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diff --git a/old/mstky10.txt b/old/mstky10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..277ccdd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mstky10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4575 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Master Key, by L. Frank Baum +#5 in our L. Frank Baum series + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +The Master Key + +by L. 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The Three Gifts +4. Testing the Instruments +5. The Cannibal Island +6. The Buccaneers +7. The Demon Becomes Angry +8. Rob Acquires New Powers +9. The Second Journey +10. How Rob Served a Mighty King +11. The Man of Science +12. How Rob Saved a Republic +13. Rob Loses His Treasures +14. Turk and Tatar +15. A Battle With Monsters +16. Shipwrecked Mariners +17. The Coast of Oregon +18. A Narrow Escape +19. Rob Makes a Resolution +20. The Unhappy Fate of the Demon + + + + +Who Knows? + + +These things are quite improbable, to be sure; but are they impossible? + +Our big world rolls over as smoothly as it did centuries ago, without +a squeak to show it needs oiling after all these years of revolution. +But times change because men change, and because civilization, like +John Brown's soul, goes ever marching on. + +The impossibilities of yesterday become the accepted facts of to-day. + +Here is a fairy tale founded upon the wonders of electricity and +written for children of this generation. Yet when my readers shall +have become men and women my story may not seem to their children like +a fairy tale at all. + +Perhaps one, perhaps two--perhaps several of the Demon's devices will +be, by that time, in popular use. + +Who knows? + + + + +1. Rob's Workshop + + +When Rob became interested in electricity his clear-headed father +considered the boy's fancy to be instructive as well as amusing; so he +heartily encouraged his son, and Rob never lacked batteries, motors or +supplies of any sort that his experiments might require. + +He fitted up the little back room in the attic as his workshop, and +from thence a net-work of wires soon ran throughout the house. Not +only had every outside door its electric bell, but every window was +fitted with a burglar alarm; moreover no one could cross the threshold +of any interior room without registering the fact in Rob's workshop. +The gas was lighted by an electric fob; a chime, connected with an +erratic clock in the boy's room, woke the servants at all hours of the +night and caused the cook to give warning; a bell rang whenever the +postman dropped a letter into the box; there were bells, bells, bells +everywhere, ringing at the right time, the wrong time and all the +time. And there were telephones in the different rooms, too, through +which Rob could call up the different members of the family just when +they did not wish to be disturbed. + +His mother and sisters soon came to vote the boy's scientific craze a +nuisance; but his father was delighted with these evidences of Rob's +skill as an electrician, and insisted that he be allowed perfect +freedom in carrying out his ideas. + +"Electricity," said the old gentleman, sagely, "is destined to become +the motive power of the world. The future advance of civilization +will be along electrical lines. Our boy may become a great inventor +and astonish the world with his wonderful creations." + +"And in the meantime," said the mother, despairingly, "we shall all be +electrocuted, or the house burned down by crossed wires, or we shall +be blown into eternity by an explosion of chemicals!" + +"Nonsense!" ejaculated the proud father. "Rob's storage batteries are +not powerful enough to electrocute one or set the house on fire. Do +give the boy a chance, Belinda." + +"And the pranks are so humiliating," continued the lady. "When the +minister called yesterday and rang the bell a big card appeared on the +front door on which was printed the words: 'Busy; Call Again.' +Fortunately Helen saw him and let him in, but when I reproved Robert +for the act he said he was just trying the sign to see if it would work." + +"Exactly! The boy is an inventor already. I shall have one of those +cards attached to the door of my private office at once. I tell you, +Belinda, our son will be a great man one of these days," said Mr. +Joslyn, walking up and down with pompous strides and almost bursting +with the pride he took in his young hopeful. + +Mrs. Joslyn sighed. She knew remonstrance was useless so long as her +husband encouraged the boy, and that she would be wise to bear her +cross with fortitude. + +Rob also knew his mother's protests would be of no avail; so he +continued to revel in electrical processes of all sorts, using the +house as an experimental station to test the powers of his productions. + +It was in his own room, however,--his "workshop"--that he especially +delighted. For not only was it the center of all his numerous "lines" +throughout the house, but he had rigged up therein a wonderful array +of devices for his own amusement. A trolley-car moved around a +circular track and stopped regularly at all stations; an engine and +train of cars moved jerkily up and down a steep grade and through a +tunnel; a windmill was busily pumping water from the dishpan into the +copper skillet; a sawmill was in full operation and a host of +mechanical blacksmiths, scissors-grinders, carpenters, wood-choppers +and millers were connected with a motor which kept them working away +at their trades in awkward but persevering fashion. + +The room was crossed and recrossed with wires. They crept up the +walls, lined the floor, made a grille of the ceiling and would catch an +unwary visitor under the chin or above the ankle just when he least +expected it. Yet visitors were forbidden in so crowded a room, and +even his father declined to go farther than the doorway. As for Rob, +he thought he knew all about the wires, and what each one was for; but +they puzzled even him, at times, and he was often perplexed to know +how to utilize them all. + +One day when he had locked himself in to avoid interruption while he +planned the electrical illumination of a gorgeous pasteboard palace, +he really became confused over the network of wires. He had a +"switchboard," to be sure, where he could make and break connections +as he chose; but the wires had somehow become mixed, and he could not +tell what combinations to use to throw the power on to his miniature +electric lights. + +So he experimented in a rather haphazard fashion, connecting this and +that wire blindly and by guesswork, in the hope that he would strike +the right combination. Then he thought the combination might be +right and there was a lack of power; so he added other lines of wire +to his connections, and still others, until he had employed almost +every wire in the room. + +Yet it would not work; and after pausing a moment to try to think what +was wrong he went at it again, putting this and that line into +connection, adding another here and another there, until suddenly, as +he made a last change, a quick flash of light almost blinded him, and +the switch-board crackled ominously, as if struggling to carry a +powerful current. + +Rob covered his face at the flash, but finding himself unhurt he took +away his hands and with blinking eyes attempted to look at a wonderful +radiance which seemed to fill the room, making it many times brighter +than the brightest day. + +Although at first completely dazzled, he peered before him until he +discovered that the light was concentrated near one spot, from which +all the glorious rays seemed to scintillate. + +He closed his eyes a moment to rest them; then re-opening them and +shading them somewhat with his hands, he made out the form of a +curious Being standing with majesty and composure in the center of the +magnificent radiance and looking down upon him! + + + +2. The Demon of Electricity + + +Rob was a courageous boy, but a thrill of fear passed over him in +spite of his bravest endeavor as he gazed upon the wondrous apparition +that confronted him. For several moments he sat as if turned to +stone, so motionless was he; but his eyes were nevertheless fastened +upon the Being and devouring every detail of his appearance. + +And how strange an appearance he presented! + +His jacket was a wavering mass of white light, edged with braid of red +flames that shot little tongues in all directions. The buttons +blazed in golden fire. His trousers had a bluish, incandescent color, +with glowing stripes of crimson braid. His vest was gorgeous with +all the colors of the rainbow blended into a flashing, resplendent +mass. In feature he was most majestic, and his eyes held the soft but +penetrating brilliance of electric lights. + +It was hard to meet the gaze of those searching eyes, but Rob did it, +and at once the splendid apparition bowed and said in a low, clear voice: + +"I am here." + +"I know that," answered the boy, trembling, "but WHY are you here?" + +"Because you have touched the Master Key of Electricity, and I must +obey the laws of nature that compel me to respond to your summons." + +"I--I didn't know I touched the Master Key," faltered the boy. + +"I understand that. You did it unconsciously. No one in the world +has ever done it before, for Nature has hitherto kept the secret safe +locked within her bosom." + +Rob took time to wonder at this statement. + +"Then who are you?" he inquired, at length. + +"The Demon of Electricity," was the solemn answer. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed Rob, "a demon!" + +"Certainly. I am, in truth, the Slave of the Master Key, and am +forced to obey the commands of any one who is wise and brave +enough--or, as in your own case, fortunate and fool-hardy enough--to +touch it." + +"I--I've never guessed there was such a thing as a Master Key, or--or +a Demon of Electricity, and--and I'm awfully sorry I--I called you up!" +stammered the boy, abashed by the imposing appearance of his companion. + +The Demon actually smiled at this speech,--a smile that was +almost reassuring. + +"I am not sorry," he said, in kindlier tone, "for it is not much +pleasure waiting century after century for some one to command my +services. I have often thought my existence uncalled for, since you +Earth people are so stupid and ignorant that you seem unlikely ever to +master the secret of electrical power." + +"Oh, we have some great masters among us!" cried Rob, rather nettled +at this statement. "Now, there's Edison--" + +"Edison!" exclaimed the Demon, with a faint sneer; "what does he know?" + +"Lots of things," declared the boy. "He's invented no end of +wonderful electrical things." + +"You are wrong to call them wonderful," replied the Demon, lightly. +"He really knows little more than yourself about the laws that control +electricity. His inventions are trifling things in comparison with +the really wonderful results to be obtained by one who would actually +know how to direct the electric powers instead of groping blindly +after insignificant effects. Why, I've stood for months by Edison's +elbow, hoping and longing for him to touch the Master Key; but I can +see plainly he will never accomplish it." + +"Then there's Tesla," said the boy. + +The Demon laughed. + +"There is Tesla, to be sure," he said. "But what of him?" + +"Why, he's discovered a powerful light," the Demon gave an amused +chuckle, "and he's in communication with the people in Mars." + +"What people?" + +"Why, the people who live there." + +"There are none." + +This great statement almost took Rob's breath away, and caused him to +stare hard at his visitor. + +"It's generally thought," he resumed, in an annoyed tone, "that Mars +has inhabitants who are far in advance of ourselves in civilization. +Many scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to +signal us for years, only we don't understand their signals. And +great novelists have written about the Martians and their wonderful +civilization, and--" + +"And they all know as much about that little planet as you do +yourself," interrupted the Demon, impatiently. "The trouble with you +Earth people is that you delight in guessing about what you can not +know. Now I happen to know all about Mars, because I can traverse all +space and have had ample leisure to investigate the different planets. +Mars is not peopled at all, nor is any other of the planets you +recognize in the heavens. Some contain low orders of beasts, to be +sure, but Earth alone has an intelligent, thinking, reasoning +population, and your scientists and novelists would do better trying +to comprehend their own planet than in groping through space to +unravel the mysteries of barren and unimportant worlds." + +Rob listened to this with surprise and disappointment; but he +reflected that the Demon ought to know what he was talking about, so +he did not venture to contradict him. + +"It is really astonishing," continued the Apparition, "how little you +people have learned about electricity. It is an Earth element that +has existed since the Earth itself was formed, and if you but +understood its proper use humanity would be marvelously benefited in +many ways." + +"We are, already," protested Rob; "our discoveries in electricity have +enabled us to live much more conveniently." + +"Then imagine your condition were you able fully to control this great +element," replied the other, gravely. "The weaknesses and privations +of mankind would be converted into power and luxury." + +"That's true, Mr.--Mr.--Demon," said the boy. "Excuse me if I don't +get your name right, but I understood you to say you are a demon." + +"Certainly. The Demon of Electricity." + +"But electricity is a good thing, you know, and--and--" + +"Well?" + +"I've always understood that demons were bad things," added Rob, boldly. + +"Not necessarily," returned his visitor. "If you will take the +trouble to consult your dictionary, you will find that demons may be +either good or bad, like any other class of beings. Originally all +demons were good, yet of late years people have come to consider all +demons evil. I do not know why. Should you read Hesiod you will find +he says: + + +'Soon was a world of holy demons made, +Aerial spirits, by great Jove designed +To be on earth the guardians of mankind.'" + + +"But Jove was himself a myth," objected Rob, who had been +studying mythology. + +The Demon shrugged his shoulders. + +"Then take the words of Mr. Shakespeare, to whom you all defer," he +replied. "Do you not remember that he says: + + +'Thy demon (that's thy spirit which keeps thee) is +Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable.'" + + +"Oh, if Shakespeare says it, that's all right," answered the boy. +"But it seems you're more like a genius, for you answer the summons of +the Master Key of Electricity in the same way Aladdin's genius +answered the rubbing of the lamp." + +"To be sure. A demon is also a genius; and a genius is a demon," said +the Being. "What matters a name? I am here to do your bidding." + + + +3. The Three Gifts + + +Familiarity with any great thing removes our awe of it. The great +general is only terrible to the enemy; the great poet is frequently +scolded by his wife; the children of the great statesman clamber about +his knees with perfect trust and impunity; the great actor who is +called before the curtain by admiring audiences is often waylaid at +the stage door by his creditors. + +So Rob, having conversed for a time with the glorious Demon of +Electricity, began to regard him with more composure and less awe, as +his eyes grew more and more accustomed to the splendor that at first +had well-nigh blinded them. + +When the Demon announced himself ready to do the boy's bidding, he +frankly replied: + +"I am no skilled electrician, as you very well know. My calling you +here was an accident. So I don't know how to command you, nor what to +ask you to do." + +"But I must not take advantage of your ignorance," answered the Demon. +"Also, I am quite anxious to utilize this opportunity to show the +world what a powerful element electricity really is. So permit me to +inform you that, having struck the Master Key, you are at liberty to +demand from me three gifts each week for three successive weeks. +These gifts, provided they are within the scope of electricity, +I will grant." + +Rob shook his head regretfully. + +"If I were a great electrician I should know what to ask," he said. +"But I am too ignorant to take advantage of your kind offer." + +"Then," replied the Demon, "I will myself suggest the gifts, and they +will be of such a character that the Earth people will learn the +possibilities that lie before them and be encouraged to work more +intelligently and to persevere in mastering those natural and simple +laws which control electricity. For one of the greatest errors they +now labor under is that electricity is complicated and hard to +understand. It is really the simplest Earth element, lying within +easy reach of any one who stretches out his hand to grasp and control +its powers." + +Rob yawned, for he thought the Demon's speeches were growing rather +tiresome. Perhaps the genius noticed this rudeness, for he continued: + +"I regret, of course, that you are a boy instead of a grown man, for +it will appear singular to your friends that so thoughtless a youth +should seemingly have mastered the secrets that have baffled your most +learned scientists. But that can not be helped, and presently you +will become, through my aid, the most powerful and wonderful personage +in all the world." + +"Thank you," said Rob, meekly. "It'll be no end of fun." + +"Fun!" echoed the Demon, scornfully. "But never mind; I must use the +material Fate has provided for me, and make the best of it." + +"What will you give me first?" asked the boy, eagerly. + +"That requires some thought," returned the Demon, and paused for +several moments, while Rob feasted his eyes upon the gorgeous rays of +color that flashed and vibrated in every direction and surrounded the +figure of his visitor with an intense glow that resembled a halo. + +Then the Demon raised his head and said: + +"The thing most necessary to man is food to nourish his body. He +passes a considerable part of his life in the struggle to procure +food, to prepare it properly, and in the act of eating. This is not +right. Your body can not be very valuable to you if all your time is +required to feed it. I shall, therefore, present you, as my first +gift, this box of tablets. Within each tablet are stored certain +elements of electricity which are capable of nourishing a human body +for a full day. All you need do is to toss one into your mouth each +day and swallow it. It will nourish you, satisfy your hunger and +build up your health and strength. The ordinary food of mankind is +more or less injurious; this is entirely beneficial. Moreover, you +may carry enough tablets in your pocket to last for months." + +Here he presented Rob the silver box of tablets, and the boy, somewhat +nervously, thanked him for the gift. + +"The next requirement of man," continued the Demon, "is defense from +his enemies. I notice with sorrow that men frequently have wars and +kill one another. Also, even in civilized communities, man is in +constant danger from highwaymen, cranks and policemen. To defend +himself he uses heavy and dangerous guns, with which to destroy his +enemies. This is wrong. He has no right to take away what he can not +bestow; to destroy what he can not create. To kill a fellow-creature +is a horrid crime, even if done in self-defense. Therefore, my second +gift to you is this little tube. You may carry it within your pocket. +Whenever an enemy threatens you, be it man or beast, simply point the +tube and press this button in the handle. An electric current will +instantly be directed upon your foe, rendering him wholly unconscious +for the period of one hour. During that time you will have +opportunity to escape. As for your enemy, after regaining +consciousness he will suffer no inconvenience from the encounter +beyond a slight headache." + +"That's fine!" said Rob, as he took the tube. It was scarcely six +inches long, and hollow at one end. + +"The busy lives of men," proceeded the Demon, "require them to move +about and travel in all directions. Yet to assist them there are only +such crude and awkward machines as electric trolleys, cable cars, +steam railways and automobiles. These crawl slowly over the uneven +surface of the earth and frequently get out of order. It has grieved +me that men have not yet discovered what even birds know: that the +atmosphere offers them swift and easy means of traveling from one part +of the earth's surface to another." + +"Some people have tried to build airships," remarked Rob. + +"So they have; great, unwieldy machines which offer so much resistance +to the air that they are quite useless. A big machine is not needed +to carry one through the air. There are forces in nature which may be +readily used for such purpose. Tell me, what holds you to the Earth, +and makes a stone fall to the ground?" + +"Attraction of gravitation," said Rob, promptly. + +"Exactly. That is one force I refer to," said the Demon. "The force +of repulsion, which is little known, but just as powerful, is another +that mankind may direct. Then there are the Polar electric forces, +attracting objects toward the north or south poles. You have guessed +something of this by the use of the compass, or electric needle. +Opposed to these is centrifugal electric force, drawing objects from +east to west, or in the opposite direction. This force is created by +the whirl of the earth upon its axis, and is easily utilized, although +your scientific men have as yet paid little attention to it. + +"These forces, operating in all directions, absolute and immutable, +are at the disposal of mankind. They will carry you through the +atmosphere wherever and whenever you choose. That is, if you know +how to control them. Now, here is a machine I have myself perfected." + +The Demon drew from his pocket something that resembled an open-faced +watch, having a narrow, flexible band attached to it. + +"When you wish to travel," said he, "attach this little machine to +your left wrist by means of the band. It is very light and will not +be in your way. On this dial are points marked 'up' and 'down' as well +as a perfect compass. When you desire to rise into the air set the +indicator to the word 'up,' using a finger of your right hand to turn +it. When you have risen as high as you wish, set the indicator to the +point of the compass you want to follow and you will be carried by the +proper electric force in that direction. To descend, set the +indicator to the word 'down.' Do you understand?" + +"Perfectly!" cried Rob, taking the machine from the Demon with +unfeigned delight. "This is really wonderful, and I'm awfully obliged +to you!" + +"Don't mention it," returned the Demon, dryly. "These three gifts you +may amuse yourself with for the next week. It seems hard to entrust +such great scientific discoveries to the discretion of a mere boy; but +they are quite harmless, so if you exercise proper care you can not +get into trouble through their possession. And who knows what +benefits to humanity may result? One week from to-day, at this hour, +I will again appear to you, at which time you shall receive the second +series of electrical gifts." + +"I'm not sure," said Rob, "that I shall be able again to make the +connections that will strike the Master Key." + +"Probably not," answered the Demon. "Could you accomplish that, you +might command my services forever. But, having once succeeded, you +are entitled to the nine gifts--three each week for three weeks--so +you have no need to call me to do my duty. I shall appear of my +own accord." + +"Thank you," murmured the boy. + +The Demon bowed and spread his hands in the form of a semi-circle. An +instant later there was a blinding flash, and when Rob recovered from +it and opened his eyes the Demon of Electricity had disappeared. + + + +4. Testing the Instruments + + +There is little doubt that this strange experience befallen a grown +man he would have been stricken with a fit of trembling or a sense of +apprehension, or even fear, at the thought of having faced the +terrible Demon of Electricity, of having struck the Master Key of the +world's greatest natural forces, and finding himself possessed of +three such wonderful and useful gifts. But a boy takes everything as +a matter of course. As the tree of knowledge sprouts and expands +within him, shooting out leaf after leaf of practical experience, the +succession of surprises dulls his faculty of wonderment. It takes a +great deal to startle a boy. + +Rob was full of delight at his unexpected good fortune; but he did not +stop to consider that there was anything remarkably queer or uncanny +in the manner in which it had come to him. His chief sensation was +one of pride. He would now