground before the mighty onslaught of +old Emperor. Seeing their leader weakening, the other elephants +also began retreating until the line was slowly forced back +against Sully's line of march. The owner was riding up and down +in a frightful rage, alternately urging his trainer to rally his +elephants, and hurling threats at Phil Forrest and the +organization he represented. + +"Had we better not call our bulls off, Mr. Kennedy?" +shouted Phil. "Our parade has gone by this time." + +"Yes, if I can. I don't know whether I can stop them now +or not." + +"You get the others away. I'll try to take care of Emperor +and Jupiter. Emperor will give in shortly, after he knows +the other elephant is whipped." + +"He won't give in till he kills him," answered Kennedy. +"Better look out. He's blind, crazy mad." + +"I'm not afraid of him. Hang on now, Teddy. We will have you +out of your difficulty in a few minutes." + +Teddy had been hanging on desperately, his eyes large +and staring. Every time the long trunk of Sully's big tusker was +raised in the air, Teddy thought it was being aimed at his head +and shrank closer to Emperor's back. But the tusker probably +never saw Teddy at all. He was too busy protecting himself from +old Emperor's vicious thrusts. + +At last the tusker began to retreat in earnest. First he would +turn, running back a few rods; then he would whirl to give a +moment's battle to Emperor. + +Emperor was following him doggedly. + +Phil decided that it was time to act. He rushed up to Emperor's +head during one of these lulls and called commandingly. + +Emperor, with a sweep of his trunk, hurled Phil Forrest to the +side of the street. But Phil, though shaken up a bit, was not +harmed in the least. + +He was up and at his huge friend almost at once. + +"Emperor! Emperor!" he shouted, getting nearer and nearer to the +head of the enraged beast. + +Finally Phil stepped up boldly and threw both arms about +Emperor's trunk. + +"Steady, steady, Emperor!" he commanded. + +This time the elephant did not hurl Phil away. Instead, he +stopped hesitatingly, evidently not certain whether he +should plunge on after his enemy or obey the command of his +little friend. + +Phil tucked the trunk under his arm confidently. + +"That's a good fellow! Come along now, and we'll have a whole +bag of peanuts when we get back to the lot." + +The elephant coughed understandingly, it seemed. At least he +turned about, though with evident reluctance, and meekly followed +the Circus Boy, his trunk still tucked under the latter's arm. + +The Sully elephants had been whipped and driven off, though none +had been very seriously injured. Some fences had been knocked +over and a number of people nearly frightened to death--but that +was all. Phil had saved the day for his employer's show and had +come out victorious. + +The Circus Boy was in high glee as he led Emperor back toward +the lot, where the parade was drawing in by the time he +reached there. + +Teddy, on the big elephant's head, was waving his arms excitedly. + +"We licked 'em! We licked 'em!" he howled, as he caught sight of +Mr. Sparling hurrying toward them. + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +MONKEYS IN THE AIR + +As the result of that victory, the Sparling shows did a great +business in Corinto. The owner, considering that his rival had +been severely enough punished, made no further effort to have him +brought to justice, though Phil could hardly restrain him from +making Sully suffer for the indignities he had heaped on +young Forrest. + +Phil found his money that day when he removed his ring shirt. +The string that had fastened his money bag about his neck had +parted, letting the bag drop. This money he handed to +Mr. Sparling as rightfully belonging to him. + +Of course the showman refused it, and wanted to make Phil a +present besides, for the great service he had rendered. As it +chanced, one of Mr. Sparling's own staff was attending the Sully +show when Phil made his escape, and much of the latter's +discomfort might have been prevented had he only been aware +of that fact. + +Teddy assumed the full credit for the victory of old Emperor, +and no one took the trouble to argue the question with him. + +Soon after these exciting incidents the Sparling shows left +Canada behind and crossed the Niagara River. It was with a +long drawn sigh of relief that they set eyes on the Stars and +Stripes again. + +After showing at the Falls, the outfit headed southwest. +The season was getting late, the cotton crop in the south was +going to market, and it was time for all well managed shows whose +route lay that way to get into Dixie Land. The Circus Boys, too, +were anxious to tour the sunny south again. This time they were +going to follow a route they had never been over before, +something that was still a matter of great interest to the boys. + +Mr. Sparling upon learning that there was a traitor in his +camp who was supplying secret information to the Sully show as +to the route of the Sparling circus, had at once set a watch +for the offender. It was not long before the traitor was +caught red-handed. He was, of course, dismissed immediately, +despised by all who knew what he had been doing. + +No more had been seen of the Sully Hippodrome Circus after the +meeting of the two organizations in Corinto, though that crowd +had been heard of occasionally as hovering on the flanks of the +Sparling shows. + +"I don't care where they go," said Mr. Sparling, "so long as they +don't get in the same county with me. I am liable to lose my +temper if they get that near to me again, and then something will +happen for sure." + +The Sparling show got into the real southland when it made +Memphis, Tennessee, on October first, a beautiful balmy southern +fall day. All season Phil had been keeping up his practice on +the trapeze bar, until he had become a really fine performer. +He had never performed in public, however, and hardly thought he +would have a chance to do so that season. He hoped not, if it +were to be at some other performer's expense, as had usually +been the case. + +"When somebody gets hurt it's Phillip who takes his place," said +the lad to himself. + +"Which means that you are always on the job," replied +Mr. Sparling who had chanced to overhear the remark. No serious +accidents had occurred in sometime, however, and it was hoped by +everyone that none would. Accidents, while they are accepted by +show people in the most matter-of-fact way, always cast a gloom +over the show. Even the loss of a horse will make the +sympathetic showman sad. + +After a splendid business in Memphis the show ran into +Mississippi where it played a one day stand at Clarksdale, and +where the showmen experienced the liveliest time they had had +since they met the Sully organization in Canada. + +The afternoon performance had just come to an end, and the people +were getting ready to leave their seats under the big top, when a +great commotion was heard under the menagerie top. + +Most of the performers were in the dressing tent, changing their +dress for supper, but a roar from the audience, followed by +shouts of laughter, attracted their attention sharply, and as +soon as they could clothe themselves sufficiently, the performers +rushed out into the ring again. + +Suddenly the people, upon looking toward the menagerie tent, +saw a troop of diminutive animals sweeping into the big top. +At first the people did not recognize them. + +"They're monkeys!" shouted someone. "They're going to give us a +monkey show." + +"No. The beasts have gotten out of their cage," +answered another. + +He was right. A careless attendant had hooked the padlock of the +monkey cage in the staple, but had not locked it. An observant +simian had noticed this, but did not make use of his knowledge +until the keeper had gone away. + +Peering out to make sure that no one was looking, the monkey +reached out its hand and deftly slipped the padlock from +its place. + +The rest was easy. A bound against the cage door left the way +open, and the hundred monkeys in the cage, big and little were +not slow to take advantage of the opportunity thus offered. + +Chattering wildly, they poured from the wagon like a +small cataract. A moment later the attendants discovered them +and gave chase. At about the same time the monkeys discovered +that something was going on under the big top. Being curious +little beasts, they concluded to investigate. Then, too, the +attendants were pressing pretty close to them, so the whole herd +bolted into the circus tent with a shouting crowd of circus men +in pursuit. + +The yells of the audience, added to those of the attendants, sent +the nimble little fellows scurrying up ropes, center and quarter +poles, all the time keeping up their merry chatter, for freedom +was a thing they had not enjoyed since they had been captured in +their jungle homes. + +Some of the ring men tried to shake the monkeys down from the +poles, just as they would shake an apple tree to get the fruit. +But the little fellows were not thus easily dislodged. +The attempt served only to send them higher up. They seemed +to be everywhere over the heads of the people. + +Finally, having thoroughly investigated the top of the tent, +several of the larger simians decided to take a closer look at +the audience. At the moment the audience did not know of this +plan, or they might have taken measures to protect themselves. + +The first intimation they had of the plans of the mischievous +monkeys, was when a woman uttered a piercing shriek, startling +everyone in the tent. + +"What is it?" shouted someone. + +"Oh, my hat! My hat!" she cried after discovering what had +happened to her. + +The eyes of the audience wandered from her up to where a monkey +was dangling by its tail far above their heads. The animal had +in its hands a flower-covered hat, so large that when the monkey +tried to put it on, it almost entirely concealed his body. +So suddenly had the hat been torn from the head of the owner +that hatpins were broken short off while the little thief +"shinned" a rope with his prize. + +Failing to make the hat fit, Mr. Monkey began pulling the flowers +out; then picking them to pieces, he showered the particles down +over the heads of the audience. + +This was great sport for the monkey, but no fun at all for the +owner of the hat. The woman hurried from her seat, red-faced +and humiliated. Phil Forrest had chanced to be a witness to +the act. He stepped forward as she descended to the concourse +and touched his hat. + +"Was the hat a valuable one, madam?" he asked. + +"Very." + +"I am sorry. If you will come with me to the office of the +manager I am quite sure he will make good your loss." + +"Do you belong to the circus, sir?" + +"I do." + +The woman gladly accompanied him to Mr. Sparling, and there was +made happy by having the price of her ruined hat handed over to +her without a word of objection. + +In the meantime trouble had been multiplying at a very rapid rate +under the big top. Everyone was shouting, attendants were +yelling orders to each other, and now Mr. Sparling, hurrying in, +added his voice to the din. + +Hats in all parts of the tent seemed to fly toward the roof +almost magically, to come tumbling down a few minutes later +hopeless wrecks. + +Once the monkeys got a tall silk hat. This they used for an +aerial football, tossing it to each other as they leaped from +rope to rope at their dizzy height. + +One monkey was discovered peering down at a certain point in +the audience with an almost fascinated gaze. Something down +there attracted him. Cautiously the little fellow let himself +down a rope to the side wall, then, unnoticed by the people, +crept down through the aisle. Slowly one black little hand +reached up and jerked from the head of an old gentleman a pair +of gold spectacles. + +The man uttered a yell as he felt the spectacles being torn from +him, and made a frantic effort to save them. But the glasses, in +the hands of the monkey, were already halfway up the aisle and a +moment more the monkey was twisting the bows into hard knots and +hurling pieces of glass at the spectators. + +"Catch them! Catch them!" shouted Mr. Sparling. + +"How, how?" answered a showman. + +"Somebody--" + +"I'll go up and get them," spoke up Teddy Tucker. Teddy