A FRIEND INDEED
Though the giants, man for man, were no match for the travelers,
collectively the horde proved too much. They had swarmed about the ship,
and, by passing the big cables over her, effectively held her down.
"Let me get out and I'll cut 'em!" cried Andy. "We must get away from
these savages!"
"No, no, don't go out!" exclaimed the professor. "They would eventually
kill you, though you might fight them off for a time. We must wait and
see what develops. They can have no object in harming us, as we have not
injured them."
"I'd rather fight 'em," insisted the old hunter.
But the professor had his way and Andy was forced to obey. The giants
had withdrawn their big feet from the side door and Washington had
closed it. But nothing else had been accomplished, and the ship could
not rise. The gas and negative gravity machines were stopped, as they
were only under a useless strain.
Suddenly, the colored lights which had been growing dimmer and dimmer,
with the approach of night, went out altogether. Almost as suddenly,
Mark, who was watching the giants from the conning tower, as they made
fast the loose ends of the cables, saw them make a dash for the mound
houses.
"They're afraid of the dark!" he cried. "Come on! We can go out now and
loosen the ropes!"
He hurried to tell the professor what he had noticed.
"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson. "Perhaps we can escape now!"
They waited a few minutes, listening to the sound of many big feet
running away from the ship, and then, Bill cautiously opened the side
door. The others were behind him, waiting, with knives and hatchets in
their hands, to rush out and cut the restraining cables.
"All ready!" called Bill. "There doesn't seem to be a one in sight!"
He stepped out but no sooner had he set foot on the ground than there
came a thud, and Bill went down as if some one had knocked his feet from
under him.
"Go back! Go back!" he cried. "They hit me with something. I'm being
smothered!"
"Bring a light!" cried the professor, for the sally had been started in
the dark.
Jack brought the portable electric it having been repaired and flashed
it out of the door. In the gleam of it, Bill was seen lying prostrate,
half covered by an orange, about half as big as himself. The fruit was
as soft and mushy as some of the giants themselves, or Bill would not
have fared so easily.
Then, as the others stood watching, and while Bill arose and wiped some
of the juice from his face, there came a regular shower of the monstrous
oranges.
"Get inside quick! We'll be smothered under them!" Mr. Henderson cried.
Pausing only to rescue Bill, the adventurers retreated inside the ship,
and made fast the door. Outside they could hear the thud as the oranges
were thrown, some hitting the _Flying Mermaid_ and many dropping all
about her.
"I guess they are going to have things their own way," observed Bill, as
he gazed down on his clothes, which were covered with juice from the
fruit.
The night was one of anxiety. The travelers took turns standing guard,
but nothing more occurred. The giants remained in their houses, and the
heavy ropes still held the ship fast.
"We must hold a council of war," the professor decided as they gathered
at breakfast, which was far from a cheerful meal.
With the return of the colored lights the giants again made their
appearance. They came swarming from the mound houses, and a great crowd
they proved to be. Several thousand at least, Jack estimated, and when
he went up into the conning tower and took a survey he could see the
strange and terrible creatures pouring in from the surrounding country.
"I'm afraid there will be trouble," he said, as he came down and
reported what he had seen.
"We must hold a council of war," repeated the professor. "Has any one
anything to suggest?"
"Get a lot of powder and blow 'em up!" cried Andy.
"Arrange electric wires and shock 'em to death!" was Bill's plan.
"Can't we slip the ropes in some way and escape?" asked Jack. "I don't
believe we can successfully fight the giants. They are too many, even if
they are weak, individually."
"I think you're right there," Mr. Henderson said. "We must try some sort
of strategy, but what? That is the question."
For a few minutes no one spoke. They were all thinking deeply, for their
lives might hang in the balance.
"I think I have a plan," said Mark, at length. "Did we bring any diving
suits with us?"
"There may be one or two," the professor replied. "But what good will
they do?"
"Two of us could put them on," continued Mark, "and, as they afford good
protection from any missiles like fruit, we could crawl out on the deck
of the ship. From there, armed with hatchets or knives we could cut the
ropes. Then the ship could rise."
"That's a good plan!" cried the scientist. "We'll try it at once!"
Search revealed that two diving suits were among the stores of the
_Mermaid_. Jack and Mark wanted to be the ones to don them, but as the
suits were rather large, and as the professor thought it would take more
strength than the boys had to do the work, it was decided that Andy and
Washington should make the attempt to cut the ropes.
The hunter and colored man lost little time in getting into the modern
armor. In the meanwhile Jack, who had been posted as a lookout, reported
that there seemed to be some activity among the giants. They were
running here and there, and some seemed to be going off toward the
woods, that were not far away.
"Now work quickly," urged the professor. "We will be on the watch, and
as soon as the last rope is cut we will start the machinery and send the
ship up. We will not wait for you to come back inside, so hold fast as
best you can when the _Mermaid_ rises."
"We will," answered Andy, just before the big copper helmet was fastened
on his head, and Washington nodded to show he understood.
The two who were to attempt the rescue of their comrades were soon on
deck. In the conning tower Jack and the professor kept anxious watch,
while Mark, Bill and Tom were at the various machines, ready, at the
signal, to start the engines.
The giants had now become so interested in whatever plan they had afoot,
that they paid little attention to the ship. Consequently Washington and
Andy, crawling along the deck in their diving suits, did not, at first
attract any attention.
In fact they had cut several of the big ropes, and it began to look as
if the plan would succeed, particularly as they were partly hidden from
view by the upper gas holder. They were working with feverish haste,
sawing away at the big cables with keen knives.
"I guess we'll beat 'em yet!" cried Jack.
"I hope so," replied the professor. "It looks----"
He stopped short, for at that moment a cry arose from the midst of the
giants, and one of them pointed toward the ship. An instant later the
air was darkened with a flight of big oranges, which the queer creatures
seemed to favor as missiles. Probably they found stones too heavy.
