The Master Key - An Electrical Fairy Tale

^

THE MASTER KEY

Rob was

surrounded by

a

group of natives

THE MASTER KEY An

Electrical Fairy Tale

FOUNDED UPON THE MYSTERIES OF ELECTRICITY AND THE OPTIMISM OF ITS DEVOTEES. IT WAS WRITTEN FOR BOYS, BUT OTHERS MAY READ IT

BY

L.

FRANK BAUM ILLUSTRATIONS BY F.

Y.

CORY

Me BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY

PUBLISHERS

INDIANAPOLIS

COPYRIGHT

1901

THE BOWBN-MERRIW, COMPANY

GIFT

PRESS OF

BRAUN WORTH & CO. BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS BROOKLYN,

N. Y.

-

A9P 151*1

M/V

To my

son

ROBERT STANTON BAUM

RI854174

CONTENTS Page

Chapter I

II

Rob

s

Workshop

The Demon

of Electricity

I

9

III

The Three

IV

Testing the Instruments

29

The Cannibal

43

V VI VII VIII

IX

Gifts

Island

18

The Buccaneers

60

The Demon Becomes Angry

78

Rob Acquires New Powers

86

The Second Journey

97

C O

N T E N TS

ILLUSTRATIONS Page

Rob was

surrounded by a group of natives of hideous appearance Frontispiece

From

his

workshop ran network Headpiece

of wires through

out the house

A A

quick flash of light almost blinded

curious being looked upon him from a magnifi cent radiance Tailpiece

Scientific

men

think the people of

trying to signal us I

Rob

am

Mars have been

Headpiece

here to do your bidding, said the

Demon

Tailpiece

Men

17

have not yet discovered what the birds know

Headpiece

18

/L

L

U8 TR A TI O VS Page

These three

gifts

arnuse you for the next

may

week 28

Tailpiece

Rob

action surprised

s

break

ll

"He

his

them

neck!"

all

Pleadpiecc

cried

the

29

astounded

father

36

The red-whiskered policeman keeled over 42

Tailpiece

Rob

s

"If

it s

him away just the

eaten

Rob

It

up

captors caught

led

the end of the rope and

Headpiece

same

to-day"

to

43

you, old chap,

I

won

t

be

Tailpiece

59

soared through the air with five Buccaneers dangling from his leg Headpiece

was

a

strange sight to see the pirates drop to lie motionless

the deck and

When

night

e a sy

When Rob

fell

his

66

slumber was broken and un-

Ta Up iece

77

had been kissed by

his

mother, he gave

an account of his adventures

Rob

60

sat staring eagerly at the

The Being drew from an resembling a box

Headpiece

Demon

Tailpiece

jj 85

inner pocket something

Headpiece

These spectacles will indicate the character of every one you meet Tailpiece

86

96

IL

US TR A TV O NS

L

Page

Rob

is

in

truth a typical

American boy

Headpiece

Rob

0,7

placed the indicator to a point north of east

and began

his journey

Tailpiece

103

A

crowd assembled, all shouting and pointing toward him in wonder Headpiece

A

man rushed toward threw up

his

it,

but the next

hands and

fell

104

moment he

unconscious

108

Rob reached

the entrance of the palace, only to face another group of guardsmen

Rob

only smiled in an amused past

A

them

The

as he

125

clatter

nearly deafened

126

Headp iece

eyes of the Frenchman were actually pro truding from their sockets

From

an elevation of

14

marched

Tailpiece

tremendous din and

him

way

1

fifty feet

looked a pretty garden

or

128

more Rob over

Headpiece

136

Placing the record so that the President could see clearly, Rob watched the changing expres sions upon the great man s face

Rob

140

experienced a decided sense of relief as he

mixed with the gay populace

Tailpiece

145

Beneath him stretched a vast sandy plain, and speeding across this he came to a land

abounding

in vegetation

Headpiece

146

ILL US TR A T I O NS Page "

Those fellows seem

Uttering

be looking for

trouble*"

150

terror and dismay, the three

cries of

Turks took

to

to their heels

158

Rob was

miserable and unhappy, and remained brooding over his cruel fate Tailpiece

The

Tatars arrived swiftly and noiselessly

Headpiece

.

The Turk

rose slowly into the

ing to

him with desperate

air,

with

Rob

Coming toward him was

176

last

181

an immense bird

Plea dp iece

With one ward

160

cling

tenacity

Without more ado Rob mounted into the air, leaving the Turk staring after him Tailpiece

1

86

scream the creature tumbled down

to join

its

fellow

Tailpiece

During the next few hours Rob suffered from severe attack of homesickness Headpiece

The disappointment

of the sailors

191 a

192

was something

awful to witness

As

159

196

they slowly mounted into the sky the sailor

gave

a squeal of terror

Rob mounted skyward, ment

to the

of the fishermen,

Headpiece

Tailpiece

205

unbounded amaze stared after him

who

2p6

ILL US TRA TI O NS Page

Rob hovered

over the great tower cf the Lick Observatory until he attracted the excited

gaze of

its

inhabitants

21

Tailpiece

Finding himself upon the lake up a vacant bench and

Rob hunted

front, sat

clown to rest

Headp iece

As

214

he started downward he saw looking at him with a half-frightened, half-

the old gentleman

curious expression

At

224

Tailpiece

precisely ten o clock Rob reached the front door of his own house Headpiece

Rob

boldly ascended the

stairs,

entered the

shop and closed and locked the door

work Tail 229

piece

The Demon sank but

still

into a chair nerveless

staring fearfully at the

and limp,

boy

Head 230

piece

A

flash of

Rob.

22:

white light half-stunned and blinded When he recovered himself the De

mon had

disappeared

TailApiece

245

WHO KNOWS? These things are quite improbable,

to

be

sure; but are they impossible? Our big world rolls over as smoothly as It did centuries ago, without a squeak to

show

needs oiling after all these years of revolution. But times change because men it

change, and because civilization, like John Brown s soul, goes ever marching on.

The

impossibilities of yesterday

become

the accepted facts of to-day.

Here

is

a

wonders

of electricity

dren of

this

generation.

readers shall have

my

story

founded upon the and written for chil

fairy tale

may

Yet when

my

become men and women

not seem to their children

like a fairy tale at all.

Perhaps one, perhaps two eral of the

Demon

s

devices will be,

time, in popular use.

Who

knows?

perhaps sev

by

that

"/#

wonder

wonder

it

began; in and admiration

all philosophy

all ends

;

But the first fills up the interspace. wonder is the offspring of ignorance : the last is the parent of adoration COLERIDGE.

THE MASTER KEY

CHAPTER ONE ROB

S

WORKSHOP

Rob became interested

WHEN

tricity

sidered the

his clear-headed father

son,

motors

s

boy

well as amusing his

in elec

;

con

fancy to be instructive as so he heartily encouraged

and Rob never lacked

or supplies of

any

batteries,

sort that his

ex

periments might require.

He

fitted

up the

little

back room

in the

workshop, and from thence a net-work of wires soon ran throughout the house, Not only had every outside door its

attic as his

I

THE MA S TER KE electric

bell,

1

window was

but every

fitted

with a burglar alarm; moreover no one could cross the threshold of any interior room with out registering the fact in

Rob

s

workshop. electric an fob; a lighted by chime, connected with an erratic clock in the boy s room, woke the servants at all hours

The

gas was

of the night

and caused the cook

to give

rang whenever the postman dropped a letter into the box; there were

warning; a

bell

everywhere, ringing at the right time, the wrong time and all the time. bells, bells, bells

And

there were telephones in the different

rooms, too, through which

up the

different

when they

members

boy

his

father

s

dences of

could

call

of the family just

did not wish to be disturbed.

His mother and the

Rob

sisters

scientific

soon came to vote

craze a nuisance; but

was delighted with these

Rob

insisted that

s skill

as

an

electrician,

evi

and

he be allowed perfect freedom

in carrying out his ideas. "

Electricity,"

said 3

the

old gentleman,

WORKSHOP

S fci

sagely,

is

destined tu

The

future advance

be alon^ O

electrical lines.

of the world.

power

of civilization will

become the motive

Our boy may become

a great inventor and

astonish the world with his wonderful cre ations."

"And

in the meantime," said the "

despairingly,

we

shall all

or the house burned or

we

shall

explosion of "

father.

be electrocuted,

down by crossed wires,

be blown into eternity by an chemicals!"

Nonsense "

mother,

ejaculated

!"

Rob

s

the

proud

storage batteries are

not

powerful enough to electrocute one or set Do give the boy a the house on fire. Belinda."

chance,

pranks are so humiliating," continued the ladv. When the minister "And

his

"

yesterday and

rang the bell a big card appeared on the front door on which was printed the words Busy; Call Again. called

:

Fortunately Helen saw him and let him in, but when I reproved Robert for the act he 3

THE said he

would u

was

ATASTER

KEY

the sign to see

just trying

if

it

work."

The boy

Exactly! I

ready.

shall

an inventor

al

have one of those cards

at

tached to the door of

is

my

private office at

you, Belinda, our son will be

once.

I tell

a great

man one

of these

days,"

said

Mr.

up and down with pom

Joslyn, walking

pous strides and almost bursting with the pride he took in his young hopeful.

Mrs. Joslyn sighed. strance

was

She knew remon

useless so long as her

husband

encouraged the boy, and that she would be wise to bear her cross with fortitude.

Rob

knew

also

would be

no

of

his

mother

s

protests

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

that he especially delighted. workshop For not. only was it the center of all his "

numerous

"

"

lines

"

throughout the house, 4

7?<9/?\9

WORKSHOP

but he had rigged up therein a wonderful

array of devices for his

A trolley-car

own amusement.

moved around

a circular track

and stopped regularly at all stations; an en gine and train of cars moved jerkily up and down a steep grade and through a tunnel;

was busily pumping water from the dishpan into the copper skillet; a saw a windmill

mill

was

in full operation

and a host

of

me

chanical blacksmiths, scissors-grinders, car

wood-choppers and millers were connected with a motor which kept them penters,

working away

at their trades

in

awkward

but persevering fashion.

The room was

crossed and recrossed with

They crept up the walls, lined the floor, made a grille of the ceiling and would

wires.

catch an

unwary

above the ankle it.

Yet

visitors

visitor

just

under the chin or

when he

were forbidden

least in so

expected

crowded

a room, and even his father declined to go farther than the

thought he

knew

As

Rob, he about the wires, and

doorway. all 5

for

THE MASTER KEY what each one was

but they puzzled even him, at times, and he was often per fur;

know how to utilize them all. One day when he had locked himself

plexed to

to avoid interruption while

in

he planned the

a gorgeous paste board palace, he really became confused over the network of wires He had a switch electrical illumination of

.

be sure, where he could make and break connections as he chose; but the

board,"

to

wires had

somehow become mixed, and he

could not

tell

what combinations

throw the power on

to use to

to his miniature electric

lights.

So he experimented

in a rather

haphaz

ard fashion, connecting this and that wire blindly and

he

would

by guesswork, strike

Then he thought right

right

still

lines of

others,

hope that

combination.

the combination might be

and there was a lack

added other

and

the

in the

of

power; so he

wire to his connections,

until

he had employed

almost every wire in the room. 6

A

quick flash of light almost blinded

Rob

ROB->S

would not work; and after pausing moment to try to think what was wrong Yet

;i

WORKSHOP

it

he went at

it

again, putting this and that

adding another here and another there, until suddenly, as he line

into connection,

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

finding himself unhurt he took

flash,

away

but his

hands and with blinking eyes attempted to look at a wonderful radiance which seemed to

fill

the

room, making

it

times

many

brighter than the brightest day.

completely dazzled, he peered before him until he discovered that the light was concentrated near one spot,

Although

from which

at first

all

the glorious rays

seemed

to

scintillate.

lie closed his eyes a

moment to

rest

them;

then re-opening them and shading them

somewhat with

his

hands, he 7

made

out the

THE

ATASTER

Being standing with maj

form

of a curious

esty

and composure

magnificent

upon him!

KE1

radiance

in the

center of

the

and looking down

CHAPTER TWO THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITY was a courageous boy, .but a thrill fear passed over him in spite of his

ROB of

he gazed upon the wondrous apparition that confronted him. For several moments he sat as if turned to bravest endeavor

stone, so

as

motionless was he; but his eyes

were nevertheless fastened upon the Being and devouring every detail of his appear ance.

And how sented

strange an appearance he pre

!

His jacket was a wavering mass of white red flames that light, edged with braid of 9

THE MASTER KET tongues in all directions. The buttons blazed in golden lire. His trousers

shot

little

had

a bluish,

incandescent

color,

with

glowing stripes of crimson braid. His vest was gorgeous with all the colors of the rain

bow blended

a flashing, resplendent

into

In feature he was most majestic, and

mass.

his eyes held the soft

but penetrating

bril

liance of electric lights.

meet the gaze of those searching eyes, but Rob did it, and at once the splendid apparition bowed and said in

was hard

It

to

a low, clear voice: "I

"

I

am

here."

know but

"

bling,

that,"

why

answered the boy, trem

are

you here

?"

Because you have touched the Master Key of Electricity, and I must obey the "

laws of nature that compel to

your "

I

Key," "

I

me

to

respond

summons." I

didn

t

know

I

touched the Master

faltered the boy.

understand

that.

10

You

did

it

uncon-

THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITY sciously.

done

it

No

one

before, for

in the

world has ever

Nature has hitherto kept

the secret safe locked within her

Rob took time

to

wonder

bosom."

at this state

ment.

u Then who are

you?"

he inquired, at

length. "

The Demon

of

Electricity,"

was the

solemn answer.

Good demon "

gracious

!"

exclaimed Rob,

"

a

!"

am, in truth, the Slave of the Master Key, and am forced to obey the commands of any one who is wise and "

Certainly.

brave enough fortunate

I

or,

your own case,

as in

and fool-hardy enough

to

touch

it."

ve never guessed there was such a thing as a Master Key, or or a Demon "I

I

of Electricity, I

I

called

and

you up

and !"

I

m

awfully sorry

stammered the boy,

abashed by the imposing appearance of

companion. ii

his

THE MASTER KEY The Demon actually smiled a smile that "

am

I

"

tone,

not

for

it

was almost not

speech,

reassuring.

he

said, in kindlier

much

pleasure waiting

sorry,"

is

at this

century after century for some one to

mand my

my

com

have often thought existence uncalled for, since you Earth services.

I

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

ment.

Rob, rather

"Now,

"Edison!"

faint sneer; "Lots "He

s

electrical

really

Edison

"

exclaimed the Demon, with a

"what

of

s

does he

things,"

invented

no

know?"

declared the

end

of

boy.

wonderful

things."

wrong to call them wonder "He replied the Demon, lightly. knows little more than yourself about

"You

ful,"

there

nettled at this state

are

the laws that control electricity. tions are trifling things in 12

His inven

comparison with

THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITT the really wonderful results to be obtained

by one who would actually know how direct the electric

blindly

after

powers instead

insignificant

to

of

groping

effects.

Why,

months by Edison s elbow, I hoping and longing for him to touch the Master Key; but I can see plainly he will ve stood for

never accomplish "Then

there

it."

s Tesla,"

said the boy.

The Demon laughed. 66

"

There

is

But what "

the

he

of

Tesla, to be

sure,"

he said.

him?"

Why, he s discovered a powerful Demon gave an amused chuckle,

s

in

light," "

and

communication with the people

in

Mars." "

"

"

What, people?"

Why,

the people

There are

who

live

there."

none."

This quiet statement almost took Rob s breath away, and caused him to stare hard at his visitor. "

It s

generally

thought,"

13

he resumed,

in

THE MASTER KEY an annoyed tone,

who

tants

"

that

Mars has inhabi

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

And

signals.

great novelists have written

about the Martians and their wonderful civ ilization, "

And

they

"

all

know

as

planet as

you do

Demon,

impatiently.

little

the

and

much about

yourself,"

that

interrupted

"The

trouble

with you Earth people is that you delight in guessing about what you can not know.

Now

I

happen

cause

I

can traverse

ample

to

any other

Mars

not peopled at

of the planets

the heavens. beasts, to

is

different all,

nor

you recognize Some contain low orders

is

in

of

be sure, but Earth alone has an

intelligent, thinking,

and your

all

about Mars, be space and have had all

investigate the

to

leisure

planets.

know

scientists

better trying to

reasoning population,

and

novelists

would do

comprehend their own planet

THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITY than in groping through space to unravel the mysteries of barren and unimportant worlds."

Rob

listened to this with surprise

but

appointment;

Demon

to

he

reflected

and

dis

the

that

know what he was

ought talking he did not venture to contradict about, so him. "It

is

really

astonishing,"

"how

Apparition,

continued the

you people have It is an Earth

little

learned about electricity.

element that has existed since the Earth itself

stood

was formed, and its

you but under proper use humanity would be

marvelously benefited in

if

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 plied the other, gravely.

element,"

re

The weaknesses

mankind would be con power and luxury."

and privations verted into

"

of

15

THE MASTER KET "

That

the boy.

s

true, "

Mr.

Mr.

me

Excuse

if

Demon," said I

don

t

get your

name

right, but I understood you to say you are a demon." "

Certainly. "

But

The Demon is

electricity

know, and Well

and

a

of

Electricity."

good thing, you

"

"

?"

"

I

ve

were bad "

"

If

Not you

always understood that demons things,"

added Rob, boldly.

necessarily,"

will

take

returned his

visitor.

the trouble to consult

your dictionary, you will find that demons may be either good or bad, like any other class

of

were good, yet

come

Originally

beings.

will find

have

of late years people

to consider all

know why.

demons

all

demons

evil.

I

do not

Should you read Hesiod you

he says:

Soon was a world Aerial spirits,

To be on

of holy

demons made,

by great Jove designed

earth the guardians of mankind,

16

"

THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITY But Jove was himself a myth," objected Rob, who had been studying mythology. "

The Demon shrugged "Then

speare, to "Do

take

the

whom

words all

of

Mr. Shake

defer,"

remember

you not

Thy demon

you

his shoulders.

he replied.

that he says:

(that s thy spirit

which keeps thee)

Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable.

is

"

"

Oh, if Shakespeare says it, that s all answered the boy. "But it seems right,"

more

like a genius, for

you

re

the

summons

tricity

in

you answer

Master Key the same way Aladdin of the

of s

Elec genius

answered the rubbing of the lamp." To be sure. A demon is also a genius; "

and a genius "

What

your

is

a

matters a

bidding."

demon,"

name?

said the Being. I

am

here to do

CHAPTER THREE THE THREE GIFTS with any great thing

removes our awe of FAMILIARITY eral

poet

is

it.

only terrible to the

is

children

The

great gen

enemy; the great

frequently scolded by his wife; the of

the

great statesman clamber

about his knees with perfect trust and im punity; the great actor the curtain

who

is

called before

by admiring audiences

is

often

door by his creditors. So Rob, having conversed for a time with

waylaid

at the stage

Demon

began to regard him with more composure and less awe, as his eyes grew more and more acthe glorious

of Electricity,

18

THE THREE GIFTS customed

to the

splendor that at

first

had

well-nigh blinded them.

When

Demon announeed

the

ready to do the boy

s

himself

bidding, he frankly

replied: "

I

am

no

skilled

very well know.

So

an accident.

My I

don

as

electrician,

you

calling you here was t

know how

to

com

mand "

you, nor what to ask you to do." But I must not take advantage of your

ignorance,"

I

am

nity to

ment

answered the Demon.

quite anxious to

show

utilize this

"Also,

opportu

what a powerful ele So permit me really is.

the world

electricity

inform you that, having struck the

to ter

Key, you are

me

three gifts each

sive

weeks.

at liberty to

These

week gifts,

his

head

were a great know what to ask," he "

If I

demand from

for three succes

provided they are

within the scope of electricity,

Rob shook

Mas

I

will

grant."

regretfully. electrician I should said.

"But

I

am

too

THE MASTER NET ignorant to take advantage of your kind offer."

replied the

"

Then,"

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 intelli gently and to persevere in mastering those natural and simple laws which control elec

For one

tricity.

now

labor under

plicated really

of the greatest errors they is

and hard

the

simplest

within easy reach of

that electricity to

is

understand.

com It

is

Earth element, lying any one who stretches

out his hand to grasp and control

its

t

pow

ers."

Rob yawned, for he thought the De mon s speeches were growing rather tire noticed

some.

Perhaps the genius rudeness, for he continued: u I that of regret,

instead of a

singular to

you are a boy

course,

grown man,

this

for

it

will

appear

your friends that so thoughtless a 20

THE THREE GIFTS vouth should seemingly O J have mastered the that have baflled secrets your most learned that But can not be helped, and scientists.

*j

presently

you

will

the most powerful in all the

become, through my aid, and wonderful personage

world."

"Thank

you,"

be no end of

said

Rob, meekly.

"It

ll

fun."

echoed the Demon, scornfully.

"Fun!"

never mind; I must use the material Fate has provided for me, and make the "But

best of

it."

"What

will

you give me

first?"

asked the

boy, eagerly. "That

requires

some

thought,"

returned

Demon, and paused for several mo ments, while Rob feasted his eyes upon the

the

gorgeous rays of color that flashed and vi brated in every direction and surrounded the figure of his visitor with an intense

glow

that resembled a halo.

Then

the

Demon

said:

21

raised his head and

THE MASTER KEY "The

to

to thing most necessary j

nourish his bod}

able part of his

.

life

He

passes a consider

in the struggle to pro

cure food, to prepare the act of eating.

