rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第30部分
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dangerous spot； when suddenly； his fingers closed over something。 It was
a rope； one of the hawsers that had not been fully hauled in when the boat
left the last landing place some miles up the river。
With a glad cry； both the lad's hands closed over the precious rope。
His joy was short lived。 He found himself dropping back； the river craft
still gliding past him。
The rope was paying out over the boat's side in his hands。
Phil Forrest was never more cool in his life； but he now began to
realize the well…nigh hopeless position in which be found himself placed。
Suddenly the rope ceased paying out with an abruptness that jerked
him clear out of the water。 He fell back with a splash； all but losing hold
of the rope as he did so。
〃I've got it！ I've got it！〃 exulted the lad。 A rush of water filled his
mouth； almost suffocating him。
〃I guess I had better keep my mouth closed；〃 thought the boy。
He was directly astern of the steamboat by this time； and this placed
him in a much more favorable position than he had been while dragging
along at the side。
Phil began resolutely to work himself along the rope hand over hand。
It was a desperate undertaking； one calling for strength and courage of an
unusual kind； but he never hesitated。 His breath came in long； steady；
sighs； for he was going though the water at such a rate of speed that
breathing was made doubly difficult。
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〃It is a good thing I am a circus performer。 I should probably have
been at the bottom of the river long ago； had I not been a ring man。〃
At last； after what seemed hours of struggling； he had succeeded in
working his way past the stern paddle wheel； and up under the stern of the
ship。 He twisted the rope about one arm； and with his head well out of
water lay half exhausted while he was shot through the water at high
speed。
A few minutes of this； and Phil； considerably rested； began to pull
himself up。
Ordinarily this hand over hand climb would have been an easy feat for
the Circus Boy。 As it was； however； the lad was forced to pause every
foot or so； and； twisting the rope about an arm and a leg； hang there
between sky and water； gasping for breath； every nerve and muscle in his
body a…quiver。
Few men； no matter how strong nor how great their endurance； could
have gone through what Phil Forest had endured that night。
He was glad to be out of the water； where he was in imminent danger
of being drowned as the boat jerked him along。 Of course he was not
obliged to cling to the rope； but the chances of his reaching shore； were he
to let go； he felt were very remote。
〃I am glad Teddy is not here；〃 muttered Phil with a half smile as he
thought of his companion back on the 〃Marie〃 fast asleep。 〃I wonder
what he will think when he finds that I am missing？ I hope they do not
turn about and come back to look for me； for I hardly think they will be
able to do that and make their next stand in time。〃
Once more the lad began pulling himself up the rope。 At last； to his
great relief； his fingers closed over the stern rail of the river boat。 Phil
pulled himself up as if he were chinning the bar； though in this case he
chinned it only once。
Elbows were braced on the rail； then the right leg was thrown over and
Phil Forrest was high and dry on the deck of a great river steamer； after an
experience that perhaps never had befallen a human being on the
Mississippi before。
He found himself standing face to face with an officer of the boat； who
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proved to be the mate。 The man was so astonished at the dripping figure
that had come over the stern； that； for the moment； he did not speak。
〃Good evening；〃 greeted Phil politely。
〃Who are you？〃 demanded the mate sternly。
〃I guess I am Old Neptune himself。 Maybe I am a mermaid。 At
least I have just risen from the sea； and mighty glad I am that I have
risen。〃
The officer seized Phil。 Leading the boy to where the light shone
from the main cabin window； he peered into the lad's face。 Evidently
fairly well satisfied by his brief glance into the honest eyes of the Circus
Boy； the officer quickly turned and led Phil to the forward end of the boat；
where he summoned the captain； who was lying down in the pilot house。
〃What's this？ Whom have you here？〃
〃I don't know； sir；〃 answered the officer。 〃He came over the side half
a mile above here。〃
〃Whatwhat's thiscame over the side？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃I saw him。 I was standing astern when he climbed over the rail。〃
〃See here； young man； what does this mean？〃
〃I fell from a boat； sir； further up the river。 I was trying to swim
ashore when you nearly ran me down。 You see； I did not know you were
going to make that sharp turn and I did not have time to get out of the
way。〃
〃That is not a likely story； young man。 How did you get aboard this
boat？ That is what I want to know。〃
Phil explained that he had caught hold of a rope。
〃Is there a rope trailing； mate？〃
〃I don't know； sir。〃
〃Find out。〃
The mate returned a few moments later with the information that a
hawser was dragging astern。
〃Wonderful！〃 breathed the captain。 〃How did you ever do it； and you
only a boy？〃
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〃I am pretty strong； even if I am a boy；〃 smiled Phil。
〃What is your name？〃
Phil gave it。
〃How did you happen to get in the river？〃
〃I told you I fell in； or something of the sort； from the 'Fat Marie。'〃
〃Never heard of her。〃
〃I think she was called the 'Mary Jane。'〃
〃Oh； that's that circus boatthe Sparling Circus？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Do you belong to the circus？〃
〃Yes。 I am a bareback rider and a trapeze performer。〃
Both men gazed at him with new interest。
〃Well； you beat anything that I ever heard of。 You certainly must be a
performer if you did a thing like that。 I remember the pilot's telling me
he thought he heard someone cry out from the river； but as the call was not
repeated； he thought he must have been mistaken。 Come in； and we will
put you to bed。〃
〃I have no money with me； sir；〃 said the lad。 〃If you will extend the
courtesies of your craft to me； I will see that you are well paid after I reach
my show once more。〃
〃We will take care of you。 Never mind about the pay。〃
〃By the way； where is your next landing place？〃
〃Memphis。〃
Phil gave a low whistle。
〃Where do you want to go？〃
〃Corinth； I believe is the stand we show at tomorrow。〃
〃That's not far from Memphis。 We will land you at Memphis in the
morning and you can take a train back； getting you to Corinth in plenty of
time for your show。 I will see that you have a ticket。〃
〃Thank you ever so much。 You are very kind。〃
The Circus Boy was put to bed and in a few minutes he was sound
asleep； thus far not much the worse for his thrilling experience； though he
was completely exhausted； as he realized after he had tucked himself in
his berth。
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CHAPTER XXIII
THE ROMAN CHARIOT RACES
It was late when the Circus Boy awoke next morning。 A steward
rapped at the door and a suit of officer's clothes； brass buttons and all was
handed in to him。
〃With the captain's compliments； sir；〃 said the steward。 〃He hopes it
will fit you。 When you are ready； you will please come to the saloon for
breakfast。〃
〃Thank the captain for me； and say that I can't get there any too soon；〃
laughed Phil； springing out of bed。
The passengers had all heard the remarkable tale from the captain that
morning； and they were anxious to see the young Circus Boy who had
performed such a plucky act。
Phil entered the dining room； not thinking for a minute that he would
be recognized。 When the passengers saw the handsome young fellow in
an officer's uniform； they knew him。 Everyone in the room sprang to his
feet and three cheers rang out for Phil Forrest。
〃Speech； speech！〃 cried someone。
Blushing faintly； Phil glanced about him。
〃You cannot expect a boy to make much of a speech before breakfast；
especially after he has been swimming most of th