simply +could not keep out of trouble. He was sure to be in the thick of +it whenever a disturbance was abroad. + +"That's a good plan. How are you going to do it?" + +"I'll show you. I'll shake 'em down if you will catch them when +they reach the ring." + +"Yes, but be careful that you don't fall." + +"Don't you worry about me!" + +Teddy untied a rope from a quarter pole, straightened it out +and throwing off his coat and hat, began going up the rope hand +over hand. The monkeys peered down curiously from their perches, +chattering and discussing the little figure that was on its way +up to join them. + +Teddy reached the platform of the trapeze performers. From there +he climbed a short rope that led to a smaller trapeze bar higher +up, thence to the aerial bars, where the whole bunch of monkeys +were sitting, scolding loudly. + +"Shoo!" said Teddy. "Get out of here! Better get a net and +catch them down there," shouted Teddy, standing up on the bars +without apparent thought of his own danger. + +"Look out that we don't have to catch you!" called +Mr. Sparling warningly. + +Teddy picked his way gingerly across the bars shooing the monkeys +ahead of him, now holding to a guide rope so that he might not by +any chance slip through and drop to the ring forty feet below +him, and all the while waving his free hand to frighten +the monkeys. + +A few of them leaped to a rope some eight or ten feet away, down +which they went to the ring and up another set of ropes before +the show people below could catch them. + +While Teddy was thus engaged, the whole troop of monkeys swung +back on the under side of the aerial bars beneath his feet. + +"Shoo! Shoo!" he shouted. "You rascals, I'll fix you when I get +hold of you, and don't you forget that for a minute." + +He turned, cautiously making his way back, when the lively, +mischievous little fellows shinned up the rope by which he had +let himself down to the serial bars. + +"I'll drive you all over the top of this tent, but I'll get you," +Teddy cried. + +Down below the audience was shouting and jeering. The people +refused to leave the tent so long as such an exhibition was +going on. No one paid the least attention to the "grand concert" +that was in progress at one end of the big top, so interested +were all in the Circus Boy's giddy chase. + +"I'm afraid he will fall and kill himself," groaned Mr. Sparling. + +"You can't hurt Teddy," laughed Phil. "He can go almost anywhere +that a monkey could climb. But he'll never get them." Phil was +laughing with the others, for the sight was really a funny one. + +"Oh, look what they've done!" exclaimed one of the performers. + +"They've pulled up the rope," said Mr. Sparling hopelessly. + +"Now he certainly is in a fix," laughed Phil. + +The monkeys, after shinning the rope, had mischievously hauled it +up after them, acting with almost human intelligence. One of +them carried the free end of it off to one side and dropped it +over a guy rope. This left Tucker high and dry on the aerial +bars with no means at hand to enable him to get back to earth. + +The audience caught the significance of it and howled lustily. + +"Now, I should like to know how you are going to get down?" +shouted Mr. Sparling. + +Teddy looked about him questioningly, and off at the grinning +monkeys, that perched on rope and trapeze, appeared to be +enjoying his discomfiture to the full. + +"I--I guess I'll have to do the world's record high dive!" +he called down. There seemed no other way out of it. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +TEDDY TAXES A DROP + +"Throw him a rope!" shouted someone. + +"Yes, give him a rope," urged Mr. Sparling. + +"No one can throw a rope that high," answered Phil. "I think the +first thing to be done is to get the monkeys and I have a plan by +which to accomplish it." + +"What's your plan?" + +"Have their cage brought in. We should have thought of +that before." + +"That's a good idea," nodded Mr. Sparling. "I always have said +you had more head than any of the others of this outfit, not +excepting myself. Get the monkey cage in here." + +While this was being done Phil hurried out into the menagerie +tent, where, at a snack stand, he filled his pockets with peanuts +and candy; then strolled back, awaiting the arrival of the cage. + +"We shall be able to capture our monkeys much more easily if the +audience will please leave the tent," announced Mr. Sparling. +"The show is over. There will be nothing more to see." + +The spectators thought differently. There was considerable to be +seen yet. No one made a move to leave, and the manager gave up +trying to make them, not caring to attempt driving the people out +by force. + +The cage finally was drawn up between the two rings. +This instantly attracted the attention of the little beasts. +Phil stood off from the cage a few feet. + +"Now everybody keep away, so the monkeys can see me," +he directed. Phil then began chirping in a peculiar way, giving +a very good imitation of the monkey call for food. At the same +time he began slowly tossing candy and peanuts into the cage. + +There was instant commotion aloft. Such a chattering and +scurrying occurred up there as to cause the spectators to gaze in +open-mouthed wonder. But still Phil kept up his weird chirping, +continuing to toss peanuts and candy into the cage. + +"As I live, they are coming down," breathed Mr. Sparling in +amazement, "never saw anything like it in my life!" + +"I always told you that boy should have been a menagerie man +instead of a ring performer," nodded Mr. Kennedy, the +elephant trainer. + +"He is everything at the same time," answered Mr. Sparling. +"It is a question as to whether or not he does one thing better +than another. There they come. Everybody stand back. I hope +the people keep quiet until he gets through there. I am afraid +the monkeys never will go back into the cage, though." + +There was no hesitancy on the part of the monkeys. They began +leaping from rope to rope, swinging by their tails to facilitate +their descent, until finally the whole troop leaped to the top of +the cage and swung themselves down the bars to the ground. + +Phil lowered his voice to a low, insistent chirp. One monkey +leaped into the cage, the others following as fast as they could +stretch up their hands and grab the tail board of the wagon. +Instantly they began scrambling for the nuts and candies that lay +strewn over the floor. + +The last one was inside. Phil sprang to the rear of the cage +and slammed the door shut, throwing the padlock in place and +snapping it. + +"There are your old monkeys," he cried, turning to Mr. Sparling +with flushed, triumphant face. + +The audience broke out into a roar, shouting, howling and +stamping on the seats at the same time. + +"Now, you may go," shouted Mr. Sparling to the audience. +"Phil, you are a wonder. I take off my hat to you," and the +showman, suiting the action to the word, made a sweeping bow +to the little Circus Boy. + +Still the audience remained. + +"Well, why don't you go?" + +"What about the kid up there near the top of the house?" +questioned a voice in the audience. + +"That's so. I had forgotten all about him," admitted the owner +of the show. + +"Oh, never mind me. I'm only a human being," jeered Tucker, from +his perch far up near the top of the tent. This brought a roar +of laughter from everybody. + +"We shall have to try to cast a rope up to him." + +"You can't do it," answered Phil firmly. Nevertheless the effort +was made, Teddy watching the attempts with lazy interest. + +"No, we shan't be able to reach him that way," agreed Mr. +Sparling finally. + +"Hey down there," called Teddy. + +"Well, what is it? Got something to suggest?" + +"Maybe--maybe if you'd throw some peanuts and candy in my cage I +might come down." + +This brought a howl of laughter. + +"I don't see how we are going to make it," said Mr. Sparling, +shaking his head hopelessly. + +"I'll tell you how we can do it," said Phil. + +"Yes; I was waiting for you to make a suggestion. I thought it +funny if you didn't have some plan in that young head of yours. +What is it?" + +"What's the matter with the balloon?" + +"The balloon?" + +"Yes." + +"Hurrah! That's the very thing." + +The balloon was a new act in the Sparling show that season. +A huge balloon had been rigged, but in place of the usual basket, +was a broad platform. Onto this, as the closing act of the show, +a woman rode a horse, then the balloon was allowed to rise slowly +to the very dome of the big tent, carrying the rider and horse +with it. + +The act was a decided novelty, and was almost as great a hit as +had been the somersaulting automobile of a season before. + +The balloon stood swaying easily at its anchorage. + +"Give a hand here, men. Let the bag up and the boy can get on +the platform, after which you can pull him down." + +"That won't do," spoke up Phil. "He can't reach the platform. +Someone will have to go up and toss him a rope. He can make the +rope fast and slide down it." + +"I guess you are right, at that. Who will go up?" + +"I will," answered the Circus Boy. "Give me that coil of rope." + +Taking his place on the platform the lad rose slowly toward the +top of the tent as the men paid out the anchor rope. + +"Halt!" shouted Phil when he found himself directly opposite +his companion. + +"Think you can catch it, Teddy?" + +"Yep." + +"Well, here goes." + +The rope shot over Teddy's head, landing in his outstretched arm. + +"Be sure you make it good and fast before you try to shin down +it," warned Phil. + +"I'll take care of that. Don't you worry. You might toss me a +peanut while I'm getting ready. I'll go in my cage quicker." + +Phil laughingly threw a handful toward his companion, three or +four of which Teddy caught, some in his mouth and some in his +free hand, to the great amusement of the spectators. + +"They ought to pay an admission for that," grinned Phil. + +"For what?" + +"For seeing the animals perform. You are the funniest animal +in the show at the present minute." + +"Well, I like that! How about yourself?" peered Teddy with +well-feigned indignation. + +"I guess I must be next as an attraction," laughed the boy. + +"I guess, yes." + +"Haul away," called Phil to the men below him, and they started +to pull the balloon down toward the ground again. + +"Get a net under Tucker there," directed Mr. Sparling. + +"I'm not going to dive. What do you think?" retorted Teddy. + +"There is no telling what you may or may not do," answered +the showman. "It is the unexpected that always happens +with you." + +Phil nodded his approval of the statement. + +In the meantime Teddy had made fast the end of the rope to the +aerial bar, and grasping the rope firmly in his hands, began +letting himself down hand under hand. + +"Better twist your legs about the rope," called Phil. + +"No. It isn't neces--" + +Just then Teddy uttered a howl. The rope, which he had not +properly secured, suddenly slipped from the bar overhead. + +Teddy dropped like a shot. + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE CIRCUS ON AN ISLAND + +Teddy landed in the net with a smack that made the +spectators gasp. + +"Are you hurt," cried Mr. Sparling, running forward. + +Teddy got up, rubbing his shins gingerly, working his head from +side to side to make sure that his neck was properly in place. + +"N-n-no, I guess not. I'll bet that net got a clump that it +won't forget in a hurry, though. Folks, the show is all over. +You may go home now," added Teddy, turning to the audience and +waving his hand to them. + +The seats began to rattle as the people, realizing that there was +nothing more to be seen, finally decided to start for home. + +"It is lucky, young man, that I had that net under you," +announced Mr. Sparling. + +"Lucky for me, but a sad blow to the net," answered Teddy +humorously, whereat Mr. Sparling shook his head hopelessly. + +The tent was beginning to darken and the showman glanced +up apprehensively. + +"What's the outlook?" he asked as Mr. Kennedy passed. + +"Just a shower, I guess." + +The owner strode to the side wall and peered out under the tent, +then crawled out for a survey of the skies. + +"We are in for a lively storm," he declared. "It may not break +until late tonight, and I hardly think it will before then. +Please tell the director to