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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8000d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52397 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52397) diff --git a/old/52397-8.txt b/old/52397-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c01ac47..0000000 --- a/old/52397-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5034 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Short Circuit, by Stanley R. Matthews - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Motor Matt's Short Circuit - or, The Mahout's Vow - -Author: Stanley R. Matthews - -Release Date: June 23, 2016 [EBook #52397] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR MATT'S SHORT CIRCUIT *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Demian Katz and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - - - - - MOTOR STORIES - - THRILLING - ADVENTURE - - MOTOR - FICTION - - NO. 28 - SEPT. 4, 1909 - - FIVE - CENTS - - MOTOR MATT'S - "SHORT CIRCUIT" - - OR THE MAHOUT'S - VOW - - _BY THE AUTHOR - OF "MOTOR MATT"_ - - _STREET & SMITH - PUBLISHERS - NEW YORK_ - -[Illustration: _The huge beast towered above Motor Matt like a -mountain, but the king of the motor boys held his ground._] - - - - -MOTOR STORIES - -THRILLING ADVENTURE MOTOR FICTION - -_Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Copyright, 1909, by_ -STREET & SMITH, _79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York, N. Y._ - - No. 28. NEW YORK, September 4, 1909. Price Five Cents. - - - - -Motor Matt's "Short=circuit" - -OR, - -THE MAHOUT'S VOW. - -By the author of "MOTOR MATT." - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I. THE SERPENT CHARMER. - CHAPTER II. A BAD ELEPHANT. - CHAPTER III. BURTON'S LUCK. - CHAPTER IV. MOTOR MATT'S COURAGE. - CHAPTER V. DHONDARAM'S EXCUSE. - CHAPTER VI. ROBBERY. - CHAPTER VII. BETWEEN THE WAGONS. - CHAPTER VIII. A PEG TO HANG SUSPICIONS ON. - CHAPTER IX. A WAITING GAME. - CHAPTER X. A TRICK AT THE START. - CHAPTER XI. IN THE AIR WITH A COBRA. - CHAPTER XII. A SCIENTIFIC FACT. - CHAPTER XIII. PING ON THE WRONG TRACK. - CHAPTER XIV. FACING A TRAITOR. - CHAPTER XV. MEETING THE HINDOO. - CHAPTER XVI. A BIT OF A BACKSET. - ON THE BAHAMA REEFS. - THE STORY OF A WILD GOOSE. - - - - -CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR IN THIS STORY. - - - =Matt King=, otherwise Motor Matt. - - =Joe McGlory=, a young cowboy who proves himself a lad of worth and - character, and whose eccentricities are all on the humorous side. A - good chum to tie to--a point Motor Matt is quick to perceive. - - =Ping=, a Chinese boy who insists on working for Motor Matt, and who - contrives to make himself valuable, perhaps invaluable. - - =Carl Pretzel=, an old chum who flags Motor Matt and more trouble - than he can manage, at about the same time. In the rôle of detective, - he makes many blunders, wise and otherwise, finding success only to - wonder how he did it. - - =Dhondaram=, a Hindoo snake charmer and elephant trainer, who is - under an obligation to Ben Ali and gets into trouble while trying to - discharge it. - - =Andy Carter=, ticket-man for Burton's Big Consolidated Shows; a - traitor to his employer, and who emerges from his evil plots with - less punishment than he deserves. - - =Boss Burton=, manager and proprietor of the "Big Consolidated," who, - in his usual manner, forms hasty conclusions, discovers his errors, - and shows no sign of repentance. - - =Archie Le Bon=, a trapeze performer who swings on a flying bar under - Motor Matt's aëroplane--and has a bad attack of nerves. - - =Ben Ali=, an old Hindoo acquaintance who figures but briefly in the - story. His vow, and the manner in which he sought its fulfillment, - brings danger to the king of the motor boys. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE SERPENT CHARMER. - - -A brown man in a white turban sat by the river. It was night, and a -little fire of sticks sent strange gleams sparkling across the water, -and touched the form of the brown man with splashes of golden light. - -The man was playing on a gourd flute. The music--if such it could be -called--was in a high key, but stifled and subdued. Under the man, to -keep his crouching body from the earth, had been spread a piece of -scarlet cloth. In front of him was a round wicker basket, perhaps a -foot in diameter by six inches high. - -As the man played, the notes of the flute coming faster and faster, the -lid of the basket began to tremble as by some pent-up force. Finally -the lid slid open, and a hooded cobra lifted its flat, ugly head. With -eyes on those of the serpent charmer, the cobra began weaving back -and forth in time to the music. Now and then the snake would hiss and -dart its head at the man. The latter would dodge to avoid the striking -fangs, meanwhile keeping up his flute-playing. - -It was an odd scene, truly, to be going forward in a country like -ours--cut bodily from the mysteries of India and dropped down on -the banks of the Wabash, there, near the intensely American city of -Lafayette. - -While the brown man was playing and the cobra swayed, and danced, and -struck its lightning-like but ineffectual blows, another came into -the ring of firelight, stepping as noiselessly as a slinking panther. -He, like the other, wore a turban, and there was gold in his ears and -necklaces about his throat. - -The first man continued his flute-playing. The other, with a soft -laugh, went to the player's side, sank down, and riveted his own -snakelike orbs upon the diamond eyes of the cobra. Once the serpent -struck at him, but he drew back and continued to look. With one hand -the newcomer took the flute from the player's lips and laid it on the -ground; then, in a silence broken only by the crackling fires, the eyes -of the man snapped and gleamed and held those of the cobra. - -The effect was marvelous. Slowly the cobra ceased its rhythmical -movements and dropped down and down until it retreated once more into -the basket; then, with a quick hand, the lid of the receptacle was -replaced and secured with a wooden pin. - -"Yadaba!" exclaimed the first man. - -"Not here must you call me that, Dhondaram," said the second. "I am -known as Ben Ali." - -Dhondaram spat contemptuously. - -"'Tis a name of the Turks," he grunted; "a dog's name." - -"It answers as well as any other." - -These men were Hindoos, and their talk was in Hindustani. - -"You sent for me at Chicago," proceeded Dhondaram; "you asked me to -come to this place on the river, and to bring with me my most venomous -cobra. See! I am here; and the cobra, you have discovered that the -flute has no power to quiet its hostility. Your eyes did that, -Yada--your pardon; I should have said Ben Ali. Great is the power of -your eyes. They have lost none of their charms since last we met." - -Ben Ali received this statement moodily. Picking up a small pebble, he -cast it angrily into the fire. - -"Why have you brought me here?" inquired Dhondaram, rolling a cigarette -with materials taken from the breast of his flowing robe. - -"Because," answered Ben Ali, "I have made a vow." - -"By Krishna," and Dhondaram threw himself forward to light -his cigarette at the fire, "vows are evil things. They bring -trouble--nothing less." - -"This one," hissed Ben Ali, "will bring trouble to an enemy of mine." - -"And to yourself, it may be," added Dhondaram, resuming his squatting -attitude on the scarlet cloth and whiffing a thin line of vapor into -the air. - -"The goddess Kali protects me," averred Ben Ali. "It is written in my -forehead." - -"What else is written in your forehead?" asked Dhondaram after a space. -"What was it that caused you to send for me, and to ask me to leave my -profitable work in the museum, come here, and bring the worst of my -hooded pets?" - -Ben Ali, in the silence that followed, picked up more pebbles and cast -them into the fire. - -"During the feast of Nag-Panchmi," he observed at last, "years since, -Dhondaram, a mad elephant crushed a boat on the Ganges. You were in the -boat, and I snatched you from certain death." - -Dhondaram's face underwent a swift change. - -"That, also," he said in a subdued tone, "is written in my forehead. I -remembered it when your letter came to me. I owe you obedience until -the debt is paid. I am here, Ben Ali. Command me." - -"_Such baht!_ You, with the cobra, Dhondaram, will go against my enemy -and fulfill my vow. That will repay the debt." - -A look of fear crossed Dhondaram's face. It passed quickly, but had not -escaped the keen eyes of Ben Ali. - -"You are afraid!" and he sneered as he spoke. - -"And if I am?" protested the other. "I am bound to obey, and lose my -life, if I must, in paying for the saving of it during the feast of -Nag-Panchmi. Who is your enemy, Aurung Zeeb?" - -Ben Ali struck the ground with his clinched fist. - -"Aurung Zeeb is a coward!" he exclaimed. "He fled and left me to work -out my vengeance alone. _Hurkutjee!_ Let us speak no more of him. You -knew of my brother, the rajah? How our sister married the _feringhi_, -Captain Lionel Manners, of the English army? How he died, and his -wife perished in the _ghats_, by _suttee_? Of the daughter they left, -Margaret Manners? How, out of hatred to the rajah, I brought the girl -to this country and destroyed her will by the power of the eyes? How we -traveled with the show of Burton Sahib?" - -Dhondaram nodded gravely. - -"I know," he replied. - -"But you do not know of the _feringhi_ boy, the one who flies in the -bird machine, and who is called Motor Matt. Because of him I have lost -the girl, and she was making much money for me. I was _mahout_ in the -show for Burton Sahib's worst elephant, Rajah. No other could drive -him, or take care of him. You are a _sapwallah_, a charmer of serpents, -but you are also a charmer of elephants. You can drive them, Dhondaram, -as well as I. You can take care of this Rajah beast as well as I." - -"I learned to work with the elephants from my brother, the _muni_," -observed Dhondaram. "You have lost the niece you called Haidee?" - -"She is under the care of the British ambassador, but she is staying in -this town. Perhaps I may get her back--that I do not know. But my vow, -Dhondaram, against this _feringhi_ boy, Motor Matt. That is for you to -carry out. He has wrecked my plans. I will wreck his. He has put me in -danger of my life. Through me, he shall be in danger of his own." - -"What am I to do?" queried Dhondaram. - -"The show of Burton Sahib is some distance from here, but I will tell -you how to find it. The cobra will help you join it, for Burton Sahib -is always watching for performers. You must learn to do better with -this cobra. By performing with the serpent before Burton Sahib, you -will please him. He must have some one to take care of the elephant, -Rajah. You will apply for the place. Ha! Do you follow me?" - -Dhondaram nodded. - -"When you have applied for the place I will tell you what to do. The -air machine must be wrecked. Rajah will do that. The _feringhi_ boy -must be put where he will not interfere with my plans for my niece--the -cobra _must do that_." - -Dhondaram stirred restlessly. - -"The law of this country," he murmured, "has a long arm and a heavy -fist." - -"If you do as I say," went on Ben Ali, "you will not be reached by the -arm nor caught by the fist. You will be safe, and so will I; and the -vow of Ben Ali will have been carried out." - -"You cannot do this yourself?" - -"I should be seized if I showed my face again in the show of Burra -Burton! I should be thrown into the strong house of the _feringhis_ if -I appeared among the tents. Motor Matt has said this, and he has the -power to carry out his threat." - -"Had Motor Matt the power to do this when he saved Haidee?" - -"He had." - -"And he held his hand! Why?" - -"Because Haidee was under the spell of my eyes. In order to free her, -he had to bargain with me. The bargain was that I should go free, but -never to trouble Motor Matt or the girl any more. With the girl in my -hands, I could secure many rupees from my brother, the rajah, for her. -And I hate that brother. He is rich, but he made me the keeper of his -elephants! He lived in luxury, but I herded with the coolies." - -Again Ben Ali struck his clinched fist on the earth. - -"It may be," said Dhondaram, "that Burton Sahib has secured another -keeper for the bad elephant, Rajah? In that case, he would not want me." - -"It is not likely," returned Ben Ali. "All the other keepers are afraid -of Rajah. Aurung Zeeb was the only Hindoo who could have managed Rajah, -and he dare not return to the show any more than I. Burton Sahib will -want some one, and he will take you. You will go to him, perform with -the cobra, win his favor. Then, and not till then, you will ask for the -post of elephant keeper. Burton Sahib, my word for it, will give you -Rajah to look after. Then, my friend, you can carry out the terms of -my vow. You will pay your debt, and we shall be quits. I shall have no -further claim on you." - -"And I shall escape the arm of the _feringhi_ law?" - -"Even so." - -"Tell me what I am to do, and how." - -Then, as the little tongues of flame threw their weird play of lights -and shadows over the dusky plotters, the talk went on. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -A BAD ELEPHANT. - - -"Great spark-plugs!" - -Motor Matt was passing the canvas walls of the menagerie tent of the -"Big Consolidated" when a human form ricocheted over the top of it and -landed directly in front of him on a pile of hay. The dropping of the -man on the hay was accompanied by a wild sound which the king of the -motor boys recognized as the trumpeting of an angry elephant. Following -this came the noise of quick movements on the other side of the wall, -and hoarse voices giving sharp commands. - -Matt ran to the man who had fallen on the hay. He was sitting up and -staring about him blankly. - -"Well, if it isn't Archie Le Bon!" exclaimed Matt. "What sort of way is -that to come out of a tent, Le Bon?" - -"Couldn't help myself, Matt," was the answer. "A couple of tons of mad -elephant gave me a starter. Gee! No more of that in mine. I'm glad this -hay happened to be here." - -Le Bon got up. Evidently his brain was dizzy, for he supported himself -against a guy rope. - -"Was it Rajah?" asked Matt. - -"Yes." - -"Don't you know any better than to fool with that big lump of iniquity?" - -"I do now. Burton has offered twenty-five dollars to any one connected -with the show who'll take Rajah out in the parade. Thought I'd try it, -and I began by doing my best to make friends with the brute. Rajah was -about two seconds wrapping his trunk around me and heaving me over the -wall. I'm in luck at that, I suppose. The big fellow might have slammed -me on the ground and danced a hornpipe on me." - -"You don't mean to say that Burton is going to have Rajah in the -parade!" exclaimed Matt. - -"Says he is," answered Le Bon, "but I'll bet money he won't get any -one to ride the elephant. You'd better trot along inside. Your Dutch -pard, Carl, had a row with me. We both wanted to try and manage -Rajah and annex the twenty-five, and the only way we could settle the -question was by drawing straws. For all I know, Carl may be trying to -make friends with Rajah now. Head him off, Matt, or there'll be a dead -Dutchman on the grounds." - -"Carl must be crazy!" exclaimed Matt, whirling around and darting under -the canvas. - -Archie Le Bon was an acrobat, and one of several brothers who had a -hair-raising act in the circus ring; and if Archie couldn't manage -Rajah, it was a foregone conclusion that Carl wouldn't be able to. - -Still, it was like Carl to be willing to try something of the sort, and -the young motorist was eager to call a halt in proceedings before it -was too late. - -Inside the "animal top" a crowd of men was belaboring Rajah with clubs -and sharp prods. The elephant, chained to stakes firmly planted in the -ground, was backing away as far as the chains would permit, head up and -trunk in the air. Boss Burton, proprietor and manager of the show, was -directing operations. - -Matt's Dutch pard was very much in evidence. Armed with a piece of -sharpened iron, he was hopping around like a pea on a hot griddle, -taking a hack at Rajah every time he saw an opening. Joe McGlory was -hopping around, too, trying to grab the excited Dutchman and snake him -out of harm's way. - -Suddenly Rajah lowered his head and executed a wide sweep with his -trunk, in a half circle. Carl and a _mahout_ who had charge of the -other elephants had their feet knocked from under them. The _mahout_ -was thrown flat and quickly dragged to safety, while Carl was stood on -his head in a bucket--a bucket that happened to be filled with water. - -McGlory caught Carl by the heels and dragged him out into the centre -of the tent, the Dutchman thrashing his arms and sputtering as he slid -over the ground. - -"Confound the brute!" roared Boss Burton; "I'll either take the kinks -out of him and have him in the parade, or I'll shoot him. Leave him -alone for half an hour, and then we'll maul him some more. How's Le -Bon?" - -"Not a scratch," Archie Le Bon answered for himself, coming in under -the canvas. "But I might have had a broken head." - -"You've had enough?" queried Burton. - -"A great plenty, thank you. I'm no elephant trainer, Burton, and while -I'd like to make a little extra money I guess I'll look for something -that's more congenial." - -"Dot's me, too," said Carl to Matt and McGlory. "I don'd vas some -elephant trainers, I bed you. Vat a ugliness old Racha has! Dot trunk -oof his hit me like a railroadt train." - -"You were going to try and ride the elephant in the parade, Carl?" -demanded Matt. - -"I vas t'inking oof id vonce, aber never any more. He iss vorse as I -t'ought." - -"I heard what he was up to, Matt," put in McGlory, "and hit the high -places for here. Arrived just in time to see Le Bon go out between the -edge of the wall and the edge of the tent top. Sufferin' skyrockets, -but it was quick! Everybody rushed at Rajah, and Carl was right in the -thick of it. I thought he'd be smashed into a cocked hat before I could -get hold of him." - -"Who vas der feller vat left dot pucket oof vater in der vay?" grumbled -Carl, mopping his tow hair with a red cotton handkerchief. "Id vas -righdt under me ven I come down. I don'd like dot. Id vas pad enough -mitoudt any fancy drimmings in der vay oof a pail oof vater." - -"Well, it's a lesson for you to leave Rajah alone." - -"T'anks, I know dot. Oof he vas der only elephant vat dere iss, I -vouldn't haf nodding to do mit him. Vile I'm vaiding for dot fordune to -come from India I haf got to lif, but I vill shdarve pefore I dry to -make a lifing taking care oof Racha. Br-r-r, you old sgoundrel!" and -Carl turned and shook his fist at Rajah. - -Just at this moment Boss Burton stepped up to Matt and his friends. - -"Here's a hard-luck proposition!" he glowered. "My biggest elephant -raises Cain in a way he never did while Ben Ali had charge of him. Ben -Ali was a villain, but he knew how to manage elephants. But Rajah goes -in the parade, you can bet your pile on _that_." - -"You don't mean it, Burton!" cried Motor Matt. - -"Oh, don't I?" and there was a resolute gleam in the showman's eyes as -he faced Matt. "You watch and see," he added. - -"You're taking a lot of chances if you stick to that notion," grunted -McGlory. "The brute's liable to smash a few cages and let loose a lion -or two. By the time you foot the bill, Burton, you'll find you're -riding a mighty expensive hobby." - -"Rajah goes in the parade," shouted the angry showman, "or I put a -bullet into him. I've got my mad up now." - -"Who'll take him?" queried Matt. - -"If I can't find any one to put him through his paces, by gorry I'll do -it myself!" - -"Then the Big Consolidated," said McGlory, "might as well look for -another boss." - -"See here, Burton," went on Matt, "you've been having the aëroplane tag -your string of four elephants during the parade, and Rajah's been at -the end of the string and right in front of the flying machine. You've -got to give the machine another place. I'll not take chances with it, -if Rajah's in the march. You ought to remember what a close call the -brute gave us in Lafayette." - -"Nobody's going to change places in the parade!" declared Burton. - -He was a man of mercurial temperament, and could only be managed by -firmness. - -"Either Rajah stays out of the procession," exclaimed Motor Matt -calmly, "or the _Comet_ does." - -"And you can paste that in your hat, Burton," added McGlory. "What Pard -Matt says goes." - -"Oh, hang it," growled Burton, coming to his senses; "if you fellows -bear down on me like that, of course you win out; but I hate to have a -measly elephant butt into my plans and make me change 'em. Now----" - -"Say, Mr. Burton," spoke up a canvasman, stepping to the showman's side -and touching his arm, "there's a dark-skinned mutt in a turban what -wants ter see ye in the calliope tent." - -Burton whirled on the canvasman. - -"Dark skinned man in a turban?" he repeated. "Does he look like a -Hindoo?" - -"Dead ringer for one." - -"Maybe it's Ben Ali----" - -"No, he ain't. I know Ben Ali, and this ain't him." - -"That tin horn won't show up among these tents in a hurry, Burton," -said McGlory. "He knows he'll get what's coming, if he does." - -"Then," continued Burton, "it's dollars to dimes it's Aurung Zeeb." - -"Not him, neither," averred the canvasman. "This bloke wears a red -tablecloth and carries a basket. Looks ter me like he had somethin' he -wanted ter sell." - -"I'll go and talk with him. Come on, Matt, you and McGlory." - -Matt, McGlory, and Carl followed the showman under the canvas and into -the calliope "lean-to." Here there was a chocolate-colored individual -answering the canvasman's description. But he was not wearing the red -tablecloth. Instead, he had spread it on the ground and was sitting on -it. In front of him was a round, flat-topped basket, and in his hands -was a queer-looking musical instrument. - -"You want to see me?" demanded the showman, as he and the boys came to -a halt in front of the Hindoo. - -The latter swept his eyes over the little group. - -"You Burton Sahib?" he inquired, bringing his gaze to a rest on the -showman. - -"Yes," was the answer. - -"You look, see what I can do?" queried the Hindoo. - -"If you've got something you want to sell----" - -"The honorable sahib makes the mistake. _Dekke!_" - -Then, with this native word, which signifies "look," the Hindoo dropped -his eyes to the round, flat basket and brought the end of the musical -instrument to his lips. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -BURTON'S LUCK. - - -While the notes of the gourd flute echoed through the tent, the cover -of the round basket began to quiver and shake. Finally it slipped back, -and there were startled exclamations and a brisk, recoiling movement -on the part of the spectators as the head of a venomous cobra showed -itself. - -"A snake charmer!" muttered Burton, disappointment in his voice. -"They're as common as Albinos--and about as much of a drawing card." - -"That's a cobra di capello he's working with," remarked Matt, staring -at the snake with a good deal of interest. "I saw one in a museum once, -and heard a lecturer talk about it. The lecturer said that the bite of -a cobra is almost always fatal, and that there is no known antidote for -the poison; that the virus works so quickly it is even impossible to -amputate the bitten limb before the victim dies." - -"Shnakes iss pad meticine," muttered Carl, "und I don'd like dem a -leedle pit." - -"Sufferin' rattlers!" exclaimed McGlory. "I've been up against -scorpions, Gila monsters, and tarantulas, but blamed if I ever saw a -snake in a sunbonnet before--like that one." - -The cobra's hood, which was fully extended, gave it the ridiculous -appearance of wearing a bonnet, and there was something grewsome in the -way the reptile's head swayed in unison with the flute notes. Suddenly -the head darted sideways. - -Motor Matt's quickness alone kept him from being bitten. He leaped -backward, just in the nick of time to avoid the darting fangs. McGlory, -wild with anger, picked up an iron rod that was used about the -calliope and made a threatening gesture toward the snake. - -"Speak to me about that!" he breathed. "What kind of a snake tamer are -you, anyhow? If you think we're going to stand around and let that -flat-necked poison thrower get in its work on us, you----" - -The cowboy made ready to use the rod, but Matt caught his arm. - -"Hold up, Joe," said Matt. "No harm has been done, and this is a mighty -interesting performance." - -"Aber der sharmer don'd vas aple to put der shnake to shleep mit -itseluf," demurred Carl. "Der copra don'd seem to like der moosic any -more as me." - -"Probably the snake's fangs have been pulled," put in Burton. "I know -the tricks of these snake fakirs." - -"He got very good fangs, sahib," declared the Hindoo, dropping the -flute and getting up. "He pretty bad snake, hard to handle. Now, watch." - -Leaning forward, the Hindoo made a quick grab and caught the snake -about the neck with one hand. After whirling it three times around his -head, he let it fall on the earth in front of him. To the surprise of -the boys and Burton, the cobra lay at full length, rigid and stiff, and -straight as a yardstick. - -The serpent charmer then walked around the cobra, singing a verse of -Hindustani song. - - "La li ta la, ta perisi, - La na comalay ah sahm-re, - Madna, ca-rahm - Ram li ta, co-co-la lir jhi! - La li ta la, vanga-la ta perisi." - -"Jupiter!" exclaimed Burton. "I've heard the Bengal girls chant that -song when they went to the well, of an evening, with their water -pitchers on their heads. That's the time I was in India after tigers." - -"_Dekke!_" cried the Hindoo; "I have killed my snake, my beautiful -little snake! But I have a good cane to walk with." - -Then, taking the rigid reptile up by the tail, he pretended to walk -with it. - -"How you like to buy my cane, sahib?" he asked, swinging the cobra up -so that its head was close to the young motorist's breast. - -Matt shook his head and stepped quickly back. - -"Take the blasted thing away!" snarled McGlory. "Don't get so careless -with it." - -"The snake's hypnotized," explained Burton. "When he swung it around -his head he put it to sleep." - -The Hindoo smiled; then, thrusting the head of the rigid snake under -his turban, he pushed it up and up until all but the tip of the tail -had disappeared under the headdress. After that, with a quick move, he -snatched off the turban. The venomous cobra was found in a glittering -coil on his head. - -With both hands the Hindoo lifted the drowsy cobra from his head, -dropped it into the basket, closed the lid, and pushed the peg into -place. - -"That's a pretty good show," remarked Burton, "but it's old as the -hills. Where did you come from?" - -"Chicago," replied the snake charmer. "I want a job with Burton Sahib." - -"What's your name?" - -"Dhondaram." - -"There's not a thing I can give you to do in the big show," said -Burton, "but maybe the side show could find a place for you. Snake -charmers are side-show attractions, anyhow." - -Dhondaram was giving most of his attention to Matt, although speaking -with Burton. - -"He acts as though he knew you, pard," observed McGlory. - -Dhondaram must have caught the words, for instantly he shifted his gaze -from Matt to the showman. - -"Burra Burton can't give me a job in the big show?" he went on. - -"No," was Burton's decisive reply. "You're a Hindoo. Tell me, do you -know a countryman of yours named Ben Ali?" - -Dhondaram shook his head. - -"Or Aurung Zeeb?" - -Another shake of the head. Dhondaram, seemingly in much disappointment, -gathered up his scarlet robe and his basket and started out. - -"Know of any one who can handle an elephant?" Burton called after him. - -Dhondaram whirled around, his eyes sparkling. - -"I handle elephants, sahib," he declared. - -"You can?" returned the showman jubilantly. "Well, this is a stroke of -luck, and no mistake. Are you good at the job?" - -"Good as you find," was the complacent response. - -"This elephant's a killer," remarked the showman cautiously. - -"He can't kill Dhondaram, sahib," said the Hindoo, with a confident -smile. - -"He has just been in a tantrum, and threw one man through the tent." - -"The elephant, when he is mad, must be looked after with knowledge, -sahib." - -"Well, you come on, Dhondaram, and we'll see how much knowledge you've -got." - -Dhondaram dropped in behind Burton, and Matt and his friends fell in -behind Dhondaram. Together they repaired to the animal tent. - -"Don't like the brown man's looks, hanged if I do, pard," muttered -McGlory. - -"Me, neider," added Carl. "He iss like der shnake, I bed you--ready to -shtrike ven you don't exbect dot. Aber meppy he iss a goot hand mit der -elephant. Ve shall see aboudt dot." - -When they were back in the animal tent, Burton and the boys found -Rajah still in vicious mood. Straining at his chains, the big brute -was swaying from side to side, reaching out with his trunk in every -direction and trying to lay hold of something. - -"_Himmelblitzen_, vat a ugly feller!" murmured Carl, standing and -staring. "He vouldt schust as soon kill somepody as eat a wad oof hay. -You bed my life I vas gladt I gave oop trying to manach him." - -"There's the elephant, Dhondaram," spoke up Burton, pointing. "He's a -killer, I tell you, and I'll not be responsible for damages." - -"I myself will be responsible, sahib," answered the Hindoo. "Hold my -basket, sahib?" he asked, extending the receptacle toward Carl. - -Carl yelled and jumped back as though from a lighted bomb. - -"Nod for a millyon tollars!" he declared. "Take id avay." - -Dhondaram smiled and placed the basket on the ground; then over it he -threw the red robe. - -"_Dekke_, sahibs," he remarked, taking a sharp-pointed knife from a -sash about his waist. "Look, and you will see how I manage the elephant -in my own country." - -Fearlessly he stepped forth and posted himself in front of Rajah. -It may be that the angry brute recognized something familiar in the -Hindoo's clothes, for he stopped lurching back and forth and watched -the brown man. - -"You got to be brave, sahibs," remarked the Hindoo, keeping his eyes on -the elephant's. "If you have the fear, don't let the elephant see. The -elephant is always a big coward, and he make trouble only when he think -he got cowards to deal with. Watch!" - -With that, Dhondaram stepped directly up to the big head of Rajah. Up -went the head, the trunk elevated and curved as though for a blow. - -Matt and his friends held their breath, for it seemed certain the brown -man would be crushed to death under their very eyes. - -But he was not. Rajah's trunk did not descend. In a sharp, -authoritative voice Dhondaram began talking in his native tongue. Every -word was accompanied by a sharp thrust of the knife. - -The huge bulk of the elephant began to shiver and to recoil slowly, -releasing the pull on the chains. Presently the big head lowered and -the trunk came down harmlessly. - -Then, at a word from the Hindoo, the elephant knelt lumberingly on his -forward knees, stretching out his trunk rigidly. Dhondaram stepped on -the trunk and was lifted, gently and safely, to the broad neck. At -another word of command, Rajah rose, and Dhondaram, from his elevated -place, smiled and saluted. - -"It is easy, sahibs," said he. "This elephant is not a bad one." - -Burton clapped his hands. - -"Do you want a job as Rajah's _mahout_?" he asked. - -"Yes," was the answer. - -The showman turned to Matt. - -"Are you willing to take the _Comet_ in the parade with Rajah," he -inquired, "now that we have a better driver than even Ben Ali to look -after the brute?" - -"Dhondaram is a marvel!" exclaimed Matt. "Yes, Burton, we'll be in the -parade with the aëroplane." - -"Good! Hustle around and get ready. There's not much time. Come down, -Dhondaram, and get the blankets on Rajah. The parade will start in half -an hour." - -The boys hurried out of the tent and into the calliope "lean-to." The -_Comet_ had to be put in readiness, and McGlory and Ping, the Chinese -boy, had costumes to put on. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -MOTOR MATT'S COURAGE. - - -During the exhibition at Lafayette, Indiana, the _Comet_ had caught -fire while in the air and the king of the motor boys had made a -dangerous descent in safety. The machine had been damaged, however, -and, when the show left the town, Matt and his friends had remained -behind to make repairs. These repairs had occupied two days. When they -were finished, Matt and McGlory had rejoined the show, flying from -Lafayette in the aëroplane and scattering Burton's handbills over the -country as they came. Carl Pretzel and Ping, the Chinaman, had caught -up with the show by train, there being no place for them on the _Comet_. - -The flight through the air had been made in the face of a tolerably -stiff breeze, and Matt and McGlory had found it necessary to lie over -almost the entire night on account of a high wind. The flying machine, -however, had caught up with the show that very morning. - -The Big Consolidated had pitched its tents in the outskirts of Jackson, -Michigan, just across the railroad tracks on the road to Wolf Lake. - -Matt's work, for which he and his friends were receiving five hundred -and fifty dollars a week, was to drive the aëroplane, under its own -power, in the parade, and to give two flights daily on the grounds--one -immediately after the parade and the other before the evening -performance--wind and weather permitting. During these flights Archie -Le Bon was carried up on a trapeze under the flying machine. - -When the boys reached the place where the aëroplane had been left in -charge of Ping, they began at once replenishing the gasoline and oil -tanks and seeing that everything was shipshape for the journey on the -bicycle wheels. - -Ping, while primarily one of the _Comet's_ attendants, had also shown -a decided regard for the steam calliope. The calliope operator was -teaching him to play a tune on the steam sirens, in return for which -attention the Chinaman always provided the musical instrument with the -water necessary to make the steam that operated the whistles. - -Knowing that he would have to look after the aëroplane, Ping had -performed his calliope duties early in the day. - -The arrival of Carl with Matt and McGlory was a distinct disappointment -to Ping. He and the Dutch boy had had a set-to at the time of their -first meeting, and, although Matt had made them shake hands, yet there -still rankled in their bosoms a feeling of hostility toward each other. -Nevertheless, they kept this animosity in the background whenever Matt -or McGlory was near them. - -During the trip from Lafayette to Jackson on the train the two had -ridden in different cars. They were not on speaking terms when away -from Matt King and his cowboy pard. - -Carl was just beginning his engagement with the Big Consolidated. He -was traveling with the show while waiting for some money to reach him -from India. There was nothing for him to do about the _Comet_, so he -secured a job playing the banjo in the side show while a so-called Zulu -chief performed a war dance on broken glass in his bare feet. - -When the flying machine was in readiness the wagons and riders were -already forming for the parade. - -"You'll have to hustle to get into your clothes, Joe," said Matt, "you -and Ping. Get a move on, now. While you're away I'll watch the _Comet_." - -McGlory and Ping started at once for the calliope tent, which they used -as general rendezvous and dressing room. They rode on the machine in -costume--McGlory in swell cowboy regalia and Ping in a barbaric get-up -that made him look as though he had tumbled off a last year's Christmas -tree. - -Carl had nothing to do until after the aëroplane flight, and so he -remained with Matt until the procession started. - -"Here comes dot pad elephant, Racha," murmured Carl, pointing to the -string of four elephants lumbering in their direction from the animal -tent. "Der Hintoo iss pooty goot ad bossing der elephant, aber I don'd -like his looks." - -"He's all right, Carl," laughed Matt easily. "It's Rajah's looks you -don't like." - -"Vell, I dell you somet'ing, bard. Oof der elephant geds his madt oop, -all you got to do is to turn some veels und sail indo der air mit der -_Gomet_." - -"We couldn't do that. When the _Comet_ takes to the air she has to have -a running start. There's no chance for such a start while we're in the -parade." - -"So? Vell, keep your eyes shkinned bot' vays und look oudt for -yourseluf. I got some hunches alretty dot you vill haf drouples." - -"We'll not have any trouble," returned Matt confidently. - -A few minutes after the elephants had dropped into line in front of -the aëroplane, McGlory, his big spurs clinking at his heels, and Ping, -rattling with tin ornaments and spangles, ran toward the _Comet_. Ping -was helped to the upper wing, and Matt and McGlory took their places in -the seats on the lower plane. - -Carl drew off and cast a gloomy look at Ping, sitting cross-legged on -the overhead plane and languidly beating the air with a fan. - -"You look like nodding vat I efer see!" whooped Carl, envious to a -degree that brought out the sarcastic words in spite of himself. - -"My see plenty things likee Dutchy boy when my no gottee gun," -chattered Ping. - -"Py shinks," rumbled Carl, beside himself, "I vill make you eat dose -topacco tags vat you haf on!" - -"Makee tlacks," answered Ping, with a maddening wave of the fan; "makee -tlacks to side show and plingee-plunk for Zulu man! My makee lide in -procesh." - -The Chinaman's lordly way worked havoc with Carl's nerves. He howled -angrily and rushed forward. At just that moment the parade got under -way, and the aëroplane lurched and swayed across the ground toward the -road. - -"Carl," cried Matt sternly, "keep away!" - -The Dutch boy had to content himself with drawing back, shaking his -fist at the glittering form on the upper wing of the aëroplane, and -saying things to himself. - -The parade was but a wearying repetition of the many Matt, McGlory, -and Ping had already figured in. The glitter of tinsel, the shimmer -of mirrors, the prancing steeds and their mediæval riders, the funny -clowns, the camels and elephants, and the blare of the bands had long -since lost their glamour. For Matt and his friends the romance had died -out, and they were going about their work on a business basis. - -The motor boys and their gasoline air ship always commanded attention -and were loudly cheered. The fame of Motor Matt's exploits had been -told in handbills and dodgers by the clever showman, and, too, Burton -had seen to it that the young motorist secured ample space in the -newspapers. This, naturally, aroused a great deal of interest, and it -had long ago been conceded that Burton's greatest attractions were Matt -and his aëroplane. - -Rajah was a very good elephant during the entire parade. As usual, his -mate, Delhi, marched ahead of him, and always had a pacifying effect. -Dhondaram, perched on Rajah's neck, kept the huge brute lumbering in a -straight line. - -But it seemed strange to Matt and McGlory that Rajah, after his fit of -madness, could be so suddenly brought into subjection. - -"I'll bet my spurs," remarked McGlory, early in the parade, "that Rajah -will cut up a caper yet." - -"If he does," answered Matt, "I hope the _Comet_ will be out of his -way. But this Dhondaram, Joe, seems to be an A One _Mahout_, and I -believe he can hold Rajah down." - -It was about half-past eleven when the dusty paraders began filing back -into the show grounds, the cages pulling into the menagerie tent, the -riders taking their horses to the stable annex, and Matt driving the -aëroplane to the spot from which the first exhibition flight of the day -was to be made. - -"You and Ping go and peel off your show togs," said Matt to McGlory, -as soon as the _Comet_ had been brought to a halt and he and his -friends had dropped off the machine, "and then come back and take -charge of the start. I've got to fix that electric wiring, or I'll get -short-circuited while I'm up with Le Bon." - -He pulled off his coat while he was speaking, and dropped coat and -hat on the ground; then, as McGlory and Ping made their way toward -the calliope tent through a gathering throng of sightseers, the young -motorist opened a tool box and stepped around toward the rear of the -aëroplane to get at the battery and adjust the connections. - -A sharp tent stake, carelessly dropped by one of the show's employees, -lay in the way and Matt kicked it aside. He gave a look around, and saw -that Dhondaram was having some trouble getting Rajah into the menagerie -tent. Thinking nothing of this, Matt proceeded to the rear of the -planes and threw himself across the lower wing, close to the motor and -the battery. - -While he was busily at work he heard a series of startled yells, -apparently coming from the crowd that was massing to witness the flight -of the _Comet_. Withdrawing hastily from his place on the lower plane -of the machine, Matt dropped to the ground and ran around the ends of -the right-hand wings. What he saw was enough to play havoc with the -strongest nerves. - -Right and left the crowd was scattering in a veritable panic, and -through the lane thus made came Rajah, hurling himself along in a -direct line for the _Comet_. There was no one on the animal's back, and -the gay trappings which covered him were fluttering and snapping in the -wind of his flight. - -Rajah had always had a dislike for the aëroplane. Its ungainly form -seemed to annoy him. In the present instance this was no doubt a -fortunate thing. Had the brute not kept his attention on the air ship, -he might have turned on the frightened throng and either killed or -injured a dozen people. - -Motor Matt knew Rajah was charging the _Comet_, and the lad's first -impulse was to get out of the way; then, reflecting that he and his -friends stood to lose the aëroplane unless he made a decided stand of -some sort, he caught up the tent stake, which lay near at hand, and -jumped fearlessly in front of the flying machine. - -This move was not all recklessness on Matt's part. He recalled what -Dhondaram had said to the effect that an elephant was a coward, and -brave only when he had cowardly human beings to deal with. - -Well behind Rajah came a detachment of canvasmen, carrying ropes and -iron bars, and one armed with a rifle. The king of the motor boys had -seen these men, and he knew that if he could keep Rajah from his work -of destruction until the men had had time to come up the _Comet_ would -be saved. - -Cries of consternation went up from the spectators as they saw the -elephant plunge toward Matt. The lad gave a fierce shout as the brute -drew close, and waved the tent stake. - -"Get out of the way, King! Out of the way, or you'll be killed!" - -This was Burton's voice ringing in Matt's ears, and coming from he knew -not where. But the command had no effect on the daring young motorist. -He did not move from his position. - -Rajah wavered. Although he slackened his headlong rush, he still -continued to come on. - -When he was close, and Matt could look into his vicious little eyes, he -halted, crouched back, and lifted his trunk. - -The lad jumped forward and began to use the pointed end of the stake -vigorously. Rajah's head was up, and his sinuous trunk twined in the -air. - -The huge beast towered above Motor Matt like a mountain, but the king -of the motor boys held his ground. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -DHONDARAM'S EXCUSE. - - -What might have happened to Matt had not the canvasmen arrived while he -was pluckily facing and prodding Rajah, it is hard to say. Certainly -the young motorist's brave stand held the elephant at bay and saved the -aëroplane. Before Rajah could make up his mind to strike Matt down and -trample over him to the _Comet_, the frenzied brute was assailed on all -sides and, under the angry direction of Boss Burton, was beaten into a -state of sullen obedience. - -"Where's that confounded Hindoo?" roared Burton, as two of the other -elephants hauled Rajah off toward the animal tent. - -McGlory, in his shirt sleeves, pushed through the crowd and up to the -aëroplane in time to hear the question. - -"Dhondaram is up there in the calliope tent," said the cowboy; -"leastways he was a while ago. When Ping and I dropped into the lean-to -to change our togs, the Hindoo was stretched on the floor, groaning -like a man who was having a fit. He didn't seem to be so terribly bad -off, in spite of the way he was taking on, and I didn't have much time -to strip off my puncher clothes and get back here. Just as I got into -my regular make-up, and before I could take another look at Dhondaram, -a fellow ran by and yelled that Rajah was runnin' wild again and -headin' for the _Comet_. That was enough for me, and I hustled hot -foot for here. I saw you, pard," and here the cowboy turned to Matt, -"standing off that big brute with a tent stake. Speak to me about that! -Say, I'm a Piegan if I ever thought you'd get out of that mix with your -scalp." - -"It was a fool thing you did, King," growled Burton, very much worked -up over the way events had fallen out. "You had about one chance in a -hundred of getting out alive. What did you do it for?" - -"There wasn't any other chance of saving the _Comet_," answered Matt, -a bit shaken himself now that it was all over and he realized how close -a call he had had. - -"Your life, I suppose, isn't worth anything in comparison with the -value of this aëroplane," scoffed Burton. - -"That sort of talk is foolish, Burton," said Matt. "I remembered what -Dhondaram had said about not being a coward around Rajah, so I jumped -in and got between the elephant and the machine. But there's no use -talking now. The aëroplane has been saved, and there's nothing much the -matter with me." - -"There _is_ some use of talking," snapped Burton. "Here comes -Dhondaram, with Ping. Now we can find out how Rajah got away. Dhondaram -has starred himself--I don't think. If that's the best he can do, on -his first try-out, I might as well give him the sack right here." - -The Hindoo and the Chinese boy were coming through the excited crowd -toward the aëroplane. Dhondaram staggered as he walked, and there was a -wild look in his face. - -"What's the matter with you, Dhondaram?" demanded Burton sharply, as -the eyes of the little group near the _Comet_ turned curiously on the -Hindoo. - -"I was sick, sahib," mumbled the brown man, laying both hands on the -pit of his stomach and rolling his eyes upward. - -"Sick?" echoed Burton incredulously. "It must have come on you mighty -sudden." - -"It did, sahib. I came in from the parade, then all at once I could -not see and grew weak--_jee_, yes, so weak I could not stay on Rajah's -back, but fell to the ground and lay there for a moment, not knowing -one thing. When I came to myself I was in a tent, and the _feringhi_ -sahib,"--he pointed to McGlory--"and the Chinaman sahib were getting -clear of their clothes. When I get enough strength, I come here. _Such -bhat_, sahib. What I say is true." - -"You had Rajah properly tamed," went on Burton; "I never saw him act -better in the parade than he did this morning. What caused him to make -such a dead set at this flying machine the moment you dropped off his -back?" - -"Who can say, sahib?" asked Dhondaram humbly. "He not like the machine, -it may be. Has he a cause to dislike the bird-wagon? The elephant, -Burton Sahib, never forgets. A hundred years is to him as a day when it -comes to remembering." - -One of the canvasmen stepped up and asserted that he had seen Dhondaram -drop off Rajah's back and then get up and reel away. Thereupon the -canvasman, expecting trouble, called for some of the other animal -trainers, and they picked up the first things they could lay hands on -and started after the charging elephant. - -This was corroborative of the Hindoo's story, as was also the statement -made by McGlory. - -"Are you subject to attacks like that?" queried Burton, with a -distrustful look at the new _mahout_. - -"Not at all, sahib," replied the Hindoo glibly. "It was the first -stroke of the kind I have ever suffered. By Krishna, I hope and believe -it will be the last." - -"Well," remarked Burton grimly, "if you ever have another, you'll be -cut out of this aggregation of the world's wonders. Now hike for the -menagerie and do your best to curry Rajah down again." - -Without a word Dhondaram wheeled and vanished into the crowd. McGlory -turned, caught Matt's arm, and pulled him off to one side. - -"What's your notion about this, pard?" he asked. - -"I haven't any," said Matt. "It's something to think over, Joe, and not -form any snap judgments." - -The cowboy scowled. - -"These Hindoos are all of the same breed, I reckon," he muttered, "and -you know what sort of fellows Ben Ali and Aurung Zeeb turned out to be." - -Matt nodded thoughtfully. - -"I don't believe one of the turban-tops is to be depended on," -proceeded McGlory. "They're all underhand and sly, and not one of 'em, -as I size it up, but would stand up a stage or snake a game of faro if -he got the chance." - -"There you go with your snap judgment," laughed Matt. - -"It's right off the reel, anyhow," continued McGlory earnestly. "That -Rajah critter was as meek as pie all through the parade. It don't seem -reasonable that he'd take such a dead set at the _Comet_ all at once. -And, as for Dhondaram getting an attack of cramps, he stood about as -much chance of that as of bein' struck by lightning." - -Matt was silent. - -"Blamed queer," continued McGlory, "that Ben Ali and Aurung Zeeb should -drop out, and then, two days after, this other Hindoo should show up. -For a happenchance, pard, it's too far-fetched. There's something -rotten about it." - -"What had Dhondaram got against the _Comet_?" asked Matt. - -"I pass that." - -"You're hinting, in a pretty broad way, Joe, that the new _mahout_ -deliberately set Rajah on to smash the aëroplane." - -"Then I won't hint, pard, but will come out flat-footed. That's just -what I think he did." - -"Why?" - -"You've got to have a reason for everything? Well, I haven't any reason -for that, but I think it, all the same." - -"Ping!" called Matt. - -The Chinese boy was standing by the front of the aëroplane, patting -the forward rudders affectionately, looking at the machine with a fond -eye, and apparently exulting over the fact that it had been saved from -destruction. - -At Matt's call, the boy whirled around and ran toward his two friends. - -"Whatee want, Motol Matt?" he asked. - -"You came here with the Hindoo," said Matt. "How was that?" - -"My follow Hindoo flom tent. Him no gettee sick. My savvy. When McGloly -makee lun flom tent, Hindoo jump to feet chop-chop, feel plenty fine. -Him makee play 'possum. Whoosh! When him come, my come, too." - -"Talk about that!" exclaimed McGlory. "Worse, and more of it. There's a -hen on of some kind, pard." - -"Ping," proceeded Matt, "I've got a job for you." - -"Bully!" cried the Chinaman delightedly. - -"What I want you to do," said Matt, "is to watch Dhondaram. Don't let -him see you at it, mind, but just dodge around, keep tab on him, and -don't let him suspect what you're doing." - -"Hoop-ala!" said Ping, delighted at having such a piece of work come -his way. - -"Think you can attend to that?" - -"Can do! You bettee. My heap smarter than Hindoo. You watchee, find um -out." - -"All right, then. Away with you." - -Ping darted off toward the animal tent. At that moment Burton hurried -up. - -"Better get busy and make your ascent, Matt," said Burton. "The crowd's -all worked up about that elephant business, and the quickest way to get -the people's minds off it is by giving them something else to watch and -talk about." - -"I'll start at once," replied Matt, taking his seat in his accustomed -place on the lower plane. "Let her flicker, Joe." - -The king of the motor boys "turned over" the engine, switched the power -into the bicycle wheels, and the _Comet_, pushed by McGlory and half a -dozen canvasmen, raced along the hard ground for a running start. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -ROBBERY. - - -Motor Matt made as graceful an ascent and as pretty a flight in the -aëroplane as any he had ever attempted. Archie Le Bon, swinging below -the machine on a trapeze, put the finishing touch to the performance by -doing some of the most hair-raising stunts. Loud and prolonged were the -cheers that floated up to the two with the _Comet_, and there was not -the least doubt but that the aëroplane had successfully diverted the -minds of the spectators from the recent trouble with Rajah. - -After the _Comet_ had fluttered back to earth, and the crowd had -drifted away toward the side show, Matt and McGlory left a canvasman -in charge of the machine and dropped in at the cook tent for a hurried -meal. There was now nothing for the two chums to do until the next -flight of the day, which was billed to take place at half-past six. - -"Did you ever have a feeling, pard," said the cowboy, as he and Matt -were leaving the mess tent and walking across the grounds toward the -calliope "lean-to," "that there was a heap of trouble on the pike, and -all of it headed your way?" - -"I've had the feeling, Joe," laughed Matt. - -"Got it now?" - -"No." - -"Well, I have." - -McGlory halted and looked skyward, simultaneously lifting his -handkerchief to test the strength and direction of the wind. Watching -the weather had become almost a second nature with the cowboy since he -and Matt had been with the Big Consolidated. Aëroplane flights are, to -a greater or less extent, at the mercy of the weather, and the more -wind during an ascension then the greater the peril for Motor Matt. - -"Think the weather is shaping up for a gale this afternoon, Joe?" -queried Matt. - -"Nary, pard. There's not a cloud in the sky, and it's as calm a day as -any that ever dropped into the almanac." - -"Not exactly the day to worry, eh?" - -"Well, no; but I'm worrying, all the same. What are you going to do -now?" - -"Catch forty winks of sleep in the calliope tent. We didn't get our -full share of rest last night, and I'm feeling the need of it." - -When they got to the "lean-to" Matt laid a horse blanket on the ground, -close to the wheels of the canvas-covered calliope, and stretched -himself out on it. A band was playing somewhere about the grounds, and -the sound lulled him into slumber. - -The cowboy was not sleepy, and he was too restless to stay in the -"lean-to." Matt was hardly asleep before McGlory had left on some -random excursion across the grounds. - -A man entered the calliope tent. He came softly, and halted as soon as -his eyes rested on the sprawled-out form of Motor Matt. - -The man was Dhondaram. A burning light arose in the dusky eyes as they -continued to rest on the form of the sleeper. - -For some time the doors leading into the "big show" had been open. -Crowds were entering the menagerie tent, and passing from there into -the "circus top." The noise was steady and continuous, so that it was -impossible for Matt, who was usually a light sleeper, to hear the -entrance of the Hindoo. - -Dhondaram lingered for several minutes. He had not his flat-topped -basket with him, and he whirled abruptly and hurried out of the -"lean-to." - -From the look that flamed in the face of the Hindoo as he left, it -seemed as though he was intending to return again--and to bring the -cobra with him. - -He had not been gone many minutes, however, when Boss Burton entered -the calliope tent. This was where he usually met the man from the -ticket wagon, as soon as the receipts had been counted and put up in -bags, received the money, and carried it to the bank. This part of the -work had to be accomplished before three o'clock in the afternoon, as -the banks closed at that hour. The money from the evening performance -always accompanied Burton in the sleeping car on the second section -of the show train, and was deposited in the next town on the show's -schedule. - -Burton did not see Matt lying on the ground, close up to the calliope, -and seated himself on an overturned bucket and lighted a cigar. The -weed was no more than well started, when Dhondaram, carrying his -basket, appeared softly in the entrance. At sight of Burton, the Hindoo -stifled an exclamation and came to a startled halt. - -"What's wrong with you?" demanded the showman. - -"Nothing at all, sahib," answered Dhondaram, recovering himself. - -"Feeling all right now?" - -"Yes, sahib." - -"Good!" - -Without lingering for further talk, Dhondaram faced about and glided -away. - -The conversation between the showman and the Hindoo had awakened Matt. -The young motorist sat up blinking and looked at Burton. He knew how -the proprietor of the Big Consolidated always met the ticket man in the -calliope tent, about that time in the afternoon, and checked up and -received the proceeds for deposit in the local bank. - -"Much of a crowd, Burton?" called Matt. - -"Oh, ho!" he exclaimed. "You've been taking a snooze, eh?" - -"A short one. Trying to make up for a little sleep I lost last night. -What time is it, Burton?" - -"About half-past two. Say," and it was evident from Burton's manner -that the thought flashing through his brain had come to him suddenly, -"I want to talk with you a little about that Dutch pard of yours." - -"Go ahead," said Matt, leaning back against one of the calliope wheels; -"what about Carl?" - -"Is he square?" continued Burton. - -"Square?" repeated Matt. "Why, he's as honest a chap as you'll find -anywhere. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be training with McGlory and me. -You ought to know that, Burton." - -"You ain't infallible, I guess. Eh, Matt? You're liable to make -mistakes, now and then, just like anybody else." - -"I suppose so, but I know Carl too well to make any mistake about -_him_. What gave you the idea he was crooked?" - -"I never had the idea," protested Burton. "I just asked for -information, that's all. He came to the show on your recommendation, -and I've taken him in, but I like to have a line on the people I get -about me." - -"There's more to it than that," said Matt, studying Burton's face -keenly. "Out with it, Burton." - -"Well, then, I don't like the Dutchman's looks," acknowledged Burton. -"Ping told me----" - -"Oh, that's it!" muttered Matt. "Ping told you--what?" - -"Why, that he caught the Dutchman going through his pockets last night. -If that's the kind of fellow Carl is, I----" - -"Take my word for it, Burton," interrupted Matt earnestly, "my Dutch -pard is on the level. He makes a blunder, now and then, but he's one of -the best fellows that ever lived." - -"What did Ping talk to me like that for?" - -"He and Carl don't hitch. There's a little petty rivalry between them, -and they're a bit grouchy." - -"Is Ping so grouchy that he's trying to make people believe Carl's a -thief?" - -"Ping is a Chinaman, and he has his own ideas about what's right and -wrong. I'll talk to him about this, though." - -"You'd better. Certainly you don't want one of your pards circulating -false reports about another." Burton looked at his watch impatiently. -"I wonder where Andy is?" he muttered, "He's behindhand, now, and if he -delays much longer, I'll not be able to get to the bank before closing -time." - -"He may have had such a big afternoon's business," suggested Matt, -"that it's taking him a little longer to get the money counted, and -into the bags." - -"The business was only fair--nothing unusual. Andy has had plenty of -time to sack up the money and get here with it." - -Andy Carter was the ticket man. He was middle-aged, an expert -accountant, and was usually punctual to the minute in fulfilling his -duties to his employer. - -"Have you seen anything of Dhondaram lately?" Matt inquired casually. - -"He blew in here with his little basket just before you woke up. Didn't -you see him?" - -"I heard you talking," answered Matt, "and that's what wakened me, but -I didn't see who you were talking with. Did he get Rajah under control -again, Burton?" - -A puzzled look crossed the showman's face. - -"He can manage that big elephant as easily as I can manage a tame -poodle, and he wasn't two minutes with the brute before he had him as -meek as Moses. What I can't understand is how Rajah ever broke away and -went on the rampage like he did." - -"There are others on this ground who deserve your suspicions a whole -lot more than my Dutch pard," observed Matt. - -"You mean that I'd better be watching Dhondaram?" - -"Not at all," was the reply. Matt was already having the Hindoo -watched, so it was hardly necessary for Burton to attend to the matter. -"The Hindoo's actions are queer." - -"Hindoos are a queer lot, anyhow. But they're good elephant trainers, -and that's the point that gets me, just now." - -"Where did Dhondaram say he----" - -Motor Matt got no further with his question. Just at that moment a -man reeled through the entrance. His hat was gone, his coat was torn, -and there was a bleeding cut on the side of his face. With a gasp, he -tumbled to his knees in front of Burton. - -"Great Jupiter!" exclaimed Burton, leaping to his feet. "Andy! What's -happened to you?" - -"Robbed!" breathed the ticket man, swaying and holding both hands to -his throat; "knocked down and robbed of two bags of money that I was -bringing here. I--I----" - -By then the startled Matt was also on his feet. - -"Who did it?" shouted the exasperated Burton. "Did you see who did it? -Speak, man!" - -But Carter was unable to speak. Overcome by what he had passed through, -he crumpled down at full length and lay silent and still at the -showman's feet. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -BETWEEN THE WAGONS. - - -Excitement, and a certain reaction which follows all such shocks as the -ticket man had been subjected to, had brought on a fainting spell. A -little water soon revived Carter, and he was laid on the blanket from -which Matt had gotten up a little while before. - -"Now tell me about the robbery," said Burton, "and be quick. While -we're wasting time here, the thieves are getting away. I can't afford -to let 'em beat me out of the proceeds of the afternoon's show. Who did -it, Carter?" - -"I don't know, Burton," was the answer. - -"Don't know?" repeated the showman blankly. "Can't tell who knocked you -down and lifted the two bags, when it was done in broad day! What are -you givin' us?" he added roughly. - -"It's a fact, Burton," persisted Carter. "I was hit from behind and -could not see the man who struck me." - -"You've got a cut on your face. How do you account for that if, as you -say, you were struck from behind?" - -"The blow I received threw me forward against a wagon wheel. The tire -cut my cheek. I dropped flat, and didn't know a thing. When I came to -myself, of course, the money was gone." - -"Here's a pretty kettle of fish, and no mistake!" fumed Burton. "How -much money did you have, Andy?" - -"A little over eighteen hundred dollars." - -"Eighteen hundred gone to pot! By Jupiter, I won't stand for that. -Can't you think of _some_ clue, Andy? Pull your wits together. It isn't -possible that a hold-up like that could take place in broad day without -leaving some clue behind. Think, man!" - -"Maybe that new Dutch boy could give you a clue," replied Carter. "He's -a friend of Motor Matt's, isn't he?" - -"He's a pard of Matt's," said Burton, casting a significant look at the -king of the motor boys. "What makes you think he might give us a clue? -Don't hang fire, Andy! Every minute we delay here is only that much -time lost. Go on--and speak quick." - -"I had just left the ticket wagon," pursued Carter, trying to talk -hurriedly, "when the Dutchman stepped up to me. He wanted a word in -private, as he said, and I told him he'd have to wait until some other -time. He said he couldn't wait, and that what he had to tell me was -important. I couldn't get away from him, and I agreed to listen to -what he had to say providing he didn't delay me more than two or three -minutes. With that, he led me around back of the "circus top" and in -between two canvas wagons. That's when I got struck from behind." - -Motor Matt listened to this in blank amazement. Boss Burton swore under -his breath. - -"It's a cinch the Dutchman had a hand in the robbery," the showman -declared. "He lured Andy in between the wagons, and it was there that -some of the Dutchman's confederates knocked Andy down and lifted the -bags. If we can lay hands on this Carl, we'll have one of the thieves." - -"Don't be too sure of that," interposed Matt. "Carl Pretzel never did a -dishonest thing in his life, and I'm sure he can explain this." - -"Don't let your regard for the Dutchman blind you to what's happened, -Matt," warned the showman. "The only thing he asked Andy to go in -between the wagons for was so that the dastardly work would be screened -from the eyes of people around the grounds." He turned away, adding: -"We'll have to hunt for Carl--and it will be a hunt, I'll be bound. -Unless I miss my guess, he and his confederates are a good ways from -here with that eighteen hundred dollars." - -Burton ran toward the tent door, followed by Matt. Before either of -them could pass out, Carl and McGlory stepped through and stood facing -them. - -Carl had a red cotton handkerchief tied round the back of his head. - -"Here he is, by thunder!" cried the surprised Burton. - -"So, you see," spoke up Matt, "he didn't run away, after all." - -"It's some kind of a bluff he's working," went on Burton doggedly. "I -want you," he added, and dropped a heavy hand on Carl's shoulder. - -"For vy iss dot?" inquired Carl. - -"What do you want the boy for?" said McGlory. - -"He helped steal eighteen hundred dollars the ticket man was bringing -over here for me to take to the bank," said Burton; "that's what I want -him for." - -"Iss he grazy?" gasped Carl, falling weakly against McGlory. "Vat dit I -do mit der money oof I took it, hey? Und ven dit I take it, und vere it -vas? By shinks," and Carl rubbed a hand over his bandaged head, "I'm -doing t'ings vat I don'd know nodding aboudt. Somepody blease tell me -vat I peen oop to." - -"Don't you get gay," growled Burton. "It won't help your case any." - -"Give me the straight o' this," demanded McGlory. - -Burton stepped back and waved a hand in the direction of Andy Carter. - -"Look at Andy!" he exclaimed. "He's been beaten up and robbed of two -bags of money that he was bringing here. The Dutchman lured him in -between a couple of canvas wagons, and that's where the job was pulled -off." - -"Speak to me about this!" murmured the dazed McGlory. "What about it, -Matt?" he added. - -Matt did not answer, but stepped over to Carl. - -"Why did you ask Carter to step in between the wagons, Carl?" the young -motorist asked. - -"Pecause I vanted to shpeak mit him alone by himseluf," answered Carl. -"Vat's der odds aboudt der tifference, anyvay?" - -"What did you want to speak with him about?" - -"Vell, I don'd like blaying der pancho for dot Zulu feller. I dit id -vonce, und den fired meinseluf. Vat I vant iss somet'ing light und -conshenial--hantling money vould aboudt suit me, I bed you. Dot's vat -I vanted to see der ticket feller aboudt. I vanted to ask him vould he -blease gif me some chob in der ticket wagon, und I took him off vere -ve could haf some gonversations alone. Dot's all aboudt it, und oof I -shtole some money, vere it iss, und vy don'd I got it? Tell me dot!" - -"That's a raw bluff you're putting up," scowled Burton. "You're -nobody's fool, even if you do try to make people think so." - -"I ain't your fool, neider," cried Carl, warming up. "You can't make -some monkey-doodle pitzness oudt oof me. You may own der show und be a -pig feller, aber I got some money meinseluf oof it efer geds here from -Inchia, so for vy should I vant to svipe your money, hey?" - -"What happened between the wagons, Carl?" went on Matt. "Just keep your -ideas to yourself, Burton," he added, "and don't accuse Carl until he -has a chance to give his side of the story. Did you see the man who -knocked Carter down?" - -"I don'd see nodding," said Carl. - -"Do you mean to say," asked Carter, rising up on the blanket, "that I -wasn't knocked down?" - -"I don'd know vedder or nod you vas knocked down. How could I tell dot?" - -"You were there with Carter--there between the wagons," cried Burton -angrily. "Why shouldn't you have seen what happened?" - -"Look here vonce." - -Carl pulled off his cap and bent his head. - -"Feel dere," he went on, touching the back of his head. "Be careful mit -your feelings, oof you blease, und tell me vat you findt." - -"A lump," said Matt. - -"Ouch!" whimpered Carl. "It vas so sore as I can't tell. My headt feels -like a parrel, und hurts all ofer. Dot's der reason I ditn't see vat -habbened. I vas knocked down meinseluf, und it must haf peen aboudt der -same time der dicket feller keeled ofer." - -"There you have it, Burton," said Matt, facing the showman. "Carl -wanted a job in the ticket wagon, and thought he might get it by -talking with Andy Carter. When they got in between the wagons they were -both knocked down." - -"Rot!" ground out Burton. "Why didn't Carter see the Dutchman when he -came to? Or why didn't the Dutchman see Carter, if he got back his wits -first?" - -"Carl was looking for Carter when I met up with him," put in McGlory. - -"The Dutchman wasn't near the wagons when I recovered my senses," came -from the ticket man. - -"Und I don'd know vedder you vas dere or nod, Carter," explained Carl. -"Ven I got to know vere I vas at, I foundt meinseluf vanderin' around -mit a sore headt. But I tell you somet'ing, Burton. I peen a tedectif, -und a fine vone. How mooch you gif me oof I findt der t'ieves und -recofer der money? Huh?" - -"I believe you know where that money is, all right," declared the -showman, "and if you think I'm going to pay you something for giving it -back, you're wrong. If you want to save yourself trouble, you'll hand -over the funds." - -"You talk like you vas pug-house!" said Carl. "I ain't got der money." - -"Who helped you steal it?" - -"Nopody! I ditn't know it vos shtole ondil you shpeak aboudt it." - -"Stop that line of talk, Burton," put in Matt. "Carl's story is -straight, and it satisfies me." - -"How much money did the Dutchman have when he came here this morning?" -asked Burton. - -"T'irty cents," replied Carl. "Modor Matt paid my railroadt fare from -Lafayette to Chackson." - -"Search him, McGlory," ordered Burton. "Let's see if he has anything -about his clothes that will prove his guilt." - -Carl began to laugh. - -"What's the joke?" snorted Burton. - -"Vy," was the answer, "to t'ink I haf eighdeen huntert tollars aboudt -me und don't know dot. Go on mit der search, McGlory." - -Carl lifted his hands above his head, and the cowboy began pushing his -hands into Carl's pockets. In the second pocket he examined he found -something which he pulled out and held up for the observation of all. -It was a canvas sack, lettered in black, "Burton's Big Consolidated -Shows." - -"One of the bags that held the money!" exclaimed Carter. - -"I told you so!" whooped Burton. - -Matt and McGlory were astounded. And so was Carl--so dumfounded that he -was speechless. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A PEG TO HANG SUSPICIONS ON. - - -"Vell, oof dot don'd grab der banner!" mumbled Carl, when he was -finally able to speak. "I hat dot in my bocket und don'd know nodding -aboudt it! Somepody must haf put him dere for a choke." - -"That's a nice way to explain it!" growled Burton. "It cooks your -goose, all right. Anything in the bag, McGlory?" - -"Nary a thing," answered the bewildered cowboy, turning the bag inside -out. - -"Go on with the search," ordered Burton. - -Mechanically the cowboy finished looking through the Dutch boy's -clothes, and all the money he found consisted of two ten-cent pieces -and a couple of nickels. - -"Where did you hide that money?" demanded Burton sternly, stepping in -front of Carl. - -"I don'd hite it no blace," cried Carl. "You make me madt as some vet -hens ven you talk like dot. Ged avay from me or I vill hit you vonce." - -"Carter," went on Burton in a voice of suppressed rage, "call a -policeman." - -The ticket man had scrambled to his feet, and he now made a move in the -direction of the tent door. - -"Hold up, Carter!" called Matt; then, turning to Burton, he went on: -"You're not going to arrest Carl, Burton, unless you want this outfit -of aviators to quit you cold." - -The red ran into Burton's face. - -"Are you trying to bulldoze me?" he demanded. "I've got eighteen -hundred dollars at stake, and I'm not going to let it slip through my -fingers just because you fellows threaten to leave the show and take -the aëroplane with you. I tell you frankly, King, I don't like the way -you're talking and acting in this matter. We've got good circumstantial -evidence against your Dutch friend, and he ought to be locked up." - -"I admit that there's some evidence," returned Matt, "but you don't -know Carl as well as I do. It isn't possible that he would steal a -nickel from any one. If there was ten times as much evidence against -him, no one could make me believe that." - -"You're allowing your friendship to run away with your better judgment. -What am I to do? Just drop this business, right here?" - -"Of course not. All I want you to do is to leave Carl alone and let the -motor boys find the thief." - -"I want that money," said Burton, with a black frown, "and I'm -satisfied this Dutchman knows where it is." - -"And I'm satisfied he doesn't know a thing about it," said Matt warmly. - -"How did that bag get into his pocket?" - -"If you come to that, why isn't there some of the stolen money in the -bag? Do you think for a minute, Burton, that Carl would be clever -enough to plan such a robbery, and then be foolish enough to carry -around with him the bare evidence of it? You don't give him credit for -having much sense. Why should he keep the bag, and then come in here -with it in his pocket?" - -Burton remained silent. - -"Furthermore," proceeded Matt, "if Carl is one of the thieves, or the -only thief, why did he come in here at all? Why didn't he make a run of -it as soon as he got his hands on the money?" - -"Every crook makes a mistake, now and then," muttered Burton. "If they -didn't, the law would have a hard time running them down." - -"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Matt. "Leave Carl alone. If I can't -prove his innocence to your satisfaction, I'll agree to stay four weeks -with your show for nothing. You'll be making more than two thousand -dollars, and you've only lost eighteen hundred by this robbery." - -Burton's feelings underwent a change on the instant. - -"Oh, well, if you put it that way," he said, "I'm willing to let the -Dutchman off. I only want to do the right thing, anyhow." - -"You vas a skinner," averred Carl contemptuously. "I knowed dot from -der fairst time vat ve met." - -"Sing small, that's your cue," retorted Burton. "Remember," and he -whirled on Motor Matt, "if you don't prove the Dutchman's innocence, -you're to work for me for four weeks without pay. I'm willing to let it -rest in that way." - -With that Burton took himself off. His show was doing well and he was -not pressed for funds. As for the rest of it, he had shifted everything -connected with the robbery to the shoulders of Motor Matt. - -McGlory was a bit dubious. He had not known Carl as long as Matt had, -and had not the same amount of confidence in him. - -"Matt," remarked the Dutch boy with feeling, "you vas der pest friendt -vat I efer hat, und you bed my life you don'd vas making some misdakes -ven you pelieve dot I ditn't shdeal der money. I don'd know nodding -aboudt der pag, nor how it got in my bocket. Dot's der trut'." - -"I know that without your telling me, pard," said Matt. "The thing for -us to do now is to find out who the real thieves are." - -"There must have been only one," said McGlory. - -"There must have been two, Joe." - -"How do you figure it?" - -"Why, because both Carl and Carter were knocked down at the same time. -Neither saw what had happened to the other. Two men must have done -that." - -"Vat a headt it iss!" murmured Carl. "Modor Matt vould make a fine -tedectif, I tell you dose." - -"You've got a bean on the right number, pard, and no mistake," exulted -McGlory. - -"Did you see any one near the wagons when you led the ticket man in -between them?" asked Matt, turning to look at the place where he had -last seen the ticket man standing. - -But Carter had left. Presumably, he had followed after Burton. - -"I don'd see nopody aroundt der vagons," answered Carl. "Der t'ieves -vas hiding, dot's a skinch. Day vas hid avay mit demselufs in blaces -vere dey couldt handt Carter und me a gouple oof goot vones. Ouch -again!" and Carl rubbed a gentle hand over the red cotton handkerchief. - -"Take us to the place where you and Carter were knocked down, Carl," -said Matt. "We'll look the ground over and see if we can find anything." - -The Dutch boy conducted his two friends toward the rear of the circus -tent. Here there were two big, high-sided canvas wagons drawn up in a -position that was somewhat isolated so far as the tents of the show -were concerned. The wagons had been left in the form of a "V," and Carl -walked through the wide opening. - -"Dis iss der vay vat ve come in," said he, "I in der lead oof der -dicket man. Ven I ged py der front veels oof der vagon, I turn around, -und den--_biff_, down I go like some brick puildings had drowed -demselufs on dop oof me. Shiminy grickeds, vat a knock! I don'd know -vere Carter vas shtanding, pecause I ditn't see him, I vas hit so -kevick." - -Matt surveyed the ground. The turf had retained no marks of the -violent work. He examined the rear tires of the wagons. The rims, for -the whole of their circumference that was off the ground, were covered -with a coating of dried mud; and this caking of mud was not broken at -any place. - -"Carter must have stood here, in this position," observed Matt, placing -himself between the two rear wheels. "He says that he fell against one -of the wheels and cut his cheek on the tire. I can't find any trace of -the spot where Carter came into such rough contact with either of the -tires." - -"Don't you think he was telling the truth, pard?" asked McGlory in some -excitement. "Is it possible he was using the double tongue, just to----" - -"Easy, there," interrupted Matt. "Carter was dazed when he fell, and -could hardly have known whether he struck against the tire or against -something else. He may have dropped on a stone----" - -"No stones here," objected McGlory, with a quiet look over the surface -of the ground. - -"Well, then it was something else that caused the injury to his cheek. -He----" - -"Here's something," and McGlory made a dive for the ground and lifted -himself erect with an object in his hand. "I reckon it don't amount to -anything, though." - -"Let's see it," said Matt. - -McGlory handed the object to the young motorist. It was a peg, perhaps -half an inch thick by three inches long, and had a knob at one end as -big as a marble. - -"Great spark-plugs!" exclaimed the king of the motor boys, staring from -the peg to McGlory and Carl. - -"What's to pay?" queried McGlory. "You act as though we'd found -something worth while." - -"We have," declared Matt, "and everything seems to be helping us on -toward a streak of luck in this robbery matter." - -"How vas dot?" queried Carl. - -"This peg belongs to the Hindoo," said Matt. "It's the contrivance he -used for fastening down the lid of that flat basket in which he carries -the cobra." - -McGlory went into the air with a jubilant whoop. - -"He's the thief!" he cried. "I've had a feelin' all along that he was a -tinhorn. This proves it! Sufferin' blackguards, Matt, but you've got a -head!" - -"Vere iss der shnake?" came from Carl, as he looked around in visible -trepidation. "Oof der pasket iss oben, den der copra is loose on der -grounds. Vat a carelessness!" - -"And remember," said Matt, addressing the cowboy, "that I had set Ping -to watch the Hindoo before the robbery took place. If Dhondaram is the -robber, then Ping was on his trail at the time and must know something -about it." - -"Speak to me about that!" exulted the cowboy. "Our friend the -Hindoo has been putting in some good licks since he joined the Big -Consolidated! He hasn't let any grass grow under his feet." - -Motor Matt whirled around and walked out from between the wagons. - -"Let's find Ping," he called back, "and get a report from him. That -ought to settle everything." - -McGlory and Carl, feeling that something important was about to be -accomplished, hurried after Matt as he moved off across the show -grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -A WAITING GAME. - - -The Chinese boy was not in evidence anywhere about the camp. After -a search in all directions, Matt, McGlory, and Carl, reasoning that -Ping's trail had led him to other places outside the show grounds, -returned to the calliope tent. There, to their overwhelming surprise, -they came upon Dhondaram, sitting nonchalantly on his square of scarlet -cloth and smoking a cigarette. - -The Hindoo's face lighted up genially at sight of the three boys. - -"_Salaam_, sahibs!" said he in a friendly tone. "I come here to rest. -It is permitted? I thought so. Rajah takes work to manage--_jee_, yes, -much work. It tires me. Do you use the little smokes? Take one, sahibs." - -Dhondaram offered his little red box of rolled paper poison, only to -have his courtesy declined. - -Matt was looking around. He was hoping to see the basket, but it was -not in sight. - -McGlory had something at the end of his tongue, and Carl was all agog -with a desire to talk, but Matt silenced each of them with a look. - -"Where's the cobra, Dhondaram?" asked Matt. "I'd like to see you juggle -with the snake again." - -The Hindoo smiled and showed his white teeth. - -"_Maskee!_" he exclaimed, "that is my sorrow. My little snake is gone. -Now that I am taking care of elephants, sahib, I have not the time to -charm serpents. I sold the cobra an hour ago." - -"Sufferin' tarantulas!" murmured McGlory. "What fool would want to buy -a thing like that?" - -"The cobra, sahib," said the Hindoo, turning to the cowboy, "is a -curiosity. Many _feringhis_ like curiosities and pay for them. 'Tis -well. I like the elephants better than the serpents." - -"What did you do with the snake basket?" asked Matt. - -"That must be sold with the cobra, sahib. What would the new owner -do with the serpent unless he had the place to keep him? _Dekke!_ He -take the snake, also he take the basket. I throw in the basket, as you -call--give it as boot." - -With eyes narrowly watching Dhondaram's face, Matt produced the peg and -tossed it on the red cloth. - -"What did the new owner do," the king of the motor boys inquired, -"without the peg to keep the basket shut?" - -Not a tremor crossed the Hindoo's face. - -"Ah, ha!" said he. "I lose the peg and Motor Matt Sahib find it. But it -is nothing. There are many things that can be used as pegs--a splinter, -a bit of wood, almost anything. Where you pick it up, sahib?" - -"Oh, out on the grounds," answered Matt indefinitely. - -"Sahib recognize the peg when he find him? You have much observation, -Mattrao Sahib." - -The suffix "rao" is added to a name as a sign of great respect. -Probably Dhondaram felt that he was paying Matt a high compliment, -although, naturally, Matt knew nothing about that. - -Dhondaram got up slowly and lifted the red cloth from the ground. - -"I will now go," said he, "and find how my bad Rajah is conducting -himself. He must be watched carefully, and spoken to." - -With a courteous nod the Hindoo left the tent. As soon as he was gone -Matt rolled over and lifted one side of the canvas wall. - -The Hindoo, with never a look behind, walked in his easy way around the -calliope "lean-to" and into the "animal top," by the front entrance. - -"Nerve!" sputtered McGlory, "he's got a square mile of it. Never turned -a hair. Even the sight of that peg didn't phase him." - -Matt was still peering from under the canvas. - -"There's something here I can't understand," said he, a few moments -later, and he dropped the canvas and faced his friends. - -"Vat it iss?" asked Carl. - -"Why, we set Ping to watching Dhondaram, and by all the rules of the -game the Chinaman ought to be on the fellow's track. But he isn't, so -far as I can see. What's become of Ping, McGlory?" - -"Dhondaram has shaken him," hazarded the cowboy. "The chink wasn't -sharp enough for the turban boy." - -"That may be," mused Matt, "although I doubt it. Ping is about as smart -a Chinaman as you'll find in a month's travel. It's mysterious." - -"Then again," went on McGlory, "maybe Ping is on Dhondaram's trail and -you don't know it. He's either too wise for us, or else not wise enough -for the Hindoo. Pick out whichever conclusion you want." - -But Matt shook his head, puzzled. - -"He don'd vas mooch goot, dot chink feller," spoke up Carl gloomily. -"Vone oof dose days you will findt him oudt." - -"Don't try any slams on Ping," said McGlory. "He's the clear quill, he -is, even though he's a rat-eater and a heathen. Ping has turned some -pretty fine tricks for Matt and me, and like as not he's busy coming -across with another. You've got too much of a grouch at the slant-eyed -brother, Carl." - -"I say vat I t'ink, und dot's all," replied Carl. "I can lick him mit -vone handt tied aroundt my pack." - -"Cut it out, Carl," said Matt. "Ping's a good fellow, and has always -stood by me. I don't want any hostile feelings between two of my pards." - -"Py shinks," cried Carl, "he iss more hosdyle at me as I am at him. -Aber he's a shink, und he hides vat he t'inks pedder as I can do. -Somedime you findt it oudt, den you know." - -"Go and look for Ping, Carl," said Matt. "Find him, if you can, and -bring him where I can talk with him. It's more than likely that your -innocence of that hold-up will have to be proven by the Chinaman, so it -will stand you in hand to be friendly with him." - -"Honest," fumed Carl, getting up, "I hat radder go to chail mit -meinseluf as to led der shink prove dot I ditn't took der money." - -"Well, you go and find him. You and Ping must be friends if you're both -to stay with me." - -Carl was far from being in love with the task assigned to him, but -nevertheless he went off to do what he could toward performing it. - -"Those two boys don't mix worth a cent," remarked Matt, when Carl had -left. "They're like oil and water." - -"They mix too much," grinned McGlory. "When they got acquainted with -each other it was a 'knock-down' in more than one sense of the word. -They've been hungry to mix it up with each other ever since." - -Matt had no answer for this. He was well acquainted with the -dispositions of both boys. - -"When I first got acquainted with Carl," said Matt reminiscently, "he -was having trouble with a Chinese laundryman. That was 'way off in -Arizona." - -For a time there was silence between the friends, broken at last by the -cowboy. - -"What can we do now, pard?" - -"It's a waiting game for us, and if Ping doesn't know something that -will help Carl out of the hole he is in, we'll have to hunt for some -other clues." - -"Dhondaram is a smooth article, and no mistake. If he really stole the -money, who helped him? And why is he staying with the show?" - -"I don't know, pard," returned Matt. "We'll have to let the thing work -itself out, somehow." - -"You don't intend presenting Burton with our wages for a month, do you?" - -"That's the very last thing I'd ever do!" declared Matt. - -"Then, if that's the case, we can't keep up this waiting game too long." - -The afternoon performance was over, and the crowd of people began -filing out of the tents. Only the "grand concert" remained, and -that would soon be at an end, and the time would arrive for another -ascension with the aëroplane. - -"I wish," remarked Matt thoughtfully, "that we could work out this -robbery business before we leave Jackson. Some town crook may be mixed -up in it with Dhondaram, and when the show leaves the place we may all -be leaving the money behind." - -"Burton isn't worrying," said McGlory. "He's positive Carl is guilty, -and that you can't prove anything else. In other words, Boss Burton is -planning to have us work four weeks for nothing." - -"He'll be disappointed," said Matt. "Let's go and get supper, Joe. It -won't be long before the evening crowd begins to arrive, and I want to -put the _Comet_ in shape." - -While they were eating at the long table in the mess tent Carl came in. - -"I don'd find nodding," said he, dropping wearily into a chair. "Der -shink is harter to find as a hayshtack mit some neetles in it. Meppy he -iss over in der town, or else gone oop in a palloon, or else"--and here -Carl leaned closer to Matt and spoke in a whisper--"meppy he took der -money himseluf und has gone pack py Shina." - -"That will do, Carl," said Matt sternly. "Ping is as honest as you are." - -"Anyhow," spoke up McGlory sarcastically, "he didn't ask Carter to go -between the wagons, and we didn't find a bag in his pocket." - -"Dot's righdt, rup id in," glowered Carl. "Oof I could ged dot money -from Inchia I vould fly der coop und I vouldn't come pack any more. All -der tedectif vat iss in me say der shink is gone mit der show money. I -say vat I t'ink." - -"Well," said Matt, "don't say it to anybody else." - -When he and McGlory left the mess tent and moved off toward the -aëroplane, Carl was still eating. - -Matt was counting upon having as successful a flight that afternoon as -he had made in the morning. The repaired aëroplane was in better trim -for flying than it had been when new, and there was not even the small -breeze which had accompanied the first flight of the day. - -But, if Matt could have known it, he was destined to meet with one of -the most desperate and hair-raising exploits of his aëroplane career -during that second flight from the Jackson show grounds. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -A TRICK AT THE START. - - -The guard who had been in charge of the aëroplane since the parade -had returned to the show grounds was relieved by Matt and McGlory. As -soon as he had left, Matt, in accordance with his usual custom, made -a careful examination of the machine. He knew very well what might -happen if he found, after being launched into the air, that some of the -many parts of the aëroplane were loose, or the machinery not working -properly. - -Long ropes, stretched on each side of the road on which the flying -machine got its start, served to keep the people back and to give Matt -and his corps of assistants plenty of room. - -So far as the young motorist could see--and his investigation was -always thorough--the aëroplane was in as serviceable a condition as -it had been for the morning's flight. It was a most ungainly looking -machine when resting on the ground, but was transformed into a thing of -grace the moment it spurned the earth and mounted skyward. - -"She looks as fit as a fiddle," remarked McGlory, his face shining with -pride. - -"She'll do her work easy as falling off a log," said Matt. "The repairs -we made on her, in Lafayette, seem to have been an improvement." - -"We don't want to make any more improvements of that sort," remarked -McGlory, thinking of the accident which had made the repairs necessary. - -"Ah," cried Matt, "here comes Le Bon. And look who's with him," he -added in a lower tone. - -The cowboy turned his head and swept his gaze over the throng that -pressed the guard rope to the north of the road. Le Bon, in his trapeze -costume, was crawling through the press, and close behind him came -Dhondaram. McGlory scowled. - -"What's the Hindoo coming for?" he muttered. "I'm getting so I hate the -looks of that fellow." - -Le Bon came close, walking with the springy tread of the trained -athlete. - -"It looks as though we were going to have as nice a time aloft as we -had this morning, Matt," he observed, coming to a halt and taking a -look at the sky. - -"What's the Hindoo trailing you for?" queried McGlory. - -"He wanted to come along and see the flight at close quarters. He's -a pretty good fellow, McGlory, and I told him to push along with me. -What's the harm?" - -"No harm at all," interposed Matt hastily. - -McGlory spun around on his heel and would not remain near to talk with -Dhondaram. The Hindoo, as he halted in front of Matt, was smiling in -his most ingratiating manner. - -"I have come to look, sahib," said he, "at your most wonderful -performance. It is read of everywhere, and in Chicago most of all. It -will be a pleasure. It is permitted?" - -"You can stay here," answered Matt, "providing you keep out of the way." - -"I will see to that, Mattrao Sahib," and the Hindoo walked around the -aëroplane, giving it his respectful attention. - -The wonder was growing upon Matt as to the whereabouts of Ping. -The Chinese boy was always on hand when the flights were made, for -the _Comet_ was the apple of his eye and he took it as a personal -responsibility to make sure that the "get-away" was always safely -accomplished. - -He did not appear to be trailing the Hindoo. If he had been, why was he -not somewhere in the crowds that were pressing against the guard ropes. - -"Watch the brown tinhorn, Le Bon," muttered McGlory, in the kinker's -ear, "and see that he don't tinker with anything." - -"Why," exclaimed Le Bon, "he wouldn't do anything like that!" - -"He might," was the sharp response. "I haven't any faith in these -fellows who wear a twisted tablecloth for a hat. If anything should go -wrong, up in the air, it'll spell your finish as well as my pard's. I'm -going to have a word with Matt." - -The band had come from the mess tent. Instruments in hand, the members -had climbed into the band wagon, which was hauled up near the point -from which the _Comet_ would start, and a rattling melody was going up -from the horns, the drums, and the cymbals. - -The aëroplane flight was Motor Matt's own particular part of the show. -It was an instructive part, too, for aside from the thrill of seeing -a human being piloting a big mechanical bird through the air the -observers were given the last word in aërial navigation. - -"What's on your mind, pard?" asked McGlory, halting at Matt's side. -"You're as thoughtful as a cold game gent who's looking into the open -end of a gun." - -"Have you seen anything of Ping, Joe?" said Matt. - -"Chink 'signs' haven't been at all plentiful since our squinch-eyed -brother tried to run out the Hindoo's trail." - -"I'd like to know where the boy is, that's all." - -"Don't fret about him. I'd like to have a picture of Ping in a corner -he couldn't get out of. You take it from me, Johnny Hardluck hasn't got -such a corner in his whole bag of tricks." - -At that moment Burton rode up to the aëroplane on his favorite saddler. - -"Innocent or guilty?" he asked, leaning down from his saddle and -accompanying the words with a significant wink. - -"Innocent, of course," answered the king of the motor boys. - -"Can you prove it to me?" - -"Not yet." - -"And you never will. Better let me have the Dutchman locked up. That'll -scare him so he'll tell all he knows, and maybe it isn't yet too late -to get the money back." - -"Keep hands off my Dutch pard, Burton," said Matt. "We've made an -agreement about that." - -"Exactly." Boss Burton straightened. "I guess you'd better get a-going, -Matt," he added. "The whole town seems to be outside the guard ropes, -and I don't think we could get any more spectators if we waited all -night." - -Burton backed his horse away from the starting line and lifted one -hand. Instantly a breathless silence fell over the vast throng, while -every individual member of it craned his or her neck to get a better -view of what was going on. - -The aëroplane, as has already been stated, had to make a running start -on bicycle wheels in order to develop the speed necessary for the wings -to take hold of the air and lift the machine. The wheels were low, and -Le Bon had to sit on the lower plane beside Matt and hold the trapeze -on his lap until the _Comet_ was high enough for him to drop from the -footboard. - -The _Comet's_ motor was equipped with a magneto, but, at the beginning -and while the machine was on the ground, the spark was secured with a -make-and-break circuit. When the motor was properly going the magneto -took hold and an automatic switch brought it into commission. - -McGlory superintended the ground work during the start. Some half a -dozen men, under his direction, ranged behind the planes, started the -machine, and ran with it. The power in the bicycle wheels soon carried -the aëroplane away from them. - -At twenty-eight miles an hour the great wings felt the tug of the -air, the wheels lifted from solid ground, and a sharp pull at a lever -started the big propeller. - -Matt had made so many ascensions that he handled every part of his work -with automatic precision, and the aëroplane, amid the wild cheers of -the crowd, darted skyward. - -McGlory, standing perhaps a distance of fifty feet back from the point -where the machine left the earth, saw a bag hanging to the under plane, -close to an opening that led up through the plane to the motor and the -driver's seat. - -What was the bag? the cowboy asked himself, and how did it chance to be -swinging there? - -McGlory had only a few moments to make his observations, for the -_Comet_ was climbing swiftly upward and the bag was growing rapidly -smaller to the eye. He ran forward, stumbling and looking, and Burton, -evidently with his eyes on the same object, galloped past him with -glance upturned. - -Suddenly a black object appeared over the top of the bag, grew longer, -wriggled queerly, and could be seen disappearing into the space between -the two planes. - -The cowboy halted his stumbling feet and reeled, his brain on fire and -his breath coming quick and hard. - -That black, wriggling thing must have been the cobra! The cobra, which -the Hindoo had said he had sold to some one on the show grounds! - -McGlory's mind was a hopeless chaos of fears, doubts, and wild -speculations. While he stood there, Burton, a wild look on his face, -came galloping back. - -"That bag!" he gasped, drawing rein with a quick, nervous hand at the -cowboy's side. "Did you see it, McGlory?" - -"Yes," answered the other. - -"It was one of the bags that had stolen money in it!" declared Burton; -"I saw the black lettering on the side! Is it the one you got from the -Dutchman?" - -McGlory shook his head, still dazed. - -"I've got that--in my grip--at the calliope tent," he managed to gasp. - -"Where did that one come from?" - -Then McGlory came to his senses. - -"I don't care a whoop about the bag, or where it came from," he -shouted. "Did you see that snake come out of it and crawl up onto the -lower plane? Did you see that?" - -"Yes, but----" - -"Don't talk to me! Find that Hindoo--he was here before the start and -he put that bag there. Find him!" yelled McGlory. - -Then, at the top of his lungs, the cowboy shouted frantically to Matt, -in the hope of letting him know his danger and putting him on his guard. - -But it was a fruitless effort. The tremendous cheering drowned -McGlory's voice, and it was impossible for him to make his voice heard. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -IN THE AIR WITH A COBRA. - - -Both Motor Matt and Le Bon were delighted with the start of the -aëroplane. - -"She gets better and better," averred Le Bon. "I guess I'll take to -flying myself." - -While in the air Matt's every faculty of mind and quickness of body -were called into action. He had to _feel_ the motion of the air on the -huge wings, as communicated to the framework under him, and shift the -wing extensions back and forth to meet the varying resistance of air -pressure and make it coincide with the centre of gravity. To withdraw -his attention for an instant from the work of managing the machine -might result in a disaster that would bring destruction to himself and -Le Bon. But he had schooled himself to talk while keeping busy with his -work. - -"Better not try it, Archie," Matt answered. "It's too much of a strain -on a fellow's nerves. Are you ready to drop with the trapeze?" - -"Whenever you are," was the response. - -There was always a jolt when Le Bon's weight reached the ends of the -trapeze ropes, and extra care was required in taking care of the -_Comet_. - -Matt brought the air craft around in a sweeping circle and headed the -other way to cover the north and south extent of the grounds. He, -likewise, the moment the turn was made, turned the aëroplane upward. - -"What's the matter with McGlory?" asked Le Bon, peering down. "He's -looking up and waving his arms." - -"He wouldn't do that," said Matt, "unless something is wrong. When you -get on the trapeze, Archie, look over the under part of the machine and -see if you can find anything out of whack. I can't imagine what's gone -crosswise, for the aëroplane never behaved better." - -Reaching the top of the airy slope, some two hundred feet above ground, -Matt pointed the machine earthward. - -"Now's your time, Archie," he said to Le Bon. - -The athlete stood erect, firmly clutching the trapeze bar, and dived -out into space. Swiftly Matt brought the craft to an even keel, just as -the whole fabric fluttered under the jolt. In a twinkling the _Comet_ -righted herself, and Le Bon was left swinging on his frail bar, a -hundred and fifty feet above the show grounds. His position under the -machine was such that Matt could not see him. - -"All right, Archie?" shouted Matt, keeping his eyes ahead and -manipulating his levers incessantly. - -"Right as a trivet," came up from below. "McGlory is still throwing -himself around down there." - -"Do you see anything wrong with the machine?" - -"Not a thing. What's that bag hanging under the wing for?" - -"Is there a bag there?" - -"Yes, a canvas bag. There are letters on it. Wait, and I'll read them." - -There followed a silence during which, supposedly, Le Bon was spelling -out the letters. - -"'Burton's Big Consolidated Shows'," went on Le Bon. "That's what's -printed on the bag, Matt." - -"Great spark-plugs!" exclaimed Matt. "Anything in the bag, Archie?" - -"It's as limp as a rag and looks to be empty. How did it get there?" - -"Give it up. If it's empty, I don't see how it can do any harm. I don't -like the thoughts of the thing, though, and we're not going to remain -up as long as usual. Get busy with your work." - -Renewed cheering greeted the daring feats performed on the trapeze by -Le Bon. In the midst of it the motor missed fire and died altogether. -The slowing rotations of the propeller caused the _Comet_ to glide -earthward. A terrified yell broke from Le Bon. - -"What's the matter, up there?" - -"Keep your nerve," flung back the king of the motor boys; "something's -wrong with the motor--but we'll be all right." - -Yes, Matt knew that the aëroplane would glide earthward and land him -and Le Bon without injury; but, if it could not be guided, it was as -likely to land on the heads of that dense crowd as anywhere. That would -mean serious, if not fatal, injury to many men--perhaps to women and -children. - -Motor Matt's face went white, and his heart pounded in his throat. -Nevertheless he kept a cool head and a steady hand. - -He figured out the exact point where they would come down. It was -in the very thickest part of the crowd, and the people were trying -frantically to get out of the way. - -Then, just as it seemed as though nothing could prevent a terrible -accident, the motor again took up its cycle and the slowly whirling -propeller increased its speed. - -A long breath of relief escaped Matt's tense lips as he drove the -aëroplane upward and the direction of the roped-off road. - -"What ails the blooming motor?" came from Le Bon in a distraught voice. -"We came within one of killing a lot of people. I'm all in a sweat." - -"I don't know what's the matter with the motor," answered Matt, "but -I'm going to find out just as soon as I turn to go back on the course." - -"Better descend. This is more than I can stand." - -"We can't descend until we reach the right place." - -Matt made a wide turn, the engine working perfectly. - -"Hold on tight, below there," he called. "I've got to take my attention -from running the motor for a moment, and if we give a wild pitch or two -don't be afraid. I'll be able to keep the machine right side up." - -"I'm pretty near all in," came from Le Bon in a subdued voice, "but it -would take an axe to chop me off this trapeze." - -Matt gave a quick look behind him. What he saw nearly froze him with -horror. - -A cobra--undoubtedly the very snake he had seen in the calliope -tent--was twined about two of the electric wires. - -The wires, as originally strung, were an inch and a half apart, and -insulated. The coils of the six-foot cobra encircled both. As the -coils contracted the wires were forced together, and two points of the -copper, where the insulating material was worn off, were brought in -contact. Thus a short circuit was formed and a bad leak made for the -electricity. - -At the moment Matt looked the coils of the cobra had loosened, causing -the tightly strung wires to spring a little apart, thus restoring the -spark to the cylinders. But at any moment the coils might tighten again -and cause another short circuit. - -As though to crown the terrors of the moment, the cobra's head was -lifted from the wires by a third of the anterior length of its body--a -favorite position assumed by the cobra in gliding along the earth--and -the diamond-like eyes were fastened upon Matt with deadly animosity. - -Motor Matt's one thought was this: If he were bitten by the snake -before he had manipulated a safe landing, the swift working of the -virus in his veins would keep him from doing his duty in preventing -injury to the spectators below. - -With white face and gleaming eyes, he turned from the cobra and -manoeuvred to place the aëroplane lengthwise of the roped-off space on -the ground. - -Before he could place the machine in proper position the motor again -commenced to miss fire, and then died all over again. A groan was -wrenched from Matt's lips as the machine fluttered downward toward the -massed human heads underneath. The groan was echoed by Le Bon. - -"We're dropping toward them again!" yelled the man below. - -Matt turned in his seat, letting the aëroplane take care of itself. -Throwing himself back, he caught at the hooded brown head with his hand. - -There was a dart, quick as lightning, and Matt's wrist was touched -as though by a hot coal. With a loud cry he flung his arm forward, -dragging the full length of the cobra from the wires. - -For the fraction of an instant the snake hung in midair, then yielded -to the impetus of the arm to which it held and coiled sinuously outward -and downward into space. - -The motor had again resumed its work, but the _Comet_ hung at a -frightful angle and was dropping like so much lead, the atmosphere -striking the planes almost on their edges. - -Matt was calm, now, and cool as ever. He went to work at the levers, -righted the machine within fifteen feet of the bobbing heads, and sent -it upward into the air. He was alone, for Le Bon, when so close to the -ground, had dropped. In fact, owing to the length of the trapeze ropes, -Le Bon's feet had almost swept the heads of the terrified spectators. - -Steadily upward climbed the machine. - -Every moment was precious to the king of the motor boys, for if he was -to receive medical aid to counteract the bite of the reptile, it could -not be long deferred. - -But what was the use of indulging in hope? - -He had been bitten by the cobra, and the lecturer in the museum had -declared that a person so injured could not hope. - -Vaguely Matt wondered why the poison in his veins had not already -rushed to his brain and paralyzed him into inaction. He was feeling as -strong as ever, and as able to effect a safe landing without danger to -the people on the show grounds. - -That was the thing he had set out to accomplish, and it was the thing -he would do. - -Freed of Le Bon's weight, the _Comet_ was more manageable. - -With steady hand and cool, unshaken judgment, he laid the _Comet_ -parallel with the road, glided downward with a rush, shut off the -power, and touched the hard ground squarely between the guard ropes. - -The jar of the landing was hardly perceptible, and Matt stepped out of -the car, to be grabbed by McGlory and to see Burton, dismounted and -anxious, at his side. - -"The cobra----" began Matt. - -"Killed," struck in Burton. - -"Did it bite any one in the crowd?" - -"No; every one was out of the way, and the fall itself nearly did the -business for the reptile." - -"Then get a doctor for me," said Matt, showing a trickle of blood on -his wrist. "That's the cobra's mark." - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A SCIENTIFIC FACT. - - -For an instant, following Motor Matt's tragic announcement, McGlory and -Burton were stricken dumb with horror. The cowboy was first to recover -his wits, and he leaped to the back of Burton's horse. - -"Doctor!" he shouted, galloping madly along the road between the ropes -that separated the crowd; "we want a doctor! Where's a doctor?" - -In a crowd like that it was natural that there should be many doctors, -and no less than three forced themselves through the throng, dived -under the ropes, and hurried to Motor Matt. - -Among these three physicians was Doctor Horton, an old man of no -particular school, but widely read and eminent in his profession. - -"He'll die," said one of the medical men. "If that snake was a genuine -cobra, and if its fangs were not removed, Motor Matt might as well make -his will--and be quick about it." - -"My opinion exactly," said the other physician. - -"Bosh!" answered Doctor Horton derisively. - -The other two turned on him. - -"What do you mean, Horton?" they demanded. - -"Just what I say," was the response. "This brave lad, who endangered -his own life to save innocent spectators, is as sound as a dollar this -minute." - -"Then the snake was not a cobra," averred one of the others. - -"It _was_ a cobra," snapped Doctor Horton; "I saw it." - -"Then its fangs had been pulled." - -"They had not been pulled--I saw them, too." - -"It is not possible, in that case, that the young man was bitten." - -"Not bitten?" cried Doctor Horton ironically, lifting Matt's wrist, -which he was holding. "Certainly he was bitten, and by one of the most -poisonous snakes of which we have any knowledge. There's the mark, -gentlemen, and it's as plain as the nose on your face. We were looking -up at him, weren't we, when he was fighting the cobra and fighting, at -the same time, to keep the flying machine from dropping into the crowd? -And didn't we see him fling out his arm with the snake hanging to his -wrist? The force in the throw of the arm--and there's some strength -there, gentlemen, believe me," interjected the doctor, patting the -biceps--"flung the reptile off. It fell, and so close to me that I -had the pleasure of putting my heel on its head. Do you suppose for a -minute that the cobra could hang to Motor Matt's arm without biting? I -am surprised at you." - -"What's the answer?" inquired one of the other two. - -"The venom of the cobra," proceeded Doctor Horton, "acts swiftly on -the human system. Yet we see here none of the symptoms attending such -poisoning. By now, you understand, they should be well advanced. You -ask me the reason our brave young friend is in a normal condition? A -scientific fact has come to his rescue. It is well known," and the -doctor accented the "well" and gave his medical confrères a humorous -glance, "that the cobra can bite, but cannot release its poison _unless -the fangs come together in the wound_. In this case, the fangs did not -meet, consequently the bite was as harmless as that of the ordinary -garter snake." - -Dr. Horton slipped his fingers along Matt's wrist and gripped his hand. - -"You are to be congratulated; my lad," he went on. "It was your -quickness in seizing the snake, I infer, and in hurling it from the -aëroplane, that prevented it from laying firm hold of you. Tell us what -happened. We have learned a little from the acrobat who was on the -trapeze, and who dropped off when near the ground, but we were all too -much excited, at the time, to pay much attention to him. Besides, he -was under the aëroplane, and in no position to know just what went on -in your vicinity. Give us the facts." - -Matt, relieved beyond expression, told of the cause of the short -circuit, and of his attempts to get the machine in the right position -for alighting; and finished with a terse account of the way he had -grabbed the cobra and flung it from him. - -The exciting chronicle was set forth in few words and with the utmost -diffidence. The recital, however, struck an undernote of courage -and self-sacrifice in the line of duty that caught Doctor Horton's -admiration. - -"Once more," said the physician, taking Matt's hand. "What you -accomplished, my lad, was nobly done. How many could have kept their -wits in such a situation? Not many--hardly one out of a thousand. -You're the manager of this show, are you?" he added, turning to Burton. - -"I am, yes, sir," replied Boss Burton. - -"Then you owe Motor Matt a lot. A fearful accident has been averted, -and you might have been swamped with damage suits." - -The crowd surged around the _Comet_, and stout canvasmen had to be -summoned to force the people back. Burton, mounted on his saddle horse, -saw a chance to say a few words. - -"Good people," he shouted, "every act down on my bills is faithfully -given exactly as represented. I tolerate no misstatements in any of -my paper. The gallant young motorist, who has exhibited his aëroplane -to you this afternoon in an act more thrilling than even the most -imaginative showman could advertise, is but one of many artists of -world-wide reputation whom I have secured, at fabulous expense, to -amuse you behind yonder tented walls. This is the only show now on the -road to give, absolutely free, such a grand outdoor flying machine -exhibition. Other acts, equally thrilling and instructive, will soon be -performed in the two large rings and on the elevated stage under the -main canvas. The doors are now open." - -With that Boss Burton, having secured probably the greatest -advertisement his show had ever received, rode off in the direction of -the tents. - -While the crowd followed, and Matt and McGlory found themselves, for -the first time, able to have a little heart-to-heart talk, they drew -off to one side and began making the most of their opportunity. - -"Say, pard," said the cowboy glumly, "I'm about ready to quit this -aëroplane business." - -"Why?" asked Matt. - -"There's not money enough in the country to pay me for going through -what I did when I saw you swinging aloft with the cobra." - -"You saw it?" queried Matt. - -"That's what I did, and I yelled and tried to let you know about it, -but the crowd was making so much noise you couldn't hear." - -Dusk was beginning to fall, and the gasoline torches about the show -grounds leaped out like dazzling fireflies. McGlory stared at them -thoughtfully for a space, then passed a handkerchief across his damp -forehead. - -"It don't pay," he muttered. "You take all the risk, Matt, and Ping and -I just slop around and kick you off when you make your jump skyward. -I'd rather, enough sight, have been up in the machine with you than -standing down here on the ground, watching and worrying." - -Matt did not dismiss his cowboy pard's words with the careless laugh he -usually had for such sage remarks. - -"It's all nonsense, of course," said he, "your talking about me taking -all the risk and doing all the work. I fly the machine because I'm the -only one who can do it, but you help me in other ways that are just as -important. I'm in the air for perhaps thirty minutes each day, while -you're on the ground, old pard, and watching things during every hour -of the twenty-four." - -"Watching things!" exploded McGlory. "Speak to me about that! How well -do I watch things? Did I see the Hindoo when he hitched that bag with -the snake to the aëroplane? It was my business to get onto that, and I -didn't know until you had left the road and were too far up to hear me. -That's what I'm kicking about. I fell down--and I'm to blame for the -whole bloomin' mishap." - -"You're not," said Matt sharply, "and I won't have you say so. It's -useless to harp on such things, anyhow, Joe, so let's discuss something -of more importance." - -"The way you fooled the cobra? Why, that's----" - -"Not that, either. The bag tied to the aëroplane has the name of the -show lettered on it, so----" - -"Burton and I both discovered that," interrupted McGlory. "Carter had -two bags containing the show money. We already had one, and that bag's -the other. Wait, and I'll get it." - -McGlory dived under the lower wing of the machine and groped about -until he found the bag. - -"There was nothing in it but the snake," said he, as he rejoined Matt. -"It was a bagful of trouble, all right, at that. Fine two-tongue -performance the Hindoo gave when he said he had sold the snake. -Sufferin' Ananias! I suspected him of putting the bag there the minute -I saw the cobra crawling up onto the lower wing, behind you and Le Bon." - -"Did you hunt for the fellow?" asked Matt. - -"_Did_ we! Why, Burton had every man that could be spared from the show -chasing all over the grounds. What's more, he sent word to the police, -and they're on the hunt. Here's what that Hindoo tinhorn has done: He -tried to make Rajah wreck the aëroplane, and he tried his best to get -you and the cobra mixed up while in the air. Why? What's his reason for -actin' like that?" - -"Give it up, Joe. Not only has Dhondaram done all that, but he has -lifted Burton's ticket-wagon money. There's something back of it all, -and I'd give a farm to know just what it is. If I----" - -McGlory was interrupted by a cracked voice, down the road, lifted in -what purported to be song: - - "Hi le, hi lo, hi le, hi lo, - Bei uns gets immer je länger je schlimmer, - Hi le, hi lo, hi le, hi lo, - Bei uns gets immer ja so!" - -"Carl!" exclaimed Matt. "I could tell that voice of his among a -thousand." - -"But what the nation is he coming with?" cried McGlory, peering along -the road into the gloom. "Looks like he had a rig of some kind." - -The "rig," when it drew closer, proved to be one of the donkey carts -driven by the clowns in the parade. The Dutch boy was walking ahead and -leading the donkey. - -"Hooray for der greadt tedectif!" whooped Carl, bringing the donkey -outfit to a halt. "Modor Matt, I haf dit vat you say." - -"What have you done, Carl?" returned Matt curiously. - -"Come aroundt by der cart und take a look!" - -Thereupon Carl caught Matt's arm and led him to the cart. The cart was -small and mounted on low wheels, and Matt and McGlory had no difficulty -in looking down into it. - -Ping, his hands and feet tied together, was roped to the seat. Suddenly -he set up a wail. - -"My velly bad China boy!" he whimpered, "velly bad China boy. Motol -Matt, you no like Ping ally mo'." - -"Dot's vat I dit," observed Carl, puffing out his chest, folding his -arms, and striking an attitude. "I ketch der shink, like vat you say, -und he shpeak oudt himseluf dot he don'd vas any goot. Vat I tell -you ven ve vas at subber, hey? I vas der greadest tedectif vat efer -habbened, I bed you." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -PING ON THE WRONG TRACK. - - -To say that Motor Matt and Joe McGlory were surprised at the odd -situation confronting them would paint their feelings in too faint a -color. - -"How did this happen?" demanded Matt. - -"Me," said Carl, "I made it habben. Venefer I go afder some fellers I -ged him. Yah, so!" - -"What's Ping tied up for?" - -"To make sure mit meinseluf dot he vould come." - -"Where did you find him?" - -"In vone oof dose ganvas wagons bedween vich der money vas took. He vas -ashleep. I ged me some ropes und vile he shleep, py shiminy, I ged der -rope on his hants. Den I porrow der mu-el und der leedle vagon. I see -der flying mashine in der air, und I hear der people yell like plazes, -aber I don'd haf time for nodding but der shink. You say to pring -him, und I dit. Dere he vas. Ven Modor Matt tell Carl Pretzel to do -somet'ing, id vas as goot as dit." - -Another wail came from Ping, but it was not accompanied by any words -that could be understood. - -"Take the ropes off him, Carl," ordered Matt. "You should not have tied -him like that." - -"Den for vy he shleep in der ganvas wagon ven you tell him to drail der -Hintoo?" - -"Ping will explain about that." - -"My velly bad China boy," gurgled the prisoner. "Motol Matt no likee -ally mo'. Givee China boy bounce." - -Carl, with an air of great importance, proceeded to take the cords off -Ping's hands. The moment the ropes were all removed Ping leaped at -Carl over the side of the cart, grabbed him savagely, and they both -went down and rolled over and over in the road. The mixture of pidgin -English and Dutch dialect that accompanied the scrimmage was appalling. - -Quickly as they could, Matt and McGlory separated the boys and held -them apart. - -"I told you somet'ing," yelled Carl, "und dot iss der shinks is der -vorst peoples vat I know." - -"Dutchy boy no good!" piped Ping. "No lettee China boy savee face. -Woosh!" - -"Here, now," spoke up Matt sternly. "Tell us all about this, Ping. Did -you follow the Hindoo, as I told you?" - -"Allee same," answered the Chinese boy. - -"Why did you leave the trail? Did you lose it?" - -"My velly bad China boy," insisted Ping, with the usual wail. - -"You didn't lose the trail?" - -"No losee, just makee stop." - -"You quit following the Hindoo?" - -"Allee same," sniffed Ping. - -"What was the reason?" - -"My velly----" - -"Yes, yes, I know all that, but tell me why you quit following -Dhondaram." - -"Him makee tlacks fo' ticket wagon, makee pidgin with tlicket man, -makee go to canvas wagon, makee hide. Bymby, 'long come Dutchy boy, -blingee tlicket man. Tlicket man him cally two bag. Hindoo makee jump, -hittee Dutchy boy, knockee down." Ping chuckled as though he considered -the matter a good joke. "Tlicket man and Hindoo man takee money bags, -empty allee same in hat, takee snake flom basket, puttee snake in one -bag, puttee othel bag in Dutchy boy's pocket. My savvy. Hindoo man and -tlicket man stealee money, makee think Dutchy boy stealee. My thinkee -one piecee fine business. Stopee follow tlail. Dutchy boy findee heap -tlouble. My no ketchee Motol Matt, for' Motol Matt makee China boy -tellee 'bout Dutchy boy. Woosh! Ping him velly bad China boy. No likee -Dutchy boy. Heap likee him get in tlouble." - -Here was a lot of information tied up in a small and ragged bundle -of pidgin. In order to develop all the different parts of it, Matt -undertook a line of patient cross-examination. - -When the talk was finished the fact that stood out prominently was -this, that Ping had allowed his feeling against Carl to beguile him -into a most reprehensible course of conduct. He saw the thieves at -work, and guessed that they were trying to involve Carl in the robbery. -Ping was glad to have Carl involved, so he stopped following the -Hindoo and hid himself away in order that Matt might not find him and -learn the truth. It was sad but true that the China boy had let his -hostility to Carl lure him away on the wrong track. - -"Ping," said Matt sternly, "you acted like a heathen. Carl is a friend -of mine, and entitled to your consideration. Instead of helping him out -of his trouble, you held back in the hope that he would get into deep -water. You can't work for me if you act like that." - -"My makee mistake, velly bad mistake," moaned Ping. "No makee ally mo'." - -"You have been telling yarns about Carl, too," went on Matt. "You told -Boss Burton that you had found Carl going through your clothes and -taking----" - -"Py shiminy Grismus!" whooped Carl. "Take your handts avay, McGlory, -und led me ged at dot yellow feller. Schust vonce, only vonce! He has -peen telling aroundt dot I vas a ropper! _Ach, du lieber!_ I vas so -madt I feel like I bust oop." - -"Hold your bronks, Carl," growled McGlory. "You're not going to get -away." - -"Allee same, Motol Matt, my speakee like that," acknowledged Ping. -"Dutchy boy say China boy no good. My no likee." - -"You told things that were not true," proceeded Matt, "and they helped -to get Carl into trouble." - -"My savvy." - -"Are you sorry you did it?" - -"Heap solly, you bettee." - -"Py shinks," fussed Carl, "I'll make him sorrier as dot, vone oof dose -days." - -"I guess, Joe," remarked Matt, "that we'll have to cut loose from both -Carl and Ping. What's the use of trying to do anything with them? They -act like young hoodlums, and I'm ashamed to own them for pards." - -"Pull the pin on the pair of them, Matt," counseled McGlory. "They make -us more trouble than they're worth." - -A howl of protest went up from Carl. - -"For vy you cut loose from me, hey?" he demanded. "I dit vat you say. I -pring in der shink." - -"You don't do what I say, Carl," answered Matt. "I have tried to -get you two boys to bury the hatchet, but you won't. This bickering -of yours has resulted in a lot of trouble for all hands, and pretty -serious trouble, at that. We can't work together unless we're all on -friendly terms." - -"My makee fliendly terms," said Ping eagerly. "Givee China boy anothel -chance, Motol Matt. Plenty soon my go top-side, you no givee chance." - -"Schust gif me some more shances, too, bard," begged Carl. "I don'd -vant to haf you cut me adrift like vat you say." - -"Well," returned Matt thoughtfully, "I'll give you just one more -opportunity. Take the mule and wagon, both of you, and return them to -the place where Carl found them. Remember this, though, that you can't -travel with McGlory and me unless you show a little more friendship -toward each other." - -Carl and Ping stepped forward in the gloom. There was a moment's -hesitation, and then Carl took the mule by the halter and moved off. -Ping trailed along behind. - -"Don't say a word to any one about what Ping discovered," Matt called -after the boys, and both shouted back their assurances that they would -not. - -"Well, tell me about that!" gasped McGlory, his voice between a growl -and a chuckle. "Ping saw the robbery, and was keeping quiet about it -just to let Carl get into a hard row of stumps. He's a heathen, and no -mistake." - -"But the point that interests me a lot," said Matt, "is the fact that -Carter himself is mixed up in the robbery! He planned it with this -rascally Hindoo, who joined the show this morning and has been doing -his villainous work all day. Carter was trying to get the benefit of -the robbery and, at the same time, shirk the responsibility and stay -with the show." - -"How's that for a double deal?" muttered McGlory, amazed at the -audacity of the ticket seller as Matt put the case in cold words. "But -then," he added, "Ping may not be telling the truth." - -"I've lost a good deal of confidence in Ping," returned Matt, "but I -believe he's giving the matter to us straight. One of the money bags, -as Ping says, was put in Carl's pocket while he was lying dazed and -unconscious from the blow dealt him by Dhondaram; and Ping also says -that the snake was put in the other bag. That has all been proved to be -the case." - -"And Carter must have slashed himself on the cheek just to make it look -to Burton as though he'd had a rough time during the robbery!" - -"Exactly." - -"All this fails to explain, though, why Dhondaram tried to destroy the -aëroplane, and then fastened the bag with the snake to the lower wing -of the machine." - -"We're on the right track to discover all that. Let's hunt up Burton, -and then we can all three of us have a talk with Andy Carter." - -"That's the talk!" agreed McGlory. "You stay here, pard, and I'll -hunt up some one to watch the _Comet_ while we're gone. After what's -happened to-day, I hate to leave the machine alone for a minute." - -McGlory was not long in coming with a man to look after the aëroplane, -and he and Matt left immediately to find Boss Burton. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -FACING A TRAITOR. - - -Inquiry developed the fact that Boss Burton was in the ticket wagon -with Carter, checking over the evening's receipts and making them ready -to be carried to the train and safely stowed until the next town on -the show's schedule was reached. - -"We'll catch Carter right in the strong wagon," laughed McGlory, as he -and Matt hurried to the place. - -The door of the wagon was always kept locked. Matt knocked, and the -voice of Burton demanded to know what was wanted. - -"It's Motor Matt," replied the young motorist. "Let us in for a few -minutes, Burton." - -"I'll come out and talk with you. There's not much room in here." - -"I'd rather talk in there," said Matt. "It's important. McGlory is with -me." - -A bolt was shoved and the door of the wagon pulled open. - -"What's all the hurry?" asked Burton, as the boys crowded in. - -"You'll know in a few moments," answered Matt, closing the door behind -him and forcing the bolt into its socket. - -Carter sat at a small table on which a shaded oil lamp was burning. -He and Burton, it seemed, had finished their work, and there were two -canvas bags, lettered like those with which Matt was already familiar, -near the lamp. The bags were bulging with silver and bills. Convenient -to Carter's hand lay a six-shooter. - -Matt's eye was on the weapon. There was no telling what Carter would do -when he learned why the boys had paid their call on him and Burton. - -"What's up?" asked Burton. - -"Something I've got to talk over with you and Carter," replied Matt. - -Casually he picked up the revolver. - -"A S. and W., eh?" he murmured, giving the weapon a brief examination. -Then, still holding the weapon, he transfixed the ticket man with a -steely look. - -"Where's the money that was stolen this afternoon, Carter?" he asked. - -Carter started up. - -"What do you mean?" he flung back, his face flushing and then becoming -deadly pale. - -"That's what I'd like to know," blustered Burton. "You act as though -you thought Andy knew where that money was." - -"He does know," said Matt decisively. "The whole plot has come out. -There were two robbers, Dhondaram and Carter." - -"I'll not stand for this!" cried Carter wrathfully. "Burton," and he -leveled a quick gaze at the showman, "are you going to let this upstart -come in here and insult me?" - -There was an odd glimmer in the showman's eyes. - -"Be careful, Matt," he cautioned. "You're making mighty grave charges." - -"Are they any graver," asked Matt, "than the charges you made against -Carl?" - -"You haven't the same foundation for them that I had--and have now, for -that matter." - -"You're on a wrong tack, Burton," proceeded Matt. "The theft of that -money was the result of a plot between the Hindoo and Carter here----" - -"And I struck myself in the head and cut my face, eh?" sneered Carter. -"A likely yarn." - -"Whether you were knocked down or not is open to question. But there -isn't any doubt about your cutting your face. You say you fell against -one of the wagon wheels. There's not a particle of evidence to bear -out the story. You wanted to make it appear as though you were robbed. -Dhondaram hid himself in one of the wagons----" - -"Oh, he did!" returned Carter ironically. "He knew your Dutch pard was -going to ask me to go there, I suppose. If that's the case, why wasn't -your Dutch pard in the plot, too?" - -That was the one weak place in Matt's theory. According to Ping, -Dhondaram had gone into hiding at the wagons. Matt supposed that Ping -was a little at sea, or that the Hindoo had not made for the wagons -until he had seen that Carl and Carter were going there. - -"Dhondaram knew what was going to happen," continued Matt, "and he -placed himself where he could be of most aid in carrying out the plot. -He knocked Carl down, and while the lad lay senseless you and Dhondaram -emptied the money bags into your hats. One of the bags was placed in -Carl's pocket, and the Hindoo took the snake from the basket and placed -it in the other bag. You two wanted the basket for the money, and you -wanted the empty bag in Carl's pocket in order to throw suspicion on -him. We all know how the other bag was used. Dhondaram said----" - -Carter gave a startled jump, and a muttered oath fell from his lips. - -"Did that infernal scoundrel tell you all this?" rasped out the ticket -man. - -"I'm not saying a word about----" - -"I know he did!" ground out Carter, going all to pieces on the mere -suspicion. "He told it all, and you----" - -With a sharp cry of rage, Carter flung himself at Motor Matt and made a -desperate effort to secure the revolver. Matt hung to the weapon, and -Burton caught Carter and pushed him down in his chair. - -"Here's a fine how-d'ye-do," grunted Burton. "Andy, you've worked for -me two years, and I never thought you'd turn against me like this!" - -"It was Ben Ali roped me into it," was Carter's angry reply. "If I had -that gun in my hands, I'd show you a trick or two. Well," and he threw -a look at Burton, chagrined but defiant, "what are you going to do -about it?" - -The showman sat down on the edge of the table. - -"You admit the whole business, eh, Andy?" he asked. - -"Dhondaram seems to have given his side of the story, and I might as -well give mine," answered the ticket man. - -Matt flashed a look at McGlory. The king of the motor boys had not -intended to convey the impression that the Hindoo had been captured and -had confessed, but Carter, out of his guilty conscience, had jumped to -that conclusion. - -"You might as well tell it all, Andy, and be perfectly frank with me," -said Burton. "What had Ben Ali to do with the affair?" - -"He figured it out while he was with the show," went on Carter. -"So----" He broke off suddenly. "But what good is it going to do me to -tell you all this?" he asked. - -"It may do you a lot of good, Andy, and it may not do you any. You'll -have to take your chances on that." - -Carter was thoughtful for a few moments, and then gave vent to a bitter -laugh. - -"Well," said he recklessly, "here goes, neck or nothing. I'll see to -it, though, that this Dhondaram has his share of the responsibility," -and a glitter crept into the ticket man's eyes. "As I say, Ben Ali -figured out how the game could be worked. We were going to try it -long before we reached Lafayette, but circumstances didn't just shape -themselves so we could pull it off. I thought about the deal for some -time before I agreed to go into it. The habit you have, Burton, of -making me tote the money bags to the calliope tent after the ticket -office closes for the afternoon show first gave Ben Ali the idea. But -Ben Ali, as you all know, made things too hot to hold him, in the show, -and had to pull out. I was glad of it, for I thought the temptation -had been taken away from me entirely, but this morning along comes -Dhondaram, direct from Ben Ali----" - -"From Ben Ali?" echoed Motor Matt. - -"Speak to me about that!" grunted McGlory. - -"Surprise to you, eh, Motor Matt?" observed Carter, with an evil grin. -"Ben Ali is a bad man to get down on you, and I guess he's got as big -a grouch against Motor Matt as he could have against any fellow on -earth. Ben Ali, since he left the show, has been framing up a scheme -to put the king of the motor boys out of business. In order to carry -out his plan, he sent to Chicago for Dhondaram--and, between you and -me, that's where Ben Ali made a mistake. The two Hindoos met near the -town of Lafayette somewhere, and Ben Ali told Dhondaram what he wanted. -Dhondaram was to hire out as a keeper for Rajah, and the elephant was -to do the business for the aëroplane. The cobra was to make things warm -for Motor Matt. It was all cut and dried between the two Hindoos. But -I was rung into it when Ben Ali told Dhondaram to work the hold-up here -in Jackson. Dhondaram came to me at the ticket wagon and I had a short -talk with him. He said he'd bowl me over and get the money, and then -take chances on getting away and playing even with Motor Matt later. -I didn't know how the Hindoo was to work it; and I wouldn't have gone -into the game at all if I had known all that was to happen. - -"Dhondaram heard me talking with the Dutchman when he flagged me and -wanted to talk. He must also have heard the Dutchman mention the -canvas wagons, for he was there when we reached them. The first thing -I knew the Dutchman was down, lying like a log on the ground. There -was nothing for me to do then but to mar myself up and make it look as -though there had been a fracas. We put the money in the basket, and -hid the basket under a pile of old canvas in one of the wagons. It was -arranged that I should meet Dhondaram to-night, bring the basket, and -then we'd divide the loot. - -"But I was suspicious of Dhondaram. He was a stranger to me, and I -wasn't going to trust him. During the afternoon, while the aëroplane -flight was on, I took the basket out of the wagon and stowed it in -another place. By doing that I made it impossible for the Hindoo to -pick it up and slope without meeting me. That's all." - -"Where's the money?" inquired Burton. - -He had had abundant faith in Andy Carter, and there was something -almost sad in the showman's face as he listened to the tale of -treachery. - -Carter leaned forward. - -"I'll tell you that, Burton," he answered, "just as soon as you promise -to let me off and not make any move against me on account of the -robbery." - -The brazenness of the proposition struck Burton, and struck him hard. -But it was the logical thing for Carter to do, in the circumstances. It -was a trump card, and he was cunning enough to know how to play it. - -"I'm getting a good many surprises to-night," muttered Burton, "but I -guess I deserve it for trusting a whelp like you. I agree, of course. -You know very well I can't do anything else." - -"You'll not take any legal action against me?" asked Carter eagerly. - -"No." - -"Of course I can't work for the show any longer?" - -"Well, I should say not! What do you take me for?" - -"I thought as much, but I wanted to make sure." - -"Just a moment," put in Matt. "Where were you to meet Dhondaram, and at -what time?" - -"Didn't he tell you that? It was to be sometime before the show was -over, at the edge of the grounds on the south side. I was to come that -way with the basket, and whistle. Where did you nab the Hindoo? I -suppose it was that infernal snake business that got you after him." - -"He hasn't been nabbed," returned Matt. "You took that for granted, -Carter." - -Carter sank back in his chair and stared. Then he swore under his -breath. - -"I'm a fool of the first water, and no mistake," said he, "but that -Hindoo will kill me if he's left at large. You can capture him if you -go where I told you and do what I said. I'm playing in tough luck, -Burton," he added dejectedly. - -"You're playing in more luck than you ought to have, at that," snarled -Burton. "Put on your hat and coat, and we'll go for the money." - -"No," put in Matt, "let me take his hat and coat." - -Burton stared, then gave a short laugh as Matt's plan drifted over him. - -"Right you are, Matt," said he. "Put on the hat and coat. I guess -Carter won't take any harm going out in his shirt sleeves and without -his hat. But give me the gun. That will be of use in case Andy forgets -his agreement." - -A few minutes later they all left the ticket wagon, locking the door -behind them. The wagon was constructed of boiler iron, and the money in -the bags would be safe where it was until the time came for loading the -show and getting ready to move to the next town. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -MEETING THE HINDOO. - - -Andy Carter, as it turned out, was playing his part in good faith. -Perhaps he reasoned that he had been sufficiently treacherous, and that -the very least he could do was to wind up a bad business on the square. - -The basket, removed by him from the canvas wagon to prevent the Hindoo -from making off with it, had been carried to a clump of bushes not far -from the railroad tracks, on the north side of the show grounds, and -covered with a pile of broken sticks and other refuse. - -Men were already pulling down some of the auxiliary tents and loading -them into wagons and driving the wagons to the waiting train. The -elephants and nearly all the animal cages had been loaded, while the -band wagons and the "chariots" had been stowed in their cars late in -the afternoon. - -"I suppose you're through with me, now?" inquired Carter, after Burton -had secured the basket. - -"I will be," said Burton, "as soon as I make sure that all the money is -here." - -"You'll be too late to catch the Hindoo," demurred Carter, "if you -insist on going back to the wagon and counting over all that stuff." - -"Then we'll lay the Hindoo by the heels before we count it. You can go -with us, Carter. It'll do you good to see the fellow caught." - -"He'll kill me!" declared Carter, drawing back. - -"I guess he won't. There are too many of us for him to cut up very -rough." - -"If he sees all of us coming across the grounds, he'll suspect -something and sheer off." - -"There's sense in that, all right," remarked Burton. "On the whole, I -believe I'll change my plans." - -Burton stopped one of the wagons that was moving toward the train. - -"Where's Harris?" he asked of the driver of the wagon. - -"He's comin' right behind me," was the answer. - -Harris was Burton's brother-in-law, and had always been in the -showman's confidence. He was riding on a pile of tent poles, holding a -couple of trunks on the load. - -"Harris," called Burton, "I want you to take this basket down to the -train for me. Don't let it get out of your hands." - -"Another snake in it, Burton?" queried Harris, as he reached down for -the basket. - -"Well," answered Burton, "I wouldn't look into it to find out. Mind -what I say and don't let the basket get away from you." - -Having been reassured on this point by Harris, Burton, Matt, McGlory, -and Carter moved on. Picking up two men at the dismantled animal tent, -Burton turned Carter over to them. - -"Andy has resigned," the showman explained dryly to the men, "and he -wants to go to the train after his trunk. You men go with him, and keep -hold of him all the time. Understand? See that he don't take anything -but what belongs to him." - -Carter was none too well liked among the show people, and the two men -agreed cheerfully to look after him. - -"Now," said Burton, as he walked off with Matt and McGlory, "we're in -shape to meet the Hindoo. I don't know what I can do with the scoundrel -after I get my hands on him. If he is put in jail here, I'll have to -come back myself, or send somebody else, to make out a case against -him. That wouldn't do--it would only cause extra expense and a loss of -time. I guess we'll tie him up and take him along with us on section -two of the train." - -"Dhondaram ought to be made pay for what he has done," said Matt. -"I think you ought to go to a little inconvenience, Burton, in the -interests of law and order." - -"The inconveniences may be more than you think, Matt. Suppose you would -have to come back here to testify against the Hindoo? That would mean -no aëroplane work for two or three days. I couldn't stand for that." - -By that time, the three were close to the south side of the grounds. -There were scattered clumps of bushes, here, and a few trees. - -"We'd better hang back, Matt," whispered Burton, "while you go on and -do the whistling. We'll be near enough to help you when Dhondaram shows -himself. If he's too ugly, I'll use the revolver." - -"He's got a bowie, Matt," cautioned McGlory. "Don't let him get a hack -at you with it. He could help out Ben Ali's scheme of vengeance a good -deal handier with the knife than with the cobra." - -Matt stepped on ahead of Burton and McGlory, and began to whistle -softly. He had not gone twenty feet before the whistle was answered and -a dark figure stepped shadowily from behind some bushes. - -"Carter Sahib!" came a low call. - -"Dhondaram?" returned Matt. - -"Here!" came the eager answer. "Have you brought the basket, sahib?" - -"You know why I was to meet you," replied Matt, ignoring the question. - -He disguised his voice as well as he could, and the low tone in which -he spoke served still further to hide his identity. - -The Hindoo could see that Matt was not carrying anything, and evidently -his distrust was aroused. - -"The sahib is fooling me!" he exclaimed. "You have not brought with you -the basket. Part of the money is mine." - -Matt had supposed that the Hindoo would run, as soon as he detected the -trick. But he did not. On the contrary, he bounded straight at Matt and -caught him by the shoulders. - -"I want you, Dhondaram!" cried Matt, dropping his attempts at -concealment. "You're a prisoner!" - -Matt was strong, but the Hindoo was as slippery as an eel. With his -arms about him, Matt tried to hold the villain, and in a measure -succeeded. Dhondaram, however, heard the running feet and the voices of -Burton and McGlory and redoubled his desperate efforts to escape. - -He broke from Matt's arms, but Matt caught his left wrist and clung to -it like a leech. With his right hand the Hindoo jerked his knife from -his sash and made a vicious lunge with it. - -Matt avoided the lunge, and before the attack could be repeated the -showman and the cowboy had reached the scene. - -Then, even with all three of them against him, Dhondaram made a -desperate resistance. But numbers prevailed, and the rascally -scoundrel's hands were bound at his back by means of his turban, which -was opened out and twisted into a makeshift rope. - -"He's a fighter, and no mistake," panted Burton, as he held the -prisoner by one arm while McGlory took the other. "No more nonsense, -Dhondaram," the showman threatened, flashing the weapon in front of his -eyes. "You see what I've got? Well, look out that I don't use it." - -The six-shooter, dimly visible in the gloom, had a quieting effect on -the Hindoo. - -"Don't shoot, sahib," he begged. "I go where you want." - -"That's better," said Burton. "Trot along, and we'll soon be where -we're going." - -Their destination was the train, and they presently had Dhondaram -in the sleeping car attached to section two. Very few of the show -people had arrived, as yet, and an attempt was made to get a little -information out of the prisoner. - -But the Hindoo would not talk. In response to every question put to -him, he shook his head and held his tongue. - -"He'll talk with us in the morning," said Burton confidently. "Just tie -his feet, boys, and leave him here. I've got to go back to the ticket -wagon." - -Matt and McGlory made the prisoner's feet secure, and a tap on the -window called Matt's attention. Thinking it might be Burton, wishing to -give him a private message, Matt left the car. - -It was not Burton, but Carter and the two men set to watch him. Carter -wanted his hat and coat. - -While Matt was returning the borrowed garments, Carl and Ping came -along, talking amiably with each other. Matt sent them into the car to -look after the Hindoo, and also to tell McGlory to come out and help -prepare the aëroplane for loading. - -"I don't know, pard," said McGlory, as he and Matt made their way -hastily to the place where the _Comet_ had been left, "but I reckon the -motor boys have got a little the best of this ruction that Dhondaram -kicked up. Burton has recovered the stolen money, Carter has been -fired, and Dhondaram is a prisoner. Luck's on our side after all, eh?" - -"That's the way it looks," answered Matt. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -A BIT OF A BACKSET. - - -The preparing of the aëroplane for loading was not a difficult matter. -The small front planes were removed, and lashed between the two larger -planes. This narrowed the machine sufficiently so that it could be -loaded into the car especially prepared for it. - -After the machine had been safely stowed, the two tired lads went to -their section in the sleeper. Burton was there, sitting under a lamp -and hastily running over the contents of the basket. - -"I guess it's all here," said he, dumping the silver and bills into the -receptacle and closing the lid. "Anyhow, I'm too much fagged to bother -any more with the stuff to-night. It's about time we all turned in, -don't you think?" - -"I'm Ready's whole family, when it comes to that," yawned McGlory. -"Talk about your strenuous days! I think this has been a harder one -than that other day we put in at Lafayette, Indiana. What do you say, -Matt?" - -"We seem to have worked harder than we did then, and to have less to -show for it," said Matt. - -"Less to show for it!" repeated Burton. "I don't know what you mean by -that, son. It isn't every day you save your flying machine from a mad -elephant and wrestle with a cobra on the _Comet_, in midair!" - -"And it's not every day the Big Consolidated is held up, thieves -captured, and _dinero_ recovered, all before we leave town," -supplemented McGlory. - -"It was exciting enough," said Matt, "but it all seems so useless." - -"The hand of Ben Ali was behind it all," remarked Burton, pulling off -his shoes. "That villain ought to be run down and put behind the bars -for ninety-nine years. You'll not be safe a minute, Matt, until he's -locked up." - -"I guess," ventured the king of the motor boys, "that Ben Ali, after -this lesson, will keep away from me." - -"I wish I could think so," said Burton. - -"What'll you do with Dhondaram?" inquired McGlory. "You can't send him -to jail in any other town for an offense he committed in Jackson." - -"Sending him to jail is the last thing I'm thinking of," was Burton's -response. "What I want is to induce him to talk. He may give us a -line on Ben Ali that will enable Matt to keep away from the wily old -villain." - -"Don't hang onto Dhondaram on my account," said Matt. "I've told Ben -Ali what to expect if he ever comes near me again." - -"That's you!" exulted McGlory. "All your scare-talk, Burton, goes clean -over Matt's head." - -The showman pulled off his coat and leaned back in his seat -reflectively. He did not seem to have heard McGlory's observation. - -"I've got a notion," began Burton, "that----" He paused. - -"What's the notion?" urged the cowboy. "It ain't like you to hang fire, -Burton." - -"Well," pursued Burton, "it's this way: I've got an elephant on my -hands that can't be handled by any white trainer in the show. Dhondaram -can handle the brute to the queen's taste. What's the answer?" - -"You don't mean to say," expostulated Matt, "that you're going to keep -Dhondaram with the show just to take charge of Rajah?" - -"It's either that or sell the elephant," declared Burton. - -"Then, sufferin' cats!" cried McGlory, "sell the brute. You're more -kinds of a bungler, Burton, than I know how to lay tongue to. Keep -Dhondaram with the show, and he'll do something, before you're through -with him, that will hurt." - -"I'll sleep on it," muttered Burton. "I've only got four elephants, and -I need Rajah." - -"Schust a minid, oof you blease," came the voice of Matt's Dutch pard -from the aisle of the car. - -Matt, McGlory, and Burton turned around and saw not only Carl, but Ping -as well. - -"What is it, Carl?" asked Matt. - -"I vant to know somet'ing," Carl went on, "und dot iss, was I innocend -or guildy? Vat you say, Misder Purton?" - -"Oh, splash!" exclaimed Burton, "that was settled a long time ago. -Andy Carter, the ticket man, admitted that he and the Hindoo were the -thieves." - -"Den Modor Matt don'd haf to vork four veeks for nodding, schust for -me?" - -"Of course not." - -"Dot's all I vanted to know, oxcept somet'ing else." - -"Well, what?" - -"Der Hintoo brisoner iss in der blace vere Ping shleeps. Ping vants to -go to ped, und I am to haf der ubber bert'. Vat iss to be dit mit der -Hintoo?" - -"Roll him into the aisle and let him lie there," replied Burton. "Put a -blanket under him, if you want to, and give him a pillow." - -"T'anks," said Carl, and the boys started away. - -"Wait, Carl," called Matt. "There's a little something I want to know. -How are you and Ping getting along together?" - -"Finer as silk," grinned Carl. "He likes me pedder der more vat he -knows me, und it's der same mit me. Shinks iss hardt to ondershtand, -but I'm schust gedding ondo Ping's curves. He made a misdake in me, -und now he feels pedder aboudt it. How iss dot, bard?" finished Carl, -turning to the Chinaman. - -"Awri'," answered Ping, although not very enthusiastically. - -"That's the talk!" cried Matt heartily. - -Two hours later, the second section of the show train was loaded and -speeding on its way. All was quiet in the sleeping car, save for the -snores of the tired men who occupied the bunks. - -Perhaps it was two o'clock in the morning when an uproar filled the -sleeper. There were yells, a revolver shot, the slamming of a door, and -then a measure of quiet. - -Matt thrust his head out of his berth and saw McGlory, equally curious -and excited, looking out from the berth overhead. All up and down each -side of the car were other heads. - -"What's the matter?" asked Matt. - -Boss Burton, in his underclothes, was standing in the aisle, a smoking -revolver in his hand. - -"Confound the luck!" he sputtered. "The Hindoo has made a getaway. -I happened to wake up and to think about him, and took a look along -the aisle from my berth, just to make sure he was safe. I thought I -was dreaming, or had the blind staggers, or something, when I saw him -sitting up. His hands were free and he was taking the rope off his -feet. I grabbed my revolver from under my pillow and rolled into the -aisle. Dhondaram had started for the door. I blazed away, did nothing -but smash a window, and the Hindoo jumped from the train." - -"Are you going to stop and put back after him?" inquired Archie Le Bon. - -"I guess I won't, although losing the fellow is a bit of a backset," -observed Burton regretfully. - -"The show can stand all the backsets of that kind that come its way, -Burton," said Harris. - -"What will we do for somebody to manage Rajah?" - -"Oh, hang Rajah!" said another of the Le Bon brothers. "I hope the -first section runs into the ditch and smashes the brute. He came within -one of killin' Archie, back there in Jackson." - -It was the general opinion, as the occupants of the various berths -drew sleepily back into their beds, that it was a good thing Dhondaram -escaped. - -"Wonder just how much that bit of a backset means for us, pard?" -McGlory inquired of the king of the motor boys before dropping back on -his pillow. - -"Nothing, I hope," was the response. - -"We'll know for sure, I reckon, before we're many days older," muttered -the cowboy as he straightened out in his bed and returned to his dreams -of cobras and charging elephants. - - -THE END. - - - - -THE NEXT NUMBER (29) WILL CONTAIN - -Motor Matt's Make-up; - -OR, - -PLAYING A NEW RÔLE. - - High Jinks in the Side Show--The "Barker" Shows His Teeth--The Man - from Washington--A Clue in Hindustanee--Something Wrong--A Blunder - in the Right Direction--The House with the Green Shutters--The - Pile of Soot--Matt Meets an Old Acquaintance--Rescue!--Bill Wily - Repents--Matt Lays His Plans--Motor Car and Aëroplane--The Oak - Opening Aëroplane Wins--Conclusion. - - - - -MOTOR STORIES - -THRILLING ADVENTURE MOTOR FICTION - -NEW YORK, September 4, 1909. - - -TERMS TO MOTOR STORIES MAIL SUBSCRIBERS. - -(_Postage Free._) - -Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each. - - 3 months 65c. - 4 months 85c. - 6 months $1.25 - One year 2.50 - 2 copies one year 4.00 - 1 copy two years 4.00 - -=How to Send Money=--By post-office or express money-order, registered -letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent by -currency, coin, or postage-stamps in ordinary letter. - -=Receipts=--Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper change -of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly -credited, and should let us know at once. - - ORMOND G. SMITH, } - GEORGE C. SMITH, } _Proprietors_. - - STREET & SMITH, Publishers, - 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. - - - - -ON THE BAHAMA REEFS. - - -"And so your sister's going to spend the winter at Nassau, for -her health, eh? Well, she might do worse, for it's very pleasant -there, with its lovely climate, and pineapples, shells, sponges, and -curiosities. Yes, I've been to the Bahama Islands. Didn't start for -there, and didn't make any entry at the custom house, but I got there, -all the same. It was a lively adventure, and no mistake." - -It was Captain Joe who made this speech, one day, as we sat on a wooden -pier, angling for fish, which, I may add, we didn't catch. - -The captain, now that his active sea days were over, lived with his -brother near-by, and was never so happy as when fishing with us boys, -or spinning yarns to while away the time whenever the inconsiderate -fish refused to bite. - -"I reckon I may as well tell you about it," he went on, "since that -steamboat has stirred up the mud till no fish can see the bait. - -"I was eighteen years old then, and the doctors gave me just twelve -months to live, for I was very delicate, and so, when we started, one -raw November day, from Boston, for a voyage to Rio and back, I was as -blue as an indigo bag. - -"The wind was fierce and cold, and the sea was lumpy, and we tumbled -and rolled about like the mischief for five or six days, when we struck -finer weather, and I at once began to feel better. - -"But a few days later the weather grew bad rapidly, so that by midnight -it was blowing half a gale, with a tremendous sea on that made the good -brig _Polly Ann_ tumble about as lively as a Scotchman dancing the -Highland fling. - -"It was a fearful storm, indeed, almost a regular hurricane, and lasted -for two days before it gave any signs of blowing itself out. - -"And then, when at last it began to subside, we found that we had -sustained considerable damage, both our topmasts being gone, the -mainmast sprung, and the rudder so twisted as to be of little service. - -"We had taken no observation for sixty hours, and were rather uncertain -as to our location, which did not add to our comfort by any means. - -"It was well past midnight, and I had dropped off into a doze, when I -was awakened by a tremendous shock that made everything tremble. - -"As I sat upright in my berth, there was a second shock, lighter than -the first, and then the brig began to pound and thump, with a grinding, -crushing sound. - -"In another moment the mate came running down into the cabin after -something, with a scared look on his face, and cried out: - -"'We're on the reefs, and the brig's going to pieces!' and then he -rushed on deck again. - -"I got up and tried to climb the ladder, but a dash of water came -through the open hatch and washed me back. - -"Somebody jammed the hatch shut, and I was a prisoner below. - -"The next moment a big wave lifted the brig up and sent her higher up -on the reefs, and she rested quietly with no more pounding or thumping. - -"The captain came down after a while, and said we were ashore on the -Bahama reefs, and as the ship was easy now, and there was no immediate -danger, we could do nothing but wait for daylight. - -"As dawn broke, I was on deck with the rest, the excitement of the -occasion, or something else, having put new life into me, and I cared -nothing for the sheets of spray and foam that, flying over the rails, -drenched us all to the skin every minute. - -"Before us, half a mile distant, was a low, white coast, covered with -sand hills, and a few cocoa palms, their long, slender leaves thrashing -about in the wind like a lot of enormous feather dusters. - -"The sea about us was churned into a mass of foam as the incoming waves -were broken in pieces on the coral reefs, whose sharp, jagged tops of -honeycomb rock rose here and there above the surface like the brown -teeth of some marine monster. - -"Between the coral reefs and the shore there was a stretch of smoother -water, in marked contrast with the tumbling sea outside. - -"It was a perfect caldron of foaming water close about us, in which no -boat could live a second, and so we waited as patiently as we could for -the going down of the adjacent sea. - -"Half an hour thereafter, to our great relief, we beheld a stanch -little schooner rounding a point well inside the reefs, and making -for us; and as she drew nearer we saw that her decks were full of -men, white and black, clad in such a variety of costumes, with such -diversity of loud colors, as at once suggested a piratical band of the -seventeenth century. - -"But appearances were deceptive, for instead of freebooters bent on -plunder, the strangers were good Samaritans coming to our rescue--a lot -of Bahamian wreckers--men ever ready to save life and property for a -consideration. - -"The captain of the little craft, which rejoiced in the highly -appropriate name of the _Fearless_, a sturdy, square-built man of -fifty, with light hair and bluish eyes, and a salty air about him, -balancing himself with the skill of an acrobat on the port rail, and -making a trumpet of his hands, began a shouting conversation with us, -in which he informed us that he wouldn't give a penny for our lives if -we weren't ashore mighty soon, as the wind, backing to the northwest, -would blow great guns again in a few hours, when our brig would -probably go to pieces. - -"As the result of this confab, the wreckers began to make preparations -to get us off the brig, which they accomplished in a skillful and -courageous manner, running a line from the _Fearless_ to our vessel, -over which we were hauled in turn, though we were sorely battered and -drenched by the angry sea that leaped up furiously, as if loath to lose -its prey. - -"It was well they worked so rapidly, for we were scarcely ashore, and -the schooner anchored behind a point, when the storm began to rage -again with great fury, burying the old brig in mountains of foaming -water. - -"When at last the storm abated, it was found that the brig had broken -in two, the stern part sinking in deep water, and the cargo being -scattered for miles along the coast, some of it being picked up, but -in a useless condition, so that the wreckers realized substantially -nothing in the way of salvage. - -"In a few days our company went in the _Fearless_ to Green Turtle Cay -village, where they eventually secured a passage home. - -"As for myself, I refused to accompany them, having discovered a -decided improvement in my health, which I naturally attributed to the -climate, which was perfection itself, with a clear, bright sky, soft, -genial breezes, and a pure, dry atmosphere that seemed to put new life -into me with every breath. - -"So I remained to complete the cure so auspiciously begun, lodging -with a planter named Bethel, whom, to pay my board, I helped with the -lighter work in his pineapple fields by day, giving his children a bit -of schooling by night, to the mutual satisfaction, I am certain, of all -concerned. - -"The half of the hulk of the _Polly Ann_ still clung to the great -reefs where she had struck, at low tide being nearly out of water; and -every day I looked at it, for it was in plain view from our veranda, -with feelings of mingled pity and friendship--for it somehow always -suggested to my mind my far-away home and the dear ones there. - -"Ever since the wreck, the weather had been perfect--such charming days -and nights as can be found only in the Bahamas following each other -uninterruptedly, until, as Christmas approached, I conceived the idea -that it would be nice to have our holiday luncheon on the deck of the -hulk, and in this scheme all acquiesced, thinking it would be novel and -delightful. - -"But the twenty-third of December ushered in a gale that swept with -fury along the coast. - -"For twenty-four hours the elements held high carnival, and then, on -Christmas Eve, there came a great lull, and the fierce storm, veering -to the southward, died away as suddenly as it had arisen, giving us -hope that our original plan might yet be carried out. - -"We were up early on Christmas morning, and looking seaward, were -astonished beyond measure at what we saw. - -"The hulk of the _Polly Ann_ had been loosened from the clutch of the -coral reef and carried bodily over the ledge by the great waves--had -been hurled upon the low inside beach, a huge broken mass, with its -stern buried deep in the wet sand, its heavy timbers splintered to -pieces, and its rusty iron bolts twisted like corkscrews. - -"We rushed to the beach--now as hard and smooth as a floor--and saw, -scattered about near the nose of the _Polly Ann_, some circular pieces, -which we at first took to be brownish-colored shells, but which we soon -discovered were nothing of the kind. - -"I picked up a piece and found it to be nearly two inches broad, -perfectly flat and smooth, the edge worn almost sharp, with some -inscription on one side and figures on the other, which we could -scarcely trace, so black and discolored was the entire surface. - -"I ran to a bit of honeycomb rock and rubbed the piece briskly over it, -until presently the tarnish began to come off, and I shouted to Bethel -that it was a piece of silver. - -"'My stars!' he cried out, in great excitement, 'if it's not an old -Spanish dollar.' - -"And then he danced about like mad for a minute. - -"Next we fell to work picking up all we could find till both our hats -were nearly full of the pieces. - -"'Where in the world did they come from?' asked Bethel, after we had -gathered in the last coin. 'I didn't suppose your old brig carried such -a cargo, did you?' - -"'I never thought so, surely,' said I; 'nor do I believe she did.' - -"'Where else could these coins have come from?' asked Bethel. - -"'I don't know,' said I. 'But as the _Polly Ann_ is only ten years -old, and these coins are near two hundred, if they are a day, why, it -doesn't stand to reason they were in the brig. However, we will soon -see. If they came out of her, there's more inside. Come, we will look.' - -"We crept inside the old hull and examined carefully among her -shattered timbers and twisted bolts, and spent two hours in prying up -the planks inside the bow and along the bottom, but at last, tired and -breathless, gave it up as a bad job, and came out as empty-handed as we -went in. - -"'I told you so,' said I. 'They never sailed the sea in the _Polly -Ann_.' - -"We spent the afternoon in counting our coins, finding we had between -three and four hundred of them, and we grew quite hilarious over our -Christmas gift, as we styled it, and speculated in vain as to where the -coins could have come from. - -"The next morning Bethel said to me: - -"'I've been thinking half the night about those coins, and I remember -my father used to tell of a Spanish vessel that went ashore somewhere -along here when he was a boy, and was gradually washed to pieces; and, -do you know, I've an idea these pieces have been cast up by the sea -from the old wreck. It's curious, however, that we never found any of -them till this brig came plowing up the beach with her nose.' - -"While we were talking, two of the children came in with several of the -pieces, which they had found at the water's edge, exactly like those we -had picked up the day before. - -"'I tell you, sir,' cried Bethel excitedly, 'my guess was right. I -believe that old Spaniard lies buried in the sand right where the -_Polly Ann_ has stuck her bow in the beach. Man alive, there may be -millions down there!' - -"We rushed to the beach, and with shovels began to dig up the sand -vigorously all about the wreck. - -"Every now and then we came across another coin, which encouraged us -tremendously, and we worked until we had dug a hole big enough to hold -an ox cart. - -"But no more coins appeared, and we were getting discouraged, when -Bethel struck a heavy timber that ran under the forefoot of the brig, -and which did not belong to the _Polly Ann_. - -"We cleared away the sand alongside this timber, and there lay a box, -made of teak wood, split open from end to end, and jammed hard and fast -between the decaying timber and the forefoot of the brig. - -"The splinters from the box were fresh and clean, showing that it had -been crushed to pieces by the stem of the brig when she was driven into -the beach by the storm. - -"And then we dug out the sand from under the debris of the teak box, -and down came a shower of black silver pieces, exactly similar to the -others, which we carefully and eagerly secured and piled up on the dry -beach near by. - -"There was no longer any mystery as to where the coins came from, for -we found the rotten timbers of the old Spanish ship underlying the sand -in every direction, none being less than ten feet from the surface. - -"For days we pursued our hunt for treasure, tunneling all about, but -except those in the teak box not another piece did we find, and at last -we desisted, satisfied that we had exhausted the deposit. - -"We kept the thing a secret, lest the authorities, taking advantage of -some old and unjust law, might claim a portion of our treasure trove; -and as there were no near neighbors, and as a brisk gale, which blew -later on, filled up our excavations in the sand, this was an easy thing -to do. - -"We divided our find, and my portion was nearly five thousand dollars, -which I brought with me to the United States late in the ensuing -summer, and disposed of it to a broker in Boston, who was very curious -to learn where I got it. - -"But he will never know, unless he learns it from this story. - -"My Christmas gift was most acceptable, as you can readily believe; out -what I valued far more was the fact that my eight months' residence in -the lovely climate of the Bahamas made me a well man, and my lungs ever -since have been as stout as a blacksmith's bellows. - -"It's all right, my boy. Tell your sister she'll have a nice time at -Nassau, and if she doesn't come back in the spring as good as new, then -Captain Joe'll never prophesy again as long as he lives. - -"She'll not find any Spanish dollars, maybe, but there's things worth -more--and one is good health." - - - - -THE STORY OF A WILD GOOSE. - - -Two years ago, one evening, while I was returning home from an -unsuccessful shooting excursion along the Atlantic shore, I observed -a flock of wild geese coming toward me, but sailing high. I stood -perfectly still, and when the flock was directly overhead I aimed and -fired. - -In the twilight I could see the flock scattering at the report, and a -bird wheeling downward with one wing limp and useless. He landed on a -patch of plowed ground with a thud and lay half stunned. In a moment I -had secured my prize. - -It was a large gander in prime condition, with a full, deep body, and -healthy, lustrous feathers, and I determined to spare his life. - -I quickly tied his legs and fastened the uninjured wing. Then, -carefully lifting the bird and getting the broken limb into as -comfortable a position as possible, I carried him home. Most sportsmen -have a crude knowledge of surgery, and I soon had the broken member -bandaged with splints and strips of cotton and my captive resting -comfortably, unbound, in a warm outhouse. - -In the morning, when I went out to feed him, he was walking around -lively enough, and, although, of course, very shy and timid, he ate a -hearty breakfast of corn as soon as he thought himself unobserved. In -a few days he grew tame enough to allow me to stroke him with a bit of -stick. It was long before he would suffer himself to be touched by the -human hand. - -After some months the bird would answer to his name, Michael, would eat -out of my hand, and when I let him out into the yard, after clipping -his wings, would follow me around like a dog. He invariably fled at -the approach of a stranger, but he never "hissed" like a domestic -goose. Strange to say, although a flock of domestic geese was kept by -a neighbor, he never paid the slightest attention to their cries and -calls. - -After a time I allowed him to roam the fields at will. At night he -returned without fail to his pen. I became much attached to the -bird, so much so that goose shooting became distasteful to me and I -discontinued the practice. - -Last spring I received a letter from a particular friend requesting me -to secure a wild goose for him. For various reasons I could not well -refuse, so I at once made arrangements for a shooting excursion. In the -midst of my preparations it occurred to me that I might employ Michael -as a decoy to lure the geese within gunshot. Sometimes a domestic goose -is used for this purpose, but seldom with complete success. The wild -goose is an intelligent bird, and rarely places implicit confidence in -his domesticated relative. - -In a secluded bight some miles down the coast I moored a small raft -near shore and tethered Michael to it by a stout string fastened to -his leg. His wings by this time had grown to the length they possessed -before being clipped, and the injured limb was as strong as ever. - -Michael seemed well pleased with his situation, stretched his wings -a few times as if the salt breath of the ocean stirred half-buried -memories, but on finding himself secured settled down comfortably on -the raft and calmly preened his gray feathers. - -I carefully screened myself behind a clump of scrub spruce and placed -some spare cartridges conveniently near. I thought that if a passing -flock should approach fairly near I might be able to fire a successful -second shot if the first proved a miss. - -After a wait of perhaps an hour I heard in the distance a faint "honk" -that quickened the heartbeats. Michael also heard it, and ceasing to -arrange his feathers, raised his head to listen eagerly. I watched -him closely. His neck was proudly arched and his eyes glistened with -excitement as he stepped as near the edge of the raft as his tether -would allow. - -Presently another "honk" dropped from the distant blue, and away to -the south I could descry a large V-shaped flock flying fairly low, but -altogether too much to the left of my position to render possible a -successful shot. - -It was now time for Michael to make himself heard, and I was beginning -to grow somewhat uneasy at his silence, when all at once--"honk! -honk!"--his joyous invitation sped up to the ears of the watchful -leader of the air travelers. - -"Honk?" queried that wary veteran suspiciously, but at once he -slackened his pace somewhat. - -"Honk! honk!" called Michael reassuringly; "honk! honk!" he repeated -coaxingly. - -For a moment the old leader seemed to hesitate, then slowly he turned -in my direction, and presently the flock was sailing directly toward me. - -My rifle was ready and in position. I was well screened by the bushes. -The light was admirable. Everything was favorable to a good shot. In -five minutes the flock was within range. Michael had uttered several -invitations during this time in reply to short interrogations from the -leader, but he had suddenly relapsed into silence. He could see the -approaching birds and was gazing at them with intense eagerness. My -finger was on the trigger, when all at once, to my amazement, Michael -pealed out a strange cry, loud and shrill, utterly unlike any sound -that I had ever heard him utter. - -It was the note of danger, the alarm signal of the wild goose. The -effect on the approaching flock was electrical. The leader instantly -turned and sped away with arrow-like swiftness, closely followed by his -feathered retinue, leaving me motionless with surprise. - -When my captive first heard the calls of his comrades he instinctively -answered with notes of invitation. The excitement of hearing and seeing -his own kindred made him forget the danger that he was leading them -into, but as they approached he seemed all at once to realize the -situation. He knew that red death lurked behind the seemingly innocent -shrubbery close at hand. Perhaps the memory of his own sharp wound -sprang into his mind. At all events, although he knew that to utter the -warning cry would debar himself from the companionship of his kind, he -unhesitatingly gave that warning with no uncertain sound. - -I laid down my rifle and pulled the raft in to the shore. Michael -was standing at the limit of his tether, gazing after his retreating -friends. - -As the raft moved he sprang into the air, only to be jerked back by the -restraining cord. I untied the string from the raft and drew the bird -toward me. He submitted to my caresses, but I guessed how earnestly he -longed to soar away after his kindred. He had saved some of them from -death or captivity; they were free to roam the clear air of heaven -while he---- - -I quickly untied the string from Michael's leg and gently pushed the -bird from me. Instantly he spread his wings and sprang upward. With -eager neck outstretched he swept rapidly after the vanishing flock, -uttering hearty "honks" of jubilation. - -I felt that he was worthy of liberty. - - - - -LATEST ISSUES - -BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY - -All kinds of stories that boys like. =The biggest and best nickel's -worth ever offered. High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. -Price, 5 cents.= - - 338--Working His Way Upward; or, From Footlights to Riches. By Fred - Thorpe. - - 339--The Fourteenth Boy; or, How Vin Lovell Won Out. By Weldon J. - Cobb. - - 340--Among the Nomads; or, Life in the Open. By the author of - "Through Air to Fame." - - 341--Bob, the Acrobat; or, Hustle and Win Out. By Harrie Irving - Hancock. - - 342--Through the Earth; or, Jack Nelson's Invention. By Fred Thorpe. - - 343--The Boy Chief; or, Comrades of Camp and Trail. By John De Morgan. - - 344--Smart Alec; or, Bound to Get There. By Weldon J. Cobb. - - 345--Climbing Up; or, The Meanest Boy Alive. By Harrie Irving Hancock. - - 346--Comrades Three; or, With Gordon Keith in the South Seas. By - Lawrence White, Jr. - - 347--A Young Snake-charmer; or, The Fortunes of Dick Erway. By Fred - Thorpe. - - 348--Checked Through to Mars; or, Adventures in Other Worlds. By - Weldon J. Cobb. - - 349--Fighting the Cowards; or, Among the Georgia Moonshiners. By - Harrie Irving Hancock. - - 350--The Mud River Boys; or, The Fight for Penlow's Mill. By John L. - Douglas. - - 351--Grit and Wit; or, Two of a Kind. By Fred Thorpe. - - -MOTOR STORIES - -The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it -is. See for yourself. =High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. -Price, 5 cents.= - - 16--Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters. - - 17--Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos. - - 18--Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon. - - 19--Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn. - - 20--Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys. - - 21--Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need. - - 22--Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right. - - 23--Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck That Wins. - - 24--Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune. - - 25--Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game. - - 26--Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of - Friendship. - - 27--Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show. - - 28--Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow. - - 29--Motor Matt's Make-up; or, Playing a New Rôle. - - -TIP TOP WEEKLY - -The most popular publication for boys. The adventures of Frank and Dick -Merriwell can be had only in this weekly. =High art colored covers. -Thirty-two pages. Price, 5 cents.= - - 687--Dick Merriwell's Colors; or, All For the Blue. - - 688--Dick Merriwell, Driver; or, The Race for the Daremore Cup. - - 689--Dick Merriwell on the Deep; or, The Cruise of the _Yale_. - - 690--Dick Merriwell in the North Woods; or, The Timber Thieves of the - Floodwood. - - 691--Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy Nine. - - 692--Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and the - "Princess." - - 693--Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for "Dead - Injun" Mine. - - 694--Dick Merriwell in Utah; or, The Road to "Promised Land." - - 695--Dick Merriwell's Bluff; or, The Boy Who Ran Away. - - 696--Dick Merriwell in the Saddle; or The Bunch from the Bar--Z. - - 697--Dick Merriwell's Ranch Friends; or, Sport on the Range. - - 698--Frank Merriwell at Phantom Lake; or, The Mystery of the Mad - Doctor. - - 699--Frank Merriwell's Hold-back; or, The Boys of Bristol. - - 700--Frank Merriwell's Lively Lads; or, The Rival Campers. - - -_For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt -of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by_ - -STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York - - -=IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS= of our Weeklies and cannot procure them -from your newsdealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. -Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price -of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. -=POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.= - - - ________________________ _190_ - - _STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City._ - - _Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find_ ___________________________ - _cents for which send me_: - - TIP TOP WEEKLY, Nos. ________________________________ - - NICK CARTER WEEKLY, " ________________________________ - - DIAMOND DICK WEEKLY, " ________________________________ - - BUFFALO BILL STORIES, " ________________________________ - - BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY, " ________________________________ - - MOTOR STORIES, " ________________________________ - - _Name_ ________________ _Street_ ________________ - - _City_ ________________ _State_ ________________ - - - - -A GREAT SUCCESS!! - -MOTOR STORIES - - -Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which -are making their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and -delighted. Surprised at the generous quantity of reading matter that we -are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating interest of -the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly. - -Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are -unusual, they are, however, drawn so true to life that the reader can -clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary boy to experience them. - - -_HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED_: - - 1--Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel. - - 2--Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends. - - 3--Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's Courier. - - 4--Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the "Comet." - - 5--Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot. - - 6--Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High Gear. - - 7--Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto. - - 8--Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward. - - 9--Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors. - - 10--Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot. - - 11--Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady. - - 12--Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the Bahamas. - - 13--Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest. - - 14--Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the "Hawk." - - 15--Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the "Grampus." - - 16--Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters. - - 17--Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos. - - 18--Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon. - - 19--Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn. - - 20--Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys. - - 21--Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need. - - 22--Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right. - - 23--Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck that Wins. - - 24--Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune. - -To be Published on August 9th. - - 25--Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game. - -To be Published on August 16th. - - 26--Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of - Friendship. - -To be Published on August 23d. - - 27--Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show. - -To be Published on August 30th. - - 28--Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow. - - -PRICE, FIVE CENTS - -At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt -of the price. - - STREET & SMITH, _Publishers_, NEW YORK - - - - -Transcriber's Notes: - - -Added table of contents. - -Inconsistent hyphenation ("getaway" vs. "get-away") retained from -original. - -Italics are represented with _underscores_, bold with =equal signs=. - -Page 3, corrected typo "CHAPER" in "CHAPTER II" heading. - -Page 4, added missing quote after "I'll go and talk with him. Come on, -Matt, you and McGlory." - -Page 11, corrected "interposel" to "interposed" after "Don't be too -sure of that." - -Page 15, corrected typo "aëoplane" in "repaired aëroplane." - -Page 16, corrected "fo" to "to" in "Burton rode up to." - -Page 17, changed ? to ! in "Don't talk to me!" - -Page 19, changed oe ligature to "oe" in "manoeuvred" (ligature retained -in HTML version). - -Page 24, removed extra quote after "trick or two" and before "Well." -Corrected "Burton" to "Carter" in "Carter was thoughtful for a few -moments." - -Page 25, corrected single to double quote after "You took that for -granted, Carter." - -Page 28, added missing accent to Aëroplane in contents of next issue -(twice). - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Short Circuit, by Stanley R. 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Matthews. - </title> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%} -hr.full {width: 95%;} -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left;} - .tdr {text-align: right;} - .tdc {text-align: center;} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - -.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} - -.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} - -.br {border-right: solid 2px;} - -.bbox {border: solid 2px;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.u {text-decoration: underline;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -/* Poetry */ -.poem { - margin-left:10%; - margin-right:10%; - text-align: left; -} - -.poem br {display: none;} - -.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} -img { border: 0; } -.huge { font-size: 200%; } -.large { font-size: 150%; } -.medium { font-size: 125%; } -.small { font-size: 75%; } -.chaptitle { text-align: center; } -.sig { text-align: right; margin-right: 1.5em; } - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Short Circuit, by Stanley R. Matthews - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Motor Matt's Short Circuit - or, The Mahout's Vow - -Author: Stanley R. Matthews - -Release Date: June 23, 2016 [EBook #52397] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOTOR MATT'S SHORT CIRCUIT *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, Demian Katz and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (Images -courtesy of the Digital Library@Villanova University -(http://digital.library.villanova.edu/)) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> -<a href="images/coverlarge.jpg"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="566" alt="The huge beast towered above -Motor Matt like a mountain, -but the king of the motor boys -held his ground." /></a> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h1>MOTOR STORIES</h1> - -<table summary="scaffold"> -<tr> -<td style="width: 50%; padding-right: 1.5em;" class="tdr"> -THRILLING<br /> -ADVENTURE -</td> -<td style="width: 50%; padding-left: 1.5em;" class="tdl"> -MOTOR<br /> -FICTION -</td> -</tr><tr> -<td class="bb bt tdl"> -NO. 28<br /> -SEPT. 4, 1909. -</td> -<td class="bb bt tdr"> -FIVE<br /> -CENTS -</td> -</tr><tr> -<td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: 0.5em;"> -MOTOR MATT'S<br /> -"SHORT CIRCUIT" -</td><td class="tdr large"> -<span class="smcap">or</span> THE MAHOUT'S<br /> -VOW -</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdc" colspan="2"><i><span class="smcap">by The Author<br /> -of "Motor Matt"</span></i></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr" colspan="2"> -<i><span class="smcap">Street & Smith<br /> -Publishers<br /> -New York</span></i> -</td> -</tr></table> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bbox"> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc huge">MOTOR STORIES</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: .25em;">THRILLING ADVENTURE</td><td class="tdl large" style="padding-left: .25em;">MOTOR FICTION</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="center"><i>Issued Weekly. By subscription $2.50 per year. Copyright, 1909, by</i> <span class="smcap">Street & Smith</span>, <i>79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York, N. Y.</i></p> - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bb bt"> -<tr><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdl">No. 28.</td><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdc">NEW YORK, September 4, 1909.</td><td style="width: 33%;" class="tdr">Price Five Cents.</td></tr> -</table> - - - - -<p class="center huge">Motor Matt's "Short=circuit"</p> - -<p class="center">OR,</p> - -<p class="center large">THE MAHOUT'S VOW.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<p class="center">By the author of "MOTOR MATT."</p> -<hr class="r5" /> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</a></h2> - -<p class="center"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I. THE SERPENT CHARMER.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. A BAD ELEPHANT.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. BURTON'S LUCK.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. MOTOR MATT'S COURAGE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. DHONDARAM'S EXCUSE.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. ROBBERY.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. BETWEEN THE WAGONS.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. A PEG TO HANG SUSPICIONS ON.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. A WAITING GAME.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. A TRICK AT THE START.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. IN THE AIR WITH A COBRA.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. A SCIENTIFIC FACT.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. PING ON THE WRONG TRACK.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. FACING A TRAITOR.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. MEETING THE HINDOO.</a><br /> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. A BIT OF A BACKSET.</a><br /> -<a href="#ON_THE_BAHAMA_REEFS">ON THE BAHAMA REEFS.</a><br /> -<a href="#THE_STORY_OF_A_WILD_GOOSE">THE STORY OF A WILD GOOSE.</a><br /> -</p> - - - -<div class="bbox"> - -<h2><a name="CHARACTERS_THAT_APPEAR_IN_THIS_STORY" id="CHARACTERS_THAT_APPEAR_IN_THIS_STORY">CHARACTERS THAT APPEAR IN THIS STORY.</a></h2> - - -<blockquote> - -<p><b>Matt King</b>, otherwise Motor Matt.</p> - -<p><b>Joe McGlory</b>, a young cowboy who proves himself a lad of worth -and character, and whose eccentricities are all on the humorous -side. A good chum to tie to—a point Motor Matt is quick to -perceive.</p> - -<p><b>Ping</b>, a Chinese boy who insists on working for Motor Matt, and -who contrives to make himself valuable, perhaps invaluable.</p> - -<p><b>Carl Pretzel</b>, an old chum who flags Motor Matt and more trouble -than he can manage, at about the same time. In the rôle of -detective, he makes many blunders, wise and otherwise, finding -success only to wonder how he did it.</p> - -<p><b>Dhondaram</b>, a Hindoo snake charmer and elephant trainer, who is -under an obligation to Ben Ali and gets into trouble while -trying to discharge it.</p> - -<p><b>Andy Carter</b>, ticket-man for Burton's Big Consolidated Shows; a -traitor to his employer, and who emerges from his evil plots -with less punishment than he deserves.</p> - -<p><b>Boss Burton</b>, manager and proprietor of the "Big Consolidated," -who, in his usual manner, forms hasty conclusions, discovers -his errors, and shows no sign of repentance.</p> - -<p><b>Archie Le Bon</b>, a trapeze performer who swings on a flying bar -under Motor Matt's aëroplane—and has a bad attack of nerves.</p> - -<p><b>Ben Ali</b>, an old Hindoo acquaintance who figures but briefly in the -story. His vow, and the manner in which he sought its fulfillment, -brings danger to the king of the motor boys.</p></blockquote> - -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">THE SERPENT CHARMER.</p> - - -<p>A brown man in a white turban sat by the river. It -was night, and a little fire of sticks sent strange gleams -sparkling across the water, and touched the form of the -brown man with splashes of golden light.</p> - -<p>The man was playing on a gourd flute. The music—if -such it could be called—was in a high key, but stifled and -subdued. Under the man, to keep his crouching body -from the earth, had been spread a piece of scarlet cloth. -In front of him was a round wicker basket, perhaps a -foot in diameter by six inches high.</p> - -<p>As the man played, the notes of the flute coming faster -and faster, the lid of the basket began to tremble as by -some pent-up force. Finally the lid slid open, and a -hooded cobra lifted its flat, ugly head. With eyes on those -of the serpent charmer, the cobra began weaving back and -forth in time to the music. Now and then the snake -would hiss and dart its head at the man. The latter -would dodge to avoid the striking fangs, meanwhile keeping -up his flute-playing.</p> - -<p>It was an odd scene, truly, to be going forward in a -country like ours—cut bodily from the mysteries of India -and dropped down on the banks of the Wabash, there, -near the intensely American city of Lafayette.</p> - -<p>While the brown man was playing and the cobra -swayed, and danced, and struck its lightning-like but ineffectual -blows, another came into the ring of firelight, -stepping as noiselessly as a slinking panther. He, like -the other, wore a turban, and there was gold in his ears -and necklaces about his throat.</p> - -<p>The first man continued his flute-playing. The other, -with a soft laugh, went to the player's side, sank down, -and riveted his own snakelike orbs upon the diamond eyes -of the cobra. Once the serpent struck at him, but he drew -back and continued to look. With one hand the newcomer -took the flute from the player's lips and laid it on -the ground; then, in a silence broken only by the crackling -fires, the eyes of the man snapped and gleamed and held -those of the cobra.</p> - -<p>The effect was marvelous. Slowly the cobra ceased its -rhythmical movements and dropped down and down until<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> -it retreated once more into the basket; then, with a quick -hand, the lid of the receptacle was replaced and secured -with a wooden pin.</p> - -<p>"Yadaba!" exclaimed the first man.</p> - -<p>"Not here must you call me that, Dhondaram," said -the second. "I am known as Ben Ali."