One day, following the afternoon performance, Joe, having finished his act, was watching the antics of some performing dogs that had lately been added to the circus. One dog made a jump from a high pole into a blanket held by four men.
"Another idea!" Joe exclaimed as he watched. "I'll have a new stunt if they'll only let me do it. I wonder if it would work. I'm going to try. It will be even better than the goldfish act!"
CHAPTER X
IN TERROR
When the afternoon performance was over, Joe found a chance to speak to Mr. Fleet, the man who owned the performing dogs.
"Pretty good act you have there," said the boy fish. He sat down and began petting one of the dogs.
"Glad you think so," was the answer. "You have some little act yourself. Strong, I believe your name is?"
"Yes," Joe nodded in friendly fashion. "I guess my act does go pretty well, but it's more because of the novelty of it than from anything I do. It's different from trapeze work."
"It certainly is. I don't see how you hold your breath so long."
"Practice," said Joe. "But if I just stayed under water I wouldn't be able to hold the attention of the crowd long. I have to work in some special stunts."