The keyboard was in one end of the calliope wagon, and the canvas was draped over the chair occupied by the operator when the steam wagon was in use.
With a pull, Matt jerked aside the canvas that covered the rear of the calliope, and there, crouching in a chair, was Ben Ali!
[CHAPTER VIII.]
A CALL FOR HELP.
"Well, sizzlin' thunderbolts!" gasped the amazed Burton.
At first, Ben Ali sat blinking at those before him, apparently too dazed to move.
"He's an eavesdropper!" cried McGlory, "and this ain't the first time we've caught him at it, either. Grab him, Matt! Wring that thin neck of his!"
Ben Ali regained his wits, then, and very suddenly. With a panther-like spring, he cleared the wagon on the side opposite that where Motor Matt was standing, dodged McGlory, who tried to head him off, shook a glittering knife in Boss Burton's face, and vanished under the wall of the menagerie tent. It was all so neatly done that the three in the calliope lean-to were left staring at each other in helpless astonishment.
McGlory rushed furiously at the menagerie tent wall, lifted the canvas, then dropped it and rushed back.