all properly.

If the person falling lands on his head he is likely to dislocate, if
not to break, his neck, and falling on one's face may sometimes be
dangerous. The best way, of course, is to land on one's feet, and this
was what Joe was trying to bring about.

When he realized that he had missed grasping the bar of the second
trapeze (though he could not understand his failure) he knew he must
turn over, and that quickly, or he would strike on his head in the net.
He tried to turn a somersault, but he was at a disadvantage, not having
prepared for that in advance.

"I've got to turn! I've got to turn!" he thought desperately, as he
fell through space.

He did manage to get partly over and when he landed in the net he took
the force of the blow partly on his head and partly on his shoulder.
Everything seemed to get black around him, and there was a roaring in
his ears. Then Joe Strong knew nothing. He had been knocked
unconscious by the fall.

The circus audience--or that part of it immediately near Joe's
trapezes--was at once aware that something unusual had occurred.

Some women arose, as though to rush out. Others screamed and one or
two children began to cry. A slight panic was imminent, and Jim Tracy
realized this.

From where she was putting her horse, Rosebud, through his paces Helen
saw what happened to Joe. In an instant she jumped from the saddle,
and ran across the ring toward the net in which he lay, an inert form.

Other circus performers and attendants rushed to aid Joe, and this
added to the confusion and excitement. Many in the audience were
standing up, trying to see what had happened, and those behind, whose
view was obstructed, cried:

"Sit down! Down in front!"

"Give us some music!" ordered Jim Tracy of the band, which had stopped
playing when Joe performed his trick in order that it might be more
impressive. A lively tune was started, and though it may seem
heartless, in view of the fact that a performer possibly was killed, it
was the best thing to do under the circumstances, for it calmed the
audience.

Tender hands lifted Joe out of the net, and carried him toward the
dressing room.

"Go on with the show!" the ring-master ordered the performers who had
left their stations. "Go on with the show. We'll look after him.
There are plenty of us to do it."

And the show went on. It had to.

"Is he--is he badly hurt?" faltered Helen, as she walked beside the
four men w