At that moment a distant chorus of yells smote his ears. The lad
listened intently. The shout was repeated. Holding fast to the
headstall, he glanced back over the road. There, far to his
rear, he discovered a cloud of dust, which a few minutes later
resolved itself into a party of horsemen, riding at top speed.
"They're after me! Go faster! Go faster!" shouted the lad. As
he spoke a rifle cracked somewhere behind him, but as Phil heard
no bullet the leaden missile must have fallen far short of the
mark.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
As he neared the village Phil began to shout and wave his hat.
After a time his shouts attracted the attention of some of the
people on the circus lot, which was on his side of the village.
"It's Emperor coming back!" cried someone. "There's somebody on
him," added another.
"I'll bet the day's receipts that it's that rascally Phil
Forrest," exclaimed Mr. Sparling, examining the cloud of dust
with shaded eyes. "How in the world did it ever happen? I've
been hunting all over the outfit for that boy this morning.
Young Tucker said he thought Phil had remained behind, and I was
afraid something had happened to the boy or that he had skipped
the show.
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