This

it

properly, and in

is

box

of tablets.

to

required to feed

therefore, present you, as

my

Within each

certain elements

of

Your

not right.

is

body can not be very valuable your time

man is food

if

you I

it.

first

all

shall,

gift, this

tablet are stored

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

your hunger and The build up your health and strength. will nourish you, satisfy

ordinary food of mankind injurious; this

over,

is

is

more or

entirely beneficial.

you may carry enough

less

More

tablets in

your

pocket to last for months." Here he presented Rob the silver box of

and the boy, somewhat nervously, thanked him for the gift. tablets,

"The

next requirement of 22

man,"

contin-

THE THREE GIFTS ued the Demon, mies.

I

"is

defense from his ene

notice with sorrow that

quently have wars and Also, even in is

in

civilized

kill

men

fre

one another.

communities,

man

constant danger from highwaymen,

cranks and

policemen.

To

defend him

he uses heavy and dangerous guns, with which to destroy his enemies. This

self

wrong. He has no right to take away what he can not bestow; to destroy what he can not create. To kill a fellow-creat is

ure

is

a horrid crime, even

defense. is

Therefore,

this little tube.

your pocket. ens you, be

my

if

done

second

You may

in self-

gift to

carry

it

Whenever an enemy it

man

you

within threat

or beast, simply point

the tube and press this button in the handle.

An

electric current will instantly

be directed

rendering him wholly un conscious for the period of one hour. Dur

upon your

foe,

ing that time you will have opportunity to

As

your enemy, after regain ing consciousness he will surfer no incon-

escape.

for

23

THE MASTER KE1 venience from the encounter beyond a slight headache."

said

"That s fine!"

scarcely six inches long, and

tube.

It

was

hollow

at

one end.

"The

Demon,

busy

as he took the

Rob,

proceeded the them to move about and

lives of

"require

men,"

them

travel in all directions.

Yet

there are only such crude

and awkward

to assist

ma

chines as electric trolleys, cable cars, steam

and automobiles.

railways

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 the birds know: that the atmosphere offers

them

swift

and easy means

ing from one part of the earth

s

of travel

surface to

another."

"Some ships,"

people have tried to build air

remarked Rob.

So they have; great, unwieldy machines which offer so much resistance to the air "

that they are quite useless.

24

A big

machine

THE THREE GIFTS not needed to carry one through the air. There are forces in nature which may be is

readily used for such purpose.

what holds you stone "

fall to

Earth, and makes a

to the

the

Tell me,

ground?"

Attraction of

said

gravitation,"

Rob,

promptly. "

Exactly. said the

which is

That

Demon.

one force

is

"The

I

refer

to,"

force of repulsion,

known, but just as powerful, another that mankind may direct. Then is little

there are the Polar electric forces, attracting

toward the north or south poles. have guessed something of this by the

objects

You

use of the compass, or electric needle.

posed

to these

is

drawing objects from east opposite direction.

to west, or in the

This force

the whirl of the earth

upon

easily utilized, although

have as yet paid

Op

centrifugal electric force,

little

its

your

is

created

axis,

by and is

scientific

attention to

men

it.

"These forces, operating in all directions,

absolute and immutable, are at the disposal 25

THE MASTER KE1 of

mankind.

They

will carry

the atmosphere wherever

trol

you know how to con Now, here is a machine I have

That

choose.

them.

myself

you through and whenever you

is, if

perfected."

The Demon drew from

his

pocket some

thing that resembled an open-faced watch, having a narrow, flexible band attached to it.

you wish to travel," attach this little machine to your "When

"

by means will not

of the

be

band.

It is

in

your way. up and points marked as a perfect

left

this dial are

down you

as well

desire to

rise into the air set the indicator to the

up, turn

word

using a finger of your right hand to it.

When

you wish,

you have

risen as high as

set the indicator to the point of

the compass will

he,

wrist

very light and

On

When

compass.

said

you want

to follow

be carried by the proper

in that direction.

dicator to the

word

To

26

electric force

descend, set the in

down.

derstand?"

and you

Do you un

THE THREE GIFTS "

"

chine from the "

light.

This

Demon is

Don t mention "These

yourself with for

you may amuse the next week. It seems

you can not get possession.

benefits

to

week from

m

three gifts

the discretion of a

their

I

returned the Demon,

it,"

are quite harmless, so

care

and

you!"

hard to entrust such great ies to

ma

with unfeigned de

really wonderful,

awfully obliged to

dryly.

Rob, taking the

cried

Perfectly!

if

scientific discover

mere boy* but they you exercise proper

into trouble through

And who knows what may

humanity

One

result?

to-day, at this hour,

I

will again

appear to you, at which time you shall re ceive the second series of electrical gifts." "I

m

not

sure,"

said

Rob,

"that

I

shall

to make the connections that be able a^ain O will strike the "Probably "Could

Master not,"

Key."

answered the Demon.

you accomplish

command my

that,

services forever.

you might But, hav

ing once succeeded, you are entitled to the 27

THE MASTER KEY nine so

duty.

three each

gifts

week

you have no need I

shall

appear

for three

me my own

to call

of

to

weeks do

my

accord."

Thank you," murmured the boy. The Demon bowed and spread his hands "

in

the form of a semi-circle.

An

instant

was a blinding flash, and when Rob recovered from it and opened his eyes

later there

the

Demon

of Electricity

had disappeared.

CHAPTER FOUR TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS is

little

doubt that had

THERE

strange experience befallen a

man

this

grown

he would have been stricken with a

fit

trembling or a sense of apprehension, or even fear, at the thought of having faced of

the terrible

Demon

struck the Master

of Electricity, of

Key

of the

world

having s

great

and finding himself pos three such wonderful and useful

est natural forces,

sessed of

But a boy takes everything as a matter of course. As the tree of knowl

gifts.

edge sprouts and expands within him, shoot ing out leaf after leaf of practical experience, 29

THE MASTER KEJ the succession of surprises dulls his faculty of

wonderment.

startle

It

takes a great deal to

a boy.

Rob was

full of delight at his

unexpected good fortune; but he did not stop to con

was anything remarkably queer or uncanny in the manner in which it had come to him. His chief sensation was

sider that there

one

He would now

of pride.

surprise those trical

who had made

craze and force

them

be able

to

fun of his elec to respect his

marvelous powers. He decided to say noth ing about the Demon or the accidental strik ing of the Master Key.

In exhibiting to his

friends the electrical devices he it

would be

"no

amazement and

end

of

leave

fun"

them

had acquired

to

mark

to guess

performed his feats. So he put his treasures into

their

how he

his pocket,

locked his workshop and went downstairs to his

it

room

to prepare for dinner.

While brushing his hair he remembered was no longer necessary for him to eat 30

TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS lie

ordinary food.

was

feeling quite

hun

gry at that moment, for he had a boy s rav enous appetite; but, taking the silver box

from at

his pocket,

once

felt his

he swallowed a tablet and

hunger

as fully satisfied as

if

he had partaken of a hearty meal, while at the same time he experienced an exhilarat ing glow throughout his body and a clear ness of brain and gaiety of spirits which filled

him with

intense gratification.

he entered the dining-room when the bell rang and found his father and Still,

mother and "

sisters

already assembled there.

Where have you been all day, Robert?"

inquired his mother. "No

need

a laugh. a

"

to

ask,"

said

Fussing over

Mr. Joslyn,with

electricity, I

ll

bet

cookie!" "I

"that

fits

do

wish,"

said the mother, fretfully,

he would get over that mania.

him

It

un

for

anything else." returned her husband, dish "Precisely,"

ing the soup;

"but

it

fits

him

for a great

THE MASTER KET when he becomes a man. Why shouldn t he spend his summer vacation in career

knowledge instead

pursuit of useful

ing around "

"

like ordinary

of

romp

boys?"

No

soup, thank you," said Rob. What exclaimed his father, looking !"

him

at

in

"

surprise,

it

s

your favorite

soup." "I

don

t

said

know,"

want

quietly,

"but

I

any." */

you ill, Robert?" asked Never felt better in my

"Are "

Rob,

his

life,"

mother.

answered

Rob, truthfully. Yet Mrs. Joslyn looked worried, and when Rob refused the roast, she was really shocked. "

she

Let

me

your pulse, my poor boy!" commanded, and wondered to find it so feel

regular.

In

He

fact,

sat

Rob

s

action surprised

them

all.

calmly throughout the meal, eat

ing nothing, but apparently in good health

TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS 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 protested Rob; "

t,"

66

ve decided not to eat anything, It s a bad habit, and does more hereafter. but

I

harm than "

Wait

good."

till breakfast,"

with a Jaugh;

by

that

"

you

ll

said sister Helen,

be hungry enough

time."

However, the boy had no

desire for food

at breakfast time, either, as the tablet suf

ficed for

an entire day.

the anxiety of the family

them "

So he renewed

by refusing

to join

at the table.

Mr. Joslyn said when breakfast was finished,

If this

his son,

goes

on,"

to "

I

be obliged to send you away for your

shall

health." "

said "

I

think of

Rob,

making a

carelessly.

Where

to

?"

33

trip this morning,"

THE MASTER K ET u

Oh,

over to

may go

I

Cuba

or

to

Boston, or take a run

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,

the

at

money

just

now.

present

Nor can

I

spare

for so expensive

a

trip." "

Oh,

it

won

t

cost

replied

anything,"

Rob, with a smile.

Mr. Joslyn looked upon him gravely and Mrs. Joslyn bent over her son with tears in her eyes and said: sighed.

"

This

nonsense has affected

electrical

your mind, dear. You must promise me to keep away from that horrid workshop for a time." "

I

won

t

enter

it

for a

he an

week,"

u But you needn t swered. worry about me. I haven t been experimenting with electricity all this tell

you.

and strong

As as

for

time for nothing,

my

health,

I

m

I

can

as well

any boy need be, and there

nothing wrong with

my head, 34

either.

s

Com-

TESTING TPIE INSTRUMENTS mon

always think great men are crazy, but Edison and Tesla and I don t pay any ve got our discover attention to that. folks

We

ies to

look

ing for a ence.

Now,

after.

I

to-night, or

gone

several days.

in a

week, and you mustn

me

a single

"

How

I

said,

m

go

trip in the interests of sci

little

may be back

I

as

Anyhow,

I

ll

I

maybe

be back

t

worry about

going?"

inquired his

minute."

are

you

father, in the gentle, soothing tone persons

use in addressing maniacs.

u

Through

the

air,"

said

Rob.

His father groaned. "

ter

Where

s

your

balloon?"

inquired

sis

Mabel, sarcastically. I don t need a balloon," returned the

"

"

boy. best. "

That

.1

shall

Good

a clumsy

go by

way of

traveling, at

electric propulsion."

gracious!"

the mother

poor

s

cried

murmured:

"

Mr. Joslyn, and

My poor boy! my

boy!"

"As

you are

my

nearest 35

relatives,"

con-

THE MASTER KET tinued Rob, not noticing these exclamations,

u

I

will allow

yard and see

to

you

me

start.

stand something of

come

electrical powers."

at once,

although with

unbelieving faces, and on the clasped the

little

back

You will then under

my

They followed him

into the

machine

way Rob

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

the indicator of the

word

amusement, and turned little

instrument to the

"

up."

Immediately he began

to rise into the

air. "

Don

down

to

worry about me them. Good-by!" t

!"

he called

"

Mrs. Joslyn, with a scream

of terror, hid

her face in her hands. "

He

ll

break

his

neck

!"

tounded father, tipping back look after his departing son.

cried the as his

head

to

He

ll

break his

neck!"

cried the astounded father

TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS "

Come back

Come back

!

shouted

!"

the girls to the soaring adventurer. "

I

some day

will

was the far-away

!"

answer,,

Having

risen high

to pass over

enough

the tallest tree or steeple,

Rob

put the indi

cator to the east of the compass-dial

once began moving

The as.

sensation

was

moved

at

all

on

He

delightful.

gently as a feather

exertion

and

at

rapidly in that direction.

floats,

own

his

rode

without any part; yet he

so swiftly that he easily distanced a

railway train that was speeding in the same direction. "This "

Here

out

I

is

great!"

reflected

a penny to pay any one!

pocket.

This

no mistake. thing looks

me

a

electricity

And

after all!

are bugs,

to last

the

youth. with

in fine style,

am, traveling

enough food

the

month is

down below

in

my

I

ve

coat

the proper stuff,

Demon

Whee-ee!

And

s

a trump,

and

How small every there.

The people

and the houses are soap-boxes, 37

THE MASTER KET 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 sensa tion one feels while descending in an eleva tor.

When

he reached a point

town he put the mark and remained

the

examined the

place.

just

above

indicator to the zero stationary, while

he

But there was nothing

him, particularly; so after a brief survey he once more ascended and contin ued his journey toward the east. to interest

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 pow ers.

But

as

he looked

just like

any other

boy no one noticed him in any way. It was nearly evening, and Rob had wan33

TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS down by the wharves to look at the shipping, when his attention was called to dered

an ugly looking bull dog, which ran toward

him and began barking

ferociously.

said the boy, carelessly,

"Get out!"

and

made a kick at the brute. The dog uttered a fierce growl and sprang upon him with bared teeth and flashing red Instantly

eyes.

from

Rob drew

his pocket, pointed

the electric tube

it

pressed the button. Almost at

ment the dog gave a yelp, or twice and lay still. "I

guess that

ll

settle

dog and the same mo

at the

rolled over once

him,"

laughed the

boy; but just then he heard an angry shout, and looking around saw a policeman run ning toward him. "Kill

officer;

me

"well,

same, an ye up!"

dog, will ye

And

I ll

just

eh?"

run ye

yelled the in for that

spend the night in the lock on he came, with drawn club in 11

one hand and a big revolver in the other. to catch me first," said "You ll have 39

THE MASTER KET Rob,

laughing, and to the

still

of the

amazement

policeman he began rising straight

into the air.

down

"Come shoot!"

Come down,

here!

or

I

ll

shouted the fellow, flourishing his

revolver.

Rob was

afraid he

would;

so, to avoid ac

he pointed the tube at him and pressed the button. The red-whiskered po liceman keeled over quite gracefully and fell

cidents,

across the

tinued to

body of the dog, while Rob con mount upward until he was out of

sight of those in the streets.

was a narrow escape," he thought, hated to para breathing more freely. "That

"I

lyze that policeman, but he

might have sent Anyhow, he ll be all

a bullet after me.

right again in an hour, so

I

needn

t

worry."

was beginning to grow dark, and he wondered what he should do next. Had he It

possessed any

money he would have de

scended to the town and taken a bed at a hotel, but

he had

left

home without

40

a single

TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS penny. at this

Fortunately the nights were warm 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,

in a southeasterly

ought to lie direction from Boston.

judged

it

dicator to swiftly

that

So he

set the in

and began gliding

point

toward the southeast.

He now remembered

that

it

was twenty-

four hours since he had eaten the trical tablet.

first

As he rode through

he consumed another. left

and he

him, while he

felt

elec

the air

All hunger at once the

same invigorating

sensations as before.

After a time the

Rob amused

moon came

out,

and

himself gazing at the countless

sky and wondering if the Demon was right when he said the world was the most important of all the planets. stars in the

But presently he grew sleepy, and before he realized what was happening he had fallen into a

sound and peaceful slumber,

THE MASTER KE1 while the indicator east

still

pointed to the south

and he continued

through the cool night

to

air.

move

rapidly

CHAPTER FIVE THE CANNIBAL ISLAND the adventures of

day had tired DOUBTLESS

Rob,

he

for

throughout the night as comfortably as

own

bed.

slept if

he

own room, lying upon When, at last, he opened his

had been within his

the

his

eyes and gazed sleepily about him, he found himself over a great body of water, mov ing along with considerable speed. "It

,.

s

himself. I

is

to

the ocean, of "1

haven

t

course,"

he said to

reached Cuba yet.

be regretted that Rob

s

knowledge

geography was so superficial; for, as he had intended to reach Cuba, he should have

of

43

THE MASTER KEY taken a course almost southwest from Bos

The sad

ton, instead of southeast.

result

of his

ignorance you will presently learn, for during the entire day he continued to over a boundless waste of ocean,

travel

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 dis

covered that by rising to a considerable dis tance above the ocean he avoided the reflec tion

of the

came within

sun upon the water and also the current of good breeze.

Of course he dared not

was no place

to land* so

stop,

for

there

he calmly con

tinued his journey. "It

may

thought;

now,

for

be able I

am

I

be

"but

if I

I

did

I

ve

missed

can not change I

might get

to find land again.

shall

Cuba,"

be sure

lost, If I

to reach

44

my

he

course

and never

keep on

as

land of some

THE CANNIBAL ISLAND sort,

in time,

home

I

can

and when

I

wish to return

set the indicator to the

west and that will take

me

directly

north

back

to

Boston."

This was good reasoning, but the rash youth had no idea he was speeding over the that he

ocean, or

was destined

to arrive

shortly at the barbarous island of Brava, off

the coast of Africa. just as the

Yet such was the

case;

sun sank over the edge of the

waves he saw,

to his great relief, a large

island directly in his path.

He air,

dropped to a lower position in the and when he judged himself to be over

the center of the island he turned the indi

and stopped short. country was beautifully wooded,

cator to zero

The

while pretty brooks

sparkled through the

rich green foliage of the trees.

The

sloped upwards from the sea-coast in rections, rising to a hill that

mountain

in

the center.

all di

was almost a

There were two

open spaces, one on each side 45

island

of the island,

THE MASTER KEJ and Rob saw

that these spaces

were occu

pied by queer-looking huts built from brush

wood and branches

of

This showed

trees."

was inhabited, but as Rob had no idea what island it was he wisely de

that the

island

termined not

to

meet the natives

had discovered what they were whether they were disposed to be

So he moved over the which proved

to

be a

hill,

flat,

until

he

and

like

friendly.

the top

of

grass-covered

plateau about fifty feet in diameter. Find ing it could not be easily reached from below, on account of its steep sides, and

men

nor animals, he alighted on the hill-top and touched his feet to the earth for the first time in twenty-

contained

neither

four hours.

The him

ride

through the

in the least; in fact,

air

he

had not

felt as

tired

fresh

and

he had been resting through As he walked upon the out the journey.

vigorous as

soft

grass

if

of

the

plateau

and compared himself 46

he

felt

elated,

to the explorers of

THE CANNIBAL ISLAND ancient days; for

it

was evident

that civili

zation 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 save where he stood, distinct.

entire

island,

became dim and

Fie ate his daily tablet,

and

in

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

The ened

to sleep.

events of the day must have deep

his

when he awoke

slumber, for

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

From where he

like a

drink of water.

stood he could see several

brooks following winding paths through the forest, so he settled upon one that little

seemed lages,

farthest

from the brushwood

and turning

vil

his indicator in that direc-

47

THE MASTER K ET tion soon floated

through the air to a shel tered spot upon the bank. Kneeling down, he enjoyed a long, re freshing 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 abso lutely 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 not heard a sound, but quietly that he had

now

they jabbered loudly, as

if

much ex

cited.

Finally one fat and 48

somewhat aged na-

THE CA NNIBA L ISLAND who seemed to be a chief, came Rob and said, in broken English:

close

tive,

to

"

How

"I

here?"

said the boy, with a grin.

flew,"

The "

get

shook

chief

his head, saying:

No boat come. How white man come?"

"Through

was

rather

the

air,"

flattered

Rob, who

replied at

called

being

a

"man/

The

chief looked into the air with a

zled expression "White

man

Then he

and shook lie,"

his

puz

head again.

he said calmly.

held further conversation with

his fellows, after

which he turned

Rob

to

and announced: "Me

Come Make white man

man many times. White men all bad.

see white

in big boats.

We

with bang-sticks. kill with club. Then we eat white man. kill

white

man

good.

Live white

This did not please of

Rob

man

at all.

Dead

bad!

The

idea

being eaten by savages had never occur-

49

THE MASTER KE1 him

red to

he said rather anxiously

to the chief:

here, old fellow; do

"Look

So

as a sequel to his adventures.

you want

to

die?"

no

"Me

"You ll

Rob.

"I

You

die.

if

die, too,

m

die,"

you

was the eat

reply.

me,"

said

full of poison."

Don t know poison," re chief, much perplexed to under

"Poison?

turned the stand him.

poison will

"Well,

Then you

sick.

ll

make you sick

die.

I

m

full of

it;

awful eat

it

every day for breakfast. It don t hurt white men, you see, but it kills black men quicker

than the

The

bang-stick."

chief listened to this statement care

but only understood it in part. a moment s reflection he declared: fully,

"

White man

eat plenty

never

cheerfulness:

Before

Lie

all

time.

Me

Never get sick; Then he added, with renewed

white

die."

lie.

After

Rob

man.

"Me

eat you, too

!"

could think of a further pro50

THE CANNIBAL ISLAND test, 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 lage,

where Rob was

came

thrust into a brush

wood hut and thrown upon still "

kill little

With

the ground,

bound.

tightlv

We

to a vil

light

said the chief.

fire,"

white man.

Then

eat

"

Then

him."

comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone to think the mat this

ter over. "

This

a groan. bals.

is

I

Wish

never expected to feed canni I was at home with mother

and dad and the seen the

reflected the boy, with

tough,"

"

Demon

girls.

Wish

of Electricity

derful inventions.

I

I

and

d never his

won

was happy enough be-

THE MASTER KE1 Master Key. And with salt and pepper,

fore I struck that awful

now

be eaten

I ll

Wonder

be any gravy. Perhaps they ll boil me, with biscuits, as mother does chickens. Oh-h-h-h-h! It s

probably.

just

awful

if

there

ll

!"

In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware that something was hurt After rolling over he found that he had been lying upon a sharp stone ing his back.

that stuck out of the earth.

He

an idea.

