to interfere or make trouble, and if you try to stop the
show, I'll have you all arrested if I have to send for special
detectives."

"Oh, we won't make any trouble except what you make for yourself,"
declared the striker. "We just won't do anything--that'll be the
trouble. There's your 'main top,' and there she'll stay. We won't
pull a rope or drive a peg!"

He pointed to the pile of canvas with its mass of ropes, poles and pegs
that lay on the ground ready for erection. It should have been up by
this time, and the parade ought to have been under way. But with the
railroad accident, the delay and the strike, the big tent in which Joe,
Helen and the others were to perform was not yet raised.

"The cowards!" exclaimed Jim in a low voice; looking at Joe. "I wonder
if I'd better give in to 'em?"

"Can you get others to take their places?" the young trapeze acrobat
wanted to know.

"Not here. I could if I were nearer New York. But as it is----" He
threw up his hands with a gesture of despair. "I guess I'll have to
give in," he said. "I can't afford not to give a show. Here, you----"

He called to the departing striker.

"Wait a minute!" Joe quickly exclaimed to the ring-master. "I think we
can find a way out of this."

"How?"

"Have you any men who know something about putting up the tent?"

"I know all there is to be known about it myself. But it takes more
than one man to raise the 'main top.' There are a lot of the animal
men and wagon drivers who used to be canvas hands. They haven't
struck. But there aren't enough of them. It's no use."

"Yes, it is!" cried Joe. "We men performers will turn canvasmen for
the time being. Give us some hands who know how to lay out the canvas,
how to lace up the different sections, which ropes to pull on; men to
show us how to drive stakes and to haul up the poles--do that and we'll
have the tent up in time for the show!"

"Can you do it?" cried the ring-master, in an eager tone.

"Sure we can!" exclaimed Joe. "There are enough of us, and we're
willing to turn in. You get the men who know how, and we'll be their
assistants."

"It might work," said Tracy, reflectively. "I'm much obliged to you,
Joe. It's worth trying. But do you think the performers will do it?"

"I'll talk to 'em," said the trapeze artist. "They'll be glad to raise
the tent, rather than see a performance given up. Go get your men and
I'll talk to the others."

"All right--I