be able to surprise those who had made +fun of his electrical craze and force them to respect his marvelous +powers. He decided to say nothing about the Demon or the accidental +striking of the Master Key. In exhibiting to his friends the +electrical devices he had acquired it would be "no end of fun" to mark +their amazement and leave them to guess how he performed his feats. + +So he put his treasures into his pocket, locked his workshop and went +downstairs to his room to prepare for dinner. + +While brushing his hair he remembered it was no longer necessary for +him to eat ordinary food. He was feeling quite hungry at that moment, +for he had a boy's ravenous appetite; but, taking the silver box from +his pocket, he swallowed a tablet and at once felt his hunger as fully +satisfied as if he had partaken of a hearty meal, while at the same +time he experienced an exhilarating glow throughout his body +and a clearness of brain and gaiety of spirits which filled him +with intense gratification. + +Still, he entered the dining-room when the bell rang and found his +father and mother and sisters already assembled there. + +"Where have you been all day, Robert?" inquired his mother. + +"No need to ask," said Mr. Joslyn, with a laugh. "Fussing over +electricity, I'll bet a cookie!" + +"I do wish," said the mother, fretfully, "that he would get over that +mania. It unfits him for anything else." + +"Precisely," returned her husband, dishing the soup; "but it fits him +for a great career when he becomes a man. Why shouldn't he spend his +summer vacation in pursuit of useful knowledge instead of romping +around like ordinary boys?" + +"No soup, thank you," said Rob. + +"What!" exclaimed his father, looking at him in surprise, "it's your +favorite soup." + +"I know," said Rob, quietly, "but I don't want any." + +"Are you ill, Robert?" asked his mother. + +"Never felt better in my life," answered Rob, truthfully. + +Yet Mrs. Joslyn looked worried, and when Rob refused the roast, she +was really shocked. + +"Let me feel your pulse, my poor boy!" she commanded, and wondered to +find it so regular. + +In fact, Rob's action surprised them all. He sat calmly throughout +the meal, eating nothing, but apparently in good health and spirits, +while even his sisters regarded him with troubled countenances. + +"He's worked too hard, I guess," said Mr. Joslyn, shaking his head sadly. + +"Oh, no; I haven't," protested Rob; "but I've decided not to eat +anything, hereafter. It's a bad habit, and does more harm than good." + +"Wait till breakfast," said sister Helen, with a laugh; "you'll be +hungry enough by that time." + +However, the boy had no desire for food at breakfast time, either, as +the tablet sufficed for an entire day. So he renewed the anxiety of +the family by refusing to join them at the table. + +"If this goes on," Mr Joslyn said to his son, when breakfast was +finished, "I shall be obliged to send you away for your health." + +"I think of making a trip this morning," said Rob, carelessly. + +"Where to?" + +"Oh, I may go to Boston, or take a run over to Cuba or Jamaica," +replied the boy. + +"But you can not go so far by yourself," declared his father; "and +there is no one to go with you, just now. Nor can I spare the money +at present for so expensive a trip." + +"Oh, it won't cost anything," replied Rob, with a smile. + +Mr. Joslyn looked upon him gravely and sighed. Mrs. Joslyn bent over +her son with tears in her eyes and said: + +"This electrical nonsense has affected your mind, dear. You must +promise me to keep away from that horrid workshop for a time." + +"I won't enter it for a week," he answered. "But you needn't worry +about me. I haven't been experimenting with electricity all this time +for nothing, I can tell you. As for my health, I'm as well and strong +as any boy need be, and there's nothing wrong with my head, either. +Common folks always think great men are crazy, but Edison and Tesla +and I don't pay any attention to that. We've got our discoveries to +look after. Now, as I said, I'm going for a little trip in the +interests of science. I may be back to-night, or I may be gone +several days. Anyhow, I'll be back in a week, and you mustn't worry +about me a single minute." + +"How are you going?" inquired his father, in the gentle, soothing tone +persons use in addressing maniacs. + +"Through the air," said Rob. + +His father groaned. + +"Where's your balloon?" inquired sister Mabel, sarcastically. + +"I don't need a balloon," returned the boy. "That's a clumsy way of +traveling, at best. I shall go by electric propulsion." + +"Good gracious!" cried Mr. Joslyn, and the mother murmured: "My poor +boy! my poor boy!" + +"As you are my nearest relatives," continued Rob, not noticing these +exclamations, "I will allow you to come into the back yard and see me +start. You will then understand something of my electrical powers." + +They followed him at once, although with unbelieving faces, and on the +way Rob clasped the little machine to his left wrist, so that his coat +sleeve nearly hid it. + +When they reached the lawn at the back of the house Rob kissed them +all good-by, much to his sisters' amusement, and turned the indicator +of the little instrument to the word "up." + +Immediately he began to rise into the air. + +"Don't worry about me!" he called down to them. "Good-by!" + +Mrs. Joslyn, with a scream of terror, hid her face in her hands. + +"He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded father, tipping back his +head to look after his departing son. + +"Come back! Come back!" shouted the girls to the soaring adventurer. + +"I will--some day!" was the far-away answer. + +Having risen high enough to pass over the tallest tree or steeple, Rob +put the indicator to the east of the compass-dial and at once began +moving rapidly in that direction. + +The sensation was delightful. He rode as gently as a feather floats, +without any exertion at all on his own part; yet he moved so swiftly +that he easily distanced a railway train that was speeding in the +same direction. + +"This is great!" reflected the youth. "Here I am, traveling in fine +style, without a penny to pay any one! And I've enough food to last +me a month in my coat pocket. This electricity is the proper stuff, +after all! And the Demon's a trump, and no mistake. Whee-ee! How +small everything looks down below there. The people are bugs, and the +houses are soap-boxes, and the trees are like clumps of grass. I seem +to be passing over a town. Guess I'll drop down a bit, and take in +the sights." + +He pointed the indicator to the word "down," and at once began +dropping through the air. He experienced the sensation one feels +while descending in an elevator. When he reached a point just above +the town he put the indicator to the zero mark and remained +stationary, while he examined the place. But there was nothing to +interest him, particularly; so after a brief survey he once more +ascended and continued his journey toward the east. + +At about two o'clock in the afternoon he reached the city of Boston, +and alighting unobserved in a quiet street he walked around for +several hours enjoying the sights and wondering what people would +think of him if they but knew his remarkable powers. But as he looked +just like any other boy no one noticed him in any way. + +It was nearly evening, and Rob had wandered down by the wharves to +look at the shipping, when his attention was called to an ugly looking +bull dog, which ran toward him and began barking ferociously. + +"Get out!" said the boy, carelessly, and made a kick at the brute. + +The dog uttered a fierce growl and sprang upon him with bared teeth +and flashing red eyes. Instantly Rob drew the electric tube from his +pocket, pointed it at the dog and pressed the button. Almost at the +same moment the dog gave a yelp, rolled over once or twice and lay still. + +"I guess that'll settle him," laughed the boy; but just then he heard +an angry shout, and looking around saw a policeman running toward him. + +"Kill me dog, will ye--eh?" yelled the officer; "well, I'll just +run ye in for that same, an' ye'll spend the night in the lockup!" +And on he came, with drawn club in one hand and a big revolver +in the other. + +"You'll have to catch me first," said Rob, still laughing, and to the +amazement of the policeman he began rising straight into the air. + +"Come down here! Come down, or I'll shoot!" shouted the fellow, +flourishing his revolver. + +Rob was afraid he would; so, to avoid accidents, he pointed the tube +at him and pressed the button. The red-whiskered policeman keeled +over quite gracefully and fell across the body of the dog, while Rob +continued to mount upward until he was out of sight of those +in the streets. + +"That was a narrow escape," he thought, breathing more freely. +"I hated to paralyze that policeman, but he might have sent a +bullet after me. Anyhow, he'll be all right again in an hour, +so I needn't worry." + +It was beginning to grow dark, and he wondered what he should do next. +Had he possessed any money he would have descended to the town and +taken a bed at a hotel, but he had left home without a single penny. +Fortunately the nights were warm at this season, so he determined to +travel all night, that he might reach by morning some place he had +never before visited. + +Cuba had always interested him, and he judged it ought to lie in a +southeasterly direction from Boston. So he set the indicator to that +point and began gliding swiftly toward the southeast. + +He now remembered that it was twenty-four hours since he had eaten the +first electrical tablet. As he rode through the air he consumed +another. All hunger at once left him, while he felt the same +invigorating sensations as before. + +After a time the moon came out, and Rob amused himself gazing at the +countless stars in the sky and wondering if the Demon was right when +he said the world was the most important of all the planets. + +But presently he grew sleepy, and before he realized what was +happening he had fallen into a sound and peaceful slumber, while the +indicator still pointed to the southeast and he continued to move +rapidly through the cool night air. + + + +5. The Cannibal Island + + +Doubtless the adventures of the day had tired Rob, for he slept +throughout the night as comfortably as if he had been within his own +room, lying upon his own bed. When, at last, he opened his eyes and +gazed sleepily about him, he found himself over a great body of water, +moving along with considerable speed. + +"It's the ocean, of course," he said to himself. "I haven't reached +Cuba yet." + +It is to be regretted that Rob's knowledge of geography was so +superficial; for, as he had intended to reach Cuba, he should have +taken a course almost southwest from Boston, instead of southeast. +The sad result of his ignorance you will presently learn, for during +the entire day he continued to travel over a boundless waste of ocean, +without the sight of even an island to cheer him. + +The sun shone so hot that he regretted he had not brought an umbrella. +But he wore a wide-brimmed straw hat, which protected him somewhat, +and he finally discovered that by rising to a considerable distance +above the ocean he avoided the reflection of the sun upon the water +and also came with the current of good breeze. + +Of course he dared no stop, for there was no place to land; so he +calmly continued his journey. + +"It may be I've missed Cuba," he thought; "but I can not change my +course now, for if I did I might get lost, and never be able to find +land again. If I keep on as I am I shall be sure to reach land of +some sort, in time, and when I wish to return home I can set the indicator +to the northwest and that will take me directly back to Boston." + +This was good reasoning, but the rash youth had no idea he was +speeding over the ocean, or that he was destined to arrive shortly at +the barbarous island of Brava, off the coast of Africa. Yet such was +the case; just as the sun sank over the edge of the waves he saw, to +his great relief, a large island directly in his path. + +He dropped to a lower position in the air, and when he judged himself +to be over the center of the island he turned the indicator to zero +and stopped short. + +The country was beautifully wooded, while pretty brooks sparkled +through the rich green foliage of the trees. The island sloped +upwards from the sea-coast in all directions, rising to a hill that +was almost a mountain in the center. There were two open spaces, one +on each side of the island, and Rob saw that these spaces were +occupied by queer-looking huts built from brushwood and branches of +trees. This showed that the island was inhabited, but as Rob had no +idea what island it was he wisely determined not to meet the natives +until he had discovered what they were like and whether they were +disposed to be friendly. + +So he moved over the hill, the top of which proved to be a flat, +grass-covered plateau about fifty feet in diameter. Finding it could +not be easily reached from below, on account of its steep sides, and +contained neither men nor animals, he alighted on the hill-top and +touched his feet to the earth for the first time in twenty-four hours. + +The ride through the air had not tired him in the least; in fact, he +felt as fresh and vigorous as if he had been resting throughout the +journey. As he walked upon the soft grass of the plateau he felt +elated, and compared himself to the explorers of ancient days; for it +was evident that civilization had not yet reached this delightful spot. + +There was scarcely any twilight in this tropical climate and it grew +dark quickly. Within a few minutes the entire island, save where he +stood, became dim and indistinct. He ate his daily tablet, and after +watching the red glow fade in the western sky and the gray shadows of +night settle around him he stretched himself comfortably upon the grass +and went to sleep. + +The events of the day must have deepened his slumber, for when he +awoke the sun was shining almost directly over him, showing that the +day was well advanced. He stood up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes +and decided he would like a drink of water. From where he stood he +could see several little brooks following winding paths through the +forest, so he settled upon one that seemed farthest from the brushwood +villages, and turning his indicator in that direction soon floated +through the air to a sheltered spot upon the bank. + +Kneeling down, he enjoyed a long, refreshing drink of the clear water, +but as he started to regain his feet a coil of rope was suddenly +thrown about him, pinning his arms to his sides and rendering him +absolutely helpless. + +At the same time his ears were saluted with a wild chattering in an +unknown tongue, and he found himself surrounded by a group of natives +of hideous appearance. They were nearly naked, and bore spears and +heavy clubs as their only weapons. Their hair was long, curly, and +thick as bushes, and through their noses and ears were stuck the teeth +of sharks and curious metal ornaments. + +These creatures had stolen upon Rob so quietly that he had not heard a +sound, but now they jabbered loudly, as if much excited. + +Finally one fat and somewhat aged native, who seemed to be a chief, +came close to Rob and said, in broken English: + +"How get here?" + +"I flew," said the boy, with a grin. + +The chief shook his head, saying: + +"No boat come. How white man come?" + +"Through the air," replied Rob, who was rather flattered at being +called a "man." + +The chief looked into the air with a puzzled expression and shook his +head again. + +"White man lie," he said calmly. + +Then he held further conversation with his fellows, after which he +turned to Rob and announced: + +"Me see white man many times. Come in big boats. White man all bad. +Make kill with bang-sticks. We kill white man with club. Then we eat +white man. Dead white man good. Live white man bad!" + +This did not please Rob at all. The idea of being eaten by savages +had never occurred to him as a sequel to his adventures. So he said +rather anxiously to the chief. + +"Look here, old fellow; do you want to die?" + +"Me no die. You die," was the reply. + +"You'll die, too, if you eat me," said Rob. "I'm full of poison." + +"Poison? Don't know poison," returned the chief, much perplexed to +understand him. + +"Well, poison will make you sick--awful sick. Then you'll die. I'm +full of it; eat it every day for breakfast. It don't hurt white men, +you see, but it kills black men quicker than the bang-stick." + +The chief listened to this statement carefully, but only understood it +in part. After a moment's reflection he declared: + +"White man lie. Lie all time. Me eat plenty white man. Never get +sick; never die." Then he added, with renewed cheerfulness: "Me eat +you, too!" + +Before Rob could think of a further protest, his captors caught up the +end of the rope and led him away through the forest. He was tightly +bound, and one strand of rope ran across the machine on his wrist and +pressed it into his flesh until the pain was severe. But he resolved +to be brave, whatever happened, so he stumbled along after the savages +without a word. + +After a brief journey they came to a village, where Rob was thrust +into a brushwood hut and thrown upon the ground, still tightly bound. + +"We light fire," said the chief. "Then kill little white man. Then +eat him." + +With this comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone to think +the matter over. + +"This is tough," reflected the boy, with a groan. "I never expected +to feed cannibals. Wish I was at home with mother and dad and the +girls. Wish I'd never seen the Demon of Electricity and his wonderful +inventions. I was happy enough before I struck that awful Master Key. +And now I'll be eaten--with salt and pepper, probably. Wonder if +there'll be any gravy. Perhaps they'll boil me, with biscuits, as +mother does chickens. Oh-h-h-h-h! It's just awful!" + +In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware that +something was hurting his back. After rolling over he found that he +had been lying upon a sharp stone that stuck out of the earth. This +gave him an idea. He rolled upon the stone again and began rubbing +the rope that bound him against the sharp edge. + +Outside he could hear the crackling of fagots and the roar of a +newly-kindled fire, so he knew he had no time to spare. He wriggled +and pushed his body right and left, right and left, sawing away at the +rope, until the strain and exertion started the perspiration from +every pore. + +At length the rope parted, and hastily uncoiling it from his body Rob +stood up and rubbed his benumbed muscles and tried to regain his lost +breath. He had not freed himself a moment too soon, he found, for +hearing a grunt of surprise behind him he turned around and saw a +native standing in the door of the hut. + +Rob laughed, for he was not a bit afraid of the blacks now. As the +native made a rush toward him the boy drew the electric tube from his +pocket, pointed it at the foe, and pressed the button. The fellow +sank to the earth without even a groan, and lay still. + +Then another black entered, followed by the fat chief. When they saw +Rob at liberty, and their comrade lying apparently dead, the chief +cried out in surprise, using some expressive words in his own language. + +"If it's just the same to you, old chap," said Rob, coolly, "I won't +be eaten to-day. You can make a pie of that fellow on the ground." + +"No! We eat you," cried the chief, angrily. "You cut rope, but no +get away; no boat!" + +"I don't need a boat, thank you," said the boy; and then, as the other +native sprang forward, he pointed the tube and laid him out beside his +first victim. + +At this act the chief stood an instant in amazed uncertainty. Then he +turned and rushed from the hut. + +Laughing with amusement at the waddling, fat figure, Rob followed the +chief and found himself standing almost in the center of the native +village. A big fire was blazing merrily and the blacks were busy +making preparations for a grand feast. + +Rob was quickly surrounded by a crowd of the villagers, who chattered +fiercely and made threatening motions in his direction; but as the +chief cried out to them a warning in the native tongue they kept a +respectful distance and contented themselves with brandishing their +spears and clubs. + +"If any of your fellows come nearer," Rob said to the fat chief, "I'll +knock 'em over." + +"What you make do?" asked the chief, nervously. + +"Watch sharp, and you'll see," answered Rob. Then he made a mocking +bow to the circle and continued: "I'm pleased to have met you fellows, +and proud to think you like me well enough to want to eat me; but I'm +in a bit of a hurry to-day, so I can't stop to be digested." After +which, as the crowd broke into a hum of surprise, he added: "Good-day, +black folks!" and quickly turned the indicator of his traveling +machine to the word "up." + +Slowly he rose into the air, until his heels were just above the +gaping blacks; but there he stopped short. With a thrill of fear he +glanced at the indicator. It was pointed properly, and he knew at once +that something was wrong with the delicate mechanism that controlled +it. Probably the pressure of the rope across its face, when he was +bound, had put it out of order. There he was, seven feet in the air, +but without the power to rise an inch farther. + +This short flight, however, had greatly astonished the blacks, who, +seeing his body suspended in mid-air, immediately hailed him as a god, +and prostrated themselves upon the ground before him. + +The fat chief had seen something of white men in his youth, and had +learned to mistrust them. So, while he remained as prostrate as the +rest, he peeped at Rob with one of his little black eyes and saw that +the boy was ill at ease, and seemed both annoyed and frightened. + +So he muttered some orders to the man next him, who wriggled along the +ground until he had reached a position behind Rob, when he rose and +pricked the suspended "god" with the point of his spear. + +"Ouch!" yelled the boy; "stop that!" + +He twisted his head around, and seeing the black again make a movement +with the spear, Rob turned his electric tube upon him and keeled him +over like a ten-pin. + +The natives, who had looked up at his cry of pain, again prostrated +themselves, kicking their toes against the ground in a terrified +tattoo at this new evidence of the god's powers. + +The situation was growing somewhat strained by this time, and Rob did +not know what the savages would decide to do next; so he thought it +best to move away from them, since he was unable to rise to a greater +height. He turned the indicator towards the south, where a level +space appeared between the trees; but instead of taking that direction +he moved towards the northeast, a proof that his machine had now become +absolutely unreliable. Moreover, he was slowly approaching the fire, +which, although it had ceased blazing, was a mass of glowing red embers. + +In his excitement he turned the indicator this way and that, trying to +change the direction of his flight, but the only result of his +endeavor was to carry him directly over the fire, where he came to a +full stop. + +"Murder! Help! Fire and blazes!" he cried, as he felt the glow of +the coals beneath him. "I'll be roasted, after all! Here; help, +Fatty, help!" + +The fat chief sprang to his feet and came to the rescue. He reached +up, caught Rob by the heels, and pulled him down to the ground, away +from the fire. But the next moment, as he clung to the boy's feet, +they both soared into the air again, and, although now far enough from +the fire to escape its heat, the savage, finding himself lifted from +the earth, uttered a scream of horror and let go of Rob, to fall head +over heels upon the ground. + +The other blacks had by this time regained their feet, and now they +crowded around their chief and set him upright again. + +Rob continued to float in the air, just above their heads, and now +abandoned all thoughts of escaping by means of his wrecked traveling +machine. But he resolved to regain a foothold upon the earth and take +his chances of escape by running rather than flying. So he turned the +indicator to the word "down," and very slowly it obeyed, allowing him, +to his great relief, to sink gently to the ground. + + + +6. The Buccaneers + + +Once more the blacks formed a circle around our adventurer, who coolly +drew his tube and said to the chief: + +"Tell your people I'm going to walk away through those trees, and if +any one dares to interfere with me I'll paralyze him." + +The chief understood enough English to catch his meaning, and repeated +the message to his men. Having seen the terrible effect of the +electric tube they wisely fell back and allowed the boy to pass. + +He marched through their lines with a