This gave him

upon the stone again and began rubbing the rope that bound him rolled

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.

wriggled and pushed his body right and right

and

left,

until the strain

spiration

left,

sawing away at the rope, and exertion started the per

from every pore.

At length uncoiling

He

it

the rope parted, and

from

his

52

body Rob

hastily

stood

up

THE CANNIBAL ISLAND and rubbed

his

benumbed muscles and

to regain his lost breath.

moment

himself a

He

tried

had not freed

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 As the native made a rush the blacks now.

toward him the boy drew the electric tube from his pocket, pointed it at the foe, and

The

pressed the button.

fellow sank to the

earth without even a groan, and lay

Then another black the fat chief.

and

erty,

still.

entered, followed

by saw Rob at lib they comrade lying apparently

When

their

dead, the chief cried out in surprise, using

some expressive words in his own language. it s just the same to you, old chap," "If

said

Rob,

You

can

coolly,

make

"I

won

t

be eaten to-day.

a pie of that fellow on the

ground." "No!

We

eat

you,"

53

cried the chief, an-

THE MASTER KEJ "You

grily.

cut rope, but no get away; no

boat!" 4

I

don

t

need a boat, thank

you,"

said

and then, as the other native sprang forward, he pointed the tube and laid him the boy;

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 dling, fat figure,

Rob

at the

wad

followed the chief and

found himself standing almost

A big

of the native village.

in the center

fire

was blaz

ing merrily and the blacks were busy

mak

ing preparations for a grand feast.

Rob was

quickly surrounded by a crowd

of the villagers,

made

who

chattered fiercely and

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 54

nearer,"

THE CANNIBAL ISLAND Rob

said to the fat chief,

ll

"I

knock

em

over.

you make

"What

asked the

do?"

chief,

nervously. "Watch

sharp, and you

ll

see,"

answered

Rob. Then he made a mocking bow to the m pleased to have circle and continued: "I

met you like

m

me

and proud well enough to want

to think

fellows,

to eat

you

me; but

hurry to-day, so I can t After which, as the stop to be digested." crowd broke into a hum of surprise, he I

in a bit of a

added:

"Good-day,

black folks!

and quick

turned the indicator of his traveling chine to the word ly

ma

"up."

Slowly he rose into the air, until his heels were just above the gaping blacks; but there

With

he stopped short. glanced

at the

indicator.

properly, and he

thing was

a thrill of fear he

knew

wrong with

ism that controlled

at

was pointed once that some It

the delicate

mechan

Probably the pres sure of the rope across its face, when he was it.

55

THE MASTER KET bound, had put

it

There he

out of order.

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 up

on the ground before him. The fat chief had seen something

men

in his youth,

trust

them.

and had learned

he peeped

of his little black eyes ill

to

mis

So, while he remained as pros

trate as the rest,

was

of white

at ease,

at

Rob

and saw

with one

that the

boy and seemed both annoyed

and frightened. So he muttered some orders

to the

man

next him,

who

when he

rose and pricked the suspended

wriggled along the ground until he had reached a position behind Rob,

"

"

god

with the point of his spear.

"

Ouch!"

He

yelled the boy;

"

stop that

!"

twisted his head around, and seeing

the black again

make

a

56

movement with

the

THE CANNIBAL ISLAND Rob

turned his electric tube upon him and keeled him over like a ten-pin.

spear,

The

natives,

cry of

who had

looked up at his

pain, again prostrated

kicking their toes against the

new

terrified tattoo at this

god

s

themselves, in a

ground

evidence of the

powers.

The

situation

strained

was growing somewhat time, and Rob did not

by this know what the savages would decide next; so he thought

it

best to

from them, since he was unable greater height.

He

to

do

move away to rise to a

turned the indicator

towards the south, where a level space ap peared between the trees; but instead of taking that direction he northeast, a proof that

now become

moved towards his

machine had

absolutely unreliable.

More

over, he was slowly approaching the

which, although

it

the

fire,

had ceased blazing, was

a mass of glowing red embers.

In his excitement he turned the indicator this

way and

that, trying to

57

change the

di-

THE MA S TER KEf rection of his flight, but the only result of his

endeavor was

the

fire,

"

to carry

where he came

Murder!

neath him.

the

felt

"I

The

fat chief

to the rescue.

and

glow

blazes!"

of the coals

be roasted,

ll

Here; help, Fatty,

directly over

to a full stop.

Fire

Help!

he cried, as he

him

after

be all!

help!"

sprang to his feet and came He reached up, caught Rob

and pulled him down to the ground, away from the fire. But the next

by the

heels,

moment,

as he clung to the

both soared into the

though now cape

its

far

boy

s feet,

air again,

enough from the

they

and,

al

fire to es

heat, the savage, finding himself

from the earth, uttered a scream of horror and let go of Rob, to fall head over

lifted

upon the ground. The other blacks had by this time re gained their feet, and now they crowded heels

around

their

chief

and

set

him upright

in

the air, just

again.

Rob continued

to

float

58

THE CANNIBAL ISLAND above their heads, and thoughts

of

escaping

now abandoned means

by

wrecked traveling machine. solved to regain a foothold

and take

of

But he

all

his

re

upon the earth

chances of escape by running So he turned the indi rather than flying. his

cator to the it

word u

down,"

and very slowly

obeyed, allowing him, to his great

to sink gently to the

ground.

59

relief,

CHAPTER SIXTH THE BUCCANEERS more

the blacks

ONCE around

our

cle

coolly

drew

"Tell

to

I

your people

away through dares

and

his tube

formed a

with

who

adventurer,

said to the chief:

m

going

those trees, and

interfere

cir

me

if

I ll

to

walk

any one paralyze

him."

The

chief understood

enough English to catch his meaning, and repeated the mes sage 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 60

a

THE BUCCANEERS although he was fearful some of the blacks should stick a spear

fine air of dignity, lest

into

club.

him or bump his head with a warBut they were awed by the wonders

they had seen and were still inclined to be lieve him a god, so he was not molested.

When

he found himself outside the

made

lage he

vil

for the high plateau in the

center of the island, where he could be safe

from the cannibals while he collected

his

But when he reached the place

thoughts.

he found the sides so steep he could not climb them, so he adjusted the indicator

word

to the

"up"

enough power

and found

to support his

clambered up the rocks

had

it

still

body while he

to the level, grass-

covered space at the top.

Then, reclining upon

he gave he might

his back,

himself up to thoughts of

how

escape from his unpleasant predicament. "Here

dreds

way

of to

I

am, on

a cannibal island,

hun

miles from civilization, with get

he reflected.

back,"

61

no

"The

THE MASTER KE7 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 Til miss the family will look for

next three

I

gifts.

don

t

might bring than this. But how

me am

this beastly island?

I ll

for they

if

I

don

t

look

mind that into I

to

so

much,

worse scrapes get away from

be eaten,

after all,

out!"

These and similar thoughts occupied him for some time, yet in spite of much plan ning and thinking he could find no practical

means

At edge

of escape.

the

end

of

an hour he looked over the

of the plateau

by a ring

and found

Perhaps they intend surrender," he thought; succeed so long as if,

surrounded

who had to watch his move

of the black cannibals,

calmly seated themselves ments.

And

it

in time,

my

to starve

me

they won t tablets hold out. "but

they should starve me,

62

into

I ll

be

THE BUCCANEERS too thin and tough to so

I ll

get the best of them,

Then he examine

He

make good

again lay

his

might not be able for he

anyhow."

down and began

electrical traveling

did not dare take

it

to get

knew nothing

to

machine.

apart, fearing he it

at all

together again,

about

But he discovered two

struction.

eating;

con

its

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

u the machine thought, might

He

out,"

he

work."

pry out the edges with his pocket knife, but the attempt resulted first tried

to

Then, as the sides seemed a little bulged outward by the dents, he placed the machine between two flat stones in failure.

and pressed them together until the instrument was nearly round again.

little

The

dents remained, to be sure, but he hoped

he had removed

the

works. 63

pressure

upon

the

THE MA S TER KE T There was

just

one way

to discover

how

well he had succeeded, so he fastened the

machine

to his wrist

cator to the

word

twenty

indi

up."

Slowly he ascended, of nearly

and turned the

"

this

Then

feet.

became slower and

time to a height

finally

his progress

ceased

alto

gether. "

"

That

Now He

s

let s

a

little

see

if it

better,"

will

go

put the indicator to

the direction of

home

he

"

north-west,"

and very slowly the carried him away

machine obeyed and from the plateau and across the

The

natives

thought.

sidewise."

island.

saw him go, and springing

began uttering excited shouts and throwing their spears at him. But he to

their feet

was already so high and

so far

away

that

they failed to reach him, and the boy con tinued his journey unharmed.

Once

the branches of a

tall tree;

him and nearly tipped him

managed

to

caught

over; but he

escape others by drawing up

THE BUCCANEERS At

his feet.

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

was not

the machine, which clearly

in

good

The vast ocean was be working neath him, and he moved no faster than an order.

ordinary walk. this

"At

next

rate

I ll

get

home some

time

he grumbled. However, I ought to be glad the machine "

year,"

I

suppose

works

at

And

all."

he really was glad.

All the afternoon and

all

the long o

sum-

mer night he moved slowly over the water. a reg lar jog It was annoying to go at "

trot,"

Rob

as

called

it,

after his

former

was no help for it. dawn was breaking he saw in the

swift flight; but there

Just as

distance a small vessel, sailing in the direc tion he

was following, yet scarcely moving

for lack of it,

wind.

He

soon caught up

witli

but saw no one on deck, and t^e craft

had a dingy and uncared-for 65

ap;) jarance

THE MASTER KEY that

was not

ing over to

it

reassuring. for

when

rest for a while.

man came

a

He

bow, where the deck was

and was about

highest,

hover

after

some time Rob decided

board the ship and

alighted near the

But

to explore the place

out of the low cabin and

espied him.

This person had a most villainous coun tenance,

and

was

bearded and dressed ratical

costume.

black-

dark-skinned, in

On

an outlandish,

seeing the

pi

boy he

gave a loud shout and was immediately joined by four companions, each as disa greeable 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

move

ment, J~ut rushed upon him so quickly that he had. to press the button at a lively rate. 66

It

was

a strange sight to see the pirates

deck and

lie

motionless

drop

to the

THE B UCCA NEERS The

tube

strange pirates

made no

noise at

and remarkable suddenly drop

motionless.

Indeed,

all,

so

it

was

a

sight to see the

to the

deck and

one was

so

lie

nearly

upon him when the electric current struck him that his head, in falling, bumped into

Rob

stomach and sent him reeling against

s

the side of the vessel.

He his

quickly recovered himself, and seeing

enemies were rendered harmless, the

boy entered the cabin and examined it It was curiously. 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 un lucky as to have met these cruel and des perate

men.

After a short inspection of the place he returned to the deck and again seated him self in

The

the

bow.

crippled condition of his traveling

machine was now

his chief

trouble,

and

although a good breeze had sprung up to 67

fill

THE MA S TER KE T bark was making fair headway, Rob knew he could never expect to reach home unless he could discover a the sails

and the

mode

little

conveyance than this. lie unstrapped the machine from

better

wrist to it

ing fell

of

examine

it

better,

carelessly in his

his

and while hold

hand

it

slipped and

with a bang to the deck, striking upon

round edge and rolling quickly past the cabin and out of sight. With a cry of alarm its

he ran after it

of

it,

and

after

much

search found

lying against the bulwark near the edge

a scupper hole,

the ship

where the

would have sent

the ocean.

Rob

it

least jar of

to the

bottom

of

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,

he had utterly ruined ism.

Should

this

its

and Rob feared delicate

mechan

prove to be true,

might now consider himself a prisoner this piratical

he of

band, the members of which, 68

THE B UC CA NEERS although temporarily disabled, would soon regain consciousness.

He

sat in the

bow, sadly thinking misfortunes, until he noticed that one

men

of his of the

to stir. The effect of the elecO trie shock conveyed by the tube was begin ning to wear away, and now the buccaneer

sat

be<mn

up, rubbed his head in

a bewildered

fashion and looked around him.

When

saw Rob he gave a shout

and drew

his knife,

tube

of rage

but one motion of the electric

made him

cringe and slip

where he remained out

cabin,

he

And now

away

to the

of clanger.

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 undis turbed.

time the ship had begun to pitch and toss in an uncomfortable fashion, and

By

this

Rob noticed a gale.

that the breeze

had increased

There being no one 69

to

to look after

THE MASTER KEY the sails, the vessel

was

capsizing or breaking

grave danger of her masts. The

in

waves were now running high, Rob began to be worried.

too,

and

Presently the captain of the pirates stuck his head out of the cabin door, jabbered

some

words and pointed to the sails. The boy nodded, for he under stood they wanted to attend to the rigging. So the crew trooped forth, rather fearfully, unintelligible

and began

to reef the sails

into condition to

Rob

and put the ship

weather the storm.

paid no further attention to them.

He

looked at his traveling machine rather doubtfully and wondered if he dared risk

power to carry him through the air. Whether he remained in the ship or trusted its

to the

machine, he stood a good chance of

dropping into the sea at any moment. while he hesitated, he attached the

So,

ma

chine to his wrist and leaned over the bul

warks

to

watch the progress

70

of the storm.

THE B UCCA NEERS He might

stay in the ship until

it

foundered, he thought, and then take his chances with He decided to wait until a the machine.

climax arrived.

The climax came

the next

moment,

for

while he leaned over the bulwarks the buc

him and suddenly While two of grasp.

caneers stole up behind seized

him

them held

in their

his

arms the others searched

pockets, taking from

and the

silver

him the

electric tube

box containing

These they carried

to the

his

his tablets.

cabin and threw

had

upon the heap

of other valuables they

stolen.

did not notice his traveling

They

machine, however, but seeing O him "

/

armed they began

now

un-

jeering and laughing at

him, while the brutal captain relieved his anger by giving the prisoner several mali cious kicks.

Rob bore his

misfortune meekly, although he was almost ready to cry with grief and

disappointment.

But when one

of the pi-

THE MA S TER KEY rates, 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 he found, to his joy and relief, that it would "up"

yet obey the influence of the

of re

.Seeing him rise into the air the

pulsion.

made

fellow

power

a grab for his foot and held

companions ran to help him. Weight seemed to make no difference it

firmly, while his

in the

as

machine;

Rob;

first

it

man

lifted

it

the pirate as well

lifted

another

who

clung to the

and another who clung to The other two also caught hold, o

him.

hoping

s

leg,

their

strength would

united

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

72

THE BUCCANEERS dismay, and finally the one who grasped Rob s leg lost his hold and the five plunged

downward and splashed

into the sea.

to

work swim

way they could,

while

Finding the machine disposed accurately, Rob left the buccaneers to the ship in the best

to

he dropped down to the deck again and re covered from the cabin his box of tablets

The fellows were just scrambling on board when he again escaped, and the

electric tube.

shooting

the

into

air

with

considerable

speed.

Indeed, the instrument

now worked

bet

than at any time since he had reached the canni bal island, and the boy was greatly ter

delighted.

The wind

at first sent

to the south,

him spinning away

but he continued to

he was above the

air currents,

raged far beneath him.

rise until

and the storm

Then he

set the

and breathlessly would obey. Hurrah!

indicator to the northwest

waited to see

away he sped

if

it

at a fair rate of speed,

73

while

THE MASTER KEt all his

anxiety changed to a feeling of sweet

contentment.

His success had greatly surprised him, but he concluded that the jar caused by drop ping the instrument had relieved the pres

upon the works, and so helped rather than harmed the free action of the electric sure

currents.

While he moved through the easy, gliding motion he

with an

watched with much

storm raging below. Above head the sun was peacefully shining and

interest his

air

the

the

contrast

was

stra-nge

and impressive.

After an hour or so the storm abated, or

he passed away from it, for the deep blue of the ocean again greeted his eyes. else

He

dropped downward until he was about a hundred feet above the water, when he continued his northwesterly course. But now he regretted having o interfered o for a

moment

chine, for

his

with the action of the progress, instead

74

of

ma

being

THE BUCCANEERS swift as a bird s flight,

jerky, nor

became slow and

ma

was he sure that the damaged

down

chine might not break

any moment.

Yet so

in the right direction,

altogether at

was

far his progress

and he resolved

ex

to

periment no further with the instrument, but to let it go as it would, so long as it However supported him above the water. irregular the motion might be, if

continued, to bring

and

was

that

When

all

night

and uneasy,

for

him

it

was

sure,

to land in time,

he cared about

just then.

slumber was broken

fell his

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 the machine scarcely pace, and again

worked

The

at all, so his anxiety

was excusable.

following day was one of continued

who began

to

be

harrassed by doubts as to whether, after

all,

uneasiness for the boy,

he was moving in the right direction.

75

The

THE MA S TER KE T machine had

and

spect

it

one time

failed at

He had

might again.

confidence in

in this re lost all

its

accuracy. In spite of these perplexities

Rob

passed

the second night of his uneven flight in pro

found slumber, being exhausted by the strain and excitement he had undergone. When he awoke at daybreak, he saw, to his pro

found delight, that

he was approaching

land.

The

found him passing over a which he knew to be Boston.

rising sun

big city, He did not stop. little

The machine was

so

be depended upon that he dared no halt. But he was obliged to alter

to

make

the direction from northwest to west, and

was so great O was mid-day be

the result of this slight change O O

a reduction in speed that

it

he saw beneath him the familiar village which he lived.

fore in

Carefully father

over

s

it,

marking the

house, he

came

location

to

and a few moments 76

of

his

a stop directly later

he man-

THE BUCCANEERS to land

upon the exact spot in the back yard whence he had taken his first success aged

ful flight.

77

CHAPTER SEVEN 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

The

adventures.

with

many

story

was received

doubtful looks and

shaking of heads, as was

much

grave

quite natural under

the circumstances. "

"

I

hope,

that

dear

son,"

said his father,

you have now passed through enough

dangers to after

my

you

last

will

you a lifetime, so that here be contented to remain at

home."

78

THE DEMON BECOMES ANGRY u

Oh,

cried

Robert!"

tears in her loving eyes,

how we past

ve

"you

don

know

t

worried about you for the

all

week to-morrow morning

a

it s

you flew

ve reached

and

disappeared."

boy,

thoughtfully,

into the air

the

said

"Then,"

"In

asked Rob, with surprise.

week?"

"Yes;

"I

mother, with

week!"

"A

since

his

home

time for

just in

what?"

she asked.

But he did not answer

was thinking

of the

time."

He

that question.

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 table and pleased his mother by eating as heartily as of old.

He was

good the food pleasure

The

it is

tablets

tasted,

and

to gratify

were

thought, but

surprised to find

if

all

to realize

one

s

how

what a

sense of taste.

right for a journey, he

he always ate them he would 79

THE MASTER KET be sure to miss a great deal

was no

since there

At

taste to

four o clock he

went

and unlocked the door.

had

exactly as he his

left it,

electrical

simple

of

enjoyment,

them

at all.

to his

workshop Everything was

and he looked with

devices

amusement.

They seemed tame

wonders now

in his possession; yet

lected that his

him

at

some

beside the

he recol

numerous wires had enabled Master Key, and therefore

to strike the

should not be despised. Before long he noticed a quickening

in

with electric

were suddenly surcharged fluid, and the next instant, in

a

flash

the air, as

if

dazzling

it

of

appeared the

light,

Demon. "I

am am

here!"

I

again.

one

really thought I should never see

you

I,"

I ve

"Spare

mon,

answered Rob.

at

"So

time

he announced.

been

me

coldly.

"

your "I

"But

history,"

am aware

ures."

80

of

said the

De

your advent

THE DEMON BECOMES ANGRY you

"Oh,

"Then "I

you

know"

know

ences,"

Rob, amazed.

said

are!"

about your foolish experi interrupted the Demon, "for I have all

been with you constantly, although

mained

invisible."

"Then

had,"

call

you know what a

returned the boy.

them

they were,

retorted the

trusted to

jolly

"But

time

why

I

ve

do you

foolish experiences?"

"Because ish!"

re

I

you

abominably

Demon,

gifts of

bitterly.

fool

"I

en

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

would convey such hints to engineers that they would quickly

these devices electrical

comprehend

their

mechanism and be able

reproduce them in sufficient quantities to supply the world. And how do you treat

to

these

them

marvelous

gifts?

Why, you

carry

cannibal island, where even your crude civilization has not yet penetrated!" to a

81

THE MASTER KEY "

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.

u You might have astonished those igno rant natives as easily by showing them an ordinary electric "

ingly.

The power

mock

of

Why

the world.

upon

he cried,

your gifts would the most advanced electricians

have startled of

light,"

did you waste

them

barbarians?"

Rob, who was fright ened and awed by the Demon s vehement "

Really,"

faltered

anger,

I

never intended to

island.

I

meant

"

"

Cuba!

Is

to

that

go

to

visit

a cannibal

Cuba."

a center of advanced

thought? Why did you not take your marvels to New York or Chicago; or, if you wished to cross the ocean, to Paris or scientific

Vienna?"

82

THE DEMON BECOMES ANGRY never thought of those

"I

knowledged Rob, meekly. Then you were foolish, "

clared the

you not

Demon,

realize that

it

as

I

said,"

calmer tone.

in a is

ac

places,"

de

"Can

better to be consid

ered great by the intelligent thinkers of the earth, than to be taken for a god by stupid cannibals?" "

Oh,

now

yes, of

course,"

said

Rob.

"I

wish

had gone to Europe. But you re not the only one who has a kick coming," that

I

he continued.

"Your

flimsy traveling

chine was nearly the death of "Ah,

mon, too

it

bent

it

me."

acknowledged the De "The case was made of

is true,"

frankly.

light

ma

material.