cut short all the acts tonight. +I want every stick and stitch off the lot no later than eleven +o'clock tonight." + +"Shall we cut out the Grand Entry?" + +"Yes, by all means. If possible I should like to make the next +town before the storm breaks, as it's liable to be a long, +wet one." + +"I don't care. I've got a rubber coat and a pair of rubber boots +with a hole in one of them," spoke up Teddy. + +"And, Teddy Tucker," added the owner, turning to the Circus Boy. +"If you mix things up tonight, and delay us a minute anywhere, +I'll fire you. Understand?" + +Teddy shook his head. + +"You don't? Well, I'll see if I can make it plainer then." + +"Why, Mr. Sparling, you wouldn't discharge me, now, would you? +Don't you know this show couldn't get along without me?" + +The showman gazed sternly at Teddy for a moment, then his face +broke out in a broad smile. + +"I guess you're right at that, my boy." + +The cook tent came down without delay that afternoon, and on +account of the darkness the gasoline lamps had to be lighted +a full two hours earlier than usual. + +The show at the evening performance was pushed forward with a +rush, while many anxious eyes were upon the skies, for it was +believed that the heaviest rainstorm in years was about to fall. + +By dint of much hard work, together with a great deal of shouting +and racket, the tents were off the field by the time indicated by +Mr. Sparling, and loaded. A quick start was made. Long before +morning the little border town of Tarbert, their next stand, +was reached. + +Mr. Sparling had all hands out at once. + +"Get to the lot and pitch your tents. Everything has got to be +up before daylight," he ordered. "You'll have something to eat +just as soon as you get the cook tent in place." + +That was inducement enough to make the men work with a will, +and they did. The menagerie and circus tents had been laced +together, lying flat on the ground, when the storm broke. + +"That will keep the lot dry, but hustle it! Get the canvas up +before it is so soaked you can't raise it," commanded the owner. + +By daylight the tents were in place, though men had to be +stationed constantly at the guy ropes to loosen them as they +strained tight from the moisture they absorbed. + +The rain seemed to be coming down in sheets. Fortunately the lot +chosen for pitching the tents was on a strip of ground higher +than anything about it, so the footing remained fairly solid. +But it was a cheerless outlook. The performers, with their +rubber boots on, came splashing through a sea of mud and water +on their way to the cook tent that morning, Phil and Teddy with +the rest. + +"Looks like rain, doesn't it," greeted Teddy, as he espied +Mr. Sparling plodding about with a keen eye to the safety of +his tents. + +"I wish the outlook for business today were as good," was the +comprehensive answer. + +When the hour for starting the parade arrived, the water over the +flats about them was so deep and the mud so soft that it was +decided to abandon the parade for that day. + +"I almost wish we hadn't unloaded," said the owner. "It looks +to me as if we might be tied up here for sometime." + +"Yes," agreed Phil. "The next question is how are the people +going to get here to see the show?" + +"I was thinking of that myself. The answer is easy, though." + +"What--" + +"They won't come." + +"Why? Are they drowned out?" + +"No; the town is high enough so they will not suffer much of any +damage, except as the water gets into their cellars. No; they +are all right. I wish we were as much so, but there'll be no use +in giving a show this afternoon." + +"Wait a minute," spoke up Phil, raising one hand while he +considered briefly. + +"Of course, you have an idea. It wouldn't be you if you hadn't. +But I am afraid that, this time, you will fall short of +the mark." + +"No, not if you will let me carry out a little plan." + +"What is it?" + +"When I came over I noticed a strip of ground just a few rods to +the north of the lot, and running right into it, that was higher +than the flats. It was a sort of ridge and fairly level on top." + +"I didn't see that." + +"I did. It was showing above the water a few inches and looked +like hard ground. If you don't mind getting wet I'll take you +over and point it out." + +The showman agreed, though as yet he did not understand what +Phil's plan was. + +Phil led the way to the north side of the lot, then turning +sharply to the left after getting his bearings, walked +confidently out into the water followed by Mr. Sparling. +The ground felt firm beneath their feet. As a matter of fact it +was a stratum of rock running out from the nearby mountains. + +"Boy, you've struck a way for us to get out when time comes for +us to do so. That mud on the flats will be so soft, for several +days, that the wheels would sink in up to the hubs. The stock +would get mired now, were they to try to go through." + +"But not here." + +"No; I rather think that's so. What's your plan?" + +"We have plenty of wagons that are not in use--take for instance +the pole wagons. Why not send our wagons over to the village +and bring the people here? I am sure they will enjoy that," +suggested Phil. + +"Splendid," glowed the showman. "But I'm afraid the horses never +would be able to pull them over." + +"Think not?" + +"I said I was afraid they would not be able to." + +"I had considered that, sir." + +"Oh, you had?" + +"Yes." + +"Of course, I might have known you had. Well, what is it?" + +"I have an even better scheme, and it will be great advertising-- +one that few people in town will be able to resist." + +"Yes? I am listening." + +"Well, in the first place, have the long pole wagons fixed up to +bring the people over. We can use our ring platforms to make a +bottom for the passengers to sit on." + +"Yes, that will be easy." + +"Then, take some side wall poles, stand them up along the sides +of the wagon and build a roof with canvas. That will keep the +inside of the wagon as dry as a barn." + +"A splendid idea. But how are you going to get the folks over +here after you have done that?" + +"Wait, I am coming to that. What do you say to hitching the +elephants to the wagons and hauling the people back and forth? +Nothing like that has ever been done, has it?" + +Mr. Sparling tossed up his hat regardless of the fact that the +rain was beating down on his head and running down his neck. + +"Nothing ever been done to compare with it, since P. T. Barnum +ploughed up his farm with Jumbo. By the great Dan Rice, that's +a scheme!" shouted Mr. Sparling enthusiastically. + +"But you will have to hurry if you are going to put the plan into +operation," urged Phil. + +"What would you suggest, Phil?" + +"I would suggest that you send men into town on horseback, right +away, having them call at every house, at the post office, the +hotel and every other place they can think of, telling the people +what we propose to do. Teddy and I will take horses and go out +with the rest, if you say so. The rain won't hurt us, and +besides, it will be great fun. What do you say, sir?" + +Mr. Sparling hesitated for one brief second. + +"Come on!" he shouted as with hat in hand he splashed toward the +lot followed a short distance behind by Phil. + +The arrangements suggested by the Circus Boy were quickly made, +and a company of horsemen rode over to the village to tell the +people how they might see the show without getting wet. +While this was being done the pole wagons were being rigged +for the purpose, and the elephants were provided with harness +strong enough to stand the strain of the heavy loads they would +have to draw. + +The wagons were to be driven along the village streets at one +o'clock, the circus to begin at half-past two. That would give +the show people plenty of time to prepare for the performance. + +The suggestion met with great enthusiasm. Few people had ever +had the privilege of riding behind an elephant team, and they +gladly welcomed the opportunity. + +At Phil's further suggestion a separate wagon had been prepared +for the colored people. When all was ready the elephants were +first driven across the ridge without their wagons, to show the +animals that the footing was safe. Then they were hooked to the +covered pole wagons and the work of transporting the village to +the lot was begun. + +The show grounds were on an island, now, entirely surrounded +by water. Some of the clowns had rigged up fishing outfits +and sat on the bank in the rain trying to catch fish, though +there probably was not a fish within a mile of them, according +to Phil's idea. + +"That's good work for a fool," gloated Teddy. + +"It takes a wise man to be a fool, young man," was the +clown's retort. + +"Perhaps you don't know that the river has overflowed a few miles +above here, and that this place is full of fish?" + +"No; I don't know anything of the sort. The only water I see +coming is from right overhead. Maybe there's fish swimming +around up there; I don't know. Never caught any up +there myself." + +After a time the clowns tired of their sport and went back to +their dressing tent to prepare for the afternoon performance, the +only performance that would be given that day, as it would not be +safe to try to transport the people across the water in the dark. +And, besides, the owner of the show hoped to be able to get his +show aboard the cars before night. + +In the big top a slender rope had been stretched across the +blue seats from the arena back to the sidewall. This was the +"color line." On one side of it sat the colored people, on the +other the white people. + +After all were seated, however, the line was taken down and +colored and white people sat elbow to elbow. All were perfectly +satisfied, for the color line had been drawn. The rest did +not matter. + +The show people entered into the spirit of the unusual exhibition +with the keenest zest, and the Sparling show had never given a +better entertainment than it did that afternoon. The clowns, +even though they had not been successful as fishermen, where +wholly so when they entered the ring. Teddy and his donkey, +which he had named January, after the manner of most clowns who +own these animals, set the whole tent roaring, while Shivers and +his "shadow" made a hit from the moment they entered. + +"I've got the greatest bunch of people to be found in +this country," confided Mr. Sparling proudly to the surgeon. + +"Especially those two boys, eh?" + +"Yes. They can't be beaten. Neither can a lot of the others." + +A fair-sized house had been brought over to see the show, and +after the performance was ended they were taken back to their +homes in the pole wagons, as they had been brought over. + +"I'll tell you what you ought to do," said Teddy confidentially, +just before the show closed. + +"Well, what is it?" questioned Mr. Sparling. + +"You ought to leave those folks here." + +"Leave them here?" + +"Yes." + +"What for?" + +"Why, they couldn't get back, and they would have to go to the +evening performance again. You'd get 'em going and coming then. +Do you see?" + +The showman tipped back his head, laughing long and loud. + +"Yes; I see." + +"Then why not do it?" + +"Young man, this show doesn't do things that way. We do business +on the square, or we don't do it at all. I admire your zeal, but +not your plan." + +"Yes," agreed Phil, who stood near; "I sometimes think +Teddy Tucker's moral code does need bolstering up a bit." + +"What's that?" questioned Teddy. "What's a moral code?" + +"I'll explain it to you some other time when we are not so busy," +replied Phil. + +"Nor so wet," added Mr. Sparling. "You see, we want to come to +this town to show again some other time." + +"I don't," responded Teddy promptly. "I've had all I want of it +for the rest of my natural life. I can get all the fun I want +out of performing on dry ground, instead of the edge of a lake +that you are expecting every minute to tumble into." + + + +CHAPTER XX + +DISASTER BEFALLS THE FAT LADY + +"Help, help! Oh, help!" + +"Coming," shouted Teddy Tucker, leaping from the platform of the +sleeping car where he had been lounging in the morning sun. + +The Fattest Woman on Earth was midway down the steep railroad +embankment with the treacherous cinders slowly giving way beneath +her feet, threatening every second to hurl her to the