rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第26部分
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eight dollars' worth out of that basshe's baser than he is bass。 Bass
sounds like a fish； doesn't itout of that bass drummer when I get a good
fair chance at him。 Sometime when he isn't looking； you know。 I
wonder if he could be the fellow who stole my egg？〃 questioned Teddy
reflectively。
Phil went out laughing； to make his peace with the drummer。
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The Circus Boys On the Mississippi
CHAPTER XX
A CAPTURE IN THE AIR
Fortunately； the band carried a new set of heads for the drum； and the
contribution of the boys served to restore the offended musicians to good
nature。 Teddy； however； was not appeased。 That youngster vowed that
he 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； and
making 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 his
back on them and tried to think of something more effective。
The show did a great business at Des Moines； having a 〃turn…away〃 at
both afternoon and evening performances。 The Sparling shows had
played there before； but never to such business； which the showman
decided was due to their novel way of traveling。 He knew that these little
novelties frequently made fortunes for Circus owners。
At the evening performance； Teddy had an inspiration。 He was too
busy； during the first part of the show； to give his idea a practical test； but
later in the evening； while he was awaiting his cue to go on in his clown
act； he tried the new plan。
The lad had purchased half a dozen lemons from the refreshment
stand。 One of these he cut in halves； secreting the pieces in a pocket of
his clown costume； then when the time came he stationed himself in front
of the bandstand where he stood until he had gained the attention of
several of the musicians。
Teddy took out the two pieces of lemon with a great flourish； went
through the motions of sprinkling sugar over them； then began sucking
first one piece； then the other； varying his performance by holding out the
lemon invitingly to the players。
The bass drum player scowled。 Teddy's lemon did not affect the
beating of the drum； but as the lad began to make believe that the acid
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juice was puckering his lips； some of the musicians showed signs of
uneasiness。
The Circus Boy observing this； smacked his lips again and again； and
industriously swallowed the juice； though it nearly choked him to do so。
Very soon some of the players got off the key； their playing grew
uneven and in some instances stopped altogether。 The leader could not
understand what the trouble was。 He called out angrily to the offending
musicians； but this seemed only to add to their troubles。
All at once the big German； who played the bass horn； rose from his
seat and hurled his music rack at the offending Teddy Tucker。 Everything
on the bandstand came to a standstill； and the performers in the ring
glanced sharply down that way； wondering what could have happened。
The leader turned and discovered Teddy and his lemons。 He was
beside himself with rage。 He understood； now； why his musicians had
failed。 Teddy sucking the lemon had given many of them 〃the
puckers。〃
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 such
sensations。 With an angry exclamation； he leaped from the box on
which 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 now
time for him to go on in his next act。
After a minute or two the band once more collected itself and the show
went on； but there were dire threats uttered against Teddy Tucker by the
leader and players。 The bass drummer grinned appreciatively。
〃I wish I could think of something that would tie up that fellow with
the drum；〃 muttered Teddy； gazing off at the drummer with resentful eyes。
The band leader had no scruples against carrying tales； and
immediately after the performance he hunted up Mr。 Sparling and entered
a complaint against the irrepressible Teddy。 The result was that Teddy
was given a severe lecture by the showman after they got on board the
boat that night。 Then Phil added a warning。
〃Well； what about yourself？〃 retorted the lad。
〃Why？〃
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〃I never stirred up as much roughhouse as you did this morning。 You
had 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 along
without exciting incidents happening at least once in twenty…four hours。
They appeared to follow the Circus Boys； too； like a plague。 It is likely
that； had they not followed the boys； Teddy Tucker would have gone out
hunting for them。
The next morning something else occurred that was not a part of the
daily 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 previous
morning。 The bandsmen were just rousing themselves； in response to
raps on their cabin doors； when they heard rapid footsteps on the deck； and
excited shouts from several voices。
Teddy and Phil awakened at about the same time； having been
disturbed 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 a
cloud of black smoke。 The disturbance seemed to be on the other side of
the vessel。
〃Come on； Phil。 Let's find out what it is all about。 Maybe the boat
has 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 you
and 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…fifty
yesterday and still have some left？〃
〃Eight；〃 grinned Phil。
By this time the boys had hurried out into the corridor； and thence to
the deck。
〃Well； what do you think of that？〃 howled Teddy。
〃Bruiser is out；〃 exclaimed Phil。
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Bruiser was a baboon； whose temper was none too angelic。 He was a
big heavy fellow； who never lost an opportunity to vent his temper on
whoever chanced to be within reach。
It seems that on this particular occasion a sleepy keeper was cleaning
Bruiser's cage so that it might be neat and presentable when the show
opened。 Bruiser had sat on a trapeze far up in the cage； watching the
proceedings with resentful eyes； perhaps wondering how he might
administer a rebuke to the keeper。
All at once the baboon saw his opportunity。 The keeper had stooped
over to pick up something from the floor of the boat； as he stood at the
open door of the cage in the rear。
Bruiser projected himself toward the opening like a catapult。 At that
instant the keeper had straightened up and the baboon hit him squarely
in the face。 There could be but one result。 The keeper tumbled over
on his back。
Chattering joyously； Bruiser began hopping off on all fours。 First he
investigated the tops of the cages； running over them and bringing roars
from the animals within。 Then he hopped down and paid a visit to the
horses。
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。 At
first he did not know where the baboon had gone； but hearing the
disturbance among the horses he ran that way； soon coming upon
Bruiser。 With a scream of
