IN DIRE PERIL
Two days had passed and nothing more had been seen of the discharged canvasmen.Believing they were well rid of them all hands proceeded to forget about the very existence of Larry and Bad Eye.
As Phil was passing the roped-off enclosure where the elephants were tethered, the next morning just before the parade, he saw Mr.Kennedy regarding one of the elephants rather anxiously.
"What's the trouble? Anything gone wrong?" sang out the lad cheerily.
"Not yet," answered the keeper without turning his head.
"Something is bothering you or else you are planning out something new for the bulls," decided Phil promptly."What is it?""I don't like the way Jupiter is acting." "How?""He is ugly."
Phil ducked under the ropes and boldly walked over toward the swaying beast.
"Better keep away from him.He isn't to be trusted today." "Going to send him out in the parade?""Haven't decided yet.I may think it best to leave Jupiter here with perhaps the baby elephant for company.He would cut up, I'm afraid, were I to leave him here alone.No; I think, upon second thought, that we had better take him out.It may take his mind from his troubles.""What do you think is the matter with him?" questioned the Circus Boy, regarding the beast thoughtfully.
"That's what bothers me.He has never acted this way before.Usually there are some signs that I told you about once before that tells one an elephant is going bad.""You mean the tear drops that come out from the slit under the eye?" "Yes.There has been nothing of that sort with Jupiter.""He acts to me as if he had a bad stomach," suggested Phil wisely.
"That's right.That expresses it exactly.I guess we'll have to give him a pill to set him straight.But Jupiter never was much of a hand for pills.He'll object if we suggest it.""Then don't suggest it.Just give it to him in his food.""You can't fool him," answered Mr.Kennedy, with a shake of the head."He'd smell it a rod away, and that would make him madder than ever.The best way is to make him open his mouth and throw the pill back as far as possible in his throat.""Have you told Mr.Sparling?"
"No.He doesn't like to be bothered with these little things.He leaves that all to me.It's a guess, though, as to just what to do under these conditions.No two cases, any more than any two elephants, are alike when it comes to disposition and treatment.""No; I suppose not."
"Where are you going now, Phil?"
"Going back to the dressing tent to get ready for the parade.Hope you do not have any trouble.""No; I guess I shan't.I can manage to hold him, and if I don't, I'll turn Emperor loose.He makes a first-rate policeman."Phil hurried on to the dressing tent, for he was a little late this morning, for which he was not wholly to blame, considerable time having been lost in his interview with Mr.Sparling.
In the hurry of preparation for the parade, Phil forgot all about Mr.Kennedy's concern over Jupiter.But he was reminded of it again when he rode out to fall in line with the procession.Mr.Kennedy and his charges, all well in hand, were just emerging from the menagerie tent to take their places for the parade.Jupiter was among them.He saw, too, that Mr.Kennedy was walking by Jupiter's side, giving him almost his exclusive attention.
Phil's place in the parade this season was with a body of German cavalry.He wore a plumed hat, with a gaudy uniform and rode a handsome bay horse, one of the animals used in the running race at the close of the circus.Phil had become very proficient on horseback and occasionally had entered the ring races, being light enough for the purpose.
He had also kept up his bareback practice, under the instruction of Dimples, until he felt quite proud of his achievements.
Vincennes, where the show was to exhibit that day, was a large town, and thousands of people had turned out to view the parade which had been extensively advertised as one of the greatest features ever offered to the public.
"They seem to like it," grinned Phil, turning to the rider beside him."Act as if they'd never seen a circus parade before," answered the man.
"But wait till we get out in some of the way-back towns in the West." "I thought we were West now?""Not until we get the other side of the Mississippi, we won't be.They don't call Indiana West.We'll be getting there pretty soon, too.According to the route card, we are going to make some pretty long jumps from this on.""We do not go to Chicago, do we?"
"No.Show's not quite big enough for that town.We go south of it, playing some stands in Illinois, then striking straight west.Hello, what's the row up ahead there?""What row, I didn't see anything."
"Something is going on up there.See!The line is breaking!"The part of the parade in which Phil was located was well up toward the elephants, the animals at that moment having turned a corner, moving at right angles to Phil's course.
"It's the elephants!" cried the lad aghast."What's happening?""They have broken the line!"
All was confusion at the point on which the two showmen had focused their eyes.
