However, Joe was about at the end of this now. His head felt dizzy and it seemed as if his lungs would burst through his chest, so great was the confined pressure on them now.
Still he knew he must not hurry up, gasping for breath. Benny never did that, but came out as though he could have stayed under all day if he had cared to. It made a far neater finish to the act.
So Joe slowly opened his eyes, pretended to look at a watch as though it were time to get up, and then he slowly floated to the top of the water.
And oh! how good it did feel to get that breath of air. He wanted to gulp in a whole lot of it at once, but he held himself in reserve, and tried to breathe naturally. It was hard work, though.
"Three minutes and four seconds!" announced the ring-master, as he held up his watch. "If I am wrong correct me, friends."
"Good work! Fine, Joe!" cried the ring-master. "You saved the day for us. I put some one else on your trapeze for the time being. I thought you wouldn't want to go on."
"No, hardly. Glad you did. Do you think it went all right?"
"It sure did!"
"Oh, Joe! I'm so glad—for you!" exclaimed Helen as the young performer went down the steps to the ground.
"Look out! I'll get you all wet!" he warned her.