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1. Rob's Workshop
When Rob became interested in electricity his clear-headed
father considered the boy's fancy to be instructive as well
as amusing; so he heartily encouraged his son, and Rob never
lacked batteries, motors or supplies of any sort that his
experiments might require.
He fitted up the little back room in the attic as his workshop,
and from thence a net-work of wires soon ran throughout the
house. Not only had every outside door its electric bell,
but every window was fitted with a burglar alarm; moreover
no one could cross the threshold of any interior room without
registering the fact in Rob's workshop. The gas was lighted
by an electric fob; a chime, connected with an erratic clock
in the boy's room, woke the servants at all hours of the night
and caused the cook to give warning; a bell rang whenever
the postman dropped a letter into the box; there were bells,
bells, bells everywhere, ringing at the right time, the wrong
time and all the time. And there were telephones in the different
rooms, too, through which Rob could call up the different
members of the family just when they did not wish to be disturbed.
His mother and sisters soon came to vote the boy's scientific
craze a nuisance; but his father was delighted with these
evidences of Rob's skill as an electrician, and insisted that
he be allowed perfect freedom in carrying out his ideas.
"Electricity," said the old gentleman, sagely,
"is destined to become the motive power of the world.
The future advance of civilization will be along electrical
lines. Our boy may become a great inventor and astonish the
world with his wonderful creations."
"And in the meantime," said the mother, despairingly,
"we shall all be electrocuted, or the house burned down
by crossed wires, or we shall be blown into eternity by an
explosion of chemicals!"
"Nonsense!" ejaculated the proud father. "Rob's
storage batteries are not powerful enough to electrocute one
or set the house on fire. Do give the boy a chance, Belinda."
"And the pranks are so humiliating," continued
the lady. "When the minister called yesterday and rang
the bell a big card appeared on the front door on which was
printed the words: 'Busy; Call Again.' Fortunately Helen saw
him and let him in, but when I reproved Robert for the act
he said he was just trying the sign to see if it would work."
"Exactly! The boy is an inventor already. I shall have
one of those cards attached to the door of my private office
at once. I tell you, Belinda, our son will be a great man
one of these days," said Mr. Joslyn, walking up and down
with pompous strides and almost bursting with the pride he
took in his young hopeful.
Mrs. Joslyn sighed. She knew remonstrance was useless so
long as her husband encouraged the boy, and that she would
be wise to bear her cross with fortitude.
Rob also knew his mother's protests would be of no avail;
so he continued to revel in electrical processes of all sorts,
using the house as an experimental station to test the powers
of his productions.
It was in his own room, however,--his "workshop"--that
he especially delighted. For not only was it the center of
all his numerous "lines" throughout the house, but
he had rigged up therein a wonderful array of devices for
his own amusement. A trolley-car moved around a circular track
and stopped regularly at all stations; an engine and train
of cars moved jerkily up and down a steep grade and through
a tunnel; a windmill was busily pumping water from the dishpan
into the copper skillet; a sawmill was in full operation and
a host of mechanical blacksmiths, scissors-grinders, carpenters,
wood-choppers and millers were connected with a motor which
kept them working away at their trades in awkward but persevering
fashion.
The room was crossed and recrossed with wires. They crept
up the walls, lined the floor, made a grille of the ceiling
and would catch an unwary visitor under the chin or above
the ankle just when he least expected it. Yet visitors were
forbidden in so crowded a room, and even his father declined
to go farther than the doorway. As for Rob, he thought he
knew all about the wires, and what each one was for; but they
puzzled even him, at times, and he was often perplexed to
know how to utilize them all.
One day when he had locked himself in to avoid interruption
while he planned the electrical illumination of a gorgeous
pasteboard palace, he really became confused over the network
of wires. He had a "switchboard," to be sure, where
he could make and break connections as he chose; but the wires
had somehow become mixed, and he could not tell what combinations
to use to throw the power on to his miniature electric lights.
So he experimented in a rather haphazard fashion, connecting
this and that wire blindly and by guesswork, in the hope that
he would strike the right combination. Then he thought the
combination might be right and there was a lack of power;
so he added other lines of wire to his connections, and still
others, until he had employed almost every wire in the room.
Yet it would not work; and after pausing a moment to try
to think what was wrong he went at it again, putting this
and that line into connection, adding another here and another
there, until suddenly, as he made a last change, a quick flash
of light almost blinded him, and the switch-board crackled
ominously, as if struggling to carry a powerful current.
Rob covered his face at the flash, but finding himself unhurt
he took away his hands and with blinking eyes attempted to
look at a wonderful radiance which seemed to fill the room,
making it many times brighter than the brightest day.
Although at first completely dazzled, he peered before him
until he discovered that the light was concentrated near one
spot, from which all the glorious rays seemed to scintillate.
He closed his eyes a moment to rest them; then re-opening
them and shading them somewhat with his hands, he made out
the form of a curious Being standing with majesty and composure
in the center of the magnificent radiance and looking down
upon him!
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2. The Demon of Electricity
Rob was a courageous boy, but a thrill of fear passed over
him in spite of his bravest endeavor as he gazed upon the
wondrous apparition that confronted him. For several moments
he sat as if turned to stone, so motionless was he; but his
eyes were nevertheless fastened upon the Being and devouring
every detail of his appearance.
And how strange an appearance he presented!
His jacket was a wavering mass of white light, edged with
braid of red flames that shot little tongues in all directions.
The buttons blazed in golden fire. His trousers had a bluish,
incandescent color, with glowing stripes of crimson braid.
His vest was gorgeous with all the colors of the rainbow blended
into a flashing, resplendent mass. In feature he was most
majestic, and his eyes held the soft but penetrating brilliance
of electric lights.
It was hard to meet the gaze of those searching eyes, but
Rob did it, and at once the splendid apparition bowed and
said in a low, clear voice:
"I am here."
"I know that," answered the boy, trembling, "but
WHY are you here?"
"Because you have touched the Master Key of Electricity,
and I must obey the laws of nature that compel me to respond
to your summons."
"I--I didn't know I touched the Master Key," faltered
the boy.
"I understand that. You did it unconsciously. No one
in the world has ever done it before, for Nature has hitherto
kept the secret safe locked within her bosom."
Rob took time to wonder at this statement.
"Then who are you?" he inquired, at length.
"The Demon of Electricity," was the solemn answer.
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Rob, "a demon!"
"Certainly. I am, in truth, the Slave of the Master
Key, and am forced to obey the commands of any one who is
wise and brave enough--or, as in your own case, fortunate
and fool-hardy enough--to touch it."