"Well, those things can't hurt 'em much with those heavy suits on,"
observed Mr. Henderson. "There, Washington got one right on the head
that time, and it didn't bother him a bit."
Jack had seen the fruit strike the big copper helmet and observed that
the colored man only moved his head slightly in order to get rid of the
orange.
In fact the giants, seeing for themselves that this mode of warfare was
not going to answer, since the two men on the ship continued to cut the
restraining cables, gave it up. There was a good deal of shouting among
them, and a number ran here and there, seemingly gathering up long
poles.
"I wonder if they are going to try the flailing method, and beat poor
Andy and Washington," said Mr. Henderson. "It looks so."
The two rescuers were now about a quarter through their hard task. The
throwing of the oranges had ceased. But the giants were up to a new
trick. They divided into two sections, one taking up a position on one
side of the ship, and the other on the opposite. There were about two
hundred in each crowd, while the others in the horde drew some distance
back.
"They're up to some queer dodge," observed Jack. "What are they placing
those sticks to their mouths for?"
The professor observed the throng curiously for a few seconds. Then he
exclaimed:
"They are using blow-guns! They are going to shoot arrows at Washington
and Andy! We must get them in at once!"
He darted toward a door that opened from the conning tower out on the
deck.
"Don't go!" cried Jack. "It's too late! They are beginning to blow!"
He pointed to the throng of giants. The professor could see their cheeks
puffed out as the big creatures filled their lungs with air and prepared
to expel it through the hollow tubes.
Then there came a sound as if a great wind was blowing. It howled and
roared over the ship, not unlike a hurricane in its fury. But there was
no flight of arrows through the air, such as would have come from
regular blow guns.
"That is strange," said the professor. He thought for a moment. "I have
it!" he cried, "They are trying to blow Washington and Andy off the ship
by the power of their breaths! They are not blowing arrows at them! My,
but they, must have strong lungs!"
And, in truth, that was the plan of the giants. The hollow tubes, made
from some sort of big weed, sent a blast of air at the two men on the
ship's deck, that made them lie flat and cling with both hands to avoid
being sent flying into the midst of the giants, on one side or the
other. But the giants had reckoned without the weight of the diving
suits, and it was those, with the big lead soles of the shoes, that
helped to hold Washington and Andy in place.
"Come back! Come back!" cried the professor, opening the conning tower
door and calling to the two brave men. "Come back, both of you! Do you
hear?"
As the portal slid back the rush of air was almost like that of a
cyclone. Then it suddenly ceased, as the giants saw their plan was not
likely to succeed.
But now there arose from the outer circle of the horde a shout of
triumph. It was caused by the return of those who had, a little while
before, hurried off to the woods. They came back bearing big trees, tall
and slender, stripped of their branches, so that they resembled flag
staffs. It took a dozen giants to carry each one.
The whole throng was soon busy laying the poles in a row in front of the
ship.
"What can they be up to now?" asked Jack.
"It looks as if they were going to slide the ship along on rollers," the
professor replied.
Sure enough this was the giant's plan. A few minutes later those in the
_Mermaid_ felt her moving forward, as the giants, massed behind, shoved.
On to the poles she slid. The ropes were loosened to permit this, but
not enough to enable the boat to rise.
Then the travelers felt the ship being lifted up.
"They are going to carry us away, with the poles for a big stretcher!"
cried the professor.
Looking from the side windows the boys saw that a great crowd of the big
men were on either side of the _Mermaid_, each giant grasping a pole,
and lifting. Farther out were others, holding the ends of the cables
which Washington and Andy had not succeeded in cutting.
The ship was being carried along by a thousand or more giants, as the
ancient warriors, slain in battle, were carried home on the spears of
their comrades.
"This is the end of the _Mermaid_!" murmured Mr. Henderson in sorrowful
tones.
As they looked from the conning tower the professor and the two boys
observed a commotion among the leaders of the giants. They seemed to be
wavering. Suddenly the forward part of the ship sank, as those ahead
laid their poles down on the ground. Then those behind did the same, and
the _Mermaid_, came to a stop, and once more rested on the earth.
"What does this mean?" asked the scientist in wonder.
All at once the entire crowd of giants threw themselves down on their
faces, and there, standing at the bow of the ship, was a giant, half
again as large as any of the others. He was clad in a complete suit of
golden armor on which the changing lights played with beautiful effect,
and in his hand he held an immense golden sword. He pointed the weapon
at the ship as if he had raised it in protection, and his hand was
stretched in commanding gesture over the prostrate giants.
"Perhaps he has come to save us!" cried Mark.
CHAPTER XXVII
A GREAT JOURNEY
Such indeed, seemed to be the case. The golden-armored giant, after
standing for a few moments in an attitude of command, waved his sword
three times about his head, and uttered a command, in a voice that
sounded like thunder. Then the prostrate ones arose, and, making low
bows hurried away in all directions.
Watching them disappear, the golden one sheathed his weapon and
approached the ship. He caught sight of the professor and the two boys
in the conning tower, for Mark had gone there when he found the ship
being transported, and held up his two hands, the palms outward.
"It is the sign of peace in the language all natives employ," said the
professor. "I think I shall trust him."
Followed by the boys he descended from the little platform in the tower,
and to the door that opened on the deck.
"Shall we go out?" he asked.
"We can't be much worse off," replied Mark. "Let's chance it."
So, not without many misgivings, they slid back the portal and stepped
out to face the strange and terrible being who had so suddenly come to
their rescue.
The giant in the golden armor did not seem surprised to see them. In
fact he acted as though he rather expected them. He continued to hold up
one hand, with the palm, outward, while, with the other, he removed his
helmet and bowed low. Then he cast his sword on the ground and advanced
toward the ship. When within ten feet he sat down on the ground, and
this brought his head nearer the earth, so that his auditors could both
see and hear him to better advantage.
