Chapter 20 A Capture In The Air

Fortunately, the band carried a new set of heads for the drum, and thecontribution of the boys served to restore the offended musicians to goodnature. Teddy, however, was not appeased. That youngster vowed thathe would take revenge on the bass drummer at the very first opportunity.

　　That afternoon, during the performance, Teddy began his getting-even process by standing in front of the bandstand between his acts, andmaking faces at the musicians.

　　This seemed to amuse them, and brought only smiles to their faces.

　　Teddy was not there for the purpose of amusing the band, so he turned hisback on them and tried to think of something more effective.

　　The show did a great business at Des Moines, having a "turn-away" atboth afternoon and evening performances. The Sparling shows hadplayed there before, but never to such business, which the showmandecided was due to their novel way of traveling. He knew that these littlenovelties frequently made fortunes for Circus owners.

　　At the evening performance, Teddy had an inspiration. He was toobusy, during the first part of the show, to give his idea a practical test, butlater in the evening, while he was awaiting his cue to go on in his clownact, he tried the new plan.

　　The lad had purchased half a dozen lemons from the refreshmentstand. One of these he cut in halves, secreting the pieces in a pocket ofhis clown costume; then when the time came he stationed himself in frontof the bandstand where he stood until he had gained the attention ofseveral of the musicians.

　　Teddy took out the two pieces of lemon with a great flourish, wentthrough the motions of sprinkling sugar over them, then began suckingfirst one piece, then the other, varying his performance by holding out thelemon invitingly to the players.

　　The bass drum player scowled. Teddy's lemon did not affect thebeating of the drum, but as the lad began to make believe that the acidjuice was puckering his lips, some of the musicians showed signs ofuneasiness.

　　The Circus Boy observing this, smacked his lips again and again, andindustriously swallowed the juice, though it nearly choked him to do so.

　　Very soon some of the players got off the key, their playing grewuneven and in some instances stopped altogether. The leader could notunderstand what the trouble was. He called out angrily to the offendingmusicians, but this seemed only to add to their troubles.

　　All at once the big German, who played the bass horn, rose from hisseat and hurled his music rack at the offending Teddy Tucker. Everythingon the bandstand came to a standstill, and the performers in the ringglanced sharply down that way, wondering what could have happened.

　　The leader turned and discovered Teddy and his lemons. He wasbeside himself with rage. He understood, now, why his musicians hadfailed. Teddy sucking the lemon had given many of them "thepuckers."It was an old trick, but it worked as well as if it had been brand new.

　　The Circus Boy was delighted. The leader experienced no suchsensations. With an angry exclamation, he leaped from the box onwhich he was standing, aiming a blow at Teddy with his baton.

　　The boy dodged it and ran laughing out into the ring, for it was nowtime for him to go on in his next act.

　　After a minute or two the band once more collected itself and the showwent on, but there were dire threats uttered against Teddy Tucker by theleader and players. The bass drummer grinned appreciatively.

　　"I wish I could think of something that would tie up that fellow withthe drum," muttered Teddy, gazing off at the drummer with resentful eyes.

　　The band leader had no scruples against carrying tales, andimmediately after the performance he hunted up Mr. Sparling and entereda complaint against the irrepressible Teddy. The result was that Teddywas given a severe lecture by the showman after they got on board theboat that night. Then Phil added a warning.

　　"Well, what about yourself?" retorted the lad.

　　"Why?""I never stirred up as much roughhouse as you did this morning. Youhad better take some of that advice to yourself."Phil laughed good-naturedly.

　　"I shall have to admit the impeachment," he said.

　　It seemed, however, as if the Sparling shows could not get alongwithout exciting incidents happening at least once in twenty-four hours.

　　They appeared to follow the Circus Boys, too, like a plague. It is likelythat, had they not followed the boys, Teddy Tucker would have gone outhunting for them.

　　The next morning something else occurred that was not a part of thedaily routine. The boats were late and the next stand was not yet in sight,so the band had not been called to work as early as on the previousmorning. The bandsmen were just rousing themselves, in response toraps on their cabin doors, when they heard rapid footsteps on the deck, andexcited shouts from several voices.

　　Teddy and Phil awakened at about the same time, having beendisturbed by the unusual sounds.

　　"Now, what is the trouble?" exclaimed Phil.

