Phil walked off, the passengers giving him three cheers as he
stepped over the gangplank to the dock. Before he had reached
the end of it, he was overtaken by a reporter who had just heard
of Phil's feat and wished an interview.
At first Phil was reluctant to speak.
"I think it will be a good advertisement for the show," he said
to himself. So the Circus Boy related, modestly, the story
of his experience in the river and of his rescue of himself; not
forgetting to say some pleasant things about the Sparling shows,
which would visit Memphis two days hence. That afternoon he saw
his story set forth in the Memphis newspaper. He bought two
papers, one of which he tucked in his pocket, sending the other
to Mrs. Cahill, his guardian. His next move was to start for the
station, to take a train for Corinth. He was already too late to
reach that town in time for the afternoon performance, but he had
wired Mr. Sparling that he was safe.
As it happened the lad reached the show grounds before his
message had been delivered. Mr. Sparling, well nigh beside
himself with worry, had telegraphed to all points passed by their
boats, begging that neither effort nor expense be spared to find
his Circus Boy.
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