rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第20部分
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the wheelman might get a clear view on all sides。
All at once Cummings seemed to feel some presence near him。 He
thought he caught the sound of a footfall on the deck。 To make sure he
left the wheel for a few seconds； peering out along the deck； on both sides
of the pilot house。
He saw no one。 The air was filled with a black pall of smoke from
the 〃Marie's〃 funnel； the smoke settling over the boat； wholly enveloping
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her from her stack to the stern paddle wheel。
〃Huh！〃 grunted the pilot； returning to his duties。
Yet his ears had not deceived him。 Something was near him； a
strange shape； the like of which never had been seen on the deck of the
〃Fat Marie〃； in all her long service on the Mississippi。
〃If that fool boy comes nosing around here I'll throw him overboard
that's what I'll do；〃 threatened Cummings。 〃I'll show him he can't fool
with the pilot of the finest steamboat of the old line。 I〃
The pilot suddenly checked himself and peered out to starboard。
〃Whawhat？〃 he gasped。
Something darkened the doorway。 What he now saw was a strange；
grotesque shape that looked like a shadow itself in the uncertain light of
the early morning。
〃Get out of here！〃 bellowed the pilot； the cold chills running up and
down his spine。
The most frightful sound that his ears had ever heard； broke suddenly
on the quiet of the Mississippi night。
〃It's the lion escaped！〃
Cummings grabbed a stout oak stick that lay at handthe stick that
now and then； when battling with a stiff current； he used to insert
between the spokes of the steering wheel to give him greater leverage。
With a yell he brought the stick down on the head of the strange
beast。 The roar or bray of the animal stopped suddenly。
Whack！ came the echo from the club。
Cummings sprang back。 He slammed the pilot…house door in the face
of the beast； and closed the windows with a bang that shook the pilot
house。 In his excitement the pilot rang in a signal to the engineer for full
speed astern。
About that time something else occurred。
With a terrific crash one of the windows of the pilot house was
shattered； pieces of glass showering in upon the pilot like a sudden storm
of hail。
Crash！
Another window fell in a shower about him。 He tried to get the door
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on the opposite side of the pilot house open； but locked it instead and
dropped the key on the floor。
All this time the 〃Fat Marie's〃 paddle wheel was backing water and the
craft； now swung almost broadside to the stream； was working her way
over toward the Iowa shore。
Bang！
A section of the pilot…house door fell shattering on the inside； and what
sounded like a volley of musketry； rattled against the harder woodwork of
the pilot house itself。
Frightened almost out of all sense； Cummings began groping excitedly
for his revolver。 At last he found it； more by accident than through any
methodical search for it。
The pilot began to shoot。 Some of his bullets went through the roof；
others through the broken out windows； while a couple landed in the door。
At last the half…crazed Cummings was snapping the hammer on
empty chambers。 He had emptied his revolver without hitting anything
more than wood and water。
The fusillade from the outside still continued。
By this time the din had begun to arouse the passengers on the boat。
Phil Forrest was the first to spring up。 He shook Teddy by the shoulder；
but； being unable to awaken his companion； jerked the boy out of bed and
let him drop on the floor。
〃Get a net！ What's the matter down there！〃 yelled Teddy。 〃Hey； hey；
did the mule kick me？ Oh； that you Phil？ What's the rowwhat has
happened？〃
〃I don't know。 Come on out。 Something has gone wrong。 Hear
those shots？〃
〃Wow！ Trouble！ That's me！ I knew I couldn't dream about angels
without something breaking loose。〃
Phil had thrown the door open and bounded out to the deck。 Just as
he did so the pilot leaped from the front window of the pilot house；
climbed over the rail and dropped to the deck below。 The volleying；
the thunderous blows still continued。
A loud bray attracted their attention to the other side of the boat。
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〃What's that？〃 demanded Phil； starting off in that direction。
〃It's January！ It's January！〃 howled Teddy Tucker。 〃I would know
that sweet voice if I heard it in the jungles of Africa。 Where is he？〃
〃Over here somewhere。 Come on。 I can't imagine what has
happened。〃
〃The animals have escaped。 There's a lion on the hurricane deck！〃
they heard a voice below shout in terrified tones。
〃Do you think that's it？〃 called Phil。
〃Lion； nothing！ Didn't I tell you I knew that voice？ There he is
now。 See him hand out the hoofs at the pilot house。 He must have a
grudge against Cummings。 I know。 He's paying the fellow back for
trying to tie me up。〃
〃Butbut； how did he ever get up here？〃
〃Go it； January！ Kick the daylights out of him！ I'll give you a
whole peck of sugar if you kick the house into the river； pilot and all。〃
〃Whoa！ Whoa； January！〃 shouted Phil。
The donkey； for it was January himself； and not a savage beast that
was acting the part of a battering ram and rapidly demolishing the pilot
house； paused for a second； then； moving to a new position； he began
once more hammering at the structure。
〃How did he ever get up here； Teddy？〃
〃I don't know。 I know I am glad he did； that's all。 Let him kick。〃
〃I'm going to try to catch him。〃
〃Keep away； Phil。 He'll have you in the river。 He has a fit。 Wait
till he comes out of it。〃
〃Why； the boat is moving backwards；〃 cried Phil。
〃No！〃
〃Yes； it is。〃
〃Maybe January has kicked the machinery out of gear。〃
The circus people were by this time on deck； and； like Teddy and Phil；
many of them were in their pajamas。 They had heard the cry； 〃the
animals have escaped；〃 and many of the people were gazing
apprehensively about。
〃It's all right；〃 shouted Teddy。 〃It is only January； taking his morning
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exercise。〃
About that time Phil； who had run around to the other side of the pilot
house； discovered that it was empty。 There was no pilot there。
Understanding came to him instantly。 January had either kicked or
frightened Cummings out。
〃The boat is running wild！〃 he called。 〃Find the pilot or we shall be
on the shore before we know it。〃
Phil did not wait for them to find the pilot。 Instead； he climbed in
through one of the broken windows and grasped the wheel。
〃I've got to stop this going astern first of all；〃 he decided。
He could see the banks now； and they seemed perilously near in the
faint morning light。 The other boats of the fleet were steaming up in
answer to the signals of distress that Cummings had blown in his
excitement。
〃What is it？ Are you sinking？〃 called a voice through a megaphone
from the deck of the 〃River Queen。〃
〃No； we are all right；〃 answered Phil； leaning out of the window。
〃You'll be high and dry on the Iowa shore if you don't watch sharp。
Where are you going？〃
〃Don't know。 Keep out of the way or we're liable to run you down。〃
Phil grabbed a bell pull and gave it a violent jerk。 The engines
stopped suddenly； to the Circus Boy's great delight。 January had ceased
his bombardment and now stood with head thrust though one of the
broken windows； gazing in inquiringly at Phil Forrest。
〃If one bell stopped the engine； another bell should be the signal to go
ahead；〃 reasoned the lad； giving the bell pull two quick jerks。 He was
right。 The machinery started and he could hear the big paddle wheel
beating the river into a froth。
The lower deck was in an uproar。 Men were shouting and running
about； trying to discover what animals had escaped； as the pilot insisted
that the hurricane deck was alive with them。
〃Get that pilot up here； if you have to drag him。 I don't know where
the channel is； and I am
