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Updated: June 26, 2025
The band blared out as Joe walked up on the platform beside the ring-master and threw off his bath robe, revealing himself in the scaly green suit Benny had worn. Joe bowed right and left. "I will now leave Mr. Strong to entertain you, my friends," concluded the ring-master. There was another blare of music, and Joe started up the steps that led to the platform from which Benny had dived.
"I could cut out all of your trapeze work," went on the ring-master, "but I don't want to do that. We haven't any too many good trapezists." "Thanks," said Joe. "I wouldn't want to give up the bar and rope work, either. I guess I'll wait until next season to give Lizzie a larger part in the act."
"Now then, Joe, I'm afraid we'll have to spoil some of your ornamentation," said the ring-master grimly. "I'm going to slit down one side of the canvas, but we'll have it fixed for you again. I want a good opening for Prince to run out through when we start him going." A quick motion of a keen knife, and one side of the canvas fell away.
At first he walked quietly along looking into the windows, but presently he saw before him a well-known figure, that of the ring-master. "Now is my chance," thought Billy, "to get even with him for giving me all those cuts with his whip.
Lizzie behaved perfectly, paying no attention to the crowd. Nor did the transparent sides of glass annoy her as they had just a little at first, when she would sometimes unexpectedly bump her nose against them. It was one of the best aquatic exploits ever exhibited, and the ring-master so announced it. Jim Tracy was delighted with Joe's work, and Joe was pleased himself.
Monty handed him a glass of water, and adjusted the bandages with a hand as tender as a woman's. He lifted the instrument again. "You are sterling, twenty-two carat and a yard wide, Captain! Now, get to sleep while I find out who the ring-master is. I've sworn to keep awake until I do. I think it well to telephone Van Cleft, and arrange for a better get-a-way for us both."
After that a man pulled in another cart like the other two and hitched Billy to that. The carts were painted red, white, and blue and trimmed with flags. Soon three little dogs dressed as ladies were carried in, put into the carts with the reins over their necks. Then the goat, burro, and dog were put neck to neck, ready to start on the race that was to begin when the ring-master cracked his whip.
"Well, we sure will hate to lose you," said Jim Tracy, "but I'm glad Benny will get well and come back to us." "So am I," said Joe softly. Somewhere in the circus tent a bugle blew. At once all over the circus grounds there were signs of activity. "Pretty nearly time to start," observed the ring-master. "Yes," agreed Joe.
Had he only known it, that was the easiest thing he would have to do. He was led to the performing ring and there stood the hated ring-master facing a line of animals standing in a straight line reaching from one side of the ring to the other.
Can you do that?" "I think I can. In fact I can do better than three minutes." "Are you sure, Joe?" "Yes, sure." "Of course he is," broke in a new voice, and Joe and the ring-master turned to see Helen Morton standing beside them. She had finished her act some time before. "I heard that something had happened to Benny," she said, "and I came in to see if I could do anything.
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