</p> - -<p>Dhondaram spat contemptuously.</p> - -<p>"'Tis a name of the Turks," he grunted; "a dog's -name."</p> - -<p>"It answers as well as any other."</p> - -<p>These men were Hindoos, and their talk was in Hindustani.</p> - -<p>"You sent for me at Chicago," proceeded Dhondaram; -"you asked me to come to this place on the river, and to -bring with me my most venomous cobra. See! I am -here; and the cobra, you have discovered that the flute has -no power to quiet its hostility. Your eyes did that, Yada—your -pardon; I should have said Ben Ali. Great is the -power of your eyes. They have lost none of their charms -since last we met."</p> - -<p>Ben Ali received this statement moodily. Picking up a -small pebble, he cast it angrily into the fire.</p> - -<p>"Why have you brought me here?" inquired Dhondaram, -rolling a cigarette with materials taken from the -breast of his flowing robe.</p> - -<p>"Because," answered Ben Ali, "I have made a vow."</p> - -<p>"By Krishna," and Dhondaram threw himself forward -to light his cigarette at the fire, "vows are evil things. -They bring trouble—nothing less."</p> - -<p>"This one," hissed Ben Ali, "will bring trouble to an -enemy of mine."</p> - -<p>"And to yourself, it may be," added Dhondaram, resuming -his squatting attitude on the scarlet cloth and -whiffing a thin line of vapor into the air.</p> - -<p>"The goddess Kali protects me," averred Ben Ali. "It -is written in my forehead."</p> - -<p>"What else is written in your forehead?" asked Dhondaram -after a space. "What was it that caused you to -send for me, and to ask me to leave my profitable work -in the museum, come here, and bring the worst of my -hooded pets?"</p> - -<p>Ben Ali, in the silence that followed, picked up more -pebbles and cast them into the fire.</p> - -<p>"During the feast of Nag-Panchmi," he observed at -last, "years since, Dhondaram, a mad elephant crushed a -boat on the Ganges. You were in the boat, and I -snatched you from certain death."</p> - -<p>Dhondaram's face underwent a swift change.</p> - -<p>"That, also," he said in a subdued tone, "is written in -my forehead. I remembered it when your letter came -to me. I owe you obedience until the debt is paid. I am -here, Ben Ali. Command me."</p> - -<p>"<i>Such baht!</i> You, with the cobra, Dhondaram, will go -against my enemy and fulfill my vow. That will repay -the debt."</p> - -<p>A look of fear crossed Dhondaram's face. It passed -quickly, but had not escaped the keen eyes of Ben Ali.</p> - -<p>"You are afraid!" and he sneered as he spoke.</p> - -<p>"And if I am?" protested the other. "I am bound to -obey, and lose my life, if I must, in paying for the saving -of it during the feast of Nag-Panchmi. Who is -your enemy, Aurung Zeeb?"</p> - -<p>Ben Ali struck the ground with his clinched fist.</p> - -<p>"Aurung Zeeb is a coward!" he exclaimed. "He fled -and left me to work out my vengeance alone. <i>Hurkutjee!</i> -Let us speak no more of him. You knew of my -brother, the rajah? How our sister married the <i>feringhi</i>, -Captain Lionel Manners, of the English army? How -he died, and his wife perished in the <i>ghats</i>, by <i>suttee</i>? -Of the daughter they left, Margaret Manners? How, -out of hatred to the rajah, I brought the girl to this country -and destroyed her will by the power of the eyes? -How we traveled with the show of Burton Sahib?"</p> - -<p>Dhondaram nodded gravely.</p> - -<p>"I know," he replied.</p> - -<p>"But you do not know of the <i>feringhi</i> boy, the one who -flies in the bird machine, and who is called Motor Matt. -Because of him I have lost the girl, and she was making -much money for me. I was <i>mahout</i> in the show for Burton -Sahib's worst elephant, Rajah. No other could drive -him, or take care of him. You are a <i>sapwallah</i>, a charmer -of serpents, but you are also a charmer of elephants. -You can drive them, Dhondaram, as well as I. You can -take care of this Rajah beast as well as I."</p> - -<p>"I learned to work with the elephants from my brother, -the <i>muni</i>," observed Dhondaram. "You have lost the -niece you called Haidee?"</p> - -<p>"She is under the care of the British ambassador, but -she is staying in this town. Perhaps I may get her back—that -I do not know. But my vow, Dhondaram, against -this <i>feringhi</i> boy, Motor Matt. That is for you to carry -out. He has wrecked my plans. I will wreck his. He -has put me in danger of my life. Through me, he shall -be in danger of his own."</p> - -<p>"What am I to do?" queried Dhondaram.</p> - -<p>"The show of Burton Sahib is some distance from -here, but I will tell you how to find it. The cobra will -help you join it, for Burton Sahib is always watching -for performers. You must learn to do better with this -cobra. By performing with the serpent before Burton -Sahib, you will please him. He must have some one to -take care of the elephant, Rajah. You will apply for the -place. Ha! Do you follow me?"</p> - -<p>Dhondaram nodded.</p> - -<p>"When you have applied for the place I will tell you -what to do. The air machine must be wrecked. Rajah -will do that. The <i>feringhi</i> boy must be put where he -will not interfere with my plans for my niece—the cobra -<i>must do that</i>."</p> - -<p>Dhondaram stirred restlessly.</p> - -<p>"The law of this country," he murmured, "has a long -arm and a heavy fist."</p> - -<p>"If you do as I say," went on Ben Ali, "you will not -be reached by the arm nor caught by the fist. You will -be safe, and so will I; and the vow of Ben Ali will have -been carried out."</p> - -<p>"You cannot do this yourself?"</p> - -<p>"I should be seized if I showed my face again in the -show of Burra Burton! I should be thrown into the -strong house of the <i>feringhis</i> if I appeared among the -tents. Motor Matt has said this, and he has the power -to carry out his threat."</p> - -<p>"Had Motor Matt the power to do this when he saved -Haidee?"</p> - -<p>"He had."</p> - -<p>"And he held his hand! Why?"</p> - -<p>"Because Haidee was under the spell of my eyes. In -order to free her, he had to bargain with me. The bargain -was that I should go free, but never to trouble Motor -Matt or the girl any more. With the girl in my -hands, I could secure many rupees from my brother, the -rajah, for her. And I hate that brother. He is rich, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> -he made me the keeper of his elephants! He lived in luxury, -but I herded with the coolies."</p> - -<p>Again Ben Ali struck his clinched fist on the earth.</p> - -<p>"It may be," said Dhondaram, "that Burton Sahib has -secured another keeper for the bad elephant, Rajah? In -that case, he would not want me."</p> - -<p>"It is not likely," returned Ben Ali. "All the other -keepers are afraid of Rajah. Aurung Zeeb was the only -Hindoo who could have managed Rajah, and he dare not -return to the show any more than I. Burton Sahib will -want some one, and he will take you. You will go to him, -perform with the cobra, win his favor. Then, and not -till then, you will ask for the post of elephant keeper. -Burton Sahib, my word for it, will give you Rajah to -look after. Then, my friend, you can carry out the terms -of my vow. You will pay your debt, and we shall be -quits. I shall have no further claim on you."</p> - -<p>"And I shall escape the arm of the <i>feringhi</i> law?"</p> - -<p>"Even so."</p> - -<p>"Tell me what I am to do, and how."</p> - -<p>Then, as the little tongues of flame threw their weird -play of lights and shadows over the dusky plotters, the -talk went on.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A BAD ELEPHANT.</p> - - -<p>"Great spark-plugs!"</p> - -<p>Motor Matt was passing the canvas walls of the -menagerie tent of the "Big Consolidated" when a human -form ricocheted over the top of it and landed directly in -front of him on a pile of hay. The dropping of the -man on the hay was accompanied by a wild sound which -the king of the motor boys recognized as the trumpeting -of an angry elephant. Following this came the noise of -quick movements on the other side of the wall, and -hoarse voices giving sharp commands.</p> - -<p>Matt ran to the man who had fallen on the hay. He -was sitting up and staring about him blankly.</p> - -<p>"Well, if it isn't Archie Le Bon!" exclaimed Matt. -"What sort of way is that to come out of a tent, Le Bon?"</p> - -<p>"Couldn't help myself, Matt," was the answer. "A -couple of tons of mad elephant gave me a starter. Gee! -No more of that in mine. I'm glad this hay happened to -be here."</p> - -<p>Le Bon got up. Evidently his brain was dizzy, for he -supported himself against a guy rope.</p> - -<p>"Was it Rajah?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Don't you know any better than to fool with that big -lump of iniquity?"</p> - -<p>"I do now. Burton has offered twenty-five dollars to -any one connected with the show who'll take Rajah out -in the parade. Thought I'd try it, and I began by doing -my best to make friends with the brute. Rajah was -about two seconds wrapping his trunk around me and -heaving me over the wall. I'm in luck at that, I suppose. -The big fellow might have slammed me on the -ground and danced a hornpipe on me."</p> - -<p>"You don't mean to say that Burton is going to have -Rajah in the parade!" exclaimed Matt.</p> - -<p>"Says he is," answered Le Bon, "but I'll bet money he -won't get any one to ride the elephant. You'd better -trot along inside. Your Dutch pard, Carl, had a row with -me. We both wanted to try and manage Rajah and annex -the twenty-five, and the only way we could settle the -question was by drawing straws. For all I know, Carl -may be trying to make friends with Rajah now. Head -him off, Matt, or there'll be a dead Dutchman on the -grounds."</p> - -<p>"Carl must be crazy!" exclaimed Matt, whirling around -and darting under the canvas.</p> - -<p>Archie Le Bon was an acrobat, and one of several -brothers who had a hair-raising act in the circus ring; -and if Archie couldn't manage Rajah, it was a foregone -conclusion that Carl wouldn't be able to.</p> - -<p>Still, it was like Carl to be willing to try something -of the sort, and the young motorist was eager to call a -halt in proceedings before it was too late.</p> - -<p>Inside the "animal top" a crowd of men was belaboring -Rajah with clubs and sharp prods. The elephant, chained -to stakes firmly planted in the ground, was backing -away as far as the chains would permit, head up and -trunk in the air. Boss Burton, proprietor and manager -of the show, was directing operations.</p> - -<p>Matt's Dutch pard was very much in evidence. Armed -with a piece of sharpened iron, he was hopping around -like a pea on a hot griddle, taking a hack at Rajah every -time he saw an opening. Joe McGlory was hopping -around, too, trying to grab the excited Dutchman and -snake him out of harm's way.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Rajah lowered his head and executed a wide -sweep with his trunk, in a half circle. Carl and a <i>mahout</i> -who had charge of the other elephants had their feet -knocked from under them. The <i>mahout</i> was thrown flat -and quickly dragged to safety, while Carl was stood on -his head in a bucket—a bucket that happened to be filled -with water.</p> - -<p>McGlory caught Carl by the heels and dragged him out -into the centre of the tent, the Dutchman thrashing his -arms and sputtering as he slid over the ground.</p> - -<p>"Confound the brute!" roared Boss Burton; "I'll either -take the kinks out of him and have him in the parade, or -I'll shoot him. Leave him alone for half an hour, and -then we'll maul him some more. How's Le Bon?"</p> - -<p>"Not a scratch," Archie Le Bon answered for himself, -coming in under the canvas. "But I might have had a -broken head."</p> - -<p>"You've had enough?" queried Burton.</p> - -<p>"A great plenty, thank you. I'm no elephant trainer, -Burton, and while I'd like to make a little extra money -I guess I'll look for something that's more congenial."</p> - -<p>"Dot's me, too," said Carl to Matt and McGlory. "I -don'd vas some elephant trainers, I bed you. Vat a ugliness -old Racha has! Dot trunk oof his hit me like a railroadt -train."</p> - -<p>"You were going to try and ride the elephant in the -parade, Carl?" demanded Matt.</p> - -<p>"I vas t'inking oof id vonce, aber never any more. He -iss vorse as I t'ought."</p> - -<p>"I heard what he was up to, Matt," put in McGlory, -"and hit the high places for here. Arrived just in time -to see Le Bon go out between the edge of the wall and -the edge of the tent top. Sufferin' skyrockets, but it was -quick! Everybody rushed at Rajah, and Carl was right -in the thick of it. I thought he'd be smashed into a -cocked hat before I could get hold of him."</p> - -<p>"Who vas der feller vat left dot pucket oof vater in -der vay?" grumbled Carl, mopping his tow hair with a -red cotton handkerchief. "Id vas righdt under me ven I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> -come down. I don'd like dot. Id vas pad enough mitoudt -any fancy drimmings in der vay oof a pail oof -vater."</p> - -<p>"Well, it's a lesson for you to leave Rajah alone."</p> - -<p>"T'anks, I know dot. Oof he vas der only elephant -vat dere iss, I vouldn't haf nodding to do mit him. Vile -I'm vaiding for dot fordune to come from India I haf -got to lif, but I vill shdarve pefore I dry to make a lifing -taking care oof Racha. Br-r-r, you old sgoundrel!" and -Carl turned and shook his fist at Rajah.</p> - -<p>Just at this moment Boss Burton stepped up to Matt -and his friends.</p> - -<p>"Here's a hard-luck proposition!" he glowered. "My -biggest elephant raises Cain in a way he never did while -Ben Ali had charge of him. Ben Ali was a villain, but -he knew how to manage elephants. But Rajah goes in -the parade, you can bet your pile on <i>that</i>."</p> - -<p>"You don't mean it, Burton!" cried Motor Matt.</p> - -<p>"Oh, don't I?" and there was a resolute gleam in the -showman's eyes as he faced Matt. "You watch and -see," he added.</p> - -<p>"You're taking a lot of chances if you stick to that -notion," grunted McGlory. "The brute's liable to smash -a few cages and let loose a lion or two. By the time you -foot the bill, Burton, you'll find you're riding a mighty expensive -hobby."</p> - -<p>"Rajah goes in the parade," shouted the angry showman, -"or I put a bullet into him. I've got my mad up -now."</p> - -<p>"Who'll take him?" queried Matt.</p> - -<p>"If I can't find any one to put him through his paces, -by gorry I'll do it myself!"</p> - -<p>"Then the Big Consolidated," said McGlory, "might -as well look for another boss."</p> - -<p>"See here, Burton," went on Matt, "you've been having -the aëroplane tag your string of four elephants during -the parade, and Rajah's been at the end of the string and -right in front of the flying machine. You've got to give -the machine another place. I'll not take chances with it, -if Rajah's in the march. You ought to remember what -a close call the brute gave us in Lafayette."</p> - -<p>"Nobody's going to change places in the parade!" declared -Burton.</p> - -<p>He was a man of mercurial temperament, and could -only be managed by firmness.</p> - -<p>"Either Rajah stays out of the procession," exclaimed -Motor Matt calmly, "or the <i>Comet</i> does."</p> - -<p>"And you can paste that in your hat, Burton," added -McGlory. "What Pard Matt says goes."</p> - -<p>"Oh, hang it," growled Burton, coming to his senses; -"if you fellows bear down on me like that, of course you -win out; but I hate to have a measly elephant butt into -my plans and make me change 'em. Now——"</p> - -<p>"Say, Mr. Burton," spoke up a canvasman, stepping -to the showman's side and touching his arm, "there's a -dark-skinned mutt in a turban what wants ter see ye in -the calliope tent."</p> - -<p>Burton whirled on the canvasman.</p> - -<p>"Dark skinned man in a turban?" he repeated. "Does -he look like a Hindoo?"</p> - -<p>"Dead ringer for one."</p> - -<p>"Maybe it's Ben Ali——"</p> - -<p>"No, he ain't. I know Ben Ali, and this ain't him."</p> - -<p>"That tin horn won't show up among these tents in a -hurry, Burton," said McGlory. "He knows he'll get -what's coming, if he does."</p> - -<p>"Then," continued Burton, "it's dollars to dimes it's -Aurung Zeeb."</p> - -<p>"Not him, neither," averred the canvasman. "This -bloke wears a red tablecloth and carries a basket. Looks -ter me like he had somethin' he wanted ter sell."</p> - -<p>"I'll go and talk with him. Come on, Matt, you and -McGlory."</p> - -<p>Matt, McGlory, and Carl followed the showman under -the canvas and into the calliope "lean-to." Here there -was a chocolate-colored individual answering the canvasman's -description. But he was not wearing the red tablecloth. -Instead, he had spread it on the ground and was -sitting on it. In front of him was a round, flat-topped -basket, and in his hands was a queer-looking musical -instrument.</p> - -<p>"You want to see me?" demanded the showman, as -he and the boys came to a halt in front of the Hindoo.</p> - -<p>The latter swept his eyes over the little group.</p> - -<p>"You Burton Sahib?" he inquired, bringing his gaze -to a rest on the showman.</p> - -<p>"Yes," was the answer.</p> - -<p>"You look, see what I can do?" queried the Hindoo.</p> - -<p>"If you've got something you want to sell——"</p> - -<p>"The honorable sahib makes the mistake. <i>Dekke!</i>"</p> - -<p>Then, with this native word, which signifies "look," the -Hindoo dropped his eyes to the round, flat basket and -brought the end of the musical instrument to his lips.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">BURTON'S LUCK.</p> - - -<p>While the notes of the gourd flute echoed through the -tent, the cover of the round basket began to quiver and -shake. Finally it slipped back, and there were startled exclamations -and a brisk, recoiling movement on the part of -the spectators as the head of a venomous cobra showed -itself.</p> - -<p>"A snake charmer!" muttered Burton, disappointment -in his voice. "They're as common as Albinos—and about -as much of a drawing card."</p> - -<p>"That's a cobra di capello he's working with," remarked -Matt, staring at the snake with a good deal of -interest. "I saw one in a museum once, and heard a lecturer -talk about it. The lecturer said that the bite of a -cobra is almost always fatal, and that there is no known -antidote for the poison; that the virus works so quickly -it is even impossible to amputate the bitten limb before -the victim dies."</p> - -<p>"Shnakes iss pad meticine," muttered Carl, "und I -don'd like dem a leedle pit."</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' rattlers!" exclaimed McGlory. "I've been -up against scorpions, Gila monsters, and tarantulas, but -blamed if I ever saw a snake in a sunbonnet before—like -that one."</p> - -<p>The cobra's hood, which was fully extended, gave it -the ridiculous appearance of wearing a bonnet, and there -was something grewsome in the way the reptile's head -swayed in unison with the flute notes. Suddenly the head -darted sideways.</p> - -<p>Motor Matt's quickness alone kept him from being -bitten. He leaped backward, just in the nick of time to -avoid the darting fangs. McGlory, wild with anger,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> -picked up an iron rod that was used about the calliope -and made a threatening gesture toward the snake.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" he breathed. "What kind -of a snake tamer are you, anyhow? If you think we're -going to stand around and let that flat-necked poison -thrower get in its work on us, you——"</p> - -<p>The cowboy made ready to use the rod, but Matt -caught his arm.</p> - -<p>"Hold up, Joe," said Matt. "No harm has been done, -and this is a mighty interesting performance."</p> - -<p>"Aber der sharmer don'd vas aple to put der shnake to -shleep mit itseluf," demurred Carl. "Der copra don'd -seem to like der moosic any more as me."</p> - -<p>"Probably the snake's fangs have been pulled," put in -Burton. "I know the tricks of these snake fakirs."</p> - -<p>"He got very good fangs, sahib," declared the Hindoo, -dropping the flute and getting up. "He pretty bad snake, -hard to handle. Now, watch."</p> - -<p>Leaning forward, the Hindoo made a quick grab and -caught the snake about the neck with one hand. After -whirling it three times around his head, he let it fall on -the earth in front of him. To the surprise of the boys -and Burton, the cobra lay at full length, rigid and stiff, -and straight as a yardstick.</p> - -<p>The serpent charmer then walked around the cobra, -singing a verse of Hindustani song.</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"La li ta la, ta perisi,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">La na comalay ah sahm-re,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Madna, ca-rahm<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Ram li ta, co-co-la lir jhi!<br /></span> -<span class="i0">La li ta la, vanga-la ta perisi."<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>"Jupiter!" exclaimed Burton. "I've heard the Bengal -girls chant that song when they went to the well, of an -evening, with their water pitchers on their heads. That's -the time I was in India after tigers."</p> - -<p>"<i>Dekke!</i>" cried the Hindoo; "I have killed my snake, -my beautiful little snake! But I have a good cane to -walk with."</p> - -<p>Then, taking the rigid reptile up by the tail, he pretended -to walk with it.</p> - -<p>"How you like to buy my cane, sahib?" he asked, -swinging the cobra up so that its head was close to the -young motorist's breast.</p> - -<p>Matt shook his head and stepped quickly back.</p> - -<p>"Take the blasted thing away!" snarled McGlory. -"Don't get so careless with it."</p> - -<p>"The snake's hypnotized," explained Burton. "When -he swung it around his head he put it to sleep."</p> - -<p>The Hindoo smiled; then, thrusting the head of the -rigid snake under his turban, he pushed it up and up -until all but the tip of the tail had disappeared under the -headdress. After that, with a quick move, he snatched -off the turban. The venomous cobra was found in a glittering -coil on his head.</p> - -<p>With both hands the Hindoo lifted the drowsy cobra -from his head, dropped it into the basket, closed the lid, -and pushed the peg into place.</p> - -<p>"That's a pretty good show," remarked Burton, "but -it's old as the hills. Where did you come from?"</p> - -<p>"Chicago," replied the snake charmer. "I want a job -with Burton Sahib."</p> - -<p>"What's your name?"</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram."</p> - -<p>"There's not a thing I can give you to do in the big -show," said Burton, "but maybe the side show could find -a place for you. Snake charmers are side-show attractions, -anyhow."</p> - -<p>Dhondaram was giving most of his attention to Matt, -although speaking with Burton.</p> - -<p>"He acts as though he knew you, pard," observed McGlory.</p> - -<p>Dhondaram must have caught the words, for instantly -he shifted his gaze from Matt to the showman.</p> - -<p>"Burra Burton can't give me a job in the big show?" -he went on.</p> - -<p>"No," was Burton's decisive reply. "You're a Hindoo. -Tell me, do you know a countryman of yours named Ben -Ali?"</p> - -<p>Dhondaram shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Or Aurung Zeeb?"</p> - -<p>Another shake of the head. Dhondaram, seemingly in -much disappointment, gathered up his scarlet robe and -his basket and started out.</p> - -<p>"Know of any one who can handle an elephant?" Burton -called after him.</p> - -<p>Dhondaram whirled around, his eyes sparkling.</p> - -<p>"I handle elephants, sahib," he declared.</p> - -<p>"You can?" returned the showman jubilantly. "Well, -this is a stroke of luck, and no mistake. Are you good -at the job?"</p> - -<p>"Good as you find," was the complacent response.</p> - -<p>"This elephant's a killer," remarked the showman cautiously.</p> - -<p>"He can't kill Dhondaram, sahib," said the Hindoo, -with a confident smile.</p> - -<p>"He has just been in a tantrum, and threw one man -through the tent."</p> - -<p>"The elephant, when he is mad, must be looked after -with knowledge, sahib."</p> - -<p>"Well, you come on, Dhondaram, and we'll see how -much knowledge you've got."</p> - -<p>Dhondaram dropped in behind Burton, and Matt and -his friends fell in behind Dhondaram. Together they -repaired to the animal tent.</p> - -<p>"Don't like the brown man's looks, hanged if I do, -pard," muttered McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Me, neider," added Carl. "He iss like der shnake, -I bed you—ready to shtrike ven you don't exbect dot. -Aber meppy he iss a goot hand mit der elephant. Ve -shall see aboudt dot."</p> - -<p>When they were back in the animal tent, Burton and the -boys found Rajah still in vicious mood. Straining at his -chains, the big brute was swaying from side to side, -reaching out with his trunk in every direction and trying -to lay hold of something.</p> - -<p>"<i>Himmelblitzen</i>, vat a ugly feller!" murmured Carl, -standing and staring. "He vouldt schust as soon kill -somepody as eat a wad oof hay. You bed my life I vas -gladt I gave oop trying to manach him."</p> - -<p>"There's the elephant, Dhondaram," spoke up Burton, -pointing. "He's a killer, I tell you, and I'll not be responsible -for damages."</p> - -<p>"I myself will be responsible, sahib," answered the Hindoo. -"Hold my basket, sahib?" he asked, extending the -receptacle toward Carl.</p> - -<p>Carl yelled and jumped back as though from a lighted -bomb.</p> - -<p>"Nod for a millyon tollars!" he declared. "Take id -avay."</p> - -<p>Dhondaram smiled and placed the basket on the -ground; then over it he threw the red robe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> - -<p>"<i>Dekke</i>, sahibs," he remarked, taking a sharp-pointed -knife from a sash about his waist. "Look, and you will -see how I manage the elephant in my own country."</p> - -<p>Fearlessly he stepped forth and posted himself in front -of Rajah. It may be that the angry brute recognized -something familiar in the Hindoo's clothes, for he stopped -lurching back and forth and watched the brown man.</p> - -<p>"You got to be brave, sahibs," remarked the Hindoo, -keeping his eyes on the elephant's. "If you have the -fear, don't let the elephant see. The elephant is always a -big coward, and he make trouble only when he think he -got cowards to deal with. Watch!"</p> - -<p>With that, Dhondaram stepped directly up to the big -head of Rajah. Up went the head, the trunk elevated -and curved as though for a blow.</p> - -<p>Matt and his friends held their breath, for it seemed -certain the brown man would be crushed to death under -their very eyes.</p> - -<p>But he was not. Rajah's trunk did not descend. In -a sharp, authoritative voice Dhondaram began talking in -his native tongue. Every word was accompanied by a -sharp thrust of the knife.</p> - -<p>The huge bulk of the elephant began to shiver and to -recoil slowly, releasing the pull on the chains. Presently -the big head lowered and the trunk came down harmlessly.</p> - -<p>Then, at a word from the Hindoo, the elephant knelt -lumberingly on his forward knees, stretching out his -trunk rigidly. Dhondaram stepped on the trunk and was -lifted, gently and safely, to the broad neck. At another -word of command, Rajah rose, and Dhondaram, from his -elevated place, smiled and saluted.</p> - -<p>"It is easy, sahibs," said he. "This elephant is not a -bad one."</p> - -<p>Burton clapped his hands.</p> - -<p>"Do you want a job as Rajah's <i>mahout</i>?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Yes," was the answer.</p> - -<p>The showman turned to Matt.</p> - -<p>"Are you willing to take the <i>Comet</i> in the parade with -Rajah," he inquired, "now that we have a better driver -than even Ben Ali to look after the brute?"</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram is a marvel!" exclaimed Matt. "Yes, -Burton, we'll be in the parade with the aëroplane."</p> - -<p>"Good! Hustle around and get ready. There's not -much time. Come down, Dhondaram, and get the blankets -on Rajah. The parade will start in half an hour."</p> - -<p>The boys hurried out of the tent and into the calliope -"lean-to." The <i>Comet</i> had to be put in readiness, and -McGlory and Ping, the Chinese boy, had costumes to -put on.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">MOTOR MATT'S COURAGE.</p> - - -<p>During the exhibition at Lafayette, Indiana, the <i>Comet</i> -had caught fire while in the air and the king of the motor -boys had made a dangerous descent in safety. The machine -had been damaged, however, and, when the show -left the town, Matt and his friends had remained behind -to make repairs. These repairs had occupied two -days. When they were finished, Matt and McGlory had -rejoined the show, flying from Lafayette in the aëroplane -and scattering Burton's handbills over the country -as they came. Carl Pretzel and Ping, the Chinaman, -had caught up with the show by train, there being no -place for them on the <i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>The flight through the air had been made in the face of -a tolerably stiff breeze, and Matt and McGlory had found -it necessary to lie over almost the entire night on account -of a high wind. The flying machine, however, -had caught up with the show that very morning.</p> - -<p>The Big Consolidated had pitched its tents in the outskirts -of Jackson, Michigan, just across the railroad -tracks on the road to Wolf Lake.</p> - -<p>Matt's work, for which he and his friends were receiving -five hundred and fifty dollars a week, was to drive the -aëroplane, under its own power, in the parade, and to give -two flights daily on the grounds—one immediately after -the parade and the other before the evening performance—wind -and weather permitting. During these flights -Archie Le Bon was carried up on a trapeze under the -flying machine.</p> - -<p>When the boys reached the place where the aëroplane -had been left in charge of Ping, they began at once replenishing -the gasoline and oil tanks and seeing that everything -was shipshape for the journey on the bicycle -wheels.</p> - -<p>Ping, while primarily one of the <i>Comet's</i> attendants, -had also shown a decided regard for the steam calliope. -The calliope operator was teaching him to play a tune on -the steam sirens, in return for which attention the Chinaman -always provided the musical instrument with the -water necessary to make the steam that operated the -whistles.</p> - -<p>Knowing that he would have to look after the aëroplane, -Ping had performed his calliope duties early in -the day.</p> - -<p>The arrival of Carl with Matt and McGlory was a distinct -disappointment to Ping. He and the Dutch boy had -had a set-to at the time of their first meeting, and, although -Matt had made them shake hands, yet there still -rankled in their bosoms a feeling of hostility toward each -other. Nevertheless, they kept this animosity in the -background whenever Matt or McGlory was near them.</p> - -<p>During the trip from Lafayette to Jackson on the -train the two had ridden in different cars. They were -not on speaking terms when away from Matt King and -his cowboy pard.</p> - -<p>Carl was just beginning his engagement with the Big -Consolidated. He was traveling with the show while -waiting for some money to reach him from India. There -was nothing for him to do about the <i>Comet</i>, so he secured -a job playing the banjo in the side show while a -so-called Zulu chief performed a war dance on broken -glass in his bare feet.</p> - -<p>When the flying machine was in readiness the wagons -and riders were already forming for the parade.</p> - -<p>"You'll have to hustle to get into your clothes, Joe," -said Matt, "you and Ping. Get a move on, now. While -you're away I'll watch the <i>Comet</i>."</p> - -<p>McGlory and Ping started at once for the calliope tent, -which they used as general rendezvous and dressing -room. They rode on the machine in costume—McGlory -in swell cowboy regalia and Ping in a barbaric get-up that -made him look as though he had tumbled off a last year's -Christmas tree.</p> - -<p>Carl had nothing to do until after the aëroplane flight, -and so he remained with Matt until the procession started.</p> - -<p>"Here comes dot pad elephant, Racha," murmured -Carl, pointing to the string of four elephants lumbering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> -in their direction from the animal tent. "Der Hintoo iss -pooty goot ad bossing der elephant, aber I don'd like his -looks."</p> - -<p>"He's all right, Carl," laughed Matt easily. "It's -Rajah's looks you don't like."</p> - -<p>"Vell, I dell you somet'ing, bard. Oof der elephant -geds his madt oop, all you got to do is to turn some veels -und sail indo der air mit der <i>Gomet</i>."</p> - -<p>"We couldn't do that. When the <i>Comet</i> takes to the -air she has to have a running start. There's no chance -for such a start while we're in the parade."</p> - -<p>"So? Vell, keep your eyes shkinned bot' vays und look -oudt for yourseluf. I got some hunches alretty dot you -vill haf drouples."</p> - -<p>"We'll not have any trouble," returned Matt confidently.</p> - -<p>A few minutes after the elephants had dropped into -line in front of the aëroplane, McGlory, his big spurs -clinking at his heels, and Ping, rattling with tin ornaments -and spangles, ran toward the <i>Comet</i>. Ping was -helped to the upper wing, and Matt and McGlory took -their places in the seats on the lower plane.</p> - -<p>Carl drew off and cast a gloomy look at Ping, sitting -cross-legged on the overhead plane and languidly beating -the air with a fan.</p> - -<p>"You look like nodding vat I efer see!" whooped Carl, -envious to a degree that brought out the sarcastic words -in spite of himself.</p> - -<p>"My see plenty things likee Dutchy boy when my no -gottee gun," chattered Ping.</p> - -<p>"Py shinks," rumbled Carl, beside himself, "I vill make -you eat dose topacco tags vat you haf on!"</p> - -<p>"Makee tlacks," answered Ping, with a maddening -wave of the fan; "makee tlacks to side show and plingee-plunk -for Zulu man! My makee lide in procesh."</p> - -<p>The Chinaman's lordly way worked havoc with Carl's -nerves. He howled angrily and rushed forward. At -just that moment the parade got under way, and the aëroplane -lurched and swayed across the ground toward the -road.</p> - -<p>"Carl," cried Matt sternly, "keep away!"</p> - -<p>The Dutch boy had to content himself with drawing -back, shaking his fist at the glittering form on the upper -wing of the aëroplane, and saying things to himself.</p> - -<p>The parade was but a wearying repetition of the many -Matt, McGlory, and Ping had already figured in. The -glitter of tinsel, the shimmer of mirrors, the prancing -steeds and their mediæval riders, the funny clowns, the -camels and elephants, and the blare of the bands had long -since lost their glamour. For Matt and his friends the romance -had died out, and they were going about their -work on a business basis.</p> - -<p>The motor boys and their gasoline air ship always commanded -attention and were loudly cheered. The fame of -Motor Matt's exploits had been told in handbills and -dodgers by the clever showman, and, too, Burton had -seen to it that the young motorist secured ample space in -the newspapers. This, naturally, aroused a great deal of -interest, and it had long ago been conceded that Burton's -greatest attractions were Matt and his aëroplane.</p> - -<p>Rajah was a very good elephant during the entire -parade. As usual, his mate, Delhi, marched ahead of -him, and always had a pacifying effect. Dhondaram, -perched on Rajah's neck, kept the huge brute lumbering -in a straight line.</p> - -<p>But it seemed strange to Matt and McGlory that Rajah, -after his fit of madness, could be so suddenly brought into -subjection.</p> - -<p>"I'll bet my spurs," remarked McGlory, early in the parade, -"that Rajah will cut up a caper yet."</p> - -<p>"If he does," answered Matt, "I hope the <i>Comet</i> will -be out of his way. But this Dhondaram, Joe, seems to -be an A One <i>Mahout</i>, and I believe he can hold Rajah -down."</p> - -<p>It was about half-past eleven when the dusty paraders -began filing back into the show grounds, the cages pulling -into the menagerie tent, the riders taking their horses -to the stable annex, and Matt driving the aëroplane to the -spot from which the first exhibition flight of the day -was to be made.</p> - -<p>"You and Ping go and peel off your show togs," said -Matt to McGlory, as soon as the <i>Comet</i> had been brought -to a halt and he and his friends had dropped off the machine, -"and then come back and take charge of the start. -I've got to fix that electric wiring, or I'll get short-circuited -while I'm up with Le Bon."</p> - -<p>He pulled off his coat while he was speaking, and -dropped coat and hat on the ground; then, as McGlory -and Ping made their way toward the calliope tent through -a gathering throng of sightseers, the young motorist -opened a tool box and stepped around toward the rear of -the aëroplane to get at the battery and adjust the connections.</p> - -<p>A sharp tent stake, carelessly dropped by one of the -show's employees, lay in the way and Matt kicked it -aside. He gave a look around, and saw that Dhondaram -was having some trouble getting Rajah into the menagerie -tent. Thinking nothing of this, Matt proceeded to -the rear of the planes and threw himself across the lower -wing, close to the motor and the battery.</p> - -<p>While he was busily at work he heard a series of -startled yells, apparently coming from the crowd that was -massing to witness the flight of the <i>Comet</i>. Withdrawing -hastily from his place on the lower plane of the machine, -Matt dropped to the ground and ran around the -ends of the right-hand wings. What he saw was enough -to play havoc with the strongest nerves.</p> - -<p>Right and left the crowd was scattering in a veritable -panic, and through the lane thus made came Rajah, hurling -himself along in a direct line for the <i>Comet</i>. There -was no one on the animal's back, and the gay trappings -which covered him were fluttering and snapping in the -wind of his flight.</p> - -<p>Rajah had always had a dislike for the aëroplane. Its -ungainly form seemed to annoy him. In the present instance -this was no doubt a fortunate thing. Had the -brute not kept his attention on the air ship, he might have -turned on the frightened throng and either killed or injured -a dozen people.</p> - -<p>Motor Matt knew Rajah was charging the <i>Comet</i>, and -the lad's first impulse was to get out of the way; then, reflecting -that he and his friends stood to lose the aëroplane -unless he made a decided stand of some sort, he -caught up the tent stake, which lay near at hand, and -jumped fearlessly in front of the flying machine.</p> - -<p>This move was not all recklessness on Matt's part. -He recalled what Dhondaram had said to the effect that -an elephant was a coward, and brave only when he had -cowardly human beings to deal with.</p> - -<p>Well behind Rajah came a detachment of canvasmen, -carrying ropes and iron bars, and one armed with a rifle. -The king of the motor boys had seen these men, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> -knew that if he could keep Rajah from his work of destruction -until the men had had time to come up the -<i>Comet</i> would be saved.</p> - -<p>Cries of consternation went up from the spectators as -they saw the elephant plunge toward Matt. The lad gave -a fierce shout as the brute drew close, and waved the tent -stake.</p> - -<p>"Get out of the way, King! Out of the way, or you'll -be killed!"</p> - -<p>This was Burton's voice ringing in Matt's ears, and -coming from he knew not where. But the command had -no effect on the daring young motorist. He did not move -from his position.</p> - -<p>Rajah wavered. Although he slackened his headlong -rush, he still continued to come on.</p> - -<p>When he was close, and Matt could look into his -vicious little eyes, he halted, crouched back, and lifted -his trunk.</p> - -<p>The lad jumped forward and began to use the pointed -end of the stake vigorously. Rajah's head was up, and -his sinuous trunk twined in the air.</p> - -<p>The huge beast towered above Motor Matt like a -mountain, but the king of the motor boys held his ground.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">DHONDARAM'S EXCUSE.</p> - - -<p>What might have happened to Matt had not the canvasmen -arrived while he was pluckily facing and prodding -Rajah, it is hard to say. Certainly the young motorist's -brave stand held the elephant at bay and saved -the aëroplane. Before Rajah could make up his mind to -strike Matt down and trample over him to the <i>Comet</i>, the -frenzied brute was assailed on all sides and, under the -angry direction of Boss Burton, was beaten into a state -of sullen obedience.</p> - -<p>"Where's that confounded Hindoo?" roared Burton, -as two of the other elephants hauled Rajah off toward -the animal tent.</p> - -<p>McGlory, in his shirt sleeves, pushed through the crowd -and up to the aëroplane in time to hear the question.</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram is up there in the calliope tent," said the -cowboy; "leastways he was a while ago. When Ping and -I dropped into the lean-to to change our togs, the Hindoo -was stretched on the floor, groaning like a man who -was having a fit. He didn't seem to be so terribly bad -off, in spite of the way he was taking on, and I didn't -have much time to strip off my puncher clothes and get -back here. Just as I got into my regular make-up, and -before I could take another look at Dhondaram, a fellow -ran by and yelled that Rajah was runnin' wild again and -headin' for the <i>Comet</i>. That was enough for me, and I -hustled hot foot for here. I saw you, pard," and here -the cowboy turned to Matt, "standing off that big brute -with a tent stake. Speak to me about that! Say, I'm a -Piegan if I ever thought you'd get out of that mix with -your scalp."</p> - -<p>"It was a fool thing you did, King," growled Burton, -very much worked up over the way events had fallen out. -"You had about one chance in a hundred of getting out -alive. What did you do it for?"</p> - -<p>"There wasn't any other chance of saving the <i>Comet</i>," -answered Matt, a bit shaken himself now that it was all -over and he realized how close a call he had had.</p> - -<p>"Your life, I suppose, isn't worth anything in comparison -with the value of this aëroplane," scoffed Burton.</p> - -<p>"That sort of talk is foolish, Burton," said Matt. "I -remembered what Dhondaram had said about not being a -coward around Rajah, so I jumped in and got between -the elephant and the machine. But there's no use talking -now. The aëroplane has been saved, and there's -nothing much the matter with me."</p> - -<p>"There <i>is</i> some use of talking," snapped Burton. -"Here comes Dhondaram, with Ping. Now we can find -out how Rajah got away. Dhondaram has starred himself—I -don't think. If that's the best he can do, on his -first try-out, I might as well give him the sack right -here."</p> - -<p>The Hindoo and the Chinese boy were coming through -the excited crowd toward the aëroplane. Dhondaram -staggered as he walked, and there was a wild look in his -face.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter with you, Dhondaram?" demanded -Burton sharply, as the eyes of the little group near the -<i>Comet</i> turned curiously on the Hindoo.</p> - -<p>"I was sick, sahib," mumbled the brown man, laying -both hands on the pit of his stomach and rolling his eyes -upward.</p> - -<p>"Sick?" echoed Burton incredulously. "It must have -come on you mighty sudden."</p> - -<p>"It did, sahib. I came in from the parade, then all at -once I could not see and grew weak—<i>jee</i>, yes, so weak -I could not stay on Rajah's back, but fell to the ground -and lay there for a moment, not knowing one thing. -When I came to myself I was in a tent, and the <i>feringhi</i> -sahib,"—he pointed to McGlory—"and the Chinaman -sahib were getting clear of their clothes. When I get -enough strength, I come here. <i>Such bhat</i>, sahib. What I -say is true."</p> - -<p>"You had Rajah properly tamed," went on Burton; "I -never saw him act better in the parade than he did this -morning. What caused him to make such a dead set -at this flying machine the moment you dropped off his -back?"</p> - -<p>"Who can say, sahib?" asked Dhondaram humbly. -"He not like the machine, it may be. Has he a cause to -dislike the bird-wagon? The elephant, Burton Sahib, -never forgets. A hundred years is to him as a day when -it comes to remembering."</p> - -<p>One of the canvasmen stepped up and asserted that he -had seen Dhondaram drop off Rajah's back and then get -up and reel away. Thereupon the canvasman, expecting -trouble, called for some of the other animal trainers, and -they picked up the first things they could lay hands on -and started after the charging elephant.</p> - -<p>This was corroborative of the Hindoo's story, as was -also the statement made by McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Are you subject to attacks like that?" queried Burton, -with a distrustful look at the new <i>mahout</i>.</p> - -<p>"Not at all, sahib," replied the Hindoo glibly. "It was -the first stroke of the kind I have ever suffered. By -Krishna, I hope and believe it will be the last."</p> - -<p>"Well," remarked Burton grimly, "if you ever have -another, you'll be cut out of this aggregation of the -world's wonders. Now hike for the menagerie and do -your best to curry Rajah down again."</p> - -<p>Without a word Dhondaram wheeled and vanished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> -into the crowd. McGlory turned, caught Matt's arm, and -pulled him off to one side.</p> - -<p>"What's your notion about this, pard?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"I haven't any," said Matt. "It's something to think -over, Joe, and not form any snap judgments."</p> - -<p>The cowboy scowled.</p> - -<p>"These Hindoos are all of the same breed, I reckon," -he muttered, "and you know what sort of fellows Ben Ali -and Aurung Zeeb turned out to be."</p> - -<p>Matt nodded thoughtfully.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe one of the turban-tops is to be depended -on," proceeded McGlory. "They're all underhand -and sly, and not one of 'em, as I size it up, but -would stand up a stage or snake a game of faro if he got -the chance."</p> - -<p>"There you go with your snap judgment," laughed -Matt.</p> - -<p>"It's right off the reel, anyhow," continued McGlory -earnestly. "That Rajah critter was as meek as pie all -through the parade. It don't seem reasonable that he'd -take such a dead set at the <i>Comet</i> all at once. And, as -for Dhondaram getting an attack of cramps, he stood -about as much chance of that as of bein' struck by lightning."</p> - -<p>Matt was silent.</p> - -<p>"Blamed queer," continued McGlory, "that Ben Ali -and Aurung Zeeb should drop out, and then, two days -after, this other Hindoo should show up. For a happenchance, -pard, it's too far-fetched. There's something -rotten about it."</p> - -<p>"What had Dhondaram got against the <i>Comet</i>?" asked -Matt.</p> - -<p>"I pass that."</p> - -<p>"You're hinting, in a pretty broad way, Joe, that the -new <i>mahout</i> deliberately set Rajah on to smash the aëroplane."</p> - -<p>"Then I won't hint, pard, but will come out flat-footed. -That's just what I think he did."</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>"You've got to have a reason for everything? Well, I -haven't any reason for that, but I think it, all the same."</p> - -<p>"Ping!" called Matt.</p> - -<p>The Chinese boy was standing by the front of the aëroplane, -patting the forward rudders affectionately, looking -at the machine with a fond eye, and apparently exulting -over the fact that it had been saved from destruction.</p> - -<p>At Matt's call, the boy whirled around and ran toward -his two friends.</p> - -<p>"Whatee want, Motol Matt?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"You came here with the Hindoo," said Matt. "How -was that?"</p> - -<p>"My follow Hindoo flom tent. Him no gettee sick. -My savvy. When McGloly makee lun flom tent, Hindoo -jump to feet chop-chop, feel plenty fine. Him makee -play 'possum. Whoosh! When him come, my come, -too."</p> - -<p>"Talk about that!" exclaimed McGlory. "Worse, and -more of it. There's a hen on of some kind, pard."</p> - -<p>"Ping," proceeded Matt, "I've got a job for you."</p> - -<p>"Bully!" cried the Chinaman delightedly.</p> - -<p>"What I want you to do," said Matt, "is to watch -Dhondaram. Don't let him see you at it, mind, but just -dodge around, keep tab on him, and don't let him suspect -what you're doing."</p> - -<p>"Hoop-ala!" said Ping, delighted at having such a -piece of work come his way.</p> - -<p>"Think you can attend to that?"</p> - -<p>"Can do! You bettee. My heap smarter than Hindoo. -You watchee, find um out."