off, swaying to and fro on a long
trapeze. On the other side of the tent Tonzo took his place on a
similar platform, fastened to a pole. He was waiting for Joe to give
the word.

To and fro, in longer and longer arcs, Joe swung. He hung by his
hands. Carefully his eye gauged the distance he must hurl himself
across. Finally he had momentum enough.

"Come on!" he cried to Tonzo.

The latter leaped out on his trapeze, swinging by his knees. Right
toward Joe he swung.

"Here I come!" Joe shouted, amid breathless silence among the
spectators below him. They realized that something unusual was going
on.

"Go!" shouted Sid, who was waiting down on the ground for the
conclusion of the trick.

Joe let go. He felt himself hurling through the air. Quickly he
doubled himself in a ball, and turned the somersaults. Then he
straightened out, dropped a few feet, and his hands squarely met those
of Tonzo. The latter clasped Joe's in a firm grip, and, holding him,
swung to and fro on the long trapeze.

A roar of applause broke out at Joe's daring feat. He had made a
hit--a big hit, for the applause kept up after he had dropped to the
life net. He stood beside Tonzo and Sid, all three bowing and smiling.

CHAPTER VII

JOE TURNS A TRICK

"That's the idea!" exclaimed Jim Tracy, hurrying over to where the
three gymnasts stood. "Give 'em some more of that, Joe!"

"I haven't any more like that--just now," answered the young circus
performer, panting slightly, for he was a bit out of breath from his
exertion and the anxiety lest his trick should fail.

"Well, do it again at to-night's performance, then," urged the
ring-master, and Joe nodded in agreement.

"It was a good trick, my boy," said Tonzo Lascalla, "but don't try it
too often."

"Why not?" Joe asked.

"Because it is risky. I might not catch you some day."

"I'd only fall into the life net if you did miss," said Joe coolly,
though, for a moment, he thought there might be a hidden meaning in
what his fellow-performer said.

"Well, it is not every one who knows how to fall into a life net," put
in Sid Lascalla. "If one lands on his head the neck is likely to be
dislocated."

"I know how to fall," Joe declared, and, though he spoke positively, he
was not in the least boastful. "Here, I'll show you," he went on.

Their act was not quite finished, but before going on with the next
gymnastic feat Joe caught hold of a hoisting rope that ran t