From a pail near the tank he took up a dead fish. The seal held up her head high from the water. Mr. Blossom balanced the fish on the animal's nose, and raised a finger.
"No, no. Not yet, Lizzie!" he cried. "Wait a moment."
Turning to Joe, the trainer said: "Count three, and then snap your fingers."
Joe did so, and no sooner had the snap come than the seal, which had fixed its intelligent eyes on Joe, tossed the fish up into the air, caught it in its mouth as it came down and swallowed it. Then, with another loud "Hook!" the animal dived and swam rapidly to the far side of the tank.
CHAPTER XVII
THE NEW ACT
Joe and Babson stood looking in admiration at the swimming seal. Nothing in the water could be more swift or graceful.
"If I could only swim like that," murmured Joe.
"They tell me you are a sort of human fish," remarked Mr. Blossom. "You do a tank act, you tell me."
"Yes, and I've been thinking of adding to the novelty of it. That is why I want your seal. Tell me, do you think I could train him—or, I suppose, it's a her, since you call her Lizzie."