The Circus Boys on the Mississippi; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River
Page 9
CHAPTER VIII
JANUARY ON THE RAMPAGE
"What's the row? What's the row?" bellowed Teddy, who, boltingunder a cage and, leaving his hat under the wagon, dashed out tothe dock, where their vessel was moored.
The two boys saw an object leaping into the air, performingstrange and grotesque antics.
"It's January!" yelled Teddy. "Whoa, January!"
But January refused to "whoa." The donkey had objected to goingaboard the boat. When the workmen tried to force him, heprotested vigorously, biting those in front and kicking thosebehind him.
"Teddy, get that fool donkey out of here or I'll throw him in theriver," bawled the owner of the show.
Perhaps January understood the threat. At least he started forMr. Sparling, snorting.
The showman ducked under a canvas wagon and climbed up theother side of it, giving his orders from the top of the wagon.He knew January. He had had business dealings with the donkeyon other occasions.
"Get him out of here, I tell you!"
"Drive him in yourself," answered a groom. "I wouldn't try itfor a present of the whole confounded show."
Up to this point those who had not left the dock willinglyJanuary had assisted with his ever ready hoofs, and, by thetime Teddy reached the scene the donkey had kicked every man offand into the street, excepting the owner of the show himself.As already related, Mr. Sparling had seen fit to leave in hastewhen January directed his attention to him.
"Whoa, January!" commanded Teddy in a soothing tone.
The donkey, at sound of the Circus Boy's voice, reared and camedown facing Teddy.
"Come here, you beast. Don't you know you're going to have aride on the river? You don't know enough to know when you arewell off. Come, Jany, Jany, Jany. Wow!"
January had responded with a rush. Teddy stepped aside just intime to save himself from being bowled over. But as the donkeyran by him the boy threw both arms about the animal's neck.
Then began the liveliest scrimmage that the spectators hadever witnessed. Kicking and bucking, the donkey raced fromside to side, varying his performance now and then by makinga dive toward the crowd, which quickly gave gangway as thepeople sought for safety.
"Whoa, January! I--I'll break your neck for this, hang you!Some other donkey has taught you these tricks. You never knewanything about them way back in Edmeston. You--"
Bang!
Teddy was slapped against the side of the "Fat Marie."
By this time Tucker's temper was beginning to rise. His firstinclination was to hit the donkey on the nose with his free hand,but he caught himself in time. He was too fond of animals, evendonkeys, to strike one on the head. It was a rule too, in theSparling shows, that any man who so far forgot himself as tostrike a horse over the head closed with the show then and there.
Now Teddy thought of a new plan. He watched his opportunity.Suddenly, Teddy put his plan into operation.
It must be remembered that the Circus Boy was strong and agile,and that his work in the ring had given him added quickness.
He therefore applied the trick he had thought of; then somethinghappened to January. The donkey struck the planking of the pierflat on his back, his feet beating the air viciously.
"Whoa, January!"
Teddy flopped the animal on its side, then calmly sat down on thedonkey's head. He had thrown the beast as prettily as ever had awrestler an adversary.
The Circus Boy began mopping the perspiration from his brow.
"Warm, isn't it?" he said, tilting his eyes up to whereMr. Sparling had been watching the proceedings from thetop of a wagon.
"You certainly look the part. Now, what are you going to do withthat fool donkey?"
"I'm going to sit on his head until I get ready to get up.Then, if somebody will lend me a whip, I'll tan his jacketto my own taste."
January uttered a loud bray.
"Well, do something," shouted a canvasman. "We can't wait allnight on the gait of that donkey."
"All right; if any of you fellows think you know the insideworkings of a donkey's mind better than I do, just come andlead this angelic creature on board the 'Fat Marie.'"
"No, no; we don't know anything about donkeys," came a chorusof voices. "We don't want to know anything aboutdonkeys, either."
"Somebody bring me a bridle, then. Don't be afraid of him, heis as gentle as a lamb. You wouldn't hurt a fly, would you,dear January?"
January elevated both hind feet, narrowly missing the groom whohad brought the bridle.
After some difficulty the bystanders succeeded in getting the bitbetween his teeth and the bridle over his head.
"Now, take tight hold of the bridle and lead him. I'll usepersuasive measures at the other end," directed Teddy.
January fairly hurled himself forward, jerking the groom off hisfeet at once. But the man hung on stubbornly.