"I--I've never guessed there was such a thing as a Master
Key, or--or a Demon of Electricity, and--and I'm awfully sorry
I--I called you up!" stammered the boy, abashed by the
imposing appearance of his companion.
The Demon actually smiled at this speech,--a smile that was
almost reassuring.
"I am not sorry," he said, in kindlier tone, "for
it is not much pleasure waiting century after century for
some one to command my services. I have often thought my existence
uncalled for, since you Earth people are so stupid and ignorant
that you seem unlikely ever to master the secret of electrical
power."
"Oh, we have some great masters among us!" cried
Rob, rather nettled at this statement. "Now, there's
Edison--"
"Edison!" exclaimed the Demon, with a faint sneer;
"what does he know?" "Lots of things,"
declared the boy. "He's invented no end of wonderful
electrical things."
"You are wrong to call them wonderful," replied
the Demon, lightly. "He really knows little more than
yourself about the laws that control electricity. His inventions
are trifling things in comparison with the really wonderful
results to be obtained by one who would actually know how
to direct the electric powers instead of groping blindly after
insignificant effects. Why, I've stood for months by Edison's
elbow, hoping and longing for him to touch the Master Key;
but I can see plainly he will never accomplish it."
"Then there's Tesla," said the boy.
The Demon laughed.
"There is Tesla, to be sure," he said. "But
what of him?"
"Why, he's discovered a powerful light," the Demon
gave an amused chuckle, "and he's in communication with
the people in Mars."
"What people?"
"Why, the people who live there."
"There are none."
This great statement almost took Rob's breath away, and caused
him to stare hard at his visitor.
"It's generally thought," he resumed, in an annoyed
tone, "that Mars has inhabitants who are far in advance
of ourselves in civilization. Many scientific men think the
people of Mars have been trying to signal us for years, only
we don't understand their signals. And great novelists have
written about the Martians and their wonderful
civilization, and--"
"And they all know as much about that little planet
as you do yourself," interrupted the Demon, impatiently.
"The trouble with you Earth people is that you delight
in guessing about what you can not know. Now I happen to know
all about Mars, because I can traverse all space and have
had ample leisure to investigate the different planets. Mars
is not peopled at all, nor is any other of the planets you
recognize in the heavens. Some contain low orders of beasts,
to be sure, but Earth alone has an intelligent, thinking,
reasoning population, and your scientists and novelists would
do better trying to comprehend their own planet than in groping
through space to unravel the mysteries of barren and unimportant
worlds."
Rob listened to this with surprise and disappointment; but
he reflected that the Demon ought to know what he was talking
about, so he did not venture to contradict him.
"It is really astonishing," continued the Apparition,
"how little you people have learned about electricity.
It is an Earth element that has existed since the Earth itself
was formed, and if you but understood its proper use humanity
would be marvelously benefited in many ways."
"We are, already," protested Rob; "our discoveries
in electricity have enabled us to live much more conveniently."
"Then imagine your condition were you able fully to
control this great element," replied the other, gravely.
"The weaknesses and privations of mankind would be converted
into power and luxury."
"That's true, Mr.--Mr.--Demon," said the boy. "Excuse
me if I don't get your name right, but I understood you to
say you are a demon."
"Certainly. The Demon of Electricity."
"But electricity is a good thing, you know, and--and--"
"Well?"
"I've always understood that demons were bad things,"
added Rob, boldly.
"Not necessarily," returned his visitor. "If
you will take the trouble to consult your dictionary, you
will find that demons may be either good or bad, like any
other class of beings. Originally all demons were good, yet
of late years people have come to consider all demons evil.
I do not know why. Should you read Hesiod you will find he
says:
'Soon was a world of holy demons made, Aerial spirits, by
great Jove designed To be on earth the guardians of mankind.'"
"But Jove was himself a myth," objected Rob, who
had been studying mythology.
The Demon shrugged his shoulders.
"Then take the words of Mr. Shakespeare, to whom you
all defer," he replied. "Do you not remember that
he says:
'Thy demon (that's thy spirit which keeps thee) is Noble,
courageous, high, unmatchable.'"
"Oh, if Shakespeare says it, that's all right,"
answered the boy. "But it seems you're more like a genius,
for you answer the summons of the Master Key of Electricity
in the same way Aladdin's genius answered the rubbing of the
lamp."
"To be sure. A demon is also a genius; and a genius
is a demon," said the Being. "What matters a name?
I am here to do your bidding."
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3. The Three Gifts
Familiarity with any great thing removes our awe of it. The
great general is only terrible to the enemy; the great poet
is frequently scolded by his wife; the children of the great
statesman clamber about his knees with perfect trust and impunity;
the great actor who is called before the curtain by admiring
audiences is often waylaid at the stage door by his creditors.
So Rob, having conversed for a time with the glorious Demon
of Electricity, began to regard him with more composure and
less awe, as his eyes grew more and more accustomed to the
splendor that at first had well-nigh blinded them.
When the Demon announced himself ready to do the boy's bidding,
he frankly replied:
"I am no skilled electrician, as you very well know.
My calling you here was an accident. So I don't know how to
command you, nor what to ask you to do."
"But I must not take advantage of your ignorance,"
answered the Demon. "Also, I am quite anxious to utilize
this opportunity to show the world what a powerful element
electricity really is. So permit me to inform you that, having
struck the Master Key, you are at liberty to demand from me
three gifts each week for three successive weeks. These gifts,
provided they are within the scope of electricity, I will
grant."
Rob shook his head regretfully.
"If I were a great electrician I should know what to
ask," he said. "But I am too ignorant to take advantage
of your kind offer."
"Then," replied the Demon, "I will myself
suggest the gifts, and they will be of such a character that
the Earth people will learn the possibilities that lie before
them and be encouraged to work more intelligently and to persevere
in mastering those natural and simple laws which control electricity.
For one of the greatest errors they now labor under is that
electricity is complicated and hard to understand. It is really
the simplest Earth element, lying within easy reach of any
one who stretches out his hand to grasp and control its powers."
Rob yawned, for he thought the Demon's speeches were growing
rather tiresome. Perhaps the genius noticed this rudeness,
for he continued:
"I regret, of course, that you are a boy instead of
a grown man, for it will appear singular to your friends that
so thoughtless a youth should seemingly have mastered the
secrets that have baffled your most learned scientists. But
that can not be helped, and presently you will become, through
my aid, the most powerful and wonderful personage in all the
world."
