To his delight, his new plan worked to perfection. The air, having more of a chance to get under the umbrella, buoyed him up considerably better, and he sailed gracefully to the ground, the flight taking several seconds longer. The chief drawback to it formerly had been that it was over too quick. Now this objection had been removed. Then Jack pulled the cord which fired the shot, and the ship seemed to fly apart, the umbrella closing down and the bag collapsing. There was hearty applause for the young clown, but through it all Jack was wondering at the motive of those who had so nearly caused a serious accident. CHAPTER XXI THE MONKEYS ESCAPE When the afternoon performance came to an end, Mr. Paine sent for Jack. He closely questioned the boy about the cut umbrella. Jack could throw no light on when it had been done. “Whom do you suspect did it?” asked the manager. “I--I don’t know,” replied Jack. “Yes, you do. You have some idea. Who’s got a grudge against you?” “Well, I suppose Ted Chester has, though I never did anything to him.” “Who else?” “Well, Mr. Mitz was rather mean to me.” “Ha! Hum! I begin to understand something. You may tell Mr. Delafield I want him.” Jack summoned the property man, and the manager closely questioned him as to whether he had seen any one about the airship just before the performance began, for it had been proved that the apparatus was in perfect order that morning. “I didn’t see any one interfering with it,” replied Mr. Delafield. “Were you in the property tent all the while?” “Yes--that is, nearly.” “What do you mean by that?” “Well, Mitz called me out to see about making a new tub for the baby elephant to stand on.” “How long were you gone?” “About ten minutes.” “Ha! Hum! That would be time enough. I think I see how this was done. Mitz and Chester put up the game, and a mean one it was. While Mitz got you out, Chester slipped in and cut the umbrella. Say nothing about it, however. I’ll have a talk with them. I’ll put a stop to this business.” What the result was of the manager’s talk to the mean clown and his crony, the ringmaster, Jack never heard. Evidently there was not proof enough to make certain the guilt of either of the two men, though when they came from the manager’s tent they looked worried and uneasy. The affair resulted in one thing that benefited Jack, however, for, after that, neither the clown nor Mitz bothered him, though Ted Chester said mean things to his young rival every chance he got. After that Jack was more than usually careful to look to all the ropes and other strengthening devices on the airship, as well as to the umbrella; for leaping off from such a height as he did it would not take much to cause him to take a terrible tumble.