"Thank you," replied Joe heartily. "If I can make this act go I think it will be a good thing for me and the circus, too."
He donned his clothes and paid the sum agreed upon for the seal. It was a bargain as such things go, for Joe knew something about the value of trained animals. Lizzie would be shipped to the next town in which the circus showed, and in a crate she had formerly traveled in, and this crate Joe would use in transporting his new acquisition about the country.
"Well, now I'm ready to go back with you, Babson," announced Joe. "It sure was good of you to bring me on the machine. Only for that I couldn't have made that tank test and gotten back in time. As it is now, I'll have an hour or so to spare."
"Yes, a motor-cycle is handy for getting anywhere in a hurry," said Babson. "Why don't you buy mine and work it in your tank act?"
"I don't see how I could," laughed Joe. "But I don't know but that it would be a good thing to have, anyhow. I could take rides about the country."
"You and your wife--when you get one," added Babson. "I'll let you have this machine cheap, for I'm in want of cash just now. It's in good shape, I'll guarantee that, though it is rather travel-stained. I've ridden about on it a lot lately, following up circuses and Wild West outfits looking for work. What do you say?"
He named a price that Joe knew was reasonable, and the upshot of it was that Joe became possessed of the motor-cycle.
"It sure is going some to get a trained seal and a gasoline craft all in one day," laughed Joe, as he completed the transaction. "I don't know which one will give me the most trouble."
Joe went through his tank act that night with more zest than usual, and received an ovation when he remained under water four minutes and ten seconds.
"I'm coming on," he congratulated himself. "I guess that motor-cycle ride to-day did me good. I must take more. And when I get my performing seal in the water with me--well, I can ask for more money for the act. It'll be worth it, and I'll need it, for I'll have some expenses I didn't have before."
Joe told Helen of his new purchases, and spoke about the change he intended to make in his tank act.
"Is that what you've been saving your money for?" she asked.