Chapter 17 Eavesdroppers!

　　"Look out!""There he is!""Grab him!"Phil had bounded to his feet, realizing that he could no longer concealhimself from them. As he did so, both men sprang toward him, theCircus Boy eluding them by a leap to one side.

　　The men made a rush for him. At first Phil was inclined to stand hisground and give battle, but he reasoned that, being two to one, the chanceswere against him and that even if he were not captured, he might sustaininjuries that would keep him out of the ring.

　　That was the deciding factor with Phil Forrest. Although he wouldhave preferred facing his enemies, he whirled instead and started on a run,with both men pursuing him at top speed.

　　"He's out-running us. He'll get away!" cried one of the men. "Run,run! Run for all you're worth!"But they might as well have spared their effort. Phil was fleet of foot,and after getting a slight lead over them he turned sharply to his right,leaped a fence and lay down.

　　The men quickly discovered that they had lost their prey. Then theybecame alarmed.

　　"Get out of here, quick! He will be following us!"The men turned and ran swiftly in an opposite direction.

　　"Do you think he recognized us?""I don't know. We can tell by the way he acts when we get back; thatis if he doesn't follow us now. We had better separate and go back to thelot. From there we can go along with the wagons and not be noticed.

　　Don't let him bluff you.""Have no fear for me."The plotters separated and cautiously made their way back to the lotwhere they were soon lost among the crowd of men at work taking downthe tent.

　　"I believe one of those two men was Diaz," declared Phil, as he oncemore tried to place the voice that he had seemed to recognize. "Theyhave given me the slip, too. I know what I'll do. I will hurry back tothe boat and when Diaz returns I will face him and make him betrayhimself if I can. I shall have him then."Having decided on his course of action, Phil struck off at a trot acrossthe field. He soon reached a back street of the village, and from there ranat full speed to the docks.

　　All was activity here. The lad cast a quick glance about, though hedid not expect to find the man for whom he was looking. Withoutpausing in his rapid gait he ran up the companionway to the upper deck,where he intended to watch at the rail for the arrival of Diaz from the lot.

　　As he leaned over the rail he felt someone stir near him. Glancing upquickly, the Circus Boy started almost guiltily. There, beside him, satDiaz on a camp stool with his feet on the steamer's rail, calmly watchingthe loading operations on the deck below.

　　"Good evening, Mr. Diaz," said Phil quickly recovering his self-possession.

　　Diaz uttered an unintelligible grunt, but did not deign to turn his head.

　　"Hey, Phil, is that you?" called the voice of Teddy from further downthe deck.

　　"Yes," answered Phil, rising and moving aft. "How long have youbeen here?""About an hour.""Do you know who is sitting over there?""Over where?""There by the rail?""Sure, I know. That's our old friend Diaz," grinned Teddy.

　　"How long has he been there?""He came in when I did." "An hour ago?""Yes."Phil was perplexed.

　　"I do not understand it at all.""Don't understand what?""Something that occurred this evening."Teddy's curiosity was aroused.

　　"What is it all about, Phil?""I should prefer not to talk about it here, Teddy. I will tell you afterwe get to bed and there is no one about to overhear us. There is a rascallyplot on foot.""A plot?""Yes. I know very little about it, but I know enough to warn me thatyou and I will have to keep our eyes open or else we shall find ourselvesin serious difficulties before we realize it.""Is that so? Tell me who the plotters are, and I'll turn January looseon them," explained Teddy. "Do you think they are the fellows who stolemy egg?""I don't know. Where is Mr. Sparling?""I haven't seen him since I ran into him and bowled him over off onthe lot."Phil laughed.

　　"As I have said many times before, you are hopeless, Teddy. I mustgo now. If you see Mr. Sparling, please let me know, but say nothing toanyone about what I have just told you.""I won't."Phil walked back to the point on the deck where he had first stopped tolook over the rail, and, drawing up a stool sat down. He began studyingthe faces of the belated performers who came straggling down to the dock,singly and in pairs. None seemed to be in a hurry; not a face appeared toreflect any excitement. After an hour of this Phil felt sure that all thecompany had been accounted for.

　　Mr. Sparling had arrived about twenty minutes earlier, and wasstanding on the dock giving orders. As the lad saw the owner enter theboat he turned away and hurried downstairs.

　　"When you are at liberty, I should like a few moments conversationwith you, sir," announced Phil.

　　"I am at liberty, now, my lad," answered the showman with a smile anda friendly slap on the boy's shoulder.

　　"I would rather not talk here, Mr. Sparling," answered Phil in a lowtone.

　　"Something doing, eh?""There is.""Is it important that you should talk with me at once, or will a littlelater on answer the purpose?""Later on will do. It is not so urgent as that.""When the men get these menagerie cages all shifted on deck I willmeet you in my cabin. That will be in about twenty minutes, Phil.""Very well, sir; I will be on hand."Phil walked away, watched the loading operations for a few minutes,then strolled to the main cabin on the upper deck, where lunch was beingserved as usual.

　　The Circus Boy appeared more light-hearted than usual that evening,as he chatted and joked with his friends among the performers. He didnot wish the man or men whom he had overheard off on the lot to knowthat he was the eavesdropper. He felt that he could make better progressin his investigation were they not on their guard.

