is he was an expert, and in this line of work he had been
engaged before joining the circus.

Helen Morton had been in the South, her horse with her, and she had
returned a few weeks previously, joining the circus in Bridgeport to
get in some needed practice before starting out on the road. Now the
show was in full swing. It was a pleasant day, and a record-breaking
throng had crowded into the tents. What more could circus folk ask?

"Hello, Ben!" called Joe, as he hurried back to join his two partners.
"All ready for your 'death-defying dive?'"

"Yes, as ready as I'll ever be, I guess," was the somewhat despondent
answer of a frail-looking youth, who was attired in a shimmering green
suit made to resemble fish scales.

"Why, what's the matter, Ben Turton?" asked Joe, as he placed his hand
on the shoulder of the "human fish," as Ben was known; for he did a
diving act in a large glass tank filled with water, staying under about
three minutes without breathing, and performing some tricks in the
limpid depths.

"Oh, I don't know, Joe, what the matter is," Ben said. "I guess I'm
just tired."

"What! After your winter's rest?"

"I didn't have much rest. I played two circuits."

"Oh, that's right, so you did. I'd forgotten. But is it the same old
trouble you complained of last season?"

"Yes, my head--back here," and Ben put his hand to the base of his
head. "But don't say anything about it. Maybe it will wear off when I
get to working. I've got to go on with the act, anyhow."

"Say, it's too bad, Ben. Maybe if you were to speak to Jim Tracy----"

"No. I won't do that, Joe. Never mind about me. There's your call."

"So it is. I'll see you again. Come on, Sid--Tonzo!"

Joe clasped hands with his two fellow trapezists, and together they ran
lightly out to the ring. Benny Turton followed more slowly. He was to
begin his act in a few minutes. The big glass tank, filled with water,
was waiting for him out on a raised platform.

"I don't know what's the matter with me," he murmured. "I feel just as
if something were going to happen. Oh, pshaw! I mustn't be such a kid.
It'll be all right. I've gone under hundreds of times before."

He stood looking out into the main tent. He saw Joe Strong and the
other two Lascallas on the trapezes high up above the life net. This
the trapeze performers had inspected with unusual care, for it was the
opening act of the season and, as Sid had said, some of the attendants
who put it