bottom of +the embankment and into the muddy waters of a swollen stream that +had topped its banks as the result of the storm that had +disturbed the circus so much. + +The Sparling shows did not succeed in getting fully away from +the island until the middle of the day following the events +just narrated. + +This made it necessary to skip the next stand, so the show ran +past that place, intent on making St. Charles, Louisiana, +sometime that night. + +The train had been flagged on account of a washout some distance +ahead, and while it was lying on the main track many of the show +people took the opportunity to drop off and gather flowers out in +the fields near the tracks. + +The Fat Woman was one of these. She had found it a comparatively +easy thing to slide down the bank further up the tracks, after +finding a spot where she could do so without danger of going +right on into the creek below. + +But the return journey was a different matter. She had succeeded +in making her way halfway up the bank when, finding herself +slipping backward she uttered her appeal for help. + +"Stick your heels in and hold to it. I'll be there in a minute," +shouted Teddy, doing an imitation of shooting the chutes down the +embankment, digging in his own heels just in time to save himself +from a ducking in the stream. + +"There goes that Tucker boy, headed for more trouble," nodded +a clown. "Watch him if you want to see some fun. Fat Marie is +in trouble already, and she's going to get into more in about +a minute." + +Teddy picked himself up, and, running up behind the Fat Woman, +braced his hands against her ample waist and began to push. + +"Start your feet! Start your feet! Make motions as if you were +walking!" shouted Teddy. + +Marie did not move. + +"Oh, help!" she murmured. "Help, help!" + +"Go on. Go on! Do you think I can stay in this position all +day, holding up your five hundred pounds? My feet are slipping +back already. I'm treading water faster'n a race horse can run +right this minute." + +"I guess he's started something for himself all right," jeered +the clown. "Told you so. Hey, there goes the whistle! +The train will be starting. We'd better be making for +the sleeper." + +All hands sought a more suitable climbing place, hurried up the +railroad embankment and ran for the train. A crowd gathered on +the rear platform, where they jeered at Tucker and his burden. + +"Come--come down here and help us out," howled Teddy. +"You--you're a nice bunch, to run away when a lady is in trouble! +Come down here, I say." + +Just then the train started. + +Phil, at that moment, was up forward in Mr. Sparling's car, else +he would have tried to stop the train; or, failing to do that, +he would have gone to his companion's assistance. + +By this time Teddy had turned and was bracing his back against +the Fat Woman, his heels digging into the shifting cinders in a +desperate attempt to prevent the woman's slipping further down. + +"You'll have to do something. I'm no Samson. I can't hold the +world on my back all the time, though I can support a piece of it +part of the time. Do something!" + +"I--I can't," wailed the Fat Woman. "There goes the train, too. +We'll be left." + +"No, we won't." + +"Yes, we shall." + +"No; we won't be left, 'cause--'cause we're left already. Wow! +I'm going! Save yourself!" + +The cinders slipped from under Teddy's feet, and, with the heavy +burden bearing down upon him, he was unable to get sufficient +foothold to save himself. + +The result was that Teddy sat down suddenly. Fat Marie sat +down on him, and Teddy's yell might have been heard a long +distance away. Those on the tail end of the circus train saw the +collapse, then lost sight of the couple as the train rolled +around a bend in the road. + +Down the bank slid the Fat Woman, using Tucker as a toboggan, +with the boy yelling lustily. Faster and faster did they slide. + +Suddenly they landed in the muddy stream with a mighty splash, +Teddy still on the bottom of the heap. When she found herself in +the water Marie struggled to get out, and Teddy quickly scrambled +up, mouth, eyes and ears so full of water that he could neither +see, hear nor speak for a moment. He was blowing like a porpoise +and trying to swim out, but the swift current was tumbling him +along so rapidly that he found himself unable to reach the bank +only a few feet away. + +Marie, screaming for help, floated down rapidly with the current. +When finally Teddy succeeded in getting his eyes open he +discovered that she had lodged against a tree across the stream, +where her cries grew louder and more insistent than ever. + +Teddy was swept against her with a bump. He frantically grabbed +for a limb of the fallen tree. As he did so his legs were drawn +under it, so that it required all his strength to pull himself up +to the tree trunk. + +He sat there rubbing the water out of his eyes and +breathing hard. + +"Quick, get me out of here or I'll drown!" moaned the Fat Woman. + +"Drown, if you want to. I've got my own troubles just +this minute. What did you ever get me into this mix-up for? +That's what I get for trying to be a good thing--" + +Marie's screams waxed louder. + +"All right. If you'll only stop that yelling I'll get you on dry +land somehow. Can't you pull yourself up nearer the bank?" + +"No. My dress is caught on something." + +Teddy peered over, and, locating the place where she was caught, +tried to free her. The lad was unable to do so with one hand, +so, in a thoughtless moment, he brought both hands to the task. +He lost his balance and plunged into the torrent head first, his +body disappearing under the log. Teddy shot to the surface on +the other side, flat on his back. + +The Circus Boy did not shout this time. He was too angry to +do so. He turned over and struck out for the bank which he +was fortunate enough to reach. Quickly clambering up, Teddy +sat down to repeat his process of rubbing the water out of +his eyes. + +"Are you going to let me lie here and drown?" cried the +Fat Woman. + +"It looks that way, doesn't it, eh?" + +Teddy got up and hurried to her just the same. Throwing off +his wet coat he set to work with a will to get Marie out. +The water was shallow and she managed to help herself +somewhat, therefore after great effort Teddy succeeded in +towing her to land. The woman was a sight and Teddy a +close second in this respect. + +"I'm drowned," she moaned as he dragged her out on the bank, +letting her drop sharply. + +"You only think you are. I suppose you know what we've got to +do now, don't you?" + +"N-n-n-no." + +"We've got to walk to the next stand." + +"How--how far is it?" + +"Maybe a hundred miles." + +"Oh, help!" + +As a matter of fact they were within five miles of St. Charles, +where the Sparling show was billed to exhibit that afternoon +and evening. + +"I'm afraid they'll miss you in the parade today, but what do you +think will happen if we don't reach the show in time for the +performance this afternoon?" + +"I--I don't know." + +"I do. We'll get fined good and proper." + +"It--it's all your fault, Teddy Tucker." + +Teddy surveyed her wearily. + +"If you'd held me up I shouldn't have fallen in and--and--" + +"Drowned," growled Teddy. + +"Yes." + +"And if you hadn't sat on me I shouldn't have fallen in, and +there you are. Now, get up and we'll find a place to climb up +the bank. We can't stay here all day and starve to death. +Come on, now." + +"I--I can't." + +"All right; then I'll go without you." Teddy started away, +whereupon the Fat Woman wailed to him to come back, at the same +time struggling to her feet, bedraggled and wet, her hair full of +sand and her clothes torn. + +"If they'd only start a beauty show in the side top you would +take first prize," grinned the boy. "Hurry up." + +Marie waddled along with great effort, making slow headway. + +"We shall have to go further along before we can get up the bank. +That is, unless you want to take the chance of falling into the +creek again." + +It was some distance to the place where the creek curved under +the railroad bed, and they would be obliged to go beyond that if +they expected to get the Fat Woman out without a repetition of +the previous disaster. + +After a while they reached the spot for which Teddy had +been heading. + +Marie surveyed the bank up which she must climb. + +"Can you make it?" + +"I--I'll try." + +"That's the talk. Take a running start, but slow up before you +get to the top, or with your headway you'll go right on over the +other side and down that embankment. You ought to travel with a +net under you, but it would have to be a mighty strong one, or +you'd go through it." + +Marie uttered a little hopeless moan and began climbing up +the bank once more, but bracing each foot carefully before +throwing her weight upon it. Teddy, in the meantime, had run up +to the top where he sat down on the end of a tie watching the +Fat Woman's efforts to get up to him. + +"Oh, help!" + +"Help, help," mimicked Teddy. + +"I can't go any further, unless you come down here and push." + +"Push? No thank you. I tried that before. It would take a +steam engine to push you up that bank, because you'd let the +engine do all the pushing. You wouldn't help yourself at all." + +"I'll fall if you don't help me." + +"Well, fall then. You've got a nice soft piece of grass to land +on down there. I'll tell you what I'll do." + +"What?" + +"I'll take hold of your hand if you'll promise to let go the +minute you feel you're going to fall." + +"I--I don't want to let go. I want to hold on if I feel I'm +going to fall," wailed Marie. + +"No, you don't. 'United we stand, divided we fall,'" quoted +Teddy solemnly. + +"I'll promise; I'll promise anything, if you will come help me." + +Teddy rose and slid down the bank to her. + +"Give me your hand." + +Marie extended a fat hand toward him, which he grasped firmly. + +"Now gather all your strength and run for it. We'll be at the +top before you know it. Run, run, run!" + +The command was accompanied by a jerk on Marie's arm, and +together they started plowing up the bank. + +"Here we are. One more reach, and we'll be on hard ground. +Then--" + +"Help!" screamed Marie. + +Both her feet flew out. One caught Teddy, tripping him and down +they rolled amid a shower of cinders, both landing in a heap at +the foot of the embankment. + +"That settles it. I thought you were going to let go," +growled Teddy. + +"I--I couldn't." + +"You mean you didn't. Now, you can take your choice; go up the +bank alone or stay here. I suppose I have got to stay here with +you, but I really ought to leave you. Somehow, I'm not mean +enough to do it, but I want to." + +Teddy stretched out on the grass in the bright sunlight to dry +himself, for he was still very wet, while Marie sat down +helplessly and shook out her hair. + +They had been there for nearly two hours when the rails above +them began to snap. + +"Guess there's a train coming. Just my luck to have it run off +the track and fall on me about the time it gets here." + +The sound told him the train was coming from the direction his +own train had gone sometime before. + +"It's a handcar," shouted the lad as a car swung around the bend +and straightened out down the track. + +"Oh, help," wailed the Fat Woman. + +"Hey, hey!" Teddy shouted. + +Someone on the handcar waved a hat and shouted back at him. + +"It's Phil, it's Phil! They're coming for us, Marie," +cried Teddy. "Now, you've got to climb that bank unless you want +to stay here and starve to death. Let me tell you it's me for +the handcar and a square meal." + +Phil, hearing of his companion's misfortune, had requested +Mr. Sparling to get him a handcar that he might go in search of +Marie and Teddy. This had been quickly arranged, and with three +Italian trackmen Phil had set out, he himself taking his turn at +the handle to assist in propelling the car. + +"What's happened?" shouted Phil, leaping from the car and running +down the bank, falling the last half of the way and bringing up +in a heap at the feet of Teddy Tucker. + +"That's the way we came down, a couple of times," grinned Teddy. +"Marie took a header into the creek and I went along. +Got a rope?" + +"Yes, there's one on the handcar. Why?" + +"Marie can't get up the bank. You'll have to pull her up." + +The rope was hurriedly