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