“There are twenty balloonists in the United States who can do as good as that, and better,” he thought.
Porler had expected to make Mart go up with him.
The boy was to leave the balloon with him on the parachute, and then, when within fifty feet of the ground, fly away by himself on an immense pair of white wings filled with gas.
The band continued to play after Porler landed.
“Now for the circus balloonist!” was the cry.
A flourish from the band and Leo came running out.
He was dressed in a suit of white and gold. The gold sparkled in the sunshine and made a beautiful appearance, quite in contrast to Porler’s dirty costume of plain white and red.
“Let go!”
Up shot the circus balloon with a rush.
There was Leo, not in a basket, but clinging to a slender trapeze. A shout of approval arose.