As soon as the giant saw the travelers were outside their ship he began
to speak to them in a voice, which, though he might have meant it to be
low and gentle, was like the bellowing of a bull. At the same time he
made many gestures, pointing to the ship, to himself and to Mark.
"What is he saying, professor?" asked Jack.
"I can't understand all he says," Mr. Henderson replied. "He uses some
words derived from the Latin and some from the Greek. But by piecing it
out here and there, and by interpreting his motions I am able to get at
something."
"And what is it all about?"
"It is a strange story," the scientist replied. "He has only gone about
half way through it. Wait until he finishes and I will tell you."
The golden-armored giant, who had stopped in his narrative while Jack
was speaking, resumed. His gestures became more rapid, and his words
came faster. Several times Mr. Henderson held up his hand for him to
cease, while he puzzled out what was meant.
At one point, the professor seemed much startled, and motioned for the
strange being to repeat the last part of his discourse. When this had
been done Mr. Henderson shook his head as though in doubt.
At length the story was finished, and the lone giant, for there were no
others in sight now, folded his arms and seemed to await what the
professor's answer might be. Mr. Henderson turned to the boys, and to
the others of the _Mermaid's_ company, who, by this time, had joined
him, and said:
"Friends, I have just listened to a strange story. It is so strange
that, but for the fact that our own adventures are verging on the
marvelous, I could hardly believe it. In the first place, this man here
is the king of this country. That is why all the other natives obeyed
him.
"In the second place it seems he has been a passenger in our boat, and
came here from the earth's surface with us!"
"What's that?" cried Jack.
"That explains the strange happenings!" ejaculated Mark. "No wonder I
could never solve the secret of the storeroom."
"You are right, it does," replied Mr. Henderson. "I will not go into all
the details of how it happened, but it seems the big hole through which
we came is only one of two entrances to this inner world. Rather it is
the entrance, and there is another, close to it, which is the exit.
Through the latter a big stream of water spouts up, just as one pours
down through the opening we used.
"Hankos, which is the name of the king, was for many years a student of
science. He longed to see where the big stream of upward spurting water
went, and wanted to know whence came the down-pouring one. So he
undertook a daring experiment.
"He constructed a great cylinder, and, keeping his plans a secret,
conveyed it to the spouting water, entered it, and, by means of pulleys
and levers, after he had shut himself inside, cast himself into the
up-shooting column. He took along compressed air cylinders to supply an
atmosphere he could breathe, and some food to eat, for it appears our
giant friends are something of inventors in their way. The current of
water bore him to the surface of the earth, and he was cast up on the
ocean, in what was probably taken for a waterspout if any one saw it.
"Then a strange thing happened. No sooner did Hankos open his cylinder,
which served him as a boat, than he lost his gigantic size, owing to the
difference of the two atmospheres. He became almost of the same size as
ourselves, except that his skin hung in great folds on him, and he
seemed like a wrinkled old man. His clothes too, were a world too large.
"He had a terrible time before he reached shore, and a hard one after
it, for his strange appearance turned almost every one against him. He
was sorry he had ventured to solve the mystery of the up-shooting stream
of water, for he was worse than an outcast.
"Then he began to plan to get back to his own inner world. But he could
not find the downward stream, and, not knowing the language of the
countries where he landed, he had no means of ascertaining. He traveled
from place to place, always seeking for something that would lead him
back to his own country.
"Finally he heard of us, and of our ship, though how I do not know, as I
thought I had kept it a great secret. By almost superhuman struggles he
made his way to our island. He says he concealed himself aboard the
_Mermaid_ the night before we sailed, but I hardly believe it possible.
It seems----"
"He did it, for I saw him!" interrupted Mark.
"You saw him!" cried Mr. Henderson.
Then Mark told of the many things that had puzzled him so, how he had
seen the queer figure slinking aboard the boat, of the disappearance of
food from time to time, and of the strange noises in the storeroom.
"That bears out what he told me," the professor said. "Hankos says he
used to steal out nights and take what food he could get, and he also
mentions some one, answering to Mark's description, who nearly
discovered him once as he hurried back into the apartment.
"However, it seems to be true, since Mark confirms it. At any rate
Hankos stayed in hiding, and made the entire trip with us, and, just as
we all became overcome with the strange gas he escaped, having begun to
expand to his original giant size, and being unable to remain any longer
in his cramped quarters."
"That's so, he did!" cried Mark. "I saw him come out of the place just
before I lost my senses. It was a terrible sight, and none of you would
believe me when I told you some of the occurrences afterward."
"You must forgive us for that," the professor said. "We have learned
much since then."
"What did Hankos do after he left the ship when it landed in this
country?" asked Jack.
"He traveled until he came to this village, which is the chief one of
this country," replied the professor. "Part of the time he followed us
at a distance, being able to travel very fast."
Mark remembered the strange figure of a giant he had seen on the hill
tops several times, and knew that he had been observing the being who
had played such a queer part in their lives.
"When he came back among his own people," went on Mr. Henderson, "they
would not receive him at first, believing him to be an impostor. But
Hankos convinced them of his identity and was allowed to don the golden
armor, which is the badge of kingship. He had only been in office for a
little while when he heard of the arrival of the strange thing, which
turned out to be our ship. He recognized it from the description, and,
learning that we were likely to be sacrificed to the fury and ignorance
of the giants, he hurried here and saved our lives.
"He says he can never thank us enough for being the means whereby he was
able to get back to his own country, and says the freedom of this whole
inner world is ours. He has given orders that we are to go wherever we
like, and none will molest us. He tells me the land is a wonderful one,
compared to our own, and urges us to make a long journey. He would like
to go with us, only, now that he has resumed his natural size, he can
not get inside the ship."
"Hurrah for King Hankos!" cried Jack and the others joined him in a
hearty cheer.