"Thank you," said Rob, meekly. "It'll be no
end of fun."
"Fun!" echoed the Demon, scornfully. "But
never mind; I must use the material Fate has provided for
me, and make the best of it."
"What will you give me first?" asked the boy, eagerly.
"That requires some thought," returned the Demon,
and paused for several moments, while Rob feasted his eyes
upon the gorgeous rays of color that flashed and vibrated
in every direction and surrounded the figure of his visitor
with an intense glow that resembled a halo.
Then the Demon raised his head and said:
"The thing most necessary to man is food to nourish
his body. He passes a considerable part of his life in the
struggle to procure food, to prepare it properly, and in the
act of eating. This is not right. Your body can not be very
valuable to you if all your time is required to feed it. I
shall, therefore, present you, as my first gift, this box
of tablets. Within each tablet are stored certain elements
of electricity which are capable of nourishing a human body
for a full day. All you need do is to toss one into your mouth
each day and swallow it. It will nourish you, satisfy your
hunger and build up your health and strength. The ordinary
food of mankind is more or less injurious; this is entirely
beneficial. Moreover, you may carry enough tablets in your
pocket to last for months."
Here he presented Rob the silver box of tablets, and the
boy, somewhat nervously, thanked him for the gift.
"The next requirement of man," continued the Demon,
"is defense from his enemies. I notice with sorrow that
men frequently have wars and kill one another. Also, even
in civilized communities, man is in constant danger from highwaymen,
cranks and policemen. To defend himself he uses heavy and
dangerous guns, with which to destroy his enemies. This is
wrong. He has no right to take away what he can not bestow;
to destroy what he can not create. To kill a fellow-creature
is a horrid crime, even if done in self-defense. Therefore,
my second
gift to you is this little tube. You may carry it within your
pocket. Whenever an enemy threatens you, be it man or beast,
simply point the tube and press this button in the handle.
An electric current will instantly be directed upon your foe,
rendering him wholly unconscious for the period of one hour.
During that time you will have opportunity to escape. As for
your enemy, after regaining consciousness he will suffer no
inconvenience from the encounter beyond a slight headache."
"That's fine!" said Rob, as he took the tube. It
was scarcely six inches long, and hollow at one end.
"The busy lives of men," proceeded the Demon, "require
them to move about and travel in all directions. Yet to assist
them there are only such crude and awkward machines as electric
trolleys, cable cars, steam railways and automobiles. These
crawl slowly over the uneven surface of the earth and frequently
get out of order. It has grieved me that men have not yet
discovered what even birds know: that the atmosphere offers
them swift and easy means of traveling from one part of the
earth's surface to another."
"Some people have tried to build airships," remarked
Rob.
"So they have; great, unwieldy machines which offer
so much resistance to the air that they are quite useless.
A big machine is not needed to carry one through the air.
There are forces in nature which may be readily used for such
purpose. Tell me, what holds you to the Earth, and makes a
stone fall to the ground?"
"Attraction of gravitation," said Rob, promptly.
"Exactly. That is one force I refer to," said the
Demon. "The force of repulsion, which is little known,
but just as powerful, is another that mankind may direct.
Then there are the Polar electric forces, attracting objects
toward the north or south poles. You have guessed something
of this by the use of the compass, or electric needle. Opposed
to these is centrifugal electric force, drawing objects from
east to west, or in the opposite direction. This force is
created by the whirl of the earth upon its axis, and is easily
utilized, although your scientific men have as yet paid little
attention to it.
"These forces, operating in all directions, absolute
and immutable, are at the disposal of mankind. They will carry
you through the atmosphere wherever and whenever you choose.
That is, if you know how to control them. Now, here is a machine
I have myself perfected."
The Demon drew from his pocket something that resembled an
open-faced watch, having a narrow, flexible band attached
to it.
"When you wish to travel," said he, "attach
this little machine to your left wrist by means of the band.
It is very light and will not be in your way. On this dial
are points marked 'up' and 'down' as well as a perfect compass.
When you desire to rise into the air set the indicator to
the word 'up,' using a finger of your right hand to turn it.
When you have risen as high as you wish, set the indicator
to the point of the compass you want to follow and you will
be carried by the proper electric force in that direction.
To descend, set the indicator to the word 'down.' Do you understand?"
"Perfectly!" cried Rob, taking the machine from
the Demon with unfeigned delight. "This is really wonderful,
and I'm awfully obliged to you!"
"Don't mention it," returned the Demon, dryly.
"These three gifts you may amuse yourself with for the
next week. It seems hard to entrust such great scientific
discoveries to the discretion of a mere boy; but they are
quite harmless, so if you exercise proper care you can not
get into trouble through their possession. And who knows what
benefits to humanity may result? One week from to-day, at
this hour, I will again appear to you, at which time you shall
receive the second series of electrical gifts."
"I'm not sure," said Rob, "that I shall be
able again to make the connections that will strike the Master
Key."
"Probably not," answered the Demon. "Could
you accomplish that, you might command my services forever.
But, having once succeeded, you are entitled to the nine gifts--three
each week for three weeks--so you have no need to call me
to do my duty. I shall appear of my own accord."
"Thank you," murmured the boy.
The Demon bowed and spread his hands in the form of a semi-circle.
An instant later there was a blinding flash, and when Rob
recovered from it and opened his eyes the Demon of Electricity
had disappeared.
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4. Testing the Instruments
There is little doubt that this strange experience befallen
a grown man he would have been stricken with a fit of trembling
or a sense of apprehension, or even fear, at the thought of
having faced the terrible Demon of Electricity, of having
struck the Master Key of the world's greatest natural forces,
and finding himself possessed of three such wonderful and
useful gifts. But a boy takes everything as a matter of course.
As the tree of knowledge sprouts and expands within him, shooting
out leaf after leaf of practical experience, the
succession of surprises dulls his faculty of wonderment. It
takes a great deal to startle a boy.
Rob was full of delight at his unexpected good fortune; but
he did not stop to consider that there was anything remarkably
queer or uncanny in the manner in which it had come to him.
His chief sensation was one of pride. He would now be able
to surprise those who had made fun of his electrical craze
and force them to respect his marvelous powers. He decided
to say nothing about the Demon or the accidental striking
of the Master Key. In exhibiting to his friends the electrical
devices he had acquired it would be "no end of fun"
to mark their amazement and leave them to guess how he performed
his feats.
So he put his treasures into his pocket, locked his workshop
and went downstairs to his room to prepare for dinner.
