For during all his adventures he had not forgotten about the old life at Hopsville, and how Barton Reeve had promised, when he got the chance, to look up his monetary affairs for him. One day he spoke to Reeve about it.
"I haven"t forgotten, Leo, don"t think that. But at present I can do nothing."
"When will we move eastward again?"
"That I can"t say either. It will depend to a great extent on how matters pan out in the West. If we don"t take in much money we"ll turn back again as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made."
"Well, I want the show to make all the money possible. But I want my rights, too."
"And you shall get them; never fear of that," concluded Barton Reeve.
"I reckon Nathan Dobb is glad to get rid of the care of me," thought Leo, as he walked away. "And yet, it seems to me he has been acting very queerly."
Never for an instant did the young gymnast dream that Nathan Dobb had placed Hank Griswold on his track to do him harm.
Why Griswold had not put in an appearance ere this will be related later.
CHAPTER XXV.-ANOTHER BALLOON TRIP.
In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
It was a very difficult feat, and Leo watched Delbier with interest.
"That"s dangerous," he said.
"I know it, but orders are for something new, and it"s the only thing I can think of," was the reply.
Leo was practicing on the rings close at hand, and for some minutes all went along well.
Then Delbier did the new trick. Down he went into the tank, but failed to come up.
Leo waited for nearly half a minute, and then growing alarmed, dropped from the rings and hurried to the edge of the tank.
In the clear water he beheld Delbier at the bottom.
The fellow had disjointed himself in some way and could not straighten out.
He was in great danger of drowning.
Without hesitation Leo leaped into the tank, intending to raise the doubled-up body.
He made an alarming discovery.
Delbier had a cramp, and his right hand and left foot were tightly twisted about a corner brace in the bottom of the water-box.
In vain Leo tugged to free the diver. He could not break that deathlike hold.
In less than half a minute Leo was out of breath.
It looked as if he must arise to the surface and leave poor Delbier to his fate.
But then he clinched his teeth.
"I"ll save him," he thought grimly.
Catching the brace in both hands, he planted his feet against the side of the tank.
Then he strained and tugged for dear life.
At first the brace, which was screwed on, would not budge.
But finally it parted with a snap which sounded unusually loud in the water.
Delbier still clung to it, and so Leo brought both brace and drowning man to the surface together.
By this time a crowd of helpers and performers had gathered.
"What"s the matter?"
"h.e.l.lo! Delbier has a cramp!"
"See how he holds to the brace!"
"Leo Dunbar saved him. He tore the brace loose!"
Meanwhile a doctor was sent for. He quickly came, and after an hour"s hard work succeeded in bringing Delbier around all right.
Leo"s wonderful nerve was much commented upon.
"He"s a plucky chap," said Pomeroy, the head of the tumblers, and all agreed with him.
Delbier was very thankful to our hero for what he had done for him, and from that day he was added to Leo"s growing list of friends.
About this time the "Greatest Show on Earth" was joined by a balloonist named Professor Ricardo, and his a.s.sistant, Larry Greson. The professor gave ascensions in the afternoon, previous to the circus performance, and thereby attracted large crowds.
Professor Ricardo was a jovial sort of fellow and he and Leo were soon on good terms.
"How would you like to go up some day with me, Dunbar?" he asked one afternoon.