"Why, the boat is moving backwards," cried Phil.
"No!"
"Yes, it is."
"Maybe January has kicked the machinery out of gear."
The circus people were by this time on deck, and, like Teddy and Phil, many of them were in their pajamas. They had heard the cry, "the animals have escaped," and many of the people were gazing apprehensively about.
"It's all right," shouted Teddy. "It is only January, taking his morning exercise."
About that time Phil, who had run around to the other side of the pilot house, discovered that it was empty. There was no pilot there.
Understanding came to him instantly. January had either kicked or frightened Cummings out.
"The boat is running wild!" he called. "Find the pilot or we shall be on the shore before we know it."
Phil did not wait for them to find the pilot. Instead, he climbed in through one of the broken windows and grasped the wheel.