fine air of dignity, although he +was fearful lest some of the blacks should stick a spear into him or bump +his head with a war-club. But they were awed by the wonders they had seen +and were still inclined to believe him a god, so he was not molested. + +When he found himself outside the village he made for the high plateau +in the center of the island, where he could be safe from the cannibals +while he collected his thoughts. But when he reached the place he +found the sides so steep he could not climb them, so he adjusted the +indicator to the word "up" and found it had still had enough power to +support his body while he clambered up the rocks to the level, +grass-covered space at the top. + +Then, reclining upon his back, he gave himself up to thoughts of +how he might escape from his unpleasant predicament. + +"Here I am, on a cannibal island, hundreds of miles from civilization, +with no way to get back," he reflected. "The family will look for me +every day, and finally decide I've broken my neck. The Demon will +call upon me when the week is up and won't find me at home; so I'll +miss the next three gifts. I don't mind that so much, for they might +bring me into worst scrapes than this. But how am I to get away from +this beastly island? I'll be eaten, after all, if I don't look out!" + +These and similar thoughts occupied him for some time, yet in spite of +much planning and thinking he could find no practical means of escape. + +At the end of an hour he looked over the edge of the plateau and found +it surrounded by a ring of the black cannibals, who had calmly seated +themselves to watch his movements. + +"Perhaps they intend to starve me into surrender," he thought; "but +they won't succeed so long as my tablets hold out. And if, in time, +they should starve me, I'll be too thin and tough to make good eating; +so I'll get the best of them, anyhow." + +Then he again lay down and began to examine his electrical traveling +machine. He did not dare take it apart, fearing he might not be able +to get it together again, for he knew nothing at all about its +construction. But he discovered two little dents on the edge, one on +each side, which had evidently been caused by the pressure of the rope. + +"If I could get those dents out," he thought, "the machine might work." + +He first tried to pry out the edges with his pocket knife, but the +attempt resulted in failure, Then, as the sides seemed a little +bulged outward by the dents, he placed the machine between two flat +stones and pressed them together until the little instrument was +nearly round again. The dents remained, to be sure, but he hoped he +had removed the pressure upon the works. + +There was just one way to discover how well he had succeeded, +so he fastened the machine to his wrist and turned the indicator +to the word "up." + +Slowly he ascended, this time to a height of nearly twenty feet. Then +his progress became slower and finally ceased altogether. + +"That's a little better," he thought. "Now let's see if it will +go sidewise." + +He put the indicator to "north-west,"--the direction of home--and very +slowly the machine obeyed and carried him away from the plateau and +across the island. + +The natives saw him go, and springing to their feet began uttering +excited shouts and throwing their spears at him. But he was already +so high and so far away that they failed to reach him, and the boy +continued his journey unharmed. + +Once the branches of a tall tree caught him and nearly tipped him +over; but he managed to escape others by drawing up his feet. At +last he was free of the island and traveling over the ocean again. He +was not at all sorry to bid good-by to the cannibal island, but he was +worried about the machine, which clearly was not in good working +order. The vast ocean was beneath him, and he moved no faster than an +ordinary walk. + +"At this rate I'll get home some time next year," he grumbled. +"However, I suppose I ought to be glad the machine works at all." And +he really was glad. + +All the afternoon and all the long summer night he moved slowly over +the water. It was annoying to go at "a reg'lar jog-trot," as Rob +called it, after his former swift flight; but there was no help for it. + +Just as dawn was breaking he saw in the distance a small vessel, +sailing in the direction he was following, yet scarcely moving for +lack of wind. He soon caught up with it, but saw no one on deck, and +the craft had a dingy and uncared-for appearance that was not +reassuring. But after hovering over it for some time Rob decided to +board the ship and rest for a while. He alighted near the bow, where +the deck was highest, and was about to explore the place when a man +came out of the low cabin and espied him. + +This person had a most villainous countenance, and was dark-skinned, +black-bearded and dressed in an outlandish, piratical costume. On +seeing the boy he gave a loud shout and was immediately joined by four +companions, each as disagreeable in appearance as the first. + +Rob knew there would be trouble the moment he looked at this evil +crew, and when they drew their daggers and pistols and began fiercely +shouting in an unknown tongue, the boy sighed and took the electric tube +from his coat pocket. + +The buccaneers did not notice the movement, but rushed upon him so +quickly that he had to press the button at a lively rate. The tube +made no noise at all, so it was a strange and remarkable sight to see +the pirates suddenly drop to the deck and lie motionless. Indeed, one +was so nearly upon him when the electric current struck him that his +head, in falling, bumped into Rob's stomach and sent him reeling +against the side of the vessel. + +He quickly recovered himself, and seeing his enemies were rendered +harmless, the boy entered the cabin and examined it curiously. It was +dirty and ill-smelling enough, but the corners and spare berths were +heaped with merchandise of all kinds which had been taken from those +so unlucky as to have met these cruel and desperate men. + +After a short inspection of the place he returned to the deck and +again seated himself in the bow. + +The crippled condition of his traveling machine was now his chief +trouble, and although a good breeze had sprung up to fill the sails +and the little bark was making fair headway, Rob knew he could never +expect to reach home unless he could discover a better mode of +conveyance than this. + +He unstrapped the machine from his wrist to examine it better, and +while holding it carelessly in his hand it slipped and fell with a +bang to the deck, striking upon its round edge and rolling quickly +past the cabin and out of sight. With a cry of alarm he ran after it, +and after much search found it lying against the bulwark near the edge +of a scupper hole, where the least jar of the ship would have sent it +to the bottom of the ocean. Rob hastily seized his treasure and upon +examining it found the fall had bulged the rim so that the old dents +scarcely showed at all. But its original shape was more distorted +than ever, and Rob feared he had utterly ruined its delicate +mechanism. Should this prove to be true, he might now consider +himself a prisoner of this piratical band, the members of which, +although temporarily disabled, would soon regain consciousness. + +He sat in the bow, sadly thinking of his misfortunes, until he noticed +that one of the men began to stir. The effect of the electric shock +conveyed by the tube was beginning to wear away, and now the buccaneer +sat up, rubbed his head in a bewildered fashion and looked around him. +When he saw Rob he gave a shout of rage and drew his knife, but one +motion of the electric tube made him cringe and slip away to the +cabin, where he remained out of danger. + +And now the other four sat up, groaning and muttering in their +outlandish speech; But they had no notion of facing Rob's tube a +second time, so one by one they joined their leader in the cabin, +leaving the boy undisturbed. + +By this time the ship had begun to pitch and toss in an uncomfortable +fashion, and Rob noticed that the breeze had increased to a gale. +There being no one to look after the sails, the vessel was in grave +danger of capsizing or breaking her masts. The waves were now running +high, too, and Rob began to be worried. + +Presently the captain of the pirates stuck his head out of the cabin +door, jabbered some unintelligible words and pointed to the sails. +The boy nodded, for he understood they wanted to attend to the +rigging. So the crew trooped forth, rather fearfully, and began to +reef the sails and put the ship into condition to weather the storm. + +Rob paid no further attention to them. He looked at his traveling +machine rather doubtfully and wondered if he dared risk its power to +carry him through the air. Whether he remained in the ship or trusted +to the machine, he stood a good chance of dropping into the sea at any +moment. So, while he hesitated, he attached the machine to his wrist +and leaned over the bulwarks to watch the progress of the storm. He +might stay in the ship until it foundered, he thought, and then take +his chances with the machine. He decided to wait until a climax arrived. + +The climax came the next moment, for while he leaned over the bulwarks +the buccaneers stole up behind him and suddenly seized him in their +grasp. While two of them held his arms the others searched his +pockets, taking from him the electric tube and the silver box +containing his tablets. These they carried to the cabin and threw upon +the heap of other valuables they had stolen. They did not notice his +traveling machine, however, but seeing him now unarmed they began +jeering and laughing at him, while the brutal captain relieved his +anger by giving the prisoner several malicious kicks. + +Rob bore his misfortune meekly, although he was almost ready to cry +with grief and disappointment. But when one of the pirates, to +inflict further punishment on the boy, came towards him with a heavy +strap, he resolved not to await the blow. + +Turning the indicator to the word "up" he found, to his joy and +relief, that it would yet obey the influence of the power of +repulsion. Seeing him rise into the air the fellow made a grab for +his foot and held it firmly, while his companions ran to help him. +Weight seemed to make no difference in the machine; it lifted the +pirate as well as Rob; it lifted another who clung to the first man's +leg, and another who clung to him. The other two also caught hold, +hoping their united strength would pull him down, and the next minute +Rob was soaring through the air with the entire string of five +buccaneers dangling from his left leg. + +At first the villains were too astounded to speak, but as they +realized that they were being carried through the air and away from +their ship they broke into loud shouts of dismay, and finally the one +who grasped Rob's leg lost his hold and the five plunged downward and +splashed into the sea. + +Finding the machine disposed to work accurately, Rob left the +buccaneers to swim to the ship in the best way they could, while he +dropped down to the deck again and recovered from the cabin his box of +tablets and the electric tube. The fellows were just scrambling on board +when he again escaped, shooting into the air with considerable speed. + +Indeed, the instrument now worked better than at any time since he had +reached the cannibal island, and the boy was greatly delighted. + +The wind at first sent him spinning away to the south, but he +continued to rise until he was above the air currents, and the storm +raged far beneath him. Then he set the indicator to the northwest and +breathlessly waited to see if it would obey. Hurrah! away he sped at +a fair rate of speed, while all his anxiety changed to a feeling of +sweet contentment. + +His success had greatly surprised him, but he concluded that the jar +caused by dropping the instrument had relieved the pressure upon the +works, and so helped rather than harmed the free action of the +electric currents. + +While he moved through the air with an easy, gliding motion he watched +with much interest the storm raging below. Above his head the sun was +peacefully shining and the contrast was strange and impressive. After +an hour or so the storm abated, or else he passed away from it, for +the deep blue of the ocean again greeted his eyes. He dropped +downward until he was about a hundred feet above the water, when he +continued his northwesterly course. + +But now he regretted having interfered for a moment with the action of +the machine, for his progress, instead of being swift as a bird's +flight, became slow and jerky, nor was he sure that the damaged +machine might not break down altogether at any moment. Yet so far his +progress was in the right direction, and he resolved to experiment no +further with the instrument, but to let it go as it would, so long as +it supported him above the water. However irregular the motion might +be, it was sure, if continued, to bring him to land in time, and that +was all he cared about just then. + +When night fell his slumber was broken and uneasy, for he wakened more +than once with a start of fear that the machine had broken and he was +falling into the sea. Sometimes he was carried along at a swift pace, +and again the machine scarcely worked at all; so his anxiety was excusable. + +The following day was one of continued uneasiness for the boy, who +began to be harrassed by doubts as to whether, after all, he was moving +in the right direction. The machine had failed at one time in this +respect and it might again. He had lost all confidence in its accuracy. + +In spite of these perplexities Rob passed the second night of his +uneven flight in profound slumber, being exhausted by the strain and +excitement he had undergone. When he awoke at daybreak, he saw, to +his profound delight, that he was approaching land. + +The rising sun found him passing over a big city, which he knew +to be Boston. + +He did not stop. The machine was so little to be depended upon that +he dared make no halt. But he was obliged to alter the direction from +northwest to west, and the result of this slight change was so great a +reduction in speed that it was mid-day before he saw beneath him the +familiar village in which he lived. + +Carefully marking the location of his father's house, he came to a +stop directly over it, and a few moments later he managed to land upon +the exact spot in the back yard whence he had taken his first +successful flight. + + + +7. The Demon Becomes Angry + + +When Rob had been hugged and kissed by his mother and sisters, and +even Mr. Joslyn had embraced him warmly, he gave them a brief account +of his adventures. The story was received with many doubtful looks and +much grave shaking of heads, as was quite natural under the circumstances. + +"I hope, my dear son," said the father, "that you have now passed +through enough dangers to last you a lifetime, so that hereafter you +will be contented to remain at home." + +"Oh, Robert!" cried his mother, with tears in her loving eyes, "you +don't know how we've all worried about you for the past week!" + +"A week?" asked Rob, with surprise. + +"Yes; it's a week to-morrow morning since you flew into the air +and disappeared." + +"Then," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've reached home just in time." + +"In time for what?" she asked. + +But he did not answer that question. He was thinking of the Demon, +and that on the afternoon of this very day he might expect the wise +and splendid genius to visit him a second time. + +At luncheon, although he did not feel hungry, he joined the family at +the table and pleased his mother by eating as heartily as of old. He +was surprised to find how good the food tasted, and to realize what a +pleasure it is to gratify one's sense of taste. The tablets were all +right for a journey, he thought, but if he always ate them he would be +sure to miss a great deal of enjoyment, since there was no taste to +them at all. + +At four o'clock he went to his workshop and unlocked the door. +Everything was exactly as he had left it, and he looked at his simple +electrical devices with some amusement. They seemed tame beside the +wonders now in his possession; yet he recollected that his numerous +wires had enabled him to strike the Master Key, and therefore should +not be despised. + +Before long he noticed a quickening in the air, as if it were suddenly +surcharged with electric fluid, and the next instant, in a dazzling +flash of light, appeared the Demon. + +"I am here!" he announced. + +"So am I," answered Rob. "But at one time I really thought I should +never see you again. I've been--" + +"Spare me your history," said the Demon, coldly. "I am aware +of your adventures." + +"Oh, you are!" said Rob, amazed. "Then you know--" + +"I know all about your foolish experiences," interrupted the Demon, +"for I have been with you constantly, although I remained invisible." + +"Then you know what a jolly time I've had," returned the boy. "But +why do you call them foolish experiences?" + +"Because they were, abominably foolish!" retorted the Demon, bitterly. +"I entrusted to you gifts of rare scientific interest--electrical +devices of such utility that their general adoption by mankind would +create a new era in earth life. I hoped your use of these devices +would convey such hints to electrical engineers that they would +quickly comprehend their mechanism and be able to reproduce them in +sufficient quantities to supply the world. And how do you treat these +marvelous gifts? Why, you carry them to a cannibal island, where even +your crude civilization has not yet penetrated!" + +"I wanted to astonish the natives," said Rob, grinning. + +The Demon uttered an exclamation of anger, and stamped his foot so +fiercely that thousands of electric sparks filled the air, to +disappear quickly with a hissing, crinkling sound. + +"You might have astonished those ignorant natives as easily by showing +them an ordinary electric light," he cried, mockingly. "The power of +your gifts would have startled the most advanced electricians of the +world. Why did you waste them upon barbarians?" + +"Really," faltered Rob, who was frightened and awed by the Demon's +vehement anger, "I never intended to visit a cannibal island. I meant +to go to Cuba." + +"Cuba! Is that a center of advanced scientific thought? Why did you +not take your marvels to New York or Chicago; or, if you wished to +cross the ocean, to Paris or Vienna?" + +"I never thought of those places," acknowledged Rob, meekly. + +"Then you were foolish, as I said," declared the Demon, in a calmer +tone. "Can you not realize that it is better to be considered great +by the intelligent thinkers of the earth, than to be taken for a god +by stupid cannibals?" + +"Oh, yes, of course," said Rob. "I wish now that I had gone to Europe. +But you're not the only one who has a kick coming," he continued. +"Your flimsy traveling machine was nearly the death of me." + +"Ah, it is true," acknowledged the Demon, frankly. "The case was made +of too light material. When the rim was bent it pressed against the +works and impeded the proper action of the currents. Had you gone to +a civilized country such an accident could not have happened; but to +avoid possible trouble in the future I have prepared a new instrument, +having a stronger case, which I will exchange for the one you now have." + +"That's very kind of you," said Rob, eagerly handing his battered +machine to the Demon and receiving the new one in return. "Are you +sure this will work?" + +"It is impossible for you to injure it," answered the other. + +"And how about the next three gifts?" inquired the boy, anxiously. + +"Before I grant them," replied the Demon, "you must give me a promise +to keep away from uncivilized places and to exhibit your acquirements +only among people of intelligence." + +"All right," agreed the boy; "I'm not anxious to visit that island +again, or any other uncivilized country." + +"Then I will add to your possessions three gifts, each more precious +and important than the three you have already received." + +At this announcement Rob began to quiver with excitement, and sat +staring eagerly at the Demon, while the latter increased in stature +and sparkled and glowed more brilliantly than ever. + + + +8. Rob Acquires New Powers + + +"I have seen the folly of sending you into the world with an offensive +instrument, yet with no method of defense," resumed the Demon, +presently. "You have knocked over a good many people with that tube +during the past week." + +"I know," said Rob; "but I couldn't help it. It was the only way I +had to protect myself." + +"Therefore my next gift shall be this Garment of Protection. You must +wear it underneath your clothing. It has power to accumulate and +exercise electrical repellent force. Perhaps you do not know what +that means, so I will explain more fully. When any missile, such as a +bullet, sword or lance, approaches your person, its rush through the +air will arouse the repellent force of which I speak, and this force, +being more powerful than the projective force, will arrest the flight +of the missile and throw it back again. Therefore nothing can touch +your person that comes with any degree of force or swiftness, and you +will be safe from all ordinary weapons. When wearing this Garment you +will find it unnecessary to use the electric tube except on rare +occasions. Never allow revenge or animosity to influence your +conduct. Men may threaten, but they can not injure you, so you must +remember that they do not possess your mighty advantages, and that, +because of your strength, you should bear with them patiently." + +Rob examined the garment with much curiosity. It glittered like +silver, yet was soft and pliable as lamb's wool. Evidently the Demon +had prepared it especially for his use, for it was just Rob's size. + +"Now," continued the Demon, more gravely, "we approach the subject of +an electrical device so truly marvelous that even I am awed when I +contemplate the accuracy and perfection of the natural laws which +guide it and permit it to exercise its functions. Mankind has as yet +conceived nothing like it, for it requires full knowledge of +electrical power to understand even its possibilities." + +The Being paused, and drew from an inner pocket something resembling a +flat metal box. In size it was about four inches by six, and nearly +an inch in thickness. + +"What is it?" asked Rob, wonderingly. + +"It is an automatic Record of Events," answered the Demon. + +"I don't understand," said Rob, with hesitation. + +"I will explain to you its use," returned the Demon, "although the +electrical forces which operate it and the vibratory currents which +are the true records must remain unknown to you until your brain has +mastered the higher knowledge of electricity. At present the +practical side of this invention will be more interesting to you than +a review of its scientific construction. + +"Suppose you wish to know the principal events that are occurring in +Germany at the present moment. You first turn this little wheel at +the side until the word 'Germany' appears in the slot at the small +end. Then open the top cover, which is hinged, and those passing +events in which you are interested will appear before your eyes." + +The Demon, as he spoke, opened the cover, and, looking within, the boy +saw, as in a mirror, a moving picture before him. A regiment of +soldiers was marching through the streets of Berlin, and at its head +rode a body of horsemen, in the midst of which was the Emperor +himself. The people who thronged the sidewalks cheered and waved +their hats and handkerchiefs with enthusiasm, while a band of +musicians played a German air, which Rob could distinctly hear. + +While he gazed, spell-bound, the scene changed, and he looked upon a +great warship entering a harbor with flying pennants. The rails were +lined with officers and men straining their eyes for the first sight +of their beloved "VATERLAND" after a long foreign cruise, and a +ringing cheer, as from a thousand throats, came faintly to Rob's ear. + +Again the scene changed, and within a dingy, underground room, hemmed +in by walls of stone, and dimly lighted by a flickering lamp, a body +of wild-eyed, desperate men were plighting an oath to murder the +Emperor and overthrow his government. + +"Anarchists?" asked Rob, trembling with excitement. + +"Anarchists!" answered the Demon, with a faint sneer, and he shut the +cover of the Record with a sudden snap. + +"It's wonderful!" cried the boy, with a sigh that was followed by a +slight shiver. + +"The Record is, indeed, proof within itself of the marvelous +possibilities of electricity. Men are now obliged to depend upon +newspapers for information; but these can only relate events long +after they have occurred. And newspaper statements are often +unreliable and sometimes wholly false, while