rcus boys on the mississippi(密西西比河上的马戏团男孩)-第32部分
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employer。
〃Phil？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃You have not told me everything； yet。〃
〃What makes you think that； Mr。 Sparling？〃
〃Because I know you so well。 There is something on your mind that
you have not told me。 I want to know what it is。〃
Phil's eyes were lowered to the green grass at his feet。 For a moment
he was silent and thoughtful。
〃What is it you wish me to tell you； Mr。 Sparling？〃 he asked in a low
voice。
〃You have not given me a satisfactory explanation of how you came to
get into the river。〃
〃Perhaps I fell in；〃 answered the lad with a faint smile。
〃Perhaps。 But you have not said so。 I want you to tell me how you
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did get in。〃
〃I think I was thrown in； Mr。 Sparling；〃 answered the Circus Boy
quickly。
〃Thrown in！〃 exclaimed the showman； leaping to his feet； his face
working convulsively in his effort to control his emotions。 〃Phil Forrest；
do you mean that？〃
〃I do。〃
Mr。 Sparling sat down helplessly。
〃Is it possible？〃
〃I am sure of it； sir。〃
〃Had anyone but you told me that I should have laughed。 I know I
can depend upon what you say。 Tell me more about it？〃
〃As I have already said； I was leaning on the rail and dropped off into
a doze。 How long I had been in that position I do not know。 I could not
have been there many minutes； or I should have gone so soundly asleep
that I would have fallen over to the deck； you know。〃
〃Yes； yes。〃
〃All at once I felt myself being lifted。 At first； as I remember it； the
sensation was as if the deck were dropping from under me。 As I recalled
the incident afterwards； I realized that I had been lifted。 You know all
that occurred after that。〃
〃Was there more than one who threw you overboard？〃
〃I am unable to say。 I did not even see one；〃 said Phil with a half…
smile。 〃I felt myself being liftedthat's all。 The next minute I was in
the river； with the 'Marie' pounding away downstream at a lively clip。〃
〃Dastardly！ Dastardly！〃 growled the showman。 〃I shall send for a
detective to meet us in Memphis tomorrow。 This thing has gone far
enough。〃
〃I think I agree with you； sir；〃 was Phil's half…humorous answer。 〃But I
had been in hopes of solving this mystery myself。〃
〃Yes； and you came near losing your life as the result。 No； sir！
This thing must be cleared up at once。 I shall wire to St。 Louis now； and
we will have a man with us sometime tomorrow。 Say nothing to anyone of
my plan。 The detective will join the show in some capacity or other；
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and have regular duties to perform。 You will know him； but no one else
will except myself。 I think the Roman races are about due under the
big top now。 Suppose you go in and change your clothes； joining me at
my table after you come out。 We will talk these matters over at length
this evening。 When the officer reaches here I shall expect you to tell him
freely all that you know as well as what you suspect。 Keep nothing
from him。 Run along； Phil。 I want to think this matter over by myself
for a few minutes。〃
As Phil entered the big top the Roman races were just coming on。
The chariot drivers； with their prancing steeds； had entered the arena。
Phil paused to wait until the fast and furious races were over。 The
leading woman chariot driver was trying out a new three…horse team； that
is； two of the horses were new to the work； the third； being an old hand。
The new animals were spirited； and after the first round of the arena； Phil
saw that they were nervous。
〃I am afraid she is going to have trouble with that pair；〃 muttered Phil
with a shake of his head。 〃If she can keep them up to the mark； they will
outrun anything in the show today。〃
The new team fairly tore around the arena。 They won the first races
easily； then lined up in the center to await the finals which were to follow
a few minutes later。
The ringmaster's whistle trilled for the successful drivers to swing out
into the concourse。 They were driving furiously； almost before the
echoes of the whistle had died away。
Making the turn at the lower end of the track in safety； the two teams
in the race squared away down the home stretch。 All at once Phil saw
that something was wrong。 The leading chariot was swaying dizzily； and
the driver was trying with all her strength to pull the plunging animals
down。
Suddenly the wheel on the inner side slipped from its axle and went
rolling off into the center of the arena。 The axle dropped to the turf；
caught； then turned the chariot bottom side up。
The woman driver was hurled off into the center in the wake of the
careening wheel； landing on her head and shoulders beside the center
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platform。
The team did not stop； however。 It started directly across the arena；
in a diagonal course。
〃She is hurt！〃 cried Phil。 〃Somebody will be killed unless that wild
team is stopped！〃
Giving no thought to the danger to himself； Phil Forrest darted across
the arena and leaped for the bridles of the plunging； frightened animals。
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CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
It seemed a foolhardy thing to do； but Phil understood exactly how to
go about it。 If he were able to turn the team； he would undoubtedly save
them from plunging into the seats where hundreds of people were sitting。
A trained circus horse always will avoid the spectators； but there is no
accounting for what a green animal will do。
Grasping the bit of the animal nearest to him； Phil threw his whole
weight into the effort。 To his intense satisfaction the team swerved； half
turned and dashed across the arena again。 This time； however； they did
not go far。 The outfit smashed into the main center pole； and Phil went
on； sitting down violently in the middle of the concourse； unhurt； but more
or less shaken up。
By that time ring attendants had caught the frightened horses。 All
danger was over。
Phil Forrest was loudly cheered by the spectators； but his borrowed
officer's uniform was a hopeless wreck。 It was torn beyond any
possibility of repair。
Upon investigation； which Phil made at once； he found that the cap
that held the chariot wheel in place； had been removed。 No trace of it
ever was found； and Phil well knew that the mysterious enemy was once
more at work。 The news was conveyed to Mr。 Sparling； with the
information that Phil had gleaned。
He also bore the unwelcome tidings to his employer that their leading
woman chariot driver had broken both arms and that she would not
perform again that season； if ever again。
Mr。 Sparling was so angered over this latest outrage that he was
scarcely able to control himself。 Yet he knew that it would be best to
maintain silence until the detective had had an opportunity to make an
investigation。 Some of the circus people； however； had voiced a
suspicion that the accident was a deliberate attempt to do the show an
injury； and this was quickly passed from lip to lip； until almost everyone
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had heard it。 The show people accepted the situation quietly； as was
their wont； nevertheless they were very much excited。 There was no
telling when they themselves might fall victims to the mysterious enemy；
and each one vowed to run down the scoundrel who they knew must be a
member of the circus family。
Phil made some guarded inquiries； but was unable to learn whether or
not anyone had been observed about the chariots that day。 The hub cap；
of course； might have been removed while the chariots were still on the
boat； but in that event its loss would no doubt have been noticed； for the
caps were of brass； large and prominent。
Phil decided that the act must have been committed just before the
chariots were driven into the arena for the Roman races。
In this； Phil Forrest was right。
The solution of the mystery was at hand； however； and was to come in
a most unexpected manner。
Supper had been eate
