THE PILOT GETS A SURPRISE
The happiness of the day had been marred by the accident, but, like true circus men, all hands took the disaster in the matter-of-fact manner characteristic of their kind.
The show people, in couples and singly, took their way to the river, where they boarded the boats.Already wagons were rumbling down on the docks and cages were being quickly shunted into position for their journey down the river that night.
Everything moved with as much method as if the show had been traveling in this way from the beginning of the season.
The performers were enjoying the novel experience of river traveling too thoroughly to turn into their berths early.A cold lunch had been spread in the main cabins of the "Marie" and the "River Queen" for the performers, while from the cook tent, baskets had been prepared and sent in for the use of the laborers after they had completed their night's work and finished loading the show.
All this was appreciated, and it was a jolly company that lined the tables in the two larger boats.Leather upholstered seats were built into the sides of the cabin, and with mouths and hands full, the circus people soon took possession of the seats, where they ate and chatted noisily.
"Funny thing about Jim," said one of the performers."What do you suppose made him fall, Mr.Miaco?""I don't know.Probably for the same reason that anyone falls." "What is that?""Stumbled over something, I guess."
"Hey, Teddy, what ailed the ring horse?" called a voice as the Circus Boy sauntered in and espying the tables made a dive for them.
"I guess he was hungry," mumbled Teddy, his mouth full of ham sandwich.
"Hungry?"
"Yes."
"What makes you think that?" " 'Cause he bit the dust."A general groan was heard in the cabin."Throw him overboard!""I know a better way to punish him for that ghastly joke." "How?""Take the food away from him, tie him up and make him watch us eat," was the answer.
A shout of laughter greeted the proposition.
The pilot of the "Marie," a heavily bearded man named Cummings, broke out in a loud guffaw.
All eyes were turned upon him.
"I reckon I kin tie him up if you says the word," he volunteered."All right; tie him up," shouted the performers, scenting fun.
Teddy eyed the pilot out of the corners of his eyes and placidly munched his sandwich.The pilot, in the meantime, had stepped to the rear end of the cabin, where, from a box of life-preservers he took a piece of Manila rope.
"I believe he is going to do it," said a clown, nudginghis companion."You mean he is going to try it," answered the other."Watch forsome fun.He thinks Teddy is an easy mark.""He will be in this case.That fellow, Cummings, is hard as a rail fence.He could handle two of Teddy."In the meantime Tucker had strolled to the table, from which he took a large sandwich, buttered it well, then returned to his seat, not appearing to observe the pilot's movements at all.
As he sat down the lad was observed to open the sandwich, removing the thin slice of ham and stowing the latter in his coat pocket.Then he sat thoughtfully contemplating the two pieces of buttered bread as if trying to decide whether or not he should eat them.
"Get up, kiddie," said Cummings, grasping the boy by the shoulder."Get up and take your punishment like a little dear."Teddy got up, carelessly, indifferently, while the pilot stretched the rope to its full length.
The boy saw that he was in earnest.Smack!
Quick as a flash Teddy had plastered one half of the sandwich, buttered side in, right over the eyes of Cummings.
Smack!
The second half of the sandwich landed neatly over his mouth, pressed home by a firm fist.
Cummings could not speak, neither could he see.At that moment he was perhaps the most surprised man on the Mississippi River.At least he appeared to be, for he stood still.He stood still just a few seconds too long.
Teddy had seized the rope.With it he made a quick twist about the body of the pilot, taking two turns, then drawing the rope tight and tying it, thus pinioning the hands and arms of the pilot to his sides.
"Yip-yeow!" howled Teddy.
The show people shrieked with delight.
"You'll tie up a Circus Boy, will you?" jeered Teddy."You'll have to grow some first.No Rube with a bunch of whiskers on his face like that ever lived who could tie up a real circus man."Teddy had drawn nearer to impress his words upon the pilot, when all of a sudden the man's hands gripped the lad.The boy never had felt quite so strong a grip on his body.Cummings had not handled a pilot wheel on the Mississippi for thirty years without acquiring some strength in hands and arms.
Teddy, failing to pull away, grappled with his antagonist, all in the best of humor, though his face bore its usual solemn expression.
"Gangway," cried Teddy humorously."I'm going to give him a bath in the river."Then began a lively scrimmage.Back and forth the combatants struggled across the cabin floor, the growls of the pilot drowned in the shouts and jeers of the performers.
