that he would make of the tank act a
better performance than had been possible the first two days of the
opening of the circus season, he now resolved to watch the setting up
of the big glass box. Joe wanted to learn all he could about the
accessories of the act, for he had some new ideas he intended to put
into effect if he found that he could succeed in the new work that had
come to him by accident.

"Perhaps I can get up a new idea in regard to dressing the act,"
thought Joe. "If I can, it may take even better than it has, and I can
hold the public with me until I can develop my lung power and stay
under an even four minutes, or perhaps longer."

To "dress an act" means, in stage language, to set up the scenery and
to wear certain costumes, in other words the external fittings that
serve to make the act more or less spectacular.

Some acts are "dressed" very simply. That is, there may be only a
simple room scene, with a table or chair. Then the actor depends on his
action or his "lines" to make an impression on the public.

Another act may be a very showy one with elaborate fittings and
expensive costumes, and in this case, as a rule, the acting proper and
the lines are not of so much importance.

In Joe's case he had no "lines," or spoken words, to attract the
attention of his audience. It is hard to make the voice carry in a big
circus tent, and even an accomplished ring-master often fails in this
respect. Of course in Joe's case he could not talk under water, and
aside from the introduction on the part of Jim Tracy there were no
"lines."

"But I have an idea," mused Joe, "that I could dress the act
differently from Benny's performance. He had it a little too plain. I
don't know just what I want, but it's got to be something different.
I'm going to experiment."

Of course there was no time that day to make changes. Already it was
nearly time for the parade to be formed on the circus grounds. Joe, as
well as several of the other performers, did not go in the parade, for
they had to get ready the special apparatus connected with their acts.
In Joe's case, he had to look after his trapezes, and now, in addition,
the tank, in order to make sure that all was in proper shape. Of course
there were men whose duties were to see to these things for the
performers, but Joe took no chances--he supervised everything himself
very carefully, as did Tonzo and Sid Lascalla.

For when one's life depends on the strength of