When

the

rim was

pressed against the works and im

peded 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

THE MASTER KE1 stronger case, which

one you now "That s

I

will

for the

exchange

have."

very kind of

you,"

said

Rob,

eagerly handing his battered machine to the

Demon and

receiving the

turn.

you sure

"

"Are

new one

this will work?"

impossible for you to injure answered the other. It is

how

"And

re

in

about the next three

it,"

gifts?"

inquired the boy, anxiously. "

Before

I

grant

them,"

replied the

De

you must give me a promise to keep away from uncivilized places and to exhibit

mon,

"

your acquirements only among people

of

intelligence." "All

right,"

anxious to

agreed the boy;

visit that

other uncivilized "

Then

I

"

I

m

island again, or

not

any

country."

will

add

to

your possessions

gifts, each more precious and impor tant than the three you have already re

three

ceived."

At

this

announcement

Rob began

to

THE DEMON BECOMES ANGRT quiver with

excitement, and

eagerly at the

Demon,

sat

staring

while the latter

in

creased in stature and sparkled and glowed

more

brilliantly

than ever.

CHAPTER EIGHT ROB ACQUIRES NEW POWERS

HAVE seen

"T

into the

I

the folly of sending

you

world with an offensive

strument, yet with no method of

in

defense,"

resumed the Demon, presently. "You have knocked over a good many people with that tube during the past "I

it.

know,"

It

said

week."

Rob;

was the only way

"but

I

I

couldn

t

had

to protect

gift

shall

help

my

self."

"Therefore

Garment

my

next

of Protection.

be

this

You must wear

it

underneath your clothing. It has power to accumulate and exercise electrical repellent 86

ROD ACQUIRES NEW POWERS force.

Perhaps you do not

means, so

any

I

will explain

know what

more

missile, such as a bullet,

fully.

that

When

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 ar rest

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.

Garment you

will find

When it

wearing

this

unnecessary to use

the electric tube except on rare occasions.

Never allow revenge or animosity

to influ

ence your conduct. Men may threaten, but they can not injure you, so you must re

member

do not possess your mighty advantages, and that, because of that

they

your strength, you should bear with them patiently."

Rob examined curiosity.

It

the garment with

much

glittered like silver, yet

87

was

THE MASTER K El soft

and

the

Demon had

lamb

pliable as

his use, for

it

wool.

s

it

prepared

was

just

Rob

especially for

s size.

Demon, more

continued the

"Now,"

Evidently

u we

gravely, electrical

approach the subject of an device so truly marvelous that even

am awed when

contemplate the accura cy and perfection of the natural laws which guide it and permit it to exercise its func I

I

Mankind has

tions.

ing like

it,

electrical

for

requires full

it

power

as yet conceived noth

to

knowledge

understand even

its

of

pos

sibilities."

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

asked Rob, wonderingly. an automatic Record of Events,"

"What is "It

is

in thickness.

it?"

answered the Demon. "I

don

t

understand,"

said

Rob, with

hesitation. "

I

will explain to

you

88

its

use,"

returned

NEW POWERS

ROB ACQUIRES the

Demon,

"although

the electrical forces

which operate it and the vibratory currents which are the true records must remain -un

known the

to

you

until

your brain has mastered

higher knowledge of

At

electricity.

present the practical side of this invention

be more interesting

will

view "

of

its

events that

many word

wheel

little

GERMANY

know

to

the princi

occurring

moment. at

in

You

Ger first

the side until the in

appears

Then open

the small end.

which

are

at the present

turn this

re

scientific construction.

Suppose you wish

pal

you than a

to

the slot at

the top cover,

hinged, and those passing events in which you are interested will appear before is

your eyes.

The Demon,

as

he spoke, opened the

cover, and, looking within, the in a mirror, a

A

regiment

moving of

boy saw,

as

picture before him.

soldiers

was

marching Berlin, and at its

through the streets of head rode a body of horsemen, in the midst 89

THE MASTER of

The

which was the Emperor himself.

people

who thronged

and waved

the sidewalks cheered

and handkerchiefs

their hats

with enthusiasm, while a band of musicians

German

played a

air,

which Rob could

dis

tinctly hear.

While he gazed, spell-bound, the scene changed, and he looked upon a great war ship entering a harbor with

The

rails

were lined with

straining their eyes for the

beloved cruise,

"

Vaterland^

fly ing

officers first

after a

and a ringing cheer,

sand throats, came faintly

pennants.

as

to

and men

sight of their

long foreign

from a thou

Rob

s

ear.

Again the scene changed, and within a dingy, underground room,

hemmed

walls of stone, and dimly lighted

in

by

by a flick

ering lamp, a body of wild-eyed, desperate

men were

plighting an oath to

Emperor and overthrow "

Anarchists?"

asked

his

murder the

government.

Rob,

trembling

with excitement. "

Anarchists!"

answered the Demon, with 90

ROB ACQUIRES

NEW POWERS

a faint sneer, and he shut the cover of the

Record with a sudden snap. "It

s wonderful!"

cried the boy, with a

was followed by a slight shiver. The Record is, indeed, proof within

sigh that "

itself of

the marvelous possibilities of elec

tricity.

Men

now

are

obliged to

for information 5 but these

upon newspapers

they have newspaper statements are

can only relate events long

And

occurred. often false,

and

unreliable

while

depend

many

after

sometimes

wholly

events of real importance

You

are never printed in their columns.

guess what an improvement

may

automatic Record of Events, which liable

as

Truth

"

even as they

But

as re

for the vibratory cur

rents convey the actual events to ion,

is

your

suppose,"

said

Rob,

asleep, or not looking at the

have called

vis

happen." "that

some

thing important should happen while

"I

this

Nothing can be

itself.

altered or falsified,

is

this

a

I

m

box?"

Record,"

replied

THE MASTER KET the I

Demon,

"and

such

it

really is, although have shown you only such events as are

in process of this

being recorded.

spring you

of the box,

may

where

By

pressing

open the opposite cover events of importance

all

that have occurred throughout the world

during the previous twenty-four hours will

You may

appear before you in succession. thus study

them

at

your

The

leisure.

vari

ous scenes constitute a register of the world

and may be recalled to view as often

history,

as

you "It

desire."

s

it

like

s

knowing

everything,"

murmured Rob, deeply impressed haps the "It

first

time in his

for per

life.

knowing every thing," returned the

is

Demon

"and

5

this

mighty

gift I

cided to entrust to your care. ful as to

whom

you permit

have de

Be very care to

gaze upon

these pictures of passing events, for

may often human race."

edge

"I

s

ll

be

knowl

cause great misery to the

careful,"

promised the boy, as

92

ROB ACQUIRES

NEW POWERS own

he took the box reverently within his hands. 4

The

and

third

the present

last gift of

resumed the Demon, one no less curious than the Record of Events, al though it has an entirely different value. It "is

series,"

is

a Character "What s "I

Marker."

that?"

will explain.

inquired Rob.

know

Perhaps you

your fellow-creatures are more or

hypo

they try to appear good they are not, and wise when in reality

critical.

when

That

less

that

is,

they are foolish. friendly try to

when they positively make you believe they

you they are hate you, and are kind

their

natures

seems

to

They

are

cruel.

human

be a

tell

This

failing.

ilized

hypocrisy

One

writers has said, with truth, that

when

of

your

among

civ

people things are seldom what they

seem." "I

ve heard

"On

Demon,

the

that,"

other

"some

remarked Rob.

hand,"

continued the

people with fierce counte93

THE MASTER KET nances are kindly by nature, and many who appear to be evil are in reality honorable

and trustworthy. judge

all

Therefore, that you

may

your fellow-creatures truly,

and

know upon whom

to

I

depend,

the Character Marker.

you

give

It consists

of this

While you wear them every one you meet will be marked upon pair of spectacles.

the forehead with a letter indicating his or

The good will bear the letter The wise will the letter

her character.
the evil

be marked with a

an *F.

W

The kind

their foreheads

<E.

and the

will

and the cruel a

the true natures of

all

K

show a

Thus you may determine by "And

foolish with

upon

letter

f

C.

a single look

those you

encounter."

are these, also, electrical in their

construction?"

asked the boy, as he took

the spectacles. "Certainly.

Goodness, wisdom and kind

ness are natural forces, creating character.

For

this

reason

men are not always 94

to

blame

ROB ACQUIRES NEW POWERS for

bad character,

as they acquire

it

uncon

All character sends out certain

sciously.

which these spectacles lenses and exhibit to the

electrical vibrations,

concentrate in their

gaze of their wearer, as "It

a fine

s

discovered "It

is

have

explained."

said the boy;

"who

it?"

a fact that has always existed, but

is

now

idea,"

I

utilized for the first

Rob.

"Oh!"

said

"With

these gifts,

quired a

week

to astound the

time."

and the ones you ac

ago, you are

now equipped

world and awaken mankind

wonders that may be accomplished by natural forces. See that

to a realization of the

you employ these powers wisely, in the in terests of science, and do not forget your promise to exhibit your only to those

prehending "I

ll

who

marvels

are most capable of

com

them."

remember," said

"Then

electrical

adieu until a

95

Rob.

week from

to-day,

THE MASTER KEY when

I will

meet you here

bestow upon you the

you are

last

at this

three gifts which

entitled to receive.

"Good-by!"

hour and

Good-by!"

repeated Rob, and in a gor

geous flash of color the

Demon disappeared,

leaving the boy alone in the

new and wonderful

room with

possessions.

his

CHAPTER NINE THE SECOND JOURNEY this

BY

time you will have gained a

fair idea of

in truth, a typical

Rob

s

character.

He

is,

American boy, possessing

an average intelligence not yet regulated by the balance-wheel of experience. The mysteries of electricity were

so

attractive

eager nature that he had devoted considerable time and some study to electri to his

experiment; but his study was the super ficial kind that seeks to master only such details as may be required at the moment.

cal

Moreover, he was full of boyish reckless ness and irresponsibility and therefore diffi97

THE MASTER KET cult 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

Rob may be considered one of those youngsters who might possibly develop into a brilliant manhood or enter upon an ordi nary, humdrum existence, as Fate should his life,

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 pos sessions and the stern injunction of the De

mon

to use

them wisely had rendered the

boy more thoughtful than time during his brief

life,

at

any previous and he became

so preoccupied at the dinner table that his

98

THE SECOND JOURNEY and mother

father

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

sisters,

to

and mother and

his father

and even controlled

the extent of playing a

his impatience

game

of

carom

with Nell; but he grew so nervous and impatient at

game

last that his sister

in disgust

and

left

him

gave up the to his

own

amusement.

At one time he thought electric spectacles

character

of

each

of putting

on the

and seeing what the

member

of

his

real

family

might be; but a sudden fear took posses sion of him that he might regret the act forever afterward.

They were

his

and dearest friends on earth, and

99

nearest in

his

THE MASTER KEY boyish heart he loved them

The pos of finding a bad character mark on their familiar faces made him shud

in their sibility

any der,

of

and believed

all

goodness and sincerity.

and he determined then and there

never to use the spectacles to view the face of a friend or relative.

Had any

one, at

moment, been gazing at Rob through the lenses of the wonderful Character that

Marker, I am sure a big been found upon the boy

When

to

sisters

his

cozy for

s

would have

forehead.

the family circle broke up,

retired for the night,

and

"W"

all

kissed his parents

with real affection before going

own room.

little

Rob

and

But, on reaching his

chamber, instead

bed Rob clothed himself

of

in the

preparing

Garment

Then he covered the glit Garment with his best summer suit

of Repulsion.

tering

of clothes,

He now

which

effectually concealed

it.

looked around to see what else

he should take, and thought of an umbrella, a rain-coat, a book or two to read during 100

THE SECOND JOUR NET and several things besides; but

the journey,

he ended by leaving them all behind. I can t be loaded down with so

much

"

he decided;

truck,"

"

and

going into time, where I can

civilized countries, this

get anything

m

I

I need."

However, to prevent a recurrence mistake he had previously made, he of the

map

world and a

of the

tore a

of

map

Europe from his geography, and, folding them up, He also took a placed them in his pocket. small compass that had once been a watch-

charm, and,

finally, the contents of a

iron

bank

that

tion

lock.

This represented

ings,

amounting

small

opened with a combina

two

to

his

all

dollars

sav

and seven

teen cents in dimes, nickles and pennies. "

It

isn

counted

money

t

a

fortune," "

it

up,

the

last

but

trip,

so

I

don

along somehow.

dad

and

for

I

he thought, as he didn t need any perhaps t

like

I ll

get

to tackle

more, for he might ask questions

try to

keep

me

at home."

101

THE MASTER KET By tions

the time he

and stowed

had finished all

his

prepara

his electrical

belong

was nearly ings midnight and the house was quiet. So Rob stole down stairs in his stocking feet and in

his various pockets,

noiselessly It

it

opened the back door.

was a

beautiful

July night and, in

addition to the light of the

full

moon, the

sky was filled with the radiance of count less thousands of brilliant stars. After

Rob had

put on his shoes he un

map, which was plainly visible by the starlight, and marked the direction he must take to cross the Atlantic and reach folded the

London,

his first

stopping place.

consulted his compass, his traveling

and shot

machine

put.

to

swiftly into the

had reached a

Then he

the indicator of

the

word

air.

sufficient height

"up,"

When

he

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 "

102

THE SECOND JOUR NET of exaltation,

ure!

I

now and

"

for another

wonder what next

ll

Saturday."

103

week

of

advent

happen between

CHAPTER TEN HOW ROB SERVED A MIGHTY new

THE

distinct

one,

for

it

traveling

KING

machine was a

improvement over the old

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 whirl ing 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

was not long before he found himself overtaking a magnificent vessel whose

it

104

HO W R OB SER VED A KING He decks were crowded with passengers. 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,

focused dozens of marine glasses floating form.

This inspection

who

upon his 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

Rob

the sky clouded over,

feared a rainstorm

and

was approaching.

So he rose

to a point considerably

the clouds,

where the

air

beyond was thin but re

markably pleasant to inhale and the rays of the sun were not so hot as when reflected

by the

He

surface of the water.

could see the dark clouds rolling be

neath 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 rain105

THE MASTER K ET coat, since

his elevated position

him secure from

rendered

rain-clouds.

having cut himself off from the earth, there remained nothing to see except the clear sky overhead and the tumbling But,

clouds beneath; so he took from his pocket

Automatic

the

Record

watched with breathless

of

interest the

dents occurring in different parts

world.

A

inci

of

the

big battle was being fought in

the Philippines, and so fiercely tested that

and

Events,

Rob watched

hours, with rapt attention.

its

was

con

it

progress

for

Finally a brave

by the Americans sent their foes to the cover of the woods, where they scattered in rally

every direction, only to form again in a deep valley hidden by high hills.

u It

I

only I was there," thought Rob, could show that captain where to find If

the rebels

and capture them.

But

the Philippines are rather out of so our soldiers will never

they are to a complete 1

guess

my

way,

know how

near

victory."

06

I

HO W ROB SER VED A KING The boy ment

in

found considerable amuse

also

watching the course

of

an insurrec

Venezuela, where opposing armies of well-armed men preferred, to bluster and tion in

threaten rather than

come

to blows.

During the evening he found that an "important event" was Madame Bernproduction of a new play, and Rob followed it from beginning to end with great hardt

s

enjoyment, although he

felt

a bit guilty at

not having purchased a ticket. "But it

s

a crowded house,

anyway,"

he

m

not taking up a reserved seat or keeping anv one else from seeing the reflected,

me

as the at

if

Demon 11

s

the

harm?

Yet

these Records get to be

home and

actors

I

So where

show. to

"and

it

seems

common,

wishes, people will all see the shows,

starve to

stay

and the poor

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. 107

THE MASTER KEY 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

Rec

closed the lid of the wonderful

ord of Events and soon sleep that held

fell

into a

him unconscious

for

deep

many

hours.

When

he awoke he gave a start of sur How prise, for beneath him was land. long it was since he had left the ocean be hind him he could not guess, but

his first

thought was to set the indicator of the trav eling machine to zero and to hover over

where

the country until he could determine

he was. This was no easy matter. fields, lakes,

might

groves and

exist in

He saw

green these but villages;

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

108

assem-

A

man

rushed toward

up

his

it,

but the next

hands and

fell

moment he threw

unconscious

HO W ROB SERVED A KING bled, shouting to one another

towards him

and pointing

wonder.

In order to be pre pared for emergencies Rob had taken the electric tube from his pocket, and now, as in

he examined the dress and features of the people below, the tube suddenly slipped grasp and fell to the ground, where one end stuck slantingly into the soft earth.

from

his

A man

rushed eagerly towards it, but the next moment he threw up his hands and fell

upon ran to

his

back, unconscious.

assist their fallen

tumbled

into a

Others

who

comrade quickly

heap beside him.

was evident

Rob

that the tube

had

fallen in such a position that the button

was

It

to

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 boy was

their

that the

enemy, and no sooner had he 109

THE MA S TER KET touched the ground than a shower of stones and sticks rained about him. Not one reached

his

body, however, for the Garment

Repulsion stopped their flight and re turned them to rattle with more or less of

force against those "like

To

who had thrown them

regular boomerangs," thought Rob. receive their

seemed so

own blows

in this fashion

to the

simple folk that with roars of fear and pain they ran

away u

like

magic

in all directions.

It s

no use stopping "

Rob,

regretfully,

come by

for

I

this accident.

here,"

remarked

ve spoiled my wel I think these peo

by their looks and speech, so must be somewhere in the Emerald Isle."

ple are Irish, I

He

map and

decided upon the general direction he should take to reach England, after which he again rose into the air

consulted his

and before long was passing over the

channel towards the shores of England. Either his tions

map

or compass or his calcula

proved wrong, for 1

10

it

was high noon

HOW ROB SERVED A KING his direction a half

changed

before, having

dozen times, he came

London,

He saw

v

to

at a

the great city of

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

sent a sharp steeple far into the air.

examined

this spire

that

Rob

and saw a narrow open

ing in the masonry that led to a small

room

He

crept

where a chime

of bells

hung.

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

body of the church. This have two doors, one con

in the

room proved

to

necting with the auditorium and the other letting

into

locked, but

a

Rob

side

street.

Both were

pointed the electric tube at 1 1 1

THE MASTER KEY the outside door

and broke

Then he walked

instant.

composedly London.

as

if

the lock in an

into the street as

he had lived

all his life in

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. 66

London

a great town, and

he said to himself;

take,"

what

s

"

but

no mis let s

see

the British are doing in South Africa

to-day."

He turned the cylinder to and, opening the

lid, at

South Africa,

once became inter

An

English column, commanded by a brave but stubborn officer, was surrounded

ested.

by the Boer

forces

and

fighting desperately

to avoid capture or annihilation.

u This would be ward,"

interesting to

thought the boy.

him up and

tell

"

him about

ua

Guess

it,"

King Ed I ll

hunt

HO W ROB SERVED A KING A

few steps away stood a policeman. Rob approached him and asked:

Where s The officer

the king to-day

"

Is

him with mingled

at

and suspicion.

surprise "

looked

?"

is

Majesty

at

sojournin

Marlb ro

Ouse, just now," was the reply. "Per aps you wants to make im a wissit," he con tinued, with lofty sarcasm. s it, exactly,"

"That

said

Rob.

"I

m an

American, and thought while I was in Lon don I d drop in on His Royal Highness

and say

The

hello

officer

to

him."

chuckled, as

"Hamericans is

marked,

"so

if

bloomin

much amused. green,"

youse can stand for Hameri-

can, right enough.

No

such blarsted fools.

But yon

an

I s

pose

he re

is

Majesty

other wissitors

11

s

is

the palace,

give ye a

ot re

ception."

"Thanks;

boy, and

I ll

left

look him

the

officer

laughter, 113

up,"

said the

convulsed with

THE MASTER KET He

knew why.

soon

The

palace

was

surrounded by a cordon of the king s own life guards, who admitted no one save those

who 6

presented proper credentials.

There

Rob, haven

"

t

only one thing to

s

and

that s to

any friends

walk

to give

do;"

thought

straight in, as

me

I

a regular in

troduction."

So he boldly advanced

to the gate,

where

he found himself stopped by crossed car bines and a cry of "Excuse

me,"

"Halt!"

said

Rob;

"I

m

in a

hur

ry."

He pushed

the carbines aside

made

on.

The

their

weapons, and an

soldiers

and marched

thrusts at

him with

jabbed at his breast with a glittering sword, but the Gar ment of Repulsion protected him from these officer

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 sol114

Rob

reached the entrance of the palace, only to face another group of guardsmen

HO W ROB SER VED A KING were over

diers

six

shoulder to shoulder

feet

and

tall

Rob saw

stood

that he could

not hope to pass them without using his electric tube. "Stand

aside,

you

fellows!"

he ordered.

He

There was no response.

extended

the tube and, as he pressed the button, de

scribed a semi-circle with the instrument.

Immediately the over like so across their

tall

guardsmen toppled many tenpins, and Rob stepped bodies and penetrated to the re

ception room, where a brilliant assemblage

awaited, in hushed and anxious groups, foi

opportunity to obtain

audience with the

king. "I

hope

his

Majesty

isn

t

busy,"

to a solemn-visaged official

who

want

little

him.

"I

to

have a

said

Rob

confronted talk

with

him."

"I

I

ah

beg

pardon!"

exclaimed the

astounded master of ceremonies.

name,

"What

please?"

"Oh,

never mind

my

name,"

replied

THE MASTER KET Rob, and pushing the gentleman aside he entered the audience chamber of the great king.