The giant in the golden armor evidently understood the compliment which
was paid him, for he waved his helmet in the air and responded with a
shout of welcome that made the ground tremble.
Hankos waited until the professor had translated all of the story to the
other travelers. Then the genial giant began to talk some more, and the
professor listened intently.
"He says," spoke Mr. Henderson to his friends, "that we will be supplied
with all the fruit we want, and with the best of the houses to sleep in
on our journey. He also tells me he has great stores of shining stones
and piles of the metal of which his armor is made, and that we are
welcome to as much as we want. If this means unlimited gold and
diamonds, we may make our fortunes."
"Jest let me git ma' hand on a few sparklers an' I'll quit work!"
exclaimed Washington.
"I have told him," the scientist went on, "that we will take advantage
of his kind offer. We will start on our trip in a day or so, after we
have looked over the ship to see if it is not damaged. He tells me the
gold and sparkling stones are several thousand miles away, on top of a
high mountain. We will make that our objective point."
The interview between the king and Mr. Henderson having ended, the
former waved his sword in the air and the swarm of big men came back.
They had been hiding back in the woods. Now their manner was very
different. They carefully, removed the rollers and ropes, and soon there
was brought to the adventurers an immense pile of fine fruits. If our
friends had stayed there a year they could not have eaten it all. The
giants were judging the appetites of the travelers by their own.
That night the adventurers slept more soundly than they had since
entering the strange world. They felt they had nothing to fear from the
giants. In the morning they were not molested, though big crowds
gathered to look at the ship. But they kept back a good distance. The
machinery was found to be in good shape, save for a few repairs, and
when these were made, the professor announced he would start on a long
journey.
For several weeks after that the travelers swung about in their ship,
sometimes sailing in the air and again on big seas and lakes viewing the
wonders of the inner world. They were many and varied, and the professor
collected enough material for a score of books which he said he would
write when he got back to the outer world once more.
One afternoon, as they were sailing over a vast stretch of woodland,
which did not seem to be inhabited, Mr. Henderson, looking at one of the
gages on the wall, asked:
"Boys do you know how far you have traveled underground?"
"How far?" asked Jack, who hated to guess riddles.
"More than four thousand miles," was the answer.
"But we haven't come to that mountain of gold and diamonds," said Mark.
"I am anxious to see that."
"Have patience," replied the professor. "I have not steered toward it
yet. There are other things to see."
Just then Washington's voice could be heard calling from the conning
tower:
"We're coming to a big mountain!"
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE TEMPLE OF TREASURE
"What's that?" fairly yelled the professor.
"We am propelling ourselves in a contiguous direction an' in close
proximity to an elevated portion of th' earth's surface which rises in
antiguous proximity t' th' forward part of our present means of
locomotion!" said the colored man in a loud voice.
"Which means there may be a collision," the professor said, as he and
the boys hurried toward the tower.
"Jest what I said," retorted Washington. "What'll I do?"
"Send the ship a little higher," answered Mr. Henderson. "We mustn't hit
any mountains."
Washington forced more gas into the holder, and speeded the negative
gravity machine up some, so that the _Mermaid_, which was flying rather
low, ascended until it was in no danger of colliding with the peak which
reared its lofty height just ahead of them.
As the ship sailed slowly over the mountain, Mark gazed down and
exclaimed:
"Doesn't that look like the ruins of some building?"
The professor took a pair of field glasses from a rack in the wall and
took a long view.
"It must be the place," he said in a low voice.
"What place?" asked Jack.
"The temple of treasure," was the answer. "Hankos told me it was on top
of the highest mountain in the land, and this must be it, for it is the
loftiest place we have seen. But we must be careful, for there is danger
down there."
"What kind?" asked Mark.
"The place was long ago deserted by the giants," Mr. Henderson went on.
"Ages ago it was one of their storehouses for treasure, but there were
wars among themselves, Hankos said, and this part of the country was
laid waste. Savage beasts took up their abode in the temple, and since
then, in spite of the great size of the giants, they have not dared to
venture here. If we brave the animals we may have all the gold and
diamonds we can take away."
"Then for one, I'm willin' t' go down an' begin th' extermination at
once," put in Andy. "I've always wanted t' be rich."
"We must proceed cautiously," the professor said. "We are ill prepared
to fight any such beasts as we saw at the big geyser. At the same time
they may have deserted this place. I think we will lower the ship down
over the temple, and spend several hours in observation. Then, if
nothing develops, we can enter and see if the treasure is there."
This plan was voted a good one, and the _Mermaid_ after having been
steered directly over the ruined temple, was brought to a halt, and
enough gas let out so that it fell to about fifty feet in the air above
it.
The adventurers began their watch. The afternoon waned and there were no
signs of any beasts in or about the temple.
"I reckon we can take a chance," said Andy, who was anxious to get his
hands on some diamonds.
"Better wait until morning," counseled Mr. Henderson. "It will soon be
dark, and it doesn't look like a nice place to go stumbling about in by
moonlight."
So, though all but the scientist were anxious, they had to wait until
the night had passed. Several times Washington got up to see if the
temple had, by any chance, taken wings during the long hours of
darkness, but each time he found it was still in place.
"Seems laik it'll never come mornin'," he said.
But dawn came at length, and, after a hasty breakfast, preparations to
enter the temple were made. Andy loaded his gun for "bear" as he
expressed it, and the boys each took a revolver.
The ship was lowered to as level a place as could be found, and then,
seeing that everything was in readiness for a quick departure, the
professor led the way out of the _Mermaid_.
The entrance to the temple was through a big arched gateway. Some of the
stones had fallen down, and the whole structure looked as if it might
topple over at any moment.
"Go carefully," cautioned Mr. Henderson. "Watch on all sides and up
above. Better let Andy and me go ahead."