brought, and after being fastened +about her waist, the Italians were ordered to pull, while +Phil and Teddy braced themselves against the Fat Woman's +waist and pushed with all their might. At last they landed +her, puffing and blowing and murmuring for more help, at +the top of the embankment. She was quickly assisted to the +handcar, when the return journey was begun. + +"Next time you fall off a train, I'll bet you go to the bottom +alone," growled Teddy. "The show ought to carry a derrick +for you." + +"Oh, help!" moaned the Fat Woman, gasping for breath as she sat +dangling over the rear end of the handcar. + +"We shall miss the parade, I fear," announced Phil consulting +his watch. + +"Well, I don't mind for myself, but I could weep that Fat Marie +has to miss it," answered Teddy soberly. "I don't like to see +her miss anything that comes her way." + +"She doesn't, usually," grinned Phil. + +After a long hard pull they succeeded in reaching the next town +with their well loaded handcar. With the help of Phil and Teddy, +the Fat Lady was led puffing to the circus lot. The parade had +just returned and the paraders were hurrying to change their +costumes, as the red flag was up on the cook tent. Mr. Sparling +saw the Circus Boys and their charge approaching, and motioned +them to enter his office tent. + +"Where did you find them, Phil?" + +"At the bottom of a railroad embankment, about five miles back, +according to the mile posts." + +"A couple of fine specimens you are," growled the showman. +"Well, Marie, what have you to say for yourself?" + +"I--I fell down the bank." + +"Pshaw! What were you doing on the bank?" + +"I got off to pick some flowers when the train stopped, and when +I tried to get back I--I couldn't." + +"Don't you know it is against the rules of the show to leave the +train between stations?" + +The Fat Lady nodded faintly. + +"Discipline must be maintained in this show. You are fined +five dollars, and the next time such a thing happens I'll +discharge you. Understand?" + +"Help, oh help!" murmured Marie. + +Teddy was grinning and chuckling over the Fat Lady's misfortune. + +"And, young man, what were you doing off the train?" asked the +showman, turning sternly. + +"Me? Why, I--I went to Marie's rescue." + +"You did, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"I reckon it will cost you five dollars, too." + +The grin faded slowly from Teddy's face. + +"You--you going to fine me?" he stammered. + +"No, I'm not going to. I already have done so." + +"It doesn't pay to be a hero. A hero always gets the sharp end +of the stick. But who's going to pay me for the clothes +I ruined?" + +Mr. Sparling surveyed the boy with the suspicion of a twinkle in +his eyes. + +"Well, kid, I reckon I shall have to buy you a new suit, at that. +Marie!" + +"Ye--yes, sir," responded the woman. + +"Go downtown and see if you can find some new clothes that will +fit you. If not buy two suits and splice them together." + +"Yes, sir; thank you, sir." + +"Have the bill sent to me. Tucker, you do the same. +But remember, discipline must be maintained in this show," +warned the owner sternly. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +ON A FLYING TRAPEZE + +The lesson lasted Teddy for a few hours; then he forgot all +about it. But he was made the butt of the jokes of the dressing +tent for several days. + +That afternoon Phil, while attending to some correspondence for +Mr. Sparling, had occasion to write to a trapeze performer about +booking with the Sparling show for the coming season. + +"I have been thinking, Mr. Sparling," said Phil, "that I should +like to perform on the flying trapeze next season. You know I +have been practicing for sometime." + +Mr. Sparling glanced up from his papers. + +"I'm not surprised. I guess that's the only thing you haven't +done in the show thus far." + +"I haven't been a fat woman or a living skeleton yet," +laughed Phil. + +"What can you do on the bars?" + +"I can do all that your performers do. Sometimes I think I might +be able to do more. I can do passing leaps, two-and-a-halfs, +birds' nest and all that sort of thing." + +"Is it possible? I had no idea you had gotten that far along." + +"Yes. I have been wishing for a chance to see how I could work +before an audience." + +"Haven't you enough to do already?" + +"Well, I suppose I have, but you know I want to get along. +The season is nearly closed now, and I shall not have another +opportunity before next spring, possibly. As long as you are +going to engage some other performers for next year I rather +thought it might be a good plan to offer myself for the work." + +"Why, Phil, why didn't you tell me?" + +"I didn't like to." + +"You can have anything in this show that you want. You know +that, do you not?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the Circus Boy in a low tone. "And I thank +you very much." + +"When do you want to go on?" + +"Any time you think best. Would you prefer to have me go through +a rehearsal?" + +"Not necessary. You have been practicing with Mr. Prentice, +the head of the trapeze troupe, haven't you?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"If you say you are fit, I am willing to take your word for it. +In view of the fact that you already have worked with the aerial +people all you will have to do will be to go on. I shall enjoy +seeing you do so, if you think you can stand the added work." + +"I can do so easily. When shall I try it?" + +"Whenever you wish." + +"What do you say to trying it tonight?" + +"Certainly; go on tonight, if you want to. I'll make it a point +to be on hand and watch the act." + +"Thank you, very much. You are more kind to me than I have any +reason to expect." + +"No such thing," snapped the showman. "Send Mr. Prentice to me +and I will give the necessary orders." + +Phil, full of pleasurable anticipation, hurried to convey the +good news to Mr. Prentice. The result was that, instead of four +performers appearing in the great aerial act that evening, there +were five. + +Phil shinned the rope to the trapeze perch, hand over hand, the +muscles standing out on his arms as he made the ascent, with as +much ease as he would walk to the dressing room, and perhaps even +with less effort. + +Phil, with perfect confidence in himself, swung out and back +to give himself the momentum necessary to carry him to where +Mr. Prentice was now hanging head down ready to catch him. + +The catcher slapped his palms sharply together, the signal that +on the return flight Phil was to let go and throw himself into +the waiting arms of the other. + +In a graceful, curving flight the Circus Boy landed in the iron +grip of Mr. Prentice, and on the return sweep sprang lightly into +the air, deftly catching his own trapeze bar which carried him to +his perch. + +Next he varied his performance by swinging off with his back to +the catcher, being caught about the waist, then thrown back to +meet his trapeze bar. + +"He's the most graceful aerial performer I ever saw on a bar," +declared Mr. Sparling. "He is a wonder." + +The next variation of the act was what is known as a +"passing leap," where, while the catcher is throwing one +performer back to his trapeze bar, a second one is flying +toward the catcher, the two supple bodies passing in the air +headed in opposite directions. In this case, his opposite +partner was a young woman, the successor to little Zoraya +who had been so severely injured earlier in the season. + +"Fine, Phil!" she breathed as they passed each other, and the +Circus Boy's face took on a pleased smile. + +"Try a turn next time," said Mr. Prentice, as he threw Phil +lightly into the air toward his trapeze. "Think you can do it?" + +"I can try, at least." + +Phil got a wide swing and then at a signal from the catcher, shot +up into the air. He threw a quick somersault, then stretched out +his hands to be caught. He was too low down for Mr. Prentice to +reach him and Phil shot toward the net head first. + +Though he had lost his bearings during the turn he had not lost +his presence of mind. + +"Turn!" shouted a voice from below, the watchful ringmaster +having observed at once that the lad was falling, and that he was +liable to strike on his head in the net with the possible chance +of breaking his neck. + +Phil understood, then, exactly what his position was, and, with a +slight upward tilt of his head, brought his body into position so +that he would strike the net on his shoulders. + +He hit the net with a smack, bounded high into the air, rounding +off his accident by throwing a somersault on the net, bounding up +and down a few times on his feet. + +The audience, quick to appreciate what he had done, gave Phil +a rousing cheer. + +He shook his head and began clambering up the rope again. + +"What happened to me?" he called across to the catcher. + +"You turned too quickly." + +"I'll do it right this time." + +The band stopped playing, that its silence might emphasize +the act. Then Phil, measuring his distance with keen eyes, +launched into the air again. But instead of turning one +somersault he turned two, landing fairly into the outstretched +arms of Mr. Prentice, who gave him a mighty swing, whereat Phil +hurled himself into a mad whirl, performing three more +somersaults before he struck the net. + +The audience howled with delight, and Mr. Sparling rushed forward +fairly hugging the Circus Boy in his delight. + +"Wonderful!" cried the showman. "You're a sure-enough star +this time." + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +IN A LIVELY BLOW-DOWN + +>From that moment on, until the close of the season, Phil Forrest +retained his place on the aerial trapeze team, doubling up with +his other work, and putting the finishing touches to what +Mr. Sparling called "a great career on the bars." + +But Phil, much as he loved the work, did not propose to spend +all his life performing above the heads of the people. He felt +that a greater future was before him on the ground at the front +of the house. + +Only a week remained now before the show would close for +the season. Even in Texas, where they were showing, the +nights had begun to grow chilly, stiffening the muscles of +the performers and making them irritable. All were looking +forward to the day when the tents should be struck for the +last time that season. + +"What's the next stand?" asked Phil in the dressing tent a few +nights after his triumphal performance on the trapeze. + +"Tucker, Texas," answered a voice. + +"What's that?" shouted a clown. + +"Tucker, I said." + +"Any relation to Teddy Tucker?" + +"I hope not," laughed the head clown. + +"A place with that name spells trouble. Anything by the name of +Tucker, whether it's Teddy or not, means that we are in for some +kind of a mix-up. I wish I could go fishing tomorrow." + +All in the dressing tent chuckled at the clown's sally. + +"I know what you'd catch if you did," grumbled Teddy. + +"Now, what would I catch, young man?" demanded the clown. + +"You'd catch cold. That's all you can catch," retorted Teddy, +whereat the laugh was turned on the clown, much to the +latter's disgust. + +Tucker proved to be a pretty little town on the open plain. +There was nothing in the appearance of the place to indicate +that they might look for trouble. However, as the clown had +prophesied, trouble was awaiting them--trouble of a nature +that the showman dreads from the beginning to the end of the +circus season. + +The afternoon performance passed off without a hitch, the tent +being crowded almost to its capacity, Phil Forrest throwing +himself into his work in the air with more spirit and enthusiasm +than he had shown at any time since he took up his new work. + +At Mr. Sparling's request, however, the lad had omitted his +triple somersault from the trapeze bar. The showman considered +the act too dangerous, assuring Phil that sooner or later he +would be sure to break his neck. + +Phil laughed at the owner's fears, but promised that he would try +nothing beyond a double after that. He remembered how quickly he +had lost himself when he attempted the feat before. Few men are +able to do it without their brains becoming so confused that they +lose all sense of direction and location. + +The evening house was almost as large as that of the afternoon, +as usual the audience being made up