THE MASTER KEY
[Illustration: 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
_The_ BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY
PUBLISHERS ยท INDIANAPOLIS
COPYRIGHT 1901
THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY
PRESS OF
BRAUNWORTH & CO.
BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS
BROOKLYN, N. Y.
To my son
ROBERT STANTON BAUM
[Illustration]
CONTENTS
_Chapter_ _Page_
I Rob's Workshop 1
II The Demon of Electricity 9
III The Three Gifts 18
IV Testing the Instruments 29
V The Cannibal Island 43
VI The Buccaneers 60
VII The Demon Becomes Angry 78
VIII Rob Acquires New Powers 86
IX The Second Journey 97
X How Rob Served a Mighty King 104
XI The Man of Science 126
XII How Rob Saved a Republic 136
XIII Rob Loses His Treasures 146
XIV Turk and Tatar 160
XV A Battle With Monsters 182
XVI Shipwrecked Mariners 192
XVII The Coast of Oregon 206
XVIII A Narrow Escape 214
XIX Rob Makes a Resolution 225
XX The Unhappy Fate of the Demon 230
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
ILLUSTRATIONS
_Page_
Rob was surrounded by a group of natives of
hideous appearance--_Frontispiece_
From his workshop ran a network of wires throughout
the house--_Headpiece_ 1
A quick flash of light almost blinded Rob 6
A curious being looked upon him from a magnificent
radiance--_Tailpiece_ 8
Scientific men think the people of Mars have been
trying to signal us--_Headpiece_ 9
I am here to do your bidding, said the Demon--_Tailpiece_ 17
Men have not yet discovered what the birds know--_Headpiece_ 18
These three gifts may amuse you for the next week--_Tailpiece_ 28
Rob's action surprised them all--_Headpiece_ 29
"He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded
father 36
The red-whiskered policeman keeled over--_Tailpiece_ 42
Rob's captors caught up the end of the rope and
led him away--_Headpiece_ 43
"If it's just the same to you, old chap, I won't be
eaten to-day"--_Tailpiece_ 59
Rob soared through the air with five Buccaneers
dangling from his leg--_Headpiece_ 60
It was a strange sight to see the pirates drop to
the deck and lie motionless 66
When night fell his slumber was broken and uneasy--_Tailpiece_ 77
When Rob had been kissed by his mother, he gave
an account of his adventures--_Headpiece_ 78
Rob sat staring eagerly at the Demon--_Tailpiece_ 85
The Being drew from an inner pocket something
resembling a box--_Headpiece_ 86
These spectacles will indicate the character of
every one you meet--_Tailpiece_ 96
Rob is in truth a typical American boy--_Headpiece_ 97
Rob 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_ 104
A man rushed toward it, but the next moment he
threw up his hands and fell unconscious 108
Rob reached the entrance of the palace, only to
face another group of guardsmen 114
Rob only smiled in an amused way as he marched
past them--_Tailpiece_ 125
A tremendous din and clatter nearly deafened
him--_Headpiece_ 126
The eyes of the Frenchman were actually protruding
from their sockets 128
From an elevation of fifty feet or more Rob overlooked
a pretty garden--_Headpiece_ 136
Placing the record so that the President could see
clearly, Rob watched the changing expressions
upon the great man's face 140
Rob 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
"Those fellows seem to be looking for trouble" 150
Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three
Turks took to their heels 158
Rob was miserable and unhappy, and remained
brooding over his cruel fate--_Tailpiece_ 159
The Tatars arrived swiftly and noiselessly--_Headpiece_ 160
The Turk rose slowly into the air, with Rob clinging
to him with desperate tenacity 176
Without more ado Rob mounted into the air,
leaving the Turk staring after him--_Tailpiece_ 181
Coming toward him was an immense bird--_Headpiece_ 186
With one last scream the creature tumbled downward
to join its fellow--_Tailpiece_ 191
During the next few hours Rob suffered from a
severe attack of homesickness--_Headpiece_ 192
The disappointment of the sailors was something
awful to witness 196
As they slowly mounted into the sky the sailor
gave a squeal of terror--_Tailpiece_ 205
Rob mounted skyward, to the unbounded amazement
of the fishermen, who stared after him--_Headpiece_ 206
Rob hovered over the great tower of the Lick
Observatory until he attracted the excited
gaze of its inhabitants--_Tailpiece_ 213
Finding himself upon the lake front, Rob hunted
up a vacant bench and sat down to rest--_Headpiece_ 214
As he started downward he saw the old gentleman
looking at him with a half-frightened, half-curious
expression--_Tailpiece_ 224
At precisely ten o'clock Rob reached the front
door of his own house--_Headpiece_ 225
Rob boldly ascended the stairs, entered the workshop
and closed and locked the door--_Tailpiece_ 229
The Demon sank into a chair nerveless and limp,
but still staring fearfully at the boy--_Headpiece_ 230
A flash of white light half-stunned and blinded
Rob. When he recovered himself the Demon
had disappeared--_Tailpiece_ 245
[Illustration]
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 it needs oiling after all these years of revolution. But
times change because men 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 fairy tale founded upon the wonders of electricity and
written for children of this generation. Yet when my readers shall have
become men and women my story may not seem to their children like a
fairy tale at all.
