"The man-eating tiger," cried Tim. "It says so on the cage."
Harvey chuckled. "I"d like to throw you in there, Tim," he said. "He"d be scared to death of you. Here"s the real thing coming, though. Say, what do you think of that?"
The float that approached was certainly calculated to fire the brain of youth. On the platform, open to view from all sides, there was set up in the centre the trunk of a small tree, to which was securely bound, by hand and foot, the figure of a huntsman, clad in garb of skins, buckskin leggings and moccasins. A powder horn was slung picturesquely from one shoulder, and a great hunting-knife--alas useless to him now--stuck conspicuously in his belt.
Around this hapless captive there moved the figures of three savages, their faces streaked with various hues of paint, their war-bonnets of eagles" feathers flaunting, and wonderful to behold. Each bore in his right hand a gleaming tomahawk, which now and then was raised menacingly toward the unfortunate huntsman. Again one would put his hand to his lips, and a shrill war-whoop would rival the screaming of the steam calliope.
Close by, a wigwam, of painted skins thrown over a light frame-work of poles, added to the picture. At the entrance to this there stood now a man in ordinary dress, who thus addressed the crowd through a megaphone:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this historical representation which you now see before you is a scene from real life. It represents the perils of the plainsman in the midst of bands of cruel savages. It shows a captive bound to the stake and about to be put to torture. (Increased activity on the part of the Indians, and a suggestive squirming on the part of the prisoner.)
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this daring scout was one of General Miles"s most trusted and heroic followers. (Name not mentioned.) He was captured by these three chiefs, Leaping Panther, Crazy Bear and Red Bull--a kinsman of the famous Sitting Bull--after one of the most desperate struggles ever known, and after twice disarming his adversaries and nearly killing them all. (Revengeful gestures on the part of the three toward the captive.)
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the continuation of this thrilling adventure, the rescue of this famous scout and the capture of Leaping Panther, Crazy Bear and Red Bull, will be enacted under canvas at the great Bagley & Blondin moral and scientific show this afternoon and evening."
"Hi! yi!" yelled Little Tim, "Real Injuns, Jack. Look at the big one, with the red streak across his chin."
Tim"s shrill voice rang out above the noise of the procession. Perhaps it may have penetrated, even, to the group upon the float; for, at that moment, the great chief, Red Bull--kinsman to the sitting variety--turned and shook his tomahawk in the direction of the group of boys. Little Tim squealed in an ecstasy of pleasurable alarm.
"Look out; he"ll get you, Tim," said George Warren.
"Gee!" exclaimed Little Tim. "Bet I wouldn"t like to be tied to that tree, though."
"Why not?" asked Jack Harvey, grinning at Tim"s serious expression.
"Because, how"d I know they wouldn"t forget some time and go ahead and really scalp me? Oh, they might do it, all right. You needn"t laugh. I wouldn"t like to be mas-sick-ered the way they were at that Fort some-thing-or-other in the Last of the Mohigginses."
"Ho, you mean the "Last of the Mohicans,"--the book I told you about, eh?" said Henry Burns--"all about Uncas and the rest."
"That"s it," cried Little Tim. "Wouldn"t I like to be Un-cuss, though, and scalp Red Bull."
"Fine!" laughed Henry Burns. "Come on, we"ll go up to the circus grounds."
To Little Tim the afternoon was one glorious dream; a dream through which there pranced horses in bright trappings, ridden by be-spangled men and women; chariots rumbled in mad races; bicyclists shot down fearful inclines; and the whole proceedings made glad to the heart of the youngster by the roaring of wild beasts.
The impending torture of Gen. Miles"s scout was happily averted by the timely arrival of a band of mounted soldiers, whose cracking rifles laid in the dust the painted warriors--barely in time to save Little Tim, also, from utter collapse. He emerged from the tent, some hours later, wild eyed; so freighted down with red lemonade and peanuts that if dropped overboard he must surely have sunk without a struggle.
