Part 19 (1/2)

”Ask the pilot,” grumbled Teddy. ”How do you suppose I know?

This water looks like a big mud puddle. I'm hungry; aren't you?”

”Yes, I am. What are we going to do for breakfast? I never thought to bring along a lunch.”

”I've got an egg,” chuckled Teddy.

”You are welcome to it. I don't care for any, thank you.”

Just then there came a rap on their door.

Phil opened it and looked out.

”Mr. Sparling wishes to know if you are ready for breakfast?”

asked the man, whom they recognized as the showman's personal servant.

”Am I ready for breakfast?” shouted Teddy. ”Tell Mr. Sparling he ought to know better than to ask a question like that.

What's this, a joke? We can't get any breakfast on this old tub.”

”Mr. Sparling directs me to ask you to join him in his cabin for breakfast in ten minutes.”

”Thank you. Tell him we shall be on hand,” smiled Phil.

”I hope it isn't a joke,” grumbled Teddy, pulling on his trousers.

”Now, isn't that fine of Mr. Sparling, old fellow?” asked Phil, with glowing eyes.

”Tell you better after I sample the breakfast. I'm suspicious.”

”You need not be. Mr. Sparling would not be so unkind as to invite us to eat breakfast with him unless he had some breakfast to offer us.”

”Well, I hope it's straight,” muttered the doubting Teddy. A few minutes later the lads presented themselves at the door of the owner's cabin.

”Good morning, boys; how did you sleep last night?” he greeted them, with a cordial smile and a handshake for each.

”I was dead to the world,” answered Teddy, with his customary bluntness of speech.

”I guess we all were,” smiled the showman. ”All day and all night was rather trying, but we shall not have the same trouble after this; at least not after the next stand. Everything should be in excellent working order after Monday. Sit down and have some breakfast with me.”

An appetizing meal had been spread in the cabin. Teddy surveyed the table with wistful eyes.

”I did not know you were going to serve meals on board,”

said Phil.

”I am not, generally speaking. This is different. I would not ask our people to go all day without anything to eat. I have had a cold meal prepared in the main cabin, with hot coffee to wash it down. I thought you boys might like to join me here for a real meal. Having a real meal is one of the privileges of the owner of the show, you know,” replied Mr. Sparling, with a hearty laugh, in which the boys joined.

”I was going to eat my egg,” said Teddy humorously.

”It is very kind of you, Mr. Sparling,” said Phil. ”We were just wondering what we should do for breakfast, and Teddy, as he has just told you, was thinking of eating the ostrich egg.”