many events of real +importance are never printed in their columns. You may guess what an +improvement is this automatic Record of Events, which is as reliable +as Truth itself. Nothing can be altered or falsified, for the +vibratory currents convey the actual events to your vision, even as +they happen." + +"But suppose," said Rob, "that something important should happen while +I'm asleep, or not looking at the box?" + +"I have called this a Record," replied the Demon, "and such it really +is, although I have shown you only such events as are in process of +being recorded. By pressing this spring you may open the opposite +cover of the box, where all events of importance that have occurred +throughout the world during the previous twenty-four hours will appear +before you in succession. You may thus study them at your leisure. +The various scenes constitute a register of the world's history, and +may be recalled to view as often as you desire." + +"It's--it's like knowing everything," murmured Rob, deeply impressed +for perhaps the first time in his life. + +"It IS knowing everything," returning the Demon; "and this mighty gift +I have decided to entrust to your care. Be very careful as to whom +you permit to gaze upon these pictures of passing events, for +knowledge may often cause great misery to the human race." + +"I'll be careful," promised the boy, as he took the box reverently +within his own hands. + +"The third and last gift of the present series," resumed the Demon, +"is one no less curious than the Record of Events, although it has an +entirely different value. It is a Character Marker." + +"What's that?" inquired Rob. + +"I will explain. Perhaps you know that your fellow-creatures are more +or less hypocritical. That is, they try to appear good when they are +not, and wise when in reality they are foolish. They tell you they +are friendly when they positively hate you, and try to make you +believe they are kind when their natures are cruel. This hypocrisy +seems to be a human failing. One of your writers has said, with +truth, that among civilized people things are seldom what they seem." + +"I've heard that," remarked Rob. + +"On the other hand," continued the Demon, "some people with fierce +countenances are kindly by nature, and many who appear to be evil are +in reality honorable and trustworthy. Therefore, that you may judge +all your fellow-creatures truly, and know upon whom to depend, I give +you the Character Marker. It consists of this pair of spectacles. +While you wear them every one you meet will be marked upon the +forehead with a letter indicating his or her character. The good will +bear the letter 'G,' the evil the letter 'E.' The wise will be marked +with a 'W' and the foolish with an 'F.' The kind will show a 'K' upon +their foreheads and the cruel a letter 'C.' Thus you may determine by +a single look the true natures of all those you encounter." + +"And are these, also, electrical in their construction?" asked the +boy, as he took the spectacles. + +"Certainly. Goodness, wisdom and kindness are natural forces, +creating character. For this reason men are not always to blame for +bad character, as they acquire it unconsciously. All character sends out +certain electrical vibrations, which these spectacles concentrate in their +lenses and exhibit to the gaze of their wearer, as I have explained." + +"It's a fine idea," said the boy; "who discovered it?" + +"It is a fact that has always existed, but is now utilized for the +first time." + +"Oh!" said Rob. + +"With these gifts, and the ones you acquired a week ago, you are now +equipped to astound the world and awaken mankind to a realization of +the wonders that may be accomplished by natural forces. See that you +employ these powers wisely, in the interests of science, and do not +forget your promise to exhibit your electrical marvels only to those +who are most capable of comprehending them." + +"I'll remember," said Rob. + +"Then adieu until a week from to-day, when I will meet you here at +this hour and bestow upon you the last three gifts which you are +entitled to receive. Good-by!" + +"Good-by!" repeated Rob, and in a gorgeous flash of color the Demon +disappeared, leaving the boy alone in the room with his new and +wonderful possessions. + + + +9. The Second Journey + + +By this time you will have gained a fair idea of Rob's character. He +is, in truth, a typical American boy, possessing an average +intelligence not yet regulated by the balance-wheel of experience. +The mysteries of electricity were so attractive to his eager nature +that he had devoted considerable time and some study to electrical +experiment; but his study was the superficial kind that seeks to +master only such details as may be required at the moment. Moreover, +he was full of boyish recklessness and irresponsibility and therefore +difficult to impress with the dignity of science and the gravity of +human existence. Life, to him, was a great theater wherein he saw +himself the most interesting if not the most important actor, and so +enjoyed the play with unbounded enthusiasm. + +Aside from the extraordinary accident which had forced the Electrical +Demon into this life, Rob may be considered one of those youngsters +who might possibly develop into a brilliant manhood or enter upon an +ordinary, humdrum existence, as Fate should determine. Just at +present he had no thought beyond the passing hour, nor would he bother +himself by attempting to look ahead or plan for the future. + +Yet the importance of his electrical possessions and the stern +injunction of the Demon to use them wisely had rendered the boy more +thoughtful than at any previous time during his brief life, and he +became so preoccupied at the dinner table that his father and mother +cast many anxious looks in his direction. + +Of course Rob was anxious to test his newly-acquired powers, and +decided to lose no time in starting upon another journey. But he said +nothing to any of the family about it, fearing to meet with opposition. + +He passed the evening in the sitting-room, in company with his father +and mother and sisters, and even controlled his impatience to the +extent of playing a game of carom with Nell; but he grew so nervous +and impatient at last that his sister gave up the game in disgust and +left him to his own amusement. + +At one time he thought of putting on the electric spectacles and +seeing what the real character of each member of his family might be; +but a sudden fear took possession of him that he might regret the act +forever afterward. They were his nearest and dearest friends on +earth, and in his boyish heart he loved them all and believed in their +goodness and sincerity. The possibility of finding a bad character +mark on any of their familiar faces made him shudder, and he +determined then and there never to use the spectacles to view the +face of a friend or relative. Had any one, at that moment, been +gazing at Rob through the lenses of the wonderful Character Marker, I +am sure a big "W" would have been found upon the boy's forehead. + +When the family circle broke up, and all retired for the night, Rob +kissed his parents and sisters with real affection before going to his +own room. But, on reaching his cozy little chamber, instead of +preparing for bed Rob clothed himself in the Garment of Repulsion. +Then he covered the glittering Garment with his best summer suit of +clothes, which effectually concealed it. + +He now looked around to see what else he should take, and thought of +an umbrella, a rain-coat, a book or two to read during the journey, +and several things besides; but he ended by leaving them all behind. + +"I can't be loaded down with so much truck," he decided; "and I'm +going into civilized countries, this time, where I can get anything +I need." + +However, to prevent a recurrence of the mistake he had previously +made, he tore a map of the world and a map of Europe from his +geography, and, folding them up, placed them in his pocket. He also +took a small compass that had once been a watch-charm, and, finally, +the contents of a small iron bank that opened with a combination lock. +This represented all his savings, amounting to two dollars and +seventeen cents in dimes, nickles and pennies. + +"It isn't a fortune," he thought, as he counted it up, "but I didn't +need any money the last trip, so perhaps I'll get along somehow. I +don't like to tackle Dad for more, for he might ask questions and try +to keep me at home." + +By the time he had finished his preparations and stowed all his +electrical belongings in his various pockets, it was nearly midnight +and the house was quiet. So Rob stole down stairs in his stocking feet +and noiselessly opened the back door. + +It was a beautiful July night and, in addition to the light of the +full moon, the sky was filled with the radiance of countless thousands +of brilliant stars. + +After Rob had put on his shoes he unfolded the map, which was plainly +visible by the starlight, and marked the direction he must take to +cross the Atlantic and reach London, his first stopping place. Then +he consulted his compass, put the indicator of his traveling machine +to the word "up," and shot swiftly into the air. When he had reached +a sufficient height he placed the indicator to a point north of east +and, with a steady and remarkably swift flight, began his journey. + +"Here goes," he remarked, with a sense of exaltation, "for another week +of adventure! I wonder what'll happen between now and next Saturday." + + + +10. How Rob Served a Mighty King + + +The new traveling machine was a distinct improvement over the old one, +for it carried Rob with wonderful speed across the broad Atlantic. + +He fell asleep soon after starting, and only wakened when the sun was +high in the heavens. But he found himself whirling along at a good +rate, with the greenish shimmer of the peaceful ocean waves spread +beneath him far beyond his range of vision. + +Being in the track of the ocean steamers it was not long before he +found himself overtaking a magnificent vessel whose decks were crowded +with passengers. He dropped down some distance, to enable him to see +these people more plainly, and while he hovered near he could hear the +excited exclamations of the passengers, who focused dozens of marine +glasses upon his floating form. This inspection somewhat embarrassed +him, and having no mind to be stared at he put on additional speed and +soon left the steamer far behind him. + +About noon the sky clouded over, and Rob feared a rainstorm was +approaching. So he rose to a point considerably beyond the clouds, +where the air was thin but remarkably pleasant to inhale and the rays +of the sun were not so hot as when reflected by the surface of the water. + +He could see the dark clouds rolling beneath him like volumes of smoke +from a factory chimney, and knew the earth was catching a severe +shower of rain; yet he congratulated himself on his foresight in not +being burdened with umbrella or raincoat, since his elevated position +rendered him secure from rain-clouds. + +But, having cut himself off from the earth, there remained nothing to +see except the clear sky overhead and the tumbling clouds beneath; so +he took from his pocket the Automatic Record of Events, and watched +with breathless interest the incidents occurring in different parts of +the world. A big battle was being fought in the Philippines, and so +fiercely was it contested that Rob watched its progress for hours, +with rapt attention. Finally a brave rally by the Americans sent +their foes to the cover of the woods, where they scattered in every +direction, only to form again in a deep valley hidden by high hills. + +"If only I was there," thought Rob, "I could show that captain where +to find the rebels and capture them. But I guess the Philippines are +rather out of my way, so our soldiers will never know how near they +are to a complete victory." + +The boy also found considerable amusement in watching the course of an +insurrection in Venezuela, where opposing armies of well-armed men +preferred to bluster and threaten rather than come to blows. + +During the evening he found that an "important event" was Madame +Bernhardt's production of a new play, and Rob followed it from +beginning to end with great enjoyment, although he felt a bit guilty +at not having purchased a ticket. + +"But it's a crowded house, anyway," he reflected, "and I'm not taking +up a reserved seat or keeping any one else from seeing the show. So +where's the harm? Yet it seems to me if these Records get to be +common, as the Demon wishes, people will all stay at home and see the +shows, and the poor actors 'll starve to death." + +The thought made him uneasy, and he began, for the first time, +to entertain a doubt of the Demon's wisdom in forcing such devices +upon humanity. + +The clouds had now passed away and the moon sent her rays to turn the +edges of the waves into glistening showers of jewels. + +Rob closed the lid of the wonderful Record of Events and soon fell +into a deep sleep that held him unconscious for many hours. + +When he awoke he gave a start of surprise, for beneath him was land. +How long it was since he had left the ocean behind him he could not +guess, but his first thought was to set the indicator of the traveling +machine to zero and to hover over the country until he could determine +where he was. + +This was no easy matter. He saw green fields, lakes, groves and +villages; but these might exist in any country. Being still at a +great elevation he descended gradually until he was about twenty feet +from the surface of the earth, where he paused near the edge of a +small village. + +At once a crowd of excited people assembled, shouting to one another +and pointing towards him in wonder. In order to be prepared for +emergencies Rob had taken the electric tube from his pocket, and now, +as he examined the dress and features of the people below, the tube +suddenly slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, where one end +stuck slantingly into the soft earth. + +A man rushed eagerly towards it, but the next moment he threw up his +hands and fell upon his back, unconscious. Others who ran to assist +their fallen comrade quickly tumbled into a heap beside him. + +It was evident to Rob that the tube had fallen in such a position that +the button was being pressed continually and a current of electric +fluid issued to shock whoever came near. Not wishing to injure these +people he dropped to the ground and drew the tube from the earth, thus +releasing the pressure upon the button. + +But the villagers had now decided that the boy was their enemy, and no +sooner had he touched the ground than a shower of stones and sticks +rained about him. Not one reached his body, however, for the Garment +of Repulsion stopped their flight and returned them to rattle with +more or less force against those who had thrown them--"like regular +boomerangs," thought Rob. + +To receive their own blows in this fashion seemed so like magic +to the simple folk that with roars of fear and pain they ran away +in all directions. + +"It's no use stopping here," remarked Rob, regretfully, "for I've +spoiled my welcome by this accident. I think these people are Irish, +by their looks and speech, so I must be somewhere in the Emerald Isle." + +He consulted his map and decided upon the general direction he should +take to reach England, after which he again rose into the air and +before long was passing over the channel towards the shores of England. + +Either his map or compass or his calculations proved wrong, for it was +high noon before, having changed his direction a half dozen times, he +came to the great city of London. He saw at a glance that it would +never do to drop into the crowded streets, unless he wanted to become +an object of public curiosity; so he looked around for a suitable +place to alight. + +Near by was a monstrous church that sent a sharp steeple far into the +air. Rob examined this spire and saw a narrow opening in the masonry +that led to a small room where a chime of bells hung. He crept +through the opening and, finding a ladder that connected the belfry +with a platform below, began to descend. + +There were three ladders, and then a winding flight of narrow, rickety +stairs to be passed before Rob finally reached a small room in the +body of the church. This room proved to have two doors, one +connecting with the auditorium and the other letting into a side +street. Both were locked, but Rob pointed the electric tube at the +outside door and broke the lock in an instant. Then he walked into +the street as composedly as if he had lived all his life in London. + +There were plenty of sights to see, you may be sure, and Rob walked +around until he was so tired that he was glad to rest upon one of the +benches in a beautiful park. Here, half hidden by the trees, he +amused himself by looking at the Record of Events. + +"London's a great town, and no mistake," he said to himself; "but +let's see what the British are doing in South Africa to-day." + +He turned the cylinder to "South Africa," and, opening the lid, at +once became interested. An English column, commanded by a brave but +stubborn officer, was surrounded by the Boer forces and fighting +desperately to avoid capture or annihilation. + +"This would be interesting to King Edward," thought the boy. "Guess +I'll hunt him up and tell him about it." + +A few steps away stood a policeman. Rob approached him and asked: + +"Where's the king to-day?" + +The officer looked at him with mingled surprise and suspicion. + +"'Is Majesty is sojournin' at Marlb'ro 'Ouse, just now," was the +reply. "Per'aps you wants to make 'im a wissit," he continued, with +lofty sarcasm. + +"That's it, exactly," said Rob. "I'm an American, and thought while I +was in London I'd drop in on His Royal Highness and say 'hello' to him." + +The officer chuckled, as if much amused. + +"Hamericans is bloomin' green," he remarked, "so youse can stand for +Hamerican, right enough. No other wissitors is such blarsted fools. +But yon's the palace, an' I s'pose 'is Majesty'll give ye a 'ot reception." + +"Thanks; I'll look him up," said the boy, and left the officer +convulsed with laughter. + +He soon knew why. The palace was surrounded by a cordon of the +king's own life guards, who admitted no one save those who presented +proper credentials. + +"There's only one thing to do;" thought Rob, "and that's to walk +straight in, as I haven't any friends to give me a regular introduction." + +So he boldly advanced to the gate, where he found himself stopped by +crossed carbines and a cry of "Halt!" + +"Excuse me," said Rob; "I'm in a hurry." + +He pushed the carbines aside and marched on. The soldiers made +thrusts at him with their weapons, and an officer jabbed at his breast +with a glittering sword, but the Garment of Repulsion protected him +from these dangers as well as from a hail of bullets that followed his +advancing figure. + +He reached the entrance of the palace only to face another group of +guardsmen and a second order to halt, and as these soldiers were over +six feet tall and stood shoulder to shoulder Rob saw that he could not +hope to pass them without using his electric tube. + +"Stand aside, you fellows!" he ordered. + +There was no response. He extended the tube and, as he pressed the +button, described a semi-circle with the instrument. Immediately the +tall guardsmen toppled over like so many tenpins, and Rob stepped +across their bodies and penetrated to the reception room, where a +brilliant assemblage awaited, in hushed and anxious groups, for +opportunity to obtain audience with the king. + +"I hope his Majesty isn't busy," said Rob to a solemn-visaged official +who confronted him. "I want to have a little talk with him." + +"I--I--ah--beg pardon!" exclaimed the astounded master of ceremonies. +"What name, please?" + +"Oh, never mind my name," replied Rob, and pushing the gentleman aside +he entered the audience chamber of the great king. + +King Edward was engaged in earnest consultation with one of his +ministers, and after a look of surprise in Rob's direction and a grave +bow he bestowed no further attention upon the intruder. + +But Rob was not to be baffled now. + +"Your Majesty," he interrupted, "I've important news for you. A big +fight is taking place in South Africa and your soldiers will probably +be cut into mince meat." + +The minister strode towards the boy angrily. + +"Explain this intrusion!" he cried. + +"I have explained. The Boers are having a regular killing-bee. Here! +take a look at it yourselves." + +He drew the Record from his pocket, and at the movement the minister +shrank back as if he suspected it was an infernal machine and might +blow his head off; but the king stepped quietly to the boy's side and +looked into the box when Rob threw open the lid. + +As he comprehended the full wonder of the phenomenon he was observing +Edward uttered a low cry of amazement, but thereafter he silently +gazed upon the fierce battle that still raged far away upon the +African VELD. Before long his keen eye recognized the troops engaged +and realized their imminent danger. + +"They'll be utterly annihilated!" he gasped. "What shall we do?" + +"Oh, we can't do anything just now," answered Rob. "But it's curious +to watch how bravely the poor fellows fight for their lives." + +The minister, who by this time was also peering into the box, groaned +aloud, and then all three forgot their surroundings in the tragedy +they were beholding. + +Hemmed in by vastly superior numbers, the English were calmly and +stubbornly resisting every inch of advance and selling their lives as +dearly as possible. Their leader fell pierced by a hundred bullets, +and the king, who had known him from boyhood, passed his hand across +his eyes as if to shut out the awful sight. But the fascination of +the battle forced him to look again, and the next moment he cried aloud: + +"Look there! Look there!" + +Over the edge of a line of hills appeared the helmets of a file of +English soldiers. They reached the summit, followed by rank after +rank, until the hillside was alive with them. And then, with a ringing +cheer that came like a faint echo to the ears of the three watchers, +they broke into a run and dashed forward to the rescue of their brave +comrades. The Boers faltered, gave back, and the next moment fled +precipitately, while the exhausted survivors of the courageous band +fell sobbing into the arms of their rescuers. + +Rob closed the lid of the Record with a sudden snap that betrayed his +deep feeling, and the king pretended to cough behind his handkerchief +and stealthily wiped his eyes. + +"'Twasn't so bad, after all," remarked the boy, with assumed cheerfulness; +"but it looked mighty ticklish for your men at one time." + +King Edward regarded the boy curiously, remembering his abrupt +entrance and the marvelous device he had exhibited. + +"What do you call that?" he asked, pointing at the Record with a +finger that trembled slightly from excitement. + +"It is a new electrical invention," replied Rob, replacing it in his +pocket, "and so constructed that events are reproduced at the exact +moment they occur." + +"Where can I purchase one?" demanded the king, eagerly. + +"They're not for sale," said Rob. "This one of mine is the first that +ever happened." + +"Oh!" + +"I really think," continued the boy, nodding sagely, "that it wouldn't +be well to have these Records scattered around. Their use would give +some folks unfair advantage over others, you know." + +"Certainly." + +"I only showed you this battle because I happened to be in London at +the time and thought you'd be interested." + +"It was very kind of you," said Edward; "but how did you gain admittance?" + +"Well, to tell the truth, I was obliged to knock over a few of your +tall life-guards. They seem to think you're a good thing and need +looking after, like jam in a cupboard." + +The king smiled. + +"I hope you haven't killed my guards," said he. + +"Oh, no; they'll come around all right." + +"It is necessary," continued Edward, "that public men be protected +from intrusion, no matter how democratic they may be personally. You +would probably find it as difficult to approach the President of the +United States as the King of England." + +"Oh, I'm not complaining," said Rob. "It wasn't much trouble +to break through." + +"You seem quite young to have mastered such wonderful secrets of +Nature," continued the king. + +"So I am," replied Rob, modestly; "but these natural forces have +really existed since the beginning of the world, and some one was +sure to discover them in time." He was quoting the Demon, +although unconsciously. + +"You are an American, I suppose," said the minister, coming close to +Rob and staring him in the face. + +"Guessed right the first time," answered the boy, and drawing his +Character Marking spectacles from his pocket, he put them on and +stared at the