"Oh, that's right, so you did. I'd forgotten. But is it the same old trouble you complained of last season?"
"Yes, my head—back here," and Ben put his hand to the base of his head. "But don't say anything about it. Maybe it will wear off when I get to working. I've got to go on with the act, anyhow."
"Say, it's too bad, Ben. Maybe if you were to speak to Jim Tracy——"
"No. I won't do that, Joe. Never mind about me. There's your call."
"So it is. I'll see you again. Come on, Sid—Tonzo!"
Joe clasped hands with his two fellow trapezists, and together they ran lightly out to the ring. Benny Turton followed more slowly. He was to begin his act in a few minutes. The big glass tank, filled with water, was waiting for him out on a raised platform.
"I don't know what's the matter with me," he murmured. "I feel just as if something were going to happen. Oh, pshaw! I mustn't be such a kid. It'll be all right. I've gone under hundreds of times before."
He stood looking out into the main tent. He saw Joe Strong and the other two Lascallas on the trapezes high up above the life net. This the trapeze performers had inspected with unusual care, for it was the opening act of the season and, as Sid had said, some of the attendants who put it up might have been careless, particularly as a lot of new men were always hired at the beginning of the season.
After some rather usual and not very difficult acts, to get themselves warmed up, the Lascallas prepared for one of their "thrillers."
Joe climbed to a small platform, fixed high up on one of the poles at one side of the tent. Sid Lascalla occupied a similar position on the other side. Between them swung Tonzo on a trapeze.