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."
"Yes, it is a female, and she is very affectionate. I believe you could
train her to work with you, though I have never swum in the tank with
her. I don't know just how she'd take to it. You may try here, if you
like. It is large enough. I used to keep ten seals here when I was not
on the road."
Joe rather liked the idea of giving the seal a practical test before
purchasing her. If the animal objected to being in a tank of water with
a human being she would be useless for his act, and he might as well
know that now as later.
"You saw how quickly she obeyed you about the fish," went on Mr.
Blossom, "and I think she would as readily take orders from you in
regard to other tricks. She is young and learns readily. If you like, I
can let you take an old bathing suit, and you can go into the tank now,
if you have time."
"Oh, yes, we have time enough, now that I have a motor-cycle at my
disposal," Joe answered. "I believe I would like to see how Lizzie will
behave."
The seal shot out on to a small platform near the edge of the tank, her
body glistening wet. Again she cried in that peculiar way, which is
best represented by the word "Hook!", sometimes with the "h" silent.
"More fish, that's what she's asking for," said the trainer. "Here you
are, Lizzie." He held up one from the pail. The seal flipped her way
over to him, and with a snap of her jaws bit the fish cleanly in two
pieces with her sharp teeth.
"Whew!" whistled Joe. "She can bite, can't she? I hope she doesn't take
a notion to do that to my leg."
"She's as gentle as a baby," declared Mr. Blossom. "Look!"
He called the seal to him, and put his hand in her mouth. She nuzzled
him as a pet horse might do, but made not the slightest effort to bite.
"I think you would be safe," said the trainer to Joe. "There isn't a
gentler sea-lion in the world, and I've handled a good many of them."
"Is this a sea-lion?" asked Joe. "I thought they were those big animals
with long tusks."
"You're thinking of walruses," said Mr. Blossom. "Lizzie really is a
sea-lion, though it is easier for me to call her a seal, since nine out
of ten persons do so. Few know the difference between a seal and a
sea-lion. The latter, of which Lizzie is a specimen, have flat front
flippers, without hair and triangular in shape. They use their flippers
almost as well as we do our hands, and you can see what an aid they are
in swimming. The sea-lions have long necks, and carry their heads well
up. There are nine species of them, and the so-called 'fur seal' is
one. Sea-lions are mostly used in acts such as mine, and shown in
zoological parks, for they are active, easy to keep and, you might say,
cheerful.
"On the other hand, the seals have short stubby front flippers,
provided with claws and covered with hair. Seals haven't half the power
in their front flippers that sea-lions have, and, as a result, the
seals are much less active and interesting. Seals have very short
necks, in comparison with sea-lions.
"I tell you this," said Mr. Blossom to Joe, "so you can answer
questions if any one in the audience should ask you about your
act--that is, provided you buy Lizzie."
"I'm much obliged to you," answered the boy fish. "And I'm almost sure
I'll take your seal--I mean sea-lion--if she'll act in the tank with
me. Now for a trial."
Soon, attired in an old bathing suit belonging to Mr. Blossom, Joe
entered the tank and began to swim about. There was considerably more
room than in his glass tank, and he did several of his tricks.
"Say, you _are_ a sort of human fish!" exclaimed the sea-lion's
trainer.
During the time Joe was in the tank Lizzie remained on the platform
gazing at him. She followed his every movement with her big intelligent
eyes, but she showed no disposition to enter the water with Joe. But
she did not seem frightened.
"In, Lizzie! In!" commanded Mr. Blossom.
Lizzie "Hooked!" but that was all, save that she moved about on the
platform.
"Come on, Lizzie; go in and have a dip!" her master commanded.
But the seal (which is the name used here merely because it is a
popular one, and not because it is correct) refused to go in, and Joe
began to fear his plan would be a failure.
"You call her," suggested Babson, who had been watching the
proceedings.
"Come on, Lizzie! I won't hurt you!" called Joe.
"Hook! Hook! Ook!" barked the seal.
"Here, I think this will take her in," said Mr. Blossom. He tossed a
fish into the tank, and, after a brief moment of hesitation, in flopped
the seal.
"Good!" cried Joe.
Like a flash the seal swam for the fish, and ate it at a gulp. Then she
swam back to the platform, upon which she clambered.
