CHAPTER XVIII.
_A NARROW ESCAPE._
Neither Teddy nor Dan had any hope of reaching the museum tent beforetheir pursuers could overtake them, and although both knew what might bethe result if they were taken with the jewelry fakir's money and goodsin their possession, they did not for a moment think of abandoning theproperty.
The cries of those in the rear attracted the attention of the spectatorselsewhere on the grounds, and without waiting to learn the cause of thetrouble hundreds of men and boys joined in the chase, all shouting atthe full strength of their lungs:
"Stop thief! Stop thief!"
The distance to be traversed was nearly a quarter of a mile; but themany turns the boys were forced to make in order to avoid those who wereready to capture them doubled this, and they were yet very far from thegoal when a burly, red-faced man jumped in front of them.
It seemed as if capture was inevitable; but Teddy resorted to the lastmeans of defense, and was successful.
Letting go his hold of the satchel he lowered his head, leaped forwardwith full force, striking the officious stranger full in the stomach.
The man, not anticipating such an attack at a moment when he almost hadhis hands upon the supposed thieves, was bowled over like a nine-pin,and, jumping quickly aside, Teddy caught hold of the satchel once more.
By this time both the boys were so nearly winded that speech was wellnigh impossible; but Dan managed to gasp admiringly:
"You're a dandy, old fellow," and then, with one supreme effort,increased his pace a trifle.
It was fortunate that there were no spectators in front of Mr. Sweet'stent when the boys came in sight of it. The barker was lounging in achair outside, and on catching a glimpse of the boys recognized themimmediately.
The crowd in pursuit would have told a duller man than he professed tobe that there had been some serious trouble, and, running to meet theboys as if to intercept them, he cried:
"Circle around the canvas, an' crawl underneath, so's that gang won'tsee where you've gone!"
The fugitives understood the scheme at once, and making a short detouras if to avoid him, dashed under the guy-ropes at one end, gaining theinterior of the tent before the pursuers arrived.
Mr. Sweet had just started toward the flap to ascertain the cause of thecommotion when the boys entered, and, thinking himself about to beattacked, leaped quickly back as he seized an ironbound stake.
"Oh, it's you, eh?" he said, on recognizing the intruders. "What's up?Are you the thieves they're yellin' for?"
Teddy was hardly able to speak; but he held up the satchel, as hepanted:
"Hazelton's--they're killin' him--he--wants--this--saved."
"Yes, I understand it now. Jump into the wagon an' get under the stuffthere. I'll take the valise. Them kind of fakirs are bound to come togrief sooner or later, an' honest people get into a muss tryin' to help'em. I'd like to see the fair where them kinds of games wasn't allowed;but don't s'pose I ever shall, although it's always promised."
While Mr. Sweet had been grumbling, and at the same time concealing thesatchel under the box containing the snakes, the boys were doing theirbest to hide themselves beneath the litter of ropes and canvas which hadbeen carelessly thrown into the wagon.
In the meantime the pursuers came up, discovered the unpleasant factthat the fugitives were no longer in sight, and began to parley with thebarker.
"I tried to catch 'em," the boys heard the latter say; "but they gotaround the tent before I had time to find out what the matter was."
"They've gone inside!" one of the crowd shouted. "Don't let's allowswindlers to get the best of us so easy!"
"That's the way to talk!" another cried. "We'll have 'em out if the showhas to come down!"
At this moment Mr. Sweet, looking calm and undisturbed, emerged from theflap.
"Bring out them boys, or down comes your tent!" a man yelled.
"I reckon the wisest plan for you to pursue is to wait till I find outwhat all this means," the proprietor of the museum said loudly, at thesame time beckoning the barker and the clown to his side. "It looks tome as if this was the same gang who came here last night tryin' to cleanus out, an' warrants for their arrest are in the hands of the constablesnow. I paid one hundred dollars for the privilege of exhibitin' here,an' that means I'm to have all the protection the managers of this fairand the authorities of the town can give me. I've warned you off; but ifyou still want to finish up the work of last night, an' the constablesdon't come in time, there are three of us here who are good for twicethat number of your gang, an' when a man gets a tap over the head withone of these he's not in it any longer!"
Mr. Sweet flourished the heavy stake as he spoke, and his employesshowed that they were armed in the same manner.
"We didn't come to disturb you," one of the crowd said, in a mildertone, as the greater number fell back before the threats made ofinvoking the aid of the law. "All we want is a valise two boys broughthere, for in it is quite a pile of our money."
"How did they get it from you?" the proprietor of the museum asked forthe purpose of gaining time in the hope the constables would put in anappearance.
