rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第22部分
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that wagon fixed so they would never have got off the lot with it。〃
〃Hello；〃 muttered Phil under his breath。 〃Something surely is going
on here。 One of the voices I have heard before； and the other I seem to
recognize。 I believe that first fellow belongs to the show。 I am almost
sure of it。〃
〃You think the fellow suspects？〃
〃The tall one does。 But he doesn't know whom be suspects。〃
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〃We have to take care。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But we will get both before the end of the season。〃
〃You bet we will。 I have a plan that〃
〃What is it？〃
〃It is this。〃
Phil had buried his head in the grass and compressed his body into
the smallest possible space that he might avoid discovery。 He could hear
the two men breathe； and he reasoned that they might hear him as well。
〃You know the big net？〃
〃You mean the one over which the flying four perform？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What about it？〃
〃It can be fixed。〃
〃How？〃
〃By weakening some of the strands on each side。〃
〃That is good； but suppose someone noticed。〃
〃Not if it is done right。 I don't mean to do it all at once。 I'll doctor
one or two strands every day until the net is so weakened that it won't
hold。〃
〃Yes； but how will you do this so no one will see？〃
〃I'll tell you。 After the act is over they roll the net up and carry it out。
It is dumped just outside the pad room； where it is picked up by one of the
property wagons later in the evening。 It's in the same place every night。〃
〃I think somebody may see us do it。〃
〃No danger。 Keep cool； that's all。 We'll get even with those fellows。
We have got to before we can carry out the other plans we have talked
over。 They are too sharp。 Sooner or later they will get wise to us； and
we've got to get them out of the way before we go any further。 The work
must be done in a natural sort of way； so that no suspicion is aroused。〃
〃Yes； that's so。 But what about the others？ You want to hurt them；
too？〃
〃I don't care； so long as we get the right one； how many get their
bumps。〃
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〃That's right。 But only one of them is on trapeze。 What you do
about other？〃
〃It is the tall one that I want most。 He's got to be put out of the
running。 It won't kill him； but it will lay him up in a hospital for the rest
of the season； and that's enough for us。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃The other one will be taken care of after we get through with the
first。 The small fellow is sharp； but he can't see beyond his nose。 It's
easy to fool him。〃
〃The fiends！〃 muttered Phil。 〃I believe they are plotting against
Teddy and me。 I have a good notion to sail into them right here and
settle it。 I believe I could whip the two of them。 I〃
At that instant a blade of grass tickled Phil's nose。 He raised his head
quickly。
〃What's that？〃 exclaimed one of the plotters。
〃I heard nothing。〃
〃You didn't？ Well； I did。 There's someone around here and close by
us。〃
〃Perhaps it was a squirrel in the grass。 There is no one here。〃
The blade of grass had done its work； however。 Phil tried hard to
control himself； but he knew he was going to sneeze。
All at once the sneeze came； louder than he had ever sneezed before。
The men leaped to their feet in sudden alarm。
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CHAPTER XVII
EAVESDROPPERS！
〃Look out！〃
〃There he is！〃
〃Grab him！〃
Phil had bounded to his feet； realizing that he could no longer conceal
himself from them。 As he did so； both men sprang toward him； the
Circus Boy eluding them by a leap to one side。
The men made a rush for him。 At first Phil was inclined to stand his
ground and give battle； but he reasoned that； being two to one； the chances
were against him and that even if he were not captured； he might sustain
injuries that would keep him out of the ring。
That was the deciding factor with Phil Forrest。 Although he would
have 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 they
became 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； that
is if he doesn't follow us now。 We had better separate and go back to the
lot。 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 lot
where they were soon lost among the crowd of men at work taking down
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the tent。
〃I believe one of those two men was Diaz；〃 declared Phil； as he once
more tried to place the voice that he had seemed to recognize。 〃They
have given me the slip； too。 I know what I'll do。 I will hurry back to
the boat and when Diaz returns I will face him and make him betray
himself if I can。 I shall have him then。〃
Having decided on his course of action； Phil struck off at a trot across
the field。 He soon reached a back street of the village； and from there ran
at full speed to the docks。
All was activity here。 The lad cast a quick glance about； though he
did not expect to find the man for whom he was looking。 Without
pausing 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 up
quickly； the Circus Boy started almost guiltily。 There； beside him； sat
Diaz on a camp stool with his feet on the steamer's rail； calmly watching
the 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 down
the deck。
〃Yes；〃 answered Phil； rising and moving aft。 〃How long have you
been 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。〃
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〃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 after
we get to bed and there is no one about to overhear us。 There is a rascally
plot on foot。〃
〃A plot？〃
〃Yes。 I know very little about it； but I know enough to warn me that
you and I will have to keep our eyes open or else we shall find ourselves
in serious difficulties before we realize it。〃
〃Is that so？ Tell me who the plotters are； and I'll turn January loose
on them；〃 explained Teddy。 〃Do you think they are the fellows who stole
my egg？〃
〃I don't know。 Where is Mr。 Sparling？〃
〃I haven't seen him since I ran into him and bowled him over off on
the lot。〃
Phil laughed。
〃As I have said many times before； you are hopeless； Teddy。 I must
go now。 If you see Mr。 Sparling； please let me know； but say nothing to
anyone about what I have just told you。〃
〃I won't。〃
Phil walked back to the point on the deck where he had first stopped to
look over the rail； and； drawing up a stool sat down。 He began studying
the 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 to
reflect any excitement。