minister in turn. + +Upon the man's forehead appeared the letter "E." + +"Your Majesty," said Rob, "I have here another queer invention. Will +you please wear these spectacles for a few moments?" + +The king at once put them on. + +"They are called Character Markers," continued the boy, "because the +lenses catch and concentrate the character vibrations radiating from +every human individual and reflect the true character of the person +upon his forehead. If a letter 'G' appears, you may be sure his +disposition is good; if his forehead is marked with an 'E' his +character is evil, and you must beware of treachery." + +The king saw the "E" plainly marked upon his minister's forehead, but +he said nothing except "Thank you," and returned the spectacles to Rob. + +But the minister, who from the first had been ill at ease, now became +positively angry. + +"Do not believe him, your Majesty!" he cried. "It is a trick, and +meant to deceive you." + +"I did not accuse you," answered the king, sternly. Then he added: +"I wish to be alone with this young gentleman." + +The minister left the room with an anxious face and hanging head. + +"Now," said Rob, "let's look over the record of the past day and see +if that fellow has been up to any mischief." + +He turned the cylinder of the Record to "England," and slowly the +events of the last twenty-four hours were reproduced, one after the +other, upon the polished plate. + +Before long the king uttered an exclamation. The Record pictured a +small room in which were seated three gentlemen engaged in earnest +conversation. One of them was the accused minister. + +"Those men," said the king in a low voice, while he pointed out the +other two, "are my avowed enemies. This is proof that your wonderful +spectacles indicated my minister's character with perfect truth. I am +grateful to you for thus putting me upon my guard, for I have trusted +the man fully." + +"Oh, don't mention it," replied the boy, lightly; "I'm glad to have +been of service to you. But it's time for me to go." + +"I hope you will favor me with another interview," said the king, "for +I am much interested in your electrical inventions. I will instruct +my guards to admit you at any time, so you will not be obliged to +fight your way in." + +"All right. But it really doesn't matter," answered Rob. "It's no +trouble at all to knock 'em over." + +Then he remembered his manners and bowed low before the king, who +seemed to him "a fine fellow and not a bit stuck up." And then he +walked calmly from the palace. + +The people in the outer room stared at him wonderingly and the officer +of the guard saluted the boy respectfully. But Rob only smiled in an +amused way as he marched past them with his hands thrust deep into his +trousers' pockets and his straw hat tipped jauntily upon the back of +his head. + + + +11. The Man of Science + + +Rob passed the remainder of the day wandering about London and amusing +himself by watching the peculiar ways of the people. When it became +so dark that there was no danger of his being observed, he rose +through the air to the narrow slit in the church tower and lay upon +the floor of the little room, with the bells hanging all around him, +to pass the night. + +He was just falling asleep when a tremendous din and clatter nearly +deafened him, and set the whole tower trembling. It was the +midnight chime. + +Rob clutched his ears tightly, and when the vibrations had died away +descended by the ladder to a lower platform. But even here the next +hourly chime made his ears ring, and he kept descending from platform +to platform until the last half of a restless night was passed in the +little room at the bottom of the tower. + +When, at daylight, the boy sat up and rubbed his eyes, he said, +wearily: "Churches are all right as churches; but as hotels they are +rank failures. I ought to have bunked in with my friend, King Edward." + +He climbed up the stairs and the ladders again and looked out the +little window in the belfry. Then he examined his map of Europe. + +"I believe I'll take a run over to Paris," he thought. "I must be +home again by Saturday, to meet the Demon, so I'll have to make every +day count." + +Without waiting for breakfast, since he had eaten a tablet the evening +before, he crept through the window and mounted into the fresh morning +air until the great city with its broad waterway lay spread out +beneath him. Then he sped away to the southeast and, crossing the +channel, passed between Amiens and Rouen and reached Paris before +ten o'clock. + +Near the outskirts of the city appeared a high tower, upon the flat +roof of which a man was engaged in adjusting a telescope. Upon seeing +Rob, who was passing at no great distance from this tower, the man +cried out: + +"APPROCHEZ!--VENEZ ICI!" + +Then he waved his hands frantically in the air, and fairly danced with +excitement. So the boy laughed and dropped down to the roof where, +standing beside the Frenchman, whose eyes were actually protruding +from their sockets, he asked, coolly: + +"Well, what do you want?" + +The other was for a moment speechless. He was a tall, lean man, +having a bald head but a thick, iron-gray beard, and his black eyes +sparkled brightly from behind a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles. After +attentively regarding the boy for a time he said, in broken English: + +"But, M'sieur, how can you fly wizout ze--ze machine? I have experiment +myself wiz some air-ship; but you--zere is nossing to make go!" + +Rob guessed that here was his opportunity to do the Demon a favor by +explaining his electrical devices to this new acquaintance, who was +evidently a man of science. + +"Here is the secret, Professor," he said, and holding out his wrist +displayed the traveling machine and explained, as well as he could, +the forces that operated it. + +The Frenchman, as you may suppose, was greatly astonished, and to show +how perfectly the machine worked Rob turned the indicator and rose a +short distance above the tower, circling around it before he rejoined +the professor on the roof. Then he showed his food tablets, +explaining how each was stored with sufficient nourishment for an +entire day. + +The scientist positively gasped for breath, so powerful was the +excitement he experienced at witnessing these marvels. + +"Eet is wonderful--grand--magnifique!" he exclaimed. + +"But here is something of still greater interest," continued Rob, and +taking the Automatic Record of Events from his pocket he allowed the +professor to view the remarkable scenes that were being enacted +throughout the civilized world. + +The Frenchman was now trembling violently, and he implored Rob to tell +him where he might obtain similar electrical machines. + +"I can't do that," replied the boy, decidedly; "but, having seen +these, you may be able to discover their construction for yourself. +Now that you know such things to be possible and practical, the hint +should be sufficient to enable a shrewd electrician to prepare +duplicates of them." + +The scientist glared at him with evident disappointment, +and Rob continued: + +"These are not all the wonders I can exhibit. Here is another electrical +device that is, perhaps, the most remarkable of any I possess." + +He took the Character Marking spectacles from his pocket and fitted +them to his eyes. Then he gave a whistle of surprise and turned his +back upon his new friend. He had seen upon the Frenchman's forehead +the letters "E" and "C." + +"Guess I've struck the wrong sort of scientist, after all!" he +muttered, in a disgusted tone. + +His companion was quick to prove the accuracy of the Character Marker. +Seeing the boy's back turned, he seized a long iron bar that was used +to operate the telescope, and struck at Rob so fiercely that had he +not worn the Garment of Protection his skull would have been crushed by +the blow. At it was, the bar rebounded with a force that sent the +murderous Frenchman sprawling upon the roof, and Rob turned around and +laughed at him. + +"It won't work, Professor," he said. "I'm proof against assassins. +Perhaps you had an idea that when you had killed me you could rob me +of my valuable possessions; but they wouldn't be a particle of use to +a scoundrel like you, I assure you! Good morning." + +Before the surprised and baffled scientist could collect himself +sufficiently to reply, the boy was soaring far above his head and +searching for a convenient place to alight, that he might investigate +the charms of this famed city of Paris. + +It was indeed a beautiful place, with many stately buildings lining +the shady boulevards. So thronged were the streets that Rob well knew +he would soon be the center of a curious crowd should he alight upon +them. Already a few sky-gazers had noted the boy moving high in the +air, above their heads, and one or two groups stood pointing their +fingers at him. + +Pausing at length above the imposing structure of the Hotel Anglais, +Rob noticed at one of the upper floors an open window, before which +was a small iron balcony. Alighting upon this he proceeded to enter, +without hesitation, the open window. He heard a shriek and a cry of +"AU VOLEUR!" and caught sight of a woman's figure as she dashed into +an adjoining room, slamming and locking the door behind her. + +"I don't know as I blame her," observed Rob, with a smile at the panic +he had created. "I s'pose she takes me for a burglar, and thinks I've +climbed up the lightning rod." + +He soon found the door leading into the hallway and walked down +several flights of stairs until he reached the office of the hotel. + +"How much do you charge a day?" he inquired, addressing a fat and +pompous-looking gentlemen behind the desk. + +The man looked at him in a surprised way, for he had not heard the boy +enter the room. But he said something in French to a waiter who was +passing, and the latter came to Rob and made a low bow. + +"I speak ze Eengliss ver' fine," he said. "What desire have you?" + +"What are your rates by the day?" asked the boy. + +"Ten francs, M'sieur." + +"How many dollars is that?" + +"Dollar Americaine?" + +"Yes; United States money." + +"Ah, OUI! Eet is ze two dollar, M'sieur." + +"All right; I can stay about a day before I go bankrupt. +Give me a room." + +"CERTAINEMENT, M'sieur. Have you ze luggage?" + +"No; but I'll pay in advance," said Rob, and began counting out his +dimes and nickles and pennies, to the unbounded amazement of the +waiter, who looked as if he had never seen such coins before. + +He carried the money to the fat gentleman, who examined the pieces +curiously, and there was a long conference between them before it was +decided to accept them in payment for a room for a day. But at this +season the hotel was almost empty, and when Rob protested that he had +no other money the fat gentleman put the coins into his cash box with +a resigned sigh and the waiter showed the boy to a little room at the +very top of the building. + +Rob washed and brushed the dust from his clothes, after which he sat +down and amused himself by viewing the pictures that constantly formed +upon the polished plate of the Record of Events. + + + +12. How Rob Saved A Republic + + +While following the shifting scenes of the fascinating Record Rob +noted an occurrence that caused him to give a low whistle of +astonishment and devote several moments to serious thought. + +"I believe it's about time I interfered with the politics of this +Republic," he said, at last, as he closed the lid of the metal box and +restored it to his pocket. "If I don't take a hand there probably +won't be a Republic of France very long and, as a good American, I +prefer a republic to a monarchy." + +Then he walked down-stairs and found his English-speaking waiter. + +"Where's President Loubet?" he asked. + +"Ze President! Ah, he is wiz his mansion. To be at his +residence, M'sieur." + +"Where is his residence?" + +The waiter began a series of voluble and explicit directions which so +confused the boy that he exclaimed: + +"Oh, much obliged!" and walked away in disgust. + +Gaining the street he approached a gendarme and repeated his question, +with no better result than before, for the fellow waved his arms +wildly in all directions and roared a volley of incomprehensible +French phrases that conveyed no meaning whatever. + +"If ever I travel in foreign countries again," said Rob, "I'll learn +their lingo in advance. Why doesn't the Demon get up a conversation +machine that will speak all languages?" + +By dint of much inquiry, however, and after walking several miles +following ambiguous directions, he managed to reach the residence of +President Loubet. But there he was politely informed that the +President was busily engaged in his garden, and would see no one. + +"That's all right," said the boy, calmly. "If he's in the garden I'll +have no trouble finding him." + +Then, to the amazement of the Frenchmen, Rob shot into the air fifty +feet or so, from which elevation he overlooked a pretty garden in the +rear of the President's mansion. The place was protected from +ordinary intrusion by high walls, but Rob descended within the +enclosure and walked up to a man who was writing at a small table +placed under the spreading branches of a large tree. + +"Is this President Loubet?" he inquired, with a bow. + +The gentleman looked up. + +"My servants were instructed to allow no one to disturb me," he said, +speaking in excellent English. + +"It isn't their fault; I flew over the wall," returned Rob. "The fact +is," he added, hastily, as he noted the President's frown, "I have +come to save the Republic; and I haven't much time to waste over a +bundle of Frenchmen, either." + +The President seemed surprised. + +"Your name!" he demanded, sharply. + +"Robert Billings Joslyn, United States of America!" + +"Your business, Monsieur Joslyn!" + +Rob drew the Record from his pocket and placed it upon the table. + +"This, sir," said he, "is an electrical device that records all +important events. I wish to call your attention to a scene enacted +in Paris last evening which may have an effect upon the future history +of your country." + +He opened the lid, placed the Record so that the President could see +clearly, and then watched the changing expressions upon the great +man's face; first indifference, then interest, the next moment +eagerness and amazement. + +"MON DIEU!" he gasped; "the Orleanists!" + +Rob nodded. + +"Yes; they've worked up a rather pretty plot, haven't they?" + +The President did not reply. He was anxiously watching the Record and +scribbling notes on a paper beside him. His face was pale and his +lips tightly compressed. + +Finally he leaned back in his chair and asked: + +"Can you reproduce this scene again?" + +"Certainly, sir," answered the boy; "as often as you like." + +"Will you remain here while I send for my minister of police? It will +require but a short time." + +"Call him up, then. I'm in something of a hurry myself, but now I've +mixed up with this thing I'll see it through." + +The President touched a bell and gave an order to his servant. Then +he turned to Rob and said, wonderingly: + +"You are a boy!" + +"That's true, Mr. President," was the answer; "but an American boy, +you must remember. That makes a big difference, I assure you." + +The President bowed gravely. + +"This is your invention?" he asked. + +"No; I'm hardly equal to that. But the inventor has made me a present +of the Record, and it's the only one in the world." + +"It is a marvel," remarked the President, thoughtfully. "More! It is +a real miracle. We are living in an age of wonders, my young friend." + +"No one knows that better than myself, sir," replied Rob. "But, tell +me, can you trust your chief of police?" + +"I think so," said the President, slowly; "yet since your invention +has shown me that many men I have considered honest are criminally +implicated in this royalist plot, I hardly know whom to depend upon." + +"Then please wear these spectacles during your interview with the +minister of police," said the boy. "You must say nothing, while he +is with us, about certain marks that will appear upon his forehead; +but when he has gone I will explain those marks so you will +understand them." + +The President covered his eyes with the spectacles. + +"Why," he exclaimed, "I see upon your own brow the letters--" + +"Stop, sir!" interrupted Rob, with a blush; "I don't care to know what +the letters are, if it's just the same to you." + +The President seemed puzzled by this speech, but fortunately the +minister of police arrived just then and, under Rob's guidance, the +pictured record of the Orleanist plot was reproduced before the +startled eyes of the official. + +"And now," said the boy, "let us see if any of this foolishness is +going on just at present." + +He turned to the opposite side of the Record and allowed the President +and his minister of police to witness the quick succession of events +even as they occurred. + +Suddenly the minister cried, "Ha!" and, pointing to the figure of a +man disembarking from an English boat at Calais, he said, excitedly: + +"That, your Excellency, is the Duke of Orleans, in disguise! I must +leave you for a time, that I may issue some necessary orders to my +men; but this evening I shall call to confer with you regarding the +best mode of suppressing this terrible plot." + +When the official had departed, the President removed the spectacles +from his eyes and handed them to Rob. + +"What did you see?" asked the boy. + +"The letters 'G' and 'W'." + +"Then you may trust him fully," declared Rob, and explained +the construction of the Character Marker to the interested +and amazed statesman. + +"And now I must go," he continued, "for my stay in your city will be a +short one and I want to see all I can." + +The President scrawled something on a sheet of paper and signed his name +to it, afterward presenting it, with a courteous bow, to his visitor. + +"This will enable you to go wherever you please, while in Paris," he +said. "I regret my inability to reward you properly for the great +service you have rendered my country; but you have my sincerest +gratitude, and may command me in any way." + +"Oh, that's all right," answered Rob. "I thought it was my duty to +warn you, and if you look sharp you'll be able to break up this +conspiracy. But I don't want any reward. Good day, sir." + +He turned the indicator of his traveling machine and immediately +rose into the air, followed by a startled exclamation from the +President of France. + +Moving leisurely over the city, he selected a deserted thoroughfare to +alight in, from whence he wandered unobserved into the beautiful +boulevards. These were now brilliantly lighted, and crowds of +pleasure seekers thronged them everywhere. Rob experienced a decided +sense of relief as he mixed with the gay populace and enjoyed the +sights of the splendid city, for it enabled him to forget, for a time, +the responsibilities thrust upon him by the possession of the Demon's +marvelous electrical devices. + + + +13. Rob Loses His Treasures + + +Our young adventurer had intended to pass the night in the little bed +at his hotel, but the atmosphere of Paris proved so hot and +disagreeable that he decided it would be more enjoyable to sleep while +journeying through the cooler air that lay far above the earth's +surface. So just as the clocks were striking the midnight hour Rob +mounted skyward and turned the indicator of the traveling machine to +the east, intending to make the city of Vienna his next stop. + +He had risen to a considerable distance, where the air was remarkably +fresh and exhilarating, and the relief he experienced from the close +and muggy streets of Paris was of such a soothing nature that he +presently fell fast asleep. His day in the metropolis had been a busy +one, for, like all boys, he had forgotten himself in the delight of +sight-seeing and had tired his muscles and exhausted his strength to +an unusual degree. + +It was about three o'clock in the morning when Rob, moving restlessly +in his sleep, accidently touched with his right hand the indicator of +the machine which was fastened to his left wrist, setting it a couple +of points to the south of east. He was, of course, unaware of the +slight alteration in his course, which was destined to prove of +serious importance in the near future. For the boy's fatigue induced +him to sleep far beyond daybreak, and during this period of +unconsciousness he was passing over the face of European countries and +approaching the lawless and dangerous dominions of the Orient. + +When, at last, he opened his eyes, he was puzzled to determine where +he was. Beneath him stretched a vast, sandy plain, and speeding across +this he came to a land abounding in luxuriant vegetation. + +The centrifugal force which propelled him was evidently, for some +reason, greatly accelerated, for the scenery of the country he was +crossing glided by him at so rapid a rate of speed that it nearly took +his breath away. + +"I wonder if I've passed Vienna in the night," he thought. "It ought +not to have taken me more than a few hours to reach there from Paris." + +Vienna was at that moment fifteen hundred miles behind him; but Rob's +geography had always been his stumbling block at school, and he had +not learned to gage the speed of the traveling machine; so he was +completely mystified as to his whereabouts. + +Presently a village having many queer spires and minarets whisked by +him like a flash. Rob became worried, and resolved to slow up at the +next sign of habitation. + +This was a good resolution, but Turkestan is so thinly settled +that before the boy could plan out a course of action he had passed +the barren mountain range of Thian-Shan as nimbly as an acrobat +leaps a jumping-bar. + +"This won't do at all!" he exclaimed, earnestly. "The traveling +machine seems to be running away with me, and I'm missing no end of +sights by scooting along up here in the clouds." + +He turned the indicator to zero, and was relieved to find it obey with +customary quickness. In a few moments he had slowed up and stopped, +when he found himself suspended above another stretch of sandy plain. +Being too high to see the surface of the plain distinctly he dropped +down a few hundred feet to a lower level, where he discovered he was +surrounded by billows of sand as far as his eye could reach. + +"It's a desert, all right," was his comment; "perhaps old Sahara herself." + +He started the machine again towards the east, and at a more moderate +rate of speed skimmed over the surface of the desert. Before long he +noticed a dark spot ahead of him which proved to be a large body of +fierce looking men, riding upon dromedaries and slender, spirited +horses and armed with long rifles and crookedly shaped simitars. + +"Those fellows seem to be looking for trouble," remarked the boy, as +he glided over them, "and it wouldn't be exactly healthy for an enemy +to get in their way. But I haven't time to stop, so I'm not likely to +get mixed up in any rumpus with them. + +However, the armed caravan was scarcely out of sight before Rob +discovered he was approaching a rich, wooded oasis of the desert, in +the midst of which was built the walled city of Yarkand. Not that he +had ever heard of the place, or knew its name; for few Europeans and +only one American traveler had ever visited it. But he guessed it was +a city of some importance from its size and beauty, and resolved to +make a stop there. + +Above the high walls projected many slender, white minarets, +indicating that the inhabitants were either Turks or some race of +Mohammedans; so Rob decided to make investigations before trusting +himself to their company. + +A cluster of tall trees with leafy tops stood a short distance outside +the walls, and here the boy landed and sat down to rest in the +refreshing shade. + +The city seemed as hushed and still as if it were deserted, and before +him stretched the vast plain of white, heated sands. He strained his +eyes to catch a glimpse of the band of warriors he had passed, but +they were moving slowly and had not yet appeared. + +The trees that sheltered Rob were the only ones without the city, +although many low bushes or shrubs grew scattering over the space +between him and the walls. An arched gateway broke the enclosure at +his left, but the gates were tightly shut. + +Something in the stillness and the intense heat of the mid-day sun +made the boy drowsy. He stretched himself upon the ground beneath the +dense foliage of the biggest tree and abandoned himself to the languor +that was creeping over him. + +"I'll wait until that army of the desert arrives," he thought, +sleepily. "They either belong in this city or have come to capture it, +so I can tell better what to dance when I find out what the band plays." + +The next moment he was sound asleep, sprawling upon his back in the +shade and slumbering as peacefully as an infant. + +And while he lay motionless three men dropped in quick