King Edward was engaged sultation with

one

of his ministers,

a look of surprise in

grave

bow

Rob

and

direction

s

con after

and a

he bestowed no further attention

upon the intruder. But Rob was not "Your

in earnest

to

be baffled now.

he interrupted,

Majesty,"

A

important news for you.

ve

"I

big fight

is

taking place in South Africa and your sol diers will probably

The

minister

be cut into mince

meat."

towards the

strode

boy

angrily. "Explain this intrusion!" "I

he cried.

The Boers

have explained.

Here! take a

ing a regular killing-bee.

look at

it

yourselves."

He drew and

at the

back as

are hav

if

the Record from his pocket,

movement

the minister shrank

he suspected

it

machine and might blow 116

was an

his

head

infernal off;

but

HO W ROB SER VED A KING the king stepped quietly to the

and looked open the

into the

boy

s

side

box when Rob threw

lid.

As he comprehended the full wonder of the phenomenon he was observing Edward uttered a low cry of

amazement, but there

he silently gazed upon the fierce battle that still raged far away upon the African after

Before long his keen eye recognized

veld.

the troops engaged and realized their

minent danger. They ll be <

"What

gasped. "Oh,

we can

answered Rob.

how

utterly

t

shall

annihilated!"

we s

he

do?"

do anything "But it

im

just

now,"

curious to watch

bravely the poor fellows fight for their

lives."

The

minister,

peering into

then

all

who by

this

time was also

the box, groaned aloud,

and

three forgot their surroundings in

the tragedy they were beholding.

Hemmed bers, the

in

by

vastly

superior

num

English were calmly and stub117

THE MASTER KE7 bornly resisting every inch of advance and selling

their

Their leader

dearly as possible. pierced by a hundred bul

lives fell

as

and the king, who had known him from boyhood, passed his hand across his lets,

eyes as

if

to shut out the awful

sight.

him

the fascination of the battle forced

look again, and the next

But

moment he

to

cried

aloud: "

Look

there!

Over the edge

Look

there!"

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

like

a faint echo to the ears of the three

came

watchers, they broke into a run and dashed forward to the rescue of their brave com

The Boers faltered, gave back, and next moment fled precipitately, while

rades.

the

the exhausted survivors of the courageous

band

fell

sobbing into the arms of their

rescuers. 118

HOW ROB SERVED A KING 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

"

so bad, after

t

remarked

all,"

assumed cheerfulness;

the boy, with

looked mighty one time. it

ticklish

King Edward regarded

for

the

your

boy

"

but

men

at

curiously,

remembering abrupt entrance and the marvelous device he had exhibited. his

do you call that?" he asked, pointing at the Record with a finger that trembled slightly from excitement. "What

"

It is

a

new electrical

Rob, replacing

invention,"

in his pocket,

it

replied

"and

so

constructed that events are reproduced at the exact

moment

"Where

they

can

I

occur."

purchase

one?"

demanded

the king, eagerly. "They

re not for

one of mine

is

the

sale,"

first

said

thatever

"Oh!"

119

Rob.

"This

happened."

THE MA S TER KET "

I

really

continued the boy, it wouldn t be well

think,"

nodding sagely, "that to have these Records scattered around. Their use would give some folks unfair ad vantage over others, you know." "

Certainly."

only showed you this battle because happened to be in London at the time "

I

I

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

and need looking

you

re a

after, like

good thing

jam

in a

cup

board."

The king "

I

smiled.

hope you haven

t

killed

my guards,"

said he. "

Oh, no; they

"It

"

is

ll

come around

necessary,"

right."

continued Edward,

men be protected from intru no matter how democratic they may be

that public

sion,

all

120

HO W ROB SERVED A KING You would

personally. difficult to

probably find

approach the President

United States as the King of "

Oh, wasn

m

I

"

It "

t

not

to

England."

break

mastered "

such wonderful secrets of Nature,

"

Rob,

Rob.

through."

You seem quite young to have

ued the king. So I am," replied

as

the

of

complaining," said

much trouble

it

contin

modestly;

but these natural forces have really ex isted since the beginning of the world, and "

one was sure

some time."

He was

to discover

quoting the

though unconsciously. You are an American, "

the minister,

ing

him

coming

them

Demon,

I suppose,"

close tc

Rob and

in al

said star

in the face.

Guessed right the the boy, and drawing "

first

his

time,"

answered

Character

Mark

ing spectacles from his pocket, he put them

on and stared

Upon letter

the

at the minister in turn.

man

s

forehead appeared the

"

E."

121

THE MASTER KET "Your

Majesty,"

said

"

Rob,

I

have

Will you please wear these spectacles for a few mo another queer invention.

here

ments?"

The king at once put them on. They are called Character Markers," "

continued the boy, "because the lenses catch and concentrate the character vibra

from every human individual

tions radiating

and

reflect the true character of the

upon

his forehead,,

be sure

you may his

forehead

character

is

is

evil,

If

G

a letter

his disposition

is

marked with an

person

appears,

good; 4

E

and you must beware

if

his

of

treachery."

The king saw upon

the

"E"

plainly

his minister s forehead,

nothing except

"Thank

you,"

marked

but he said

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 122

Majesty!"

HO W ROB SERVED A KING he cried. ceive "

"It

you."

did not accuse

I

king, sternly. to

a trick, and meant to de

is

Then he added:

be alone with

this

The

left

minister

ious face

answered the

you,"

"

I

wish

young gentleman." room with an anx

the

and hanging head.

"Now,"

said

"

Rob,

record of the past day

let s

and see

look over the if

that fellow

has been up to any mischief." He turned the cylinder of the Record to

and slowly the events of the twenty-four hours were reproduced,

"England,"

last

one

after the other,

upon the polished

plate.

Before long the king uttered an exclama The Record pictured a small room tion. in

which were seated three gentlemen en

gaged in earnest conversation. One was the accused minister. "

Those

men,"

said the

king

in

of

them

a low

voice, while he pointed out the other two, "are

my avowed enemies.

This

is

proof that

your wonderful spectacles indicated 123

my min-

THE MASTER KEY character with perfect truth.

ister s

grateful to

my

you for

guard,

have

am

me upon the man

for thus putting I

I

trusted

fully." "

Oh, don

lightly;

I

mention

it,"

replied the boy,

m

glad to have been of service But it s time for me to go."

"I

to you. "

t

hope you

will favor

said the king,

interview,"

me "

with another

am much

for I

interested in your electrical inventions. will instruct

my guards

time, so you

your way "All

admit you

at

any

not be obliged to fight

will

in."

right.

But

answered Rob.

knock

to

I

em

it

"

really doesn

It s

t matter,"

no trouble

at all to

over."

Then he remembered his manners and bowed low before the king, who seemed to liim

And

"

a fine fellow and not a bit stuck

up."

then he walked calmly from the pal

ace.

The

people in the outer

him wonderingly and 124

the

room

stared at

officer

of

the

HO W R OB SER VED A KING guard saluted the boy respectfully. But Rob only smiled in an amused way as he

marched past them with deep into

his trousers

hat tipped jauntily

his

hands thrust

pockets and his straw

upon the back

head.

125

of his

CHAPTER ELEVEN THE MAN OF SCIENCE passed the remainder of the clay wandering about London and amus

ROB

ing himself by watching the peculiar ways When it became so dark of the people. that there

was no danger

being ob to the nar

of his

served, he rose through the air

church tower and lay upon the floor of the little room, with the bells

row

slit

in the

hanging

all

He was

around him, just falling

mendous

din

him, and

set the

It

and

to pass the

asleep

when

clatter nearly

night.

a tre

deafened

whole tower trembling.

was the midnight chime. 126

THE MAN OF SCIENCE Rob

clutched his ears tightly, and when the vibrations had died away descended by

But even

the ladder to a lower platform.

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

bottom

"

room

at the

of the tower.

When, and

little

at

daylight,

rubbed

the

boy

sat

up

eyes, he said, wearily: Churches are all right as churches; but his

as hotels they are

rank

failures.

have bunked

with

my

in

friend,

I

ought

to

King Ed

ward."

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

he thought. Saturday, to to

I

ll

take a run over to

Paris,"

must be home again by meet the Demon, so I ll have "

I

make every day Without waiting

count."

for breakfast, since

127

he

THE MA S TER KEY had eaten a crept

evening before, he

tablet the

through the window and mounted

into the fresh

air

morning

until the great

broad waterway lay spread out beneath him. Then he sped away to the city

with

its

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: 6

^Approchez !

Then he waved the air,

and

fairly

Venez id ! his

hands

frantically in

danced with excitement.

So the boy laughed and dropped down to the roof where, standing beside the French

man, whose eyes were from

their sockets,

actually protruding

he asked, coolly:

what do you want?" The other was for a moment speechless. "Well,

128

The

eyes of the

Frenchman were

actually protruding from their sockets

1

THE MA N OF SCIENCE He was

a

man, having a bald head iron-gray beard, and his black lean

tall,

but a thick,

eyes sparkled brightly from behind a pair of

After attentively regarding the boy for a time he said, in

gold-rimmed spectacles.

broken English: "But,

M sieur, how can you

ze machine?

I

have experiment myself

wiz some air-ship; but you to

make Rob guessed

wizout ze

fly

zere

is

nossing

go!"

nity to

do the

that here

Demon

was

opportu a favor by explaining

his electrical devices to this

ance,

who was

"Here is

his

evidently a

the secret,

new acquaint man of science.

Professor,"

he said,

and holding out his wrist displayed the trav eling machine and explained, as well as he could, the forces that operated

The Frenchman,

it.

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 129

it

before he re-

THE MASTER KET Then he explaining how

joined the professor on the roof.

showed

food tablets,

his

each was stored with sufficient nourishment for

an entire day.

The

gasped for breath, so powerful was the excitement he experi enced at witnessing these marvels. scientist positively

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 re markable scenes that were being enacted throughout the civilized world.

The Frenchman was now trembling vio lently, and he implored Rob to tell him where he might obtain similar electrical

ma

chines. "I

edly;

can

t

do

"but,

that,"

replied the boy, decid

having seen these, you

maybe

able to discover their construction for your self.

Now

that

you know such things 3

to

be

THE MAN OF SCIENCE and

possible

practical, the

enable a shrewd electrician to

sufficient to

prepare duplicates of

The

hint should be

them."

scientist glared at

him with evident

disappointment, and Rob continued: "These are not all the wonders I can ex hibit.

Here

is

another electrical device that

perhaps, the most remarkable of any

is,

I

possess."

He cles

took the Character Marking specta

from

eyes.

his pocket

Then he gave

and turned

He had

letters

Guess

entist,

his

fitted

back upon

"E"

them

to his

a whistle of surprise

seen upon the

head the "

and

his

new

Frenchman

and

friend. s

fore

"C."

ve struck the wrong sort of sci after all!" he muttered, in a disgusted I

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

THE MASTER KEY worn

not

the

Garment

of

Protection his

would have been crushed by the blow. As it was, the bar rebounded with a force skull

murderous Frenchman sprawl ing upon the roof, and Rob turned around and laughed at him. that sent the

"

won

It

m

"I

t

proof

work,

against assassins.

you had an idea

me you

Professor,"

Perhaps

when you had

that

could rob

he said.

me

of

my

killed

valuable pos

but they wouldn t be a particle of use to a scoundrel like you, I assure you! sessions

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 It

city of Paris.

was indeed a

many

stately

boulevards.

beautiful

place, with

the

shady

So thronged were the

streets

buildings

132

lining

THE MAN OF SCIENCE Rob

that

well

knew he would soon be

center of a curious

crowd should he

the

alight

Already a few sky-gazers had noted the boy moving high in the air, above

upon them.

their heads,

and one or two groups stood

pointing their fingers at him.

Pausing

above the imposing the Hotel Anglais, Rob no

at

structure of

length

upper floors an open window, before which was a small iron bal cony. Alighting upon this he proceeded to ticed

at

one

of the

enter, without hesitation, the

He

open window.

heard a shriek and a cry of

leur!"

ure as

"Auvo-

and caught sight of a woman s fig she dashed into an adjoining room,

slamming and locking the door behind her. I don t know as I blame her," ob "

served Rob, with a smile at the panic he I s had created. pose she takes me for a "

burglar, and thinks lightning

He

I

ve climbed up the

rod."

soon found the door leading into the

133

THE MASTER KE7 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 pompouslooking gentleman behind the desk. "

The man looked

him

at

in a surprised

way, for he had not heard the boy enter the room. But he said something in French to a waiter

came 66

"

to

who was passing, and the Rob and made a low bow.

speak ze Eengliss ver What desire have you?" "

I

What

are

your

rates

fine,"

by the

latter

he

said.

day?"

asked the boy. "

"

Ten

francs,

How many

"Dollar

"Yes; "Ah, "All

I

M

sieur."

dollars

is that?"

Americaine?"

United States

out I Eet

is

money."

ze two dollar,

right; I can stay

go bankrupt.

Give

sieur."

about a day before

me

134

M

a

room."

THE

MAN OF SCIENCE

"Ceffainenient)

M sieur.

Have you

ze

luggage?"

but I

in advance," said

Rob, and began counting out his dimes and nickles and pennies, to the unbounded "No;

amazement

ll

pay

of the waiter,

who looked

as

if

he had never seen such coins before.

He

carried the

money

to the fat gentle

man, who examined the pieces curiously, and there was a long conference between them before in

payment

it

was decided

for a

room

to accept

for a day.

them

But

at

season the hotel was almost empty, and when Rob protested that he had no other this

money

the fat gentleman put the coins into

box with a resigned sigh and the waiter showed the boy to a little room at his cash

the very top of the building.

Rob washed and brushed his clothes,

after

which he

the dust from sat

amused himself by viewing

down and

the

pictures

constantly formed upon the polished plate of the Record of Events.

that

135

CHAPTER TWELVE HOW ROB SAVED A

REPUBLIC.

following the shifting scenes of the fascinating Record Rob noted

WHILE

an occurrence that caused him

to give a

low

whistle of astonishment and devote several

moments "I

to serious thought.

believe

it

s

about time

with the politics of this at last, as

it

to his

he said, of the metal box

Republic,"

he closed the

and restored

interfered

I

lid

pocket.

take a hand there probably

won

"If

t

I

don

be a

t

Re

public of France very long and, as a good

American,

I

prefer a republic

archy."

136

to a

mon

HOW ROB SAVED Then he walked his

down-stairs and found

English-speaking waiter. President

"Where s

President!

"Ze

To be Where is

"

The

Loubet?"

Ah, he

is

at his residence,

sion.

he asked.

wiz his

M

man

sieur."

his residence?"

waiter began a series of voluble and directions

explicit

boy

A REPUBLIC

which so confused the

that he exclaimed:

much

"Oh,

obliged!"

and walked away

in disgust.

he approached a gen darme and repeated his question, with no better result than before, for the fellow

Gaining the

waved

his

street

arms wildly

in all directions

and

roared a volley of incomprehensible French phrases that conveyed no meaning what ever. "If

ever

again,"

said

advance.

I

travel

Rob,

Why

"I

doesn

in ll

t

foreign

countries

learn their lingo in

the

Demon get up a

conversation machine that will speak languages?"

137

all

THE MASTER KET By

dint of

much

inquiry, however,

and

walking several miles following am biguous directions, he managed to reach after

residence

the

there

Loubet.

President

of

But

he was politely informed that the

President was busily engaged in his garden,

and would see no one. "That "If

he

all

s

said the boy, calmly.

the garden

s in

finding

right,"

I ll

have no trouble

him."

Then,

to the

amazement

of the

French

men, Rob shot into the air fifty feet or so, from which elevation he overlooked a pretty garden

in the rear of the President s

The

sion.

place

was protected from

man ordi

nary intrusion b} high walls, but Rob de scended 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?"

with a bow.

The gentleman looked 138

up.

he inquired,

HO W ROB SA VED A REPUBLIC "My

servants were instructed to allow no

one to disturb

he

me,"

said,

speaking in

excellent English. "It

isn

t

their fault;

returned Rob.

I

"The

flew fact

dyer is,"

the

he noted the President

hastily, as

wall,"

he added, s

frown, have come to save the Republic; and I haven t much time to waste over a bundle of "

I

Frenchmen,

The

either."

President seemed surprised.

he demanded, sharply. Robert Billings Joslyn, United States

"Your name!" "

of America!" "Your

business,

Rob drew and placed "This,

it

Monsieur

Joslyn!"

the Record from his pocket

upon the

sir,"

table.

said he,

device that records

"is

an

electrical

I important events. wish to call your attention to a scene en acted in Paris last evening which may have

an

effect

upon the

all

future history of your

country."

He

opened the

lid,

placed the Record so

139

THE MASTER KEY that the

President could see clearly, and

then watched

the

the great

man

upon

changing expressions s

face; first indifference,

then interest, the next

moment

eagerness

and amazement. "Mon Dieu!"

he gasped;

"

the Orlean-

istsl"

Rob nodded. Yes; they ve worked up a rather pretty plot, haven t they?" "

He was President did not reply. anxiously watching the Record and scrib The

bling notes on a paper beside him. face

was pale and

His

his lips tightly

compressed. he in leaned back his chair and Finally asked :

you reproduce this scene again?" answered the boy; Certainly,

"Can "

"as

sir,"

often as "Will

my

you

like."

you remain here while

minister of police?

short

It will

I

send for

require but a

time."

"Call

him up,

then. 140

I

m

in

something

Rob watched

the changing expressions great man s face

upon

the

HOW ROB SAVED

now

hurry myself, but

of a

with

this

The

see

I ll

thing

it

Rob and "You

said,

are a

"That s

answer;

Then he turned

to

boy!"

Mr.

President,"

was the

an American boy, you must That makes a big difference, I

"but

you."

The

President

"This is

"No;

m

I

and is

it

bowed

a

Rec

world."

remarked the Presi

marvel,"

We

But the

a present of the

the only one in the

dent, thoughtfully.

miracle.

he asked.

hardly equal to that.

made me

s

gravely.

invention?"

your

inventor has

"It

through."

wonderingly:

true,

remember.

ord,

ve mixed up

I

President touched a bell and gave an

order to his servant.

assure

A REPUBLIC

"More!

It is

a real

are living in an age of

won

my young friend." No one knows that better

ders, "

replied

sir,"

trust "

Rob.

your chief I

think

of

so,"

"

than myself, But, tell me, can you

police?"

said the President, slowly; 141

THE MA S TER KET "

yet since your invention has

many men

that

are

I

have considered honest

criminally implicated I

plot,

in

this

royalist

to

depend

know whom

hardly

shown me

upon." 4

Then

please

wear these

spectacles dur

ing your interview with the minister of po said the boy. You must say noth lice," "

ing, while he

that

will

The

with us, about certain marks

appear upon

when he marks

is

has gone

so

you

will

his forehead;

will

I

explain

understand

but

those

them."

President covered his eyes with the

spectacles. "

Why,"

he exclaimed,

your own brow "

Stop, "

blush; ters are,

The

I

sir

!"

don

if it s

the letters

t

"

I

see

upon

"

Rob, with a know what the let

interrupted care to

just the

same

to

you."

President seemed puzzled by this

speech, but fortunately the minister of police arrived just then and, under

Rob

s

guid

ance, the pictured record of the Orleanist 142

HO W ROB SA VED A REPUBLIC plot

was reproduced before the

startled eyes

of the official. "And now,"

any

said the boy,

of this foolishness

is

"

let

us see

going on

if

just at

present."

He

turned to the opposite side of the Record and allowed the President and his minister of police fo witness the quick suc cession of events even as they occurred.

Suddenly the minister

"

Ha!"

cried,

pointing to the figure of a

and,

man disembark

ing from an English boat at Calais, he said, excitedly: "

That, your Excellency,

is

the

Duke

of

I must leave Orleans, in disguise! you for a time, that I may issue some necessary or ders to my men; but this evening I shall

call to

mode

confer with you regarding the best

,of

suppressing this terrible

plot."

When the official had

departed, the Presi dent removed the spectacles from his eyes

and handed them "

What

to

Rob.

did you see

?"

H3

asked the boy.

THE MASTER KET "

The letters and Then you may trust him

<W."


"

de

fully,"

Rob, and explained the construction the Character Marker to the interested

clared of

and amazed statesman.

now

"And "

for

my

one and

The

I

I

must

stay in your city

want

he continued, will be a short

go,"

to see all

I can."

President scrawled something on a

sheet of paper and signed his

afterward presenting

bow,

it,

name

to

it,

with a courteous

to his visitor.

This will enable you to go wherever you please, while in Paris," he said. regret my inability to reward you properly "

"I

for the great service

you have rendered

country; but you have

my

my

sincerest grati

and may command me in any way." Oh, that s all right," answered Rob.

tude, "

"

I

and

duty to warn you, you look sharp you ll be able to

thought if

it

was

my

break up this conspiracy. But any reward. Good day, sir." 144

I

don

t

want

HOW ROB SAVED He

A REPUBLIC

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 beautiful

boulevards.

brilliantly

ure

These were now

and crowds

lighted,

seekers thronged

into the

of

pleas

them everywhere.

Rob

experienced a decided sense of relief as he mixed with the gay populace and en joyed the sights of the splendid city, for it enabled him to forget, for a time, the re sponsibilities thrust

sion of

the

upon him by the posses

Demon

s

devices.

145

marvelous

electrical

CHAPTER THIRTEEN ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES

OUR

young adventurer had intended

to pass the night in the

his

hotel,

but

the

little

atmosphere

bed

at

Paris

of

proved so hot and disagreeable that he de cided it would be more enjoyable to sleep while journeying through the cooler air that lay far above the earth s surface.

So

were striking the midnight hour Rob mounted skyward and turned the

just as the clocks

indicator of the traveling east, intending to

make

machine

the city of

to

the

Vienna

his next stop.