</p> - -<p>"All right, then. Away with you."</p> - -<p>Ping darted off toward the animal tent. At that moment -Burton hurried up.</p> - -<p>"Better get busy and make your ascent, Matt," said -Burton. "The crowd's all worked up about that elephant -business, and the quickest way to get the people's minds -off it is by giving them something else to watch and talk -about."</p> - -<p>"I'll start at once," replied Matt, taking his seat in his -accustomed place on the lower plane. "Let her flicker, -Joe."</p> - -<p>The king of the motor boys "turned over" the engine, -switched the power into the bicycle wheels, and the -<i>Comet</i>, pushed by McGlory and half a dozen canvasmen, -raced along the hard ground for a running start.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">ROBBERY.</p> - - -<p>Motor Matt made as graceful an ascent and as pretty a -flight in the aëroplane as any he had ever attempted. -Archie Le Bon, swinging below the machine on a trapeze, -put the finishing touch to the performance by doing -some of the most hair-raising stunts. Loud and prolonged -were the cheers that floated up to the two with the -<i>Comet</i>, and there was not the least doubt but that the -aëroplane had successfully diverted the minds of the spectators -from the recent trouble with Rajah.</p> - -<p>After the <i>Comet</i> had fluttered back to earth, and the -crowd had drifted away toward the side show, Matt and -McGlory left a canvasman in charge of the machine and -dropped in at the cook tent for a hurried meal. There -was now nothing for the two chums to do until the next -flight of the day, which was billed to take place at half-past -six.</p> - -<p>"Did you ever have a feeling, pard," said the cowboy, -as he and Matt were leaving the mess tent and walking -across the grounds toward the calliope "lean-to," "that -there was a heap of trouble on the pike, and all of it -headed your way?"</p> - -<p>"I've had the feeling, Joe," laughed Matt.</p> - -<p>"Got it now?"</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"Well, I have."</p> - -<p>McGlory halted and looked skyward, simultaneously -lifting his handkerchief to test the strength and direction -of the wind. Watching the weather had become -almost a second nature with the cowboy since he and -Matt had been with the Big Consolidated. Aëroplane -flights are, to a greater or less extent, at the mercy of -the weather, and the more wind during an ascension then -the greater the peril for Motor Matt.</p> - -<p>"Think the weather is shaping up for a gale this afternoon, -Joe?" queried Matt.</p> - -<p>"Nary, pard. There's not a cloud in the sky, and it's -as calm a day as any that ever dropped into the almanac."</p> - -<p>"Not exactly the day to worry, eh?"</p> - -<p>"Well, no; but I'm worrying, all the same. What are -you going to do now?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Catch forty winks of sleep in the calliope tent. We -didn't get our full share of rest last night, and I'm feeling -the need of it."</p> - -<p>When they got to the "lean-to" Matt laid a horse -blanket on the ground, close to the wheels of the canvas-covered -calliope, and stretched himself out on it. A band -was playing somewhere about the grounds, and the sound -lulled him into slumber.</p> - -<p>The cowboy was not sleepy, and he was too restless to -stay in the "lean-to." Matt was hardly asleep before -McGlory had left on some random excursion across the -grounds.</p> - -<p>A man entered the calliope tent. He came softly, and -halted as soon as his eyes rested on the sprawled-out -form of Motor Matt.</p> - -<p>The man was Dhondaram. A burning light arose in -the dusky eyes as they continued to rest on the form of -the sleeper.</p> - -<p>For some time the doors leading into the "big show" -had been open. Crowds were entering the menagerie -tent, and passing from there into the "circus top." The -noise was steady and continuous, so that it was impossible -for Matt, who was usually a light sleeper, to hear -the entrance of the Hindoo.</p> - -<p>Dhondaram lingered for several minutes. He had not -his flat-topped basket with him, and he whirled abruptly -and hurried out of the "lean-to."</p> - -<p>From the look that flamed in the face of the Hindoo -as he left, it seemed as though he was intending to return -again—and to bring the cobra with him.</p> - -<p>He had not been gone many minutes, however, when -Boss Burton entered the calliope tent. This was where -he usually met the man from the ticket wagon, as soon -as the receipts had been counted and put up in bags, -received the money, and carried it to the bank. This part -of the work had to be accomplished before three o'clock -in the afternoon, as the banks closed at that hour. The -money from the evening performance always accompanied -Burton in the sleeping car on the second section -of the show train, and was deposited in the next town -on the show's schedule.</p> - -<p>Burton did not see Matt lying on the ground, close up -to the calliope, and seated himself on an overturned -bucket and lighted a cigar. The weed was no more than -well started, when Dhondaram, carrying his basket, appeared -softly in the entrance. At sight of Burton, the -Hindoo stifled an exclamation and came to a startled -halt.</p> - -<p>"What's wrong with you?" demanded the showman.</p> - -<p>"Nothing at all, sahib," answered Dhondaram, recovering -himself.</p> - -<p>"Feeling all right now?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sahib."</p> - -<p>"Good!"</p> - -<p>Without lingering for further talk, Dhondaram faced -about and glided away.</p> - -<p>The conversation between the showman and the Hindoo -had awakened Matt. The young motorist sat up -blinking and looked at Burton. He knew how the proprietor -of the Big Consolidated always met the ticket -man in the calliope tent, about that time in the afternoon, -and checked up and received the proceeds for deposit in -the local bank.</p> - -<p>"Much of a crowd, Burton?" called Matt.</p> - -<p>"Oh, ho!" he exclaimed. "You've been taking a -snooze, eh?"</p> - -<p>"A short one. Trying to make up for a little sleep I -lost last night. What time is it, Burton?"</p> - -<p>"About half-past two. Say," and it was evident from -Burton's manner that the thought flashing through his -brain had come to him suddenly, "I want to talk with -you a little about that Dutch pard of yours."</p> - -<p>"Go ahead," said Matt, leaning back against one of -the calliope wheels; "what about Carl?"</p> - -<p>"Is he square?" continued Burton.</p> - -<p>"Square?" repeated Matt. "Why, he's as honest a -chap as you'll find anywhere. If he wasn't, he wouldn't -be training with McGlory and me. You ought to know -that, Burton."</p> - -<p>"You ain't infallible, I guess. Eh, Matt? You're -liable to make mistakes, now and then, just like anybody -else."</p> - -<p>"I suppose so, but I know Carl too well to make any -mistake about <i>him</i>. What gave you the idea he was -crooked?"</p> - -<p>"I never had the idea," protested Burton. "I just -asked for information, that's all. He came to the show -on your recommendation, and I've taken him in, but I like -to have a line on the people I get about me."</p> - -<p>"There's more to it than that," said Matt, studying -Burton's face keenly. "Out with it, Burton."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, I don't like the Dutchman's looks," acknowledged -Burton. "Ping told me——"</p> - -<p>"Oh, that's it!" muttered Matt. "Ping told you—what?"</p> - -<p>"Why, that he caught the Dutchman going through his -pockets last night. If that's the kind of fellow Carl is, -I——"</p> - -<p>"Take my word for it, Burton," interrupted Matt earnestly, -"my Dutch pard is on the level. He makes a -blunder, now and then, but he's one of the best fellows -that ever lived."</p> - -<p>"What did Ping talk to me like that for?"</p> - -<p>"He and Carl don't hitch. There's a little petty rivalry -between them, and they're a bit grouchy."</p> - -<p>"Is Ping so grouchy that he's trying to make people -believe Carl's a thief?"</p> - -<p>"Ping is a Chinaman, and he has his own ideas about -what's right and wrong. I'll talk to him about this, -though."</p> - -<p>"You'd better. Certainly you don't want one of your -pards circulating false reports about another." Burton -looked at his watch impatiently. "I wonder where Andy -is?" he muttered, "He's behindhand, now, and if he -delays much longer, I'll not be able to get to the bank -before closing time."</p> - -<p>"He may have had such a big afternoon's business," -suggested Matt, "that it's taking him a little longer to -get the money counted, and into the bags."</p> - -<p>"The business was only fair—nothing unusual. Andy -has had plenty of time to sack up the money and get here -with it."</p> - -<p>Andy Carter was the ticket man. He was middle-aged, -an expert accountant, and was usually punctual to the -minute in fulfilling his duties to his employer.</p> - -<p>"Have you seen anything of Dhondaram lately?" Matt -inquired casually.</p> - -<p>"He blew in here with his little basket just before you -woke up. Didn't you see him?"</p> - -<p>"I heard you talking," answered Matt, "and that's -what wakened me, but I didn't see who you were talking -with. Did he get Rajah under control again, Burton?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> - -<p>A puzzled look crossed the showman's face.</p> - -<p>"He can manage that big elephant as easily as I can -manage a tame poodle, and he wasn't two minutes with -the brute before he had him as meek as Moses. What I -can't understand is how Rajah ever broke away and went -on the rampage like he did."</p> - -<p>"There are others on this ground who deserve your -suspicions a whole lot more than my Dutch pard," observed -Matt.</p> - -<p>"You mean that I'd better be watching Dhondaram?"</p> - -<p>"Not at all," was the reply. Matt was already having -the Hindoo watched, so it was hardly necessary for Burton -to attend to the matter. "The Hindoo's actions are -queer."</p> - -<p>"Hindoos are a queer lot, anyhow. But they're good -elephant trainers, and that's the point that gets me, just -now."</p> - -<p>"Where did Dhondaram say he——"</p> - -<p>Motor Matt got no further with his question. Just at -that moment a man reeled through the entrance. His -hat was gone, his coat was torn, and there was a bleeding -cut on the side of his face. With a gasp, he tumbled to -his knees in front of Burton.</p> - -<p>"Great Jupiter!" exclaimed Burton, leaping to his feet. -"Andy! What's happened to you?"</p> - -<p>"Robbed!" breathed the ticket man, swaying and holding -both hands to his throat; "knocked down and robbed -of two bags of money that I was bringing here. I—I——"</p> - -<p>By then the startled Matt was also on his feet.</p> - -<p>"Who did it?" shouted the exasperated Burton. "Did -you see who did it? Speak, man!"</p> - -<p>But Carter was unable to speak. Overcome by what -he had passed through, he crumpled down at full length -and lay silent and still at the showman's feet.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">BETWEEN THE WAGONS.</p> - - -<p>Excitement, and a certain reaction which follows all -such shocks as the ticket man had been subjected to, had -brought on a fainting spell. A little water soon revived -Carter, and he was laid on the blanket from which Matt -had gotten up a little while before.</p> - -<p>"Now tell me about the robbery," said Burton, "and be -quick. While we're wasting time here, the thieves are -getting away. I can't afford to let 'em beat me out of -the proceeds of the afternoon's show. Who did it, -Carter?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, Burton," was the answer.</p> - -<p>"Don't know?" repeated the showman blankly. "Can't -tell who knocked you down and lifted the two bags, when -it was done in broad day! What are you givin' us?" he -added roughly.</p> - -<p>"It's a fact, Burton," persisted Carter. "I was hit -from behind and could not see the man who struck me."</p> - -<p>"You've got a cut on your face. How do you account -for that if, as you say, you were struck from behind?"</p> - -<p>"The blow I received threw me forward against a -wagon wheel. The tire cut my cheek. I dropped flat, -and didn't know a thing. When I came to myself, of -course, the money was gone."</p> - -<p>"Here's a pretty kettle of fish, and no mistake!" fumed -Burton. "How much money did you have, Andy?"</p> - -<p>"A little over eighteen hundred dollars."</p> - -<p>"Eighteen hundred gone to pot! By Jupiter, I -won't stand for that. Can't you think of <i>some</i> clue, -Andy? Pull your wits together. It isn't possible that a -hold-up like that could take place in broad day without -leaving some clue behind. Think, man!"</p> - -<p>"Maybe that new Dutch boy could give you a clue," -replied Carter. "He's a friend of Motor Matt's, isn't -he?"</p> - -<p>"He's a pard of Matt's," said Burton, casting a significant -look at the king of the motor boys. "What makes -you think he might give us a clue? Don't hang fire, -Andy! Every minute we delay here is only that much -time lost. Go on—and speak quick."</p> - -<p>"I had just left the ticket wagon," pursued Carter, trying -to talk hurriedly, "when the Dutchman stepped up to -me. He wanted a word in private, as he said, and I told -him he'd have to wait until some other time. He said -he couldn't wait, and that what he had to tell me was important. -I couldn't get away from him, and I agreed to -listen to what he had to say providing he didn't delay me -more than two or three minutes. With that, he led me -around back of the "circus top" and in between two canvas -wagons. That's when I got struck from behind."</p> - -<p>Motor Matt listened to this in blank amazement. Boss -Burton swore under his breath.</p> - -<p>"It's a cinch the Dutchman had a hand in the robbery," -the showman declared. "He lured Andy in between the -wagons, and it was there that some of the Dutchman's -confederates knocked Andy down and lifted the bags. If -we can lay hands on this Carl, we'll have one of the -thieves."</p> - -<p>"Don't be too sure of that," interposed Matt. "Carl -Pretzel never did a dishonest thing in his life, and I'm -sure he can explain this."</p> - -<p>"Don't let your regard for the Dutchman blind you to -what's happened, Matt," warned the showman. "The -only thing he asked Andy to go in between the wagons -for was so that the dastardly work would be screened -from the eyes of people around the grounds." He turned -away, adding: "We'll have to hunt for Carl—and it will -be a hunt, I'll be bound. Unless I miss my guess, he and -his confederates are a good ways from here with that -eighteen hundred dollars."</p> - -<p>Burton ran toward the tent door, followed by Matt. Before -either of them could pass out, Carl and McGlory -stepped through and stood facing them.</p> - -<p>Carl had a red cotton handkerchief tied round the back -of his head.</p> - -<p>"Here he is, by thunder!" cried the surprised Burton.</p> - -<p>"So, you see," spoke up Matt, "he didn't run away, -after all."</p> - -<p>"It's some kind of a bluff he's working," went on Burton -doggedly. "I want you," he added, and dropped a -heavy hand on Carl's shoulder.</p> - -<p>"For vy iss dot?" inquired Carl.</p> - -<p>"What do you want the boy for?" said McGlory.</p> - -<p>"He helped steal eighteen hundred dollars the ticket -man was bringing over here for me to take to the bank," -said Burton; "that's what I want him for."</p> - -<p>"Iss he grazy?" gasped Carl, falling weakly against -McGlory. "Vat dit I do mit der money oof I took it, -hey? Und ven dit I take it, und vere it vas? By shinks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>" -and Carl rubbed a hand over his bandaged head, "I'm -doing t'ings vat I don'd know nodding aboudt. Somepody -blease tell me vat I peen oop to."</p> - -<p>"Don't you get gay," growled Burton. "It won't help -your case any."</p> - -<p>"Give me the straight o' this," demanded McGlory.</p> - -<p>Burton stepped back and waved a hand in the direction -of Andy Carter.</p> - -<p>"Look at Andy!" he exclaimed. "He's been beaten up -and robbed of two bags of money that he was bringing -here. The Dutchman lured him in between a couple of -canvas wagons, and that's where the job was pulled off."</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about this!" murmured the dazed McGlory. -"What about it, Matt?" he added.</p> - -<p>Matt did not answer, but stepped over to Carl.</p> - -<p>"Why did you ask Carter to step in between the -wagons, Carl?" the young motorist asked.</p> - -<p>"Pecause I vanted to shpeak mit him alone by himseluf," -answered Carl. "Vat's der odds aboudt der tifference, -anyvay?"</p> - -<p>"What did you want to speak with him about?"</p> - -<p>"Vell, I don'd like blaying der pancho for dot Zulu -feller. I dit id vonce, und den fired meinseluf. Vat I -vant iss somet'ing light und conshenial—hantling money -vould aboudt suit me, I bed you. Dot's vat I vanted to -see der ticket feller aboudt. I vanted to ask him vould -he blease gif me some chob in der ticket wagon, und I -took him off vere ve could haf some gonversations alone. -Dot's all aboudt it, und oof I shtole some money, vere it -iss, und vy don'd I got it? Tell me dot!"</p> - -<p>"That's a raw bluff you're putting up," scowled Burton. -"You're nobody's fool, even if you do try to make -people think so."</p> - -<p>"I ain't your fool, neider," cried Carl, warming up. -"You can't make some monkey-doodle pitzness oudt oof -me. You may own der show und be a pig feller, aber I -got some money meinseluf oof it efer geds here from -Inchia, so for vy should I vant to svipe your money, -hey?"</p> - -<p>"What happened between the wagons, Carl?" went on -Matt. "Just keep your ideas to yourself, Burton," he -added, "and don't accuse Carl until he has a chance to -give his side of the story. Did you see the man who -knocked Carter down?"</p> - -<p>"I don'd see nodding," said Carl.</p> - -<p>"Do you mean to say," asked Carter, rising up on the -blanket, "that I wasn't knocked down?"</p> - -<p>"I don'd know vedder or nod you vas knocked down. -How could I tell dot?"</p> - -<p>"You were there with Carter—there between the -wagons," cried Burton angrily. "Why shouldn't you have -seen what happened?"</p> - -<p>"Look here vonce."</p> - -<p>Carl pulled off his cap and bent his head.</p> - -<p>"Feel dere," he went on, touching the back of his head. -"Be careful mit your feelings, oof you blease, und tell me -vat you findt."</p> - -<p>"A lump," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"Ouch!" whimpered Carl. "It vas so sore as I can't -tell. My headt feels like a parrel, und hurts all ofer. -Dot's der reason I ditn't see vat habbened. I vas knocked -down meinseluf, und it must haf peen aboudt der same -time der dicket feller keeled ofer."</p> - -<p>"There you have it, Burton," said Matt, facing the -showman. "Carl wanted a job in the ticket wagon, and -thought he might get it by talking with Andy Carter. -When they got in between the wagons they were both -knocked down."</p> - -<p>"Rot!" ground out Burton. "Why didn't Carter see -the Dutchman when he came to? Or why didn't the -Dutchman see Carter, if he got back his wits first?"</p> - -<p>"Carl was looking for Carter when I met up with him," -put in McGlory.</p> - -<p>"The Dutchman wasn't near the wagons when I recovered -my senses," came from the ticket man.</p> - -<p>"Und I don'd know vedder you vas dere or nod, Carter," -explained Carl. "Ven I got to know vere I vas at, -I foundt meinseluf vanderin' around mit a sore headt. -But I tell you somet'ing, Burton. I peen a tedectif, und -a fine vone. How mooch you gif me oof I findt der -t'ieves und recofer der money? Huh?"</p> - -<p>"I believe you know where that money is, all right," -declared the showman, "and if you think I'm going to pay -you something for giving it back, you're wrong. If you -want to save yourself trouble, you'll hand over the funds."</p> - -<p>"You talk like you vas pug-house!" said Carl. "I ain't -got der money."</p> - -<p>"Who helped you steal it?"</p> - -<p>"Nopody! I ditn't know it vos shtole ondil you shpeak -aboudt it."</p> - -<p>"Stop that line of talk, Burton," put in Matt. "Carl's -story is straight, and it satisfies me."</p> - -<p>"How much money did the Dutchman have when he -came here this morning?" asked Burton.</p> - -<p>"T'irty cents," replied Carl. "Modor Matt paid my -railroadt fare from Lafayette to Chackson."</p> - -<p>"Search him, McGlory," ordered Burton. "Let's see if -he has anything about his clothes that will prove his -guilt."</p> - -<p>Carl began to laugh.</p> - -<p>"What's the joke?" snorted Burton.</p> - -<p>"Vy," was the answer, "to t'ink I haf eighdeen huntert -tollars aboudt me und don't know dot. Go on mit der -search, McGlory."</p> - -<p>Carl lifted his hands above his head, and the cowboy -began pushing his hands into Carl's pockets. In the second -pocket he examined he found something which he -pulled out and held up for the observation of all. It was -a canvas sack, lettered in black, "Burton's Big Consolidated -Shows."</p> - -<p>"One of the bags that held the money!" exclaimed -Carter.</p> - -<p>"I told you so!" whooped Burton.</p> - -<p>Matt and McGlory were astounded. And so was Carl—so -dumfounded that he was speechless.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A PEG TO HANG SUSPICIONS ON.</p> - - -<p>"Vell, oof dot don'd grab der banner!" mumbled Carl, -when he was finally able to speak. "I hat dot in my -bocket und don'd know nodding aboudt it! Somepody -must haf put him dere for a choke."</p> - -<p>"That's a nice way to explain it!" growled Burton. "It -cooks your goose, all right. Anything in the bag, McGlory?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Nary a thing," answered the bewildered cowboy, turning -the bag inside out.</p> - -<p>"Go on with the search," ordered Burton.</p> - -<p>Mechanically the cowboy finished looking through the -Dutch boy's clothes, and all the money he found consisted -of two ten-cent pieces and a couple of nickels.</p> - -<p>"Where did you hide that money?" demanded Burton -sternly, stepping in front of Carl.</p> - -<p>"I don'd hite it no blace," cried Carl. "You make me -madt as some vet hens ven you talk like dot. Ged avay -from me or I vill hit you vonce."</p> - -<p>"Carter," went on Burton in a voice of suppressed rage, -"call a policeman."</p> - -<p>The ticket man had scrambled to his feet, and he now -made a move in the direction of the tent door.</p> - -<p>"Hold up, Carter!" called Matt; then, turning to Burton, -he went on: "You're not going to arrest Carl, Burton, -unless you want this outfit of aviators to quit you -cold."</p> - -<p>The red ran into Burton's face.</p> - -<p>"Are you trying to bulldoze me?" he demanded. "I've -got eighteen hundred dollars at stake, and I'm not going -to let it slip through my fingers just because you fellows -threaten to leave the show and take the aëroplane with -you. I tell you frankly, King, I don't like the way you're -talking and acting in this matter. We've got good circumstantial -evidence against your Dutch friend, and he -ought to be locked up."</p> - -<p>"I admit that there's some evidence," returned Matt, -"but you don't know Carl as well as I do. It isn't possible -that he would steal a nickel from any one. If there -was ten times as much evidence against him, no one could -make me believe that."</p> - -<p>"You're allowing your friendship to run away with -your better judgment. What am I to do? Just drop this -business, right here?"</p> - -<p>"Of course not. All I want you to do is to leave Carl -alone and let the motor boys find the thief."</p> - -<p>"I want that money," said Burton, with a black frown, -"and I'm satisfied this Dutchman knows where it is."</p> - -<p>"And I'm satisfied he doesn't know a thing about it," -said Matt warmly.</p> - -<p>"How did that bag get into his pocket?"</p> - -<p>"If you come to that, why isn't there some of the stolen -money in the bag? Do you think for a minute, Burton, -that Carl would be clever enough to plan such a robbery, -and then be foolish enough to carry around with -him the bare evidence of it? You don't give him credit -for having much sense. Why should he keep the bag, -and then come in here with it in his pocket?"</p> - -<p>Burton remained silent.</p> - -<p>"Furthermore," proceeded Matt, "if Carl is one of the -thieves, or the only thief, why did he come in here at all? -Why didn't he make a run of it as soon as he got his -hands on the money?"</p> - -<p>"Every crook makes a mistake, now and then," muttered -Burton. "If they didn't, the law would have a hard -time running them down."</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Matt. "Leave Carl -alone. If I can't prove his innocence to your satisfaction, -I'll agree to stay four weeks with your show for -nothing. You'll be making more than two thousand dollars, -and you've only lost eighteen hundred by this robbery."</p> - -<p>Burton's feelings underwent a change on the instant.</p> - -<p>"Oh, well, if you put it that way," he said, "I'm willing -to let the Dutchman off. I only want to do the right -thing, anyhow."</p> - -<p>"You vas a skinner," averred Carl contemptuously. "I -knowed dot from der fairst time vat ve met."</p> - -<p>"Sing small, that's your cue," retorted Burton. "Remember," -and he whirled on Motor Matt, "if you don't -prove the Dutchman's innocence, you're to work for me -for four weeks without pay. I'm willing to let it -rest in that way."</p> - -<p>With that Burton took himself off. His show was -doing well and he was not pressed for funds. As for the -rest of it, he had shifted everything connected with the -robbery to the shoulders of Motor Matt.</p> - -<p>McGlory was a bit dubious. He had not known Carl -as long as Matt had, and had not the same amount of -confidence in him.</p> - -<p>"Matt," remarked the Dutch boy with feeling, "you vas -der pest friendt vat I efer hat, und you bed my life you -don'd vas making some misdakes ven you pelieve dot I -ditn't shdeal der money. I don'd know nodding aboudt -der pag, nor how it got in my bocket. Dot's der trut'."</p> - -<p>"I know that without your telling me, pard," said Matt. -"The thing for us to do now is to find out who the real -thieves are."</p> - -<p>"There must have been only one," said McGlory.</p> - -<p>"There must have been two, Joe."</p> - -<p>"How do you figure it?"</p> - -<p>"Why, because both Carl and Carter were knocked -down at the same time. Neither saw what had happened -to the other. Two men must have done that."</p> - -<p>"Vat a headt it iss!" murmured Carl. "Modor Matt -vould make a fine tedectif, I tell you dose."</p> - -<p>"You've got a bean on the right number, pard, and -no mistake," exulted McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Did you see any one near the wagons when you led -the ticket man in between them?" asked Matt, turning to -look at the place where he had last seen the ticket man -standing.</p> - -<p>But Carter had left. Presumably, he had followed -after Burton.</p> - -<p>"I don'd see nopody aroundt der vagons," answered -Carl. "Der t'ieves vas hiding, dot's a skinch. Day vas -hid avay mit demselufs in blaces vere dey couldt handt -Carter und me a gouple oof goot vones. Ouch again!" -and Carl rubbed a gentle hand over the red cotton handkerchief.</p> - -<p>"Take us to the place where you and Carter were -knocked down, Carl," said Matt. "We'll look the ground -over and see if we can find anything."</p> - -<p>The Dutch boy conducted his two friends toward the -rear of the circus tent. Here there were two big, high-sided -canvas wagons drawn up in a position that was -somewhat isolated so far as the tents of the show were -concerned. The wagons had been left in the form of a -"V," and Carl walked through the wide opening.</p> - -<p>"Dis iss der vay vat ve come in," said he, "I in der -lead oof der dicket man. Ven I ged py der front veels -oof der vagon, I turn around, und den—<i>biff</i>, down I go -like some brick puildings had drowed demselufs on dop -oof me. Shiminy grickeds, vat a knock! I don'd know -vere Carter vas shtanding, pecause I ditn't see him, I vas -hit so kevick."</p> - -<p>Matt surveyed the ground. The turf had retained no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> -marks of the violent work. He examined the rear tires of -the wagons. The rims, for the whole of their circumference -that was off the ground, were covered with a coating -of dried mud; and this caking of mud was not broken -at any place.</p> - -<p>"Carter must have stood here, in this position," observed -Matt, placing himself between the two rear wheels. -"He says that he fell against one of the wheels and cut -his cheek on the tire. I can't find any trace of the spot -where Carter came into such rough contact with either of -the tires."</p> - -<p>"Don't you think he was telling the truth, pard?" asked -McGlory in some excitement. "Is it possible he was -using the double tongue, just to——"</p> - -<p>"Easy, there," interrupted Matt. "Carter was dazed -when he fell, and could hardly have known whether he -struck against the tire or against something else. He -may have dropped on a stone——"</p> - -<p>"No stones here," objected McGlory, with a quiet look -over the surface of the ground.</p> - -<p>"Well, then it was something else that caused the injury -to his cheek. He——"</p> - -<p>"Here's something," and McGlory made a dive for the -ground and lifted himself erect with an object in his -hand. "I reckon it don't amount to anything, though."</p> - -<p>"Let's see it," said Matt.</p> - -<p>McGlory handed the object to the young motorist. It -was a peg, perhaps half an inch thick by three inches -long, and had a knob at one end as big as a marble.</p> - -<p>"Great spark-plugs!" exclaimed the king of the motor -boys, staring from the peg to McGlory and Carl.</p> - -<p>"What's to pay?" queried McGlory. "You act as -though we'd found something worth while."</p> - -<p>"We have," declared Matt, "and everything seems to -be helping us on toward a streak of luck in this robbery -matter."</p> - -<p>"How vas dot?" queried Carl.</p> - -<p>"This peg belongs to the Hindoo," said Matt. "It's the -contrivance he used for fastening down the lid of that flat -basket in which he carries the cobra."</p> - -<p>McGlory went into the air with a jubilant whoop.</p> - -<p>"He's the thief!" he cried. "I've had a feelin' all along -that he was a tinhorn. This proves it! Sufferin' blackguards, -Matt, but you've got a head!"</p> - -<p>"Vere iss der shnake?" came from Carl, as he looked -around in visible trepidation. "Oof der pasket iss oben, -den der copra is loose on der grounds. Vat a carelessness!"</p> - -<p>"And remember," said Matt, addressing the cowboy, -"that I had set Ping to watch the Hindoo before the robbery -took place. If Dhondaram is the robber, then Ping -was on his trail at the time and must know something -about it."</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" exulted the cowboy. "Our -friend the Hindoo has been putting in some good licks -since he joined the Big Consolidated! He hasn't let any -grass grow under his feet."</p> - -<p>Motor Matt whirled around and walked out from between -the wagons.</p> - -<p>"Let's find Ping," he called back, "and get a report -from him. That ought to settle everything."</p> - -<p>McGlory and Carl, feeling that something important -was about to be accomplished, hurried after Matt as he -moved off across the show grounds.</p> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A WAITING GAME.</p> - - -<p>The Chinese boy was not in evidence anywhere about -the camp. After a search in all directions, Matt, McGlory, -and Carl, reasoning that Ping's trail had led him -to other places outside the show grounds, returned to the -calliope tent. There, to their overwhelming surprise, -they came upon Dhondaram, sitting nonchalantly on his -square of scarlet cloth and smoking a cigarette.</p> - -<p>The Hindoo's face lighted up genially at sight of the -three boys.</p> - -<p>"<i>Salaam</i>, sahibs!" said he in a friendly tone. "I come -here to rest. It is permitted? I thought so. Rajah takes -work to manage—<i>jee</i>, yes, much work. It tires me. Do -you use the little smokes? Take one, sahibs."</p> - -<p>Dhondaram offered his little red box of rolled paper -poison, only to have his courtesy declined.</p> - -<p>Matt was looking around. He was hoping to see the -basket, but it was not in sight.</p> - -<p>McGlory had something at the end of his tongue, and -Carl was all agog with a desire to talk, but Matt silenced -each of them with a look.</p> - -<p>"Where's the cobra, Dhondaram?" asked Matt. "I'd -like to see you juggle with the snake again."</p> - -<p>The Hindoo smiled and showed his white teeth.</p> - -<p>"<i>Maskee!</i>" he exclaimed, "that is my sorrow. My little -snake is gone. Now that I am taking care of elephants, -sahib, I have not the time to charm serpents. I -sold the cobra an hour ago."</p> - -<p>"Sufferin' tarantulas!" murmured McGlory. "What -fool would want to buy a thing like that?"</p> - -<p>"The cobra, sahib," said the Hindoo, turning to the -cowboy, "is a curiosity. Many <i>feringhis</i> like curiosities -and pay for them. 'Tis well. I like the elephants better -than the serpents."</p> - -<p>"What did you do with the snake basket?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"That must be sold with the cobra, sahib. What would -the new owner do with the serpent unless he had the place -to keep him? <i>Dekke!</i> He take the snake, also he -take the basket. I throw in the basket, as you call—give -it as boot."</p> - -<p>With eyes narrowly watching Dhondaram's face, Matt -produced the peg and tossed it on the red cloth.</p> - -<p>"What did the new owner do," the king of the motor -boys inquired, "without the peg to keep the basket shut?"</p> - -<p>Not a tremor crossed the Hindoo's face.</p> - -<p>"Ah, ha!" said he. "I lose the peg and Motor Matt -Sahib find it. But it is nothing. There are many things -that can be used as pegs—a splinter, a bit of wood, almost -anything. Where you pick it up, sahib?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, out on the grounds," answered Matt indefinitely.</p> - -<p>"Sahib recognize the peg when he find him? You have -much observation, Mattrao Sahib."</p> - -<p>The suffix "rao" is added to a name as a sign of great -respect. Probably Dhondaram felt that he was paying -Matt a high compliment, although, naturally, Matt knew -nothing about that.</p> - -<p>Dhondaram got up slowly and lifted the red cloth -from the ground.</p> - -<p>"I will now go," said he, "and find how my bad Rajah -is conducting himself. He must be watched carefully, -and spoken to."</p> - -<p>With a courteous nod the Hindoo left the tent. As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> -soon as he was gone Matt rolled over and lifted one side -of the canvas wall.</p> - -<p>The Hindoo, with never a look behind, walked in his -easy way around the calliope "lean-to" and into the "animal -top," by the front entrance.</p> - -<p>"Nerve!" sputtered McGlory, "he's got a square mile -of it. Never turned a hair. Even the sight of that peg -didn't phase him."</p> - -<p>Matt was still peering from under the canvas.</p> - -<p>"There's something here I can't understand," said he, -a few moments later, and he dropped the canvas and -faced his friends.</p> - -<p>"Vat it iss?" asked Carl.</p> - -<p>"Why, we set Ping to watching Dhondaram, and by -all the rules of the game the Chinaman ought to be on -the fellow's track. But he isn't, so far as I can see. -What's become of Ping, McGlory?"</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram has shaken him," hazarded the cowboy. -"The chink wasn't sharp enough for the turban boy."</p> - -<p>"That may be," mused Matt, "although I doubt it. Ping -is about as smart a Chinaman as you'll find in a month's -travel. It's mysterious."</p> - -<p>"Then again," went on McGlory, "maybe Ping is on -Dhondaram's trail and you don't know it. He's either -too wise for us, or else not wise enough for the Hindoo. -Pick out whichever conclusion you want."</p> - -<p>But Matt shook his head, puzzled.</p> - -<p>"He don'd vas mooch goot, dot chink feller," spoke up -Carl gloomily. "Vone oof dose days you will findt him -oudt."</p> - -<p>"Don't try any slams on Ping," said McGlory. "He's -the clear quill, he is, even though he's a rat-eater and a -heathen. Ping has turned some pretty fine tricks for -Matt and me, and like as not he's busy coming across -with another. You've got too much of a grouch at the -slant-eyed brother, Carl."</p> - -<p>"I say vat I t'ink, und dot's all," replied Carl. "I can -lick him mit vone handt tied aroundt my pack."</p> - -<p>"Cut it out, Carl," said Matt. "Ping's a good fellow, -and has always stood by me. I don't want any hostile -feelings between two of my pards."</p> - -<p>"Py shinks," cried Carl, "he iss more hosdyle at me as -I am at him. Aber he's a shink, und he hides vat he -t'inks pedder as I can do. Somedime you findt it oudt, -den you know."</p> - -<p>"Go and look for Ping, Carl," said Matt. "Find him, -if you can, and bring him where I can talk with him. It's -more than likely that your innocence of that hold-up will -have to be proven by the Chinaman, so it will stand you -in hand to be friendly with him."</p> - -<p>"Honest," fumed Carl, getting up, "I hat radder go to -chail mit meinseluf as to led der shink prove dot I ditn't -took der money."</p> - -<p>"Well, you go and find him. You and Ping must be -friends if you're both to stay with me."</p> - -<p>Carl was far from being in love with the task assigned -to him, but nevertheless he went off to do what he could -toward performing it.</p> - -<p>"Those two boys don't mix worth a cent," remarked -Matt, when Carl had left. "They're like oil and water."</p> - -<p>"They mix too much," grinned McGlory. "When they -got acquainted with each other it was a 'knock-down' in -more than one sense of the word. They've been hungry -to mix it up with each other ever since."</p> - -<p>Matt had no answer for this. He was well acquainted -with the dispositions of both boys.</p> - -<p>"When I first got acquainted with Carl," said Matt -reminiscently, "he was having trouble with a Chinese -laundryman. That was 'way off in Arizona."</p> - -<p>For a time there was silence between the friends, -broken at last by the cowboy.</p> - -<p>"What can we do now, pard?"</p> - -<p>"It's a waiting game for us, and if Ping doesn't know -something that will help Carl out of the hole he is in, -we'll have to hunt for some other clues."</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram is a smooth article, and no mistake. If -he really stole the money, who helped him? And why is -he staying with the show?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, pard," returned Matt. "We'll have to -let the thing work itself out, somehow."</p> - -<p>"You don't intend presenting Burton with our wages -for a month, do you?"</p> - -<p>"That's the very last thing I'd ever do!" declared Matt.</p> - -<p>"Then, if that's the case, we can't keep up this waiting -game too long."</p> - -<p>The afternoon performance was over, and the crowd of -people began filing out of the tents. Only the "grand -concert" remained, and that would soon be at an end, and -the time would arrive for another ascension with the aëroplane.</p> - -<p>"I wish," remarked Matt thoughtfully, "that we could -work out this robbery business before we leave Jackson. -Some town crook may be mixed up in it with Dhondaram, -and when the show leaves the place we may all be -leaving the money behind."</p> - -<p>"Burton isn't worrying," said McGlory. "He's positive -Carl is guilty, and that you can't prove anything else. -In other words, Boss Burton is planning to have us work -four weeks for nothing."</p> - -<p>"He'll be disappointed," said Matt. "Let's go and get -supper, Joe. It won't be long before the evening crowd -begins to arrive, and I want to put the <i>Comet</i> in shape."</p> - -<p>While they were eating at the long table in the mess -tent Carl came in.</p> - -<p>"I don'd find nodding," said he, dropping wearily into -a chair. "Der shink is harter to find as a hayshtack mit -some neetles in it. Meppy he iss over in der town, or -else gone oop in a palloon, or else"—and here Carl leaned -closer to Matt and spoke in a whisper—"meppy he took -der money himseluf und has gone pack py Shina."</p> - -<p>"That will do, Carl," said Matt sternly. "Ping is as -honest as you are."</p> - -<p>"Anyhow," spoke up McGlory sarcastically, "he didn't -ask Carter to go between the wagons, and we didn't find -a bag in his pocket."</p> - -<p>"Dot's righdt, rup id in," glowered Carl. "Oof I could -ged dot money from Inchia I vould fly der coop und I -vouldn't come pack any more. All der tedectif vat iss in -me say der shink is gone mit der show money. I say -vat I t'ink."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Matt, "don't say it to anybody else."</p> - -<p>When he and McGlory left the mess tent and moved off -toward the aëroplane, Carl was still eating.</p> - -<p>Matt was counting upon having as successful a flight -that afternoon as he had made in the morning. The repaired -aëroplane was in better trim for flying than it had -been when new, and there was not even the small breeze -which had accompanied the first flight of the day.</p> - -<p>But, if Matt could have known it, he was destined to -meet with one of the most desperate and hair-raising -exploits of his aëroplane career during that second flight -from the Jackson show grounds.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A TRICK AT THE START.</p> - - -<p>The guard who had been in charge of the aëroplane -since the parade had returned to the show grounds was -relieved by Matt and McGlory. As soon as he had left, -Matt, in accordance with his usual custom, made a careful -examination of the machine. He knew very well -what might happen if he found, after being launched into -the air, that some of the many parts of the aëroplane were -loose, or the machinery not working properly.</p> - -<p>Long ropes, stretched on each side of the road on which -the flying machine got its start, served to keep the people -back and to give Matt and his corps of assistants plenty -of room.</p> - -<p>So far as the young motorist could see—and his investigation -was always thorough—the aëroplane was in -as serviceable a condition as it had been for the morning's -flight. It was a most ungainly looking machine -when resting on the ground, but was transformed into a -thing of grace the moment it spurned the earth and -mounted skyward.</p> - -<p>"She looks as fit as a fiddle," remarked McGlory, his -face shining with pride.</p> - -<p>"She'll do her work easy as falling off a log," said -Matt. "The repairs we made on her, in Lafayette, seem -to have been an improvement."</p> - -<p>"We don't want to make any more improvements of -that sort," remarked McGlory, thinking of the accident -which had made the repairs necessary.</p> - -<p>"Ah," cried Matt, "here comes Le Bon. And look -who's with him," he added in a lower tone.</p> - -<p>The cowboy turned his head and swept his gaze over -the throng that pressed the guard rope to the north of -the road. Le Bon, in his trapeze costume, was crawling -through the press, and close behind him came Dhondaram. -McGlory scowled.</p> - -<p>"What's the Hindoo coming for?" he muttered. "I'm -getting so I hate the looks of that fellow."</p> - -<p>Le Bon came close, walking with the springy tread of -the trained athlete.</p> - -<p>"It looks as though we were going to have as nice a -time aloft as we had this morning, Matt," he observed, -coming to a halt and taking a look at the sky.</p> - -<p>"What's the Hindoo trailing you for?" queried McGlory.</p> - -<p>"He wanted to come along and see the flight at close -quarters. He's a pretty good fellow, McGlory, and I -told him to push along with me. What's the harm?"</p> - -<p>"No harm at all," interposed Matt hastily.</p> - -<p>McGlory spun around on his heel and would not remain -near to talk with Dhondaram. The Hindoo, as he -halted in front of Matt, was smiling in his most ingratiating -manner.</p> - -<p>"I have come to look, sahib," said he, "at your most -wonderful performance. It is read of everywhere, and in -Chicago most of all. It will be a pleasure. It is permitted?"</p> - -<p>"You can stay here," answered Matt, "providing you -keep out of the way."</p> - -<p>"I will see to that, Mattrao Sahib," and the Hindoo -walked around the aëroplane, giving it his respectful attention.</p> - -<p>The wonder was growing upon Matt as to the whereabouts -of Ping. The Chinese boy was always on hand -when the flights were made, for the <i>Comet</i> was the apple -of his eye and he took it as a personal responsibility to -make sure that the "get-away" was always safely accomplished.</p> - -<p>He did not appear to be trailing the Hindoo. If he -had been, why was he not somewhere in the crowds that -were pressing against the guard ropes.</p> - -<p>"Watch the brown tinhorn, Le Bon," muttered McGlory, -in the kinker's ear, "and see that he don't tinker -with anything."</p> - -<p>"Why," exclaimed Le Bon, "he wouldn't do anything -like that!"</p> - -<p>"He might," was the sharp response. "I haven't any -faith in these fellows who wear a twisted tablecloth for a -hat. If anything should go wrong, up in the air, it'll spell -your finish as well as my pard's. I'm going to have a -word with Matt."</p> - -<p>The band had come from the mess tent. Instruments -in hand, the members had climbed into the band wagon, -which was hauled up near the point from which the -<i>Comet</i> would start, and a rattling melody was going up -from the horns, the drums, and the cymbals.</p> - -<p>The aëroplane flight was Motor Matt's own particular -part of the show. It was an instructive part, too, -for aside from the thrill of seeing a human being piloting -a big mechanical bird through the air the observers were -given the last word in aërial navigation.</p> - -<p>"What's on your mind, pard?" asked McGlory, halting -at Matt's side. "You're as thoughtful as a cold game -gent who's looking into the open end of a gun."</p> - -<p>"Have you seen anything of Ping, Joe?" said Matt.</p> - -<p>"Chink 'signs' haven't been at all plentiful since our -squinch-eyed brother tried to run out the Hindoo's trail."</p> - -<p>"I'd like to know where the boy is, that's all."</p> - -<p>"Don't fret about him. I'd like to have a picture of -Ping in a corner he couldn't get out of. You take it -from me, Johnny Hardluck hasn't got such a corner in -his whole bag of tricks."</p> - -<p>At that moment Burton rode up to the aëroplane on -his favorite saddler.</p> - -<p>"Innocent or guilty?" he asked, leaning down from his -saddle and accompanying the words with a significant -wink.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Innocent, of course," answered the king of the motor -boys.</p> - -<p>"Can you prove it to me?"</p> - -<p>"Not yet."</p> - -<p>"And you never will. Better let me have the Dutchman -locked up. That'll scare him so he'll tell all he -knows, and maybe it isn't yet too late to get the money -back."</p> - -<p>"Keep hands off my Dutch pard, Burton," said Matt. -"We've made an agreement about that."</p> - -<p>"Exactly." Boss Burton straightened. "I guess you'd -better get a-going, Matt," he added. "The whole town -seems to be outside the guard ropes, and I don't think we -could get any more spectators if we waited all night."</p> - -<p>Burton backed his horse away from the starting line -and lifted one hand. Instantly a breathless silence fell -over the vast throng, while every individual member of it -craned his or her neck to get a better view of what was -going on.</p> - -<p>The aëroplane, as has already been stated, had to make -a running start on bicycle wheels in order to develop the -speed necessary for the wings to take hold of the air and -lift the machine. The wheels were low, and Le Bon had -to sit on the lower plane beside Matt and hold the trapeze -on his lap until the <i>Comet</i> was high enough for him to -drop from the footboard.</p> - -<p>The <i>Comet's</i> motor was equipped with a magneto, but, -at the beginning and while the machine was on the -ground, the spark was secured with a make-and-break circuit. -When the motor was properly going the magneto -took hold and an automatic switch brought it into commission.</p> - -<p>McGlory superintended the ground work during the -start. Some half a dozen men, under his direction, -ranged behind the planes, started the machine, and ran -with it. The power in the bicycle wheels soon carried the -aëroplane away from them.</p> - -<p>At twenty-eight miles an hour the great wings felt the -tug of the air, the wheels lifted from solid ground, and a -sharp pull at a lever started the big propeller.</p> - -<p>Matt had made so many ascensions that he handled -every part of his work with automatic precision, and the -aëroplane, amid the wild cheers of the crowd, darted skyward.</p> - -<p>McGlory, standing perhaps a distance of fifty feet back -from the point where the machine left the earth, saw a -bag hanging to the under plane, close to an opening that -led up through the plane to the motor and the driver's -seat.