succession from +the top of the city wall and hid among the low bushes, crawling +noiselessly from one to another and so approaching, by degrees, the +little group of trees. + +They were Turks, and had been sent by those in authority within the +city to climb the tallest tree of the group and discover if the enemy +was near. For Rob's conjecture had been correct, and the city of +Yarkand awaited, with more or less anxiety, a threatened assault from +its hereditary enemies, the Tatars. + +The three spies were not less forbidding in appearance than the horde +of warriors Rob had passed upon the desert. Their features were +coarse and swarthy, and their eyes had a most villainous glare. Old +fashioned pistols and double-edged daggers were stuck in their belts +and their clothing, though of gorgeous colors, was soiled and neglected. + +With all the caution of the American savage these Turks approached the +tree, where, to their unbounded amazement, they saw the boy lying +asleep. His dress and fairness of skin at once proclaimed him, in +their shrewd eyes, a European, and their first thought was to glance +around in search of his horse or dromedary. Seeing nothing of the +kind near they were much puzzled to account for his presence, and +stood looking down at him with evident curiosity. + +The sun struck the polished surface of the traveling machine which was +attached to Rob's wrist and made the metal glitter like silver. This +attracted the eyes of the tallest Turk, who stooped down and +stealthily unclasped the band of the machine from the boy's +outstretched arm. Then, after a hurried but puzzled examination of the +little instrument, he slipped it into the pocket of his jacket. + +Rob stirred uneasily in his sleep, and one of the Turks drew a slight +but stout rope from his breast and with gentle but deft movement +passed it around the boy's wrists and drew them together behind him. +The action was not swift enough to arouse the power of repulsion in +the Garment of Protection, but it awakened Rob effectually, so that he +sat up and stared hard at his captors. + +"What are you trying to do, anyhow?" he demanded. + +The Turks laughed and said something in their own language. They had +no knowledge of English. + +"You're only making fools of yourselves," continued the boy, +wrathfully. "It's impossible for you to injure me." + +The three paid no attention to his words. One of them thrust his hand +into Rob's pocket and drew out the electric tube. His ignorance of +modern appliances was so great that he did not know enough to push +the button. Rob saw him looking down the hollow end of the tube +and murmured: + +"I wish it would blow your ugly head off!" + +But the fellow, thinking the shining metal might be of some value to +him, put the tube in his own pocket and then took from the prisoner +the silver box of tablets. + +Rob writhed and groaned at losing his possessions in this way, and +while his hands were fastened behind him tried to feel for and touch +the indicator of the traveling machine. When he found that the +machine also had been taken, his anger gave way to fear, for he +realized he was in a dangerously helpless condition. + +The third Turk now drew the Record of Events from the boy's inner +pocket. He knew nothing of the springs that opened the lids, so, +after a curious glance at it, he secreted the box in the folds of his +sash and continued the search of the captive. The Character Marking +Spectacles were next abstracted, but the Turk, seeing in them nothing +but spectacles, scornfully thrust them back into Rob's pocket, while +his comrades laughed at him. The boy was now rifled of seventeen +cents in pennies, a broken pocket knife and a lead-pencil,the last +article seeming to be highly prized. + +After they had secured all the booty they could find, the tall Turk, +who seemed the leader of the three, violently kicked at the prisoner +with his heavy boot. His surprise was great when the Garment of +Repulsion arrested the blow and nearly overthrew the aggressor in +turn. Snatching a dagger from his sash, he bounded upon the boy so +fiercely that the next instant the enraged Turk found himself lying +upon his back three yards away, while his dagger flew through the air +and landed deep in the desert sands. + +"Keep it up!" cried Rob, bitterly. "I hope you'll enjoy yourself." + +The other Turks raised their comrade to his feet, and the three stared +at one another in surprise, being unable to understand how a bound +prisoner could so effectually defend himself. But at a whispered word +from the leader, they drew their long pistols and fired point blank +into Rob's face. The volley echoed sharply from the city walls, but +as the smoke drifted slowly away the Turks were horrified to see their +intended victim laughing at them. + +Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three took to their heels and +bounded towards the wall, where a gate quickly opened to receive them, +the populace feeling sure the Tatar horde was upon them. + +Nor was this guess so very far wrong; for as Rob, sitting disconsolate +upon the sand, raised his eyes, he saw across the desert a dark line +that marked the approach of the invaders. + +Nearer and nearer they came, while Rob watched them and bemoaned the +foolish impulse that had led him to fall asleep in an unknown land +where he could so easily be overpowered and robbed of his treasures. + +"I always suspected these electrical inventions would be my ruin some +day," he reflected, sadly; "and now I'm side-tracked and left helpless +in this outlandish country, without a single hope of ever getting home +again. They probably won't be able to kill me, unless they find my +Garment of Repulsion and strip that off; but I never could cross this +terrible desert on foot and, having lost my food tablets, I'd soon +starve if I attempted it." + +Fortunately, he had eaten one of the tablets just before going to +sleep, so there was no danger of immediate starvation. But he was +miserable and unhappy, and remained brooding over his cruel fate until +a sudden shout caused him to look up. + + + +14. Turk and Tatar + + +The Tatars had arrived, swiftly and noiselessly, and a dozen of the +warriors, still mounted, were surrounding him. + +His helpless condition aroused their curiosity, and while some of them +hastily cut away his bonds and raised him to his feet, other plied him +with questions in their own language. Rob shook his head to indicate +that he could not understand; so they led him to the chief--an immense, +bearded representative of the tribe of Kara-Khitai, the terrible and +relentless Black Tatars of Thibet. The huge frame of this fellow was +clothed in flowing robes of cloth-of-gold, braided with jewels, +and he sat majestically upon the back of a jet-black camel. + +Under ordinary circumstances the stern features and flashing black +eyes of this redoubtable warrior would have struck a chill of fear to +the boy's heart; but now under the influence of the crushing +misfortunes he had experienced, he was able to gaze with indifference +upon the terrible visage of the desert chief. + +The Tatar seemed not to consider Rob an enemy. Instead, he looked +upon him as an ally, since the Turks had bound and robbed him. + +Finding it impossible to converse with the chief, Rob took refuge in +the sign language. He turned his pockets wrong side out, showed the +red welts left upon his wrists by the tight cord, and then shook his +fists angrily in the direction of the town. + +In return the Tatar nodded gravely and issued an order to his men. + +By this time the warriors were busily pitching tents before the walls +of Yarkand and making preparations for a formal siege. In obedience +to the chieftain's orders, Rob was given a place within one of the +tents nearest the wall and supplied with a brace of brass-mounted +pistols and a dagger with a sharp, zigzag edge. These were evidently +to assist the boy in fighting the Turks, and he was well pleased to +have them. His spirits rose considerably when he found he had fallen +among friends, although most of his new comrades had such evil faces +that it was unnecessary to put on the Character Markers to judge their +natures with a fair degree of accuracy. + +"I can't be very particular about the company I keep," he thought, +"and this gang hasn't tried to murder me, as the rascally Turks did. +So for the present I'll stand in with the scowling chief and try to +get a shot at the thieves who robbed me. If our side wins I may get a +chance to recover some of my property. It's a slim chance, of course, +but it's the only hope I have left." + +That very evening an opportunity occurred for Rob to win glory in the +eyes of his new friends. Just before sundown the gates of the city +flew open and a swarm of Turks, mounted upon fleet horses and camels, +issued forth and fell upon their enemies. The Tatars, who did not +expect the sally, were scarcely able to form an opposing rank when +they found themselves engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict, fighting +desperately for their lives. In such a battle, however, the Turks +were at a disadvantage, for the active Tatars slipped beneath their +horses and disabled them, bringing both the animals and their riders +to the earth. + +At the first onslaught Rob shot his pistol at a Turk and wounded him +so severely that he fell from his horse. Instantly the boy seized the +bridle and sprang upon the steed's back, and the next moment he had +dashed into the thickest part of the fray. Bullets and blows rained +upon him from all sides, but the Garment of Repulsion saved him from a +single scratch. + +When his pistols had been discharged he caught up the broken handle of +a spear, and used it as a club, galloping into the ranks of the Turks +and belaboring them as hard as he could. The Tatars cheered and +followed him, and the Turks were so amazed at his miraculous escape +from their bullets that they became terrified, thinking he bore a +charmed life and was protected by unseen powers. + +This terror helped turn the tide of battle, and before long the enemy +was pressed back to the walls and retreated through the gates, which +were hastily fastened behind them. + +In order to prevent a repetition of this sally the Tatars at once +invested the gates, so that if the Turks should open them they were as +likely to let their foes in as to oppose them. + +While the tents were being moved up Rob had an opportunity to search +the battlefield for the bodies of the three Turks who had robbed him, +but they were not among the fallen. + +"Those fellows were too cowardly to take part in a fair fight," +declared the boy; but he was much disappointed, nevertheless, +as he felt very helpless without the electric tube or the +traveling machine. + +The Tatar chief now called Rob to his tent and presented him with a +beautiful ring set with a glowing pigeon's-blood ruby, in +acknowledgment of his services. This gift made the boy feel very +proud, and he said to the chief: + +"You're all right, old man, even if you do look like a pirate. If you +can manage to capture that city, so I can get my electrical devices +back, I'll consider you a trump as long as I live." + +The chief thought this speech was intended to express Rob's gratitude, +so he bowed solemnly in return. + +During the night that followed upon the first engagement of the Turks +and Tatars, the boy lay awake trying to devise some plan to capture +the city. The walls seemed too high and thick to be either scaled or +broken by the Tatars, who had no artillery whatever; and within the +walls lay all the fertile part of the oasis, giving the besieged a +good supply of water and provisions, while the besiegers were obliged +to subsist on what water and food they had brought with them. + +Just before dawn Rob left his tent and went out to look at the great +wall. The stars gave plenty of light, but the boy was worried to find +that, according to Eastern custom, no sentries or guards whatever had +been posted and all the Tatars were slumbering soundly. + +The city was likewise wrapped in profound silence, but just as Rob was +turning away he saw a head project stealthily over the edge of the +wall before him, and recognized in the features one of the Turks who +had robbed him. + +Finding no one awake except the boy the fellow sat upon the edge of +the wall, with his feet dangling downward, and grinned wickedly at his +former victim. Rob watched him with almost breathless eagerness. + +After making many motions that conveyed no meaning whatever, the Turk +drew the electric tube from his pocket and pointed his finger first at +the boy and then at the instrument, as if inquiring what it was used +for. Rob shook his head. The Turk turned the tube over several times +and examined it carefully, after which he also shook his head, seeming +greatly puzzled. + +By this time the boy was fairly trembling with excitement. He longed +to recover this valuable weapon, and feared that at any moment the +curious Turk would discover its use. He held out his hand toward the +tube, and tried to say, by motions, that he would show the fellow how +to use it. The man seemed to understand, by he would not let the +glittering instrument out of his possession. + +Rob was almost in despair, when he happened to notice upon his hand +the ruby ring given him by the chief. Drawing the jewel from his +finger he made offer, by signs, that he would exchange it for the tube. + +The Turk was much pleased with the idea, and nodded his head +repeatedly, holding out his hand for the ring. Rob had little +confidence in the man's honor, but he was so eager to regain the tube +that he decided to trust him. So he threw the ring to the top of the +wall, where the Turk caught it skilfully; but when Rob held out his +hand for the tube the scoundrel only laughed at him and began to +scramble to his feet in order to beat a retreat. Chance, however, +foiled this disgraceful treachery, for in his hurry the Turk allowed +the tube to slip from his grasp, and it rolled off the wall and fell +upon the sand at Rob's very feet. + +The robber turned to watch its fall and, filled with sudden anger, the +boy grabbed the weapon, pointed it at his enemy, and pressed the +button. Down tumbled the Turk, without a cry, and lay motionless at +the foot of the wall. + +Rob's first thought was to search the pockets of his captive, and to +his delight he found and recovered his box of food tablets. The +Record of Events and the traveling machine were doubtless in the +possession of the other robbers, but Rob did not despair of recovering +them, now that he had the tube to aid him. + +Day was now breaking, and several of the Tatars appeared and examined +the body of the Turk with grunts of surprise, for there was no mark +upon him to show how he had been slain. Supposing him to be dead, +they tossed him aside and forgot all about him. + +Rob had secured his ruby ring again, and going to the chief's tent he +showed the jewel to the guard and was at once admitted. The +black-bearded chieftain was still reclining upon his pillows, but Rob +bowed before him, and by means of signs managed to ask for a band of +warriors to assist him in assaulting the town. The chieftain appeared +to doubt the wisdom of the enterprise, not being able to understand +how the boy could expect to succeed; but he graciously issued the +required order, and by the time Rob reached the city gate he found a +large group of Tatars gathered to support him, while the entire camp, +roused to interest in the proceedings, stood looking on. + +Rob cared little for the quarrel between the Turks and Tatars, and +under ordinary circumstances would have refused to side with one or +the other; but he knew he could not hope to recover his electrical +machines unless the city was taken by the band of warriors who had +befriended him, so he determined to force an entrance for them. + +Without hesitation he walked close to the great gate and shattered its +fastenings with the force of the electric current directed upon them +from the tube. Then, shouting to his friends the Tatars for +assistance, they rushed in a body upon the gate and dashed it open. + +The Turks had expected trouble when they heard the fastenings of the +huge gate splinter and fall apart, so they had assembled in force +before the opening. As the Tatars poured through the gateway in a +compact mass they were met by a hail of bullets, spears and arrows, +which did fearful execution among them. Many were killed outright, +while others fell wounded to be trampled upon by those who pressed on +from the rear. + +Rob maintained his position in the front rank, but escaped all injury +through the possession of the Garment of Repulsion. But he took an +active part in the fight and pressed the button of the electric tube +again and again, tumbling the enemy into heaps on every side, +even the horses and camels falling helplessly before the resistless +current of electricity. + +The Tatars shouted joyfully as they witnessed this marvelous feat and +rushed forward to assist in the slaughter; but the boy motioned them +all back. He did not wish any more bloodshed than was necessary, and +knew that the heaps of unconscious Turks around him would soon recover. + +So he stood alone and faced the enemy, calmly knocking them over as +fast as they came near. Two of the Turks managed to creep up behind +the boy, and one of them, who wielded an immense simitar with a +two-edged blade as sharp as a razor, swung the weapon fiercely to cut +off Rob's head. But the repulsive force aroused in the Garment was so +terrific that it sent the weapon flying backwards with redoubled +swiftness, so that it caught the second Turk at the waist and cut him +fairly in two. + +Thereafter they all avoided coming near the boy, and in a surprisingly +short time the Turkish forces were entirely conquered, all having been +reduced to unconsciousness except a few cowards who had run away and +hidden in the cellars or garrets of the houses. + +The Tatars entered the city with shouts of triumph, and the chief +was so delighted that he threw his arms around Rob's neck and embraced +him warmly. + +Then began the sack of Yarkand, the fierce Tatars plundering the bazaars +and houses, stripping them of everything of value they could find. + +Rob searched anxiously among the bodies of the unconscious Turks for +the two men who had robbed him, but neither could be found. He was +more successful later, for in running through the streets he came upon +a band of Tatars leading a man with a rope around his neck, whom Rob +quickly recognized as one of the thieves he was hunting for. The +Tatars willingly allowed him to search the fellow, and in one of his +pockets Rob found the Record of Events. + +He had now recovered all his property, except the traveling machine, +the one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escape +from this barbarous country. + +He continued his search persistently, and an hour later found the dead +body of the third robber lying in the square in the center of the +city. But the traveling machine was not on his person, and for the +first time the boy began to give way to despair. + +In the distance he heard loud shouts and sound of renewed strife, +warning him that the Turks were recovering consciousness and engaging +the Tatars with great fierceness. The latter had scattered throughout +the town, thinking themselves perfectly secure, so that not only were +they unprepared to fight, but they became panic-stricken at seeing +their foes return, as it seemed, from death to life. Their usual +courage forsook them, and they ran, terrified, in every direction, +only to be cut down by the revengeful Turkish simitars. + +Rob was sitting upon the edge of a marble fountain in the center of +the square when a crowd of victorious Turks appeared and quickly +surrounded him. The boy paid no attention to their gestures and the +Turks feared to approach him nearly, so they stood a short distance +away and fired volleys at him from their rifles and pistols. + +Rob glared at them scornfully, and seeing they could not injure him +the Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the crowd grew +thicker every moment. + +Women now came creeping from their hiding places and mingled with the +ranks of the men, and Rob guessed, from their joyous chattering, that +the Turks had regained the city and driven out or killed the Tatar +warriors. He reflected, gloomily, that this did not affect his own +position in any way, since he could not escape from the oasis. + +Suddenly, on glancing at the crowd, Rob saw something that arrested +his attention. A young girl was fastening some article to the wrist +of a burly, villainous-looking Turk. The boy saw a glitter that +reminded him of the traveling machine, but immediately afterward the +man and the girl bent their heads over the fellow's wrist in such a +way that Rob could see nothing more. + +While the couple were apparently examining the strange device, Rob +started to his feet and walked toward them. The crowd fell back at +his approach, but the man and the girl were so interested that they +did not notice him. He was still several paces away when the girl put +out her finger and touched the indicator on the dial. + +To Rob's horror and consternation the big Turk began to rise slowly +into the air, while a howl of fear burst from the crowd. But the boy +made a mighty spring and caught the Turk by his foot, clinging to it +with desperate tenacity, while they both mounted steadily upward +until they were far above the city of the desert. + +The big Turk screamed pitifully at first, and then actually fainted +away from fright. Rob was much frightened, on his part, for he knew +if his hands slipped from their hold he would fall to his death. +Indeed, one hand was slipping already, so he made a frantic clutch and +caught firmly hold of the Turk's baggy trousers. Then, slowly and +carefully, he drew himself up and seized the leather belt that +encircled the man's waist. This firm grip gave him new confidence, +and he began to breathe more freely. + +He now clung to the body of the Turk with both legs entwined, in the +way he was accustomed to cling to a tree-trunk when he climbed after +cherries at home. He had conquered his fear of falling, and took time +to recover his wits and his strength. + +They had now reached such a tremendous height that the city looked +like a speck on the desert beneath them. Knowing he must act quickly, +Rob seized the dangling left arm of the unconscious Turk and raised it +until he could reach the dial of the traveling machine. He feared to +unclasp the machine just then, for two reasons: if it slipped from his +grasp they would both plunge downward to their death; and he was not +sure the machine would work at all if in any other position than +fastened to the left wrist. + +Rob determined to take no chances, so he left the machine attached to +the Turk and turned the indicator to zero and then to "East," for he +did not wish to rejoin either his enemies the Turks or his equally +undesirable friends the Tatars. + +After traveling eastward a few minutes he lost sight of the city +altogether; so, still clinging to the body of the Turk, he again +turned the indicator and began to descend. When, at last, they landed +gently upon a rocky eminence of the Kuen-Lun mountains, the boy's +strength was almost exhausted, and his limbs ached with the strain of +clinging to the Turk's body. + +His first act was to transfer the traveling machine to his own wrist +and to see that his other electrical devices were safely bestowed in +his pockets. Then he sat upon the rock to rest until the Turk +recovered consciousness. + +Presently the fellow moved uneasily, rolled over, and then sat up and +stared at his surroundings. Perhaps he thought he had been dreaming, +for he rubbed his eyes and looked again with mingled surprise and alarm. +Then, seeing Rob, he uttered a savage shout and drew his dagger. + +Rob smiled and pointed the electric tube at the man, who doubtless +recognized its power, for he fell back scowling and trembling. + +"This place seems like a good jog from civilization," remarked the +boy, as coolly as if his companion could understand what he said; "but +as your legs are long and strong you may be able to find your way. +It's true you're liable to starve to death, but if you do it will be +your own misfortune and not my fault." + +The Turk glared at him sullenly, but did not attempt to reply. + +Rob took out his box of tablets, ate one of them and offered another to +his enemy. The fellow accepted it ungraciously enough, but seeing Rob +eat one he decided to follow his example, and consumed the tablet with +a queer expression of distrust upon his face. + +"Brave man!" cried Rob, laughingly; "you've avoided the pangs +of starvation for a time, anyhow, so I can leave you with a +clear conscience." + +Without more ado, he turned the indicator of the traveling machine and +mounted into the