Part 30 (1/2)

He smiled, rather a weak smile it is true, but it was a smile.

”Better look out,” he said. ”I'll get you wet.”

”I don't care,” she replied.

”She wouldn't go away,” said Mr. Blair, who had Joe's other hand and was vigorously shaking it. ”I tried to make her go when--when four minutes pa.s.sed and you didn't come up. We thought maybe you were caught fast, too.”

”Was I down four minutes?” asked Joe.

”Four minutes and forty seconds,” said Helen. ”I kept track by my wrist watch. It was awful, Joe, to see the seconds ticking off. I could hardly do it--but--I did,” she finished with a smile.

”Four minutes and forty seconds,” murmured Joe. ”Then I've beaten the world's record.”

”Yes,” said Helen.

”If it had only been in the circus tank,” Joe went on. ”It would have been a big advertis.e.m.e.nt for the show.”

”I fancy you'll get advertis.e.m.e.nt enough out of it as it is,” said Mr.

Blair significantly, as he glanced at the enthusiastic crowd which the constables had hard work to prevent from overwhelming Joe, the diver and others on the wall of the reservoir. ”And here come the newspaper men to have a talk with you. They've been here ever since word went out that the diver was held down there under the water.”

But Dr. Wertz, who had been giving some medicine to the diver, now came over to Joe and insisted on examining him before he would allow the reporters to interview the boy fish.

”Oh, I'm all right,” Joe said. ”Thank you just the same. All I need is a little fresh air.”

”But my dear young man, you were under water a long while--nearly five minutes. You may be injured.”

”Oh, I guess not,” Joe said. ”I am used to it, you see,” and he quickly explained.

”Ach! So? Yes!” exclaimed Dr. Wertz, who spoke at times with a p.r.o.nounced German accent. ”And have you felt no ill effects of the water pressure on your vocal chords or your ear drums?”

”Why, no, I haven't,” said Joe, and a strange thought came into his mind. ”You see, I haven't been at it long. But a friend of mine was disabled from doing the act I'm doing in the circus.”

”So? I think I should like to have a talk with you, young man, about yourself and that friend of yours when there is time,” said Dr. Wertz.

”Just now let me look you over.”

He took Joe into the gate house, to which the diver had already been carried. Tom Rand, whose diving suit had been removed, was lying on an improvised bed. He seemed weak and ill, but he held out a rather trembling hand to Joe.

”I guess you're the chap who saved my life,” he said slowly. ”I can't thank you--now--too nearly all in. But I--I guess you know how I feel about it.”

”Sure--yes,” answered Joe. ”It's an even deal. You grabbed me just in time or I'd have been in that pipe, too.”

The diver nodded.

”It was a close call,” he said.

Arrangements were being made to take the diver to the local hospital.

He was not seriously hurt, only he had been under a strain and needed rest and quiet. The physician looked Joe over.

”Well, I can't find anything the matter with you,” he said with a smile. ”You certainly are a marvel at holding your breath, though.