</p> - -<p>What was the bag? the cowboy asked himself, and how -did it chance to be swinging there?</p> - -<p>McGlory had only a few moments to make his observations, -for the <i>Comet</i> was climbing swiftly upward -and the bag was growing rapidly smaller to the eye. He -ran forward, stumbling and looking, and Burton, evidently -with his eyes on the same object, galloped past him -with glance upturned.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a black object appeared over the top of the -bag, grew longer, wriggled queerly, and could be seen -disappearing into the space between the two planes.</p> - -<p>The cowboy halted his stumbling feet and reeled, his -brain on fire and his breath coming quick and hard.</p> - -<p>That black, wriggling thing must have been the cobra! -The cobra, which the Hindoo had said he had sold to -some one on the show grounds!</p> - -<p>McGlory's mind was a hopeless chaos of fears, doubts, -and wild speculations. While he stood there, Burton, a -wild look on his face, came galloping back.</p> - -<p>"That bag!" he gasped, drawing rein with a quick, -nervous hand at the cowboy's side. "Did you see it, McGlory?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered the other.</p> - -<p>"It was one of the bags that had stolen money in it!" -declared Burton; "I saw the black lettering on the side! -Is it the one you got from the Dutchman?"</p> - -<p>McGlory shook his head, still dazed.</p> - -<p>"I've got that—in my grip—at the calliope tent," he -managed to gasp.</p> - -<p>"Where did that one come from?"</p> - -<p>Then McGlory came to his senses.</p> - -<p>"I don't care a whoop about the bag, or where it came -from," he shouted. "Did you see that snake come out of -it and crawl up onto the lower plane? Did you see that?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, but——"</p> - -<p>"Don't talk to me! Find that Hindoo—he was here -before the start and he put that bag there. Find him!" -yelled McGlory.</p> - -<p>Then, at the top of his lungs, the cowboy shouted frantically -to Matt, in the hope of letting him know his danger -and putting him on his guard.</p> - -<p>But it was a fruitless effort. The tremendous cheering -drowned McGlory's voice, and it was impossible for him -to make his voice heard.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">IN THE AIR WITH A COBRA.</p> - - -<p>Both Motor Matt and Le Bon were delighted with the -start of the aëroplane.</p> - -<p>"She gets better and better," averred Le Bon. "I guess -I'll take to flying myself."</p> - -<p>While in the air Matt's every faculty of mind and -quickness of body were called into action. He had to -<i>feel</i> the motion of the air on the huge wings, as communicated -to the framework under him, and shift the -wing extensions back and forth to meet the varying resistance -of air pressure and make it coincide with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> -centre of gravity. To withdraw his attention for an instant -from the work of managing the machine might result -in a disaster that would bring destruction to himself -and Le Bon. But he had schooled himself to talk while -keeping busy with his work.</p> - -<p>"Better not try it, Archie," Matt answered. "It's too -much of a strain on a fellow's nerves. Are you ready to -drop with the trapeze?"</p> - -<p>"Whenever you are," was the response.</p> - -<p>There was always a jolt when Le Bon's weight reached -the ends of the trapeze ropes, and extra care was required -in taking care of the <i>Comet</i>.</p> - -<p>Matt brought the air craft around in a sweeping circle -and headed the other way to cover the north and south -extent of the grounds. He, likewise, the moment the turn -was made, turned the aëroplane upward.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter with McGlory?" asked Le Bon, -peering down. "He's looking up and waving his arms."</p> - -<p>"He wouldn't do that," said Matt, "unless something -is wrong. When you get on the trapeze, Archie, look -over the under part of the machine and see if you can find -anything out of whack. I can't imagine what's gone -crosswise, for the aëroplane never behaved better."</p> - -<p>Reaching the top of the airy slope, some two hundred -feet above ground, Matt pointed the machine earthward.</p> - -<p>"Now's your time, Archie," he said to Le Bon.</p> - -<p>The athlete stood erect, firmly clutching the trapeze bar, -and dived out into space. Swiftly Matt brought the craft -to an even keel, just as the whole fabric fluttered under -the jolt. In a twinkling the <i>Comet</i> righted herself, and -Le Bon was left swinging on his frail bar, a hundred -and fifty feet above the show grounds. His position under -the machine was such that Matt could not see him.</p> - -<p>"All right, Archie?" shouted Matt, keeping his eyes -ahead and manipulating his levers incessantly.</p> - -<p>"Right as a trivet," came up from below. "McGlory is -still throwing himself around down there."</p> - -<p>"Do you see anything wrong with the machine?"</p> - -<p>"Not a thing. What's that bag hanging under the -wing for?"</p> - -<p>"Is there a bag there?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, a canvas bag. There are letters on it. Wait, -and I'll read them."</p> - -<p>There followed a silence during which, supposedly, Le -Bon was spelling out the letters.</p> - -<p>"'Burton's Big Consolidated Shows'," went on Le Bon. -"That's what's printed on the bag, Matt."</p> - -<p>"Great spark-plugs!" exclaimed Matt. "Anything in -the bag, Archie?"</p> - -<p>"It's as limp as a rag and looks to be empty. How did -it get there?"</p> - -<p>"Give it up. If it's empty, I don't see how it can do -any harm. I don't like the thoughts of the thing, though, -and we're not going to remain up as long as usual. Get -busy with your work."</p> - -<p>Renewed cheering greeted the daring feats performed -on the trapeze by Le Bon. In the midst of it the motor -missed fire and died altogether. The slowing rotations -of the propeller caused the <i>Comet</i> to glide earthward. A -terrified yell broke from Le Bon.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter, up there?"</p> - -<p>"Keep your nerve," flung back the king of the motor -boys; "something's wrong with the motor—but we'll be -all right."</p> - -<p>Yes, Matt knew that the aëroplane would glide earthward -and land him and Le Bon without injury; but, if it -could not be guided, it was as likely to land on the heads -of that dense crowd as anywhere. That would mean -serious, if not fatal, injury to many men—perhaps to -women and children.</p> - -<p>Motor Matt's face went white, and his heart pounded in -his throat. Nevertheless he kept a cool head and a steady -hand.</p> - -<p>He figured out the exact point where they would come -down. It was in the very thickest part of the crowd, and -the people were trying frantically to get out of the way.</p> - -<p>Then, just as it seemed as though nothing could prevent -a terrible accident, the motor again took up its cycle -and the slowly whirling propeller increased its speed.</p> - -<p>A long breath of relief escaped Matt's tense lips as he -drove the aëroplane upward and the direction of the -roped-off road.</p> - -<p>"What ails the blooming motor?" came from Le Bon -in a distraught voice. "We came within one of killing a -lot of people. I'm all in a sweat."</p> - -<p>"I don't know what's the matter with the motor," answered -Matt, "but I'm going to find out just as soon as I -turn to go back on the course."</p> - -<p>"Better descend. This is more than I can stand."</p> - -<p>"We can't descend until we reach the right place."</p> - -<p>Matt made a wide turn, the engine working perfectly.</p> - -<p>"Hold on tight, below there," he called. "I've got to -take my attention from running the motor for a moment, -and if we give a wild pitch or two don't be afraid. I'll be -able to keep the machine right side up."</p> - -<p>"I'm pretty near all in," came from Le Bon in a subdued -voice, "but it would take an axe to chop me off this -trapeze."</p> - -<p>Matt gave a quick look behind him. What he saw -nearly froze him with horror.</p> - -<p>A cobra—undoubtedly the very snake he had seen in -the calliope tent—was twined about two of the electric -wires.</p> - -<p>The wires, as originally strung, were an inch and a -half apart, and insulated. The coils of the six-foot cobra -encircled both. As the coils contracted the wires were -forced together, and two points of the copper, where the -insulating material was worn off, were brought in contact. -Thus a short circuit was formed and a bad leak -made for the electricity.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> - -<p>At the moment Matt looked the coils of the cobra had -loosened, causing the tightly strung wires to spring a little -apart, thus restoring the spark to the cylinders. But -at any moment the coils might tighten again and cause -another short circuit.</p> - -<p>As though to crown the terrors of the moment, the -cobra's head was lifted from the wires by a third of the -anterior length of its body—a favorite position assumed -by the cobra in gliding along the earth—and the diamond-like -eyes were fastened upon Matt with deadly animosity.</p> - -<p>Motor Matt's one thought was this: If he were bitten -by the snake before he had manipulated a safe landing, -the swift working of the virus in his veins would keep -him from doing his duty in preventing injury to the spectators -below.</p> - -<p>With white face and gleaming eyes, he turned from the -cobra and manœuvred to place the aëroplane lengthwise -of the roped-off space on the ground.</p> - -<p>Before he could place the machine in proper position -the motor again commenced to miss fire, and then died all -over again. A groan was wrenched from Matt's lips as -the machine fluttered downward toward the massed -human heads underneath. The groan was echoed by -Le Bon.</p> - -<p>"We're dropping toward them again!" yelled the man -below.</p> - -<p>Matt turned in his seat, letting the aëroplane take care -of itself. Throwing himself back, he caught at the -hooded brown head with his hand.</p> - -<p>There was a dart, quick as lightning, and Matt's wrist -was touched as though by a hot coal. With a loud cry he -flung his arm forward, dragging the full length of the -cobra from the wires.</p> - -<p>For the fraction of an instant the snake hung in midair, -then yielded to the impetus of the arm to which it held -and coiled sinuously outward and downward into space.</p> - -<p>The motor had again resumed its work, but the <i>Comet</i> -hung at a frightful angle and was dropping like so much -lead, the atmosphere striking the planes almost on their -edges.</p> - -<p>Matt was calm, now, and cool as ever. He went to -work at the levers, righted the machine within fifteen feet -of the bobbing heads, and sent it upward into the air. He -was alone, for Le Bon, when so close to the ground, had -dropped. In fact, owing to the length of the trapeze -ropes, Le Bon's feet had almost swept the heads of the -terrified spectators.</p> - -<p>Steadily upward climbed the machine.</p> - -<p>Every moment was precious to the king of the motor -boys, for if he was to receive medical aid to counteract -the bite of the reptile, it could not be long deferred.</p> - -<p>But what was the use of indulging in hope?</p> - -<p>He had been bitten by the cobra, and the lecturer in -the museum had declared that a person so injured could -not hope.</p> - -<p>Vaguely Matt wondered why the poison in his veins -had not already rushed to his brain and paralyzed him -into inaction. He was feeling as strong as ever, and as -able to effect a safe landing without danger to the people -on the show grounds.</p> - -<p>That was the thing he had set out to accomplish, and -it was the thing he would do.</p> - -<p>Freed of Le Bon's weight, the <i>Comet</i> was more manageable.</p> - -<p>With steady hand and cool, unshaken judgment, he laid -the <i>Comet</i> parallel with the road, glided downward with -a rush, shut off the power, and touched the hard ground -squarely between the guard ropes.</p> - -<p>The jar of the landing was hardly perceptible, and Matt -stepped out of the car, to be grabbed by McGlory and to -see Burton, dismounted and anxious, at his side.</p> - -<p>"The cobra——" began Matt.</p> - -<p>"Killed," struck in Burton.</p> - -<p>"Did it bite any one in the crowd?"</p> - -<p>"No; every one was out of the way, and the fall itself -nearly did the business for the reptile."</p> - -<p>"Then get a doctor for me," said Matt, showing a -trickle of blood on his wrist. "That's the cobra's mark."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A SCIENTIFIC FACT.</p> - - -<p>For an instant, following Motor Matt's tragic announcement, -McGlory and Burton were stricken dumb -with horror. The cowboy was first to recover his wits, -and he leaped to the back of Burton's horse.</p> - -<p>"Doctor!" he shouted, galloping madly along the road -between the ropes that separated the crowd; "we want a -doctor! Where's a doctor?"</p> - -<p>In a crowd like that it was natural that there should be -many doctors, and no less than three forced themselves -through the throng, dived under the ropes, and hurried to -Motor Matt.</p> - -<p>Among these three physicians was Doctor Horton, an -old man of no particular school, but widely read and -eminent in his profession.</p> - -<p>"He'll die," said one of the medical men. "If that -snake was a genuine cobra, and if its fangs were not removed, -Motor Matt might as well make his will—and be -quick about it."</p> - -<p>"My opinion exactly," said the other physician.</p> - -<p>"Bosh!" answered Doctor Horton derisively.</p> - -<p>The other two turned on him.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean, Horton?" they demanded.</p> - -<p>"Just what I say," was the response. "This brave lad, -who endangered his own life to save innocent spectators, -is as sound as a dollar this minute."</p> - -<p>"Then the snake was not a cobra," averred one of the -others.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> - -<p>"It <i>was</i> a cobra," snapped Doctor Horton; "I saw it."</p> - -<p>"Then its fangs had been pulled."</p> - -<p>"They had not been pulled—I saw them, too."</p> - -<p>"It is not possible, in that case, that the young man was -bitten."</p> - -<p>"Not bitten?" cried Doctor Horton ironically, lifting -Matt's wrist, which he was holding. "Certainly he was -bitten, and by one of the most poisonous snakes of which -we have any knowledge. There's the mark, gentlemen, -and it's as plain as the nose on your face. We were looking -up at him, weren't we, when he was fighting the cobra -and fighting, at the same time, to keep the flying machine -from dropping into the crowd? And didn't we see him -fling out his arm with the snake hanging to his wrist? -The force in the throw of the arm—and there's some -strength there, gentlemen, believe me," interjected the -doctor, patting the biceps—"flung the reptile off. It fell, -and so close to me that I had the pleasure of putting my -heel on its head. Do you suppose for a minute that the -cobra could hang to Motor Matt's arm without biting? -I am surprised at you."</p> - -<p>"What's the answer?" inquired one of the other two.</p> - -<p>"The venom of the cobra," proceeded Doctor Horton, -"acts swiftly on the human system. Yet we see here -none of the symptoms attending such poisoning. By now, -you understand, they should be well advanced. You ask -me the reason our brave young friend is in a normal condition? -A scientific fact has come to his rescue. It is -well known," and the doctor accented the "well" and -gave his medical confrères a humorous glance, "that the -cobra can bite, but cannot release its poison <i>unless the -fangs come together in the wound</i>. In this case, the -fangs did not meet, consequently the bite was as harmless -as that of the ordinary garter snake."</p> - -<p>Dr. Horton slipped his fingers along Matt's wrist and -gripped his hand.</p> - -<p>"You are to be congratulated; my lad," he went on. -"It was your quickness in seizing the snake, I infer, and -in hurling it from the aëroplane, that prevented it from -laying firm hold of you. Tell us what happened. We -have learned a little from the acrobat who was on the -trapeze, and who dropped off when near the ground, but -we were all too much excited, at the time, to pay much attention -to him. Besides, he was under the aëroplane, and -in no position to know just what went on in your vicinity. -Give us the facts."</p> - -<p>Matt, relieved beyond expression, told of the cause of -the short circuit, and of his attempts to get the machine -in the right position for alighting; and finished with a -terse account of the way he had grabbed the cobra and -flung it from him.</p> - -<p>The exciting chronicle was set forth in few words and -with the utmost diffidence. The recital, however, struck -an undernote of courage and self-sacrifice in the line of -duty that caught Doctor Horton's admiration.</p> - -<p>"Once more," said the physician, taking Matt's hand. -"What you accomplished, my lad, was nobly done. How -many could have kept their wits in such a situation? Not -many—hardly one out of a thousand. You're the manager -of this show, are you?" he added, turning to Burton.</p> - -<p>"I am, yes, sir," replied Boss Burton.</p> - -<p>"Then you owe Motor Matt a lot. A fearful accident -has been averted, and you might have been swamped with -damage suits."</p> - -<p>The crowd surged around the <i>Comet</i>, and stout canvasmen -had to be summoned to force the people back. -Burton, mounted on his saddle horse, saw a chance to say -a few words.</p> - -<p>"Good people," he shouted, "every act down on my -bills is faithfully given exactly as represented. I tolerate -no misstatements in any of my paper. The gallant -young motorist, who has exhibited his aëroplane to you -this afternoon in an act more thrilling than even the most -imaginative showman could advertise, is but one of many -artists of world-wide reputation whom I have secured, at -fabulous expense, to amuse you behind yonder tented -walls. This is the only show now on the road to give, -absolutely free, such a grand outdoor flying machine exhibition. -Other acts, equally thrilling and instructive, -will soon be performed in the two large rings and on the -elevated stage under the main canvas. The doors are -now open."</p> - -<p>With that Boss Burton, having secured probably the -greatest advertisement his show had ever received, rode -off in the direction of the tents.</p> - -<p>While the crowd followed, and Matt and McGlory -found themselves, for the first time, able to have a little -heart-to-heart talk, they drew off to one side and began -making the most of their opportunity.</p> - -<p>"Say, pard," said the cowboy glumly, "I'm about ready -to quit this aëroplane business."</p> - -<p>"Why?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"There's not money enough in the country to pay me -for going through what I did when I saw you swinging -aloft with the cobra."</p> - -<p>"You saw it?" queried Matt.</p> - -<p>"That's what I did, and I yelled and tried to let you -know about it, but the crowd was making so much noise -you couldn't hear."</p> - -<p>Dusk was beginning to fall, and the gasoline torches -about the show grounds leaped out like dazzling fireflies. -McGlory stared at them thoughtfully for a space, then -passed a handkerchief across his damp forehead.</p> - -<p>"It don't pay," he muttered. "You take all the risk, -Matt, and Ping and I just slop around and kick you off -when you make your jump skyward. I'd rather, enough -sight, have been up in the machine with you than standing -down here on the ground, watching and worrying."</p> - -<p>Matt did not dismiss his cowboy pard's words with the -careless laugh he usually had for such sage remarks.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> - -<p>"It's all nonsense, of course," said he, "your talking -about me taking all the risk and doing all the work. I fly -the machine because I'm the only one who can do it, but -you help me in other ways that are just as important. I'm -in the air for perhaps thirty minutes each day, while -you're on the ground, old pard, and watching things during -every hour of the twenty-four."</p> - -<p>"Watching things!" exploded McGlory. "Speak to -me about that! How well do I watch things? Did I see -the Hindoo when he hitched that bag with the snake to -the aëroplane? It was my business to get onto that, and -I didn't know until you had left the road and were too -far up to hear me. That's what I'm kicking about. I fell -down—and I'm to blame for the whole bloomin' mishap."</p> - -<p>"You're not," said Matt sharply, "and I won't have -you say so. It's useless to harp on such things, anyhow, -Joe, so let's discuss something of more importance."</p> - -<p>"The way you fooled the cobra? Why, that's——"</p> - -<p>"Not that, either. The bag tied to the aëroplane has -the name of the show lettered on it, so——"</p> - -<p>"Burton and I both discovered that," interrupted McGlory. -"Carter had two bags containing the show money. -We already had one, and that bag's the other. Wait, -and I'll get it."</p> - -<p>McGlory dived under the lower wing of the machine -and groped about until he found the bag.</p> - -<p>"There was nothing in it but the snake," said he, as -he rejoined Matt. "It was a bagful of trouble, all right, -at that. Fine two-tongue performance the Hindoo gave -when he said he had sold the snake. Sufferin' Ananias! -I suspected him of putting the bag there the minute I -saw the cobra crawling up onto the lower wing, behind -you and Le Bon."</p> - -<p>"Did you hunt for the fellow?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"<i>Did</i> we! Why, Burton had every man that could be -spared from the show chasing all over the grounds. -What's more, he sent word to the police, and they're on -the hunt. Here's what that Hindoo tinhorn has done: -He tried to make Rajah wreck the aëroplane, and he tried -his best to get you and the cobra mixed up while in the -air. Why? What's his reason for actin' like that?"</p> - -<p>"Give it up, Joe. Not only has Dhondaram done all -that, but he has lifted Burton's ticket-wagon money. -There's something back of it all, and I'd give a farm to -know just what it is. If I——"</p> - -<p>McGlory was interrupted by a cracked voice, down the -road, lifted in what purported to be song:</p> - -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">"Hi le, hi lo, hi le, hi lo,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Bei uns gets immer je länger je schlimmer,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Hi le, hi lo, hi le, hi lo,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Bei uns gets immer ja so!"<br /></span> -</div></div> - -<p>"Carl!" exclaimed Matt. "I could tell that voice of his -among a thousand."</p> - -<p>"But what the nation is he coming with?" cried McGlory, -peering along the road into the gloom. "Looks -like he had a rig of some kind."</p> - -<p>The "rig," when it drew closer, proved to be one of the -donkey carts driven by the clowns in the parade. The -Dutch boy was walking ahead and leading the donkey.</p> - -<p>"Hooray for der greadt tedectif!" whooped Carl, -bringing the donkey outfit to a halt. "Modor Matt, I haf -dit vat you say."</p> - -<p>"What have you done, Carl?" returned Matt curiously.</p> - -<p>"Come aroundt by der cart und take a look!"</p> - -<p>Thereupon Carl caught Matt's arm and led him to the -cart. The cart was small and mounted on low wheels, -and Matt and McGlory had no difficulty in looking down -into it.</p> - -<p>Ping, his hands and feet tied together, was roped to the -seat. Suddenly he set up a wail.</p> - -<p>"My velly bad China boy!" he whimpered, "velly bad -China boy. Motol Matt, you no like Ping ally mo'."</p> - -<p>"Dot's vat I dit," observed Carl, puffing out his chest, -folding his arms, and striking an attitude. "I ketch der -shink, like vat you say, und he shpeak oudt himseluf dot -he don'd vas any goot. Vat I tell you ven ve vas at -subber, hey? I vas der greadest tedectif vat efer habbened, -I bed you."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">PING ON THE WRONG TRACK.</p> - - -<p>To say that Motor Matt and Joe McGlory were surprised -at the odd situation confronting them would paint -their feelings in too faint a color.</p> - -<p>"How did this happen?" demanded Matt.</p> - -<p>"Me," said Carl, "I made it habben. Venefer I go -afder some fellers I ged him. Yah, so!"</p> - -<p>"What's Ping tied up for?"</p> - -<p>"To make sure mit meinseluf dot he vould come."</p> - -<p>"Where did you find him?"</p> - -<p>"In vone oof dose ganvas wagons bedween vich der -money vas took. He vas ashleep. I ged me some ropes -und vile he shleep, py shiminy, I ged der rope on his -hants. Den I porrow der mu-el und der leedle vagon. I -see der flying mashine in der air, und I hear der people -yell like plazes, aber I don'd haf time for nodding but -der shink. You say to pring him, und I dit. Dere he -vas. Ven Modor Matt tell Carl Pretzel to do somet'ing, -id vas as goot as dit."</p> - -<p>Another wail came from Ping, but it was not accompanied -by any words that could be understood.</p> - -<p>"Take the ropes off him, Carl," ordered Matt. "You -should not have tied him like that."</p> - -<p>"Den for vy he shleep in der ganvas wagon ven you -tell him to drail der Hintoo?"</p> - -<p>"Ping will explain about that."</p> - -<p>"My velly bad China boy," gurgled the prisoner. "Motol -Matt no likee ally mo'. Givee China boy bounce."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> - -<p>Carl, with an air of great importance, proceeded to -take the cords off Ping's hands. The moment the ropes -were all removed Ping leaped at Carl over the side of the -cart, grabbed him savagely, and they both went down -and rolled over and over in the road. The mixture of -pidgin English and Dutch dialect that accompanied the -scrimmage was appalling.</p> - -<p>Quickly as they could, Matt and McGlory separated the -boys and held them apart.</p> - -<p>"I told you somet'ing," yelled Carl, "und dot iss der -shinks is der vorst peoples vat I know."</p> - -<p>"Dutchy boy no good!" piped Ping. "No lettee China -boy savee face. Woosh!"</p> - -<p>"Here, now," spoke up Matt sternly. "Tell us all about -this, Ping. Did you follow the Hindoo, as I told you?"</p> - -<p>"Allee same," answered the Chinese boy.</p> - -<p>"Why did you leave the trail? Did you lose it?"</p> - -<p>"My velly bad China boy," insisted Ping, with the -usual wail.</p> - -<p>"You didn't lose the trail?"</p> - -<p>"No losee, just makee stop."</p> - -<p>"You quit following the Hindoo?"</p> - -<p>"Allee same," sniffed Ping.</p> - -<p>"What was the reason?"</p> - -<p>"My velly——"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, I know all that, but tell me why you quit following -Dhondaram."</p> - -<p>"Him makee tlacks fo' ticket wagon, makee pidgin with -tlicket man, makee go to canvas wagon, makee hide. -Bymby, 'long come Dutchy boy, blingee tlicket man. -Tlicket man him cally two bag. Hindoo makee jump, -hittee Dutchy boy, knockee down." Ping chuckled as -though he considered the matter a good joke. "Tlicket -man and Hindoo man takee money bags, empty allee -same in hat, takee snake flom basket, puttee snake in one -bag, puttee othel bag in Dutchy boy's pocket. My savvy. -Hindoo man and tlicket man stealee money, makee think -Dutchy boy stealee. My thinkee one piecee fine business. -Stopee follow tlail. Dutchy boy findee heap tlouble. My -no ketchee Motol Matt, for' Motol Matt makee China boy -tellee 'bout Dutchy boy. Woosh! Ping him velly bad -China boy. No likee Dutchy boy. Heap likee him get in -tlouble."</p> - -<p>Here was a lot of information tied up in a small and -ragged bundle of pidgin. In order to develop all the -different parts of it, Matt undertook a line of patient -cross-examination.</p> - -<p>When the talk was finished the fact that stood out -prominently was this, that Ping had allowed his feeling -against Carl to beguile him into a most reprehensible -course of conduct. He saw the thieves at work, and -guessed that they were trying to involve Carl in the robbery. -Ping was glad to have Carl involved, so he stopped -following the Hindoo and hid himself away in order that -Matt might not find him and learn the truth. It was sad -but true that the China boy had let his hostility to Carl -lure him away on the wrong track.</p> - -<p>"Ping," said Matt sternly, "you acted like a heathen. -Carl is a friend of mine, and entitled to your consideration. -Instead of helping him out of his trouble, you held -back in the hope that he would get into deep water. You -can't work for me if you act like that."</p> - -<p>"My makee mistake, velly bad mistake," moaned Ping. -"No makee ally mo'."</p> - -<p>"You have been telling yarns about Carl, too," went on -Matt. "You told Boss Burton that you had found Carl -going through your clothes and taking——"</p> - -<p>"Py shiminy Grismus!" whooped Carl. "Take your -handts avay, McGlory, und led me ged at dot yellow feller. -Schust vonce, only vonce! He has peen telling -aroundt dot I vas a ropper! <i>Ach, du lieber!</i> I vas so -madt I feel like I bust oop."</p> - -<p>"Hold your bronks, Carl," growled McGlory. "You're -not going to get away."</p> - -<p>"Allee same, Motol Matt, my speakee like that," acknowledged -Ping. "Dutchy boy say China boy no good. -My no likee."</p> - -<p>"You told things that were not true," proceeded Matt, -"and they helped to get Carl into trouble."</p> - -<p>"My savvy."</p> - -<p>"Are you sorry you did it?"</p> - -<p>"Heap solly, you bettee."</p> - -<p>"Py shinks," fussed Carl, "I'll make him sorrier as dot, -vone oof dose days."</p> - -<p>"I guess, Joe," remarked Matt, "that we'll have to cut -loose from both Carl and Ping. What's the use of trying -to do anything with them? They act like young hoodlums, -and I'm ashamed to own them for pards."</p> - -<p>"Pull the pin on the pair of them, Matt," counseled -McGlory. "They make us more trouble than they're -worth."</p> - -<p>A howl of protest went up from Carl.</p> - -<p>"For vy you cut loose from me, hey?" he demanded. -"I dit vat you say. I pring in der shink."</p> - -<p>"You don't do what I say, Carl," answered Matt. "I -have tried to get you two boys to bury the hatchet, but -you won't. This bickering of yours has resulted in a lot -of trouble for all hands, and pretty serious trouble, at -that. We can't work together unless we're all on friendly -terms."</p> - -<p>"My makee fliendly terms," said Ping eagerly. "Givee -China boy anothel chance, Motol Matt. Plenty soon my -go top-side, you no givee chance."</p> - -<p>"Schust gif me some more shances, too, bard," begged -Carl. "I don'd vant to haf you cut me adrift like vat you -say."</p> - -<p>"Well," returned Matt thoughtfully, "I'll give you just -one more opportunity. Take the mule and wagon, both -of you, and return them to the place where Carl found -them. Remember this, though, that you can't travel with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> -McGlory and me unless you show a little more friendship -toward each other."</p> - -<p>Carl and Ping stepped forward in the gloom. There -was a moment's hesitation, and then Carl took the mule -by the halter and moved off. Ping trailed along behind.</p> - -<p>"Don't say a word to any one about what Ping discovered," -Matt called after the boys, and both shouted back -their assurances that they would not.</p> - -<p>"Well, tell me about that!" gasped McGlory, his voice -between a growl and a chuckle. "Ping saw the robbery, -and was keeping quiet about it just to let Carl get into -a hard row of stumps. He's a heathen, and no mistake."</p> - -<p>"But the point that interests me a lot," said Matt, "is -the fact that Carter himself is mixed up in the robbery! -He planned it with this rascally Hindoo, who joined the -show this morning and has been doing his villainous work -all day. Carter was trying to get the benefit of the robbery -and, at the same time, shirk the responsibility and -stay with the show."</p> - -<p>"How's that for a double deal?" muttered McGlory, -amazed at the audacity of the ticket seller as Matt put the -case in cold words. "But then," he added, "Ping may not -be telling the truth."</p> - -<p>"I've lost a good deal of confidence in Ping," returned -Matt, "but I believe he's giving the matter to us straight. -One of the money bags, as Ping says, was put in Carl's -pocket while he was lying dazed and unconscious from -the blow dealt him by Dhondaram; and Ping also says -that the snake was put in the other bag. That has all -been proved to be the case."</p> - -<p>"And Carter must have slashed himself on the cheek -just to make it look to Burton as though he'd had a -rough time during the robbery!"</p> - -<p>"Exactly."</p> - -<p>"All this fails to explain, though, why Dhondaram -tried to destroy the aëroplane, and then fastened the bag -with the snake to the lower wing of the machine."</p> - -<p>"We're on the right track to discover all that. Let's -hunt up Burton, and then we can all three of us have a -talk with Andy Carter."</p> - -<p>"That's the talk!" agreed McGlory. "You stay here, -pard, and I'll hunt up some one to watch the <i>Comet</i> while -we're gone. After what's happened to-day, I hate to -leave the machine alone for a minute."</p> - -<p>McGlory was not long in coming with a man to look -after the aëroplane, and he and Matt left immediately to -find Boss Burton.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">FACING A TRAITOR.</p> - - -<p>Inquiry developed the fact that Boss Burton was in the -ticket wagon with Carter, checking over the evening's receipts -and making them ready to be carried to the train -and safely stowed until the next town on the show's -schedule was reached.</p> - -<p>"We'll catch Carter right in the strong wagon," -laughed McGlory, as he and Matt hurried to the place.</p> - -<p>The door of the wagon was always kept locked. Matt -knocked, and the voice of Burton demanded to know what -was wanted.</p> - -<p>"It's Motor Matt," replied the young motorist. "Let -us in for a few minutes, Burton."</p> - -<p>"I'll come out and talk with you. There's not much -room in here."</p> - -<p>"I'd rather talk in there," said Matt. "It's important. -McGlory is with me."</p> - -<p>A bolt was shoved and the door of the wagon pulled -open.</p> - -<p>"What's all the hurry?" asked Burton, as the boys -crowded in.</p> - -<p>"You'll know in a few moments," answered Matt, closing -the door behind him and forcing the bolt into its -socket.</p> - -<p>Carter sat at a small table on which a shaded oil lamp -was burning. He and Burton, it seemed, had finished -their work, and there were two canvas bags, lettered like -those with which Matt was already familiar, near the -lamp. The bags were bulging with silver and bills. Convenient -to Carter's hand lay a six-shooter.</p> - -<p>Matt's eye was on the weapon. There was no telling -what Carter would do when he learned why the boys had -paid their call on him and Burton.</p> - -<p>"What's up?" asked Burton.</p> - -<p>"Something I've got to talk over with you and Carter," -replied Matt.</p> - -<p>Casually he picked up the revolver.</p> - -<p>"A S. and W., eh?" he murmured, giving the weapon a -brief examination. Then, still holding the weapon, he -transfixed the ticket man with a steely look.</p> - -<p>"Where's the money that was stolen this afternoon, -Carter?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Carter started up.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" he flung back, his face flushing -and then becoming deadly pale.</p> - -<p>"That's what I'd like to know," blustered Burton. -"You act as though you thought Andy knew where that -money was."</p> - -<p>"He does know," said Matt decisively. "The whole -plot has come out. There were two robbers, Dhondaram -and Carter."</p> - -<p>"I'll not stand for this!" cried Carter wrathfully. -"Burton," and he leveled a quick gaze at the showman, -"are you going to let this upstart come in here and insult -me?"</p> - -<p>There was an odd glimmer in the showman's eyes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Be careful, Matt," he cautioned. "You're making -mighty grave charges."</p> - -<p>"Are they any graver," asked Matt, "than the charges -you made against Carl?"</p> - -<p>"You haven't the same foundation for them that I had—and -have now, for that matter."</p> - -<p>"You're on a wrong tack, Burton," proceeded Matt. -"The theft of that money was the result of a plot between -the Hindoo and Carter here——"</p> - -<p>"And I struck myself in the head and cut my face, eh?" -sneered Carter. "A likely yarn."</p> - -<p>"Whether you were knocked down or not is open to -question. But there isn't any doubt about your cutting -your face. You say you fell against one of the wagon -wheels. There's not a particle of evidence to bear out -the story. You wanted to make it appear as though you -were robbed. Dhondaram hid himself in one of the -wagons——"</p> - -<p>"Oh, he did!" returned Carter ironically. "He knew -your Dutch pard was going to ask me to go there, I suppose. -If that's the case, why wasn't your Dutch pard -in the plot, too?"</p> - -<p>That was the one weak place in Matt's theory. According -to Ping, Dhondaram had gone into hiding at the -wagons. Matt supposed that Ping was a little at sea, or -that the Hindoo had not made for the wagons until he -had seen that Carl and Carter were going there.</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram knew what was going to happen," continued -Matt, "and he placed himself where he could be -of most aid in carrying out the plot. He knocked Carl -down, and while the lad lay senseless you and Dhondaram -emptied the money bags into your hats. One of the bags -was placed in Carl's pocket, and the Hindoo took the -snake from the basket and placed it in the other bag. -You two wanted the basket for the money, and you -wanted the empty bag in Carl's pocket in order to throw -suspicion on him. We all know how the other bag was -used. Dhondaram said——"</p> - -<p>Carter gave a startled jump, and a muttered oath fell -from his lips.</p> - -<p>"Did that infernal scoundrel tell you all this?" rasped -out the ticket man.</p> - -<p>"I'm not saying a word about——"</p> - -<p>"I know he did!" ground out Carter, going all to pieces -on the mere suspicion. "He told it all, and you——"</p> - -<p>With a sharp cry of rage, Carter flung himself at Motor -Matt and made a desperate effort to secure the revolver. -Matt hung to the weapon, and Burton caught Carter and -pushed him down in his chair.</p> - -<p>"Here's a fine how-d'ye-do," grunted Burton. "Andy, -you've worked for me two years, and I never thought -you'd turn against me like this!"</p> - -<p>"It was Ben Ali roped me into it," was Carter's angry -reply. "If I had that gun in my hands, I'd show you a -trick or two. Well," and he threw a look at Burton, chagrined -but defiant, "what are you going to do about it?"</p> - -<p>The showman sat down on the edge of the table.</p> - -<p>"You admit the whole business, eh, Andy?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram seems to have given his side of the story, -and I might as well give mine," answered the ticket man.</p> - -<p>Matt flashed a look at McGlory. The king of the -motor boys had not intended to convey the impression -that the Hindoo had been captured and had confessed, -but Carter, out of his guilty conscience, had jumped to -that conclusion.</p> - -<p>"You might as well tell it all, Andy, and be perfectly -frank with me," said Burton. "What had Ben Ali to do -with the affair?"</p> - -<p>"He figured it out while he was with the show," went -on Carter. "So——" He broke off suddenly. "But -what good is it going to do me to tell you all this?" he -asked.</p> - -<p>"It may do you a lot of good, Andy, and it may not -do you any. You'll have to take your chances on that."</p> - -<p>Carter was thoughtful for a few moments, and then -gave vent to a bitter laugh.</p> - -<p>"Well," said he recklessly, "here goes, neck or nothing. -I'll see to it, though, that this Dhondaram has his share -of the responsibility," and a glitter crept into the ticket -man's eyes. "As I say, Ben Ali figured out how the game -could be worked. We were going to try it long before we -reached Lafayette, but circumstances didn't just shape -themselves so we could pull it off. I thought about the -deal for some time before I agreed to go into it. The -habit you have, Burton, of making me tote the money -bags to the calliope tent after the ticket office closes for -the afternoon show first gave Ben Ali the idea. But -Ben Ali, as you all know, made things too hot to hold -him, in the show, and had to pull out. I was glad of it, -for I thought the temptation had been taken away from -me entirely, but this morning along comes Dhondaram, -direct from Ben Ali——"</p> - -<p>"From Ben Ali?" echoed Motor Matt.</p> - -<p>"Speak to me about that!" grunted McGlory.</p> - -<p>"Surprise to you, eh, Motor Matt?" observed Carter, -with an evil grin. "Ben Ali is a bad man to get down on -you, and I guess he's got as big a grouch against Motor -Matt as he could have against any fellow on earth. Ben -Ali, since he left the show, has been framing up a scheme -to put the king of the motor boys out of business. In order -to carry out his plan, he sent to Chicago for Dhondaram—and, -between you and me, that's where Ben Ali -made a mistake. The two Hindoos met near the town of -Lafayette somewhere, and Ben Ali told Dhondaram -what he wanted. Dhondaram was to hire out as a keeper -for Rajah, and the elephant was to do the business for the -aëroplane. The cobra was to make things warm for Motor -Matt. It was all cut and dried between the two Hindoos.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> -But I was rung into it when Ben Ali told Dhondaram -to work the hold-up here in Jackson. Dhondaram -came to me at the ticket wagon and I had a short talk -with him. He said he'd bowl me over and get the money, -and then take chances on getting away and playing even -with Motor Matt later. I didn't know how the Hindoo -was to work it; and I wouldn't have gone into the game -at all if I had known all that was to happen.</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram heard me talking with the Dutchman -when he flagged me and wanted to talk. He must also -have heard the Dutchman mention the canvas wagons, -for he was there when we reached them. The first thing -I knew the Dutchman was down, lying like a log on the -ground. There was nothing for me to do then but to mar -myself up and make it look as though there had been a -fracas. We put the money in the basket, and hid the -basket under a pile of old canvas in one of the wagons. -It was arranged that I should meet Dhondaram to-night, -bring the basket, and then we'd divide the loot.</p> - -<p>"But I was suspicious of Dhondaram. He was a -stranger to me, and I wasn't going to trust him. During -the afternoon, while the aëroplane flight was on, I took -the basket out of the wagon and stowed it in another -place. By doing that I made it impossible for the Hindoo -to pick it up and slope without meeting me. That's all."</p> - -<p>"Where's the money?" inquired Burton.</p> - -<p>He had had abundant faith in Andy Carter, and there -was something almost sad in the showman's face as he -listened to the tale of treachery.</p> - -<p>Carter leaned forward.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell you that, Burton," he answered, "just as soon -as you promise to let me off and not make any move -against me on account of the robbery."</p> - -<p>The brazenness of the proposition struck Burton, and -struck him hard. But it was the logical thing for Carter -to do, in the circumstances. It was a trump card, and he -was cunning enough to know how to play it.</p> - -<p>"I'm getting a good many surprises to-night," muttered -Burton, "but I guess I deserve it for trusting a -whelp like you. I agree, of course. You know very -well I can't do anything else."</p> - -<p>"You'll not take any legal action against me?" asked -Carter eagerly.</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"Of course I can't work for the show any longer?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I should say not! What do you take me for?"</p> - -<p>"I thought as much, but I wanted to make sure."</p> - -<p>"Just a moment," put in Matt. "Where were you to -meet Dhondaram, and at what time?"</p> - -<p>"Didn't he tell you that? It was to be sometime before -the show was over, at the edge of the grounds on -the south side. I was to come that way with the basket, -and whistle. Where did you nab the Hindoo? I suppose -it was that infernal snake business that got you -after him."</p> - -<p>"He hasn't been nabbed," returned Matt. "You took -that for granted, Carter."</p> - -<p>Carter sank back in his chair and stared. Then he -swore under his breath.</p> - -<p>"I'm a fool of the first water, and no mistake," said -he, "but that Hindoo will kill me if he's left at large. -You can capture him if you go where I told you and do -what I said. I'm playing in tough luck, Burton," he -added dejectedly.</p> - -<p>"You're playing in more luck than you ought to have, -at that," snarled Burton. "Put on your hat and coat, -and we'll go for the money."</p> - -<p>"No," put in Matt, "let me take his hat and coat."</p> - -<p>Burton stared, then gave a short laugh as Matt's plan -drifted over him.</p> - -<p>"Right you are, Matt," said he. "Put on the hat and -coat. I guess Carter won't take any harm going out -in his shirt sleeves and without his hat. But give me -the gun. That will be of use in case Andy forgets his -agreement."</p> - -<p>A few minutes later they all left the ticket wagon, -locking the door behind them. The wagon was constructed -of boiler iron, and the money in the bags would -be safe where it was until the time came for loading the -show and getting ready to move to the next town.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">MEETING THE HINDOO.</p> - - -<p>Andy Carter, as it turned out, was playing his part in -good faith. Perhaps he reasoned that he had been sufficiently -treacherous, and that the very least he could do -was to wind up a bad business on the square.</p> - -<p>The basket, removed by him from the canvas wagon -to prevent the Hindoo from making off with it, had been -carried to a clump of bushes not far from the railroad -tracks, on the north side of the show grounds, and covered -with a pile of broken sticks and other refuse.</p> - -<p>Men were already pulling down some of the auxiliary -tents and loading them into wagons and driving the -wagons to the waiting train. The elephants and nearly -all the animal cages had been loaded, while the band -wagons and the "chariots" had been stowed in their cars -late in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you're through with me, now?" inquired -Carter, after Burton had secured the basket.</p> - -<p>"I will be," said Burton, "as soon as I make sure that -all the money is here."</p> - -<p>"You'll be too late to catch the Hindoo," demurred -Carter, "if you insist on going back to the wagon and -counting over all that stuff."</p> - -<p>"Then we'll lay the Hindoo by the heels before we -count it. You can go with us, Carter. It'll do you good -to see the fellow caught."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> - -<p>"He'll kill me!" declared Carter, drawing back.</p> - -<p>"I guess he won't. There are too many of us for him -to cut up very rough."</p> - -<p>"If he sees all of us coming across the grounds, he'll -suspect something and sheer off."</p> - -<p>"There's sense in that, all right," remarked Burton. -"On the whole, I believe I'll change my plans."</p> - -<p>Burton stopped one of the wagons that was moving -toward the train.</p> - -<p>"Where's Harris?" he asked of the driver of the -wagon.</p> - -<p>"He's comin' right behind me," was the answer.</p> - -<p>Harris was Burton's brother-in-law, and had always -been in the showman's confidence. He was riding on a -pile of tent poles, holding a couple of trunks on the load.</p> - -<p>"Harris," called Burton, "I want you to take this basket -down to the train for me. Don't let it get out of your -hands."</p> - -<p>"Another snake in it, Burton?" queried Harris, as he -reached down for the basket.</p> - -<p>"Well," answered Burton, "I wouldn't look into it to -find out. Mind what I say and don't let the basket get -away from you."</p> - -<p>Having been reassured on this point by Harris, Burton, -Matt, McGlory, and Carter moved on. Picking up -two men at the dismantled animal tent, Burton turned -Carter over to them.</p> - -<p>"Andy has resigned," the showman explained dryly -to the men, "and he wants to go to the train after his -trunk. You men go with him, and keep hold of him all -the time. Understand? See that he don't take anything -but what belongs to him."</p> - -<p>Carter was none too well liked among the show people, -and the two men agreed cheerfully to look after him.