air, leaving the Turk sitting upon the rocks and +staring after him in comical bewilderment. + + + +15. A Battle with Monsters + + +Our young adventurer never experienced a more grateful feeling of +relief and security than when he found himself once more high in the +air, alone, and in undisputed possession of the electrical devices +bestowed upon him by the Demon. + +The dangers he had passed through since landing at the city of the +desert and the desperate chance that alone had permitted him to regain +the traveling machine made him shudder at the bare recollection and +rendered him more sober and thoughtful than usual. + +We who stick closely to the earth's surface can scarcely realize how +Rob could travel through the air at such dizzy heights without any +fear or concern whatsoever. But he had come to consider the air a +veritable refuge. Experience had given him implicit confidence in the +powers of the electrical instrument whose unseen forces carried him so +swiftly and surely, and while the tiny, watch-like machine was clasped +to his wrist he felt himself to be absolutely safe. + +Having slipped away from the Turk and attained a fair altitude, he set +the indicator at zero and paused long enough to consult his map and +decide what direction it was best for him to take. The mischance that +had swept him unwittingly over the countries of Europe had also +carried him more than half way around the world from his home. +Therefore the nearest way to reach America would be to continue +traveling to the eastward. + +So much time had been consumed at the desert oasis that he felt he +must now hasten if he wished to reach home by Saturday afternoon; so, +having quickly come to a decision, he turned the indicator and began a +swift flight into the east. + +For several hours he traveled above the great desert of Gobi, +but by noon signs of a more fertile country began to appear, and, +dropping to a point nearer the earth, he was able to observe +closely the country of the Chinese, with its crowded population +and ancient but crude civilization. + +Then he came to the Great Wall of China and to mighty Peking, above +which he hovered some time, examining it curiously. He really longed +to make a stop there, but with his late experiences fresh in his mind +he thought it much safer to view the wonderful city from a distance. + +Resuming his flight he presently came to the gulf of Laou Tong, whose +fair face was freckled with many ships of many nations, and so on to +Korea, which seemed to him a land fully a century behind the times. + +Night overtook him while speeding across the Sea of Japan, and having +a great desire to view the Mikado's famous islands, he put the +indicator at zero, and, coming to a full stop, composed himself to +sleep until morning, that he might run no chances of being carried +beyond his knowledge during the night. + +You might suppose it no easy task to sleep suspended in mid-air, yet +the magnetic currents controlled by the traveling machine were so +evenly balanced that Rob was fully as comfortable as if reposing upon +a bed of down. He had become somewhat accustomed to passing the night +in the air and now slept remarkably well, having no fear of burglars +or fire or other interruptions that dwellers in cities are subject to. + +One thing, however, he should have remembered: that he was in an +ancient and little known part of the world and reposing above a sea +famous in fable as the home of many fierce and terrible creatures; +while not far away lay the land of the dragon, the simurg and other +ferocious monsters. + +Rob may have read of these things in fairy tales and books of travel, +but if so they had entirely slipped his mind; so he slumbered +peacefully and actually snored a little, I believe, towards morning. + +But even as the red sun peeped curiously over the horizon he was +awakened by a most unusual disturbance--a succession of hoarse screams +and a pounding of the air as from the quickly revolving blades of some +huge windmill. + +He rubbed his eyes and looked around. + +Coming towards him at his right hand was an immense bird, whose body +seemed almost as big as that of a horse. Its wide-open, curving beak +was set with rows of pointed teeth, and the talons held against its +breast and turned threateningly outward were more powerful and +dreadful than a tiger's claws. + +While, fascinated and horrified, he watched the approach of this +feathered monster, a scream sounded just behind him and the next +instant the stroke of a mighty wing sent him whirling over and over +through the air. + +He soon came to a stop, however, and saw that another of the monsters +had come upon him from the rear and was now, with its mate, circling +closely around him, while both uttered continuously their hoarse, +savage cries. + +Rob wondered why the Garment of Repulsion had not protected him from +the blow of the bird's wing; but, as a matter of fact, it had +protected him. For it was not the wing itself but the force of the +eddying currents of air that had sent him whirling away from the +monster. With the indicator at zero the magnetic currents and the +opposing powers of attraction and repulsion were so evenly balanced +that any violent atmospheric disturbance affected him in the same way +that thistledown is affected by a summer breeze. He had noticed +something of this before, but whenever a strong wind was blowing he +was accustomed to rise to a position above the air currents. This was +the first time he had slept with the indicator at zero. + +The huge birds at once renewed their attack, but Rob had now recovered +his wits sufficiently to draw the electric tube from his pocket. The +first one to dart towards him received the powerful electric current +direct from the tube, and fell stunned and fluttering to the surface +of the sea, where it floated motionless. Its mate, perhaps warned by +this sudden disaster, renewed its circling flight, moving so swiftly +that Rob could scarcely follow it, and drawing nearer and nearer every +moment to its intended victim. The boy could not turn in the air very +quickly, and he feared an attack in the back, mistrusting the saving +power of the Garment of Repulsion under such circumstances; so in +desperation he pressed his finger upon the button of the tube and +whirled the instrument around his head in the opposite direction to +that in which the monster was circling. Presently the current and the +bird met, and with one last scream the creature tumbled downwards to +join its fellow upon the waves, where they lay like two floating islands. + +Their presence had left a rank, sickening stench in the surrounding +atmosphere, so Rob made haste to resume his journey and was soon +moving rapidly eastward. + +He could not control a shudder at the recollection of his recent +combat, and realized the horror of a meeting with such creatures by +one who had no protection from their sharp beaks and talons. + +"It's no wonder the Japs draw ugly pictures of those monsters," he +thought. "People who live in these parts must pass most of their +lives in a tremble." + +The sun was now shining brilliantly, and when the beautiful islands of +Japan came in sight Rob found that he had recovered his wonted +cheerfulness. He moved along slowly, hovering with curious interest +over the quaint and picturesque villages and watching the industrious +Japanese patiently toiling at their tasks. Just before he reached +Tokio he came to a military fort, and for nearly an hour watched the +skilful maneuvers of a regiment of soldiers at their morning drill. +They were not very big people, compared with other nations, but they +seemed alert and well trained, and the boy decided it would require a +brave enemy to face them on a field of battle. + +Having at length satisfied his curiosity as to Japanese life and +customs Rob prepared for his long flight across the Pacific Ocean. + +By consulting his map he discovered that should he maintain his course +due east, as before, he would arrive at a point in America very near +to San Francisco, which suited his plans excellently. + +Having found that he moved more swiftly when farthest from the earth's +surface, because the air was more rarefied and offered less +resistance, Rob mounted upwards until the islands of Japan were mere +specks visible through the clear, sunny atmosphere. + +Then he began his eastward flight, the broad surface of the Pacific +seeming like a blue cloud far beneath him. + + + +16. Shipwrecked Mariners + + +Ample proof of Rob's careless and restless nature having been frankly +placed before the reader in these pages, you will doubtless be +surprised when I relate that during the next few hours our young +gentleman suffered from a severe attack of homesickness, becoming as +gloomy and unhappy in its duration as ever a homesick boy could be. + +It may have been because he was just then cut off from all his +fellow-creatures and even from the world itself; it may have been +because he was satiated with marvels and with the almost absolute +control over the powers which the Demon had conferred upon him; or it +may have been because he was born and reared a hearty, healthy +American boy, with a disposition to battle openly with the world and +take his chances equally with his fellows, rather than be placed in +such an exclusive position that no one could hope successfully to +oppose him. + +Perhaps he himself did not know what gave him this horrible attack of +"the blues," but the truth is he took out his handkerchief and cried +like a baby from very loneliness and misery. + +There was no one to see him, thank goodness! and the tears gave him +considerable relief. He dried his eyes, made an honest struggle to +regain his cheerfulness, and then muttered to himself: + +"If I stay up here, like an air-bubble in the sky, I shall certainly +go crazy. I suppose there's nothing but water to look at down below, +but if I could only sight a ship, or even see a fish jump, it would do +me no end of good." + +Thereupon he descended until, as the ocean's surface same nearer and +nearer, he discovered a tiny island lying almost directly underneath +him. It was hardly big enough to make a dot on the biggest map, but a +clump of trees grew in the central portion, while around the edges +were jagged rocks protecting a sandy beach and a stretch of +flower-strewn upland leading to the trees. + +It looked beautiful from Rob's elevated position, and his spirits +brightened at once. + +"I'll drop down and pick a bouquet," he exclaimed, and a few moments +later his feet touched the firm earth of the island. + +But before he could gather a dozen of the brilliant flowers a glad +shout reached his ears, and, looking up, he saw two men running towards +him from the trees. + +They were dressed in sailor fashion, but their clothing was reduced to +rags and scarcely clung to their brown, skinny bodies. As they advanced +they waved their arms wildly in the air and cried in joyful tones: + +"A boat! a boat!" + +Rob stared at them wonderingly, and had much ado to prevent the poor +fellows from hugging him outright, so great was their joy at his +appearance. One of them rolled upon the ground, laughing and crying +by turns, while the other danced and cut capers until he became so +exhausted that he sank down breathless beside his comrade. + +"How came you here?" then inquired the boy, in pitying tones. + +"We're shipwrecked American sailors from the bark 'Cynthia Jane,' +which went down near here over a month ago," answered the smallest and +thinnest of the two. "We escaped by clinging to a bit of wreckage and +floated to this island, where we have nearly starved to death. +Indeed, we now have eaten everything on the island that was eatable, +and had your boat arrived a few days later you'd have found us lying +dead upon the beach!" + +Rob listened to this sad tale with real sympathy. + +"But I didn't come here in a boat," said he. + +The men sprang to their feet with white, scared faces. + +"No boat!" they cried; "are you, too, shipwrecked?" + +"No;" he answered. "I flew here through the air." And then he +explained to them the wonderful electric traveling machine. + +But the sailors had no interest whatever in the relation. Their +disappointment was something awful to witness, and one of them laid +his head upon his comrade's shoulder and wept with unrestrained grief, +so weak and discouraged had they become through suffering. + +Suddenly Rob remembered that he could assist them, and took the box of +concentrated food tablets from his pocket. + +"Eat these," he said, offering one of each to the sailors. + +At first they could not understand that these small tablets would be +able to allay the pangs of hunger; but when Rob explained their +virtues the men ate them greedily. Within a few moments they were so +greatly restored to strength and courage that their eyes brightened, +their sunken cheeks flushed, and they were able to converse with their +benefactor with calmness and intelligence. + +Then the boy sat beside them upon the grass and told them the story of +his acquaintance with the Demon and of all his adventures since he had +come into possession of the wonderful electric contrivances. In his +present mood he felt it would be a relief to confide in some one, and +so these poor, lonely men were the first to hear his story. + +When he related the manner in which he had clung to the Turk while both +ascended into the air, the elder of the two sailors listened with rapt +attention, and then, after some thought, asked: + +"Why couldn't you carry one or both of us to America?" + +Rob took time seriously to consider this idea, while the sailors eyed +him with eager interest. Finally he said: + +"I'm afraid I couldn't support your weight long enough to reach any +other land. It's a long journey, and you'd pull my arms out of joint +before we'd been up an hour." + +Their faces fell at this, but one of them said: + +"Why couldn't we swing ourselves over your shoulders with a rope? Our +two bodies would balance each other and we are so thin and emaciated +that we do not weigh very much." + +While considering this suggestion Rob remembered how at one time five +pirates had clung to his left leg and been carried some distance +through the air. + +"Have you a rope?" he asked. + +"No," was the answer; "but there are plenty of long, tough vines +growing on the island that are just as strong and pliable as ropes." + +"Then, if you are willing to run the chances," decided the boy, "I +will make the attempt to save you. But I must warn you that in case I +find I can not support the weight of your bodies I shall drop one or +both of you into the sea." + +They looked grave at this prospect, but the biggest one said: + +"We would soon meet death from starvation if you left us here on the +island; so, as there is at least a chance of our being able to escape +in your company I, for one, am willing to risk being drowned. It is +easier and quicker than being starved. And, as I'm the heavier, +I suppose you'll drop me first." + +"Certainly," declared Rob, promptly. + +This announcement seemed to be an encouragement to the little sailor, +but he said, nervously: + +"I hope you'll keep near the water, for I haven't a good head for +heights--they always make me dizzy." + +"Oh, if you don't want to go," began Rob, "I can easily--" + +"But I do! I do! I do!" cried the little man, interrupting him. "I +shall die if you leave me behind!" + +"Well, then, get your ropes, and we'll do the best we can," +said the boy. + +They ran to the trees, around the trunks of which were clinging many +tendrils of greenish-brown vine which possessed remarkable strength. +With their knives they cut a long section of this vine, the ends of +which were then tied into loops large enough to permit the sailors to +sit in them comfortably. The connecting piece Rob padded with seaweed +gathered from the shore, to prevent its cutting into his shoulders. + +"Now, then," he said, when all was ready, "take your places." + +The sailors squatted in the loops, and Rob swung the vine over his +shoulders and turned the indicator of the traveling machine to "up." + +As they slowly mounted into the sky the little sailor gave a squeal of +terror and clung to the boy's arm; but the other, although seemingly +anxious, sat quietly in his place and made no trouble. + +"D--d--don't g--g--go so high!" stammered the little one, tremblingly; +"suppose we should f--f--fall!" + +"Well, s'pose we should?" answered Rob, gruffly. "You couldn't drown +until you struck the water, so the higher we are the longer you'll +live in case of accident." + +This phase of the question seemed to comfort the frightened fellow +somewhat; but, as he said, he had not a good head for heights, and so +continued to tremble in spite of his resolve to be brave. + +The weight on Rob's shoulders was not so great as he had feared, the +traveling machine seeming to give a certain lightness and buoyancy to +everything that came into contact with its wearer. + +As soon as he had reached a sufficient elevation to admit of good speed +he turned the indicator once more to the east and began moving rapidly +through the air, the shipwrecked sailors dangling at either side. + +"This is aw--aw--awful!" gasped the little one. + +"Say, you shut up!" commanded the boy, angrily. "If your friend was +as big a coward as you are I'd drop you both this minute. Let go my +arm and keep quiet, if you want to reach land alive." + +The fellow whimpered a little, but managed to remain silent for several +minutes. Then he gave a sudden twitch and grabbed Rob's arm again. + +"S'pose--s'pose the vine should break!" he moaned, a horrified look +upon his face. + +"I've had about enough of this," said Rob, savagely. "If you haven't +any sense you don't deserve to live." He turned the indicator on the +dial of the machine and they began to descend rapidly. + +The little fellow screamed with fear, but Rob paid no attention to him +until the feet of the two suspended sailors were actually dipping into +the waves, when he brought their progress to an abrupt halt. + +"Wh--wh--what are you g--g--going to do?" gurgled the cowardly sailor. + +"I'm going to feed you to the sharks--unless you promise to keep your +mouth shut," retorted the boy. "Now, then; decide at once! Which will +it be--sharks or silence?" + +"I won't say a word--'pon my honor, I won't!" said the sailor shudderingly. + +"All right; remember your promise and we'll have no further trouble," +remarked Rob, who had hard work to keep from laughing at the man's +abject terror. + +Once more he ascended and continued the journey, and for several hours +they rode along swiftly and silently. Rob's shoulders were beginning +to ache with the continued tugging of the vine upon them, but the +thought that he was saving the lives of two unfortunate +fellow-creatures gave him strength and courage to persevere. + +Night was falling when they first sighted land; a wild and seemingly +uninhabited stretch of the American coast. Rob made no effort to +select a landing place, for he was nearly worn out with a strain and +anxiety of the journey. He dropped his burden upon the brow of a high +bluff overlooking the sea and, casting the vine from his shoulders, +fell to the earth exhausted and half fainting. + + + +17. The Coast of Oregon + + +When he had somewhat recovered, Rob sat up and looked around him. The +elder sailor was kneeling in earnest prayer, offering grateful thanks +for his escape from suffering and death. The younger one lay upon the +ground sobbing and still violently agitated by recollections of the +frightful experiences he had undergone. Although he did not show his +feelings as plainly as the men, the boy was none the less gratified at +having been instrumental in saving the lives of two fellow-beings. + +The darkness was by this time rapidly enveloping them, so Rob asked +his companions to gather some brushwood and light a fire, which they +quickly did. The evening was cool for the time of year, and the heat +from the fire was cheering and grateful; so they all lay near the +glowing embers and fell fast asleep. + +The sound of voices aroused Rob next morning, and on opening his eyes +and gazing around he saw several rudely dressed men approaching. The +two shipwrecked sailors were still sound asleep. + +Rob stood up and waited for the strangers to draw near. They seemed +to be fishermen, and were much surprised at finding three people +asleep upon the bluff. + +"Whar 'n thunder 'd ye come from?" asked the foremost fisherman, in a +surprised voice. + +"From the sea," replied the boy. "My friends here are shipwrecked +sailors from the 'Cynthia Jane.'" + +"But how'd ye make out to climb the bluff?" inquired a second +fisherman; "no one ever did it afore, as we knows on." + +"Oh, that is a long story," replied the boy, evasively. + +The two sailors had awakened and now saluted the new-comers. Soon +they were exchanging a running fire of questions and answers. + +"Where are we?" Rob heard the little sailor ask. + +"Coast of Oregon," was the reply. "We're about seven miles from Port +Orford by land an' about ten miles by sea." + +"Do you live at Port Orford?" inquired the sailor. + +"That's what we do, friend; an' if your party wants to join us we'll +do our best to make you comf'table, bein' as you're shipwrecked an' +need help." + +Just then a loud laugh came from another group, where the elder sailor +had been trying to explain Rob's method of flying through the air. + +"Laugh all you want to," said the sailor, sullenly; "it's true--ev'ry +word of it!" + +"Mebbe you think it, friend," answered a big, good-natured fisherman; +"but it's well known that shipwrecked folks go crazy sometimes, an' +imagine strange things. Your mind seems clear enough in other ways, +so I advise you to try and forget your dreams about flyin'." + +Rob now stepped forward and shook hands with the sailors. + +"I see you have found friends," he said to them, "so I will leave you +and continue my journey, as I'm in something of a hurry." + +Both sailors began to thank him profusely for their rescue, but he +cut them short. + +"That's all right. Of course I couldn't leave you on that island to +starve to death, and I'm glad I was able to bring you away with me." + +"But you threatened to drop me into the sea," remarked the little +sailor, in a grieved voice. + +"So I did," said Rob, laughing; "but I wouldn't have done it for the +world--not even to have saved my own life. Good-by!" + +He turned the indicator and mounted skyward, to the unbounded +amazement of the fishermen, who stared after him with round eyes +and wide open mouths. + +"This sight will prove to them that the sailors are not crazy," he +thought, as he turned to the south and sped away from the bluff. "I +suppose those simple fishermen will never forget this wonderful +occurrence, and they'll probably make reg'lar heroes of the two men +who have crossed the Pacific through the air." + +He followed the coast line, keeping but a short distance above the earth, +and after an hour's swift flight reached the city of San Francisco. + +His shoulders were sore and stiff from the heavy strain upon them of +the previous day, and he wished more than once that he had some of his +mother's household liniment to rub them with. Yet so great was his +delight at reaching once more his native land that all discomforts +were speedily forgotten. + +Much as he would have enjoyed a day in the great metropolis of the +Pacific slope, Rob dared not delay longer than to take a general view +of the place, to note its handsome edifices and to wonder at the +throng of Chinese inhabiting one section of the town. + +These things were much more plainly and quickly viewed by Rob from +above than by threading a way through the streets on foot; for he +looked down upon the city as a bird does, and covered miles with a +single glance. + +Having satisfied his curiosity without attempting to alight, he turned +to the southeast and followed the peninsula as far as Palo Alto, where +he viewed the magnificent buildings of the university. Changing his +course to the east, he soon reached Mount Hamilton, and, being +attracted by the great tower of the Lick Observatory, he hovered over +it until he found he had attracted the excited gaze of the inhabitants, +who doubtless observed him very plainly through the big telescope. + +But so unreal and seemingly impossible was the sight witnessed by the +learned astronomers that they have never ventured to make the incident +public, although long after the boy had darted away into the east they +argued together concerning the marvelous and incomprehensible vision. +Afterward they secretly engrossed the circumstance upon their records, +but resolved never to mention it in public, lest their wisdom and +veracity should be assailed by the skeptical. + +Meantime Rob rose to a higher altitude, and sped swiftly across the +great continent. By noon he sighted Chicago, and after a brief +inspection of the place from the air