rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第31部分
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especially after he has been swimming most of the night。 I don't know
that I am entitled to any special credit。 I saved only my own life； and I
do not expect to get a medal for it； either。 I hope all of you will visit
the Great Sparling Shows at the first opportunity。 Then I shall try to
entertain you in a way that I understand far better than this。 I'm very
much obliged to you all。〃
Then Phil sat down。 The passengers gave him another cheer； louder
and more enthusiastic than the first。 Mr。 Sparling would have been proud
of the lad could he have heard that speech。 Phil lost no opportunity to
advertise the Sparling shows； and every passenger on the boat； that
morning； made up his mind to visit the show ere another week had passed。
All the rest of the morning Phil was a hero in the eyes of the
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passengers； who followed him wherever he went； asking questions about
his experience in the river； and how he had happened to fall in； as well as
numerous questions about the life of a circus man。
With regard to his accident； Phil had little to say。 He seemed to wish
to avoid discussing the falling…in matter； but his face took on a serious
expression when it was referred to。
At last Memphis was sighted。 Phil arranged with the captain to
return the uniform； which he promised to send to St。 Louis； so that his
benefactor could get it on the return trip。
As the craft began drawing in toward the dock； the Circus Boy bade all
the passengers good…bye； everyone of whom insisted on shaking hands
with him。
Phil walked off； the passengers giving him three cheers as he stepped
over the gangplank to the dock。 Before he had reached the end of it； he
was overtaken by a reporter who had just heard of Phil's feat and wished
an interview。
At first Phil was reluctant to speak。
〃I think it will be a good advertisement for the show；〃 he said to
himself。 So the Circus Boy related； modestly； the story of his
experience in the river and of his rescue of himself； not forgetting to say
some pleasant things about the Sparling shows； which would visit
Memphis two days hence。 That afternoon he saw his story set forth in
the Memphis newspaper。 He bought two papers； one of which he tucked
in his pocket； sending the other to Mrs。 Cahill； his guardian。 His next
move was to start for the station； to take a train for Corinth。 He was
already too late to reach that town in time for the afternoon performance；
but he had wired Mr。 Sparling that he was safe。
As it happened the lad reached the show grounds before his message
had been delivered。 Mr。 Sparling； well nigh beside himself with worry；
had telegraphed to all points passed by their boats； begging that neither
effort nor expense be spared to find his Circus Boy。
The showman was standing in front of his office tent； that afternoon； at
about three o'clock； his broad…brimmed slouch hat pulled well down over
his eyes； his hands thrust deep in his trousers pockets。
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Off under the big top the band was playing a lively tune； and the
side…show people were out in front sunning themselves； all discussing Phil
Forrest's mysterious disappearance。
After a short time； Mr。 Sparling espied a young man in uniform
coming on the lot。 He did not pay much attention to the stranger；
thinking the fellow was a police officer or something of the sort。
As the young man drew nearer； however； the showman thought he
noted something familiar in the springy step and the poise of the body。
〃Now； who is that？〃 he muttered。 〃Somehow I seem to know that
youngster。〃
Others about the main entrance were also looking in his direction
about that time。 Still no one seemed to recognize the young man。
All at once the showman tilted up the rim of his hat and gazed more
keenly。
〃Phil！〃 he shouted； casting the hat aside and running forward with
outstretched arms。 〃It's Phil； it's Phil Forrest！〃
A moment more and Mr。 James Sparling had clasped his little Circus
Boy about the waist； hugging him delightedly。 There was a suspicious
moisture in the eyes of the showman； which he sought to hide from Phil。
〃Phil！ Phil！ Where have you been？〃 he cried leading the boy
toward the office tent。 〃And that uniformwhat does it mean？〃
〃I will tell you all about it as soon as I get my breath；〃 laughed the lad。
By this time the others out in front had hurried forward； showering
questions upon the boy； all of which he answered without giving very
much information。 He wished to talk with Mr。 Sparling first of all。
〃Where is Teddy？〃 was almost his first question。
〃He is in the big top at work。〃
〃I presume he was considerably excited when he missed me； was he
not？〃
〃Yes； at first； but since then he has not said much。 Teddy is a queer
boy。〃
The word was quickly passed that Phil had returned safe and sound；
and ten minutes after his arrival every man and woman in the show had
heard the news。 There was great rejoicing。
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Teddy was going through his clown act when he first heard the rumor
that Phil was back。 Teddy waited until he had worked around to the
entrance to the menagerie tent when he suddenly darted through； leaving
his work and the ring； a most serious breach of discipline。 Teddy；
however； did not care。 He was willing to be fined。 He bolted through
the main entrance like a miniature tornado； to the amazement of the door
tenders。
〃Where's Phil？〃 he shouted。
One of the doormen pointed to Mr。 Sparling's office tent。
The little clown was off on a run。
〃Hey； Phil； you old rascal！ Where have you been？〃 he demanded；
dashing into the small tent。
〃I have been out for a swim； old fellow。 Did you miss me？〃
〃I nearly broke my neck thinking about you this afternoon。 Landed
on my head in the leaping act； and I've got a pain in my neck yet。〃
〃Young man； what are you doing here？〃 demanded the showman；
sternly。
〃Same thing you are。 Seeing Phil。〃
〃Get back to your act！〃
〃I'm off。 I'll see you later； Phil； then we will talk it over。〃
〃We will； Teddy；〃 and Teddy was off at top speed to take up his
performance where he had so abruptly left it a few minutes before。 The
ringmaster had not missed him； though he saw at once that the boy was
not on his station； when Teddy began to work again。
〃Now； Phil； we will hear all about it。 How in the name of the
Sparling shows did you get into that uniform？〃
〃The captain of the river boat that picked me up fitted me out。〃
〃So you really fell in？〃
〃I got _in；_ right。〃
〃Tell me all about it。〃
The Circus Boy related his experiences from the time he found himself
in the river； until his arrival in Memphis that morning。
〃Marvelousalmost unbelievable；〃 breathed Mr。 Sparling as the tale
was unfolded。 〃I never heard anything to compare with it。〃
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When Phil told of his speech in the dining saloon of the river
steamboat； Mr。 Sparling leaned back with hands on his hips； laughing
immoderately。
〃Oh； Phil； you are the sort from which great showmen are made！〃
Phil handed over the Memphis paper with the account of his
experience； which the showman glanced over briefly。
〃That will give us another turn…away in Memphis。 You can't stop
them； after that。 They will come to the show even if they have to fight
their way in。 That was a great stroke of enterprise； but I would rather it
had not happened； of course。〃
〃Whatthe interview？〃
〃No； of course not。 I mean your accident。〃
〃It is all right； Mr。 Sparling。 I am here now； and none the worse for
my bath； but for a time I surely thought I was a goner。 I would not care to
go through that experience again。〃
〃I should say not。 Yours was the most wonderful escape I ever heard
of。 I'll wager there was never anything like it before on this river。〃
Mr。 Sparling paused suddenly and bent a keen； searching glance on
Phil Forrest's face。 The lad felt that he knew what was in the mind of his
employer。
〃Phil？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃You have not told me everything； y
