rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第25部分
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that！〃
One of Phil's feet was peeping out from under the covers。 Teddy saw
it and grabbed it。 Being a strong boy； the mighty tug he gave was
productive of results。
Phil landed on his back on the floor； with a resounding thump and a
jolt that made him see stars。
〃Teddy Tucker； look out； I'm coming！〃
〃You had better look out； I'm waiting。〃
The two supple…limbed youngsters met in the middle of the cabin floor
and went down together。 They were evenly matched； and the muscles of
their necks stood out like whip cords as they struggled over the floor； each
seeking to get a fall from his antagonist。
Teddy managed to roll under the bed； and there they continued their
early morning battle； but under no slight difficulties。 Every time one of
the gladiators forgot himself and raised his head； he bumped it。 Phil tried
to force Teddy out from under the bed； but Teddy refused to be forced。
〃Whenwhen I get you out of here I am going to do something to you
that you won't like； Teddy Tucker；〃 panted Phil。
〃Whatwhat you going to do to me？〃
〃I'm going to pour a pitcher of cold water on your bare feet。〃
〃Oh！〃
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The thought of it sent Teddy into a nervous chill。 He would rather
take a sound thrashing； at any time； than have that done to him。 Now he
struggled more desperately than ever to hold Phil under the bed。 At last；
however； the boys rolled out and Teddy's shoulders struck the cabin floor
with a bang that sent the pitcher jingling in the wash bowl。
Phil sprang up； seized the water pitcher； making a threatening move
with it toward his companion。
〃Wow！ Don't； don't！〃 howled Teddy。
Phil pursued him around the cabin； the water splashing from the
pitcher to the floor。 Teddy yelling like a wild Indian every time he
stepped in the puddles。
The window was open and the band was playing just outside。
Suddenly a new plan occurred to Teddya plan whereby he might
escape from his tormentor。
Taking a running start he sprang up； making a clean dive through the
window head…first。
The lad had intended to land on his hands； do a cartwheel and come up
easily on his feet。 But the best…laid plans sometimes go wrong。
The bass drummer was pounding his drum right in line with the
window。 Teddy did not see the drum until too late to change his course。
His head hit the drum with a bang。 He went clear through it； his head
protruding from the other side。 And there he stuck！
〃Oh； wow！〃 howled the Circus Boy。
The other members of the band； discovering that the drum was no
longer marking time for them； got out of tune and came to a discordant
stop。
The leader； whose side had been toward the drummer at the time； did
not know what had happened。 He was furious。 He was about to
upbraid them when he discovered the head of Teddy Tucker protruding
from the head of the drum。
〃Whawhawhat〃
The bass drummer paid no attention to him。 Instead he grabbed the
offending boy by the feet； bracing his own feet against the rim of the
instrument； and began to pull。 The drummer was red in the face；
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perspiring and angry。
Teddy popped out like a pea from a pod。 The Circus Boy was not yet
out of his trouble。 With unlooked…for strength the irate drummer threw
the lad over his knees； face down； and raised the drumstick aloft。
This drumstick； as our readers well know； is made of heavy leather
that is the beating end isand is hard。 To add to the distress of the victim；
Teddy was in his pink pajamas and they were thin。
Whack！
The stick came down with more force than seemed necessary。
〃Ouch！ Stop it！ I'll pay you back for keeps for that！〃
Whack！
〃Oh； Phil！〃 Teddy was making desperate efforts to squirm away now；
but his position was such that he was unable to bring his full strength to
bear on the task。
The stick was raised for another blow； but there came an interruption
that took all thought of continuing the punishment out of the mind of the
angry drummer。
〃Stop it！ I don't want to be a drum！〃 howled the boy。
Splash！
A pitcher of water was emptied over the drummer's head； a large part
of the water running down and soaking Teddy to the skin； causing that
young gentleman to howl lustily。
It gave the boy the opportunity he was looking for； however。 With a
quick twist he wrenched himself free from the grasp of the drummer；
dropped on all fours and was up and away； a pink streak along the port
side of the 〃Fat Marie。〃
Phil had come to the rescue of his companion。 He now jerked the
window shut and slammed the blind in place； after which he quickly got
into his clothes； fully expecting that he should have a call from the bass
drummer。
There was a great uproar on deck about that time； with much shouting
and unintelligible languageat least unintelligible to Phil。
Before he had finished dressing； Teddy came skulking in； rubbing
himself and muttering threats as to what he proposed to do to the
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drummer。
〃You did it！ You did！〃 he shouted； pointing a finger at Phil Forrest。
〃It strikes me that you did something； too〃
〃No I didn't。 Something was done to me。 I had on my pajamas；
too；〃 wailed the boy。 〃I'm glad you soaked him； though。 Why didn't
you throw the pitcher at him； too？〃
〃Oh； no； it might have hurt him； Teddy。〃
〃Hurt him？ Pshaw！ Maybe the drumstick didn't hurt me。 Oh； no！〃
〃Well； get dressed。 I will go out and see if I can pour oil on the
troubled waters。 You stay here。 I don't want you mixing it up with the
drummer。 I'll attend to him。〃
Phil first hunted up Mr。 Sparling； whom he found shaving in his cabin。
〃Why good morning； Phil。 Why this early call？〃
〃I called to ask you what a new set of heads will cost for the bass
drum？〃
〃I think they are worth about fifteen dollars。 Why do you ask？〃
〃Because Teddy and myself have just smashed the heads out of the one
belonging to the band。〃
Mr。 Sparling paused in his shaving long enough to glance keenly at
Phil。 There was a twinkle in his eyes。 He knew that his Circus Boys
had been up to some mischief。 Phil was as solemn as an owl。
〃It was this way；〃 explained the lad； as he related how the accident had
occurred。
Mr。 Sparling sat down and laughed。
〃Never mind the drum heads。 We have others for just such an
emergency； I do not mind a little fun once in a while。 We all have to
blow off steam sometimes。〃
〃No； sir； we shall pay for the drum heads。 To whom does the drum
belong？〃
〃The drummer； I think。〃
〃Very well； thank you。〃
Phil hastily withdrew from the cabin and hurried back to his own
stateroom。
〃Teddy；〃 he said； 〃I want seven…fifty from you。〃
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〃What's that？〃
〃Seven dollars and a half； please。〃
Teddy began pawing over his trousers。 All at once he paused；
looking up at Phil suspiciously。
〃You want to borrow seven…fifty； do you？〃
〃No； I want you to contribute it。〃
〃To what？〃
〃To the fund。〃
〃What fund？ What are you talking about？〃
〃Those drum heads are worth fifteen dollars and we are going to pay
the owner of the drum for the damage we did。 I will give half and you
half。〃
〃What！〃 shrieked Teddy。
〃Come； pay up！〃
〃What！ Give that fellow money when he's taken more than twenty…
five dollars worth out of my hide？ I guess not！ What kind of an easy
mark do you think I am？ Pay him yourself。 You did it。〃
〃Teddy； do you want me to give you a good thrashing； right here and
now？〃
〃You can't do it。 You never could；〃 returned Teddy； belligerently。
〃Come； hand out the money！〃
Teddy eyed his companion for a full minute； then； thrusting a hand
slowly into his own trousers' pocket； brought forth a goodly roll of bills
from which he counted off eight dollars。
〃Tell him to keep the change。〃
〃I will； thank you；〃 said Phil with a merry twinkle in his eyes。
〃It's like taking candy out of the mouth of a babe。 I'll get more than
eight dollars' worth out of that basshe's baser than he is bass。 Bass
sounds like a fish；
