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Phil shouted。
〃You ninny； this isn't a circus performance。 No； of course they don't
climb up on a rope ladder as if they were starting a trapeze act。〃
〃How； then？〃
〃The porter brings out a little step ladder； and it's just like walking
upstairs； only it isn't。〃
〃Huh！〃 grunted Teddy。 〃Do they have a net under them all night？〃
〃A net？ What for？〃
〃Case they fall out of bed。〃
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〃Put him out！〃 shouted several performers who were engaged in
settling themselves in their own quarters。 〃He's too new for this outfit。〃
Phil drew his panion aside and read him a lecture on not asking so
many questions； advising Teddy to keep his ears and eyes open instead。
Teddy grumbled and returned to the work of unpacking his bag。
Inquiry for their trunks developed the fact that they would have to look
for these in the baggage car； that no trunks were allowed in the sleepers。
Everything about the car was new and fresh； the linen white and clean；
while the wash room； with its mahogany trimmings； plate glass mirrors
and upholstered seats； was quite the most elaborate thing that Teddy had
ever seen。
He called to Phil to e and look at it。
〃Yes； it is very handsome。 I am sure we shall get to be very fond of
our home on wheels before the season is ended。 I'm going out now to see
if our trunks have arrived。〃
Phil； after some hunting about； succeeded in finding the baggage man
of the train； from whom he learned that the trunks had arrived and were
packed away in the baggage car。
By this time night had fallen。 With it came even greater confusion；
while torches flared up here and there to light the scene of bustle and
excitement。
It was all very confusing to Phil； and he was in constant fear of being
run down by switching engines that were shunting cars back and forth as
fast as they were loaded； rapidly making up the circus train。 The Circus
Boy wondered if he ever could get used to being with a railroad show。
〃I must be getting back or I shall not be able to find number eleven；〃
decided Phil finally。 〃I really haven't the least idea where it is now。〃
The huge canvas…covered wagons stood up in the air like a procession
of wraiths of the night； muttered growls and guttural coughs issuing from
their interiors。 All this was disturbing to one not used to it。
Phil started on a run across the tracks in search of his car。
In the meantime Teddy Tucker； finding himself alone； had sauntered
forth to watch the loading； and when he ventured abroad trouble usually
followed。
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The lad soon became so interested in the progress of the work that he
was excitedly shouting out orders to the men； offering suggestions and
criticisms of the way they were doing that work。
Now； most of the men in the labor gang were newthat is； they had
not been with the Sparling show the previous season； and hence did not
know Teddy by sight。 After a time they tired of his running fire of
ment。 They had several times roughly warned him to go on about his
business。 But Teddy did not heed their advice； and likewise forgot all
about that which Phil had given him earlier in the evening。
He kept right on telling the men how to load the circus； for； if there
was one thing in the world that Teddy Tucker loved more than another it
was to 〃boss〃 somebody。
All at once the lad felt himself suddenly seized from behind and lifted
off his feet。 At the same time a rough hand was clapped over his mouth。
The Circus Boy tried to utter a yell； but he found it impossible for him
to do so。 Teddy kicked and fought so vigorously that it was all his captor
could do to hold him。
〃e and help me。 We'll fix the fresh kid this time；〃 called the
fellow in whose grip the lad was struggling。
〃What's the matter； Larry？ Is he too much for you？〃 laughed the
other man。
〃He's the biggest little man I ever got my fists on。 Gimme a hand
here。〃
〃What are you going to do with him？〃
〃I'll show you in a minute。〃
〃Maybe he's with the show。 He's slippery enough to be a performer。〃
〃No such thing。 And I don't care if he is。 I'll teach him not to
interfere with the men。 Grab hold and help me carry him。〃
Together they lifted the kicking； squirming； fighting boy； carrying him
on down the tracks； not putting him down until they had reached the
standpipe of a nearby water tank； where the lootives took on their
supply of fresh water。
〃Jerk that spout around！〃 manded Larry； sitting down on Tucker
with a force that made the lad gasp。
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〃Can't reach the chain。〃
〃Then get a pike pole； and be quick about it。 The foreman will be
looking for us first thing we know。 If he finds us here he'll fire us before
we get started。〃
〃See here； Larry； what are you going to do？〃 demanded the other
