len. Of course the tungstate
of soda that I soaked the clothes in wouldn't keep them from catching
fire if I put the suit in a furnace. But the solution will make cloth
resist a blaze temporarily, as will alum under some circumstances. I use
alum on the suit I wear when I pretend to set myself on fire and then
jump into the tank of water," went on Joe. "But after this I'm going to
use the soda. It's more certain."

Joe worked the trick of seeming to set himself ablaze in this way. As he
said, his suit was made as nearly fireproof as possible. Then on the
back of his jacket were placed some bunches of tow saturated with
alcohol. When this tow was set on fire it burned quickly, but Joe knew
the flame would not last long. And the fact that the garments on which
the burning material was fastened were as nearly fireproof as was
possible to make them gave him additional safety. He really ran little
risk, as the fire was at his back, and, as he ran toward the tank, his
speed carried the flames away from him.

Joe, and all others who do a fire-eating act, calculate to a nicety just
how long a certain fire will burn. And they do not place the blazing
material into the mouth until the flames are almost on the point of
going out of themselves. This, added to the fact that a chemical
solution protects the tongue and lips, makes the act comparatively safe.
But one word of caution. _Do not try to fire-proof the mouth with
tungstate of soda_. This warning cannot be made too strong!

In fact, it is well not to try any fire-eating _at all_. It is too risky
unless one is a professional.

"Well, Joe," remarked Jim Tracy, later that night when most of the
circus folk were asleep, "if you want to add this fellow to our show, go
ahead. You have the say, you know."

"Well, I don't want to do it in just that way," replied the young
fire-eater. "Bill Watson says that Ham Logan was once a good man. He is
down and out now, but he knows a lot about circus life and this handling
of fire. I believe I can work him up into something useful--use him in a
new act I'm thinking of putting on. If we can only keep him away from
intoxicants he'll be all right, and I'd like to give him a chance."

"Well, Joe, as I said, it's up to you. Go to it! But remember, while he
means all right, he may not have the spunk to keep his promise not to
drink."

"I think he'll keep it," said Joe. "Anyhow, I'd like to give him a
trial. He helped me with that fire hoop