TEDDY JOINS THE BAND
"I would suggest that you divide the band into two parts and have them play on deck as we approach the next stand," said Phil later that evening.
"I think that a most excellent plan," decided Mr.Sparling."We will work it whenever we get in after daylight.It might not be a bad idea to try it tomorrow morning.I'll allow the musicians overtime for it, so there should be no objection on their part.We will make a triumphal entry into Des Moines, providing nothing happens to us in the meantime."Mr.Sparling's face darkened as he thought of the dastardly attempts that had been made against his young charges.
"I will see the leader before I turn in.You had better go to bed now, Phil.You have been keeping pretty late hours and working unusually hard.Good night.""Good night," answered Phil pleasantly.
Man and boy had come to be very fond of each other, and Phil Forrest could not have felt a more genuine affection for Mr.Sparling had the latter been his own father.
"A noble fellow," was Mr.Sparling's comment as the youth walked away from the cabin.
At half-past three o'clock the next morning the boat's passengers were awakened by the blare of brass, the crash of cymbals and the boom of the big bass drum.
They tumbled out of bed in a hurry, for few of them knew of the plan of the owner to give an early morning concert on the deck of the "Fat Marie."Teddy Tucker struck the floor of his cabin broadside on.
"Wake up, Phil! We're late for the show.It's already begun and here we are in bed.""Guess again, Teddy," answered Phil sleepily."Don't you know where you are?""I thought I did, but I don't.Where am I?" "In our cabin on the ship.""But the band, the band?"
"It is playing for the benefit of the natives along the shore.""Oh, pooh! And here I am wide awake.Do you know what time it is?""No."
"It is only twenty minutes of four."
"In the afternoon?Goodness we are late."
"No, in the morning, you ninny.This is a shame.I'll bet that band concert was your suggestion, Phil Forrest."Phil admitted the charge.
"Then you must take your medicine with the rest of us.Come out of that!"One of Phil's feet was peeping out from under the covers.Teddy saw it and grabbed it.Being a strong boy, the mighty tug he gave was productive of results.
Phil landed on his back on the floor, with a resounding thump and a jolt that made him see stars.
"Teddy Tucker, look out; I'm coming!" "You had better look out; I'm waiting."The two supple-limbed youngsters met in the middle of the cabin floor and went down together.They were evenly matched, and the muscles of their necks stood out like whip cords as they struggled over the floor, each seeking to get a fall from his antagonist.
Teddy managed to roll under the bed, and there they continued their early morning battle, but under no slight difficulties.Every time one of the gladiators forgot himself and raised his head, he bumped it.Phil tried to force Teddy out from under the bed, but Teddy refused to be forced.
"When--when I get you out of here I am going to do something to you that you won't like, Teddy Tucker," panted Phil.
"What--what you going to do to me?"
"I'm going to pour a pitcher of cold water on your bare feet." "Oh!"The thought of it sent Teddy into a nervous chill.He would rather take a sound thrashing, at any time, than have that done to him.Now he struggled more desperately than ever to hold Phil under the bed.At last, however, the boys rolled out and Teddy's shoulders struck the cabin floor with a bang that sent the pitcher jingling in the wash bowl.
Phil sprang up, seized the water pitcher, making a threatening move with it toward his companion.
"Wow!Don't, don't!" howled Teddy.
Phil pursued him around the cabin, the water splashing from the pitcher to the floor.Teddy yelling like a wild Indian every time he stepped in the puddles.
The window was open and the band was playing just outside.
Suddenly a new plan occurred to Teddy--a plan whereby he might escape from his tormentor.
Taking a running start he sprang up, making a clean dive through the window head-first.
The lad had intended to land on his hands, do a cartwheel and come up easily on his feet.But the best-laid plans sometimes go wrong.
The bass drummer was pounding his drum right in line with the window.Teddy did not see the drum until too late to change his course.His head hit the drum with a bang.He went clear through it, his head protruding from the other side.And there he stuck!
"Oh, wow!" howled the Circus Boy.
The other members of the band, discovering that the drum was no longer marking time for them, got out of tune and came to a discordant stop.
The leader, whose side had been toward the drummer at the time, did not know what had happened.He was furious.He was about to upbraid them when he discovered the head of Teddy Tucker protruding from the head of the drum.
"Wha--wha--what--"