He

had

risen to a considerable distance,

146

ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES where the hilarating,

was remarkably fresh and ex and the relief he experienced

air

from the close and muggy streets of Paris was of such a soothing nature that he pres His day in the me ently fell fast asleep.

had been a busy one, for, like all boys, he had forgotten himself in the de light of sight-seeing and had tired his mus tropolis

cles

and exhausted

his strength to

an un

usual degree. It

was about three o clock

when Rob, moving

in the

accidently touched with his right indicator of the

the south of east.

unaware

of

the

slight

it

a couple of points

He

was, of course,

alteration

which was destined

course,

hand the

machine which was fastened

to his left wrist, setting to

morning

restlessly in his sleep,

to

boy

s

fatigue induced

him

his

prove of

serious importance in the near future.

the

in

For

to sleep far

beyond daybreak, and during this period of unconsciousness he was passing over the face of

European countries and approaching 147

THE MASTER KET the lawless and dangerous dominions of the

Orient.

he opened his eyes, he was puzzled to determine where he was.

When,

at last,

Beneath him stretched a

and speeding across abounding

The him was

this

sandy plain, he came to a land vast,

in luxuriant vegetation.

centrifugal

force

evidently, for

which propelled

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

night,"

he

have taken

if

ve passed Vienna in the

ought not to more than a few hours to "

thought.

me

reach there from

It

Paris."

moment fifteen hun behind him but Rob s geogra

Vienna was dred miles

I

at that

5

phy had always been his stumbling block at school, and he had not learned to gage the speed of the traveling machine; so he

148

ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES was completely mystified

as to his

where

abouts.

Presently a village having spires flash.

to

many

queer

and minarets whisked by him like a Rob became worried, and resolved

slow up at the next sign of habitation. This was a good resolution, but Turke

stan

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 jump-

ing-bar.

This

won

do

he exclaimed, The traveling machine seems earnestly. to be running away with me, and I m miss "

t

at

all!"

"

ing 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

149

THE MASTER KET Being too high

sandy plain.

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. "

a desert,

It s

ment;

He

u

was

right,"

perhaps old Sahara

his

com

herself."

machine again towards the a more moderate rate of speed

started the

and

east,

all

at

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 looking men, riding upon drome daries and slender, spirited horses and fierce

armed with long

rifles

and crookedly shaped

simitars. "

Those fellows seem

trouble,"

be looking for remarked the boy, as he glided

over them,

"

and

healthy for an

But

I

haven

likely to get

it

enemy t

to

wouldn

t

be exactly

to get in their

time to stop, so

mixed up

them."

150

in

I

way.

m

not

any rumpus with

tk

Those fellows seem

to

be looking for trouble

"

ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES However, the armed caravan was scarcely out of sight before Rob discovered he was approaching a

wooded

rich,

which was

desert, in the midst of

the

oasis of

built the

Not that he had walled city of Yarkand. ever heard of the place, or knew its name; for few Europeans and only one American traveler had ever visited it. But

some importance and beauty, and resolved to

was a

city of

make a stop there. Above the high

walls

he guessed

from

its

it

size

many

projected

slender, white minarets, indicating that the

inhabitants were either of

Mohammedans;

investigations their

A

so

Turks or some race

Rob

before

decided to

make

trusting

himself

trees with

leafy

to

company. cluster

of

tall

tops

stood a short distance outside the walls, and

here the boy landed and sat

down

to rest in

the refreshing shade.

The if

it

city

were

seemed

as

deserted,

hushed and

and

still

before

as

him

THE MASTER KEY the vast

stretched

He

sands.

heated

plain of white,

strained

eyes to catch a of the band of warriors he had

glimpse

his

passed, but they were

moving slowly and

had not yet appeared.

The

sheltered

trees that

Rob were

the

only ones without the city, although many low bushes or shrubs grew scattering over

him and the

the space between

An

walls.

arched gateway broke the enclosure at his left, but the gates were tightly shut. .

Something

tense

in

stillness

and the

heat of the mid-day sun

He

boy drowsy. the

the

made

stretched himself

in

the

upon

ground beneath the dense foliage of the

biggest tree and abandoned himself to the

languor that was creeping over him. 66 I ll wait until that army of the desert arrives,"

either

he

"

thought, sleepily. in

belong

capture

it,

so

I

this city or

can

tell

better

They

have come to

what

to

dance

when I find out what the band plays." The next moment he was sound asleep, 152

ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES sprawling upon his back in the shade and

slumbering as peacefully as an infant. And while he lay motionless three

men

quick succession from the top of the city wall and hid among the low bushes,

dropped

in

crawling noiselessly from one to another

and so approaching, by degrees, the group

little

of trees.

They were Turks, and had been

sent

by

those in authority within the city to climb the tallest tree of the group the

enemy was

had been

awaited, with

For Rob

near.

correct,

and the

more or

ened assault from

and discover s

conjecture

city of

less anxiety,

its

if

Yarkand a threat

hereditary enemies,

the Tatars.

The

three spies were not less forbidding

appearance than the horde of warriors Rob had passed upon the desert. Their

in

were coarse and swarthy, and their eyes had a most villainous glare. Old fash ioned pistols and double-edged daggers features

were stuck

in their belts

153

and

their clothing,

THE MA S TER KET rhough

gorgeous colors, was soiled and

of

neglected.

With

all

the caution

of

the

American

savage these Turks approached the tree, to

where,

their

unbounded amazement,

His dress they saw the boy lying asleep. and fairness of skin at once proclaimed him,

shrewd eyes, a European, and their thought was to glance around in search

in their first

dromedary. Seeing noth ing of the kind near they were much puz zled to account for his presence, and stood of his horse or

looking

down

The sun

at

him with evident

curiosity.

struck the polished surface of

the traveling machine which was attached to

Rob

s

wrist

like silver.

and made the metal

glitter

This attracted the eyes of the

Turk, who stooped down and stealth unclasped the band of the machine from

tallest ily

the

boy

s

outstretched arm.

Then,

after a

hurried but puzzled examination of the instrument, he slipped his jacket.

154

it

little

into the pocket of

ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES Rob of the

from

stirred uneasily in his sleep,

Turks drew a

slight but

and one

stout rope

breast and with gentle but deft

his

movement passed it around the boy s and drew them together behind him. action

was not

power

of repulsion in

swift

wrists

The

enough to arouse the the Garment of Pro

awakened Rob

effectually, so

tection, but

it

that he sat

up and stared hard

at his

cap

tors. "

What

are

you trying

to do, anyhow?"

he demanded.

The Turks laughed and said something own language. They had no in their knowledge "

You

selves,"

u

It s

of English.

only making fools of your continued the boy, wrathfully.

re

impossible for you to injure

The three paid no One of them thrust

me."

attention to his words. his

hand

into

Rob

pocket and drew out the electric tube.

s

His

ignorance of modern appliances was so great that he did not know enough to push the 155

THE MASTER KET Rob saw him

button.

looking

down

the

hollow end of the tube and murmured: "

I

wish

it

would blow your ugly head

off!"

But the might be in his

fellow, thinking the shining metal

of

own

some value

him, put the tube pocket and then took from the

prisoner the silver

box

to

of tablets.

Rob writhed and groaned possessions in this way,

and while

were fastened behind him

and touch the indicator

When

chine. also

his

hands

tried to feel for

of the traveling

ma

he found that the machine

had been taken,

fear, for

at losing his

his

anger gave way to

he realized he was in a dangerously

helpless condition.

The

third

Turk now drew

Events from the boy

knew nothing

s

the Record of

of the springs that

opened

the lids, so, after a curious glance at secreted the

box

He

inner pocket.

it,,

in the folds of his sash

he

and

continued the search of the captive. The Character Marking Spectacles were next ab156

ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES stracted, but the

Turk, seeing

in

them noth

ing 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 arti

be highly prized. After they had secured all the booty they

cle

seeming

to

could find, the leader

the

of

tall

Turk, who seemed the

three,

violently

the prisoner with his heavy boot.

kicked at

His sur

was great when the Garment of Re pulsion arrested the blow and nearly over

prise

threw the aggressor in turn. Snatching a dagger from his sash, he bounded upon the

boy so

fiercely that the next instant the

en

raged 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

hope you

The

it ll

up

!"

enjoy

cried

Rob,

"

bitterly.

I

yourself."

other Turks raised their comrade to 157

THE MA S TER KEY his feet,

and the three stared

at

one another

being unable to understand how a bound prisoner could so effectually defend in surprise,

But

himself.

the leader, they

drew

blank into

fired point

ley

a whispered

at

their long pistols

and

Rob

vol

face.

s

echoed sharply from the

as the

smoke

drifted slowly

were horrified laughing

at

word from

The

city walls,

away

the

but

Turks

to see their intended victim

them.

Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three took to their heels and bounded to

wards the wall, where a gate quickly opened to receive

them, the populace feeling sure the Tatar horde was upon them.

Nor was for

as

sand,

Rob, raised

this

guess so very far wrong;

sitting his

disconsolate

eyes,

desert a dark line that

upon the

he saw across the

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 158

fall

asleep in an

Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three Turks took to their heels

ROB LOSES HIS TREASURES unknown

land where he could so easily be

overpowered and robbed

of his treasures.

always suspected these electrical in ventions would be my ruin some day," he "

I

"

reflected, sadly;

and

left

and now

I

m side-tracked

helpless in this outlandish country,

without a single hope of ever getting home again. They probably won t be able to

me, unless they find my Garment of Repulsion and strip that off; but I never

kill

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 tab lets just

before going to sleep, so there

was

no danger of immediate starvation. But he was miserable and unhappy, and re

mained brooding over his cruel fate until a sudden shout caused him to look up.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN TURK AND TATAR Tatars had arrived, swiftly and noiselessly, and a dozen of the war

THE riors, still

mounted, were surrounding him.

His helpless condition aroused their curi osity, and while some of them hastily cut

away

his

bonds and raised him

others plied

him with questions

to his feet, 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 rep resentative of the tribe of Kara-Khitai, the terrible

Thibet.

and

relentless

The huge frame 1

60

Black

Tatars of

of this fellow

was

TURK A ND TA TA R flowing robes of cloth-of-gold,

clothed in

braided with jewels, and he sat majestically upon the back of a jet-black camel.

Under ordinary circumstances

the stern

and flashing black eyes of this re doubtable warrior would have struck a chill

features

of fear to the

boy

heart; but

s

now under

the influence of the crushing misfortunes he

had experienced, he was able indifference

upon

to gaze with

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 the chief,

guage. out,

impossible

to converse with

Rob

He

took refuge in the sign lan turned his pockets wrong side

showed the red welts

wrists fists

it

by the

tight cord,

left

upon

and then shook

his his

angrily in the direction of the town.

In return the Tatar nodded gravely and issued an order to his

men.

161

THE MASTER KEY this

By

time the warriors were busily

pitching tents before the walls of

and making preparations

Yarkand

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 and a dagger with a sharp, zigzag edge. These were evi of

brass-mounted

dently to

assist

pistols

the

boy

in

the

fighting

Turks, and he was well pleased to have them. His spirits rose considerably when he found he had fallen

though most

of his

among

friends, al

new comrades had

was unnecessary the Character Markers to judge

evil faces that

it

such

to put

their

on na

tures with a fair degree of accuracy. "

pany hasn

be very particular about the com he thought, u and this gang keep,"

can

I

I t

Turks

t

murder me, as the So for the present I

tried to

did.

rascally ll

stand

with the scowling chief and try to get a If our shot at the thieves who robbed me. in

side

wins

I

may

get a chance to recover 162

TURK AND some

my property.

of

course, but

of

it

TA TAR a slim chance,

It s

the only hope

s

I

have

left."

That very evening an opportunity oc curred for Rob to win glory in the eyes of his

new

friends.

Just before

sundown

swarm

gates of the city flew open and a

mounted

upon forth issued and camels, Turks,

The

emies.

Tatars,

horses

fleet fell

who

the

upon

their

did not

of

and en

expect

the sally, were scarcely able to form an op

when

posing rank in

engaged

they found themselves

a hand-to-hand conflict, fight

ing desperately for their battle,

lives.

however, the Turks were

In such a at a disad

vantage, for the active Tatars slipped be neath their horses and disabled them, bring ing both the animals and their riders to the earth.

At at

a

Rob shot his pistol Turk and wounded him so severely

the

that he

first

fell

onslaught

from

boy seized the

his

bridle

horse.

Instantly the

and sprang upon the

163

THE MASTER KEY 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

When

single scratch.

had been discharged he caught up the broken handle of a spear, and used it as a club, galloping into the his pistols

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

he bore a charmed

life

terrified,

thinking

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 164

TURK A ND TA TA R were

as likely to let their foes in as to

op

pose them.

While the

were being moved up

tents

Rob had an tlefield

opportunity to search the bat for the bodies of the three Turks

who had robbed him, among the fallen. "

but they were not

Those fellows were too cowardly

take part in a fair

but he was he

fight,"

much

to

declared the boy;

disappointed, neverthe

very helpless without the electric tube or the traveling machine. less,

as

felt

The Tatar tent

now

chief

called

Rob

to

his

and presented him with a beautiful

ring set with a glowing pigeon s-blood ruby, in

of his

acknowledgment

gift

made

the

boy

feel

This

services.

very proud, and he

said to the chief: "

You

do look

re all right, old

like a pirate.

as long as

I

I

ll

if

you

you can manage can get my electri

If

to capture that city, so I cal devices back,

man, even

consider you a trump

live."

165

THE MA S TER KEY The

chief

thought

tended to express

bowed solemnly

speech was in

this

Rob

s

so

gratitude,

he

in return.

During the night

that followed

upon the the Turks and Tatars,

engagement of the boy lay awake trying first

plan to capture the

city.

to devise

some

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

patt of the oasis, giving the besieged

a good supply

of

water and provisions,

were obliged to subsist on what water and food they had brought while

tl

e besiegers

with them. Just before dawn Rob left his tent and went out to look at the great wall. The

gave plenty of light, but the boy was worried to find that, according to Eastern stars

custom, no sentries or guards whatever had been posted and all the Tatars were slumber ing soundly.

The

city

was likewise wrapped 166

in

pro-

TURK AND found

TA TAR

silence, but just as

Rob was

turning

away he saw a head project stealthily over the edge of the wall before him, and recog

nized in the features one of the Turks

who

had robbed him. Finding no one awake except the boy

upon the edge of the wall, dangling downward, and

the fellow sat

with

his

feet

grinned wickedly at his former victim. Rob watched him with almost breathless eager ness.

After

making many motions

that con

veyed no meaning whatever, the Turk drew the electric tube from his pocket and pointed his

finger

first

boy and then at the inquiring what it was

at the

instrument,

as

used

Rob shook

for.

Turk turned shook

his

head.

The

the tube over several times

and examined also

if

it

carefully, after

his head,

which he

seeming greatly puz

zled.

time the boy was fairly trembling with excitement. He longed to recover this

By

this

167

THE MASTER RET valuable weapon, and feared that at any moment the curious Turk would discover its

He held out

use.

and

tried to say,

show

the fellow

seemed

hand toward the

his

by

motions, that he

how

to use

tube,

would

The man

it.

he would not

to understand, but

let

the glittering instrument out of his posses sion.

Rob was pened

almost in despair,

to notice

his

upon

when he hap

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 idea,

and nodded

his

head repeatedly, hold the ring. Rob had lit

ing out his hand for tle confidence in the

was so eager

the top of the wall, skilfully;

man

s

honor, but he

to regain the tube that

cided to trust him.

it

pleased with the

but

So he threw the ring to where the Turk caught

when Rob

held out his hand

for the tube the scoundrel only

him and began

to

he de

scramble to his 168

laughed

at

feet in or-

TURK AND TATAR der to beat a retreat.

Chance, however,

foiled this disgraceful treachery, for in his

hurry the Turk allowed the tube to his grasp,

and

upon the sand

it

at

rolled off the wall

Rob

The robber turned filled

slip

s

very

and

fell

feet.

watch

to

from

its fall

and, with sudden anger, the boy grabbed

the weapon, pointed

pressed the

it

at

his

Down

button.

enemy, and 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 1 he founr :nd recovered his box of food tab lets.

The Record

of

Events and the travel

ing machine were doubtless in the possession of the other robbers, but Rob did not despair of

recovering them, tube to aid him.

now

that he

had the

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 169

to

show how he had

THE MASTER KEY Supposing him to be dead, they tossed him aside and forgot all about him. been

slain.

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

upon

his

pillows, but

still

reclining

Rob bowed

before

him, and by means of signs managed to ask for a band of warriors to assist him in as saulting the town.

The

chieftain

appeared doubt the wisdom of the enterprise, not being able to understand how the boy could to

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

and Tatars, and under ordinary circumstances would have refused to side the Turks

with one or the other; but he knew he could not hope to recover his electrical machines 170

TURK AND TATAR was taken by the band of war who had befriended him, so he de

unless the city riors

termined to force an entrance for them.

Without

walked close

hesitation he

great gate and shattered the force of the

its

fastenings with

electric current

upon them from the

tube.

to the

directed

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

in force before the opening.

had assembled

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 execu tion

among them.

Many were

right, while others fell

pled

wounded

killed out to

be tram

upon by those who pressed on from

the rear.

Rob maintained rank, but escaped

his position in the front all

171

injury through

the

THE MASTER KE1 Garment

the

possession of

But he took an

of Repulsion.

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 cur

rent of electricity.

The

Tatars shouted joyfully as they wit nessed this marvelous feat and rushed for

ward

to assist in the slaughter;

motioned them

all

He

back.

but the boy 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

Two

Turks managed to creep up behind the boy, and one of them, who wielded an immense simitar with a

came

near.

of the

two-edged blade as sharp as a razor, swung the

weapon

fiercely to cut off

But the repulsive

ment was

Rob

s

force aroused in the

so terrific that

it

sent the

head.

Gar

weapon

TURK AND TATAR flying

backwards with redoubled swiftness,

so that

it

caught the second Turk

waist and cut him

Thereafter they the

boy, and

at the

fairly in two. all

avoided coming near time

in a surprisingly short

the Turkish forces

were

entirely conquered,

having been reduced to unconsciousness except a few cowards who had run away all

and hidden

in the cellars or garrets of the

houses.

The Tatars

entered the city with shouts

triumph, and the chief was so delighted that he threw his arms around Rob s neck of

and embraced him warmly.

Then began fierce

the sack of Yarkand,

the

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, found. in

but neither could be

He was more

running through the 173

successful later, for

streets

he game upon

THE MA S TER KEY man with whom Rob quickly

a band of Tatars leading a

around

his neck,

ing for.

The

a rope

recog nized as one of the thieves he was hunt Tatars willingly allowed him

to search the fellow,

and

in

Rob found the Record He had now recovered

ets

one

of his

pock

of Events. all his

property,

except the traveling machine, the one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escape

He

from

this

barbarous country.

continued his search persistently, and

an hour

later

found the dead body

of the

third robber lying in the square in the cen ter of the city.

was not on the

his

boy began

But the traveling machine person, and for the first time to give

way

to despair.

In the distance he heard loud shouts and

sound the

of

renewed

strife,

warning him

that

Turks were recovering consciousness

and engaging the Tatars with great fierce The latter had scattered throughout ness. the town, thinking themselves perfectly se cure, so that not only

were they unprepared

174

TURK AND TATAR to fight, but they

became

panic-stricken at

seeing their foes return, as

death to

life.

it

seemed, from

Their usual courage forsook

them, and they ran, terrified, in every direc tion, only to be cut down by the revengeful

Turkish simitars.

Rob was

sitting

upon the edge

of a

marble

fountain in the center of the square

when

Turks appeared and The boy paid no quickly surrounded him. attention to their gestures and the Turks a

crowd

feared to

of victorious

approach him

stood a short distance at

him from

Rob

nearly,

away and

their rifles

them

and

so they

fired volleys

pistols.

and seeing they could not injure him the Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the glared at

scornfully,

crowd grew thicker every moment. Women now came creeping from

their

hiding places and mingled with the ranks

men, and Rob guessed, from their joyous chattering, that the Turks had re gained the city and driven out or killed the of the

175

THE MASTER KET Tatar warriors.

He

reflected,

that this did not affect his

own

gloomily, 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 the

a glitter that reminded

machine, but

traveling

afterward the

man and

heads over the fellow that

Rob

s

him

of

immediately

the girl bent their wrist in such a

way

could see nothing more.

While the couple were apparently exam ining the strange device, feet fell

Rob

started to his

The crowd

and walked toward them. back

the girl

at his

were so interested

man and

that they did not

He was still several

notice him.

when

approach, but the

the girl put out her finger

paces

away

and touched

the indicator on the dial.

TQ Rob

s

horror and consternation the

The Turk

rose slowly into the air, with to

him with desperate

Rob

tenacity

clinging

TURK A ND big

Turk began

TA TA R

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 far

steadily

above the

The

big

upward

until they

were

city of the desert.

Turk screamed

pitifully at first,

and then actually fainted away from fright. Rob was much frightened, on his part, for he

knew

if

he would

his fall

hands slipped from to

his

death.

their hold

Indeed, one

hand was slipping already, so he made a frantic clutch and caught firmly hold of the

Turk

baggy trousers. Then, slowly and carefully, he drew himself up and seized the s

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

177

when

THE MASTER KET he climbed

conquered

and

had

and took time

his fear of falling,

to recover his wits

He

home.

after cherries at

his strength.

They had now reached such

a tremendous

height that the city looked like a speck on the

Knowing he must act quickly, Rob seized the dangling left arm of the unconscious Turk and raised it until desert beneath them.

he could reach the dial of the traveling

machine.

