THE CIRCUS BOYS' SURPRISE
"Come, Phil and Teddy.I want you to take a little walk with me," called Mr.Sparling early next morning after they had finished their breakfast.
That morning orders had been given in each of the sleeping cars, for the performers to pack their belongings, ready to be moved from the cars.
The show people could not understand it, and gossip was rife among them as to the meaning of the unusual order.
Orders also had been given to the various heads of departments to prepare to desert the train, bag and baggage.
"Where are we going?" demanded Teddy suspiciously.
"For a walk.You need not go along, unless you wish to," added the showman.
"Of course I wish to go.Do you think I want to stay on the lot when anything is going on somewhere else, eh?""There would be plenty going on, if you remained.I am sure of that," replied Mr.Sparling, with a short laugh."Come along, boys."Still wondering what it was all about, Phil and Teddy walked along with their employer.They passed on through the business street of the town, then turned off sharply, heading for the north.A few moments of this and they turned to the left again.
"Hello, there's the river," announced Teddy."Yes, that is the river.""I wish I could take a boat ride." "You shall have one tonight." "Good!"Phil glanced at Mr.Sparling inquiringly.
"Oh, look at that funny boat!" cried Teddy."It's yellow.I've heard of a yellow dog, but I can't say that I ever heard of a yellow boat.And it has a paddle wheel on behind.Well, if that isn't the limit! Why, there are three of them.What are they, Mr.Sparling?"Phil's eyes already were widening.He had caught sight of something that shed a flood of light on the mystery--the surprise that Mr.Sparling had in store for them.But he was not positive enough to commit himself.
A moment more, and he knew he was not wrong.
"Teddy, if you will read the words on the side of that boat nearest to us, you will understand, I think.""T-h-e," spelled Teddy."The," finished Phil.
"S-p-a-r-l-i-n-g, Sparling.C-o-m-b-i-n-e-d Shows.Well, what do you think of _that?_""I hardly know what to think, yet," answered Phil Forrest."The Sparling Combined Shows.Do you mean to say--?""I haven't said a word," answered Mr.Sparling, with a merry twinkle in his eyes."I am waiting for you to say something.""I--I am afraid I am too much astonished to say much.Do you mean we are going to take to the river?""Exactly."
"With the show?" "Yes."
"Hooray!"
"What's that?" demanded Teddy."Didn't you hear?""I heard, but I don't understand.What's it all about? What is it about those yellow boats over there?""The Sparling Circus is going down the Mississippi," Mr.Sparling informed him.
"On those things?" "On those boats."
"Then I think I'll walk.You don't catch me riding on any boat that has to have a wheel on behind to help push it along.No, siree, not for mine!""But, Teddy, they are fine boats," said Phil.
"They are among the few typical Mississippi River steamers," broke in Mr.Sparling."I got them far up the river last winter.When I firstconceived the plan of sending my show down the river, on the river itself, I took a trip out here to look over the ground--""You mean the water," corrected Teddy innocently.
"A little of both, my boy.I found that no show since the early days of the barnstorming outfits had ever attempted the feat.I learned a number of things that made me all the more anxious to try it.The next question was a boat.I heard of some of the old broad-beamed river craft that were out of commission up stream.I found them exactly suited to our requirements, and I rented them for the season.It cost quite a sum to have them fixed up, but you will find them just the thing for our work.What do you think of the idea?""Great!" breathed Phil."It fairly takes my breath away.""When--when do we move in?" asked Teddy Tucker wonderingly.
"We begin moving in this morning.I have given the orders to have the property removed from the trains and brought here, now--that is, all that will not be needed for today's performances.Tonight all hands will sleep on the boats.How will you like that, boys?""Fine!" answered Phil, with glowing eyes.
"I'll tell you after I try it," added Teddy prudently.
Across the sides of each boat, in big black letters, were the words, "The Sparling Combined Shows." Below this lettering appeared the names of the boats.The "River Queen" was the name emblazoned on one, several shades more yellow than the other two.
