ble to work from the gate
house above, when his foot slipped in the mud. As the pipe was partly
open, his leaden-soled boot became jammed in the crack. Try as he did,
he could not get loose, and he was losing hope when Joe came swimming
down to him.

"I thought at first you were a big fish, such as I've often seen in my
ocean-diving work," said the man. "And when I had a good look at you I
sure was startled."

"Well, they call me the boy fish," Joe said with a smile.

Dr. Wertz was at the hospital, and shook his head at seeing Joe.

"I can't understand why you aren't suffering from your under-water
work," said the physician. "I am, as perhaps you know, engaged by the
company for whom Mr. Rand works. It employs several divers, and on
tasks where there is a risk I am always on hand to be ready to aid the
men if necessary. That is why I happened to be at the reservoir."

"I have made a study of diseases and ailments brought on by water
pressure and diving work, and I wonder you do not show some signs of
ear or throat trouble."

"I'd like to talk to you about that," said Joe. "The young man whose
place I took is suffering from that. He is going deaf and dumb, they
tell me," and Joe gave all the details of Benny's case.

"And you say they have given up hope of curing him?" asked Dr. Wertz.

"Yes," said Joe. "Can it be done? Would an operation help?"

"It would," said the physician quickly. "I have not done it myself, nor
do I feel justified in attempting it. But there is a fellow countryman
of mine, now in New York, who has operated most successfully. His fees
are high, not necessarily for himself, but a complicated apparatus is
necessary, and it takes several assistants and nurses who must be paid.
I have no doubt but if Dr. Hassenberg operated on your friend he could
cure him!"

"Then," said Joe slowly, "I wish you would arrange it for me. I want
Benny cured!"

CHAPTER XXV

GOOD NEWS

These were busy days in the circus. Again the end of the season was
drawing near. Fall was at hand, and in some places the Sampson
Brother's Show had to compete with county fairs with their exhibitions
of big pumpkins, fat pigs and monster ears of corn, to say nothing of
the horse-racing.

But the circus with which Joe traveled did good business. And it is not
exaggerating to say that a good deal of it was due to Joe's fame. For
his rescue of the diver had been heralded over all the country, and
particularly in the