suspiciously。
〃My eyes； but you're inquisitive！ Going to wash the kid down。 Next
time mebby he won't be so fresh。〃
And 〃wash〃 they did。
Suddenly the full stream from the standpipe spurted down。 Larry
promptly let go of his captive。 Teddy was right in the path of the
downpour； and the next instant he was struggling in the flood。
The showman dropped him and started to run。
Teddy let out a choking howl； grasping frantically for his tormentor。 A
moment later the lad's hands closed over Larry's ankles； and before the
man was able to free himself from the boy's grip Teddy had pulled him
down and dragged him under the stream that was pouring down in a
perfect deluge。 The Circus Boy； being strong and muscular； was able to
acplish this with slight exertion。
Larry's panion was making no effort to assist his fallen rade。
Instead； the fellow was howling with delight。
No sooner； however； had Teddy raised the man and slammed him
down on his back under the spout； than the lad let go of his victim and
darted off into the shadows。 Teddy realized that it was high time he was
leaving。
The man； fuming with rage； uttering loud…voiced threats of vengeance；
scrambled out of the flood and began rushing up and down the tracks in
search of Teddy。
But the boy was nowhere to be found。 He had hastily climbed over a
fence； where he crouched； dripping wet； watching the antics of the enraged
Larry。 〃Guess he won't bother another boy right away；〃 grinned Teddy；
not heeding his own wet and bedraggled condition。
The two showmen finally gave up their quest； and all at once started
on a run in the opposite direction。
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〃Now； I wonder what's made them run away like that？ Surely they
aren't scared of me。 I wonder？ Guess I'll go over and find out。〃
Leaving his hiding place； the lad retraced his steps across the tracks
until finally； ing up with a man； who proved to be the superintendent
of the yard； Teddy asked him where sleeping car number eleven was
located。
〃Eleven？ The sleepers have all gone； young man。〃
〃G…g…gone？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But I thought〃
〃Went out regular on the 9：30 express。〃
Teddy groaned。 Here he was； left behind before the show had all
gotten away from its winter quarters。 But he noted that the train bearing
the cages and other equipment was still in the yard。 There was yet a
chance for him。
〃Whawhat time does that train go？〃 he asked pointing to the last
section。
〃Going now。 Why； what's the matter with you youngster？ The train is
moving now。〃
〃Going？ The matter is that I've got to go with them；〃 cried the lad；
suddenly darting toward the moving train。
〃e back here！ e back！ Do you want to be killed？〃
〃I've got to get on that train！〃 Teddy shouted back at the
superintendent。
The great stock cars were rumbling by as the boy drew near the track；
going faster every moment。 By the light of a switch lamp Teddy could
make out a ladder running up to the roof of one of the box cars。
He could hear the yard superintendent running toward him shouting。
〃He'll have me； if I don't do something。 Then I will be wholly left；〃
decided Teddy。 〃I'm going to try it。〃
As the big stock car slipped past him the lad sprang up into the air； his
eyes fixed on the ladder。 His circus training came in handy here； for
Teddy hit the mark unerringly； though it had been considerably above his
head。 The next second his fingers closed over a rung of the ladder； and
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there he hung； dangling in the air； with the train now rushing over switches；
rapidly gaining momentum as it stretched out headed for the open country。
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CHAPTER III
PHIL TO RESCUE
Phil Forrest was in a panic of uneasiness。
No sooner had his own section started than he made the discovery that
Teddy Tucker was not on board。 Then the lad went through the train in
the hope that his panion had gotten on the wrong car。 There was no
trace of Teddy。
In the meantime Teddy had slowly clambered to the roof of the stock
car； where he stretched himself out； clinging to the running board； with the
big car swaying beneath him。 The wind seemed； up there； to be blowing
a perfect gale； and it was all the boy could do to hold on。 After a while
he saw a light approaching him。 The light was in the hands of a
brakeman who was working his way over the train toward the caboose。
He soon came up to where Teddy was lying。 There he stopped。
〃Well； youngster； what are you doing here？〃 he demanded； flashing his
light into the face of the unfortable Teddy。
〃Trying to ride。〃
〃I suppose you know you are breaking the law and that I'll have to turn
you over to a policeman or a constable the next town we stop at？〃
〃Nothing of the sort！ What do you take me