He

just then, for

feared to unclasp the machine

two reasons:

if it

slipped from

grasp they would both plunge down ward to their death; and he was not sure his

the machine

would work

at

all

other position than fastened to the

Rob determined he

left

to take

in

left

"

East,"

either his

to zero

for he did not

any

wrist.

no chances, so

the machine attached to the

and turned the indicator to

if

Turk

and then

wish to rejoin

enemies the Turks or

his equally

undesirable friends the Tatars.

After traveling eastward a few minutes

178

TURK A ND he

TA TA R

lost sight of the city altogether; so, still

clinging to the

of the

body

Turk, he again

turned the indicator and began to descend. When, at last, they landed gently upon a

Kuen-Lun moun

rocky eminence of the tains,

the boy

s

was almost ex

strength

hausted, and his limbs ached with the strain of clinging to the

His

act

first

machine

Turk

was

to his

s

body.

to transfer the traveling

own

and

wrist

his other electrical devices

stowed

in

his pockets.

the rock to rest until

to

were

see that

safely be

Then he sat upon the Turk recovered

consciousness.

Presently the rolled over,

fellow

and then

sat

moved

uneasily,

up and stared

at

Perhaps he thought he had been dreaming, for he rubbed his eyes his

surroundings.

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

179

THE MA S TER RET man, who doubtless recognized its power, for he fell back scowling and trem at the

bling.

This place seems

"

civilization,"

like a

good jog from

remarked the boy,

as coolly

companion could understand what he said; but as your legs are long and as

his

if

"

strong you

may be

It s

true

re

but

if

it

you you do

and not

my

able to find your way.

liable to starve to death,

will

beyour own misfortune

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 ungraciously enough, but eat one he decided to follow his

fellow accepted

seeing

Rob

it

example, and consumed the tablet with a queer expression of distrust upon his face. "

Brave

cried

Rob, laughingly; ve avoided the "you pangs of starvation for a time, anyhow, so I can leave you with a clear

man!"

conscience." 1

80

TURK AND TATAR Without more ado he turned the indicator of the traveling

machine and mounted

Turk sitting upon the after him in comical be

the air, leaving the

rocks and staring

into

wilderment.

181

CHAPTER FIFTEEN A BATTLE WITH MONSTERS young adventurer never experi enced a more grateful feeling of re

OUR

and security than when he found himself once more high in the air, alone, and in un lief

disputed 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 des perate chance that alone had permitted him to regain the traveling

shudder

at the

machine made him

bare recollection and ren

dered him more sober and thoughtful than usual. 182

A BA TTLE WITH MONSTERS

We

who

face can travel

stick closely to the earth s sur

scarcely realize

how Rob

ceuld

through the air at such dizzy heights

without any fear or concern whatsoever. But he had come to consider the air a veritable

Experience had given him implicit

refuge.

confidence in the powers of the electrical in

strument whose unseen forces carried him

and surely, and while the tiny, watch-like machine was clasped to his wrist so swiftly

he

felt

himself to be absolutely safe.

Having slipped away- from

the

Turk and

attained a fair altitude, he set the indicator

and paused long enough to consult map and decide what direction it was

at zero

his

best for

him

to take.

The mischance

that

had swept him unwittingly over the coun tries of Europe had also carried him more than half

home.

way around

the world

Therefore the nearest

America would be

way

from

his

to reach

to continue traveling to

the eastward.

So much time had been consumed 1*3

at the

THE MASTER desert oasis that he if

KllT

he must

felt

now

hasten

home by Saturday having quickly come to a

he wished to reach

afternoon;

so,

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

more

by noon signs

of a

country began to appear, and, dropping to a point nearer the earth, he was able to observe closely the country of fertile

the Chinese, with

its

and ancient but crude

Then he came and

to

to the

crowded population civilization.

Great Wall of China

mighty Peking, above which he hov

ered some time, examining really longed to

make

ful city

it

much

curiously.

He

a stop there, but with

his late experiences fresh

thought

it

safer to

in his

mind he

view the wonder

from a distance.

Resuming his flight he presently came to the gulf of Laou Tong, whose fair face was freckled with

many

ships of

184

many

nations,

A BA TTLE WITH MONSTERS and so on

Korea, which seemed to him a a century behind the times. to

land fully Night overtook him while speeding across

and having a great desire Mikado s famous islands, he put

the Sea of Japan, to

view the

the indicator at zero, and, stop,

composed himself

ing, that he

carried

coming

to sleep until

might run no chances

beyond

his

to a full

of

morn being

knowledge during

the

night.

You might

suppose

no easy task

it

sleep suspended in mid-air, yet the netic currents controlled

to

mag

by the traveling

machine were so evenly balanced that Rob was fully as comfortable as if reposing upon a bed of

down.

accustomed

and now

He had become somewhat

to passing

slept

the night in the air

remarkably well, having no

fear of burglars or fire or other interrup tions that dwellers in cities are subject to.

One

thing, however, he should have re

membered:

that he

was

185

in

an ancient and

THE MASTER KET known

little

part of the world

above a sea famous

and

many

fierce

not far

away

and reposing

in fable as the

terrible

home

creatures; while

lay the land of the dragon, the

simurg and other ferocious monsters. Rob may have read of these things fairy tales

had

and books

of travel, but

entirely slipped his

if

in

so they

mind; so he slum

bered peacefully and actually snored a I believe, towards morning.

But even

of

as the red sun

little,

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 al most

as big as that of a horse.

open, curving beak was

set

Its

wide-

with rows of

pointed teeth, and the talons held against its

breast and turned threateningly outward 1

86

A BA TTLE WITH MONSTERS 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 mate, circling closely around him, while both uttered continuously their hoarse, sav its

cries.

age

Rob wondered why

fact,

the

Garment

of

Re

had not protected him from the

pulsion

blow

the

wing; but, as a matter of had protected him. For it was not

of the bird s it

wing

itself

but the force of the eddying

currents of air that had sent

away from

the monster.

him -whirling

With

the indi

cator at zero the magnetic currents

and the

opposing powers of attraction and repulsion

THE MASTER KEY were so evenly balanced that any violent mospheric disturbance affected him

same way

summer

that thistledown

breeze.

He

at

in the

by a had noticed some is

affected

thing of this before, but whenever a strong

wind was blowing he was accustomed rise to

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 at tack, 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, it

floated

warned by

motionless. this

circling flight,

sudden

moving

Its

where

mate, perhaps

disaster,

renewed

so swiftly that

its

Rob

could scarcely follow it, and drawing nearer and nearer every moment to its intended victim.

The boy

could not turn in the

188

air

A BA TTLE WITH MONSTERS very quickly, and he feared an attack in the back, mistrusting the saving power of the Garment of Repulsion under such circum so in desperation he pressed his

stances*

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

Presently the cur

circling.

rent and the bird met,

and with one

last

scream the creature tumbled downwards join

its

fellow

lay like

two

upon

the waves,

to

where they

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 rec

ollection of his recent

combat, and realized

the horror of a meeting with such creatures

by one who had no protection from sharp beaks and talons. "

It s

their

no woncjer the Japs draw ugly

189

THE MASTER KEY "

People

most

those

of

pictures

who

live

in these parts

of their lives in a

The sun was now when the beautiful in sight Rob found his

he thought.

monsters,"

must pass

tremble."

shining brilliantly, and

Japan came he had recovered

islands of that

wonted cheerfulness.

lie

moved along

slowly, hovering with curious interest over the

and

quaint

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

maneu their morn

nearly an hour watched the skilful vers of a regiment of soldiers at

ing

drill.

They were

not very big people,

compared with other nations, but they seemed alert and well trained, and the boy would require a brave enemy them on a field of battle.

decided face

it

Having to

at

By

length satisfied his curiosity as

and customs Rob prepared long flight across the Pacific Ocean.

Japanese

for his

to

life

consulting his

map 190

he discovered that

A BATTLE WITH MONSTERS should he maintain his course due east, as before, he ica

would

arrive at a point in

very near to

San

Amer which

Francisco,

suited his plans excellently.

Having found

when

farthest

that he

moved more

from the earth

s

swiftly

surface, be

cause the air was more rarefied and offered less resistance,

Rob mounted upwards

the islands of Japan were ble through the clear,

Then he began broad surface

his

until

mere specks

visi

sunny atmosphere. eastward

of the Pacific

blue cloud far beneath him.

flight,

seeming

the

like a

CHAPTER SIXTEEN SHIPWRECKED MARINERS

Rob

proof of

AMPLE

restless nature

s

careless

and

having been frankly

placed before the reader in these pages, you

be surprised when I relate that during the next few hours our young gentleman suffered from a severe attack of will doubtless

homesickness, becoming as gloomy and un happy in its duration as ever a homesick

boy could be. It

may have been

then cut

off

from

because he was

all

his

and even from the world

just

fellow-creatures

itself;

it

may have

been because he was satiated with marvels

192

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS 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

than be

fellows, rather

his

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

but the truth

and cried

is

he took out

like a

!

He

f

loneliness

see him, thank

gave him consider dried his eyes, made an

and the

able relief.

to

blues,"

handkerchiei

baby from very

and misery. There was no one goodness

his

"the

tears

honest struggle to regain his cheerfulness, and then muttered to himself: "If

I

stay

up here,

like

an air-bubble

the sky, I shall certainly go crazy.

pose there

s

I

sup

nothing but water to look

193

in

at

THE MASTER KET down below, but

if I

could only sight a ship,

or even see a fish jump,

end

of

it

would do me no

good."

Thereupon he descended until, as the ocean s surface came nearer and nearer, he discovered a tiny island lying almost directly

underneath him. to

make

clump

It

was hardly big enough

a dot on the biggest map, but a

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.

looked very beautiful from Rob s ele vated position, and his spirits brightened at It

once.

drop down and pick a bouquet," he exclaimed, and a few moments later his "I

feet

ll

touched

the,

firm earth of the island.

But before he could gather a dozen brilliant flowers a glad

ears, and, looking up,

shout reached his

he saw two

ning towards him from the

They were

of the

men run

trees.

dressed in sailor fashion, but 194

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS their

clothing

was reduced

to

rags

and

brown, skinny bod As they advanced they waved their ies. arms wildly in the air and cried in joyful scarcely clung to their

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. r "

How

came you here?

then inquired

the boy, in pitying tones.

shipwrecked American sailors from the bark Cynthia Jane, which went "We

re

down near

here over a

month

ago,"

an

swered the smallest and thinnest of the two. "

We

escaped by clinging to a

bit of

wreck

age and floated to this island, where have nearly starved to death. Indeed, 195

we we

THE MASTER KET now have

eaten everything on the island that was eatable, and had your boat arrived

you d have found us lying

a few days later

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!"

shipwrecked he No;"

they cried;

are you, too,

?"

"

through the to

answered.

air."

And

them the wonderful

"I

flew

here

then he explained electric

traveling

interest

whatever

machine.

But the

sailors

had no

Their disappointment was something awful to witness, and one of them laid his head upon his comrade s in the relation.

shoulder and wept with unrestrained grief, so

weak and discouraged had they become

through suffering.

The disappointment

of the sailors

awful to witness

was something

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS Suddenly Rob remembered that he could assist them, and took the box of concen trated food tablets

u Eat

these,"

each of the

At

from

he

his pocket.

one

offering

said,

to

sailors.

they could not understand that these small tablets would be able to allay first

the pangs of

plained

hunger; but when

their virtues

the

men

Rob ex ate

them

Within a few moments they were so greatly restored to strength and courage greedily.

that

their

brightened,

eyes

their

sunken

cheeks flushed, and they were able to con verse with their benefactor with calmness

and

intelligence.

Then

boy sat beside them upon the grass and told them the story of his ac quaintance with the Demon and of all his the

adventures since he had come into posses sion of the wonderful electric contrivances. In his present relief to

mood he

confide in

felt it

would be

some one, and

197

a

so these

THE MASTER KEY 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 as cended into the air, the elder of the two with rapt attention, then, after some thought, asked: listened

sailors

Why

"

couldn

and

you carry one or both

t

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

couldn

I

weight long enough

t

to reach

support your any other land.

a long journey, and you d

It s

arms out

of joint before

pull

my

we d been up an

hour."

Their faces

fell at this,

but one of them

said: "

Why

couldn

t

we swing

ourselves over

Our two bodies would balance each other and we

your

shoulders with

IQ8

a

rope?

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS are so thin

weigh very

and emaciated that we do not much."

While considering this suggestion Rob remembered how at one time five pirates had clung

some "

to his left leg

and been carried

distance through the air.

Have you

"

No,"

a rope

?"

he asked.

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

decided the boy, the attempt to save you. But

"

chances,"

you

that in case

I

find

I

to

run the

make

I

will

I

must warn

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

tion

if

there

would soon meet death from starva

you is

left

us here on the island; so, as

at least a

chance of our being able

199

THE MASTER KEY to escape in

your company I, risk being drowned.

willing to

for one, It is

and quicker than being starved. I

m

the heavier,

I

suppose you

am

easier as

And, ll

me

drop

first." "

Certainly,"

declared Rob, promptly.

This announcement seemed to be an en

couragement

to the little sailor, but

he

said,

nervously:

hope you ll keep near the water, for haven t a good head for heights they "

I

I

always

u

make me

Oh,

if

dizzy."

you don

want

t

I can Rob, easily But I do! I do! "

I

do!

man, interrupting him. leave "

me

behind!

to

go,"

"

"

I

cried the shall die

They ran

little

if

you

:

Well, then, get your ropes^ and

do the best we

began

"

"

can,"

we

ll

said the boy.

to the trees,

around the trunks

which were clinging many tendrils greenish-brown vine which possessed

of

200

of

re-

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS With

markable strength.

their knives they

cut a long section of this vine, the ends of

which were then to

tied into loops large

permit the sailors to

The connecting

ably.

sit

enough them comfort

in

piece

Rob padded

with seaweed gathered from the shore, to

prevent "

its

Now,

ready,

The

cutting into his shoulders.

he said,

then,"

"take

your

when

all

was

places."

sailors squatted in the loops,

swung the vine over

his shoulders

and Rob

and turned

the indicator of the traveling machine to "up."

As

mounted

into the sky the

gave a squeal of terror and clung the boy s arm; but the other, although

little

to

they slowly sailor

seemingly anxious, sat quietly

in his place

and made no trouble. "

D

don

d

stammered the pose

we

little

should f

"Well,

s

g

t

pose

g

go

so

"

high

one, tremblingly;

!

"sup

"

fall!

f

we

should?"

201

answered

THE MASTER KEY 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 com fort 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

he had feared, the traveling

so great as

machine seeming to give a certain lightness and buoyancy to everything that came into contact with

As soon

wearer.

its

as he

had reached a

sufficient

good speed he turned the indicator once more to the east and be elevation to admit of

gan moving rapidly through the sailors

shipwrecked This is

aw

"

little "

dangling

aw

air,

the

at either side.

awful!"

gasped the

one.

Say, you shut up "

boy, angrily. a coward as

If

you are

!"

commanded

your friend was I

as big

d drop you both

202

the

this

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS if

you want

The

to reach land

remain

s

quiet,

alive."

little,

man

but

for several minutes.

silent

Then he gave a sudden Rob s arm again. u S pose

and keep

whimpered a

fellow

to

aged

my arm

Let go

minute.

twitch and grabbed

pose the vine should

break!"

he moaned, a horrified look upon his face. I ve had about enough of this," said "

"

Rob, savagely. you don t deserve indicator on

you haven

If

to

t

any sense

He turned

live."

the dial of the machine

the

and

they began to descend rapidly. The little fellow screamed with fear, but

Rob

paid no attention to him until the feet

two suspended

of the

sailors

dipping into the waves,

were actually

when he brought

an abrupt halt. what are you g

their progress to "

to

Wh

do "

?"

I

unless shut,"

wh

gurgled the cowardly

m going

to feed

you promise

to

retorted the boy.

203

you

g

going

sailor.

to the

sharks

keep your mouth "

Now,

then; de*

THE MASTER KEY Which

cide at once!

will

it

be

sharks or

silence?" "

I

won

won

t!"

"All

we

ll

t

say a word

pon

my

honor,

I

said the sailor, shudderingly. right;

remember your promise and

have no further

Rob, who had hard work laughing at the

man

s

remarked

trouble,"

to

keep from

abject terror.

Once more he ascended and continued the journey, and for several hours they rode

along swiftly and

were beginning

Rob

silently.

to

s

shoulders

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 land;

when

they

first

sighted

and seemingly uninhabited Rob made the American coast.

a wild

stretch of

no

falling

landing place, for he was nearly worn out with the strain and effort to select a

anxiety of the journey.

burden upon the brow

He

of a

304

dropped

his

high bluff over-

SHIPWRECKED MARINERS from looking the sea and, casting the vine his shoulders, fell to the earth exhausted

and

half fainting.

205

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN THE COAST OF OREGON

WHEN him.

he had somewhat recovered, sat up and looked around

Rob 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 under gone. ings as

Although he did not show his feel 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 206

this

time rapidly

THE COAST OF OREGON enveloping them, so

Rob asked

panions to gather some light a fire,

his

com

brushwood and

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

The sound

asleep.

of voices aroused

Rob

next

morning, and on opening his eyes and gaz ing around he saw several rudely dressed

men

approaching.

sound asleep. Rob stood up and waited for the strangers draw near. They seemed to be fishermen,

sailors

to

were

The two shipwrecked

still

and were much surprised

at finding three

people asleep upon the bluff. n thunder d ye "Whar

come

from?"

asked the foremost fisherman, in a surprised voice. "

From

friends

the "

the

sea,"

replied the boy.

"My

here are shipwrecked sailors from "

Cynthia Jane. But how d ye make out to climb the 207

THE MA S TER KE T bluff?"

inquired a second fisherman;

one ever did "

Oh,

it

that

afore, as

is

we knows

a long story,-

"

no

on."

replied the

boy, evasively.

The two

had awakened and now

sailors

Soon they were of questions and

saluted the new-comers.

exchanging a running

fire

answers.

we

are

"Where

?"

Rob heard

the

little

sailor ask. "

"

Coast of

We

ford "

was

Oregon,"

re about seven

the

miles from Port Or-

by land an about ten miles by

Do you

live at

reply.

Port

Orford?"

sea."

inquired

the sailor. "

That

s

what we do,

friend;

party wants to join us we make you comf table, bein

wrecked an need

ll

an

if

your

do our best as

you

to

re ship

help."

from an Just then a loud laugh came other group, where the elder sailor had been trying

to

explain

the flying through

air..

Rob

s

method

of

THE COAST OF OREGON "

Laugh

"

a

Mebbe you

to,"

said the sailor,

ev ry word of

true

s

it

sullenly;

you want

all

"

think

it

answered

it, friend,"

but

"

big, good-natured fisherman;

well

known

I"

that shipwrecked folks

it

s

go crazy

an

sometimes,

imagine strange things. Your mind seems clear enough in other ways, so I advise you to try and forget your dreams about flyinV

Rob now

stepped forward

hands with the

u to

and shook

sailors.

you have found friends," he said u so I will leave them, you and continue

my

I

see

as

journey,

I

m

in

something of a

hurry."

Both

sailors

began

to

thank him profusely

for their rescue, but he cut "

That

s

all right.

them

short.

Of course

I

couldn

t

leave

you on

that island to starve to death,

and

m

I

with

I

glad

was able

to bring

you away

me."

^ But you threatened

209

to

drop

me

into the

THE MASTER KET remarked the

sea,"

little sailor,

in a grieved

voice. "

I

So

I

wouldn

t

"

said

Rob, laughing; have done it for the world

did,"

my own

even to have saved

but not

Good-

life.

by!"

He

turned the indicator and

mounted

unbounded amazement of the fishermen, who stared after him with round eyes and wide open mouths. skyward,

to the

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 I bluff. 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

He

air."

followed the coast line, keeping but a

short distance above the earth,

hour

s swift

flight

and

after

an

reached the city of San

Francisco.

His shoulders were sore and 210

stiff

from the

THE COAST OF OREGON 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

Yet so great was his de reaching once more his native land discomforts were speedily forgotten.

rub them with. light at

that all

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

some

edifices

and

to

wonder

its

hand

at the

throng Chinese inhabiting one section of the town.

of

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

does,

down upon

the city as a bird

and covered miles with a single glance.

Having

satisfied his curiosity

tempting to

alight,

he turned

without at

to the south

and followed the peninsula as far as Palo Alto, where he viewed the magnificent

east

buildings of the university. 21

I

Changing

his

THE MASTER KET 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 less

its

inhabitants,

who doubt

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 marvel ous and incomprehensible vision. After

ward they

secretly engrossed the circum

upon their records, but never to mention it in public, lest

stance

dom and

resolved their wis

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 212

THE COAST OF OREGON determined

to

devote at least an hour to

forming the acquaintance of this most derful and cosmopolitan city.

213

won

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN A NARROW ESCAPE Auditorium Tower, where "the sits to flash his re weather man

THE

ports throughout

"

the

inviting place for the

country, offered an

boy

to alight.

He

dropped quietly upon the roof of the great building and walked down the staircase he reached the elevators, by means of which he descended to the ground floor until

without exciting special attention. The eager rush and hurry of the people crowding the sidewalks impressed Rob with the idea that they were

were trying hard

all

behind time and

to catch up.

214

He

found

A NA RRO W ESCAPE walk along comfortably without being elbowed and pushed from side to side; so a half hour s sight-seeing it

impossible

under such

to

difficulties tired

him

greatly.

It

and finding him self upon the Lake Front, Rob hunted up a vacant bench and sat down to rest.

was a

beautiful afternoon,

Presently an elderly gentleman with a re

served and dignified appearance and dressed in

black took a seat next to the boy and

drew a magazine from that

he opened

it

an

to

Modern

Progress of

his pocket. article

Science,"

Rob saw on

"The

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

What tleman

in

it

contained.

are those ?

a

soft

inquired the old gen

voice.