While brushing his hair he remembered it was no longer necessary
for him to eat ordinary food. He was feeling quite hungry
at that moment, for he had a boy's ravenous appetite; but,
taking the silver box from his pocket, he swallowed a tablet
and at once felt his hunger as fully satisfied as if he had
partaken of a hearty meal, while at the same time he experienced
an exhilarating glow throughout his body and a clearness of
brain and gaiety of spirits which filled him with intense
gratification.
Still, he entered the dining-room when the bell rang and
found his father and mother and sisters already assembled
there.
"Where have you been all day, Robert?" inquired
his mother.
"No need to ask," said Mr. Joslyn, with a laugh.
"Fussing over electricity, I'll bet a cookie!"
"I do wish," said the mother, fretfully, "that
he would get over that mania. It unfits him for anything else."
"Precisely," returned her husband, dishing the
soup; "but it fits him for a great career when he becomes
a man. Why shouldn't he spend his summer vacation in pursuit
of useful knowledge instead of romping around like ordinary
boys?"
"No soup, thank you," said Rob.
"What!" exclaimed his father, looking at him in
surprise, "it's your favorite soup."
"I know," said Rob, quietly, "but I don't
want any."
"Are you ill, Robert?" asked his mother.
"Never felt better in my life," answered Rob, truthfully.
Yet Mrs. Joslyn looked worried, and when Rob refused the
roast, she was really shocked.
"Let me feel your pulse, my poor boy!" she commanded,
and wondered to find it so regular.
In fact, Rob's action surprised them all. He sat calmly throughout
the meal, eating nothing, but apparently in good health and
spirits, while even his sisters regarded him with troubled
countenances.
"He's worked too hard, I guess," said Mr. Joslyn,
shaking his head sadly.
"Oh, no; I haven't," protested Rob; "but I've
decided not to eat anything, hereafter. It's a bad habit,
and does more harm than good."
"Wait till breakfast," said sister Helen, with
a laugh; "you'll be hungry enough by that time."
However, the boy had no desire for food at breakfast time,
either, as the tablet sufficed for an entire day. So he renewed
the anxiety of the family by refusing to join them at the
table.
"If this goes on," Mr. Joslyn said to his son,
when breakfast was finished, "I shall be obliged to send
you away for your health."
"I think of making a trip this morning," said Rob,
carelessly.
"Where to?"
"Oh, I may go to Boston, or take a run over to Cuba
or Jamaica," replied the boy.
"But you can not go so far by yourself," declared
his father; "and there is no one to go with you, just
now. Nor can I spare the money at present for so expensive
a trip."
"Oh, it won't cost anything," replied Rob, with
a smile.
Mr. Joslyn looked upon him gravely and sighed. Mrs. Joslyn
bent over her son with tears in her eyes and said:
"This electrical nonsense has affected your mind, dear.
You must promise me to keep away from that horrid workshop
for a time."
"I won't enter it for a week," he answered. "But
you needn't worry about me. I haven't been experimenting with
electricity all this time for nothing, I can tell you. As
for my health, I'm as well and strong as any boy need be,
and there's nothing wrong with my head, either. Common folks
always think great men are crazy, but Edison and Tesla and
I don't pay any attention to that. We've got our discoveries
to look after. Now, as I said, I'm going for a little trip
in the interests of science. I may be back to-night, or I
may be gone several days. Anyhow, I'll be back in a week,
and you mustn't worry about me a single minute."
"How are you going?" inquired his father, in the
gentle, soothing tone persons use in addressing maniacs.
"Through the air," said Rob.
His father groaned.
"Where's your balloon?" inquired sister Mabel,
sarcastically.
"I don't need a balloon," returned the boy. "That's
a clumsy way of traveling, at best. I shall go by electric
propulsion."
"Good gracious!" cried Mr. Joslyn, and the mother
murmured: "My poor boy! my poor boy!"
"As you are my nearest relatives," continued Rob,
not noticing these exclamations, "I will allow you to
come into the back yard and see me start. You will then understand
something of my electrical powers."
They followed him at once, although with unbelieving faces,
and on the way Rob clasped the little machine to his left
wrist, so that his coat sleeve nearly hid it.
When they reached the lawn at the back of the house Rob kissed
them all good-by, much to his sisters' amusement, and turned
the indicator of the little instrument to the word "up."
Immediately he began to rise into the air.
"Don't worry about me!" he called down to them.
"Good-by!"
Mrs. Joslyn, with a scream of terror, hid her face in her
hands.
"He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded father,
tipping back his head to look after his departing son.
"Come back! Come back!" shouted the girls to the
soaring adventurer.
"I will--some day!" was the far-away answer.
Having risen high enough to pass over the tallest tree or
steeple, Rob put the indicator to the east of the compass-dial
and at once began moving rapidly in that direction.
The sensation was delightful. He rode as gently as a feather
floats, without any exertion at all on his own part; yet he
moved so swiftly that he easily distanced a railway train
that was speeding in the same direction.
"This is great!" reflected the youth. "Here
I am, traveling in fine style, without a penny to pay any
one! And I've enough food to last me a month in my coat pocket.
This electricity is the proper stuff, after all! And the Demon's
a trump, and no mistake. Whee-ee! How small everything looks
down below there. The people are bugs, and the houses are
soap-boxes, and the trees are like clumps of grass. I seem
to be passing over a town. Guess I'll drop down a bit, and
take in the sights."
He pointed the indicator to the word "down," and
at once began dropping through the air. He experienced the
sensation one feels while descending in an elevator. When
he reached a point just above the town he put the indicator
to the zero mark and remained stationary, while he examined
the place. But there was nothing to interest him, particularly;
so after a brief survey he once more ascended and continued
his journey toward the east.
At about two o'clock in the afternoon he reached the city
of Boston, and alighting unobserved in a quiet street he walked
around for several hours enjoying the sights and wondering
what people would think of him if they but knew his remarkable
powers. But as he looked just like any other boy no one noticed
him in any way.
It was nearly evening, and Rob had wandered down by the wharves
to look at the shipping, when his attention was called to
an ugly looking bull dog, which ran toward him and began barking
ferociously.
"Get out!" said the boy, carelessly, and made a
kick at the brute.
The dog uttered a fierce growl and sprang upon him with bared
teeth and flashing red eyes. Instantly Rob drew the electric
tube from his pocket, pointed it at the dog and pressed the
button. Almost at the same moment the dog gave a yelp, rolled
over once or twice and lay still.
