The Circus Boys on the Mississippi; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River

id an egg! The old

a bright glow over the golden haze of the circus tent, when a dim

cus people, however, realized at once that something not down on the bills was taking plac

rily. "What do you mean by breaking into the

repeated the clown, holding alo

the crowds occupying the seats. In fact, it is

ean?" demanded

ich. Don'

ost

e's laid

nterruption, the ringmaster took the great egg

u have been treated to startling feats of skill upon the lofty flying swings; you have witnessed desperately dangerous displays

trying to get at?"

back th

ur instruction and amusement-the ostrich has immortalized the town of Milledgeville by laying an egg within its sacred precincts, and my friend

led its approval

ntend to do with this won

intend to d

this beautiful little city, to be placed a

I gue

t, t

to do with it," answered Teddy in a voice

ople s

white ball and marching off toward the paddock with it, to t

ement, the performance will proceed," announced the

ly, took up their work where they had left off upo

was not present to witness it. He was busy down by the docks, attending to the loading of s

of the show was not present, as he might have object

much as he pleased all the time. Yet, beneath the surface, there was the making of a manly man, a

ceeded an ominous rumb

," Phil confided to his worki

ay. Is that th

es

ring shower. You will find a lot of them

humorously, swinging off into space, landing surely and

d better cut t

it," answered Phil. "I am

d last season just before that blow-down, when Wallace, the

," agre

the significance of the movement, urged his musicians to play louder. The crash of cymbals an

rain drops on the canvas top. The lights throughout the tent flickered a little under the draugh

howed signs of

the ladies are perfectly safe. This tent is waterproof. You could soak it in the Mississippi without getting a drop of

reeted hi

e. A few seconds later a crash that shook the earth followe

nned at Phil, noting at the same time that all

s up there!" jeer

ped the ringmaster. "What a

wor

ther me. Don't you think I have anything else to do except to w

ckled Teddy, making a lively jump to get out of t

course, gazing up at the crowded seats, winking and making wry faces at the people

unity to talk back, and many a keen-pointed shaft did he hurl at th

the minds of the people were so occupi

ngmaster's assurance that the canvas would not leak, a fine spray was fillin

had one once, but the ringmaster borrowed it and forgot to

reeted t

er the first wave of laughter had swept ov

ave been filled with fire. Thin threads of it ran down quarter and center pole; circles of it raced about the iron rings used in var

ed from the damp top of the tent, dropping straight toward the concourse. Teddy Tucker chanced to be st

breathe

a few feet above his head, sca

flat to t

p almost

's the rest of the

cerned with what was taking place in the

ing bolt had followed it from its peak to the ground. Several of the side pole

Anchor it!"

too frightened to gi

a rope, hand under hand, as

'll have the tent dow

g himself upon the heavy rope

Phil Forrest was descending gave

little Circus Boy lay still. Yet he had, with rare presence of mind, snubbed the heavy rope

he strands wound firmly about his arm, though inch by inch he was slipping toward the heavy tent stake. Phil

at Teddy had been the

I have fin

ng by the rope until his hea

a hand here!"

's hands, taking a twist about his own

o their senses about that time

of Teddy!"

s face. At that, Teddy opened his eyes and winked. The ri

he boy to his n

urning a handspring, falling ov

y with wild applause. The Circus Boy had save