"How's your act going?" asked Joe.
The "human fish" paused a moment before answering.
"Oh, I suppose it goes as well as ever," he said slowly. "Only I—— Oh, what's the use of telling my troubles?" he asked, with a smile. "I reckon you have some of your own."
"Not very big ones," confessed Joe. "But is anything the matter?"
"No, oh, no. Never mind me; tell me about yourself."
Joe told something of his experiences 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.