"I guess that'll settle him," laughed the boy;
but just then he heard an angry shout, and looking around
saw a policeman running toward him.
"Kill me dog, will ye--eh?" yelled the officer;
"well, I'll just run ye in for that same, an' ye'll spend
the night in the lockup!" And on he came, with drawn
club in one hand and a big revolver in the other.
"You'll have to catch me first," said Rob, still
laughing, and to the amazement of the policeman he began rising
straight into the air.
"Come down here! Come down, or I'll shoot!" shouted
the fellow, flourishing his revolver.
Rob was afraid he would; so, to avoid accidents, he pointed
the tube at him and pressed the button. The red-whiskered
policeman keeled over quite gracefully and fell across the
body of the dog, while Rob continued to mount upward until
he was out of sight of those in the streets.
"That was a narrow escape," he thought, breathing
more freely. "I hated to paralyze that policeman, but
he might have sent a bullet after me. Anyhow, he'll be all
right again in an hour, so I needn't worry."
It was beginning to grow dark, and he wondered what he should
do next. Had he possessed any money he would have descended
to the town and taken a bed at a hotel, but he had left home
without a single penny.
Fortunately the nights were warm at this season, so he determined
to travel all night, that he might reach by morning some place
he had never before visited.
Cuba had always interested him, and he judged it ought to
lie in a southeasterly direction from Boston. So he set the
indicator to that point and began gliding swiftly toward the
southeast.
He now remembered that it was twenty-four hours since he
had eaten the first electrical tablet. As he rode through
the air he consumed another. All hunger at once left him,
while he felt the same invigorating sensations as before.
After a time the moon came out, and Rob amused himself gazing
at the countless stars in the sky and wondering if the Demon
was right when he said the world was the most important of
all the planets.
But presently he grew sleepy, and before he realized what
was happening he had fallen into a sound and peaceful slumber,
while the indicator still pointed to the southeast and he
continued to move rapidly through the cool night air.
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5. The Cannibal Island
Doubtless the adventures of the day had tired Rob, for he
slept throughout the night as comfortably as if he had been
within his own room, lying upon his own bed. When, at last,
he opened his eyes and gazed sleepily about him, he found
himself over a great body of water, moving along with considerable
speed.
"It's the ocean, of course," he said to himself.
"I haven't reached Cuba yet."
It is to be regretted that Rob's knowledge of geography was
so superficial; for, as he had intended to reach Cuba, he
should have taken a course almost southwest from Boston, instead
of southeast. The sad result of his ignorance you will presently
learn, for during the entire day he continued to travel over
a boundless waste of ocean, without the sight of even an island
to cheer him.
The sun shone so hot that he regretted he had not brought
an umbrella. But he wore a wide-brimmed straw hat, which protected
him somewhat, and he finally discovered that by rising to
a considerable distance above the ocean he avoided the reflection
of the sun upon the water and also came with the current of
good breeze.
Of course he dared no stop, for there was no place to land;
so he calmly continued his journey.
"It may be I've missed Cuba," he thought; "but
I can not change my course now, for if I did I might get lost,
and never be able to find land again. If I keep on as I am
I shall be sure to reach land of some sort, in time, and when
I wish to return home I can set the indicator to the northwest
and that will take me directly back to Boston."
This was good reasoning, but the rash youth had no idea he
was speeding over the ocean, or that he was destined to arrive
shortly at the barbarous island of Brava, off the coast of
Africa. Yet such was the case; just as the sun sank over the
edge of the waves he saw, to his great relief, a large island
directly in his path.
He dropped to a lower position in the air, and when he judged
himself to be over the center of the island he turned the
indicator to zero and stopped short.
The country was beautifully wooded, while pretty brooks sparkled
through the rich green foliage of the trees. The island sloped
upwards from the sea-coast in all directions, rising to a
hill that was almost a mountain in the center. There were
two open spaces, one on each side of the island, and Rob saw
that these spaces were
occupied by queer-looking huts built from brushwood and branches
of trees. This showed that the island was inhabited, but as
Rob had no idea what island it was he wisely determined not
to meet the natives until he had discovered what they were
like and whether they were disposed to be friendly.
So he moved over the hill, the top of which proved to be
a flat, grass-covered plateau about fifty feet in diameter.
Finding it could not be easily reached from below, on account
of its steep sides, and contained neither men nor animals,
he alighted on the hill-top and touched his feet to the earth
for the first time in twenty-four hours.
The ride through the air had not tired him in the least;
in fact, he felt as fresh and vigorous as if he had been resting
throughout the journey. As he walked upon the soft grass of
the plateau he felt elated, and compared himself to the explorers
of ancient days; for it was evident that civilization had
not yet reached this delightful spot.
There was scarcely any twilight in this tropical climate
and it grew dark quickly. Within a few minutes the entire
island, save where he stood, became dim and indistinct. He
ate his daily tablet, and after watching the red glow fade
in the western sky and the gray shadows of night settle around
him he stretched himself comfortably upon the grass and went
to sleep.
The events of the day must have deepened his slumber, for
when he awoke the sun was shining almost directly over him,
showing that the day was well advanced. He stood up, rubbed
the sleep from his eyes and decided he would like a drink
of water. From where he stood he could see several little
brooks following winding paths through the forest, so he settled
upon one that seemed farthest from the brushwood villages,
and turning his indicator in that direction soon floated through
the air to a sheltered spot upon the bank.
Kneeling down, he enjoyed a long, refreshing drink of the
clear water, but as he started to regain his feet a coil of
rope was suddenly thrown about him, pinning his arms to his
sides and rendering him absolutely helpless.
At the same time his ears were saluted with a wild chattering
in an unknown tongue, and he found himself surrounded by a
group of natives of hideous appearance. They were nearly naked,
and bore spears and heavy clubs as their only weapons. Their
hair was long, curly, and thick as bushes, and through their
noses and ears were stuck the teeth of sharks and curious
metal ornaments.
These creatures had stolen upon Rob so quietly that he had
not heard a sound, but now they jabbered loudly, as if much
excited.
Finally one fat and somewhat aged native, who seemed to be
a chief, came close to Rob and said, in broken English:
"How get here?"
"I flew," said the boy, with a grin.
The chief shook his head, saying:
"No boat come. How white man come?"
"Through the air," replied Rob, who was rather
flattered at being called a "man."
The chief looked into the air with a puzzled expression and
shook his head again.
"White man lie," he said calmly.