principally of town people, +the country spectators having returned to their homes +before night. The night set in dark and oppressive. + +Soon after the gasoline lights were lighted the animals began +growling, pacing their cages restlessly, while the lions roared +intermittently, and the hyenas laughed almost hysterically. + +It sent a shiver down the backs of nearly everyone who heard it-- +the shrill laugh of the hyenas reaching clear back to the +dressing tent. + +Teddy Tucker's eyes always grew large when he heard the laugh +of the hyena. + +"B-r-r-r!" exclaimed Teddy. + +"You'll 'b-r-r-r' worse than that before you get through," +growled a performer. + +"Why?" + +" 'Cause it means what somebody said the other night--trouble." + +"What kind of trouble does it mean?" asked Phil. + +"I don't know. Some kind of a storm, I guess. You can't +always tell. Those animals know more than we human beings, +when it comes to weather and that sort of thing," broke in +Mr. Miaco the head clown. + +"Well, you expected something would happen in a town called +Tucker, didn't you?" + +"Are you going to be with this show next season, Teddy?" +questioned the clown who had taunted him before. + +"I hope to." + +"Then I sign out with some other outfit. I refuse to travel with +a bunch that carries a hoodoo like you with it. I feel it in my +bones that something is going to happen tonight, and just as soon +as I can get through my act I'm going to run--run, mind you, +not walk--back to the train as fast as my legs will carry me. +That won't be any snail's pace, either." + +The performers joked and passed the time away until the band +started the overture, off under the big top. This means that +it is about time for the show to begin, and that the music is +started to hurry the people to their seats. + +All hands fell silent as they got busy putting the finishing +touches to their makeup. + +"All acts cut short five minutes tonight," sang the voice of +the ringmaster at the entrance to the dressing tent. + +"You see," said the clown, nodding his head at Teddy. + +"No, I hear," grumbled Teddy. "What's it all about?" + +"Don't ask me. I don't know. I'm not running this show." + +"Lucky for the show that you aren't," muttered the Circus Boy. + +"What's that?" + +"I was just thinking out loud, I guess." + +"It's a bad habit. Don't do it when I'm around. All hoodoos +talk to themselves and in their sleep." + +The show was started off with a rush, the Grand Entry having been +cut out again, as is frequently the case with a show where there +is a long run ahead, or a storm is expected. That night those in +the dressing tent could only surmise the reason. The hyena's +warning was the only thing to guide the performers in their +search for a reason for the haste. But they took the situation +philosophically, as they always had, and prepared for the +performance as usual. + +The performance had gotten along well toward the end, and without +the slightest interruption. All hands were beginning to feel a +certain sense of relief, when the shrill blasts of the boss +canvasman's emergency whistle were heard outside the big top. + +Phil had just completed his trapeze act and was dropping into +the net when the whistle sounded. + +He glanced up and made a signal to the others in the air. +They dropped, one by one, to the net and swung themselves to +the ground, where they stood awaiting the completion of the +piece that the band was playing. + +"Wind, isn't it?" questioned Mr. Prentice. + +Phil nodded. + +He was listening intently. His keen ears caught a distant roar +that caused him to gaze apprehensively aloft. + +"I am afraid we are going to have trouble," he said. + +"It has been in the air all the evening," was the low answer. +"Wonder if they have the menagerie tent out of the way?" + +It was being taken down at that moment, the elephants having been +removed to the train, as had part of the cages. + +All at once there was a roar that sent the blood from the +faces of the spectators. The boss canvasman's whistle +trilled excitedly. + +"There go the dressing tents," said Phil calmly as a ripping and +rending was heard off by the paddock. "I hope it hasn't taken +my trunk with it. Glad I locked the trunk before coming into +the ring." + +The band stopped playing suddenly. The tent was in +absolute silence. + +"It's a cyclone!" shouted a voice among the spectators. + +A murmur ran over the assemblage. In a moment they would be +in a mad rush, trampling each other under foot in their efforts +to escape. + +Phil bounded toward the band. + +"Play! Play!" he shouted. "They'll stampede if you don't. +Play, I tell you!" + +The bandmaster waved his baton and the music of the band drowned +out the mutterings of the storm for the moment. + +Suddenly the roaring without grew louder. Ropes were creaking, +center and quarter poles lifting themselves a few inches from the +ground, dangerously. + +"It's blowing end on," muttered Phil, running full speed down the +concourse in his ring costume. + +"Keep your seats!" he shouted. "There may be no danger. If the +tent should go down you will be safer where you are. Keep your +seats, everybody." + +Phil dashed on, shouting his warning until he had gotten halfway +around the tent. Mr. Prentice had taken up the lad's cry on the +other side. + +Then the blow fell. + +The big top bent under the sweep of the gale until the center +poles were leaning far over to the north. Had the wind not +struck the tent on the end it must have gone down under the +first blast. As it was, canvas, rope and pole were holding, +but every stitch of canvas and every pole was trembling under +its burden. + +"Sit steady, everybody! We may be able to weather it." + +Phil saw that, if the people were to run into the arena and the +tent should fall, many must be crushed under the center and +quarter poles. + +Up and down he ran shouting words of encouragement, and he was +thus engaged when Mr. Sparling worked his way in from the pad +room, as the open enclosure between the two dressing tents +is called. Phil had picked up the ringmaster's whip and was +cracking it to attract the attention of the people to what he +was trying to tell them. + +Somehow, many seemed to gain confidence from this plucky, slender +lad clad in silk tights, who was rushing up and down as cool and +collected as if three thousand persons were not in deadly peril. + +Nothing but Phil Forrest's coolness saved many from death +that night. + +A mighty roar suddenly drew every eye in the tent to the +south end where the wind was pressing against the canvas +with increasing force. + +Phil stood near the entrance, the flap of which had been quickly +laced and staked down when the canvasmen saw the gale coming +upon them. + +He turned quickly, for the roar had seemed to be almost at +his side. What he saw drew an exclamation from Phil that, +at other times, might have been humorous. There was no +humor in it now. + +"Gracious!" exclaimed the lad. + +There, within twenty feet of him stood a lion, a huge, powerful +beast, with head up, the hair standing straight along its back, +the mane rippling in the breeze. + +"It's Wallace," breathed the lad, almost unable to believe +his eyes. The biggest lion in captivity, somehow in the +excitement had managed to escape from his cage. + +"Now there'll be a panic for sure! They've seen him!" + +"Sit still and keep still! He won't hurt you!" shouted Phil. +"Now, you get out of here!" commanded Phil, starting toward +Wallace and cracking the ringmaster's whip in the animal's face. + +Just for the briefest part of a second did Wallace give way, then +with a terrific roar, he bounded clear over the Circus Boy's +head, bowling Phil over as he leaped, and on down to the center +of the arena. + +Phil had not been hurt. He was up and after the dangerous beast +in a twinkling. The audience saw what he was trying to do. + +"Keep away from him!" bellowed Mr. Sparling. + +"Throw a net over him!" shouted Phil. + +However, between the storm and the escaped lion, none seemed to +have his wits about him sufficiently to know what was best to do. +Had the showmen acted promptly when Phil called, they might have +been able to capture the beast then and there. + +Seeing that they were not going to do so, and that the lion was +walking slowly toward the reserved seats, Phil sprang in front of +the dangerous brute to head him off. + +The occupants of the reserved seats were standing up. The panic +might break at any minute. + +"Sit down!" came the command, in a stern, boyish voice. + +Phil faced the escaped lion, starting toward it with a +threatening motion of the whip. + +"Are you ever going to get a net?" + +"Get a net!" thundered Mr. Sparling. "Get away from him, Phil!" + +Instead of doing so, the Circus Boy stepped closer to the beast. +No one made the slightest move to capture the beast, as Phil +realized might easily be done now, if only a few had the presence +of mind to attempt it. + +Crack! + +The ringmaster's whip in Phil's hands snapped and the leather +lash bit deep into the nose of Wallace. + +With a roar that sounded louder than that of the storm outside +the lion took a quick step forward, only to get the lash on his +nose again. + +Suddenly he turned about and in long, curving bounds headed for +the lower end of the tent. Mr. Sparling sprang to one side, +knowing full well that it would be better to lose the lion than +to stir up the audience more than they already were stirred. + +Phil was in full pursuit, cracking his whip at every jump. + +Wallace leaped through the open flap at the lower end of the tent +and disappeared in the night. + +Just as he did so there came a sound different from anything that +had preceded it. A series of reports followed one another until +it sounded as if a battery of small cannon were being fired, +together with a ripping and tearing and rending that sent every +spectator in the big tent, to his feet yelling and shouting. + +"The tent is coming down! The tent is coming down!" + +Women fainted and men began fighting to get down into the arena. + +"Stay where you are!" shouted Phil. Then the Circus Boy +did a bold act. Running along in front of the seats he let +drive the lash of his long whip full into the faces of the +struggling people. The sting of the lash brought many of +them to their senses. Then they too turned to help hold +the others back. + +With a wrench, the center poles were lifted several feet up into +the air. + +"Look out for the quarter poles! Keep back or you'll be killed!" +shouted Phil. + +"Keep back! Keep back!" bellowed Mr. Sparling. + +And now the quarter poles--the poles that stand leaning toward +the center of the arena, just in front of the lower row of +seats--began to fall, crashing inward, forced to the north. + +The center poles snapped like pipe stems, pieces of them being +hurled half the length of the tent. + +Down came the canvas, extinguishing the lights and leaving +the place in deep darkness. The people were fairly beside +themselves with fright. But still that boyish voice was +heard above the uproar: + +"Sit still! Sit still!" + +The whole mass of canvas collapsed and went rolling northward +like a sail suddenly ripped from the yards of a ship. + +The last mighty blow of the storm had been more than canvas and +painted poles could stand. