CHAPTER XXXIV.—THE END OF PORLER. 

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. 
Did Porler agree with that?
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