The two attendants pressed close. His arms were inserted in the long,
closed sleeves of the straitjacket. One of the attendants clasped him
about the body, as if fearing he would make some mad effort to escape.
The other standing behind him, fastened strap after strap, with a
steady deftness that made both for security and speed, and revealed
long practice.
"Make it tight," came the quiet word from the prisoner.
The man's knees went up for purchase in the small of Houdini's back.
Using apparently every ounce of strength in his broad-shouldered
six-foot body, the attendant drew the big strap through the buckle
until it would not yield even a sixteenth of an inch more. He caught it
there and made it fast.
Then the arms of the prisoner were crossed over his body, and the ends
of those closed sleeves were brought around in back. Again the knee was
brought into use. Again the strap was pulled to its highest tension.
The crowd watched, stirred with a constant murmur and movement.
Then Houdini's ankles were fastened to the rope, by a special appliance
that prevented injury, but insured safety.
A word was spoken. The two attendants seized the bound man's body.
Workmen drew the rope steadily through the pulleys. Houdini's feet went
up, and as his body cleared the platform, it was released.