"Look out!""There he is!""Grab him!"Phil had bounded to his feet, realizing that he could no longer concealhimself from them. As he did so, both men sprang toward him, theCircus Boy eluding them by a leap to one side.

　　The men made a rush for him. At first Phil was inclined to stand hisground and give battle, but he reasoned that, being two to one, the chanceswere against him and that even if he were not captured, he might sustaininjuries that would keep him out of the ring.

　　That was the deciding factor with Phil Forrest. Although he wouldhave preferred facing his enemies, he whirled instead and started on a run,with both men pursuing him at top speed.

　　"He's out-running us. He'll get away!" cried one of the men. "Run,run! Run for all you're worth!"But they might as well have spared their effort. Phil was fleet of foot,and after getting a slight lead over them he turned sharply to his right,leaped a fence and lay down.

　　The men quickly discovered that they had lost their prey. Then theybecame alarmed.

　　"Get out of here, quick! He will be following us!"The men turned and ran swiftly in an opposite direction.

　　"Do you think he recognized us?""I don't know. We can tell by the way he acts when we get back; thatis if he doesn't follow us now. We had better separate and go back to thelot. From there we can go along with the wagons and not be noticed.

　　Don't let him bluff you.""Have no fear for me."The plotters separated and cautiously made their way back to the lotwhere they were soon lost among the crowd of men at work taking downthe tent.

　　"I believe one of those two men was Diaz," declared Phil, as he oncemore tried to place the voice that he had seemed to recognize. "Theyhave given me the slip, too. I know what I'll do. I will hurry back tothe boat and when Diaz returns I will face him and make him betrayhimself if I can. I shall have him then."Having decided on his course of action, Phil struck off at a trot acrossthe field. He soon reached a back street of the village, and from there ranat full speed to the docks.

　　All was activity here. The lad cast a quick glance about, though hedid not expect to find the man for whom he was looking. Withoutpausing in his rapid gait he ran up the companionway to the upper deck,where he intended to watch at the rail for the arrival of Diaz from the lot.

　　As he leaned over the rail he felt someone stir near him. Glancing upquickly, the Circus Boy started almost guiltily. There, beside him, satDiaz on a camp stool with his feet on the steamer's rail, calmly watchingthe loading operations on the deck below.

　　"Good evening, Mr. Diaz," said Phil quickly recovering his self-possession.

　　Diaz uttered an unintelligible grunt, but did not deign to turn his head.

　　"Hey, Phil, is that you?" called the voice of Teddy from further downthe deck.

　　"Yes," answered Phil, rising and moving aft. "How long have youbeen here?""About an hour.""Do you know who is sitting over there?""Over where?""There by the rail?""Sure, I know. That's our old friend Diaz," grinned Teddy.

　　"How long has he been there?""He came in when I did." "An hour ago?""Yes."Phil was perplexed.

　　"I do not understand it at all.""Don't understand what?""Something that occurred this evening."Teddy's curiosity was aroused.

　　"What is it all about, Phil?""I should prefer not to talk about it here, Teddy. I will tell you afterwe get to bed and there is no one about to overhear us. There is a rascallyplot on foot.""A plot?""Yes. I know very little about it, but I know enough to warn me thatyou and I will have to keep our eyes open or else we shall find ourselvesin serious difficulties before we realize it.""Is that so? Tell me who the plotters are, and I'll turn January looseon them," explained Teddy. "Do you think they are the fellows who stolemy egg?""I don't know. Where is Mr. Sparling?""I haven't seen him since I ran into him and bowled him over off onthe lot."Phil laughed.

　　"As I have said many times before, you are hopeless, Teddy. I mustgo now. If you see Mr. Sparling, please let me know, but say nothing toanyone about what I have just told you.""I won't."Phil walked back to the point on the deck where he had first stopped tolook over the rail, and, drawing up a stool sat down. He began studyingthe faces of the belated performers who came straggling down to the dock,singly and in pairs. None seemed to be in a hurry; not a face appeared toreflect any excitement. After an hour of this Phil felt sure that all thecompany had been accounted for.

　　Mr. Sparling had arrived about twenty minutes earlier, and wasstanding on the dock giving orders. As the lad saw the owner enter theboat he turned away and hurried downstairs.

　　"When you are at liberty, I should like a few moments conversationwith you, sir," announced Phil.

　　"I am at liberty, now, my lad," answered the showman with a smile anda friendly slap on the boy's shoulder.

　　"I would rather not talk here, Mr. Sparling," answered Phil in a lowtone.

　　"Something doing, eh?""There is.""Is it important that you should talk with me at once, or will a littlelater on answer the purpose?""Later on will do. It is not so urgent as that.""When the men get these menagerie cages all shifted on deck I willmeet you in my cabin. That will be in about twenty minutes, Phil.""Very well, sir; I will be on hand."Phil walked away, watched the loading operations for a few minutes,then strolled to the main cabin on the upper deck, where lunch was beingserved as usual.

　　The Circus Boy appeared more light-hearted than usual that evening,as he chatted and joked with his friends among the performers. He didnot wish the man or men whom he had overheard off on the lot to knowthat he was the eavesdropper. He felt that he could make better progressin his investigation were they not on their guard.

　　The pilot, Cummings, was not in the............