Then Porler re-entered his tent. The band was playing and it was time for him to make his ascension.
He delayed as long as possible, but at last the crowd got impatient.
“A little hole in the balloon, that is all, gentlemen,” said Porler. “I am ready now.”
He did not dare to speak of Mart for fear an investigation would be started.
He came out, smiling falsely at the crowd, and walked over to where his balloon swayed in the air.
At a given signal the balloon shot up with Porler in the basket.
When the balloon was scarcely two hundred feet in the air Porler got out his parachute and leaped overboard.
As he came floating down he made several turns about the double handle of the parachute.
The crowd applauded this, for it was something new to them.
Leo saw the exhibition from a hole in the top of his tent, and smiled to himself.