"We were swindled by a jewelry agent, an' are goin' to get back ourown."
"Oh, you are, eh? Well, I haven't got the stuff; but if you allowyourselves to be swindled, will you help matters by turning thieves? Youcan sue the man who has done you up; but there's a penalty for stealing,as you will find out if you keep on in this way."
The less impetuous among the pursuers understood that the showman wasspeaking only the truth, and, now that they had an opportunity forreflection, began to be ashamed of the part they were playing. One byone walked away without making any further remonstrance, and in a shorttime only a dozen or so remained in front of the tent.
All these were young men, and several had been drinking, therefore thedanger was not yet past.
"You stand here and brain the first man who attempts to enter," Mr.Sweet said, as he disappeared inside the tent. Then hurrying to whereTeddy and Dan were hidden, he whispered:
"It may be possible that in order to avoid a row I shall be obliged tolet this gang in. There is no one behind the canvas, and you can slipout readily. Go directly back where you belong, an' if anybody accusesyou of being the boys who brought away the valise deny it. I'm goin' tomake a big bluff about lookin' for constables, an' the minute you hearme talking, move lively."
"What about Hazelton's money?" Teddy asked.
"He'll find it here when he dares to come for it."
An instant later the fugitives heard him say from the outside:
"I propose to call for help in case you very respectable young gentlemanshould take a notion to break in and steal."
"All we ask is that you'll turn out them boys," one of the partyreplied, angrily, "for, whether it's stealing or not, we're bound tohave that fakir's money."
"That part of it is nothing to me. There are no boys inside, an' if youwant to go in one at a time, so there'll be no chance of gettin' thebest of me an' destroyin' my property, I don't think there'll be anyobjection made."
"Now's our time before they come?" Dan whispered, as he slipped softlydown from the wagon, and Teddy followed.
It was but the work of a moment to raise the canvas and step out. Therewas absolutely no one in sight. The tent had been erected near the edgeof the grounds, and there was nothing in the vicinity to attract thesightseers.
"We'll get over the fence, an' come in through the main gate. It'sbetter to pay for admission than to let people suspect we were the oneswho have been chased."
"Go on; I'll stay close at your heels."
Five minutes later they were walking along the dusty road looking asinnocent as possible, and feeling comparatively safe.
"Do you suppose any one will know us?" Teddy asked after they hadtrudged some distance in silence.
"There can't be much danger of that. All the crowd saw were our backs,and, besides, after those fellows cool of
f they'll be ashamed ofthemselves. I don't reckon you'll have any trouble; but I may get it hotfrom the boss because I've been away so long."
"I guess there won't be much danger of that; but if anything shouldhappen come to my stand. After what has happened I reckon I can affordto whack up with you on some of the profits, especially since every onesays to-morrow is to be such a big day. Where do you suppose Hazeltonis?"
"He must have had a chance to get off when the men started for us; butI'll bet he don't look as nice as he did this morning."
By this time the boys were at the ticket-office, and, paying the priceof admission, they walked into the inclosure without attracting theslightest attention.
On the way to his place of business Teddy chanced to think of the errandon which they had started out, and he bought a generous supply ofsandwiches for Dan, Tim, and himself.
When the two arrived at the cane-board business was at its height, andthe clerk and his assistant were having quite as much as they could doto attend to the customers.
This saved Teddy the necessity of entering into any explanation whilestrangers were near, and he immediately went to work, not having an idlemoment until nearly nightfall, when the greater portion of the visitorshad departed.
"Where did you and Dan go that you staid away so long?" Tim asked as heand Teddy began to pack up the stock of canes and knives.
"Oh, it's a long story; I'll tell you all about it while we are eatingsupper," Teddy replied, with a significant look in the direction of theassistant.
Tim understood that there was some secret regarding the matter, and heat once proceeded to get rid of a possible eavesdropper by saying to theassistant:
"Here's the money I promised. There's no need of your stayin' anylonger."
"Shall I come to work in the morning?"
Tim looked toward his employer, and the latter said:
"Yes, of course, if it is pleasant weather. Everybody says there'll be abigger crowd than ever, an' I reckon we shall have work enough for allhands."
The boy had but just taken his departure when Dan approached, lookingvery mournful.
"Have you been bounced?" Teddy cried, excitedly.
"Not a bit of it; but look here," and Dan held up a straw hat. "That'spoor Sam's! His boat has been found bottom up, an' this, with one of theoars, was fished out of the creek a few moments ago. While we weretalking rough about him the poor boy was drowning!"