</p> - -<p>"Now," said Burton, as he walked off with Matt and -McGlory, "we're in shape to meet the Hindoo. I don't -know what I can do with the scoundrel after I get my -hands on him. If he is put in jail here, I'll have to come -back myself, or send somebody else, to make out a case -against him. That wouldn't do—it would only cause -extra expense and a loss of time. I guess we'll tie him -up and take him along with us on section two of the -train."</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram ought to be made pay for what he has -done," said Matt. "I think you ought to go to a little -inconvenience, Burton, in the interests of law and order."</p> - -<p>"The inconveniences may be more than you think, -Matt. Suppose you would have to come back here to -testify against the Hindoo? That would mean no aëroplane -work for two or three days. I couldn't stand for -that."</p> - -<p>By that time, the three were close to the south side of -the grounds. There were scattered clumps of bushes, -here, and a few trees.</p> - -<p>"We'd better hang back, Matt," whispered Burton, -"while you go on and do the whistling. We'll be near -enough to help you when Dhondaram shows himself. If -he's too ugly, I'll use the revolver."</p> - -<p>"He's got a bowie, Matt," cautioned McGlory. "Don't -let him get a hack at you with it. He could help out -Ben Ali's scheme of vengeance a good deal handier with -the knife than with the cobra."</p> - -<p>Matt stepped on ahead of Burton and McGlory, and -began to whistle softly. He had not gone twenty feet -before the whistle was answered and a dark figure -stepped shadowily from behind some bushes.</p> - -<p>"Carter Sahib!" came a low call.</p> - -<p>"Dhondaram?" returned Matt.</p> - -<p>"Here!" came the eager answer. "Have you brought -the basket, sahib?"</p> - -<p>"You know why I was to meet you," replied Matt, -ignoring the question.</p> - -<p>He disguised his voice as well as he could, and the low -tone in which he spoke served still further to hide his -identity.</p> - -<p>The Hindoo could see that Matt was not carrying anything, -and evidently his distrust was aroused.</p> - -<p>"The sahib is fooling me!" he exclaimed. "You have -not brought with you the basket. Part of the money is -mine."</p> - -<p>Matt had supposed that the Hindoo would run, as soon -as he detected the trick. But he did not. On the contrary, -he bounded straight at Matt and caught him by -the shoulders.</p> - -<p>"I want you, Dhondaram!" cried Matt, dropping his -attempts at concealment. "You're a prisoner!"</p> - -<p>Matt was strong, but the Hindoo was as slippery as an -eel. With his arms about him, Matt tried to hold the -villain, and in a measure succeeded. Dhondaram, -however, heard the running feet and the voices -of Burton and McGlory and redoubled his desperate -efforts to escape.</p> - -<p>He broke from Matt's arms, but Matt caught his left -wrist and clung to it like a leech. With his right hand -the Hindoo jerked his knife from his sash and made a -vicious lunge with it.</p> - -<p>Matt avoided the lunge, and before the attack could be -repeated the showman and the cowboy had reached the -scene.</p> - -<p>Then, even with all three of them against him, Dhondaram -made a desperate resistance. But numbers prevailed, -and the rascally scoundrel's hands were bound -at his back by means of his turban, which was opened -out and twisted into a makeshift rope.</p> - -<p>"He's a fighter, and no mistake," panted Burton, as he -held the prisoner by one arm while McGlory took the -other. "No more nonsense, Dhondaram," the showman -threatened, flashing the weapon in front of his eyes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> -"You see what I've got? Well, look out that I don't -use it."</p> - -<p>The six-shooter, dimly visible in the gloom, had a -quieting effect on the Hindoo.</p> - -<p>"Don't shoot, sahib," he begged. "I go where you -want."</p> - -<p>"That's better," said Burton. "Trot along, and we'll -soon be where we're going."</p> - -<p>Their destination was the train, and they presently -had Dhondaram in the sleeping car attached to section -two. Very few of the show people had arrived, as yet, -and an attempt was made to get a little information out -of the prisoner.</p> - -<p>But the Hindoo would not talk. In response to every -question put to him, he shook his head and held his -tongue.</p> - -<p>"He'll talk with us in the morning," said Burton confidently. -"Just tie his feet, boys, and leave him here. I've -got to go back to the ticket wagon."</p> - -<p>Matt and McGlory made the prisoner's feet secure, -and a tap on the window called Matt's attention. Thinking -it might be Burton, wishing to give him a private -message, Matt left the car.</p> - -<p>It was not Burton, but Carter and the two men set -to watch him. Carter wanted his hat and coat.</p> - -<p>While Matt was returning the borrowed garments, -Carl and Ping came along, talking amiably with each -other. Matt sent them into the car to look after the -Hindoo, and also to tell McGlory to come out and help -prepare the aëroplane for loading.</p> - -<p>"I don't know, pard," said McGlory, as he and Matt -made their way hastily to the place where the <i>Comet</i> -had been left, "but I reckon the motor boys have got a -little the best of this ruction that Dhondaram kicked up. -Burton has recovered the stolen money, Carter has been -fired, and Dhondaram is a prisoner. Luck's on our side -after all, eh?"</p> - -<p>"That's the way it looks," answered Matt.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h2> - -<p class="chaptitle">A BIT OF A BACKSET.</p> - - -<p>The preparing of the aëroplane for loading was not a -difficult matter. The small front planes were removed, -and lashed between the two larger planes. This narrowed -the machine sufficiently so that it could be loaded -into the car especially prepared for it.</p> - -<p>After the machine had been safely stowed, the two -tired lads went to their section in the sleeper. Burton -was there, sitting under a lamp and hastily running over -the contents of the basket.</p> - -<p>"I guess it's all here," said he, dumping the silver and -bills into the receptacle and closing the lid. "Anyhow, -I'm too much fagged to bother any more with the stuff -to-night. It's about time we all turned in, don't you -think?"</p> - -<p>"I'm Ready's whole family, when it comes to that," -yawned McGlory. "Talk about your strenuous days! -I think this has been a harder one than that other day -we put in at Lafayette, Indiana. What do you say, -Matt?"</p> - -<p>"We seem to have worked harder than we did then, -and to have less to show for it," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"Less to show for it!" repeated Burton. "I don't -know what you mean by that, son. It isn't every day -you save your flying machine from a mad elephant and -wrestle with a cobra on the <i>Comet</i>, in midair!"</p> - -<p>"And it's not every day the Big Consolidated is held -up, thieves captured, and <i>dinero</i> recovered, all before -we leave town," supplemented McGlory.</p> - -<p>"It was exciting enough," said Matt, "but it all seems -so useless."</p> - -<p>"The hand of Ben Ali was behind it all," remarked -Burton, pulling off his shoes. "That villain ought to be -run down and put behind the bars for ninety-nine years. -You'll not be safe a minute, Matt, until he's locked up."</p> - -<p>"I guess," ventured the king of the motor boys, "that -Ben Ali, after this lesson, will keep away from me."</p> - -<p>"I wish I could think so," said Burton.</p> - -<p>"What'll you do with Dhondaram?" inquired McGlory. -"You can't send him to jail in any other town for an -offense he committed in Jackson."</p> - -<p>"Sending him to jail is the last thing I'm thinking of," -was Burton's response. "What I want is to induce him -to talk. He may give us a line on Ben Ali that will -enable Matt to keep away from the wily old villain."</p> - -<p>"Don't hang onto Dhondaram on my account," said -Matt. "I've told Ben Ali what to expect if he ever comes -near me again."</p> - -<p>"That's you!" exulted McGlory. "All your scare-talk, -Burton, goes clean over Matt's head."</p> - -<p>The showman pulled off his coat and leaned back in -his seat reflectively. He did not seem to have heard -McGlory's observation.</p> - -<p>"I've got a notion," began Burton, "that——" He -paused.</p> - -<p>"What's the notion?" urged the cowboy. "It ain't like -you to hang fire, Burton."</p> - -<p>"Well," pursued Burton, "it's this way: I've got an -elephant on my hands that can't be handled by any white -trainer in the show. Dhondaram can handle the brute to -the queen's taste. What's the answer?"</p> - -<p>"You don't mean to say," expostulated Matt, "that -you're going to keep Dhondaram with the show just to -take charge of Rajah?"</p> - -<p>"It's either that or sell the elephant," declared Burton.</p> - -<p>"Then, sufferin' cats!" cried McGlory, "sell the brute. -You're more kinds of a bungler, Burton, than I know -how to lay tongue to. Keep Dhondaram with the show,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> -and he'll do something, before you're through with him, -that will hurt."</p> - -<p>"I'll sleep on it," muttered Burton. "I've only got -four elephants, and I need Rajah."</p> - -<p>"Schust a minid, oof you blease," came the voice of -Matt's Dutch pard from the aisle of the car.</p> - -<p>Matt, McGlory, and Burton turned around and saw -not only Carl, but Ping as well.</p> - -<p>"What is it, Carl?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"I vant to know somet'ing," Carl went on, "und dot iss, -was I innocend or guildy? Vat you say, Misder Purton?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, splash!" exclaimed Burton, "that was settled a -long time ago. Andy Carter, the ticket man, admitted -that he and the Hindoo were the thieves."</p> - -<p>"Den Modor Matt don'd haf to vork four veeks for -nodding, schust for me?"</p> - -<p>"Of course not."</p> - -<p>"Dot's all I vanted to know, oxcept somet'ing else."</p> - -<p>"Well, what?"</p> - -<p>"Der Hintoo brisoner iss in der blace vere Ping -shleeps. Ping vants to go to ped, und I am to haf der -ubber bert'. Vat iss to be dit mit der Hintoo?"</p> - -<p>"Roll him into the aisle and let him lie there," replied -Burton. "Put a blanket under him, if you want to, and -give him a pillow."</p> - -<p>"T'anks," said Carl, and the boys started away.</p> - -<p>"Wait, Carl," called Matt. "There's a little something -I want to know. How are you and Ping getting along -together?"</p> - -<p>"Finer as silk," grinned Carl. "He likes me pedder -der more vat he knows me, und it's der same mit me. -Shinks iss hardt to ondershtand, but I'm schust gedding -ondo Ping's curves. He made a misdake in me, und now -he feels pedder aboudt it. How iss dot, bard?" finished -Carl, turning to the Chinaman.</p> - -<p>"Awri'," answered Ping, although not very enthusiastically.</p> - -<p>"That's the talk!" cried Matt heartily.</p> - -<p>Two hours later, the second section of the show train -was loaded and speeding on its way. All was quiet in -the sleeping car, save for the snores of the tired men who -occupied the bunks.</p> - -<p>Perhaps it was two o'clock in the morning when an -uproar filled the sleeper. There were yells, a revolver -shot, the slamming of a door, and then a measure of -quiet.</p> - -<p>Matt thrust his head out of his berth and saw McGlory, -equally curious and excited, looking out from the -berth overhead. All up and down each side of the car -were other heads.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>Boss Burton, in his underclothes, was standing in the -aisle, a smoking revolver in his hand.</p> - -<p>"Confound the luck!" he sputtered. "The Hindoo has -made a getaway. I happened to wake up and to think -about him, and took a look along the aisle from my -berth, just to make sure he was safe. I thought I was -dreaming, or had the blind staggers, or something, when -I saw him sitting up. His hands were free and he was -taking the rope off his feet. I grabbed my revolver from -under my pillow and rolled into the aisle. Dhondaram -had started for the door. I blazed away, did nothing but -smash a window, and the Hindoo jumped from the -train."</p> - -<p>"Are you going to stop and put back after him?" inquired -Archie Le Bon.</p> - -<p>"I guess I won't, although losing the fellow is a bit of -a backset," observed Burton regretfully.</p> - -<p>"The show can stand all the backsets of that kind that -come its way, Burton," said Harris.</p> - -<p>"What will we do for somebody to manage Rajah?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, hang Rajah!" said another of the Le Bon -brothers. "I hope the first section runs into the ditch and -smashes the brute. He came within one of killin' Archie, -back there in Jackson."</p> - -<p>It was the general opinion, as the occupants of the -various berths drew sleepily back into their beds, that -it was a good thing Dhondaram escaped.</p> - -<p>"Wonder just how much that bit of a backset means -for us, pard?" McGlory inquired of the king of the -motor boys before dropping back on his pillow.</p> - -<p>"Nothing, I hope," was the response.</p> - -<p>"We'll know for sure, I reckon, before we're many -days older," muttered the cowboy as he straightened out -in his bed and returned to his dreams of cobras and -charging elephants.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center medium">THE NEXT NUMBER (29) WILL CONTAIN</p> - -<p class="center huge">Motor Matt's Make-up;</p> - -<p class="center medium">OR,</p> - -<p class="center large">PLAYING A NEW RÔLE.</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<blockquote> - -<p>High Jinks in the Side Show—The "Barker" Shows -His Teeth—The Man from Washington—A -Clue in Hindustanee—Something Wrong—A -Blunder in the Right Direction—The House -with the Green Shutters—The Pile of Soot—Matt -Meets an Old Acquaintance—Rescue!—Bill -Wily Repents—Matt Lays His Plans—Motor -Car and Aëroplane—The Oak Opening -Aëroplane Wins—Conclusion.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> - - - - -<table summary="scaffold" class="bbox"> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="tdc huge">MOTOR STORIES</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdr large" style="padding-right: .25em;">THRILLING ADVENTURE</td><td class="tdl large" style="padding-left: .25em;">MOTOR FICTION</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="center">NEW YORK, September 4, 1909.</p> - - -<p class="center"><b>TERMS TO MOTOR STORIES MAIL SUBSCRIBERS.</b></p> - -<p class="center">(<i>Postage Free.</i>)</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Single Copies or Back Numbers, 5c. Each.</b></p> - -<table summary="Terms"> -<tr><td>3 months</td><td class="tdr">65c.</td></tr> -<tr><td>4 months</td><td class="tdr">85c.</td></tr> -<tr><td>6 months</td><td class="tdr">$1.25</td></tr> -<tr><td>One year</td><td class="tdr">2.50</td></tr> -<tr><td>2 copies one year</td><td class="tdr">4.00</td></tr> -<tr><td>1 copy two years</td><td class="tdr">4.00</td></tr> -</table> - -<p><b>How to Send Money</b>—By post-office or express money-order, -registered letter, bank check or draft, at our risk. At your own risk if sent -by currency, coin, or postage-stamps in ordinary letter.</p> - -<p><b>Receipts</b>—Receipt of your remittance is acknowledged by proper -change of number on your label. If not correct you have not been properly -credited, and should let us know at once.</p> - -<table summary="scaffold"> -<tr><td> -<span class="smcap">Ormond G. Smith</span>,<br /> -<span class="smcap">George C. Smith</span>, -</td> -<td style="font-size: 200%">}</td><td style="padding-right: 1em;"><i>Proprietors</i>.</td> -<td class="tdc"> -<b>STREET & SMITH, Publishers,<br /> -79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.</b> -</td></tr></table> - - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="ON_THE_BAHAMA_REEFS" id="ON_THE_BAHAMA_REEFS">ON THE BAHAMA REEFS.</a></h2> - - -<p>"And so your sister's going to spend the winter at Nassau, -for her health, eh? Well, she might do worse, for it's very -pleasant there, with its lovely climate, and pineapples, shells, -sponges, and curiosities. Yes, I've been to the Bahama Islands. -Didn't start for there, and didn't make any entry -at the custom house, but I got there, all the same. It was a -lively adventure, and no mistake."</p> - -<p>It was Captain Joe who made this speech, one day, as we -sat on a wooden pier, angling for fish, which, I may add, -we didn't catch.</p> - -<p>The captain, now that his active sea days were over, lived -with his brother near-by, and was never so happy as when -fishing with us boys, or spinning yarns to while away the -time whenever the inconsiderate fish refused to bite.</p> - -<p>"I reckon I may as well tell you about it," he went on, -"since that steamboat has stirred up the mud till no fish can -see the bait.</p> - -<p>"I was eighteen years old then, and the doctors gave me -just twelve months to live, for I was very delicate, and so, -when we started, one raw November day, from Boston, for -a voyage to Rio and back, I was as blue as an indigo bag.</p> - -<p>"The wind was fierce and cold, and the sea was lumpy, -and we tumbled and rolled about like the mischief for five -or six days, when we struck finer weather, and I at once -began to feel better.</p> - -<p>"But a few days later the weather grew bad rapidly, so -that by midnight it was blowing half a gale, with a tremendous -sea on that made the good brig <i>Polly Ann</i> tumble about -as lively as a Scotchman dancing the Highland fling.</p> - -<p>"It was a fearful storm, indeed, almost a regular hurricane, -and lasted for two days before it gave any signs of -blowing itself out.</p> - -<p>"And then, when at last it began to subside, we found that -we had sustained considerable damage, both our topmasts -being gone, the mainmast sprung, and the rudder so twisted -as to be of little service.</p> - -<p>"We had taken no observation for sixty hours, and were -rather uncertain as to our location, which did not add to our -comfort by any means.</p> - -<p>"It was well past midnight, and I had dropped off into a -doze, when I was awakened by a tremendous shock that made -everything tremble.</p> - -<p>"As I sat upright in my berth, there was a second shock, -lighter than the first, and then the brig began to pound and -thump, with a grinding, crushing sound.</p> - -<p>"In another moment the mate came running down into the -cabin after something, with a scared look on his face, and -cried out:</p> - -<p>"'We're on the reefs, and the brig's going to pieces!' and -then he rushed on deck again.</p> - -<p>"I got up and tried to climb the ladder, but a dash of water -came through the open hatch and washed me back.</p> - -<p>"Somebody jammed the hatch shut, and I was a prisoner -below.</p> - -<p>"The next moment a big wave lifted the brig up and sent -her higher up on the reefs, and she rested quietly with no -more pounding or thumping.</p> - -<p>"The captain came down after a while, and said we were -ashore on the Bahama reefs, and as the ship was easy now, -and there was no immediate danger, we could do nothing but -wait for daylight.</p> - -<p>"As dawn broke, I was on deck with the rest, the excitement -of the occasion, or something else, having put new life -into me, and I cared nothing for the sheets of spray and -foam that, flying over the rails, drenched us all to the skin -every minute.</p> - -<p>"Before us, half a mile distant, was a low, white coast, -covered with sand hills, and a few cocoa palms, their long, -slender leaves thrashing about in the wind like a lot of enormous -feather dusters.</p> - -<p>"The sea about us was churned into a mass of foam as -the incoming waves were broken in pieces on the coral reefs, -whose sharp, jagged tops of honeycomb rock rose here and -there above the surface like the brown teeth of some marine -monster.</p> - -<p>"Between the coral reefs and the shore there was a stretch -of smoother water, in marked contrast with the tumbling -sea outside.</p> - -<p>"It was a perfect caldron of foaming water close about -us, in which no boat could live a second, and so we waited -as patiently as we could for the going down of the adjacent -sea.</p> - -<p>"Half an hour thereafter, to our great relief, we beheld a -stanch little schooner rounding a point well inside the reefs, -and making for us; and as she drew nearer we saw that her -decks were full of men, white and black, clad in such a -variety of costumes, with such diversity of loud colors, as at -once suggested a piratical band of the seventeenth century.</p> - -<p>"But appearances were deceptive, for instead of freebooters -bent on plunder, the strangers were good Samaritans coming -to our rescue—a lot of Bahamian wreckers—men ever ready -to save life and property for a consideration.</p> - -<p>"The captain of the little craft, which rejoiced in the highly -appropriate name of the <i>Fearless</i>, a sturdy, square-built man -of fifty, with light hair and bluish eyes, and a salty air about -him, balancing himself with the skill of an acrobat on the -port rail, and making a trumpet of his hands, began a shouting -conversation with us, in which he informed us that he -wouldn't give a penny for our lives if we weren't ashore -mighty soon, as the wind, backing to the northwest, would -blow great guns again in a few hours, when our brig would -probably go to pieces.</p> - -<p>"As the result of this confab, the wreckers began to make -preparations to get us off the brig, which they accomplished -in a skillful and courageous manner, running a line from the -<i>Fearless</i> to our vessel, over which we were hauled in turn, -though we were sorely battered and drenched by the angry -sea that leaped up furiously, as if loath to lose its prey.</p> - -<p>"It was well they worked so rapidly, for we were scarcely -ashore, and the schooner anchored behind a point, when the -storm began to rage again with great fury, burying the old -brig in mountains of foaming water.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> - -<p>"When at last the storm abated, it was found that the brig -had broken in two, the stern part sinking in deep water, and -the cargo being scattered for miles along the coast, some of it -being picked up, but in a useless condition, so that the wreckers -realized substantially nothing in the way of salvage.</p> - -<p>"In a few days our company went in the <i>Fearless</i> to Green -Turtle Cay village, where they eventually secured a passage -home.</p> - -<p>"As for myself, I refused to accompany them, having discovered -a decided improvement in my health, which I naturally -attributed to the climate, which was perfection itself, -with a clear, bright sky, soft, genial breezes, and a pure, dry -atmosphere that seemed to put new life into me with every -breath.</p> - -<p>"So I remained to complete the cure so auspiciously begun, -lodging with a planter named Bethel, whom, to pay my -board, I helped with the lighter work in his pineapple fields -by day, giving his children a bit of schooling by night, to the -mutual satisfaction, I am certain, of all concerned.</p> - -<p>"The half of the hulk of the <i>Polly Ann</i> still clung to the -great reefs where she had struck, at low tide being nearly -out of water; and every day I looked at it, for it was in -plain view from our veranda, with feelings of mingled pity -and friendship—for it somehow always suggested to my mind -my far-away home and the dear ones there.</p> - -<p>"Ever since the wreck, the weather had been perfect—such -charming days and nights as can be found only in the -Bahamas following each other uninterruptedly, until, as -Christmas approached, I conceived the idea that it would be -nice to have our holiday luncheon on the deck of the hulk, -and in this scheme all acquiesced, thinking it would be novel -and delightful.</p> - -<p>"But the twenty-third of December ushered in a gale that -swept with fury along the coast.</p> - -<p>"For twenty-four hours the elements held high carnival, -and then, on Christmas Eve, there came a great lull, and the -fierce storm, veering to the southward, died away as suddenly -as it had arisen, giving us hope that our original plan -might yet be carried out.</p> - -<p>"We were up early on Christmas morning, and looking -seaward, were astonished beyond measure at what we saw.</p> - -<p>"The hulk of the <i>Polly Ann</i> had been loosened from the -clutch of the coral reef and carried bodily over the ledge by -the great waves—had been hurled upon the low inside beach, -a huge broken mass, with its stern buried deep in the wet -sand, its heavy timbers splintered to pieces, and its rusty iron -bolts twisted like corkscrews.</p> - -<p>"We rushed to the beach—now as hard and smooth as a -floor—and saw, scattered about near the nose of the <i>Polly -Ann</i>, some circular pieces, which we at first took to be -brownish-colored shells, but which we soon discovered were -nothing of the kind.</p> - -<p>"I picked up a piece and found it to be nearly two inches -broad, perfectly flat and smooth, the edge worn almost sharp, -with some inscription on one side and figures on the other, -which we could scarcely trace, so black and discolored was -the entire surface.</p> - -<p>"I ran to a bit of honeycomb rock and rubbed the piece -briskly over it, until presently the tarnish began to come off, -and I shouted to Bethel that it was a piece of silver.</p> - -<p>"'My stars!' he cried out, in great excitement, 'if it's not -an old Spanish dollar.'</p> - -<p>"And then he danced about like mad for a minute.</p> - -<p>"Next we fell to work picking up all we could find till both -our hats were nearly full of the pieces.</p> - -<p>"'Where in the world did they come from?' asked Bethel, -after we had gathered in the last coin. 'I didn't suppose your -old brig carried such a cargo, did you?'</p> - -<p>"'I never thought so, surely,' said I; 'nor do I believe -she did.'</p> - -<p>"'Where else could these coins have come from?' asked -Bethel.</p> - -<p>"'I don't know,' said I. 'But as the <i>Polly Ann</i> is only ten -years old, and these coins are near two hundred, if they are a -day, why, it doesn't stand to reason they were in the brig. -However, we will soon see. If they came out of her, there's -more inside. Come, we will look.'</p> - -<p>"We crept inside the old hull and examined carefully -among her shattered timbers and twisted bolts, and spent two -hours in prying up the planks inside the bow and along the -bottom, but at last, tired and breathless, gave it up as a bad -job, and came out as empty-handed as we went in.</p> - -<p>"'I told you so,' said I. 'They never sailed the sea in the -<i>Polly Ann</i>.'</p> - -<p>"We spent the afternoon in counting our coins, finding we -had between three and four hundred of them, and we grew -quite hilarious over our Christmas gift, as we styled it, and -speculated in vain as to where the coins could have come -from.</p> - -<p>"The next morning Bethel said to me:</p> - -<p>"'I've been thinking half the night about those coins, and -I remember my father used to tell of a Spanish vessel that -went ashore somewhere along here when he was a boy, and -was gradually washed to pieces; and, do you know, I've an -idea these pieces have been cast up by the sea from the old -wreck. It's curious, however, that we never found any of -them till this brig came plowing up the beach with her nose.'</p> - -<p>"While we were talking, two of the children came in with -several of the pieces, which they had found at the water's -edge, exactly like those we had picked up the day before.</p> - -<p>"'I tell you, sir,' cried Bethel excitedly, 'my guess was -right. I believe that old Spaniard lies buried in the sand -right where the <i>Polly Ann</i> has stuck her bow in the beach. -Man alive, there may be millions down there!'</p> - -<p>"We rushed to the beach, and with shovels began to dig -up the sand vigorously all about the wreck.</p> - -<p>"Every now and then we came across another coin, which -encouraged us tremendously, and we worked until we had -dug a hole big enough to hold an ox cart.</p> - -<p>"But no more coins appeared, and we were getting discouraged, -when Bethel struck a heavy timber that ran under -the forefoot of the brig, and which did not belong to the -<i>Polly Ann</i>.</p> - -<p>"We cleared away the sand alongside this timber, and -there lay a box, made of teak wood, split open from end to -end, and jammed hard and fast between the decaying timber -and the forefoot of the brig.</p> - -<p>"The splinters from the box were fresh and clean, showing -that it had been crushed to pieces by the stem of the brig -when she was driven into the beach by the storm.</p> - -<p>"And then we dug out the sand from under the debris of -the teak box, and down came a shower of black silver pieces, -exactly similar to the others, which we carefully and eagerly -secured and piled up on the dry beach near by.</p> - -<p>"There was no longer any mystery as to where the coins -came from, for we found the rotten timbers of the old Spanish -ship underlying the sand in every direction, none being -less than ten feet from the surface.</p> - -<p>"For days we pursued our hunt for treasure, tunneling -all about, but except those in the teak box not another piece -did we find, and at last we desisted, satisfied that we had exhausted -the deposit.</p> - -<p>"We kept the thing a secret, lest the authorities, taking -advantage of some old and unjust law, might claim a portion -of our treasure trove; and as there were no near neighbors, -and as a brisk gale, which blew later on, filled up our excavations -in the sand, this was an easy thing to do.</p> - -<p>"We divided our find, and my portion was nearly five -thousand dollars, which I brought with me to the United -States late in the ensuing summer, and disposed of it to a -broker in Boston, who was very curious to learn where I -got it.</p> - -<p>"But he will never know, unless he learns it from this -story.</p> - -<p>"My Christmas gift was most acceptable, as you can readily -believe; out what I valued far more was the fact that my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> -eight months' residence in the lovely climate of the Bahamas -made me a well man, and my lungs ever since have been as -stout as a blacksmith's bellows.</p> - -<p>"It's all right, my boy. Tell your sister she'll have a nice -time at Nassau, and if she doesn't come back in the spring as -good as new, then Captain Joe'll never prophesy again as -long as he lives.</p> - -<p>"She'll not find any Spanish dollars, maybe, but there's -things worth more—and one is good health."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_A_WILD_GOOSE" id="THE_STORY_OF_A_WILD_GOOSE">THE STORY OF A WILD GOOSE.</a></h2> - - -<p>Two years ago, one evening, while I was returning home -from an unsuccessful shooting excursion along the Atlantic -shore, I observed a flock of wild geese coming toward me, -but sailing high. I stood perfectly still, and when the flock -was directly overhead I aimed and fired.</p> - -<p>In the twilight I could see the flock scattering at the report, -and a bird wheeling downward with one wing limp and -useless. He landed on a patch of plowed ground with a thud -and lay half stunned. In a moment I had secured my prize.</p> - -<p>It was a large gander in prime condition, with a full, -deep body, and healthy, lustrous feathers, and I determined -to spare his life.</p> - -<p>I quickly tied his legs and fastened the uninjured wing. -Then, carefully lifting the bird and getting the broken limb -into as comfortable a position as possible, I carried him -home. Most sportsmen have a crude knowledge of surgery, -and I soon had the broken member bandaged with splints and -strips of cotton and my captive resting comfortably, unbound, -in a warm outhouse.</p> - -<p>In the morning, when I went out to feed him, he was -walking around lively enough, and, although, of course, very -shy and timid, he ate a hearty breakfast of corn as soon as -he thought himself unobserved. In a few days he grew -tame enough to allow me to stroke him with a bit of stick. -It was long before he would suffer himself to be touched by -the human hand.</p> - -<p>After some months the bird would answer to his name, -Michael, would eat out of my hand, and when I let him out -into the yard, after clipping his wings, would follow me -around like a dog. He invariably fled at the approach of a -stranger, but he never "hissed" like a domestic goose. -Strange to say, although a flock of domestic geese was kept -by a neighbor, he never paid the slightest attention to their -cries and calls.</p> - -<p>After a time I allowed him to roam the fields at will. At -night he returned without fail to his pen. I became much -attached to the bird, so much so that goose shooting became -distasteful to me and I discontinued the practice.</p> - -<p>Last spring I received a letter from a particular friend -requesting me to secure a wild goose for him. For various -reasons I could not well refuse, so I at once made arrangements -for a shooting excursion. In the midst of my preparations -it occurred to me that I might employ Michael as a -decoy to lure the geese within gunshot. Sometimes a domestic -goose is used for this purpose, but seldom with complete -success. The wild goose is an intelligent bird, and -rarely places implicit confidence in his domesticated relative.</p> - -<p>In a secluded bight some miles down the coast I moored a -small raft near shore and tethered Michael to it by a stout -string fastened to his leg. His wings by this time had grown -to the length they possessed before being clipped, and the -injured limb was as strong as ever.</p> - -<p>Michael seemed well pleased with his situation, stretched -his wings a few times as if the salt breath of the ocean -stirred half-buried memories, but on finding himself secured -settled down comfortably on the raft and calmly preened his -gray feathers.</p> - -<p>I carefully screened myself behind a clump of scrub spruce -and placed some spare cartridges conveniently near. I -thought that if a passing flock should approach fairly near I -might be able to fire a successful second shot if the first -proved a miss.</p> - -<p>After a wait of perhaps an hour I heard in the distance a -faint "honk" that quickened the heartbeats. Michael also -heard it, and ceasing to arrange his feathers, raised his head -to listen eagerly. I watched him closely. His neck was -proudly arched and his eyes glistened with excitement as he -stepped as near the edge of the raft as his tether would -allow.</p> - -<p>Presently another "honk" dropped from the distant blue, -and away to the south I could descry a large V-shaped flock -flying fairly low, but altogether too much to the left of my -position to render possible a successful shot.</p> - -<p>It was now time for Michael to make himself heard, and -I was beginning to grow somewhat uneasy at his silence, -when all at once—"honk! honk!"—his joyous invitation sped -up to the ears of the watchful leader of the air travelers.</p> - -<p>"Honk?" queried that wary veteran suspiciously, but at -once he slackened his pace somewhat.</p> - -<p>"Honk! honk!" called Michael reassuringly; "honk! -honk!" he repeated coaxingly.</p> - -<p>For a moment the old leader seemed to hesitate, then -slowly he turned in my direction, and presently the flock was -sailing directly toward me.</p> - -<p>My rifle was ready and in position. I was well screened by -the bushes. The light was admirable. Everything was favorable -to a good shot. In five minutes the flock was within -range. Michael had uttered several invitations during this -time in reply to short interrogations from the leader, but he -had suddenly relapsed into silence. He could see the approaching -birds and was gazing at them with intense eagerness. -My finger was on the trigger, when all at once, to -my amazement, Michael pealed out a strange cry, loud and -shrill, utterly unlike any sound that I had ever heard him -utter.</p> - -<p>It was the note of danger, the alarm signal of the wild -goose. The effect on the approaching flock was electrical. -The leader instantly turned and sped away with arrow-like -swiftness, closely followed by his feathered retinue, leaving -me motionless with surprise.</p> - -<p>When my captive first heard the calls of his comrades he -instinctively answered with notes of invitation. The excitement -of hearing and seeing his own kindred made him forget -the danger that he was leading them into, but as they approached -he seemed all at once to realize the situation. He -knew that red death lurked behind the seemingly innocent -shrubbery close at hand. Perhaps the memory of his own -sharp wound sprang into his mind. At all events, although -he knew that to utter the warning cry would debar himself -from the companionship of his kind, he unhesitatingly gave -that warning with no uncertain sound.</p> - -<p>I laid down my rifle and pulled the raft in to the shore. -Michael was standing at the limit of his tether, gazing after -his retreating friends.</p> - -<p>As the raft moved he sprang into the air, only to be jerked -back by the restraining cord. I untied the string from the -raft and drew the bird toward me. He submitted to my -caresses, but I guessed how earnestly he longed to soar away -after his kindred. He had saved some of them from death -or captivity; they were free to roam the clear air of heaven -while he——</p> - -<p>I quickly untied the string from Michael's leg and gently -pushed the bird from me. Instantly he spread his wings and -sprang upward. With eager neck outstretched he swept -rapidly after the vanishing flock, uttering hearty "honks" of -jubilation.</p> - -<p>I felt that he was worthy of liberty.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h2 class="huge bb"> -<a href="images/i1large.jpg"><img src="images/i1.jpg" width="48" height="23" alt="hand" /></a> -<a name="LATEST_ISSUES" id="LATEST_ISSUES">LATEST ISSUES</a> -<a href="images/i2large.jpg"><img src="images/i2.jpg" width="48" height="23" alt="hand" /></a> -</h2> - -<h3>BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY</h3> - -<p>All kinds of stories that boys like. <b>The biggest and best nickel's worth ever offered. High art colored -covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>338—Working His Way Upward; or, From Footlights to Riches. -By Fred Thorpe.</p> - -<p>339—The Fourteenth Boy; or, How Vin Lovell Won Out. By -Weldon J. Cobb.</p> - -<p>340—Among the Nomads; or, Life in the Open. By the author -of "Through Air to Fame."</p> - -<p>341—Bob, the Acrobat; or, Hustle and Win Out. By Harrie -Irving Hancock.</p> - -<p>342—Through the Earth; or, Jack Nelson's Invention. By Fred -Thorpe.</p> - -<p>343—The Boy Chief; or, Comrades of Camp and Trail. By John -De Morgan.</p> - -<p>344—Smart Alec; or, Bound to Get There. By Weldon J. Cobb.</p> - -<p>345—Climbing Up; or, The Meanest Boy Alive. By Harrie -Irving Hancock.</p> - -<p>346—Comrades Three; or, With Gordon Keith in the South -Seas. By Lawrence White, Jr.</p> - -<p>347—A Young Snake-charmer; or, The Fortunes of Dick Erway. -By Fred Thorpe.</p> - -<p>348—Checked Through to Mars; or, Adventures in Other Worlds. -By Weldon J. Cobb.</p> - -<p>349—Fighting the Cowards; or, Among the Georgia Moonshiners. -By Harrie Irving Hancock.</p> - -<p>350—The Mud River Boys; or, The Fight for Penlow's Mill. By -John L. Douglas.</p> - -<p>351—Grit and Wit; or, Two of a Kind. By Fred Thorpe.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>MOTOR STORIES</h3> - -<p>The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it is. See for yourself. <b>High art -colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.</p> - -<p>17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.</p> - -<p>18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.</p> - -<p>19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.</p> - -<p>20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor -Boys.</p> - -<p>21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.</p> - -<p>22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right.</p> - -<p>23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck That Wins.</p> - -<p>24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune.</p> - -<p>25—Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game.</p> - -<p>26—Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of -Friendship.</p> - -<p>27—Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show.</p> - -<p>28—Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow.</p> - -<p>29—Motor Matt's Make-up; or, Playing a New Rôle.</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<h3>TIP TOP WEEKLY</h3> - -<p>The most popular publication for boys. The adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell can be had only in -this weekly. <b>High art colored covers. Thirty-two pages. Price, 5 cents.</b></p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>687—Dick Merriwell's Colors; or, All For the Blue.</p> - -<p>688—Dick Merriwell, Driver; or, The Race for the Daremore -Cup.</p> - -<p>689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep; or, The Cruise of the <i>Yale</i>.</p> - -<p>690—Dick Merriwell in the North Woods; or, The Timber -Thieves of the Floodwood.</p> - -<p>691—Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy -Nine.</p> - -<p>692—Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and -the "Princess."</p> - -<p>693—Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for -"Dead Injun" Mine.</p> - -<p>694—Dick Merriwell in Utah; or, The Road to "Promised Land."</p> - -<p>695—Dick Merriwell's Bluff; or, The Boy Who Ran Away.</p> - -<p>696—Dick Merriwell in the Saddle; or The Bunch from the -Bar—Z.</p> - -<p>697—Dick Merriwell's Ranch Friends; or, Sport on the Range.</p> - -<p>698—Frank Merriwell at Phantom Lake; or, The Mystery of the -Mad Doctor.</p> - -<p>699—Frank Merriwell's Hold-back; or, The Boys of Bristol.</p> - -<p>700—Frank Merriwell's Lively Lads; or, The Rival Campers.</p></blockquote> - - -<p><i>For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, -5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by</i></p> - -<p class="center large">STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><b class="medium">IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS</b> of our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be -obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to -us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. <b>POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.</b></p></blockquote> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<table summary="form" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"> - -<tr><td colspan="6" class="tdr sig">________________________ <i>190</i></td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="6"><i>STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City.</i><br /> -<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find</i> ___________________________ <i>cents for which send me</i>:</span> -</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td><b>TIP TOP WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>Nos.</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>BUFFALO BILL STORIES,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>Nos.</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td><b>NICK CARTER WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td><b>DIAMOND DICK WEEKLY,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td class="br">______________________</td> -<td><b>MOTOR STORIES,</b></td><td class="tdc"><b>"</b></td><td>______________________</td></tr> - -<tr><td> </td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="6" class="tdc"> -<i>Name</i> ________________ <i>Street</i> ________________ <i>City</i> ________________ <i>State</i> ________________<br /> -</td></tr></table> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><a name="A_GREAT_SUCCESS" id="A_GREAT_SUCCESS">A GREAT SUCCESS!!</a></h2> -<hr class="full" /> -<p class="center huge u">MOTOR STORIES</p> - - -<p>Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which are making -their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and delighted. Surprised at the generous -quantity of reading matter that we are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating -interest of the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly.</p> - -<p>Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are unusual, they are, -however, drawn so true to life that the reader can clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary -boy to experience them.</p> - - -<p class="center"><b><i>HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED:</i></b></p> -<blockquote> -<p>1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.</p> - -<p>2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.</p> - -<p>3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's -Courier.</p> - -<p>4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the -"Comet."</p> - -<p>5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret -Plot.</p> - -<p>6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High -Gear.</p> - -<p>7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.</p> - -<p>8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds -Forward.</p> - -<p>9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.</p> - -<p>10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon -House Plot.</p> - -<p>11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange -Case of Helen Brady.</p> - -<p>12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the -Bahamas.</p> - -<p>13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the -Iron Chest.</p> - -<p>14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the -"Hawk."</p> - -<p>15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise -of the "Grampus."</p> - -<p>16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in -Strange Waters.</p> - -<p>17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don -Carlos.</p> - -<p>18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.</p> - -<p>19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.</p> - -<p>20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory -for the Motor Boys.</p> - -<p>21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.</p> - -<p>22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the -Right.</p> - -<p>23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck that Wins.</p> - -<p>24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame -and Fortune.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 9th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>25—Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing -Game.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 16th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>26—Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing -the Spark of Friendship.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 23d.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>27—Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road -With a Show.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="center small">To be Published on August 30th.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>28—Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's -Vow.</p></blockquote> - - -<p class="large center">PRICE, FIVE CENTS</p> - -<p class="center">At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of the price.</p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<table summary="scaffold" style="width: 50%;"> -<tr class="medium"><td style="width: 33%">STREET & SMITH,</td><td class="tdc"><i>Publishers</i>,</td><td class="tdr" style="width: 33%">NEW YORK</td></tr> -</table> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="transnote"> -<h2><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber's Notes:</a></h2> - - -<p>Added table of contents.</p> - -<p>Images may be clicked to view larger versions.</p> - -<p>Inconsistent hyphenation ("getaway" vs. "get-away") retained from original.</p> - -<p>Page 3, corrected typo "CHAPER" in "CHAPTER II" heading.</p> - -<p>Page 4, added missing quote after "I'll go and talk with him. Come on, Matt, you and -McGlory."</p> - -<p>Page 11, corrected "interposel" to "interposed" after "Don't be too sure of that."</p> - -<p>Page 15, corrected typo "aëoplane" in "repaired aëroplane."</p> - -<p>Page 16, corrected "fo" to "to" in "Burton rode up to."</p> - -<p>Page 17, changed ? to ! in "Don't talk to me!"</p> - -<p>Page 24, removed extra quote after "trick or two" and before "Well." -Corrected "Burton" to "Carter" in "Carter was thoughtful for a few moments."</p> - -<p>Page 25, corrected single to double quote after "You took -that for granted, Carter."</p> - -<p>Page 28, added missing accent to Aëroplane in contents of next issue (twice).</p> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Motor Matt's Short Circuit, by Stanley R. 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