Then he held further conversation with his fellows, after
which he turned to Rob and announced:
"Me see white man many times. Come in big boats. White
man all bad. Make kill with bang-sticks. We kill white man
with club. Then we eat white man. Dead white man good. Live
white man bad!"
This did not please Rob at all. The idea of being eaten by
savages had never occurred to him as a sequel to his adventures.
So he said rather anxiously to the chief.
"Look here, old fellow; do you want to die?"
"Me no die. You die," was the reply.
"You'll die, too, if you eat me," said Rob. "I'm
full of poison."
"Poison? Don't know poison," returned the chief,
much perplexed to understand him.
"Well, poison will make you sick--awful sick. Then you'll
die. I'm full of it; eat it every day for breakfast. It don't
hurt white men, you see, but it kills black men quicker than
the bang-stick."
The chief listened to this statement carefully, but only
understood it in part. After a moment's reflection he declared:
"White man lie. Lie all time. Me eat plenty white man.
Never get sick; never die." Then he added, with renewed
cheerfulness: "Me eat you, too!"
Before Rob could think of a further protest, his captors
caught up the end of the rope and led him away through the
forest. He was tightly bound, and one strand of rope ran across
the machine on his wrist and pressed it into his flesh until
the pain was severe. But he resolved to be brave, whatever
happened, so he stumbled along after the savages without a
word.
After a brief journey they came to a village, where Rob was
thrust into a brushwood hut and thrown upon the ground, still
tightly bound.
"We light fire," said the chief. "Then kill
little white man. Then eat him."
With this comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone
to think the matter over.
"This is tough," reflected the boy, with a groan.
"I never expected to feed cannibals. Wish I was at home
with mother and dad and the girls. Wish I'd never seen the
Demon of Electricity and his wonderful inventions. I was happy
enough before I struck that awful Master Key. And now I'll
be eaten--with salt and pepper, probably. Wonder if there'll
be any gravy. Perhaps they'll boil me, with biscuits, as mother
does chickens. Oh-h-h-h-h! It's just awful!"
In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware
that something was hurting his back. After rolling over he
found that he had been lying upon a sharp stone that stuck
out of the earth. This gave him an idea. He rolled upon the
stone again and began rubbing the rope that bound him against
the sharp edge.
Outside he could hear the crackling of fagots and the roar
of a newly-kindled fire, so he knew he had no time to spare.
He wriggled and pushed his body right and left, right and
left, sawing away at the rope, until the strain and exertion
started the perspiration from every pore.
At length the rope parted, and hastily uncoiling it from
his body Rob stood up and rubbed his benumbed muscles and
tried to regain his lost breath. He had not freed himself
a moment too soon, he found, for hearing a grunt of surprise
behind him he turned around and saw a native standing in the
door of the hut.
Rob laughed, for he was not a bit afraid of the blacks now.
As the native made a rush toward him the boy drew the electric
tube from his pocket, pointed it at the foe, and pressed the
button. The fellow sank to the earth without even a groan,
and lay still.
Then another black entered, followed by the fat chief. When
they saw Rob at liberty, and their comrade lying apparently
dead, the chief cried out in surprise, using some expressive
words in his own language.
"If it's just the same to you, old chap," said
Rob, coolly, "I won't be eaten to-day. You can make a
pie of that fellow on the ground."
"No! We eat you," cried the chief, angrily. "You
cut rope, but no get away; no boat!"
"I don't need a boat, thank you," said the boy;
and then, as the other native sprang forward, he pointed the
tube and laid him out beside his first victim.
At this act the chief stood an instant in amazed uncertainty.
Then he turned and rushed from the hut.
Laughing with amusement at the waddling, fat figure, Rob
followed the chief and found himself standing almost in the
center of the native village. A big fire was blazing merrily
and the blacks were busy making preparations for a grand feast.
Rob was quickly surrounded by a crowd of the villagers, who
chattered fiercely and made threatening motions in his direction;
but as the chief cried out to them a warning in the native
tongue they kept a respectful distance and contented themselves
with brandishing their spears and clubs.
"If any of your fellows come nearer," Rob said
to the fat chief, "I'll knock 'em over."
"What you make do?" asked the chief, nervously.
"Watch sharp, and you'll see," answered Rob. Then
he made a mocking bow to the circle and continued: "I'm
pleased to have met you fellows, and proud to think you like
me well enough to want to eat me; but I'm in a bit of a hurry
to-day, so I can't stop to be digested." After which,
as the crowd broke into a hum of surprise, he added: "Good-day,
black folks!" and quickly turned the indicator of his
traveling machine to the word "up."
Slowly he rose into the air, until his heels were just above
the gaping blacks; but there he stopped short. With a thrill
of fear he glanced at the indicator. It was pointed properly,
and he knew at once that something was wrong with the delicate
mechanism that controlled it. Probably the pressure of the
rope across its face, when he was bound, had put it out of
order. There he was, seven feet in the air, but without the
power to rise an inch farther.
This short flight, however, had greatly astonished the blacks,
who, seeing his body suspended in mid-air, immediately hailed
him as a god, and prostrated themselves upon the ground before
him.
The fat chief had seen something of white men in his youth,
and had learned to mistrust them. So, while he remained as
prostrate as the rest, he peeped at Rob with one of his little
black eyes and saw that the boy was ill at ease, and seemed
both annoyed and frightened.
So he muttered some orders to the man next him, who wriggled
along the ground until he had reached a position behind Rob,
when he rose and pricked the suspended "god" with
the point of his spear.
"Ouch!" yelled the boy; "stop that!"
He twisted his head around, and seeing the black again make
a movement with the spear, Rob turned his electric tube upon
him and keeled him over like a ten-pin.
The natives, who had looked up at his cry of pain, again
prostrated themselves, kicking their toes against the ground
in a terrified tattoo at this new evidence of the god's powers.
The situation was growing somewhat strained by this time,
and Rob did not know what the savages would decide to do next;
so he thought it best to move away from them, since he was
unable to rise to a greater height. He turned the indicator
towards the south, where a level space appeared between the
trees; but instead of taking that direction he moved towards
the northeast, a proof that his machine had now become absolutely
unreliable. Moreover, he was slowly approaching the fire,
which, although it had ceased blazing, was a mass of glowing
red embers.
In his excitement he turned the indicator this way and that,
trying to change the direction of his flight, but the only
result of his endeavor was to carry him directly over the
fire, where he came to a full stop.
"Murder! Help! Fire and blazes!" he cried, as he
felt the glow of the coals beneath him. "I'll be roasted,
after all! Here; help, Fatty, help!"
