I'm afraid she's going."

"It does look so," Joe admitted as he leaped from the horse and gave
him in charge of one of the attendants. "What can we do?"

"Help drive in extra pins and attach more ropes. I'm going to dismiss
the audience. We'll stay over here to-morrow, and give an extra
performance to make up for it."

"I'll get a crowd together and we'll help the canvasmen," offered Joe.

"And I'll help," said Benny Turton, who had finished his tank act.

"Come on!" cried Joe, as he led the way.

Meanwhile Jim Tracy had requested the audience to file out as quickly
and in as orderly a manner as possible. The crowd was not large, as
the weather had been threatening in the morning and many had stayed at
home. But it was no easy matter to dismiss even a small throng in such
a storm.

However, it was accomplished, the band meanwhile playing its best, and
under hard conditions, as part of the tent over them split and let the
rain in on them.

But the music served a good turn, and while the people were hurrying
out the canvasmen, aided by the performers, Joe among them, drove in
extra pegs, tightening those that had become loose, put on additional
ropes, so that, by hard work, the big tent was prevented from blowing
down.

Once outside, the audience, though most of them were soon drenched,
took it good-naturedly. They were given emergency tickets as they
passed out, good for another admission.

And then the storm, which seemed to have reached its height, settled
down into a heavy rain. The wind died out somewhat, and there was no
danger from the collapse of the tent.

"Good work, boys!" said the ring-master, as the performers, all of them
wet through, and in their performing suits too, came in. "Good work!
If it hadn't been for you I don't know what we would have done. I'll
not forget it."

There had been some trouble in the animal tent during the storm; the
beasts, especially the elephants, evincing a desire to break loose.
But their trainers quieted them, and soon the circus was almost normal
again.

Of course the afternoon had been lost, but there was hope of a good
attendance at night if the storm were not too bad. And by remaining
over another afternoon the deficiency could be made up. Word was
telegraphed ahead to the next town announcing a postponement in the
date. The broken pole was replaced with another, and then the
performers enjoyed an unexpected vacation.

"I want to thank you, Jo