The scientist and the old hunter led the way. Through the arch they
went, and emerged into what must at one time have been a magnificent
courtyard. Before them was the temple proper, a vast structure, with an
opening through which fifty men might have marched abreast. But the
doors were gone, and the portal was but a black hole.
"I hope there ain't any ghosts in there," said Washington, with a
shiver.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed the professor. "There may be things as bad, but
there are no such things as ghosts. Have your gun ready, Andy."
With every sense on the alert, the old hunter advanced. Every one was a
bit nervous, and, as Mark and Jack afterward admitted, they half
expected some terrible beast to rush out at them. But nothing of the
kind happened, and they went into the interior of the temple.
At first it was so dark they could see nothing. There were vast dim
shapes on every side, and from the hollow echo of their footsteps they
judged the roof must be very high and the structure big in every way.
Then, as their eyes became used to the darkness, they could make out, up
front, something like an altar or pulpit.
"Perhaps that's where they offered up the gold and diamonds as a
sacrifice to their gods," spoke Mark in a whisper.
"Sacrifice to their gods!" came back a hundred echoes and the sound made
every one shudder.
"Oh!" said Washington, in a low voice.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" repeated the echoes in voices of thunder.
"Well, this is pleasant," spoke Andy, in his natural tones, and, to the
surprise of all there was no echo. It was only when a person whispered
or spoke low that the sound was heard. After that they talked naturally.
"You stay here, and Andy and I will go up front and see what there is,"
said Mr. Henderson. "Be on your guard, and if you hear us coming back in
a hurry, run!"
It was with no little feeling of nervousness that the boys, Bill, Tom
and Washington watched the two men move off in the darkness. They could
hear their footsteps on the stone flags and could dimly see them.
"They must be almost to the altar by this time," said Mark, after a long
pause.
Hardly had he spoken than there came a loud sound from where Mr.
Henderson and Andy had gone. It was as if some giant wings were beating
the air. Then came shrill cries and the voice of the old hunter could be
heard calling:
"Kneel down, Professor! Let me get a shot at the brute!"
Those waiting in the rear of the temple huddled closer together. What
terrible beast could have been aroused?
The next instant the place seemed illuminated as if by a lightning
flash, and a sound as of a thousand thunder claps resounded.
"I think I winged him!" cried Andy's voice, and the boys knew he had
fired at something.
Then there came a crash, and from the roof of the old temple a dozen
stones toppled off to one side, letting in a flood of colored light.
By this illumination could be seen, flapping through the big space
overhead, an enormous bat, as large as three eagles. And, as it flew
about in a circle it gave utterance to shrill cries.
"Bang!" Andy's gun spoke again, and the bat with a louder cry than
before, darted through the hole in the roof made by the falling stones,
which had been loosened by the concussion from the rifle.
"Come on!" cried the old hunter. "That was the guardian of the treasure!
We are safe now!"
Then, in the light which streamed through the broken roof, the
adventurers could see, heaped up on a great altar, behind which sat a
horrible graven image, piles of yellow metal, and sparkling stones. In
little heaps they were, arranged as if offerings to the terrible god of
the giants. There were bars and rings of gold, dishes of odd shape, and
even weapons. As for the sparkling stones, they were of many colors, but
the white ones were more plentiful than all the others.
"Gold and diamonds! Diamonds and gold!" murmured the professor. "There
is the ransom of many kings in this ancient temple."
"Wish I had a big bag!" exclaimed Washington, as he began filling all
his pockets with the precious metal and gems. "If I had a-thought I'd
have brought a dress-suit case!"
"A dress-suit case full of diamonds!" exclaimed Mark.
Then he too, as did all the others, fell to filling his pockets with the
wealth spread so lavishly before them. There was the riches of a whole
world in one place and no one but themselves to take it.
For several minutes no one spoke. The only sound was the rattle of the
stones and the clink of gold, and when some of the diamonds dropped on
the floor they did not bother to gather them up. There were too many on
the altar.
"We will be rich for life!" gasped old Andy, who had been poor all his
years.
"I can't carry any more!" gasped Washington. "I'm goin' back for----"
What he was going back for he never said, for, at that instant,
happening to look up at the hole in the roof, he gave a startled cry:
"Here come the terrible bats!"
They all gazed upward. Through the opening they could see a great flock
of the awful birds, headed for the temple, and they were led by one
which seemed to fly with difficulty. It was the guardian of the treasure
that Andy had wounded.
"Quick! We must get out of here!" shouted the old hunter. "They are big
enough and strong enough to tear us all to pieces. Hurry!"
Down the centre of the temple they rushed, and not a moment too soon,
for, ere they had passed half way to the entrance, the opening in the
roof was darkened by the coming of the bats, and soon the flapping of
their wings awoke the thundering echoes in the ruined structure, while
their shrill cries struck terror to the hearts of the travelers.
Up to the altar circled the bats, and then wheeling they flapped down
the dim aisles toward the adventurers.
"Hurry! Hurry!" shouted Andy, who was in the rear.
He raised his rifle and fired several shots into the midst of the
terrible creatures.
A number of the bats were wounded, and the others were so frightened by
the sound of the shots and the flashes of fire that they turned back.
This enabled the fleeing ones to gain the entrance to the temple, and
soon they were outside.
"To the ship!" yelled Bill.
"There's little danger now!" called Andy, panting, for the run had
winded him. "They will hardly attack us in the light!"
And he was right, for, though they could hear the bats flying about
inside the temple, and uttering their cries, none came outside.
But no one felt like staying near the uncanny structure, and little time
was lost in reaching the _Mermaid_. Then the doors were fastened, and
the ship was sent high up into the air.
"Which way?" asked Jack, when Mr. Henderson told him to go to the
conning tower and steer.
"Back to where we first met the giants," replied the professor. "We must
prepare to start for our own earth again soon."
"I've almost forgotten how real sunlight looks," thought Jack, as he
headed the ship around the other way. As he turned the levers a big
diamond dropped from his pocket and rolled on the floor.
