Hardly had the man given permission than Leo entered the wicker inclosure.
It was about six feet in diameter and filled with bags of sand for ballast.
To one side of the basket was attached a parachute. This the balloonist used in making his daring jumps from the clouds.
As Leo sat in the basket the crowd gathered around him.
“Hullo, Leo Dunbar! what are you doing in that basket?” asked Ben Barkley, one of the rich boys of Hopsville.
“Going to make an ascension,” returned Leo jokingly.
“Bet you ten dollars you are not,” laughed Ben.
“All right; I’ll take you up. But you must loan me the money, Ben.”
“How is it old Hawkins gave you a day off?” went on Ben. “Thought he was too mean to give anybody a holiday.”
“So he is, Ben. I took a day off and I’m going to take more.”