　　"Something is going on, and here I am in bed," answered Teddy,tumbling out and throwing open the blinds.

　　He saw nothing unusual. The boat was slipping along, enveloped in acloud of black smoke. The disturbance seemed to be on the other side ofthe vessel.

　　"Come on, Phil. Let's find out what it is all about. Maybe the boathas struck a rock and we are sinking. Wouldn't that be fun?""I don't see anything funny about that. It would be serious, and youand I would be out of a job for the rest of the season.""Don't you care! I have money. Didn't I give you seven-fiftyyesterday and still have some left?""Eight," grinned Phil.

　　By this time the boys had hurried out into the corridor, and thence tothe deck.

　　"Well, what do you think of that?" howled Teddy.

　　"Bruiser is out," exclaimed Phil.

　　Bruiser was a baboon, whose temper was none too angelic. He was abig heavy fellow, who never lost an opportunity to vent his temper onwhoever chanced to be within reach.

　　It seems that on this particular occasion a sleepy keeper was cleaningBruiser's cage so that it might be neat and presentable when the showopened. Bruiser had sat on a trapeze far up in the cage, watching theproceedings with resentful eyes, perhaps wondering how he mightadminister a rebuke to the keeper.

　　All at once the baboon saw his opportunity. The keeper had stoopedover to pick up something from the floor of the boat, as he stood at theopen door of the cage in the rear.

　　Bruiser projected himself toward the opening like a catapult. At thatinstant the keeper had straightened up and the baboon hit him squarelyin the face. There could be but one result. The keeper tumbled overon his back.

　　Chattering joyously, Bruiser began hopping off on all fours. First heinvestigated the tops of the cages, running over them and bringing roarsfrom the animals within. Then he hopped down and paid a visit to thehorses.

　　January sent a volley of kicks at the beast, but Bruiser was too quick,and the hoofs passed harmlessly over his head.

　　About this time the keeper had scrambled to his feet in alarm. Atfirst he did not know where the baboon had gone, but hearing thedisturbance among the horses he ran that way, soon coming uponBruiser. With a scream of defiance, the animal bolted up thecompanionway, hurriedly investigated the corridors and the main cabin,then leaped out through an open window to the hurricane deck.

　　Two other men had joined in the chase now, and it was their shoutsthat had awakened the Circus Boys.

　　"Come on, here's sport!" shouted Teddy Tucker starting on a run afterthe fleeing Bruiser. The latter tried to climb up the smoke stack andnarrowly missed being captured in the attempt. At the same time heburned his feet, filling him with rage and resentment, so that, when thekeeper grabbed him, the former's face was badly scratched.

　　Round and round the deck ran pursued and pursuers, the baboonhaving not the slightest difficulty in eluding his followers, Teddy chasinggleefully and howling at the top of his shrill voice.

　　Others joined the chase, until well nigh half the boat's company racedyelling up and down the decks. Mr. Sparling was one of the number,though he devoted most of his attention to directing the others.

　　One mast had been erected on the boat from which to fly flags, andfrom this rope braces ran off forward and aft.

　　Finally Bruiser was so hard pressed that he took to this rigging and ranup one of the ropes to the mast, where he perched on the end of a spar andappeared to mock his pursuers.

　　Poles were brought, at the direction of the owner, with which the mensought to poke Bruiser down. But the poles were too short. Then themen threw ropes and missiles at the baboon, most of which wentoverboard and were lost.

　　"It is no use. We shall have to wait until he gets ready to comedown," decided Mr. Sparling. "How did he get away?"The keeper explained.

　　"He won't come down today," added the man. "That is, so long as weare here. He is a bad one.""You do not have to tell me that. Can any of you offer suggestions?

　　I am not very strong on capturing escaped animals. Phil, how about it?"Phil shook his head.

　　"I have an idea, Mr. Sparling," spoke up Teddy.

　　"I knew you had, from the expression on your face. What is it?""I'll climb up and shake him down."A loud laugh greeted this remark.

　　"You couldn't climb up there. The mast is too slippery.""I'll show you.""Very well; go ahead.""Teddy, I think I would keep out of this, were I in your place,"remarked Phil.

　　"You keep out of it yourself. I'll show you that I know how to catchwild beasts. I haven't ridden January all this time for nothing."Teddy started in bravely to climb the mast. After a great struggle hemanaged to get up about eight feet. Suddenly he lost his grip and camesliding down, landing at the foot of the mast in a heap.

