er water four minutes and ten
seconds.

"I'm coming on," he congratulated himself. "I guess that motor-cycle
ride to-day did me good. I must take more. And when I get my performing
seal in the water with me--well, I can ask for more money for the act.
It'll be worth it, and I'll need it, for I'll have some expenses I
didn't have before."

Joe told Helen of his new purchases, and spoke about the change he
intended to make in his tank act.

"Is that what you've been saving your money for?" she asked.

"No," Joe said. "Both the seal and the motor-cycle were accidents, so
to speak. Do you think you'd like to ride with me?"

"I certainly would. And I'm anxious to see the seal."

The animal, which had traveled safely, was awaiting Joe on his arrival
in the next town. He had told Mr. Tracy of Lizzie, and the showman was
enthusiastic about the chance Joe had taken to add to his act.

"I hope it works all right," the ring-master said. "You'll have to try
it out in private."

"Oh, surely," assented Joe.

He made arrangements to have his motor-cycle and seal added to the car
in which his tank and goldfish were carried, so all his special
possessions would be together.

"As soon as I get Lizzie trained, or partly so, I'll begin to practise
motor-cycling," Joe decided.

He began the seal's education the second day after he obtained
possession of her, allowing one day to go past so Lizzie could get used
to her new quarters. Then, as soon as the tank was set up and filled
with water, Joe had the seal taken to the foot of the steps that led to
the platform. Lizzie had been trained to go up a short flight of steps
to her own tank.

"Now to see what she'll do," said Joe, as Helen and some others of the
circus folk gathered about to watch the experiment. Joe had arranged
for a supply of fresh fish, and one of these he now put on the top
step.

Lizzie flapped out of her box, she smelled the fish, and, looking at
it, she cried: "Hook! Hook! Hook!" and up the steps she went as she had
been in the habit of doing.

"Now if she'll only go into the tank that will be part of the game
solved," mused Joe. He had not put in the goldfish, for he knew, no
matter how well trained Lizzie was, she would surely eat the fish if
they were left in the tank. The problem of using them in his new act
was one Joe had not yet solved.

Up the steps, in her peculiar manner, went Lizzie, the trained seal,
and at the top she gulped down the fish.