determined to devote at least an +hour to forming the acquaintance of this most wonderful and +cosmopolitan city. + + + +18. A Narrow Escape + + +The Auditorium Tower, where "the weather man" sits to flash his +reports throughout the country, offered an inviting place for the boy +to alight. He dropped quietly upon the roof of the great building and +walked down the staircase until he reached the elevators, by means of +which he descended to the ground floor without exciting special attention. + +The eager rush and hurry of the people crowding the sidewalks +impressed Rob with the idea that they were all behind time and were +trying hard to catch up. He found it impossible to walk along +comfortably without being elbowed and pushed from side to side; so a +half hour's sight-seeing under such difficulties tired him greatly. +It was a beautiful afternoon, and finding himself upon the Lake Front, +Rob hunted up a vacant bench and sat down to rest. + +Presently an elderly gentleman with a reserved and dignified +appearance and dressed in black took a seat next to the boy and drew a +magazine from his pocket. Rob saw that he opened it to an article on +"The Progress of Modern Science," in which he seemed greatly interested. + +After a time the boy remembered that he was hungry, not having eaten a +tablet in more than twenty-four hours. So he took out the silver box +and ate one of the small, round disks it contained. + +"What are those?" inquired the old gentleman in a soft voice. "You +are too young to be taking patent medicines." + +"There are not medicines, exactly," answered the boy, with a smile. +"They are Concentrated Food Tablets, sorted with nourishment by means +of electricity. One of them furnishes a person with food for an +entire day." + +The old gentleman stared at Rob a moment and then laid down his magazine +and took the box in his hands, examining the tablets curiously. + +"Are these patented?" he asked. + +"No," said Rob; "they are unknown to any one but myself." + +"I will give you a half million dollars for the recipe to make them," +said the gentleman. + +"I fear I must refuse your offer," returned Rob, with a laugh. + +"I'll make it a million," said the gentleman, coolly. + +Rob shook his head. + +"Money can't buy the recipe," he said; "for I don't know it myself." + +"Couldn't the tablets be chemically analyzed, and the secret +discovered?" inquired the other. + +"I don't know; but I'm not going to give any one the chance to try," +declared the boy, firmly. + +The old gentleman picked up his magazine without another word, and +resumed his reading. + +For amusement Rob took the Record of Events from his pocket and began +looking at the scenes reflected from its polished plate. + +Presently he became aware that the old gentleman was peering over his +shoulder with intense interest. General Funston was just then engaged +in capturing the rebel chief, Aguinaldo, and for a few moments both +man and boy observed the occurrence with rapt attention. As the scene +was replaced by one showing a secret tunnel of the Russian Nihilists, +with the conspirators carrying dynamite to a recess underneath the +palace of the Czar, the gentleman uttered a long sigh and asked: + +"Will you sell that box?" + +"No," answered Rob, shortly, and put it back into his pocket. + +"I'll give you a million dollars to control the sale in Chicago alone," +continued the gentleman, with an eager inflection in his smooth voice. + +"You seem quite anxious to get rid of money," remarked Rob, +carelessly. "How much are you worth?" + +"Personally?" + +"Yes." + +"Nothing at all, young man. I am not offering you my own money. But +with such inventions as you have exhibited I could easily secure +millions of capital. Suppose we form a trust, and place them upon the +market. We'll capitalize it for a hundred millions, and you can have +a quarter of the stock--twenty-five millions. That would keep you +from worrying about grocery bills." + +"But I wouldn't need groceries if I had the tablets," said Rob, laughing. + +"True enough! But you could take life easily and read your newspaper +in comfort, without being in any hurry to get down town to business. +Twenty-five millions would bring you a cozy little income, +if properly invested." + +"I don't see why one should read newspapers when the Record of Events +shows all that is going on in the world," objected Rob. + +"True, true! But what do you say to the proposition?" + +"I must decline, with thanks. These inventions are not for sale." + +The gentleman sighed and resumed his magazine, in which he became +much absorbed. + +Rob put on the Character Marking Spectacles and looked at him. The +letters "E," "W" and "C" were plainly visible upon the composed, +respectable looking brow of his companion. + +"Evil, wise and cruel," reflected Rob, as he restored the spectacles +to his pocket. "How easily such a man could impose upon people. To +look at him one would think that butter wouldn't melt in his mouth!" + +He decided to part company with this chance acquaintance and, rising +from his seat, strolled leisurely up the walk. A moment later, on +looking back, he discovered that the old gentleman had disappeared. + +He walked down State Street to the river and back again, amused by the +activity displayed in this busy section of the city. But the time +he had allowed himself in Chicago had now expired, so he began +looking around for some high building from the roof of which he +could depart unnoticed. + +This was not at all difficult, and selecting one of many stores he +ascended by an elevator to the top floor and from there mounted an +iron stairway leading to the flat roof. As he climbed this stairway +he found himself followed by a pleasant looking young man, who also +seemed desirous of viewing the city from the roof. + +Annoyed at the inopportune intrusion, Rob's first thought was to go +back to the street and try another building; but, upon reflecting that +the young man was not likely to remain long and he would soon be +alone, he decided to wait. So he walked to the edge of the roof and +appeared to be interested in the scenery spread out below him. + +"Fine view from here, ain't it?" said the young man, coming up to him +and placing his hand carelessly upon the boy's shoulder. + +"It is, indeed," replied Rob, leaning over the edge to look +into the street. + +As he spoke he felt himself gently but firmly pushed from behind and, +losing his balance, he plunged headforemost from the roof and whirled +through the intervening space toward the sidewalk far below. + +Terrified though he was by the sudden disaster, the boy had still wit +enough remaining to reach out his right hand and move the indicator of +the machine upon his left wrist to the zero mark. Immediately he +paused in his fearful flight and presently came to a stop at a +distance of less than fifteen feet from the flagstones which had +threatened to crush out his life. + +As he stared downward, trying to recover his self-possession, he saw +the old gentleman he had met on the Lake Front standing just below +and looking at him with a half frightened, half curious expression +in his eyes. + +At once Rob saw through the whole plot to kill him and thus secure +possession of his electrical devices. The young man upon the roof who +had attempted to push him to his death was a confederate of the +innocent appearing old gentleman, it seemed, and the latter had calmly +awaited his fall to the pavement to seize the coveted treasures from +his dead body. It was an awful idea, and Rob was more frightened than +he had ever been before in his life--or ever has been since. + +But now the shouts of a vast concourse of amazed spectators reached +the boy's ears. He remembered that he was suspended in mid-air over +the crowded street of a great city, while thousands of wondering eyes +were fixed upon him. + +So he quickly set the indicator to the word "up," and mounted sky-ward +until the watchers below could scarcely see him. They he fled away +into the east, even yet shuddering with the horror of his recent +escape from death and filled with disgust at the knowledge that there +were people who held human life so lightly that they were willing to +destroy it to further their own selfish ends. + +"And the Demon wants such people as these to possess his electrical +devices, which are as powerful to accomplish evil when in wrong hands +as they are good!" thought the boy, resentfully. "This would be a +fine world if Electric Tubes and Records of Events and Traveling +Machines could be acquired by selfish and unprincipled persons!" + +So unnerved was Rob by his recent experiences that he determined to +make no more stops. However, he alighted at nightfall in the country, +and slept upon the sweet hay in a farmer's barn. + +But, early the next morning, before any one else was astir, he resumed +his journey, and at precisely ten o'clock of this day, which was +Saturday, he completed his flying trip around the world by alighting +unobserved upon the well-trimmed lawn of his own home. + + + +19. Rob Makes a Resolution + + +When Rob opened the front door he came face to face with Nell, who +gave an exclamation of joy and threw herself into his arms. + +"Oh, Rob!" she cried, "I'm so glad you've come. We have all been +dreadfully worried about you, and mother--" + +"Well, what about mother?" inquired the boy, anxiously, as she paused. + +"She's been very ill, Rob; and the doctor said to-day that unless we +heard from you soon he would not be able to save her life. The +uncertainty about you is killing her." + +Rob stood stock still, all the eager joy of his return frozen into horror +at the thought that he had caused his dear mother so much suffering. + +"Where is she, Nell?" he asked, brokenly. + +"In her room. Come; I'll take you to her." + +Rob followed with beating heart, and soon was clasped close to his +mother's breast. + +"Oh, my boy--my dear boy!" she murmured, and then for very joy and +love she was unable to say more, but held him tight and stroked his +hair gently and kissed him again and again. + +Rob said little, except to promise that he would never again leave +home without her full consent and knowledge. But in his mind he +contrasted the love and comfort that now surrounded him with the +lonely and unnatural life he had been leading and, boy though he was +in years, a mighty resolution that would have been creditable to an +experienced man took firm root in his heart. + +He was obliged to recount all his adventures to his mother and, +although he made light of the dangers he had passed through, the story +drew many sighs and shudders from her. + +When luncheon time arrived he met his father, and Mr. Joslyn took +occasion to reprove his son in strong language for running away from +home and leaving them filled with anxiety as to his fate. However, +when he saw how happy and improved in health his dear wife was at her +boy's return, and when he had listened to Rob's manly confession of +error and expressions of repentance, he speedily forgave the culprit +and treated him as genially as ever. + +Of course the whole story had to be repeated, his sisters listening +this time with open eyes and ears and admiring their adventurous +brother immensely. Even Mr. Joslyn could not help becoming profoundly +interested, but he took care not to show any pride he might feel in +his son's achievements. + +When his father returned to his office Rob went to his own bed-chamber +and sat for a long time by the window in deep thought. When at last +he aroused himself, he found it was nearly four o'clock. + +"The Demon will be here presently," he said, with a thrill of +aversion, "and I must be in the workshop to receive him." + +Silently he stole to the foot of the attic stairs and then paused to +listen. The house seemed very quiet, but he could hear his mother's +voice softly humming a cradle-song that she had sung to him when he +was a baby. + +He had been nervous and unsettled and a little fearful until then, but +perhaps the sound of his mother's voice gave him courage, for he +boldly ascended the stairs and entered the workshop, closing and +locking the door behind him. + + + +20. The Unhappy Fate of the Demon + + +Again the atmosphere quickened and pulsed with accumulating +vibrations. Again the boy found himself aroused to eager expectancy. +There was a whirl in the air; a crackling like distant musketry; +a flash of dazzling light--and the Demon stood before him +for the third time. + +"I give you greetings!" said he, in a voice not unkindly. + +"Good afternoon, Mr. Demon," answered the boy, bowing gravely. + +"I see you have returned safely from your trip," continued the +Apparition, cheerfully, "although at one time I thought you would be +unable to escape. Indeed, unless I had knocked that tube from the +rascally Turk's hand as he clambered to the top of the wall, I believe +you would have been at the Yarkand oasis yet--either dead or alive, as +chance might determine." + +"Were you there?" asked Rob. + +"To be sure. And I recovered the tube for you, without which you +would have been helpless. But that is the only time I saw fit to +interfere in any way." + +"I'm afraid I did not get a chance to give many hints to inventors or +scientists," said Rob. + +"True, and I have deeply regretted it," replied the Demon. "But your +unusual powers caused more astonishment and consternation than you, +perhaps, imagined; for many saw you whom you were too busy to notice. +As a result several able electricians are now thinking new thoughts +along new lines, and some of them may soon give these or similar +inventions to the world." + +"You are satisfied, then?" asked Rob. + +"As to that," returned the Demon, composedly, "I am not. But I have +hopes that with the addition of the three marvelous devices I shall +present you with to-day you will succeed in arousing so much popular +interest in electrical inventions as to render me wholly satisfied +with the result of this experiment." + +Rob regarded the brilliant apparition with a solemn face, +but made no answer. + +"No living person," continued the Demon, "has ever before been favored +with such comforting devices for the preservation and extension of +human life as yourself. You seem quite unappreciative, it is true; +but since our connection I have come to realize that you are but an +ordinary boy, with many boyish limitations; so I do not condemn your +foolish actions too harshly." + +"That is kind of you," said Rob. + +"To prove my friendliness," pursued the Demon, "I have brought, as the +first of to-day's offerings this Electro-Magnetic Restorer. You see +it is shaped like a thin metal band, and is to be worn upon the +brow, clasping at the back of the head. Its virtues surpass those of +either the fabulous 'Fountain of Youth,' or the 'Elixir of Life,' so +vainly sought for in past ages. For its wearer will instantly become +free from any bodily disease or pain and will enjoy perfect health and +vigor. In truth, so great are its powers that even the dead may be +restored to life, provided the blood has not yet chilled. +In presenting you with this appliance, I feel I am bestowing +upon you the greatest blessing and most longed-for boon ever +bequeathed of suffering humanity." + +Here he held the slender, dull-colored metallic band toward the boy. + +"Keep it," said Rob. + +The Demon started, and gave him an odd look. + +"What did you say?" he asked. + +"I told you to keep it," answered Rob. "I don't want it." + +The Demon staggered back as if he had been struck. + +"Don't want it!" he gasped. + +"No; I've had enough of your infernal inventions!" cried the boy, with +sudden anger. + +He unclasped the traveling machine from his wrist and laid it on the +table beside the Demon. + +"There's the thing that's responsible for most of my troubles," said +he, bitterly. "What right has one person to fly through the air while +all his fellow-creatures crawl over the earth's surface? And why +should I be cut off from all the rest of the world because you have +given me this confounded traveling machine? I didn't ask for it, and +I won't keep it a moment longer. Give it to some one you hate more +than you do me!" + +The Demon stared aghast and turned his glittering eyes wonderingly +from Rob to the traveling machine and back again, as if to be sure he +had heard and seen aright. + +"And here are your food tablets," continued the boy, placing the box +upon the table. "I've only enjoyed one square meal since you gave +them to me. They're all right to preserve life, of course, and answer +the purpose for which they were made; but I don't believe nature ever +intended us to exist upon such things, or we wouldn't have the sense +of taste, which enables us to enjoy natural food. As long as I'm a +human being I'm going to eat like a human being, so I've consumed my +last Electrical Concentrated Food Tablet--and don't you forget it!" + +The Demon sank into a chair, nerveless and limp, but still staring +fearfully at the boy. + +"And there's another of your unnatural devices," said Rob, putting the +Automatic Record of Events upon the table beside the other things. +"What right have you to capture vibrations that radiate from private +and secret actions and discover them to others who have no business to +know them? This would be a fine world if every body could peep into +every one else's affairs, wouldn't it? And here is your Character +Marker. Nice thing for a decent person to own, isn't it? Any one who +would take advantage of such a sneaking invention as that would be +worse than a thief! Oh, I've used them, of course, and I ought to be +spanked for having been so mean and underhanded; but I'll never be +guilty of looking through them again." + +The Demon's face was frowning and indignant. He made a motion to +rise, but thought better of it and sank back in his chair. + +"As for the Garment of Protection," resumed the boy, after a pause, +"I've worn it for the last time, and here it is, at your service. +I'll put the Electric Tube with it. Not that these are such very bad +things in themselves, but I'll have none of your magical contrivances. +I'll say this, however: if all armies were equipped with Electrical +Tubes instead of guns and swords the world would be spared a lot of +misery and unnecessary bloodshed. Perhaps in time; but that time +hasn't arrived yet." + +"You might have hastened it," said the Demon, sternly, "if you had +been wise enough to use your powers properly." + +"That's just it," answered Rob. "I'm NOT wise enough. Nor is the +majority of mankind wise enough to use such inventions as yours +unselfishly and for the good of the world. If people were better, and +every one had an equal show, it would be different." + +For some moments the Demon sat quietly thinking. Finally the frown +left his face and he said, with animation: + +"I have other inventions, which you may use without any such qualms of +conscience. The Electro-Magnetic Restorer I offered you would be a +great boon to your race, and could not possibly do harm. And, besides +this, I have brought you what I call the Illimitable Communicator. It +is a simple electric device which will enable you, wherever you may +be, to converse with people in any part of the world, without the use +of such crude connections as wires. In fact, you may--" + +"Stop!" cried Rob. "It is useless for you to describe it, because +I'll have nothing more to do with you or your inventions. I have +given them a fair trial, and they've got me into all sorts of trouble +and made all my friends miserable. If I was some high-up scientist it +would be different; but I'm just a common boy, and I don't want to be +anything else." + +"But, your duty--" began the Demon. + +"My duty I owe to myself and to my family," interrupted Rob. "I have +never cultivated science, more than to fool with some simple +electrical experiments, so I owe nothing to either science or the +Demon of Electricity, so far as I can see." + +"But consider," remonstrated the Demon, rising to his feet and +speaking in a pleading voice, "consider the years that must elapse +before any one else is likely to strike the Master Key! And, in the +meanwhile, consider my helpless position, cut off from all interest in +the world while I have such wonderful inventions on my hands for the +benefit of mankind. If you have no love for science or for the +advancement of civilization, DO have some consideration for your +fellow-creatures, and for me!" + +"If my fellow-creatures would have as much trouble with your +electrical inventions as I had, I am doing them a service by depriving +them of your devices," said the boy. "As for yourself, I've no fault +to find with you, personally. You're a very decent sort of Demon, and +I've no doubt you mean well; but there's something wrong about our +present combination, I'm sure. It isn't natural." + +The Demon made a gesture of despair. + +"Why, oh why did not some intelligent person strike the Master Key!" +he moaned. + +"That's it!" exclaimed Rob. "I believe that's the root of +the whole evil." + +"What is?" inquired the Demon, stupidly. + +"The fact that an intelligent person did not strike the Master Key. +You don't seem to understand. Well, I'll explain. You're the Demon +of Electricity, aren't you?" + +"I am," said the other, drawing himself up proudly. + +"Your mission is to obey the commands of whoever is able to strike the +Master Key of Electricity." + +"That is true." + +"I once read in a book that all things are regulated by exact laws of +nature. If that is so you probably owe your existence to those laws." +The Demon nodded. "Doubtless it was intended that when mankind became +intelligent enough and advanced enough to strike the Master Key, you +and all your devices would not only be necessary and acceptable to +them, but the world would be prepared for their general use. That +seems reasonable, doesn't it?" + +"Perhaps so. Yes; it seems reasonable," answered the Demon, thoughtfully. + +"Accidents are always liable to happen," continued the boy. "By +accident the Master Key was struck long before the world of science +was ready for it--or for you. Instead of considering it an accident +and paying no attention to it you immediately appeared to me--a mere +boy--and offered your services." + +"I was very anxious to do something," returned the Demon, evasively. +"You've no idea how stupid it is for me to live invisible and unknown, +while all the time I have in my possession secrets of untold benefit +to the world." + +"Well, you'll have to keep cool and bide your time," said Rob. "The +world wasn't made in a minute, and while civilization is going on at a +pretty good pace, we're not up to the Demon of Electricity yet." + +"What shall I do!" groaned the Apparition, wringing his hands +miserably; "oh, what shall I do!" + +"Go home and lie down," replied Rob, sympathetically. "Take it easy +and don't get rattled. Nothing was every created without a use, they +say; so your turn will come some day, sure! I'm sorry for you, old +fellow, but it's all your own fault." + +"You are right!" exclaimed the Demon, striding up and down the room, +and causing thereby such a crackling of electricity in the air that +Rob's hair became rigid enough to stand on end. "You are right, and I +must wait--wait--wait--patiently and silently--until my bonds are +loosed by intelligence rather than chance! It is a dreary fate. But +I must wait--I must wait--I must wait!" + +"I'm glad you've come to your senses," remarked Rob, drily. "So, if +you've nothing more to say--" + +"No! I have nothing more to say. There IS nothing more to say. You +and I are two. We should never had met!" retorted the Demon, showing +great excitement. + +"Oh, I didn't seek your acquaintance," said Rob. "But I've tried to +treat you decently, and I've no fault to find with you except that +you forgot you were a slave and tried to be a master." + +The Demon did not reply. He was busily forcing the various electrical +devices that Rob had relinquished into the pockets of his fiery jacket. + +Finally he turned with an abrupt movement. + +"Good-by!" he cried. "When mortal eyes next behold me they will be +those of one fit to command my services! As for you, your days will +be passed in obscurity and your name be unknown to fame. +Good-by,--forever!" + +The room filled with a flash of white light so like a sheet of +lightning that the boy went reeling backwards, half stunned and +blinded by its dazzling intensity. + +When he recovered himself the Demon of Electricity had disappeared. + + +Rob's heart was very light as he left the workshop and made his way +down the attic stairs. + +"Some people might think I was a fool to give up those electrical +inventions," he reflected; "but I'm one of those persons who know when +they've had enough. It strikes me the fool is the fellow who can't +learn a lesson. I've learned mine, all right. It's no fun being a +century ahead of the times!" + + + + + +This is the end of the Project Gutenberg Edition of The Master Key + |