The Circus Boys On The Mississippi | Page 3

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This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Greg Berckes

The Circus Boys On the Mississippi Or Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River
By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON

CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I MAKING A LIVELY START II JANUARY LENDS A FOOT III A DAY OF MEMORIES IV THEIR CURIOSITY AROUSED V THE CIRCUS BOYS' SURPRISE VI A BOLT FROM THE CLOUDS VII IN NEW QUARTERS VIII JANUARY ON THE RAMPAGE IX PHIL FORREST TO THE RESCUE X ALL ABOARD FOR THE GULF! XI EGG, EGG, WHO'S GOT THE EGG? XII TRYING OUT A NEW ACT XIII A NARROW ESCAPE XIV THE PILOT GETS A SURPRISE XV AN UNWELCOME VISITOR XVI BETRAYED BY A SNEEZE XVII EAVESDROPPERS! XVIII MAKING A CAPTURE XIX TEDDY JOINS THE BAND XX A CAPTURE IN THE AIR XXI A CIRCUS BOY MISSING XXII OVERBOARD INTO THE RIVER XXIII THE ROMAN CHARIOT RACES XXIV CONCLUSION

The Circus Boys on the Mississippi

CHAPTER I
MAKING A LIVELY START
"Have you had any trouble with Diaz, Teddy?"
"Who's he?"
"The new Spanish clown."
"Oh!"
Teddy Tucker's face grew serious.
"What about him, Phil?"
"That is what I am asking you. Have you had any misunderstanding--angry words or anything of the sort with him?" persisted Phil Forrest, with a keen, inquiring glance into the face of his companion.
"Well, maybe," admitted the Circus Boy, with evident reluctance. "What made you think I had?"
"From the way he looked at you when you were standing in the paddock this afternoon, waiting for your cue to go on."
"Huh! How did he look at me?"
"As if he had a grudge against you. There was an expression in his eyes that said more plainly than words, 'I'll get even with you yet, young man, you see if I do not.'"
"Wonderful!" breathed Teddy.
"What do you mean?"
"You must be a mind reader, Phil Forrest," grumbled Teddy, digging his heel into the soft turf of the circus lot. "Can you read my mind? If you can, what am I thinking about now?"
"You are thinking," answered Phil slowly, "that you will make me forget the question I asked you just now. You are thinking you would rather not answer my question."
Teddy opened his eyes a little wider.
"You ought to go into the business."
"What business?"
"Reading people's minds, at so much per read."
"Thank you."
"I wish you'd read the mind of that donkey of mine, and find out what he's got up his sleeve, or rather his hoofs, for me this evening."
"Do you know of what else you are thinking?"
"Of course I do. Think I don't know what I am thinking about? Well! What am I thinking about?"
"At the present moment you are thinking that you will do to Diaz what he hopes to do to you