“Thought I was, but guess I ain’t.”
“So did I.”
“There wasn’t any report.”
“A red flame, and a biff that floored!”
There followed sounds of movement. A match was struck. For a moment a light flickered in the room, then three heads appeared at the door. Mounting to the third step, the leader glanced quickly up and down the street. Then, followed by his two companions, he darted away.
“Some rotten luck,” grumbled Pant, for it was he who lurked in the corner.
Without a light, he again entered the room. When he came out a short time later, he was straightening out a bit of crumpled paper.
* * * * * * * *
For Johnny, after the spot light in the circus tent blinked out, an agony of suspense followed. The girl—had she dropped? The tiger—was he now about to spring? Without a light Johnny could do nothing. A sudden wave of remorse overcame him. He blamed himself for not entering the struggle when the light was on.
But what was this? Could it be that his straining ear caught the sing of the wire, as the girl’s foot touched it in her wild dance? He listened. There could be no mistake about it. Even in the darkness she had regained her footing, was dancing down the wire.