rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第24部分
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Phil rushed out at the stern and started to run along the starboard side
of the boat。 As he emerged he caught sight of a figure running toward
him； and behind the figure； Mr。 Sparling； coming along the deck in great
strides。
〃Stop！ We've got you！〃 shouted the showman。
Phil spread out his arms as the fleeing one drew near him； then threw
them about the fellow； holding him in a firm grip。
〃I've got him； Mr。 Sparling！〃
〃Leggo of me！ What's the matter with you？ Anybody would think
this was a high school initiation。〃
〃Teddy；〃 groaned Phil。
〃What's that？〃 demanded the showman jerking Phil and his prisoner
over to an open window through which a faint light was showing。
〃It is Teddy Tucker； sir；〃 said Phil releasing his hold。
〃What does this mean； sir？〃 demanded the showman in a stern voice。
〃That's what I want to know。 You fellows chase me around the boat
as if I were some kind of a football。 It's a wonder one of you didn't kick
me。 Lucky for you that you didn't； too； I can tell you。〃
〃Teddy； come to my cabin at once。 Phil； bring him along； will you？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Phil Forrest。 Phil was troubled。 He could not
believe it possible that Teddy was guilty of eavesdropping； and yet the
evidence seemed to point strongly in that direction。 Taking firm hold of
his companion's arm he led him along toward Mr。 Sparling's cabin。
〃What's all this row about？〃 growled Teddy。
〃That is what I hope you will be able to explain to Mr。 Sparling's
satisfaction；〃 replied Phil。 〃However； wait till we get to his cabin。〃
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Phil led Teddy to the door； thrust him in； then followed； closing and
locking the door。
〃Perhaps we had better close that window this time； sir。〃
〃Yes。〃
Mr。 Sparling drew up and locked the window。
〃Sit down！〃 he commanded； eyeing Teddy keenly。
Teddy sat down dutifully and was about to place his feet on the
showman's desk when Phil nudged him。
〃Now； sir； what does this mean？〃
〃What does what mean？ I never was any good at guessing riddles。〃
〃What do you mean by eavesdropping at my cabin window？〃
〃Oh； was that your window？〃
〃It was and it is。 And unless you can offer a satisfactory explanation；
something will have to be done。 That is one of the things that I shall not
tolerate。 I can scarcely believe you guilty of such a disgraceful act。
Unfortunately； you have admitted it。〃
〃Admitted what？〃
〃That you were listening at my window。〃
〃I never said anything of the sort。〃
〃No； not in so many words； but when I asked you what you meant by
doing so； you answered； 'Oh； was that your window？'〃
〃Certainly I said it。〃
〃Then will you kindly explain why？〃
〃I wasn't listening at your window。 I wasn't within half a blockhalf
a boat； I meanof it。 What do you think I am？〃
〃Well； Teddy； for a minute I thought you had been guilty of an
inexcusable act but upon second thought I begin to understand that it is
impossible。 There is some misunderstanding here。〃
Phil looked relieved； but Teddy was gazing at the showman with half…
closed eyes。
〃While Phil and myself were holding a confidential conversation here；
someone was listening to us under that window。 All at once the blind fell
with a crash〃
〃And so did the other fellow；〃 interrupted Teddy； his eyes lighting up
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mischievously。
〃Phil looked out quickly。 He thought he saw someone dodging into
the entrance aft； and at the same time he was sure someone was doing the
same thing forward。〃
〃I was the fellow who dodged in the forward entrance。 Then you
fellows started a sprinting match with me。〃
〃Why did you run？〃
〃Oh； I suppose I might as well tell you all about it。〃
〃Yes； if we are to make any headway it will be best to let you tell your
story in your own way；〃 answered Mr。 Sparling with a grim smile。
〃I was halfway between here and the pilot house； sitting down on the
