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

re soon sufficiently advanced to enable the show to go on and c

one, and the wrecked pole was left

seats and gave three cheers for the boy who had sav

g tent changing his clothes, having thus far

y, so trotting to the entrance he

for you," a canv

r m

es

itation he ran out into the ring, where he sto

s again!" yelle

" answered a c

r you. I-" His voice was drowned in the r

ns, with a rattle and bang. Men were shouting, horses neighing; here and the

change, perhaps more quickly

ot, were hurrying to get to the dock where the circus boats we

tarted off for the river. The moon had come out after the storm and the air was f

ch when I fell on

rt

es

hing like that worry you. I thought the tent had fallen on

wa

bump that you wouldn't ha

t have

our life,

op, you know. I was ready to drop on all four

ened to get

Didn't

run in and save your life, willing to sacrifice my own f

ughed h

s very kind of you to get in the way and let me fall on you.

d an unintel

me. I'm only a clown

chap could have for his friend,

pology. My hand

dingly. "Next t

r any old place

try to ca

ot catch me. I caught you-caught you unawares. There is Mr. Sparling and there are the boat

ook wet

, for the stokers had not yet started to get up steam. Some hours would ela

e 'Little Nemo

e other boats. The "Fat Marie" was already alongside the long dock, but she now moved up a little further

do we stow our b

'Fat M

pe the boat floats better than Fat Marie did when she fell in the creek last seas

p to the owner of the show, who, hatless, coatless, his hair looking as if it had not been combed in days, was

that you

smiled the lad. "How

is already loaded. The 'Fat Marie' is well loaded and t

ven the bulls on yet,"

es, swaying silently in the faint light, for there was a slight haze

bulls might get frightened with all the unusual noises around them. After

e do we p

ck, I think. Perhaps a

rlier," sugg

turned on

lly, you are so small t

y wi

n if I am little," pro

ar about trouble on the lot? Some of the men said they heard ther

very serious

uence," jeered Teddy. "I was s

ha

fire-and the big

hat are you

y crushed by my best

do you thi

moment. Now, Phil, tell me what happened. I get so dizzy when T

" growl

ve a littl

me abo

ts at the direction of the ringmaster, and it was well we did so. We had

forward! You must learn to trim the boat, giving her

red th

eck

rth carrying

t el

excite

an

t been for my friend, Teddy Tucker. He amused th

Tucker," said the s

Boy on

howled

g you, that's all,"

ease use a club when you congratu

e fast the rope and probably saved the top from falling in on th

d the flushed face o

"I'll give you a day off to g

want to g

are simply crazy over fishing. You'll see every one of them ha

that time, if you look in the right

s your praise,

fully when I get all this rush out of the way. The loss of

aid an egg," r

you. The big ostrich hen

t pos

in the hay behind t

an's eyes

you doing b

ace to take a cat

ng laughed

e Teddy in the w

" added the

egg-what did y

bag here, wa

parling who turned it over

! You'll

u going to do wi

t i

t up my p

gs to the f

long to the finde

o eat this egg, even if it does give me indigestion a

ve to consult the cook on that point. Pe

lice off the white

o the whole egg. Better go up

ur room, Mr. Spar

oomy, light and airy cabin that I think will please you. It is one

be, and thank you ve

along,

the big canvas-covered wagons were being warped into place, a sort of orderly confusion rei

se. Instead of the narrow berths they had expected to see, there were white enameled ir

on which lay a large portfolio and inscribed in gold letter

s filled with wr

hat fine?" e

going to have the feast of

y Tuc

ha

think I am ta

gg

Look at it-look at this portfolio. I am afraid you don't appreciate how good our employ

if a hen had laid a five poun

hopeless,"

n his trunk, first wrapping it up in an old silk ring shir

room, tried the springs of the bed, nodded approvingly, sat

ly pushed t

at are yo

ple of young gentlemen. Let's not forget that. Let us try to keep our cabin looking

, Ph

es

you what

list

after the show. We'll eat the egg. I'll get the cook to boil

'll make a martyr of myself and help you eat the egg. I shall

downstairs?" in

re was the tramping of many feet, mingled

f something has been

er w

had been "

ushing out into the corridor they leaped dow