"This will be a good reminder of our trip though," he added.
The travelers, even including Mr. Henderson, were so taken up with their
suddenly acquired riches that they hardly thought of meals. At the
professor's suggestion they tied their gold and stones up in small
packages convenient to carry.
"Better place them where you can grab them in a hurry in case of
accident," the old scientist went on. "Of course if there should be too
bad an accident they would never be of any use to us down here, but
we'll look on the bright side of things."
"Do you anticipate any accident?" asked Jack anxiously.
"No, Oh no," replied Mr. Henderson, but Jack thought the aged man had
something weighing on his mind.
CHAPTER XXIX
BACK HOME--CONCLUSION
On and on sped the _Mermaid_. Now that the travelers felt their journey
accomplished they were anxious to begin the homeward trip. They made a
straight course for the village where they had so nearly met with
disaster, and where the king of the giants had saved them. They went in
a direct line, and did not travel here and there, as they had after they
left the town. Consequently they shortened the route by a great
distance. Yet it was long enough, and when they finally came in sight of
the place the dial registered a trip of five thousand miles underground.
It was one evening when they landed almost at the spot whence they had
taken flight eventually to reach the temple of the treasure. Most of the
giants had betaken themselves to their mound houses, but Hankos was
walking in the fields, and, when he caught sight of the airship hovering
above him he waved his great sword in welcome.
He rushed up to shake hands with the travelers when they came out of the
ship, though to greet him it was only possible for the adventurers to
grasp one of his immense fingers.
As soon as the greetings were over Hankos began to speak rapidly to the
professor, at the same time going through many strange motions.
"It is as I feared!" suddenly exclaimed the scientist.
"What is the matter?" asked Mark.
"The worst has happened!" went on Mr. Henderson. "The great hole by
which we came into this place has been closed by an earthquake shock!"
"The hole closed?" repeated Jack.
"An earthquake shock!" murmured Mark.
"Then how are we going to get back to earth?" asked old Andy.
A terrible fear entered the hearts of the travelers. The closing of the
opening by which they had come to the strange world meant, in all
probability that they would have to spend the rest of their lives in
this underground place.
"What good did it do us to get all those diamonds and that gold?" asked
Mark in a sorrowful tone.
Hankos began to speak again, using his gestures which were almost as
eloquent as words. The professor watched and listened intently. Then
there seemed to come a more hopeful look to his face. He nodded
vigorously as Hankos went on with what seemed to be an explanation.
"It's worth trying, at all events!" the scientist exclaimed. "It is our
only hope!"
"What is?" asked Jack.
"Friends," began the professor in solemn tones. "I must admit our plight
is desperate. At the same time there is a bare chance of our getting
back to our own earth. As you remember, Hankos went from this place to
the upper regions through the upward spouting column of water."
"If we had our submarine we might also," interrupted Jack. "But the
_Mermaid_ isn't built to sail in that fashion."
"Nor would the _Porpoise_ have served us in this emergency," said the
professor. "It would prove too heavy. But, nevertheless, I think I have
a plan. Now, Mark, you are about to learn the secret of the storeroom.
The real one, not the hiding of Hankos in there, which you imagined to
be the cause of my desire to keep something hidden. When we planned a
trip to this underground world I had a dim idea that we might meet with
trouble. So I planned and made a cylinder lifeboat."
"A cylinder lifeboat?" repeated Mark.
"Yes," replied Mr. Henderson. "I have it in the storeroom. I did not
want any of you to see it for fear you would have faint hearts. I
thought there might be no necessity of using it. But, since there is, we
must do our best. I will admit it may be a fearful ordeal, but we will
have to risk something in order to escape.
"I have in the storeroom a large cylinder, capable of holding us all. It
will also contain food and drink for a month, but we will all have to
go, packed almost like sardines in a box. My plan is to take the
_Mermaid_ to the place where the column of water shoots up. There we
will get into the cylinder, close it, and trust ourselves to the
terrible force that may bring us back to the upper world. What do you
say? Shall we attempt it?"
For a few seconds no one spoke. Then Jack said slowly:
"I don't see that we can do anything else. I don't want to stay here all
my life."
"I wants a chance t' wear some of them sparklers," put in Washington.
"Then we will make the attempt," the professor added. "Now all aboard
for the place where the water shoots up!"
Questioning Hankos, the professor learned how to reach the strange
place. It was in the midst of a desolate country where none of the
giants ever went, so afraid were they of the strange phenomenon.
It was a week's journey. Sometimes the _Mermaid_ flew through the air,
and again it sailed on vast lakes or inland seas. On the trip they met
with big waterfalls and terrible geysers that spouted a mile or more
into the air. They traveled by night as well as day, though it was
necessary to keep a sharp watch.
Sometimes the ship passed through great flocks of birds that surrounded
her and sought to pierce the aluminum hull with their sharp beaks and
talons. Over the mountains and valleys the ship sailed until, one
evening, there sounded through the air a strange rumbling sound.
"It is thunder," said Old Andy.
"It is the water column," replied the scientist. "We are at the end of
our trip. May the remainder be as successful!"
The ship was lowered to the surface, as it was deemed best to approach
the column when the lights were shining. No one slept much that night,
for the roaring and rumbling never ceased.
In the morning the ship was sent forward slowly. Ever and ever the
terrific sound increased, until it was almost deafening. They had to
call to each other to be heard.
Then, as the _Mermaid_ passed over a mountain, the adventurers saw, in a
valley below them, the up-shooting water.
It was a vast column, nearly three hundred feet in thickness, and as
solid and white as a shaft _of_ marble. Up, up, up, it went, until it
was lost to sight, but there were no falling drops, and not even a spray
came from the watery shafts.
"There is a terrible power to it," the professor said. "May it prove our
salvation!"