The fat chief sprang to his feet and came to the rescue.
He reached up, caught Rob by the heels, and pulled him down
to the ground, away from the fire. But the next moment, as
he clung to the boy's feet, they both soared into the air
again, and, although now far enough from the fire to escape
its heat, the savage, finding himself lifted from the earth,
uttered a scream of horror and let go of Rob, to fall head
over heels upon the ground.
The other blacks had by this time regained their feet, and
now they crowded around their chief and set him upright again.
Rob continued to float in the air, just above their heads,
and now abandoned all thoughts of escaping by means of his
wrecked traveling machine. But he resolved to regain a foothold
upon the earth and take his chances of escape by running rather
than flying. So he turned the indicator to the word "down,"
and very slowly it obeyed, allowing him, to his great relief,
to sink gently to the ground.
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6. The Buccaneers
Once more the blacks formed a circle around our adventurer,
who coolly drew his tube and said to the chief:
"Tell your people I'm going to walk away through those
trees, and if any one dares to interfere with me I'll paralyze
him."
The chief understood enough English to catch his meaning,
and repeated the message to his men. Having seen the terrible
effect of the electric tube they wisely fell back and allowed
the boy to pass.
He marched through their lines with a fine air of dignity,
although he was fearful lest some of the blacks should stick
a spear into him or bump his head with a war-club. But they
were awed by the wonders they had seen and were still inclined
to believe him a god, so he was not molested.
When he found himself outside the village he made for the
high plateau in the center of the island, where he could be
safe from the cannibals while he collected his thoughts. But
when he reached the place he found the sides so steep he could
not climb them, so he adjusted the indicator to the word "up"
and found it had still had enough power to support his body
while he clambered up the rocks to the level, grass-covered
space at the top.
Then, reclining upon his back, he gave himself up to thoughts
of how he might escape from his unpleasant predicament.
"Here I am, on a cannibal island, hundreds of miles
from civilization, with no way to get back," he reflected.
"The family will look for me every day, and finally decide
I've broken my neck. The Demon will call upon me when the
week is up and won't find me at home; so I'll miss the next
three gifts. I don't mind that so much, for they might bring
me into worst scrapes than this. But how am I to get away
from this beastly island? I'll be eaten, after all, if I don't
look out!"
These and similar thoughts occupied him for some time, yet
in spite of much planning and thinking he could find no practical
means of escape.
At the end of an hour he looked over the edge of the plateau
and found it surrounded by a ring of the black cannibals,
who had calmly seated themselves to watch his movements.
"Perhaps they intend to starve me into surrender,"
he thought; "but they won't succeed so long as my tablets
hold out. And if, in time, they should starve me, I'll be
too thin and tough to make good eating; so I'll get the best
of them, anyhow."
Then he again lay down and began to examine his electrical
traveling machine. He did not dare take it apart, fearing
he might not be able to get it together again, for he knew
nothing at all about its construction. But he discovered two
little dents on the edge, one on each side, which had evidently
been caused by the pressure of the rope.
"If I could get those dents out," he thought, "the
machine might work."
He first tried to pry out the edges with his pocket knife,
but the attempt resulted in failure, Then, as the sides seemed
a little bulged outward by the dents, he placed the machine
between two flat stones and pressed them together until the
little instrument was nearly round again. The dents remained,
to be sure, but he hoped he
had removed the pressure upon the works.
There was just one way to discover how well he had succeeded,
so he fastened the machine to his wrist and turned the indicator
to the word "up."
Slowly he ascended, this time to a height of nearly twenty
feet. Then his progress became slower and finally ceased altogether.
"That's a little better," he thought. "Now
let's see if it will go sidewise."
He put the indicator to "north-west,"--the direction
of home--and very slowly the machine obeyed and carried him
away from the plateau and across the island.
The natives saw him go, and springing to their feet began
uttering excited shouts and throwing their spears at him.
But he was already so high and so far away that they failed
to reach him, and the boy continued his journey unharmed.
Once the branches of a tall tree caught him and nearly tipped
him over; but he managed to escape others by drawing up his
feet. At last he was free of the island and traveling over
the ocean again. He was not at all sorry to bid good-by to
the cannibal island, but he was worried about the machine,
which clearly was not in good working order. The vast ocean
was beneath him, and he moved no faster than an ordinary walk.
"At this rate I'll get home some time next year,"
he grumbled. "However, I suppose I ought to be glad the
machine works at all." And he really was glad.
All the afternoon and all the long summer night he moved
slowly over the water. It was annoying to go at "a reg'lar
jog-trot," as Rob called it, after his former swift flight;
but there was no help for it.
Just as dawn was breaking he saw in the distance a small
vessel, sailing in the direction he was following, yet scarcely
moving for lack of wind. He soon caught up with it, but saw
no one on deck, and the craft had a dingy and uncared-for
appearance that was not reassuring. But after hovering over
it for some time Rob decided to
board the ship and rest for a while. He alighted near the
bow, where the deck was highest, and was about to explore
the place when a man came out of the low cabin and espied
him.
This person had a most villainous countenance, and was dark-skinned,
black-bearded and dressed in an outlandish, piratical costume.
On seeing the boy he gave a loud shout and was immediately
joined by four companions, each as disagreeable in appearance
as the first.
Rob knew there would be trouble the moment he looked at this
evil crew, and when they drew their daggers and pistols and
began fiercely shouting in an unknown tongue, the boy sighed
and took the electric tube from his coat pocket.
The buccaneers did not notice the movement, but rushed upon
him so quickly that he had to press the button at a lively
rate. The tube made no noise at all, so it was a strange and
remarkable sight to see the pirates suddenly drop to the deck
and lie motionless. Indeed, one was so nearly upon him when
the electric current struck him that his head, in falling,
bumped into Rob's stomach and sent him reeling against the
side of the vessel.
He quickly recovered himself, and seeing his enemies were
rendered harmless, the boy entered the cabin and examined
it curiously. It was dirty and ill-smelling enough, but the
corners and spare berths were heaped with merchandise of all
kinds which had been taken from those so unlucky as to have
met these cruel and desperate men.
After a short inspection of the place he returned to the
deck and again seated himself in the bow.
The crippled condition of his traveling machine was now his
chief trouble, and although a good breeze had sprung up to
fill the sails and the little bark was making fair headway,
Rob knew he could never expect to reach home unless he could
discover a better mode of conveyance than this.