Evening came, and with it the night performance. Night found Little Tim again on the grounds. True, he had no money for a ticket, but it was a delight to wander about the grounds; to climb upon the great carts and be chased off by angry circus men. The gaudy canvases, stretched here and there, reminded him of what he had seen inside; and he eyed them affectionately.
Once there was a thrill of excitement for him, when the Indian warriors, their evening act over, hurried past him in a group and disappeared within the opening of a small tent, on the outskirts of the grounds.
Time pa.s.sed, and it had struck nine o"clock a half hour ago. The show would be over in half an hour more. Young Joe Warren, who had seen the main circus in the afternoon and who was strolling in and about the side-shows, suddenly found himself accosted by Tim Reardon, who gasped out a greeting as though the words choked him.
"h.e.l.lo, Tim," replied Joe, eying him with astonishment. "Say, what"s the matter? Any of the snakes got loose? You look as though they were after you."
Tim was breathless, sure enough, as though he were being pursued. His very eyes seemed to have grown larger, and he was hardly able to stand still long enough to reply.
"Come on, Joe," he whispered. "I"ll show you something. Better"n snakes, a big sight. Easy now, don"t talk. Follow me."
Young Joe Warren, a boy slightly taller than Tim and perhaps a year older, ready at all times for a lark, followed his barefoot guide, but on the look-out, half suspecting it was one of Tim"s tricks. They threaded their way through a maze of carts and circus paraphernalia, out to the edge of the grounds; past a line of small tents, used as the encampment of the performers, to a grove of maple trees skirting the field.
"I say, Tim, what"s up, anyway?" inquired Joe Warren presently. "You needn"t think you can fool me--"
"Sh-h-h," warned Tim, turning and raising a hand to silence his companion. "Here he is."
He took a few steps forward, grasped Joe Warren"s arm, brought him to a stand-still and pointed toward a figure that reclined upon a blanket spread beneath a tree.
"Well, what of it--what is it?" asked Joe Warren, "I don"t see anything but somebody asleep."
Tim Reardon again gestured for silence and induced his companion to approach nearer. Whereupon he pointed gleefully at the face of the sleeper. Young Joe, bending down softly, beheld the painted features of the great chief, Red Bull.
"Hmph!" he exclaimed. "It"s only one of the Injuns. Saw "em at the show this afternoon."
Little Tim, in reply, seized Young Joe mysteriously by an arm, drew him away a few paces and whispered something, excitedly.
Young Joe gave a subdued roar.
"Cracky!" he cried, doubling up. "Tim, you"re the craziest youngster.
What put it into your head? We couldn"t do it."
"No, you and I couldn"t," answered Tim; "but the whole of us could--Jack Harvey and Henry Burns, and the rest of the fellers. Gee! Joe, just think of it. A real live Injun--a live one-"twould be just like the Last of the Mohigginses."
"What would we do with him if we got him?" asked Joe.
"Nothin"," replied Little Tim--"Oh, yes, we could,--take him off up stream to the camp and--dance "round him, like they do in the show."
"Come on," said Joe Warren. "Let"s find Jack and Henry Burns and George. They won"t do it, though."
If one could have seen Henry Burns"s eyes twinkle, when they had found the three a few moments later, however, they would have thought differently.
"Tim, you"re all right," he said. "But how could we get him away from here?"
"Why, get the wagon," said Young Joe. "Come on, George, will you? I"ll go down to the house for it, if you"ll join. "Twon"t take more"n half an hour. You find Tom and Bob; they"re "round somewhere. Then wait here till I come back."
Young Joe, reading a half consent in his elder brother"s hesitation, darted away. George Warren was not keen for it, however.
"Tim, you and Joe are a couple of young idiots," he exclaimed. "We"re not going to do any such fool thing as that. We couldn"t do it, in the first place."
"Yes we can," argued Little Tim. "He ain"t got his tomahawk nor any scalping knife. And he ain"t very much bigger than Jack."
Harvey drew himself up and felt of his muscle.
"Tom and Bob could lick him, without the rest of us," continued Little Tim.
Tom and Bob, who had been added to the group, likewise flexed their biceps and thought how strong they were.
"I ain"t afraid," said Harvey.