Chapter 10 All Aboard For The Gulf!

　　Day was breaking.

　　Clouds of dense black smoke were rolling from the funnels of theSparling fleet, while steam was hissing from the overburdened safetyvalves.

　　The show was ready for its start down the river. The "Little Nemo"had already hoisted anchor and was drifting with the current awaiting thesignal to start her engines.

　　"All ashore that's going," sang a voice on each of the two boats lyingat the dock.

　　The boats' whistles broke out in three deafening, prolonged blastseach.

　　"Cast off!" bellowed the pilots.

　　Hawsers were hauled in and the distance between the dock and theboats slowly widened.

　　"We're off," shouted Teddy, waving his hat joyously.

　　"We will be more so, unless we get some sleep," warned Phil. "Iwould suggest that you and I turn in for a few hours. We both need abeauty sleep.""I don't," answered Teddy promptly.

　　"Think not?""No, sir. I'm handsome enough as it is. Even the fool donkeystands aghast when he comes face to face with my surpassing beauty.""How about the elephants?" twinkled Phil.

　　"Elephants don't count, at least not after twelve o'clock at night.""I move that we turn in just the same. We will sleep until sometimebefore noon, then we can get up and enjoy the ride. I understand weshall not reach the next stand until sometime this evening. This isgoing to be a great trip, Teddy.""It has been," nodded the other boy. "Where do we show first?""Milroy, I believe is the name of the place. I never heard of itbefore.""And probably you never will want to again, after you have beenthere. That is the case with most of these little tank towns. A fellowwonders where all the people come from who go to the show."The lads went to their cabin and were soon sound asleep. Theyrealized how tired they were when first they got into bed.

　　"This is great!" muttered Phil, as, lying in his bed, he felt the cool airdrifting in over him.

　　When they awakened the sun was at its zenith.

　　Phil consulted his watch.

　　"Wake up, Teddy. It is twelve o'clock."Teddy sleepily dragged himself from his bed, pulled himself wearily tothe window and threw open the blinds.

　　"Where are we?" asked Phil.

　　"Ask the pilot," grumbled Teddy. "How do you suppose I know?

　　This water looks like a big mud puddle. I'm hungry; aren't you?""Yes, I am. What are we going to do for breakfast? I never thoughtto bring along a lunch.""I've got an egg," chuckled Teddy.

　　"You are welcome to it. I don't care for any, thank you."Just then there came a rap on their door.

　　Phil opened it and looked out.

　　"Mr. Sparling wishes to know if you are ready for breakfast?" askedthe man, whom they recognized as the showman's personal servant.

　　"Am I ready for breakfast?" shouted Teddy. "Tell Mr. Sparling heought to know better than to ask a question like that. What's this, a joke?

　　We can't get any breakfast on this old tub.""Mr. Sparling directs me to ask you to join him in his cabin forbreakfast in ten minutes.""Thank you. Tell him we shall be on hand," smiled Phil.

　　"I hope it isn't a joke," grumbled Teddy, pulling on his trousers.

　　"Now, isn't that fine of Mr. Sparling, old fellow?" asked Phil, withglowing eyes.

　　"Tell you better after I sample the breakfast. I'm suspicious.""You need not be. Mr. Sparling would not be so unkind as to inviteus to eat breakfast with him unless he had some breakfast to offer us.""Well, I hope it's straight," muttered the doubting Teddy. A fewminutes later the lads presented themselves at the door of the owner'scabin.

　　"Good morning, boys; how did you sleep last night?" he greeted them,with a cordial smile and a handshake for each.

　　"I was dead to the world," answered Teddy, with his customarybluntness of speech.

　　"I guess we all were," smiled the showman. "All day and all nightwas rather trying, but we shall not have the same trouble after this; at leastnot after the next stand. Everything should be in excellent working orderafter Monday. Sit down and have some breakfast with me."An appetizing meal had been spread in the cabin. Teddy surveyedthe table with wistful eyes.

　　"I did not know you were going to serve meals on board," said Phil.

　　"I am not, generally speaking. This is different. I would not ask ourpeople to go all day without anything to eat. I have had a cold mealprepared in the main cabin, with hot coffee to wash it down. I thoughtyou boys might like to join me here for a real meal. Having a real mealis one of the privileges of the owner of the show, you know," replied Mr.

　　Sparling, with a hearty laugh, in which the boys joined.

　　"I was going to eat my egg," said Teddy humorously.

