ht
before a crowded tent was another matter. Joe was a little nervous
over it--that is as nervous as he ever allowed himself to get, for he
had evolved the feat, and Sid and Tonzo had not been over-enthusiastic
about it.

However, it must be attempted in public sooner or later, and this was
the day set for it. Before the show began Joe, Sid and Tonzo went over
every rope, bar and ring. They wanted no falls, even though the life
net was below them.

"Is everything all right?" Joe asked his partners.

"Yes," they told him.

The usual announcement was made of the Lascalla Brothers' act, and on
this occasion Jim Tracy, who was making the presentation, added
something about a "death-defying double exchange and triple suspension
act never before attempted in any circus ring or arena throughout the
world."

That was Joe's trick.

The three performers went through some of their usual exploits,
ordinary enough to them, but rather thrilling for all that. Then came
the preparations for the new feat.

Joe and Tonzo took their places on the small platforms, high up on the
tent poles. The eyes of all in their vicinity were watching them
eagerly. Sid was in his place, ready to swing off when the two had
crossed each other in the air and had made the exchange.

"Are you ready?" called Jim Tracy in his loud voice.

"Ready," answered Joe's voice, from high up in the tent.

"Ready," responded Tonzo, after a moment's hesitation, during which he
pretended to fix one slipper. This was done for dramatic effect, and
to heighten the suspense.

Helen, who had just finished her tricks with Rosebud, paused at the
edge of a ring to watch the new act.

"Then go!" shouted the ring-master.

Joe and Tonzo swung off together, and then swayed to and fro like giant
pendulums, Joe on the rings and Tonzo on the trapeze.

"Ready?" cried Joe to his swinging partner.

"Yes," answered Tonzo.

"Come on!" Joe said.

It was time to make the exchange. This was one of the critical parts
of the trick.

Joe let go the rings and hurled himself forward his eyes on the
swinging trapeze bar, his hands out stretched to grasp it. He passed
the form of his partner in mid-air, and the next instant he was
swinging from the trapeze.

He could not turn to look, but he felt sure, from the burst of applause
which came, that Tonzo had successfully done his part.

Again Tonzo and Joe were swinging in long arcs, so manipulating their
bodies as to