up might have been careless, particularly as a lot of new
men were always hired at the beginning of the season.

After some rather usual and not very difficult acts, to get themselves
warmed up, the Lascallas prepared for one of their "thrillers."

Joe climbed to a small platform, fixed high up on one of the poles at
one side of the tent. Sid Lascalla occupied a similar position on the
other side. Between them swung Tonzo on a trapeze.

"All ready!" cried Joe.

"Ready!" answered Sid.

Together they swung down from their platforms, each one grasping a
trapeze bar. Tonzo swung first toward Sid who, at a signal, let go, and
turning over and over in the air reached out his hands at the proper
moment and grasped those of Tonzo. The two, clinging together, hung
there a moment, swinging to and fro in a long arc.

Then, with a yell to show he was coming, Joe Strong let go of his
trapeze, and launched himself toward the other two. He whirled himself
about in a dizzying succession of somersaults, and then, straightening
out with a jerk, he grasped the dangling legs of Sid, and hung there by
his hands, the two lower acrobats being supported by Tonzo, who clung
from his trapeze by his knees.

There was a burst of applause at this clever and rather dangerous
trick. It was dangerous even with the life-net below them, for had the
men fallen together, in a heap, they would have been hurt in spite of
the net.

But the trick was over successfully. First Joe dropped into the net,
then Sid and finally Tonzo, each one somersaulting down.

As Joe jumped out of the net to get ready for his next act, he saw
Benny Turton leap off his platform to dive into the tank of water. It
was the beginning of the acts of the "human fish."

"He seems to be all right," thought Joe. "I guess he was just nervous
about the first day."

He watched the youth, and saw him make a clean dive into the water.
Then there should have followed on Benny's part some queer little
tricks designed to bring forth a laugh.

But as Joe watched through the glass sides of the tank, he saw a look
of agony come over Ben's face. The boy seemed doubled up in a cramp,
and his hand went to the back of his head.

"There's something wrong!" thought Joe in a flash. "Benny's in bad!
I've got to help him!"

Joe knew the danger of creating a panic in a crowd. Whatever was done
must be done quietly so as not to alarm the audience. Joe glanced
about. Near him was Bill Watson,