The ship was lowered about a hundred feet away from the waterspout. All
around them the ground was vibrating with the force of the fluid.
"To think that connects with the world above!" exclaimed Jack.
"It's a good thing for us that it does," Mark answered.
"We must lose no time," the professor put in. "If the earthquake
destroyed the downward shaft, it may effect this one in time. We must
escape while we can."
Then, for the first time, he opened the storeroom and the big cylinder
was disclosed to view. It was made of aluminum, and shaped like an
immense cigar. The hull was double, and it was strongly braced. Inside
were padded berths for the occupants, and there was just room enough for
the seven adventurers. Once they had entered they could not move about,
but must stay in their little compartment.
Compressed air in strong cylinders furnished a means of breathing, and
there were tiny electric lights operated by a storage battery. There was
also a chamber to be filled with the lifting gas. The cylinder was so
arranged that it would float on it's long axis if thrown into the water.
A trap door hermetically sealed gave access to the interior. A small
propellor, worked by compressed air, furnished motive power.
The food supply consisted of compressed capsules on which a man could
subsist for several days. There was also some water, but not much, since
that can not be compressed and would, therefore, take considerable room.
"The only thing for us to do," said the professor, "is to get into the
cylinder, seal it up, and trust to Providence. This is what I intended
to use when we were caught in the draught."
"How can we get into the column of water after we shut ourselves into
the cylinder?" asked Mark.
"The cylinder fits into a sort of improvised cannon," said Mr.
Henderson. "It is fired by electricity and compressed air. We will aim
it at the column, press the button and be projected into the midst of
the water. Then----" He did not finish the sentence, but the others knew
what he meant.
"When are we to start?" asked Mark.
"As soon as possible," replied the professor. "I must arrange the
cylinder, compress the air and lay out the food supply."
It took the rest of the day to do this, as the inventor found it would
be advisable to attach a weight to the end of the cylinder, to hold it
upright in the column of water. The weight could be detached
automatically when they were shot up into the midst of the ocean, where,
as Hankos had told them, the column spurted forth.
Then some food was stored in the tiny ship that was destined to be their
last hope, and some tanks of water were placed in it.
"I think we are almost ready," Mr. Henderson said about noon the next
day.
"What about our gold and diamonds?" asked Jack suddenly. "Can we take
them with us in the cylinder?"
"That's so!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson. "I forgot about them. I'm afraid
we'll have to leave the riches behind. We will not be able to carry them
and the food we need, for it may be a week or more before we can leave
the cylinder. Gold and diamonds will be a poor substitute for something
to eat."
"I'm goin' t' take mine!" said Washington with much conviction. "I might
as well starve rich as starve poor!"
"We may be able to take a few diamonds," the professor answered. "The
gold will be too heavy. Let each one select the largest of the diamonds
he has and put them in his pockets."
Then began a sorting of the wealth. It was strange, as they recalled
afterward, throwing away riches that would have made millionaires
envious, but it had to be done. All the wealth in the world would not
equal a beef capsule when they were starving, and they realized it. So
they only saved a few pieces of gold as souvenirs, and took the best of
the diamonds. But even then they had a vast fortune with them.
At last all was in readiness. The cylinder had been placed in the tube
from which it was to be shot gently forth by compressed air, so that it
would fall into the upward spouting column of water. The charge of
compressed air was put in and the electric wires arranged.
"Are we all ready?" asked Mr. Henderson.
"I think so," said Jack, in what sounded like a whisper, but which was
loud, only the noise of the water muffled it.
"Then we had better enter the cylinder," spoke the inventor. "Take a
last look at the _Flying Mermaid_, boys, for you will never see again
the ship that has borne us many thousand miles. She served us well, and
might again, but for the freak of nature that has placed us in this
position."
For the first time the adventurers realized that they must abandon the
craft in which they had reached the new world. So it was with no little
feeling of sadness that they climbed up the ladder that had been
arranged and slid down into the cylinder. One by one they took their
places in the padded berths arranged for them. It was a snug fit, for
the professor knew if there was too much room he and the others might be
so tossed about as to be killed.
Mr. Henderson was the last to enter. Standing at the manhole he took a
final look at his pet creation, the _Mermaid_. Through the opened
windows the colored lights came, shifting here and there. Outside the
terrible column of water was roaring as if anxious to devour them.
"Good-bye, _Mermaid_!" said the professor softly.
Then he closed down the manhole cover and tightened the screws that held
it in place. He touched a button that turned on the electric lights and
the interior of the cylinder was illuminated with a soft glow.
"Are you all ready?" he asked.
"Jest as much as I ever will be," replied Washington, who, as the crisis
approached, seemed more light-hearted than any of the others.
"Then here we go!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson.
His fingers touched the button that connected with the electric machine,
which operated the compressed air.
There sounded a muffled report. Then it seemed to those in the cylinder
that the end of the world had come. They shot upward and outward,
through the top of the conning tower which had been removed. The
cylinder, launched straight at the column of water struck it squarely
and, an instant later was caught in the grasp of the giant force and
hurled toward the upper world.
Up and up and up the mass of metal with its human freight went. Now it
was spinning like a top, again it shot toward the earth's crust like an
arrow from the archer's bow.
It was moving with the velocity of a meteor, yet because of being
surrounded with water, and traveling with the same velocity as the
column, there was no friction. Had there been, the heat generated would
have melted the case in an instant.
For the first few seconds those in the cylinder were dazed by the sudden
rush. Then as it became greater and greater there came a curious dull
feeling, and, one after another lost consciousness. The terror of the
water column, and the frightful speed, had made them senseless.
* * * * *
It seemed like a month later, though, of course, it could have been only
a few hours or a day at most when Jack opened his eyes. He saw his
companions, white and senseless all around him, and at first thought
they were dead. Then he saw Mark looking at him, and Washington asked:
"Is any one livin' 'sides me?"