A moment more, and Teddy had fastened a firm grip on January'stail, not appearing to be in the least afraid of the flying hoofsthat were beating a tattoo in the air.
How Teddy did twist that tail! Finally January, in sheerdesperation, was forced to give ground. One leap carried himover the gangplank and into the boat. Once within, there wasa repetition of the scenes enacted on the dock, except thatthis time it was the groom who was getting the worst of it,while Teddy sat on the gangway, howling with delight.
At last the donkey was subdued and led to the place where he wasto spend the night. But they had to rope him in to prevent hiskicking the other stock through the side of the boat.
Fat Marie herself came waddling along about this time, blowinglike a miniature steam engine.
"Gangway! Gangway!" shrieked Marie, in a high-pitched,shrill voice.
Teddy was nearly crowded off the gangplank.
"See here, where are you going? Don't you know there's a crazydonkey in there?"
"Going to my cabin to seek sweet repose," squeaked Marie.
"What! Are you going to live on this boat?"
"That's what. If I can get up to the sky parlor where my'boodwah' is. Come, help me up the stairs; that's agood boy, Teddy."
"I helped you once. That was enough for me. Say, Marie?"
"What is it, my lad?"
"If the boat should be wrecked in one of the terrible stormsthat sweep this raging river you had better grab the anchor thefirst thing."
"Why grab the anchor?"
"You'll sink quicker," laughed the Circus Boy, darting out to thedock and leaning against a wagon wheel.
By this time Mr. Sparling had descended from his haven of safety,and began issuing orders again.
"Get the bulls in now. No more nonsense. Teddy, you did a goodjob, but it took you a long time to do it."
"Yes, sir. Do you think anybody else could have doneit quicker?"
"I know they could not. Where is Phil?"
"Guess he went back to his cabin after I finished off January.Going to load the elephants, did you say?"
"Yes."
"Aren't you afraid they will sink the boat?"
"Don't bother us now. You know we did not bother you when youwere trying to get your livestock in."
"I noticed that you didn't," answered Teddy, humorously, whichremark brought a shout of laughter from everyone within hearingof his voice.
Mr. Kennedy, the elephant-trainer, now ranged his charges inline, with Jupiter, the ill-tempered member of the herd, inthe lead. He wanted to get Jupiter in ahead, knowing that theothers would follow willingly enough after him. Emperor, thegreat beast that had such a warm regard for Phil, was third inthe line.
"Everybody keep away and don't make a racket or they willget nervous. I expect to have a little trouble with thosebulls the first time. After that they will go one board asmeek as a flock of spring mutton," declared Kennedy.Teddy was close at hand. If there was any prospect oftrouble or excitement he wanted to be near enough not tomiss a single feature of it.
Mr. Kennedy gave the command for attention.
Each of the elephants to the rear of Jupiter stretched forth atrunk and grasped the tail of the elephant directly in frontof him.
"Forward, march!"
"Hip! Hip!" began Teddy.
"That will do, young man," warned Mr. Sparling.
The line moved slowly forward, Jupiter offering no objection togoing where he was ordered.
Just as he reached the gangplank, however, Jupiter halted.
"Forward!"
The elephant's trunk curled upward and a mighty trumpeting sentthe villagers scurrying for places of safety.
Mr. Kennedy prodded the elephant with the sharp point ofhis hook. The act forced Jupiter to place one foot on thegang plank, throwing his weight upon the planking to testits stability. He felt it give ever so little beneath hisfeet, and quickly withdrew the foot.
Once more the prod was brought into use. Jupiter waxed angry.With a great cough, he curled his trunk about the heavygangplank, wrenching it free from its resting place.
Raising the planking high above his head he hurled it intothe river.
"Ladies and gentlemen," announced Teddy Tucker, in a loud voice,"you have witnessed a most satisfying, edifying, gratifying,ennobling, superb and sublime spectacular prelude, as our pressagent would say. But, if you know what's good for you, you willnow hasten to the high places, for there's going to be somethingdoing around here in about a minute."
Teddy was no false prophet in this instance.
Strutting up to the angry Jupiter the Circus Boy slapped himplayfully on the trunk.
"You bad boy. I thought January was the limit, but I havechanged my mind. You--"
Suddenly Jupiter's trunk curled about the lad. The angryelephant raised the boy far above his head and hurled him upinto the air as he had done with the gangway, except that hethrew Teddy in another direction.