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE LION HUNT + +For a moment there was silence. Then the people began shouting. + +"Bring lights, men!" thundered the owner of the show. + +Being so near the outer edges of the tent, the people had escaped +almost without injury. Many had been bruised as the canvas swept +over them, knocking them flat and some falling all the way +through between the seats to the ground, where they were in +little danger. + +"Wait till the lights come! Phil! Phil!" + +Phil Forrest did not answer. He had been knocked clear into +the center of the arena by a falling quarter pole, and stunned. +The Circus Boy's head was pretty hard, however, and no more +than a minute had passed before he was at work digging his way +out of the wreck. + +"Phillip!" + +"Here!" + +"Thank heaven," muttered the showman. "I was afraid he had +been killed. Are you all right?" Mr. Sparling made his way +in Phil's direction. + +"Yes. How--how many were killed?" + +"I hope none," replied Mr. Sparling. "As soon as the lights are +on and all this stuff hauled out of the way we shall know." + +Most of the canvas had been blown from the circus arena proper +so that little was left there save the seats, a portion of the +bandstand, the wrecks of the ruined poles and circus properties, +together with some of the side walls, which still were standing. + +By this time the tornado, for such it had developed into, had +passed entirely and the moon came out, shining down into the +darkened circus arena, lighting it up brightly. + +About that time torches were brought. The people had rushed down +from the seats as soon as the big top had blown away. + +"I want all who have been injured to wait until I can see them," +shouted Mr. Sparling. "Many of you owe your lives to this +young man. Had you started when the blow came many of you would +have been killed. Has anyone been seriously hurt?" + +A chorus of "no's" echoed from all sides. + +The showman breathed a sigh of relief. A bare half dozen had to +be helped down from the seats, where they had been struck by +flying debris, but beyond that no one obeyed Mr. Sparling's +request to remain. + +The men had run quickly along under the seats to see if by any +chance injured persons had fallen through. They helped a few out +and these walked hurriedly away, bent on getting off the circus +lot as quickly as possible after their exciting experiences. + +"No one killed, Phil." + +"I'm glad of that. I'm going to look for Wallace. Better get +your men out right away, or he'll be too far away for us ever to +catch him again. Have the menagerie men gone to look for him?" + +"I don't know, Phil. You will remember that I have been rather +busily engaged for the past ten or fifteen minutes." + +"We all have. Well, I'm going to take a run and see if I can get +track of the lion." + +"Be careful. Better get your clothes on the first thing you do." + +"Guess he hasn't any. His trunk and mine have gone away +somewhere," nodded Teddy. + +"Never mind the clothes. I'm on a lion hunt now," laughed Phil, +starting from the enclosure on a run. + +"Nothing can stop that boy," muttered Mr. Sparling. The owner +was all activity now, giving his orders at rapid-fire rate. +First, the men were ordered to gather the canvas and stretch it +out on the lot so an inventory might be taken to determine in +what shape the show had been left. Others were assigned to +search the lot for show properties, costumes and the like, and in +a very short time the big, machine-like organization was working +methodically and without excitement. + +It must not be thought that nothing was being done toward +catching the escaped lion. Fully fifty men had started in +pursuit immediately after the escape. They had been detained for +a few minutes by the blow down, after which every man belonging +to the menagerie tent, who could be spared, joined in the chase. + +The lion cage, one of the few left remaining on the lot, had been +blown over as it was being taken away. The shock had burst open +the rear door and Wallace was quick to take advantage of the +opportunity to regain his freedom. An iron-barred partition +separated him from his mate. Fortunately this partition had +held, leaving the lioness still confined in the cage. + +The attendants quickly righted the cage, making fast the door +so that there might be no repetition of the disaster. + +Seeing Phil hurrying away Teddy took to his heels also, and +within a short distance caught up with his companion. + +"You going to look for that lion, Phil?" + +"Yes." + +"So am I." + +"You had better stay here, Teddy. You might get hurt." + +"What about yourself?" + +"Oh, I'm not afraid," laughed Phil. + +"Don't you call me a coward, Phil Forrest. I've got as much sand +as you have any time." + +"Why, I didn't call you a coward. I--" + +"Yes, you did; yes, you did!" + +"Don't let's quarrel. Remember we are on a lion hunt just now. +Hey, Bob." hailed Phil, discovering one of the +menagerie attendants. + +"Hello." + +"Which way did he go?" + +"We don't know. When the blow down came we lost all track +of Wallace. He's probably headed for the open country." + +"Where are the searchers?" + +"All over. A party went west, another north and the third to +the east." + +"What about the village--did no one go that way to hunt for him?" + +"No; he wouldn't go to town." + +"Think not?" + +"Sure of it." + +"Why not?" + +"He'd want to get away from the people as quick as he could. +You don't catch Wallace going into any town or any other place +where there's people." + +"I noticed that he came in under the big top where there were +about three thousand of them," replied Phil dryly. + +"He was scared; that's what made him do that." + +"And that very emotion may have sent him into the town. +I'm going over there to start something on my own hook. +Are you going along Teddy?" + +"You bet I am. I always did like to hunt lions." + +"When you are sure you are going away from the lion, instead of +in his direction," suggested Phil, laughingly. "What's that you +have in your hand?" + +"It's an iron tent stake I picked up on the lot. I'll fetch him +a wallop that'll make him see stars if I catch close enough sight +of him." + +"I don't think you will get quite that close to Wallace." + +"I'll show you." + +By this time the word had spread all over town that the +whole menagerie of the Sparling Combined Shows had escaped. +The streets were cleared in short order. Here and there, +from an upper window, might be seen the whites of the +frightened eyes of a Negro peering down, hoping to catch +sight of the wild beasts, and fearful lest he should. "If it +was an elephant we might trail him," suggested Teddy. + +"That's not a half bad idea. The dust is quite thick. I wish +we had thought to bring a torch with us." + +"I'll tell you where we can get one." + +"Where?" + +"One of the markers set up to guide the wagon drivers to the +railroad yards. There's a couple on the next street above here. +I saw them just a minute ago." + +"Teddy you are a genius. And to think I have known you all +this time and never found it out before. Come on, we'll get +the torches." + +They started on a run across an open lot, then turning into the +street above, saw the torches flaring by the roadside half a +block away. Jerking the lights up the lads ran back to the +street they had previously left. + +"Where shall we look?" + +"We might as well begin right here, Teddy. I can't help +believing that Wallace is somewhere in the town. I don't +believe, for a minute, that he would run off into the country. +If he has he'll be back in a very short time. You remember what +I tell you. If we can get track of him we'll follow and send +word back to the lot so they can come and get him." + +"Why not catch him ourselves?" + +"I don't think we two boys had better try that. I am afraid it +would prove too much for us." + +"I've got a tent stake. I'm not afraid. Why didn't you bring +a club?" + +"I have the ringmaster's whip. I prefer that to a club when it +comes to meeting a wild lion. Hello, up there!" called Phil, +discovering two men looking out of a window above him. + +"Hello yourself. You fellows belong to the circus?" + +"Yes. Have you seen anything of a lion around this part of +the town?" + +"A tall fellow about my size, with blue eyes and blonde hair," +added Teddy. + +"Stop your fooling, Teddy." + +"A lion?" + +"Yes." + +"Only one?" + +"That's all," replied Phil a bit impatiently. "Have you +seen him?" + +"Why, we heard the whole menagerie had escaped." + +"That is a mistake. Only one animal got away--the lion." + +"No; we haven't seen him, but we heard him a little while ago." + +"Where, where?" questioned the boy eagerly. + +"Heard him roar, and it sounded as if he was off in +that direction." + +"O, thank you, thank you," answered Phil. + +"Say, are you in the show did you say?" now catching sight of +Phil's tights under the bright moonlight. + +"Yes." + +"What do you do?" + +"I am in the big trapeze act, the flying rings and a few other +little things." + +"Is that so?" + +"Yes. Well, you'll have to excuse us. We must be going." + +"You boys are not going out after that lion alone, are you?" + +"Yes, of course." + +"Great Caesar! What do you think of that? Wait a minute; we'll +get our guns and join you." + +"Please, I would rather you would not. We don't want to kill the +lion, you see." + +"Don't want to kill him?" questioned the man in amazement. + +"Certainly not. We want to capture him. If the town's people +will simply stay in their homes, and not bother us, we shall get +him before morning and no one will be the worse for his escape. +Wallace is worth a few thousand dollars, I suppose you are aware. +Come along, Teddy." + +Leaving the two men to utter exclamations of amazement, the lads +started off in the direction indicated by the others. + +"What did I tell you, Teddy? That lion is in the town at this +very minute. He's probably eating up someone's fresh meat by +this time. Hold your torch down and keep watch of the street. +You keep that side and I'll watch this. We will each take half +of the road." + +The Circus Boys had been around the animals of the menagerie +for nearly three years now, it will be remembered, and they had +wholly lost that fear that most people outside the circus feel +for the savage beasts of the jungle. They thought little more +of this lion hunt, so far as the danger was concerned, than if +they had been chasing a runaway circus horse or tame elephant. + +All at once Teddy Tucker uttered an exclamation. + +"What is it?" + +"I've landed the gentleman." + +"You sure?" + +"Yes; here are his tracks." + +"That's so; you have. Don't lose them now. We'll run him +down yet. Won't Mr. Sparling be pleased?" + +"I reckon he will. But we have got to catch the cat first before +we can please anybody. I wonder how we're going to do it?" + +"We shall see about that later." + +The boys started on a trot, holding their torches close to +the ground. Their course took them about on another street +leading at right angles to the one they had been following. + +All at once they seemed to have lost the trail. Before them +stood a handsome house, set well back in a green lawn. The house +was lighted up, and evidently some kind of an entertainment was +going on within. + +"He's gone over in some of these yards," breathed Phil. +"Let's take the place that's lighted up, first. He'd be +more likely to go where there is life. He--" + +Phil's words were cut short by a shriek of terror from the +lighted house followed by another and another. + +"He's there! Come on!" + +Both boys vaulted the fence and ran to the front door. By this +time shriek upon shriek rent the air. The lads burst into the +house without an instant's hesitation. + +"Upstairs!" cried Phil, bounding up three steps at a time. + +A woman, pale and wide-eyed, had pointed that way when she saw +the two boys in their circus tights and realized what they had +come there for. + +In a large room a dozen people, pale and frightened were +standing, one man with hand on the door ready to slam it shut at +first sign of the intruder. + +"Where--where is he?" demanded Phil breathlessly. + +"We were playing cards, and when somebody looked up he saw that +beast standing in the door here looking in. He--he went down in +the back yard. Maybe you will be able to see him if you go in +the room across the hall there. There's a yard fenced off there +for the dogs to run in." + +Phil bounded across the hall followed by two of the men. + +"Does that stairway lead down into the back yard?" +questioned Phil. + +"Yes, yes." + +"Was the door open?" + +"Yes, yes." + +"Is it open now?" + +"Yes. We can feel the draft." + +"Show me into the room and I'll take a look." + +One of the men, who evidently lived in the house, stepped +gingerly across the hall, turned the knob and pushed the door +in ever so little. Phil and Teddy, with torches still in hand, +crowded in. + +As they did so their guide uttering a frightened yell, slammed +the door shut, and Phil heard a bolt shoot in place. + +The boys found themselves in a large room running the full depth +of the house. It had been rigged up, as a gymnasium, with the +familiar flying rings, parallel bars and other useful equipment. + +All this they saw instinctively. But what they saw beyond all +this