　　The pilot, Cummings, was not in the cabin. He had not been seenthere since his trouble with Teddy. Despite the pilot's determination toresign, he was still on duty, he and Mr. Sparling having come to asatisfactory understanding.

　　Teddy was helping himself liberally for the second time since hisreturn from the lot.

　　"Do you think you will ever be able to satisfy that appetite of yours?"laughed Phil.

　　"I hope not," answered Teddy solemnly. "That's the only fun in life-thatand the donkey."Just then Mr. Sparling passed through the cabin on the way to hisstateroom and office. He gave Phil a significant glance, to which theCircus Boy did not respond. A few minutes later, however, Phil strolledout to the deck. Reaching it he turned quickly and hurried aft, enteringthe passageway there and going directly to Mr. Sparling's quarters.

　　"Come in," invited the owner in response to Phil's gentle rap.

　　The blinds had been drawn up, though the windows were let down intotheir casings out of sight. Phil noted this in a quick glance.

　　"Sit down and tell me what has happened, Phil. I am sure you havemade some sort of discovery.""I have and I haven't.""What do you mean?""That I am deeper in the mire than ever.""Tell me about it.""While I have made no discoveries that will help us much, I havelearned just enough to understand that there is a diabolical plot on foot.""Against whom?""I am not sure, but I think it is against Teddy and myself.""Is it possible? Who are the plotters?""That is the worst of it; I do not know. I wish I did. I thought Ihad one of the men identified, but I find I am all wrong. I am more atsea than ever." "Who did you think it was?""As long as I am mistaken, why should I accuse anyone?""You are right. Have you reason to believe it is someone connectedwith this show?""I am sure that at least one of the men is.""Then there is more than one in this thing?""There are two men. At least I have seen two. There may be morefor all I know.""Now, tell me what it is all about. You haven't said a word regardingthis plot yet," urged the showman drawing his chair around the corner ofhis desk and leaning forward with his hands on his knees.

　　Phil told how he strolled off into the field adjoining the circus lot, andwent on in detail to relate all that had occurred after that. As heproceeded with his story the face of James Sparling grew serious and thenstern.

　　"I presume I should have stood my ground and given battle to them, iffor no other reason than to find out who they were," concluded the lad,somewhat ruefully.

　　"Phil Forrest, you should have done nothing of the sort," answered Mr.

　　Sparling sharply. "You take quite enough risk as it is. You think theplot now is to tamper with the big net?""Yes, sir.""Is it possible that such scoundrels are traveling with the Sparlingshows?""I wish I did not think so.""Phil, it is not the man who was responsible for several accidents thefirst year you were with us, is it?" demanded the showman shrewdly,darting a sharp glance at Phil.

　　"No, sir," answered the boy flushing a little. "That man is no longerwith the show.""I thought so. Now I have him located.""The--the man I saw tonight--you know him?" gasped Phil.

　　"No. I did not mean that. I refer to the fellow who nearly causedyour death three years ago.""Oh!""You had some trouble with Diaz a short time ago, did you not?"Phil was surprised that the showman was aware of this.

　　"Yes.""Where is Diaz tonight?" demanded the showman almost sternly.

　　"In his stateroom, or else out on deck.""Are you sure?"Phil nodded.

　　"What time did he return from the lot?""He was here when I went on deck. He came to the boat directlyafter the performance.""You are sure of this?""I am.""You are a very shrewd young man, sir," said Mr. Sparling, with amirthless smile. "However, these guilty men must be found andpunished. You think their first efforts will be directed toward the net?""Yes, according to what I overheard. I have an idea, however, thatthey will not do so at once, fearing they may have been recognized, or atany rate that their plans are known to someone else.""Do you think they recognized you?""I do not. I did not speak. I was on the point of doing so, thenchecked myself.""Right! You are one in a hundred. I will have a watch kept on thenet, and an examination made of it before every performance."Phil smiled faintly.

　　"I am not afraid for myself.""No, that's your greatest failing. You are not afraid of anything andyou take very long chances. I hope you will be more cautious in thefuture. You must be careful, Phil, and you had better caution yourpartner, Teddy Tucker. Does he know of this?""No, but I intend to tell him. He is more interested in the possibilityof recovering his egg than in any personal danger to himself or to me,"said the Circus Boy with a short laugh.

　　"Keep your eyes open, and take care of yourself. If we fail to get aclue by the time we get to Des Moines I shall send to St. Louis for the bestdetective they have and put him on the case. Perhaps it would be best todo so now.""I think--" began Phil, when his words were arrested by a loud noisejust outside the cabin, on the deck.

　　Mr. Sparling and Phil started up, for the instant not understanding themeaning of the disturbance.

　　"Wha--what--" gasped the showman.

　　Phil ran to the window and looked out.

　　The deck at that point was deserted. He thought he saw a figuredodge into an entrance near the stern of the boat, and looking forward hediscovered another disappearing in that direction.

　　The Circus Boy sprang for the door.

　　"What is it, what is it?" cried the showman.

　　"Eavesdroppers!" answered the lad, darting out into the passageway,followed closely by Mr. Sparling.

　　"You go that way and I'll go this," directed Phil.