Porler and Murphy were taken completely by surprise when confronted by
Leo.
On seeing the young gymnast, Mart gave a cry of joy.
"Oh, thank Heaven you have come!"
"Get into the corner, boy!" howled Porler.
"Don't you speak to him again," said Leo sharply. "He is no longer your
prisoner."
"Ain't he? We'll soon see about that."
As Porler spoke he advanced upon Leo.
But when the young gymnast brought his weapon up within range of the
rascal's head the latter quickly recoiled.
"You see, Porler, I am armed."
Murphy, who was completely dumfounded to see Leo, now came forward.
"We are two to one, young feller," he said warningly. "Yer better go
slow."
"I know my own business," was Leo's quiet reply. "Mart!"
"Well?"
"Will you go down and summon help?"
"But you are alone----"
"Never mind. Get a policeman, or somebody else. I am going to have these
rascals arrested."
"Not much!" howled Porler.
"Let's down him?" yelled Murphy.
"Back! both of you!"
The two men, however, ran forward, dodging behind Mart as they came on,
and closed in on him.
It was an unequal fight.
But Leo fought well, and the boy was not idle.
Mart caught up a chair, and raising it over his head brought it down on
Porler's back.
"Oh! oh! you have broken my back!" yelled the old balloonist.
Scarcely had he spoken when Leo tripped him up.
But now Murphy leaped on the young gymnast, and the pair rolled over on
the floor.
He was in a high rage, and he meant to do Leo a serious injury if such a
thing was possible.
In the meanwhile Porler arose and pushed Mart from him.
"Help! help!" cried Mart.
He ran out of the room and into the next, the window of which was not
fastened, and opening the window continued to cry out.
Then of a sudden he saw a sight that gladdened his heart.
Larry Greson was in sight.
He had followed up the trail from the other end.
"Hurry! hurry!" screamed Mart.
"Mart!" burst out Greson.
"Come up and help Mr. Dunbar!"
"Who is in there?"
"Porler and Murphy!"
Greson ran up on the piazza of the house, and at the same time Mart flew
below to let him in.
"Confound the luck!" howled Porler, who had heard Mart speaking to
Greson.
"The neighborhood will be in alarm," added Murphy.
Both men leaped to their feet.
Greson was mounting the stairs three steps at a time, and close behind
him came Mart.
The two rascals thought a crowd was advancing to capture them.
Dodging Leo, who gave each a heavy blow as he passed, the two villains
rushed out into the hallway.
Porler was too quick for Greson, but Murphy was tripped up.
Before he could arise Leo and his assistant had the fellow a prisoner.
They bound him so that he could not escape.
Then they went after Hank Porler, but he could not be found.
He had dropped out of a rear window on to a shed and disappeared.
In the meantime a policeman arrived.
When he heard the particulars of the affair he willingly took Murphy
into custody, and later on the man was sent to jail.
Steps were taken to attach Porler's balloons and other property, but it
was found he had sold all his things.
"He knew he was taking big chances when he went into that underhanded
work," laughed Greson.
"Oh, I trust I shall never see that man again," said Mart, with a
shudder.
Strange to say, the boy's wish was gratified. Fearful of prosecution,
Porler fled to South America, and that was the last heard of him.
Leo and Mart rejoined the circus at a place called Wheatlands, and their
friends were heartily glad to see them back, safe and sound.
There was news for both. Professor Ricardo was much better, and on the
week following was to return to work. This would put Leo back among the
acrobats again, and for this the young gymnast was not sorry.
He did not forget to put in a good word for Mart to Professor Ricardo,
and consequently the boy remained in his old place, and Larry Greson was
given a situation among the menagerie men, something which suited him
better than did ballooning.