Part 45 (2/2)
”Find out.”
The mate returned a few moments later with the information that a hawser was dragging astern.
”Wonderful!” breathed the captain. ”How did you ever do it, and you only a boy?”
”I am pretty strong, even if I am a boy,” smiled Phil.
”What is your name?”
Phil gave it.
”How did you happen to get in the river?”
”I told you I fell in, or something of the sort, from the 'Fat Marie.'”
”Never heard of her.”
”I think she was called the 'Mary Jane.'”
”Oh, that's that circus boat--the Sparling Circus?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Do you belong to the circus?”
”Yes. I am a bareback rider and a trapeze performer.”
Both men gazed at him with new interest.
”Well, you beat anything that I ever heard of. You certainly must be a performer if you did a thing like that. I remember the pilot's telling me he thought he heard someone cry out from the river, but as the call was not repeated, he thought he must have been mistaken. Come in, and we will put you to bed.”
”I have no money with me, sir,” said the lad. ”If you will extend the courtesies of your craft to me, I will see that you are well paid after I reach my show once more.”
”We will take care of you. Never mind about the pay.”
”By the way, where is your next landing place?”
”Memphis.”
Phil gave a low whistle.
”Where do you want to go?”
”Corinth, I believe is the stand we show at tomorrow.”
”That's not far from Memphis. We will land you at Memphis in the morning and you can take a train back, getting you to Corinth in plenty of time for your show. I will see that you have a ticket.”
”Thank you ever so much. You are very kind.”
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