"I am," replied Jack decidedly.
Then, one after another they regained their senses. But they were in a
strange daze, for they were being carried along like a shooting star,
only, as they went at the same rate as did the element carrying them,
they did not _realize_ this.
"I think I'm hungry," said Bill, who had the best appetite of any of the
travelers.
"You'll find a beef capsule in the little compartment over your head,"
spoke the professor.
Bill was about to reach for it, when they were all startled by a sudden
side motion of the cylinder. Then came a violent shock, and a sound as
of splashing water. Next the cylinder seemed to be falling, and, a few
minutes later to be shooting upward. Following this there was another
splash and the cylinder began to bob about like a cork on a mill pond.
"We have reached the sea! We are afloat on the ocean!" cried the
professor.
Hurriedly he disengaged himself from the straps that held him to his
bunk. He pushed back the lever that opened the manhole. Into the opening
glowed the glorious sunlight, while to the occupants came the breath of
salt air.
"Hurrah!" cried Jack. "We are safe at last!"
"Safe at last!" the professor answered, and then they all gave a cheer.
For their cylinder, which might now be termed a boat, was floating on
the great Atlantic. The blue sky was overhead and the air of the sea
fanned their cheeks.
They had shot up from the underground earth, in the column of water, had
been tossed high into the air, had fallen back when the liquid shaft
broke into spray, had descended into the ocean, gone down a hundred feet
or more, and then had shot up like a cork to bob about the surface.
For a week they were afloat, and then they were picked up by a passing
vessel, rather weak and very much cramped, but otherwise in good shape.
They said nothing of their adventures, save to explain that they were
experimenting in a new kind of boat. About a month later, for the ship
that had rescued them was a slow sailer, they were back on the island
whence that wonderful voyage was begun.
* * * * *
"Well, we solved the mystery of the center of the earth," remarked Jack,
one evening, when they were gathered in the old shack where so many
wonderful adventures had been planned.
"Yes, we did," said Mr. Henderson. "And no one else is ever likely to go
there."
"Why?"
"Because the only way of getting there was destroyed by the earthquake,
and no one could ever force his way down through that upward-shooting
column of water."
"That's so. Well, we have the diamonds, anyway," spoke Mark. "They ought
to make us rich."
And the jewels did, for the stones proved to be of great value, even
though the adventurers had saved only a few of the many they found in
the ruined temple.
But there was money enough so that they all could live in comfort the
rest of their lives. As the professor was getting quite old, and
incapable of making any more wonderful inventions, he closed up his
workshop and settled down to a quiet life. As for Washington, Andy, and
Bill and Tom, they invested their money received from the sale of the
diamonds in different business ventures, and each one did well.
"I am going in for a good education," said Jack to Mark.
"Just what I am going to do," answered his chum. "And after we've got
that----" He paused suggestively.
"We'll go in for inventing airships, or something like that, eh?"
"Yes. We've learned a great deal from Mr. Henderson, and in the course
of time we ought to be able to turn out something even more wonderful
than the _Electric Monarch_, the _Porpoise_, or the _Flying Mermaid_."
"Yes, and when we've invented something better----"
"We'll take another trip."
"Right you are!"
And then the two chums shook hands warmly; and here we will say
good-bye.
THE END.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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JOE, THE HOTEL BOY
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This is one of the last stories penned by that prince of all juvenile
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DOROTHY DALE: A GIRL OF TO-DAY
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DOROTHY DALE AT GLENWOOD SCHOOL
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THE YOUNG EXPRESS AGENT
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TWO BOY PUBLISHERS
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MAIL ORDER FRANK
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THE MOTOR BOYS
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THE MOTOR BOYS OVERLAND
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THE MOTOR BOYS IN STRANGE WATERS
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The derelict was of great value, and the hunt for it proved full of
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FOUR BOY HUNTERS
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have adventures in plenty, all calculated to make boys "sit up and take
notice." A good healthy book; one with the odor of the pine forests and
the glare of the welcome campfire in every chapter.
YOUNG HUNTERS OF THE LAKE
Or, Out with Rod and Gun
Another tale of woods and waters, with some strong hunting scenes and a
good deal of mystery. The three volumes make a splendid outdoor series.
OUT WITH GUN AND CAMERA
Or, The Boy Hunters in the Mountains
Takes up the new fad of photographing wild animals as well as shooting
them. An escaped circus chimpanzee and an escaped lion add to the
interest of the narrative.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DAREWELL CHUMS SERIES
By Allen Chapman
Cloth. 12mo. Illustrated. 60 cents each, postpaid.
THE DAREWELL CHUMS
Or, The Heroes of the School
A bright, lively story for boys, telling of the doings of four chums, at
school and elsewhere. There is a strong holding plot, and several
characters who are highly amusing. Any youth getting this book will
consider it a prize and tell all his friends about it.
THE DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE CITY
Or, The Disappearance of Ned Wilding
From a country town the scene is changed to a great city. One of the
chums has disappeared in an extraordinary manner, and the others
institute a hunt for him. The youths befriend a city waif, who in turn
makes a revelation which clears up the mystery.
[Illustration: small image of book cover]
DAREWELL CHUMS IN THE WOODS
Or, Frank Roscoe's Secret
The boys had planned for a grand outing when something happened of which
none of them had dreamed. They thought one of their number had done a
great wrong--at least, it looked so. But they could not really believe
the accusations made, so they set to work to help Frank all they could.
All went camping some miles from home, and when not hunting and fishing
spent their time in learning the truth of what had occurred.
THE DAREWELL CHUMS ON A CRUISE
Or, Fenn Masterson's Odd Discovery
A tale of the Great Lakes. The boys run across some Canadian smugglers
and stumble on the secret of a valuable mine. Some curious adventures
underground are well told.
CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK
End of Project Gutenberg's Five Thousand Miles Underground, by Roy Rockwood