caused the Circus Boys to pause almost spellbound. + +"He's in there! He's in there!" shouted half a dozen voices at +the same moment. Then the lads heard the people rush down the +stairs and out into the street shouting and screaming for help. + +Crouching in the far corner of the room, lashing its tail, its +evil eyes fixed upon them, was the lion Wallace. + +"Wow!" breathed Teddy. + +Phil with eyes fixed upon the lion reached back one hand and +tried the door behind him. It was locked. + +"Teddy, don't make any sudden moves," cautioned Phil in a +low voice. "We're locked in. Give me your torch. Now edge +over to that open window and drop out. We can't both try it, +or Wallace will be upon us in a flash. When you get out, run +for the lot. Run as you never ran before. Get the men here. +Have them rush Wallace's cage here. Be careful until you +get out. Those people have locked us in. I shouldn't dare open +the door anyway, now, for he'd catch us before we could get out. +I know the ways of these tricky cats." + +"Phil, he'll kill you!" + +"He won't. I've got the torches. They're the best weapons a man +could have--they and the whip." + +Teddy edged toward the window while Phil with a stern command +to the lion to "charge!" at the same time cracking the whip and +thrusting the torches toward the beast, checked the rush that +Wallace seemed about to make. + +Teddy dropped from the window a moment later. Then began an +experience for Phil Forrest that few boys would have had the +courage to face. + +Not for an instant did the Circus Boy lose his presence of mind. +He took good care not to crowd Wallace, giving him plenty of +room, constantly talking to him as he had frequently heard the +animal's keeper do, and keeping the beast's mind occupied as +much as he could. + +Now and then Wallace would attempt to creep up on Phil, whereupon +the lad would start forward thrusting the torches before him and +crack the whip again. Wallace was afraid of fire, and under the +menacing thrusts of the torches would back cowering into +his corner. + +For a full half hour did Phil Forrest face this deadly peril, +cool, collected, his mind ever on the alert, standing there in +his pink tights, almost a heroic figure as he poised in the light +of the flaring torches, the smoke of which got into his lungs and +made him cough. He did all he could to suppress this, for it +disturbed and irritated Wallace, who showed his disapproval by +swishing his tail and uttering low, deep growls of resentment. + +Phil backed away a little so as to get nearer the window that +he might find more fresh air. Wallace followed. Phil sprang +at him. + +"Charge!" he commanded making several violent thrusts with the +torches, at which Wallace backed away again and crouched lower. +Phil saw that the lion was preparing to jump over his head; and, +discovering this, the lad held one torch high above his head and +kept it swaying there from side to side. + +Suddenly he made another discovery. + +The light seemed to be growing dim. A quick glance at the flames +of the torches told him what the trouble was. + +He dared not let his eyes dwell on the flame for more than a +brief instant for the glare would so blind him that he would not +be able to clearly make out the lion. To lose sight of Wallace +for a few seconds might mean a sudden and quick end to Phil +Forrest, and he knew it full well. + +The lad backed a bit closer to the window, keeping his torches +moving rapidly to hide his movements. + +Wallace, watching the torches did not observe the action. + +"The torches are going out," breathed Phil. "If the folks don't +come soon I've got to jump through window glass and all or +Wallace will spring." + +Phil was in a desperate situation. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + +"Down, Wallace! Charge!" + +The Circus Boy's whip cracked viciously, while the dying +torches formed thin circles of fire as they were swung above +the lad's head. + +"I shan't be able to hold him off much longer. Wallace knows, +as well as I do, that his turn is coming in a short time. If I +happen to be within reach then, something surely is going +to happen. Hark! What's that?" + +Distant shouts were borne faintly to Phil's ears. He listened +intently, catching another and welcome sound. The latter was the +rumble of a heavy wagon, being driven rapidly along the paved +street of the town. + +"It's a circus wagon," breathed the lad, recognizing the +sound instantly. "I hope it is the wagon." + +He listened intently, keeping the torches moving, now +and then cracking his whip and uttering sharp commands +to Wallace. + +The animal was growing more and more restless. His wild +instincts were returning to him. + +The torches were so low, now, that Phil could scarcely see +the beast. Then, all at once, he realized that Wallace was +creeping toward him unmindful of the lash or of the +fading torches. + +Phil waited, peering into the shadows. He was not afraid, as he +recalled his sensations afterwards; but a strange little thrill +seemed to be racing up and down his spinal column. + +Then the lad did a daring thing. He sprang forward to +meet Wallace. The astonished lion halted for a brief instant, +and in that instant the Circus Boy thrust one of the torches +full in his face. The flame burned the nose of the king of +beasts and singed his brow as well. + +Uttering a mighty roar Wallace cleared the floor, springing +backwards and landing against the wall with such force as to +jar several panes of glass from the window nearby. + +"Phil! Phil! Are you there?" came a hesitating voice from +behind the lad. It was the voice of Teddy Tucker on a ladder +at one side of the window from which he had jumped earlier in +the evening. + +"Yes, yes. Be careful. Did you bring them?" + +"We've got the cage. Mr. Sparling is here, too. He's half +worried to death. What shall we do?" + +"Have them draw the cage up in the back yard and back it against +the open door. When that's done some of you come upstairs and +throw the door open. Be sure to leave a light in the hall, but +jump into the room across the hall as soon as you open the door. +Wallace will scent his mate and I'll wager he'll trot right +downstairs and jump into his cage. Have someone standing by to +close the doors on him. Hurry now. Tell them my torches won't +last five minutes longer." + +Teddy slid down the ladder without waiting to place feet or hand +on the rungs, and Phil's anxious ears told him the men were +drawing the cage around to the rear yard. + +Soon he heard footsteps on the back stairs. Wallace was showing +new signs of agitation. + +"All ready, in there?" + +"All ready," answered Phil. + +Teddy jerked the door open and leaping across the hall, shut +himself in the room opposite. Wallace paused, his tail beating +the wall behind him; then uttering a roar that shook the +building, the shaggy beast leaped into the hall. There he paused +for an instant. One bound took him to the foot of the stairs. +The next landed him in the cage next to his mate. The cage +doors closed behind him with a metallic snap. + +Wallace was safe. + +"Got him!" shouted a voice from below. + +Phil drew a long sigh of relief. Someone dashed up the stairs +on a run. It was Mr. Sparling. He grabbed Phil Forrest in his +arms, hugging him until the dead torches fell to the floor with +a clatter and the lad begged to be released. + +"My brave Phil, my brave boy!" breathed the showman. "No one but +you could have done a thing like that. You have saved the lives +of many people this night, and what is more you have captured the +most valuable lion in the world--you and Teddy. I don't know +what to say nor how to say it. I--" + +"I wouldn't try were I in your place," grinned Phil. "I presume +you will have to settle with these people for the slight damage +that has been done to their house." + +"I'll settle the bills; don't you worry about that." + +"Any more lions lying around loose in here?" questioned Teddy, +poking his head in through the open door. "I and my little club +are ready for them if there are." + +"Shall we be going, Mr. Sparling?" + +"Yes." + +Together the three made their way down the stairs just as the +cage was being driven from the yard. As soon as he could find +the owner of the house the showman paid him for the damages. + +"What shape is the big top in?" asked Phil as they walked slowly +back toward the lot. + +"Bad, very bad. I might say that it comes pretty near being a +hopeless wreck. Still it may be patched up." + +"I am sure of it. I know a blown-down tent is not half as +hopeless as it looks. I saw the Robinson shows with a blown-down +tent once." + +"I have been thinking the matter over, Phil." + +"Yes." + +"We have only a few days more to go before the close of the +season, and it seems to me that the best plan would be to close +right here and go in. What do you think?" + +"I think," answered Phil Forrest slowly, "that I should turn +all hands loose and fix that tent up so the show will be able +to make the next stand and give a performance by tomorrow night +at latest. It can be done. If the tent is too badly torn to +set up a six pole show, make it a four pole show, or use the +menagerie tent for the circus performance. I should never have +it said that the Sparling Combined Shows were put out of +business by a gale of wind." + +Mr. Sparling halted. + +"Phil, there is an old saying to the effect that you can't +'teach an old dog new tricks.' It's not true. You have taught +me a new trick. The Sparling shows shall go on to the close of +the season. We'll make the next town, somehow, and we'll give +them a show the like of which they never before have seen." + +"If they had been here tonight they would have seen one such as +they never saw before," grinned Teddy. + +"Yes." + +"A sort of Wild South instead of Wild West show," added the +irrepressible Teddy. + +All that night the showmen worked, Phil not even taking the time +to discard his gaudy ring clothes. The next morning both he and +Teddy were sights to behold, but the show had been loaded, and +the big top straightened out and put in shape so that it could be +pitched when the next town was reached. At last the boys decided +to hunt up their trunks. They found them, after a long search. +Getting behind a pole wagon they put on their clothes. An hour +later they were on their way to the next stand, tired but proud +of their achievements and happy. + +The news of the accident to the show, as well as the capture of +the big lion, Wallace, by the Circus Boys, had preceded them to +the next town. Once more Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker were +hailed as heroes, which they really had proved themselves to be. + +A very fair performance, considering their crippled condition, +was given that afternoon. By the next day the show was on its +feet again, and from then on to the close of the season, no other +exciting incidents occurred. + +Two weeks later the big top came down for the last time +that year. On the afternoon of that happy day, the associates +of the Circus Boys gave a banquet for the two lads under the +cook tent, at which Teddy Tucker distinguished himself by making +a speech that set the whole tent in an uproar of merriment. + +Good-byes were said, and the circus folks departed that night bag +and baggage to scatter to the four quarters of the globe, some +never to return to the Sparling shows. Phil and Teddy returned +to Edmeston to finish their course at the high school, from which +they were to graduate in the following spring. + +How the lads joined out with the circus the next season will be +told in a succeeding volume entitled, "THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE +MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River." +This was destined to be one of the most interesting journeys +of their circus careers--one filled with new and exciting +experiences and thrilling adventures. + +Until then we will leave them to continue their studies in the +little village of Edmeston. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Circus Boys in Dixie Land + diff --git a/2476.zip b/2476.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b876483 --- /dev/null +++ b/2476.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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