s since last seeing Ben, and, as he
talked, he looked at the youth who performed such thrilling feats under
water in the big tank. Joe thought Benny looked paler and thinner than
before.

"I guess the water work isn't any too healthy for him," mused Joe. "It
must be hard to be under that pressure so long. I feel sorry for him."

"What are you two talking about--going to get up a new act that will
make us all take back seats?" asked a merry voice. Joe recognized it
at once, and, with a glad smile, he turned to see Helen Morton coming
toward him.

"I thought I knew you, even from your back," she told Joe, as she shook
hands with him.

"Does Rosebud want any sugar?" he asked, smiling.

"No, thank you! He's had his share to-day. But it was good of you to
remember. I must introduce you to my horse."

"I shall be happy to meet him," returned Joe, with his best "stage bow."

Helen laughed merrily, as she walked across the grounds with Joe and
Benny.

"It's almost supper time," she said, "and I'm starved. Can't we all
eat together?"

"I don't see why not," Ben answered, and they were soon at a table
where many other performers sat, all, seemingly, talking at once. Joe
was very much interested.

He was more than interested in two dark-complexioned men who regarded
him curiously. One was the person who had spoken to Jim Tracy. The
other Joe had not seen before.

"They're the Lascalla Brothers," Ben informed him. "That is, there are
two of them. The third----"

"I'm to be the third," Joe broke in.

"You are?" asked Ben, and he regarded his friend curiously. "Well,
look out for yourself; that's all I've got to say."

"Why has he to look out for himself?" inquired Helen, who had caught
the words. "Are you going to eat all there is on the table, Ben, so
there won't be any for Mr. Strong? Is that why he must look out?"

"No, not that," Ben answered. "It--it was something else."

"Oh, secrets!" and Helen pretended to be offended.

"It wasn't anything," Joe assured her. And he tried to forget the
warning Ben had so kindly given him.

Joe attended the performance that night as a sort of privileged
character. He went behind the scenes, and also sat in the tent. He
was most interested in the feats of the two Lascalla Brothers, and he
decided that, with a little practice, he could do most of the feats
they presented.

That night, at the hotel, Joe was introduced to Sid and Tonzo. They
bowed and