He unstrapped the machine from his wrist to examine it better,
and while holding it carelessly in his hand it slipped and
fell with a bang to the deck, striking upon its round edge
and rolling quickly past the cabin and out of sight. With
a cry of alarm he ran after it, and after much search found
it lying against the bulwark near the edge of a scupper hole,
where the least jar of the ship would have sent it to the
bottom of the ocean. Rob hastily seized his treasure and upon
examining it found the fall had bulged the rim so that the
old dents scarcely showed at all. But its original shape was
more distorted than ever, and Rob feared he had utterly ruined
its delicate mechanism. Should this prove to be true, he might
now consider himself a prisoner of this piratical band, the
members of which, although temporarily disabled, would soon
regain consciousness.
He sat in the bow, sadly thinking of his misfortunes, until
he noticed that one of the men began to stir. The effect of
the electric shock conveyed by the tube was beginning to wear
away, and now the buccaneer sat up, rubbed his head in a bewildered
fashion and looked around him. When he saw Rob he gave a shout
of rage and drew his knife, but one motion of the electric
tube made him cringe and slip away to the cabin, where he
remained out of danger.
And now the other four sat up, groaning and muttering in
their outlandish speech; But they had no notion of facing
Rob's tube a second time, so one by one they joined their
leader in the cabin, leaving the boy undisturbed.
By this time the ship had begun to pitch and toss in an uncomfortable
fashion, and Rob noticed that the breeze had increased to
a gale. There being no one to look after the sails, the vessel
was in grave danger of capsizing or breaking her masts. The
waves were now running high, too, and Rob began to be worried.
Presently the captain of the pirates stuck his head out of
the cabin door, jabbered some unintelligible words and pointed
to the sails. The boy nodded, for he understood they wanted
to attend to the rigging. So the crew trooped forth, rather
fearfully, and began to reef the sails and put the ship into
condition to weather the storm.
Rob paid no further attention to them. He looked at his traveling
machine rather doubtfully and wondered if he dared risk its
power to carry him through the air. Whether he remained in
the ship or trusted to the machine, he stood a good chance
of dropping into the sea at any moment. So, while he hesitated,
he attached the machine to his wrist and leaned over the bulwarks
to watch the progress of the storm. He might stay in the ship
until it foundered, he thought, and then take his chances
with the machine. He decided to wait until a climax arrived.
The climax came the next moment, for while he leaned over
the bulwarks the buccaneers stole up behind him and suddenly
seized him in their grasp. While two of them held his arms
the others searched his pockets, taking from him the electric
tube and the silver box containing his tablets. These they
carried to the cabin and threw upon the heap of other valuables
they had stolen. They did not notice his traveling machine,
however, but seeing him now unarmed they began jeering and
laughing at him, while the brutal captain relieved his anger
by giving the prisoner several malicious kicks. Rob bore his
misfortune meekly, although he was almost ready to cry with
grief and disappointment. But when one of the pirates, to
inflict further punishment on the boy, came towards him with
a heavy strap, he resolved not to await the blow.
Turning the indicator to the word "up" he found,
to his joy and relief, that it would yet obey the influence
of the power of repulsion. Seeing him rise into the air the
fellow made a grab for his foot and held it firmly, while
his companions ran to help him. Weight seemed to make no difference
in the machine; it lifted the pirate as well as Rob; it lifted
another who clung to the first man's leg, and another who
clung to him. The other two also caught hold, hoping their
united strength would pull him down, and the next minute Rob
was soaring through the air with the entire string of five
buccaneers dangling from his left leg.
At first the villains were too astounded to speak, but as
they realized that they were being carried through the air
and away from their ship they broke into loud shouts of dismay,
and finally the one who grasped Rob's leg lost his hold and
the five plunged downward and splashed into the sea.
Finding the machine disposed to work accurately, Rob left
the buccaneers to swim to the ship in the best way they could,
while he dropped down to the deck again and recovered from
the cabin his box of tablets and the electric tube. The fellows
were just scrambling on board when he again escaped, shooting
into the air with considerable speed.
Indeed, the instrument now worked better than at any time
since he had reached the cannibal island, and the boy was
greatly delighted.
The wind at first sent him spinning away to the south, but
he continued to rise until he was above the air currents,
and the storm raged far beneath him. Then he set the indicator
to the northwest and breathlessly waited to see if it would
obey. Hurrah! away he sped at a fair rate of speed, while
all his anxiety changed to a feeling of sweet contentment.
His success had greatly surprised him, but he concluded that
the jar caused by dropping the instrument had relieved the
pressure upon the works, and so helped rather than harmed
the free action of the electric currents.
While he moved through the air with an easy, gliding motion
he watched with much interest the storm raging below. Above
his head the sun was peacefully shining and the contrast was
strange and impressive. After an hour or so the storm abated,
or else he passed away from it, for the deep blue of the ocean
again greeted his eyes. He dropped downward until he was about
a hundred feet above the water, when he continued his northwesterly
course.
But now he regretted having interfered for a moment with
the action of the machine, for his progress, instead of being
swift as a bird's flight, became slow and jerky, nor was he
sure that the damaged machine might not break down altogether
at any moment. Yet so far his progress was in the right direction,
and he resolved to experiment no further with the instrument,
but to let it go as it would, so long as it supported him
above the water. However irregular the motion might be, it
was sure, if continued, to bring him to land in time, and
that
was all he cared about just then.
When night fell his slumber was broken and uneasy, for he
wakened more than once with a start of fear that the machine
had broken and he was falling into the sea. Sometimes he was
carried along at a swift pace, and again the machine scarcely
worked at all; so his anxiety was excusable.
The following day was one of continued uneasiness for the
boy, who began to be harassed by doubts as to whether, after
all, he was moving in the right direction. The machine had
failed at one time in this respect and it might again. He
had lost all confidence in its accuracy.
In spite of these perplexities Rob passed the second night
of his uneven flight in profound slumber, being exhausted
by the strain and excitement he had undergone. When he awoke
at daybreak, he saw, to his profound delight, that he was
approaching land.
The rising sun found him passing over a big city, which he
knew to be Boston.
He did not stop. The machine was so little to be depended
upon that he dared make no halt. But he was obliged to alter
the direction from northwest to west, and the result of this
slight change was so great a reduction in speed that it was
mid-day before he saw beneath him the familiar village in
which he lived.
Carefully marking the location of his father's house, he
came to a stop directly over it, and a few moments later he
managed to land upon the exact spot in the back yard whence
he had taken his first successful flight.
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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
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. As seen at The Somber Reptile . .