ed quickly and she could ascend the steps in a very short
time, hitching herself along by her flippers. And once at the top, Joe
knew a sight of the goldfish swimming around freely in the tank would
be too much for the seal.

But Lizzie did not want to be caught, and she flapped away from the
attendants who ran after her. They laughingly pursued the seal, and a
little boy in the crowd cried:

"Oh, Mamma! What a funny game of tag! They're trying to make the seal
it!"

Those about the youngster laughed, and Joe joined in. But Lizzie, while
agile, was more used to the water than the land, and she was soon
caught and carried, barking protestingly, to her crate. Joe ran over
and saw that the door was securely fastened before he went on with his
act.

"I don't want her to come splashing in after the fish when I'm trying
to hold my breath for an under-water record," reflected Joe.

Lizzie did not get out again, and Joe went through his turn
successfully, though he did not quite equal his former endurance.

"I must be out in the air more and increase my breathing capacity," he
decided. "The motor-cycle for me!"

Joe's life was now a busy one--busier even than when he had traveled
about with Professor Rosello. For the boy fish still kept up his
trapeze work--at least, the greater part of it--he did his usual tank
work, and in addition he rehearsed each day with Lizzie. He was not yet
quite ready to put that act on in public. He wanted to make it a
finished piece of work, with no chance for failure, as far as he could
foresee.

Still Joe found time to practise some on the motor-cycle. He had
mastered the method of controlling and driving it, and all he needed
now was practice. Joe had been a good bicycle rider, and this stood him
in good stead though the motion was much swifter, and the exhilaration
of fairly flying through space with no effort on his part was new to
him.

He found that this swift motion in the open air was doing him good. His
lung power, which was most excellent, was improved, and he began to
have hopes of equalling the world's record of under-water work--four
minutes and thirty-seven seconds.

"And I'll even try to beat it," he thought.

Joe found time to ride immediately after breakfast when his tank was
being set up in the tent. He did not take part in the parade, and
having seen to it that the glass box was being properly put together,
and having fed Lizzie, he would ride off around the countr