deck； leaning against the side of the deck…house。 I had just gone to
sleep； at least I think I had； when I woke up suddenly。 I saw somebody
down this way peeping in at a window。 I became curious。 I wondered
if he was the fellow who stole my egg； so I got up to investigate。 Just
then he saw me。〃
〃Well； what happened？〃
〃He was standing on a box。 The box tipped over or he jumped off； I
don't know which。 I thought he was chasing me； and I ran。〃
〃Afraid； eh？〃 jeered Phil。
〃No； I wasn't afraid。 I just ran because I needed the exercise； that's
all。 Do you think he really had my egg？〃
〃Who was the man； Teddy？〃
〃How do I know？〃
〃You saw him。 Could you notdid you not recognize him？〃
〃No； it was too dark。 I didn't wait long after I first discovered him；
you know。 I thought maybe it was that fellow Cummings； laying for me。
I wish January had finished him while he had the chance。〃
〃You noticed nothing familiar about him？〃
〃Yes； I did。〃
〃What？〃
〃He looked like some kind of a man；〃 answered Teddy solemnly。
〃Oh； fudge！〃
〃You say he was standing on a box？〃
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〃Something of the sort。〃
Mr。 Sparling went out； leaving the boys alone for a few minutes。
When he returned he brought with him a small square box which he
examined very carefully。
〃Do you recognize it？〃 asked Phil。
〃Yes； it is one in which the candy butcher received some goods。 It
might have been picked up by anyone。 I will find out where he left it。
This may give us some slight clue。 It is quite evident； boys； that we have
among us one or more dangerous men。 Teddy； I offer you my humble
apology for having suspected you for a moment。 The thought was
unworthy。〃
〃Don't mention it；〃 answered the Circus Boy airily。
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CHAPTER XIX
TEDDY JOINS THE BAND
〃I would suggest that you divide the band into two parts and have
them play on deck as we approach the next stand；〃 said Phil later that
evening。
〃I think that a most excellent plan；〃 decided Mr。 Sparling。 〃We will
work it whenever we get in after daylight。 It might not be a bad idea to
try it tomorrow morning。 I'll allow the musicians overtime for it； so there
should be no objection on their part。 We will make a triumphal entry into
Des Moines； providing nothing happens to us in the meantime。〃
Mr。 Sparling's face darkened as he thought of the dastardly attempts
that had been made against his young charges。
〃I will see the leader before I turn in。 You had better go to bed now；
Phil。 You have been keeping pretty late hours and working unusually
hard。 Good night。〃
〃Good night；〃 answered Phil pleasantly。
Man and boy had come to be very fond of each other； and Phil
Forrest could not have felt a more genuine affection for Mr。 Sparling had
the latter been his own father。
〃A noble fellow；〃 was Mr。 Sparling's comment as the youth walked
away from the cabin。
At half…past three o'clock the next morning the boat's passengers were
awakened by the blare of brass； the crash of cymbals and the boom of the
big bass drum。
They tumbled out of bed in a hurry； for few of them knew of the plan
of the owner to give an early morning concert on the deck of the 〃Fat
Marie。〃
Teddy Tucker struck the floor of his cabin broadside on。
〃Wake up； Phil！ We're late for the show。 It's already begun and here
we are in bed。〃
〃Guess again； Teddy；〃 answered Phil sleepily。 〃Don't you know
where you are？〃
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〃I thought I did； but I don't。 Where am I？〃
〃In our cabin on the ship。〃
〃But the band； the band？〃
〃It is playing for the benefit of the natives along the shore。〃
〃Oh； pooh！ And here I am wide awake。 Do you know what time it
is？〃
〃No。〃
〃It is only twenty minutes of four。〃
〃In the afternoon？ Goodness we are late。〃
〃No； in the morning； you ninny。 This is a shame。 I'll bet that band
concert was your suggestion； Phil Forrest。〃
Phil admitted the charge。
〃Then you must take your medicine with the rest of us。 Come out of
that！〃
One of Phil's feet was peeping out from under the covers。