　　"It is very kind of you, Mr. Sparling," said Phil. "We were justwondering what we should do for breakfast, and Teddy, as he has just toldyou, was thinking of eating the ostrich egg.""Raw?""I presume so," replied Phil, with a short laugh.

　　"It would make a fellow strong," declared Teddy in defense of his egg.

　　"I agree with you, my boy. I ate a piece of one once, and it was quitethe strongest thing I ever tackled.""That's a joke. Ha, ha!" replied Teddy, with serious face.

　　The lads were, by this time, on such terms of intimacy with theiremployer that they felt free to talk with him as they would to each other.

　　At least Phil did, and in all probability Tucker would have done so at anyrate.

　　"Do we unload tonight, Mr. Sparling?" questioned Phil.

　　"No, I think not. Tomorrow morning will be time enough. I neverlike to do any more work on Sunday than is absolutely necessary."Phil nodded his approval.

　　"I believe in observing the day, and besides, our people need the restand the relaxation. That reminds me of what I wanted to say. You did avery clever piece of work last night, both of you."Teddy glanced up in surprise.

　　"Yes; I got a roughhouse from the donkey and the elephant. I'm asort of a good thing all around. When the fool donkey gets throughwiping up a whole county with me, the elephant takes a hand--a trunk, Imean--and lands me high and dry on the roof of the 'Fat Marie.'""You mean the deck," corrected Phil.

　　"I don't know what you call it, but it was hard enough when I struck it.

　　Next time I'm going to have a net spread to catch me. I'll bet I would havemade a hit in the ring with that donkey wrestling bout. I guess I will tryit on some of these times, providing I can get the donkey to work the wayhe did last night.""As I said before, there is something I want to ask you, Phil," repeatedthe showman.

　　"Yes, sir.""Did it not strike you that Jupiter acted very peculiarly last night?""Yes. I did not see the first of it, but I saw enough.""What did you think about it?""I did not know what to think."The showman shot a keen glance at the Circus Boy's thoughtful,serious face.

　　"What do you think today?""That it was perfectly natural for Jupiter to balk going across thegangplank.""How about him having hurled Teddy to the deck of the 'Fat Marie'?""That is different.""Did it arouse any suspicions in your mind, my boy?"Phil reflected for a moment, toying absently with his fork.

　　"Candidly, it did, Mr. Sparling. It struck me as peculiar at the time,and, as I thought it over, I became more and more convinced that therewas some reason for Jupiter's action beyond what we saw."The showman nodded, as if Phil's suggestion agreed with his ownideas.

　　"What do you think happened?" he asked.

　　"What do you think?""I will confess that I don't know, Phil. You had some reason fordriving everyone away from the bulls there on the dock, did you not?""Yes, I did not want anyone to bother them while we were trying to getthem on board.""I understand," said Mr. Sparling, with a nod.

　　"Did you notice who was there on the dock at the time, Mr. Sparling?""No, not particularly.""Was it some of the show people?""I am unable to say. I saw you drive two men off in particular, but Idid not look at them closely. Did you know them?""Perhaps. They got away rather too quickly for me to make sure.""Who do you think they were?"Phil did not answer at once.

　　"Come, who were they, Phil?""I don't know, Mr. Sparling.""I did not mean it exactly that way. You think you recognized them,and as I said before, I want to know who you think the men were?""I would rather not say, Mr. Sparling," answered the Circus Boy,looking his employer squarely in the eye.

　　"It is your duty to tell me.""Not unless I am sure. It would be unjust to do so, and I know youwould not wish to force me to be unjust.""You are a queer boy, Phil Forrest," said the showman, gazing at thelad intently.

　　"I wish I knew who I thought they were, if they had anything to dowith my aerial flight last night," growled Teddy. "They would havereason to think a Kansas cyclone had struck them."No one paid any attention to Teddy's remark.

　　"I will tell you what I think, however, Mr. Sparling," continued Phil.

　　"That's what I am trying to get you to do.""I think some person with evil intent did something to Jupiter toanger him, thus causing him to turn on Teddy. And it is my opinion thatif you will examine the animal you will find the evidences on the animalhimself," declared the Circus Boy boldly.

　　Mr. Sparling uttered an angry exclamation.

　　Teddy, who had tilted back in his chair as he listened to theconversation, went crashing to the floor, overturning table, dishes and all.

　　That broke up the conference of the morning.