"

You

are

too

young to be taking patent medicines." These are not medicines, exactly," an"

215

THE MA S TER KE1 swered the boy, with a smile. "They are Concentrated Food Tablets, stored with nourishment by means of

them

entire

One

of electricity.

furnishes a person with food for an

day."

The

Rob

old gentleman stared at

ment and then

laid

down

his

mo

a

magazine and

took the box in his hands, examining the tablets curiously. "Are

these

"No,"

to

patented?"

said

any one but

Rob;

"they

are

unknown

myself."

will give

"I

he asked.

for the recipe to

you a

make

half million dollars them,"

said the

gen

tleman. "

I

must refuse your

fear I

offer,"

re

turned Rob, with a laugh."I

man,

ll

make

"

a

million,"

said the gentle

coolly.

Rob shook "

it

Money

for I

don

his head.

can t

t

buy the

know

it

recipe,"

myself."

216

he said;

NARROW ESCAPE

A

"Couldn

t

the tablets be chemically an

and the

alyzed,

secret

discovered?"

in

quired the other. "

don

I

t

know; but

I

m

give any one the chance to

not going to try,"

declared

the boy, firmly.

The

old gentleman picked

up his maga zine without another word, and resumed his reading.

For amusement Rob took the Record Events from at

the

his

scenes

of

pocket and began looking 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

mo

ments both man and boy observed the oc currence with rapt attention.

As

was replaced by one showing

a secret tun

the scene

nel of the Russian Nihilists, with the con-

217

THE MA S TER KEY carrying

spirators

to

dynamite

a

recess

underneath the palace of the Czar, the gen tleman uttered a long sigh and asked:

you sell that box?" No," answered Rob, shortly, and put back into his pocket. "Will "

it

"

I

ll

you a million

give

dollars to con

trol 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,

much

you

are

carelessly.

"How

worth?"

"

Personally?" "Yes." "

Nothing offering

you

at all,

young man.

my own

money.

I

am

not

But with

such inventions as you have exhibited I could easily secure millions of capital. Sup pose

we form

the market.

them upon it for a hun

a trust, and place

We

ll

capitalize

dred millions, and you can have a quarter of

the stock

twenty-five millions. 218

That

NARROW ESCAPE

A

would keep you from worrying about groc bills."

ery "

the

But

I

wouldn

t

need groceries

if I

had

said

Rob, laughing. True enough! But you could take life easily and read your newspaper in comfort, tablets,"

"

without being in

town

any hurry

would bring you a cozy properly "

I

t

see

when

that

all

little

income,

if

invested."

don

papers

down

Twenty-five millions

business.

to

to get

is

why one

the

should read news

Record

going on

in the

of

Events shows

world,"

objected

Rob. "

the "

True, true!

But what do you say

to

proposition?" I

must

decline, with

inventions are not for

The gentleman magazine,

in

thanks.

These

sale."

sighed and resumed his

which he became much ab

sorbed.

Rob

put on the Character Marking Spec tacles and looked at him. The letters

"E,"

219

THE MASTER KET "W"

and

"C"

were plainly

visible

the composed, respectable looking his

"

brow

of

companion.

6

as

upon

Evil, wise

and

reflected

cruel,"

he restored the spectacles

How

easily

upon people. think

that

To

butter

to his pocket.

man

such a

look at

Rob,

could

impose

him one would

wouldn

t

melt in his

mouth!"

He

company with

decided to part

chance acquaintance and, rising from seat, strolled leisurely up the walk.

moment

this

his

A

on looking back, he discov the old gentleman had disap

later,

ered that peared.

He walked down river

State

Street

and back again, amused by the

to

the

activity

displayed in this busy section of the city. But the time he had allowed himself in Chi

cago 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 220

NA RRO W ES CA PE

A one

of

many

he ascended by an

stores

and from there

elevator to

the

mounted an

iron stairway leading to the

top

As he climbed

roof.

himself

followed

young man, who viewing the

city

floor

this

by also

a

flat

stairway he found pleasant looking

seemed desirous

from the

of

roof.

Annoyed at the inopportune intrusion, Rob s first thought was to go back to the and

street

try another building; but,

reflecting that the

upon

young man was not likely

remain long and he would soon be alone, So he walked to the he decided to wait.

to

edge

of the roof

and appeared

to

ested in the scenery spread out "

Fine view from here, ain

be inter

below him. t

it?"

said

young man, coming up to him and placing his hand carelessly upon the boy s

the

shoulder. "

is, indeed," replied Rob, leaning over the edge to look into the street. As he spoke he felt himself gently but

It

firmly pushed from behind and, losing his 221

THE MA S TER KE T balance, he plunged headforemost from the

and whirled through the intervening space toward the sidewalk far below. roof

Terrified though he disaster, the

to reach out

maining

move left

boy had

was by the sudden still

wit enough re

his right

hand and

machine upon his the zero mark. Immediately

the indicator of the

wrist to

he paused in

his fearful flight

and presently

came

to a stop at a distance of less

teen

feet

his

fif

from the flagstones which had

threatened to crush out his

As he

than

life.

stared

downward, trying to recover self-possession, he saw the old gentle

man

he had met on the Lake Front stand

ing 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

who had

attempted to push him to

tile

roof

his

death was a confederate of the innocent 223

NARROW ESCAPE

A

appearing old gentleman, it seemed, and the latter had calmly awaited his fall to the

pavement his

to seize the coveted treasures

dead body.

Rob was more been before

It

was an awful

from

idea,

and

frightened than he had ever

in

his life

or ever has been

since.

But now the shouts

amazed

of a vast concourse of

spectators reached the

He remembered mid-air over the

boy

s ears.

was suspended in crowded street of a great

that he

while thousands of wondering eyes were fixed upon him.

city,

So he quickly set the indicator to the word an d mounted sky-ward until the up," watchers below could scarcely see him. u

Then 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

held

human

life

so lightly that they

willing to destroy

it

to further their

selfish ends.

223

who were

own

THE MASTER KEY "And

Demon

the

these to possess his

wants such people as electrical devices, which

are as powerful to accomplish evil

when

wrong hands

thought

as they are good!

would be

a

Tubes and Records

of

the boy, resentfully. fine

world

if

Electric

in

"

"This

Events and Traveling Machines could be acquired by selfish and unprincipled per sons!

"

So unnerved was Rob by

his recent

periences that he determined to

more

ex

make no

However, he alighted at the country, and slept upon the

stops.

nightfall in

sweet hay

(in

a farmer

s

barn.

But, early the next morning, before any

one

else

and

at

was

astir,

he resumed

his journey,

precisely ten o clock of this day,

which was Saturday, he completed his flying trip around the world by alighting unob served upon the well-trimmed lawn of his

own home.

CHA PTER NINE TEEN ROB MAKES A RESOLUTION

WHEN who

Rob opened

the front door

he came face to face with Nell, gave an exclamation of joy and threw

herself into his arms.

m

Rob!" she cried, so glad ve come. have all been dreadfully you worried about you, and mother "Well, what about mother?" inquired "I

"Oh,

We

"

the boy, anxiously, as she paused. "

She

tor said

s

been very

to-day that

Rob; and the doc unless we heard from

ill,

you soon he would not be able

225

to save her

THE MASTER KEY The

life.

uncertainty about you

is

killing

her."

Rob

stood stock

still, all

the eager joy of

his return frozen into horror at the

that he

had caused

his dear

thought

mother so much

suffering. "

Where

is

she,

Nell?"

he asked, brok

enly. "

In her room.

Come;

I

ll

take you to

her."

Rob

followed with beating heart,

soon was clasped close to

and

mother

his

s

breast. "

Oh, my boy mured, and then

was unable and stroked

to say

my

dear boy!

for very joy

.

she

and love she

more, but held him

his hair gently

mur

tight

and kissed him

again and again.

Rob

except to promise that he would never again leave home without her said

little,

consent and knowledge. But in his mind he contrasted the love and comfort

full

that

now surrounded him 226

with the lonely

ROB MAKES A RESOLUTION and unnatural

life

he had been leading and,

boy though he was in years, a mighty reso lution that would have been creditable to an experienced

man

took firm root in his

heart.

He was

obliged to lecount

adven

all his

mother and, although he made the dangers he had passed through,

tures to his light of

the story

drew many

sighs

and shudders

from her.

When

luncheon time arrived he met

and Mr. Joslyn took occasion

father,

his

to re

prove his son in strong language for run ning away from, home and leaving them filled with anxiety as to his fate. How ever,

when he saw how happy and im

proved

boy to

s

in health

return,

Rob

s

his

dear wife was at her

and when he had

manly confession

listened

of error

and ex

pressions of repentance, he speedily forgave

the culprit and treated

him

as genially as

story

had

ever.

Of course the whole 227

to

be re-

THE MASTER KEY peated, his sisters listening this time with

open eyes and ears and admiring

their

ad

venturous 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

achieve

ments.

When his father returned to his office Rob went

long time

When it

own bed-chamber and sat for a by the window in deep thought.

to his

he aroused himself, he found was nearly four o clock. "The Demon will be here presently," he

said,

be

at last

with a

in the

thrill of

workshop

aversion, to receive

"and

I

must

him."

Silently he stole to the foot of the attic

and then paused to listen. The house seemed very quiet, but he could hear his stairs

mother

s

humming a had sung to him when

voice softly

song that she

cradle-

he was

a baby.

He had a

little

been nervous and unsettled and

fearful until then, but perhaps the

228

ROB MAKES A RESOLUTION sound of

his

mother

s

voice gave

him cour

age, for he boldlv ascended the stairs and

entered the workshop, closing and locking the door behind him.

CHAPTER TWENTY THE UNHAPPY FATE OF THE DEMON the atmosphere quickened and

pulsed with AGAIN

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

stood before

him

and the

for the third time. 1

"

I

Demon

give you greetings!

said he, in a

voice not unkindly. "Good

afternoon,

Mr.

Demon,"

an

swered the boy, bowing gravely. I see you have returned safely from "

your

trip,"

continued the Apparition, cheer230

UNHAPPT FA TE OF THE DE fully,

one time

at

"although

I

thought

you would be unable to escape. Indeed, unless I had knocked that tube from the rascally

Turk the

of

top

have been

dead or "

"

hand

s

wall,

at the

you

would

oasis yet

either

believe

I

Yarkand

to the

chance might determine." asked Rob. Were you there? To be sure. And I recovered the tube alive, as

"

which you would have been

for you, without

But

helpless.

that

to interfere in

fit

he clambered

as

"I

many

m afraid

I

is

any

the only time

I

saw

way."

did not get a chance to give

hints to inventors or

scientists,"

said

Rob. True, and

have deeply regretted But your unusual replied the Demon. powers caused more astonishment and con "

I

it,"

"

sternation for

than you,

perhaps,

imagined;

many saw you whom you were too busy

to notice.

cians are

new

As a result several able electri now thinking new thoughts along

lines,

and some 231

of

them may soon

THE MASTER KET or

these

give

inventions

similar

the

to

world."

are satisfied,

"You "As

to

that,"

returned the

am

asked Rob.

then?"

But

Demon, com

have hopes that with the addition of the three marvel "

I

posedly,

ous devices

I

not.

I

you with to-day

shall present

you

will succeed in arousing so

lar

interest

render

me

in electrical

wholly

much popu

inventions

as

to

with the result

satisfied

of this experiment."

Rob regarded

the

with a solemn face, but "No

mon,

"

living

person,"

brilliant

apparition

made no answer. continued the

De

has ever before been favored with

such comforting devices for the preservation and extension of human life as yourself.

You seem

quite unappreciative,

but since our connection

I

it

is

true;

have come

to

you are but an ordinary boy, with many boyish limitations; so I do not realize that

condemn your

foolish actions too

232

harshly."

UNHAPPT FA TE OF THE DEMON "That is

To

"

the

kind of

Demon,

said

Rob.

my

prove "

you,"

friendliness," pursued have brought, as the first

I

of to-day s offerings, this Electro-Magnetic

You

Restorer.

see

metal band, and

lous

shaped like a thin be worn upon the

back of the head.

surpass those of either the fabu

Fountain of Youth,

its

or

the

Elixir

so vainly sought for in past ages.

of Life,

For

to

at the

brow, clasping Its virtues

is

is

it

Wearer

will

instantly

become

free

from any bodily disease or pain and will In truth, enjoy perfect health and vigor. so great are its powers that even the dead

may be

restored to

has not yet chilled. this

appliance,

I

provided the blood In presenting you with

life,

feel I

am

bestowing upon

you the greatest blessing and most longedfor

boon ever bequeathed

to suffering

hu

manity."

Here he held metallic

the slender, dull-colored

band toward the boy. 233

THE MASTER RE) said Rob. Keep The Demon started, and gave him an 4

it,"

odd look. "

What

"

"

I

did you to

told

I

don

t

you want

The Demon

say?"

keep

he asked.

answered Rob.

it,"

it."

staggered back as

he had

if

been struck. "

Don

t

want

it!"

he gasped.

ve had enough of your infernal cried the boy, with sudden inventions!" "

No;

I

anger.

He from the "

his wrist

There

laid

it

on the

of

What

the thing that

s

my

over the earth

be cut

troubles,"

s

machine

table beside

responsible for

said

he, bitterly.

right has one person to

the air while

I

and

traveling

Demon.

most "

the

unclasped

off

all

s

surface?

from

fly

through

his fellow-creatures crawl

all

And why

should

the rest of the world

because you have given me traveling machine? I didn 234

this t

confounded

ask for

it,

and

UNHAPPY FATE OF THE DEATON I

won t keep

it

a

moment

Give

longer.

it

to

some one you hate more than you do me! The Demon stared aghast and turned his "

wonderingly from Rob to the traveling machine and back again, as if to be sure he had heard and seen aright. glittering eyes

"And

here are your food

con

tablets,"

tinued the boy, placing the box upon the "

table.

I

ve only enjoyed one square meal

you gave them

since

right to preserve

life,

to

me.

They

and answer

of course,

the purpose for which they were I

don

exist

t

re all

made; but

believe nature ever intended us to

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 Con centrated

Food Tablet

and don

t

you

for

"

get

it!

The Demon sank and limp, but

still

into a chair, nerveless

staring fearfully at the

boy. 235

THE MASTER KET there

"And

devices,"

Record

another of your unnatural

s

Rob, putting the Automatic

said

Events upon the table beside the other things. "What right have you to of

capture vibrations that radiate from private

and

secret

others

actions

and discover them

to

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 ad

vantage 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 indignant.

face

was frowning and

He made

a motion to rise, but

s

thought better of

it

and sank back

chair.

236

in his

UNHA PPT FA TE OF THE DEMON "As

sumed it

for the

Garment

and here

it

I is,

ve worn at

your

put the Electric

Tube with

it.

that these are such very

bad things

in

service.

I

ll

themselves, but ical

"

the boy, after a pause,

for the last time,

Not

of Protection," re

have none of your mag I ll say this, however: if

I ll

contrivances.

armies were equipped with Electrical Tubes instead of guns and swords the world all

would be spared a

lot

of

misery and un

necessary bloodshed. Perhaps they will be, in time; but that time hasn t arrived yet." "

You might have

Demon,

"

if

sternly,

hastened

it,"

said the

you had been wise

enough to use your powers properly." answered Rob. That s just "

"

it,"

not wise enough.

Nor

mankind wise enough

is

of the world.

If

and

people were

every one had an equal show, different."

237

m

the majority of

to use

tions as yours unselfishly

I

such inven for the

good better, and

it

would be

THE MASTER KE1 For some moments the

Finally the frown

thinking.

and he

Demon

sat quietly

left

his face

said, with animation:

have other inventions, which you may use without any such qualms of conscience. "

I

The Electro-Magnetic Restorer

offered

I

you would be a great boon to your race, and could not possibly do harm. And, be sides this, I have brought you what I call the Illimitable

Communicator. which

ple electric device

wherever you people

in

any

may

be,

It is

a sim

enable you, to converse with will

part of the world,

without the

use of such crude connections as wires. fact,

you

In

may" "

"

Stop!

Rob.

cried

"

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

me

into all sorts of

friends miserable. scientist

v

it

woul<

and they ve got trouble and made all my

fair trial,

If

I

was some high-up

be different; but

238

I

m

just

UNHAPPY FA TE OF THE D EATON a

common

thing

boy, and

don

I

want

My

duty

family,"

I

owe

to myself

interrupted Rob.

cultivated science,

some simple

"

more than

I

Electricity, so far as

But

can

I

to fool with I

of

see."

and speaking

feet

owe

Demon

remonstrated the

consider,"

rising to his

have never

experiments, so

electrical

nothing to either science or the

mon,

be any

began the Demon. and to my

"

But, your duty

"

to

else."

"

"

t

De in a

consider the years that pleading voice, must elapse before any one else is likely to "

strike the

Master Key!

while, consider off

from

all

my

And,

helpless

interest in the

have

such wonderful

hands

for the benefit of

in the

mean

position, cut

world while

inventions

mankind.

on If

I

my you

have no love for science or for the advance

ment ation

of civilization, do

for

have some consider

your fellow-creatures, and

me!"

239

for

THE MASTER KET "

much as

I

my

If

as

trouble with your electrical inventions

had,

priving

I

am

them

doing them a service by de of

your

"As for boy. yourself, with you, personally.

cent sort of

mean

would have

fellow-creatures

devices,"

well; but

there

ve no fault to find

I

You

Demon, and

said the

re a very de

ve no doubt you

I

s

something wrong about our present combination, I sure.

m

It isn

t natural."

The Demon made "

Why, oh why That

s

it!"

did not

Master

person strike the "

a gesture of despair.

What

is

?"

intelligent

he moaned.

Key!"

exclaimed Rob.

lieve that s the root of the "

some

whole

inquired the

"I

be

evil."

Demon,

stu

pidly. "

The

fact that

an

intelligent person did

not strike the Master Key. to understand.

the

Demon of

"

I am,"

self

Well,

I ll

You don explain.

Electricity, aren

said the

other,

up proudly. 240

t

t

seem

You

re

you?"

drawing him

UNHA PPT FA TE OF THE DEMON "

of of

Your mission

whoever

is

obey the commands strike the Master Key

to

is

able to

Electricity." "That is true." "

I

once read

are regulated that

so

those

to "

is

book

in a

by exact laws

that all things of nature.

If

you probably owe your existence

The Demon

laws."

Doubtless

it

was

mankind became

intended

intelligent

nodded.

that

when

enough and ad

vanced 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 That seems reasonable, doesn t it? use. "

Perhaps so. Yes* it seems reason able," answered the Demon, thoughtfully. "

"Accidents

are always liable to

continued the boy.

By

happen,"

accident the Master

Key was struck long before, the world of science was ready for it or for you. In stead of considering

it

an accident and pay

ing no attention to

it

you immediately ap-

241

THE MASTER KEY me

peared to

your "I

mere boy

a

and offered

services."

was very anxious

returned the

to

do

something," "

Demon,

evasively.

You

ve

no idea how stupid it is for me to live in visible and unknown, while all the time I have in

my

possession

benefit to the "

world."

have to keep cool and bide said Rob. "The world wasn t

Well, you

your

made

time,"

in a

going on

up

minute, and while civilization

Demon

"What

shall

tion,

wringing

what

shall

"

ll

at a pretty

to the

I

do!

I

good pace, we

of Electricity

do!

his

re

yet."

groaned the Appari hands miserably; "oh,

lie down," it

Rob, easy and don t replied

Nothing was ever created with

out a use, they say; so your turn will

low, but

sure!

I

m

come

sorry for you, old

fel

your own fault." are right! exclaimed the Demon,

it

s all

"

"You

not

"

"Take

sympathetically.

some day,

is

"

Go home and

get rattled.

untold

secrets of

242

UNHAPPY FATE OP THE DEMON up and down the room, and caus

striding

ing thereby such a crackling of electricity in the air that Rob s hair became rigid enough

on end.

to stand

must wait

wait

until

lently

my

"You

wait

But

bonds are loosed by

must wait! "

I

m

must wait

I

No!

glad you ve

I

It

is

si

intel

a dreary

must wait

I

I

I

"

come

remarked Rob, drily. ing more to say" "

and

patiently

ligence rather than chance! fate.

and

are right,

to

your

"

So,

if

senses,"

you ve noth

have nothing more to say.

There

nothing more to say. You and I are two. should never have met!" re is

We

torted the

Demon, showing

great excite

ment.

Oh, I didn t seek your acquaintance," said Rob. But I ve tried to treat you de "

"

cently,

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.

243

He was

bus-

THE MA S TER KET ily

forcing the various electrical devices that

Rob had relinquished

into the pockets of his

fiery jacket.

Finally he turned with an abrupt

move

ment. "Good-by!"

he cried.

"

When

mortal

me they will be those of command my services! As for

eyes next behold

one

to

fit

you, your days will be passed in obscurity and your name be unknown to fame. Goodby,

forever!"

The room

filled

with a flash of white light

so like a sheet of

lightning that the

went reeling backwards,

blinded by its dazzling intensity. When he recovered himself the of Electricity

Rob

s

heart

Demon

had disappeared.

*

#

boy

stunned and

half

*

was very

workshop and made

his

*

-x-

light as he left the

way down

the attic

stairs. "

give

Some

was a

fool to

inventions,"

he re-

people might think

up those

electrical

244

I

UNHAPPY FA TE OF THE DEMON m

one of those persons who know when they ve had enough. \\ strikes me the fool is the fellow who can t learn a fleeted;

lesson.

"but

I

I

ve learned mine,

no fun being a century ahead

245

all right.

It s

of the times!

"

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