stuck down there, and, as I said, they don't dare pull
too hard for fear of cutting him in two, making a hole in the diving
suit, or breaking the rope. They don't know what to do."

"Why, this is terrible!" exclaimed Helen.

"Yes, Miss, it certainly is. To think of that poor man, caught down
under the water in some way and not able to be got up. Of course he can
breathe, for the air hose is still working, and the men are at the pump
constantly. But it's impossible to stand that pressure very long at a
time, and he'll soon give out from exhaustion, if nothing else happens.
They've sent for another diver, but, as I said, he'll be some time
getting here, and then it may be too late."

"Isn't there another diving suit to be had?" asked Joe.

"No," the man answered.

Helen looked at Joe. She read the thought that was in his mind.

"Did you ever go down in a diving suit?" she asked him in a low voice.

"No, but I'd take a chance if they had one. However, as there isn't I
can't. But perhaps----"

Joe was interrupted by a shout from the crowd. He and Helen, with the
man who had been giving them the information, stood a little to one
side.

"Hello!" exclaimed Joe, "I wonder what happened then?"

"Come with me and we'll find out," proposed the man. "I can take you
over to the gate house where the diver's helpers are at work. I'm a
member of the town water committee," he went on. "You folks are with
the circus, aren't you?"

"Yes," Joe answered. "But we won't have much of a crowd at the
afternoon show if they all stay here at the reservoir to see the diver
rescued."

"That's right," conceded Mr. Blair, as he said his name was. "But we'll
go and see what happened. I can take you in all right."

They made their way through the crowd, which was thronged as near to
the scene of the accident as the men and boys, women and girls, could
get. Several constables stood on guard, but at a nod from Mr. Blair
they let him pass, with Joe and Helen.

"Oh, Joe!" she murmured, as she held his arm. "I'm so afraid something
dreadful will happen."

"Perhaps not," he answered reassuringly.

They found the men at the pump and the other helpers very much excited,
and it was this excitement which had communicated itself to the crowd.

"What happened?" asked Mr. Blair. "Are you getting him up?"

"I only wish we were," wearily said a man who was at the signal line.
"We've not been able to move him an inch, and just now he signaled for