"Well, we've got her started, anyhow," said the trainer. "I think
she'll soon get used to you."
Joe continued to swim about. Another fish was thrown in and this time
Lizzie did not go out so quickly. She swam about and even let Joe
approach her. Then the lad dived, turning a somersault in the tank.
The seal snorted, gave her peculiar cry, and then, to the delight of
Joe, who, with open eyes under water, could see every motion, Lizzie
fairly imitated his act, turning over and over and shooting out on to
the platform.
"I guess you've got her started," said Mr. Blossom. "Give her a few
more trials."
For half an hour Joe remained in the tank, and every minute Lizzie
seemed to grow more friendly toward him. Finally she let him swim at
her side, though, of course, Joe could not equal the seal in speed.
Then she let him put his hands on her, and she took fish from Joe's
fingers.
"I guess she'll do," said the tank-performer, as he came out. "I'll
take her, Mr. Blossom, and trust to luck that she'll act with me in
public. Now, can you ship her to me in good condition?"
"Oh, yes, I think so. I still have some of the shipping crates I used
to use when on the theatrical circuit, and Lizzie is accustomed to
traveling. You may have a little trouble with her in a new tank, and
one of glass such as you use, but if you are patient with her I think
she'll soon learn to do just what you want her to. That is the one
great secret of training animals--seals or any other kind. One must be
gentle and have infinite patience. I wish you good luck."
"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.
"No," Joe said. "Both the seal and the motor-cycle were accidents, so
to speak. Do you think you'd like to ride with me?"
"I certainly would. And I'm anxious to see the seal."
The animal, which had traveled safely, was awaiting Joe on his arrival
in the next town. He had told Mr. Tracy of Lizzie, and the showman was
enthusiastic about the chance Joe had taken to add to his act.
"I hope it works all right," the ring-master said. "You'll have to try
it out in private."
"Oh, surely," assented Joe.
He made arrangements to have his motor-cycle and seal added to the car
in which his tank and goldfish were carried, so all his special
possessions would be together.
"As soon as I get Lizzie trained, or partly so, I'll begin to practise
motor-cycling," Joe decided.
He began the seal's education the second day after he obtained
possession of her, allowing one day to go past so Lizzie could get used
to her new quarters. Then, as soon as the tank was set up and filled
with water, Joe had the seal taken to the foot of the steps that led to
the platform. Lizzie had been trained to go up a short flight of steps
to her own tank.
"Now to see what she'll do," said Joe, as Helen and some others of the
circus folk gathered about to watch the experiment. Joe had arranged
for a supply of fresh fish, and one of these he now put on the top
step.
Lizzie flapped out of her box, she smelled the fish, and, looking at
it, she cried: "Hook! Hook! Hook!" and up the steps she went as she had
been in the habit of doing.
"Now if she'll only go into the tank that will be part of the game
solved," mused Joe. He had not put in the goldfish, for he knew, no
matter how well trained Lizzie was, she would surely eat the fish if
they were left in the tank. The problem of using them in his new act
was one Joe had not yet solved.
Up the steps, in her peculiar manner, went Lizzie, the trained seal,
and at the top she gulped down the fish. Then, after a moment's
hesitation, in which she looked about the tank, she plunged in and
began to swim about as though used to it all her life.
"Good!" cried Joe. "The glass sides didn't bother her a bit. I was
afraid they would. Now to see how she acts with me."
He had on his fish suit and, moving slowly in order not to alarm the
sea-lion, Joe went into the glass tank with her. At first Lizzie seemed
a bit timid, and came out. But Joe coaxed her in again with a bit of
fish, and soon he and the seal were swimming about in the big glass
tank, while the circus folk outside applauded gladly.
Around and around swam Joe, going through many evolutions, and,
swimming sometimes at his side, sometimes above and sometimes below
him, went Lizzie.
"Say! That's a great act!" cried Jim Tracy, coming in at that moment.
"A great act!"
He told Joe as much when the boy fish came out to breathe, as Lizzie
had also to do, for a seal has lungs, and not gills like a fish.
"It was a great act, Joe!" said the ring-master.
"It remains to be seen whether she'll do as nicely in public," Joe
replied.