　　A shout greeted his ludicrous drop.

　　"I think you had better give it up," laughed Mr. Sparling.

　　"I won't give it up.""You cannot climb the mast.""I don't intend to. I have an idea.""What is your idea?""I will show you. Bring me a rope."The rope was quickly handed to him. The Circus Boy coiled it neatly,closely observed by the show people, who did not understand what he wasabout to do.

　　"I'm a sailor, you know," he grinned. Measuring the distanceaccurately, Teddy swung the coil about his head a few times, then let it flyup into the air, keeping the free end in one hand as he did so.

　　The coil tumbled over the yard or cross piece and came down, hittingthe deck with a thump.

　　"There. Can you beat that?" he demanded triumphantly.

　　"Very well done," agreed Mr. Sparling. "Now that it is over, what doyou propose to do next?""Watch me!"The lad made fast one end of the rope to the ship's rail, the baboonpeering down suspiciously.

　　"Oh, I'm after you, you rascal," jeered Teddy, shaking a fist at the uglyface above him.

　　After testing the rope, Teddy began climbing it hand over hand. Thenthe spectators divined his purpose.

　　"The boy is all right," nodded Mr. Sparling approvingly. "That is thetime that he got the best of you, Phil.""He is welcome to the job," answered Phil. "You haven't captured thebaboon yet."Teddy, by this time, was halfway up the mast. It seemed a dizzyclimb, but the lad was so used to being up high that he did not mind it inthe least.

　　"Hey, down there!" he called.

　　"What is it?""Better get out a small net so you can catch him. I'm going to shakehim down as I would a ripe apple. If you catch him in the net he willtangle himself up so that he cannot get away.""That is a good idea," approved Mr. Sparling. "Get the net, and holdit in readiness."Teddy, in the meantime, was working his way up. After a time hishands grasped the crossbar and he pulled himself up astride it, waving onehand to those below him.

　　Bruiser, however, was not there. The baboon had scrambled to thetop of the mast on which there was a golden ball, and on this he perchedsome eight or nine feet above Teddy Tucker's head.

　　"Now where is your baboon?" called a voice.

　　"Where he cannot get away from me unless he jumps into theMississippi," answered Teddy quickly.

　　"How are you going to get him?" called Mr. Sparling.

　　"I'll see when I get to him."With great caution, the lad climbed up the slender top of the mast.

　　Bruiser's tail hung over, while he clung with his feet, glaring down atTeddy. The baboon realized that he could not get away.

　　"Come down here!" commanded Teddy, grabbing the beast's tail andgiving it a mighty tug.

　　Bruiser's grip gave way. Down shot Teddy and the baboon. Butthe cross-tree saved him, as the lad figured that it would. One hand wasclinging to Bruiser's tail, the other arm thrown about the mast.

　　Now, Bruiser took a hand. With a snarl of rage he fastened in the hairof Teddy Tucker's head, causing that young man to howl lustily.

　　For a moment boy and baboon "mixed it up" at such a lively rate that itwas difficult for the spectators below to tell which was boy and whichbaboon. Teddy seemed to be getting the worst of it.

　　"Look out! Let go of him! You will be in the river the first thingyou know!" shouted Mr. Sparling warningly.

　　Teddy did not hear him. He was too busy, at the moment, trying tokeep those savage teeth from fastening themselves in his neck, for whichthe beast seemed to be aiming. At the same time the boy was gettingmore and more angry. It was characteristic of Teddy that, the angrier hebecame, the cooler he grew.

　　He was guarding himself as best he could and watching his chance toget the upper hand of his antagonist.

　　All at once Teddy let drive a short-arm blow at the head of the baboon.

　　Few things could withstand that blow, and least of all a baboon. Itlanded fairly on the grinning jaws and Bruiser's head jolted backwards asif it were going right on into the river.

　　Teddy lost his balance, aided in this by the fact that Bruiser hadfastened to the lad's pajamas.

　　"They're going to fall!" roared Mr. Sparling. "Catch them! Catchthem!"The men hastened to move the net, and none too soon, for Teddy andBruiser came whirling down, the lad making desperate efforts to righthimself so as to drop on his feet. But the baboon prevented his doingthis.

　　They struck the net, which was jerked from the hands of the men, andTeddy hit the deck with a terrific bump.