Perhaps one, perhaps two--perhaps several of the Demon's devices will
be, by that time, in popular use.
Who knows?
"_In wonder all philosophy began; in
wonder it all ends; and admiration
fills up the interspace. But the first
wonder is the offspring of ignorance:
the last is the parent of adoration._"
--COLERIDGE.
[Illustration]
THE MASTER KEY
_CHAPTER ONE_
ROB'S WORKSHOP
When Rob became interested in electricity his clear-headed father
considered the boy's fancy to be instructive as well as amusing; so he
heartily encouraged his son, and Rob never lacked batteries, motors or
supplies of any sort that his experiments might require.
He fitted up the little back room in the attic as his workshop, and
from thence a net-work of wires soon ran throughout the house. Not
only had every outside door its electric bell, but every window was
fitted with a burglar alarm; moreover no one could cross the threshold
of any interior room without registering the fact in Rob's workshop.
The gas was lighted by an electric fob; a chime, connected with an
erratic clock in the boy's room, woke the servants at all hours of the
night and caused the cook to give warning; a bell rang whenever the
postman dropped a letter into the box; there were bells, bells, bells
everywhere, ringing at the right time, the wrong time and all the time.
And there were telephones in the different rooms, too, through which
Rob could call up the different members of the family just when they
did not wish to be disturbed.
His mother and sisters soon came to vote the boy's scientific craze a
nuisance; but his father was delighted with these evidences of Rob's
skill as an electrician, and insisted that he be allowed perfect
freedom in carrying out his ideas.
"Electricity," said the old gentleman, sagely, "is destined to become
the motive power of the world. The future advance of civilization will
be along electrical lines. Our boy may become a great inventor and
astonish the world with his wonderful creations."
"And in the meantime," said the mother, despairingly, "we shall all be
electrocuted, or the house burned down by crossed wires, or we shall be
blown into eternity by an explosion of chemicals!"
"Nonsense!" ejaculated the proud father. "Rob's storage batteries are
not powerful enough to electrocute one or set the house on fire. Do
give the boy a chance, Belinda."
"And his pranks are so humiliating," continued the lady. "When the
minister called yesterday and rang the bell a big card appeared on
the front door on which was printed the words: 'Busy; Call Again.'
Fortunately Helen saw him and let him in, but when I reproved Robert
for the act he said he was just trying the sign to see if it would
work."
"Exactly! The boy is an inventor already. I shall have one of those
cards attached to the door of my private office at once. I tell you,
Belinda, our son will be a great man one of these days," said Mr.
Joslyn, walking up and down with pompous strides and almost bursting
with the pride he took in his young hopeful.
Mrs. Joslyn sighed. She knew remonstrance was useless so long as her
husband encouraged the boy, and that she would be wise to bear her
cross with fortitude.
Rob also knew his mother's protests would be of no avail; so he
continued to revel in electrical processes of all sorts, using the
house as an experimental station to test the powers of his productions.
It was in his own room, however,--his "workshop"--that he especially
delighted. For not only was it the center of all his numerous "lines"
throughout the house, but he had rigged up therein a wonderful array
of devices for his own amusement. A trolley-car moved around a circular
track and stopped regularly at all stations; an engine and train of
cars moved jerkily up and down a steep grade and through a tunnel; a
windmill was busily pumping water from the dishpan into the copper
skillet; a sawmill was in full operation and a host of mechanical
blacksmiths, scissors-grinders, carpenters, wood-choppers and millers
were connected with a motor which kept them working away at their
trades in awkward but persevering fashion.
The room was crossed and recrossed with wires. They crept up the walls,
lined the floor, made a grille of the ceiling and would catch an unwary
visitor under the chin or above the ankle just when he least expected
it. Yet visitors were forbidden in so crowded a room, and even his
father declined to go farther than the doorway. As for Rob, he thought
he knew all about the wires, and what each one was for; but they
puzzled even him, at times, and he was often perplexed to know how to
utilize them all.
One day when he had locked himself in to avoid interruption while
he planned the electrical illumination of a gorgeous pasteboard
palace, he really became confused over the network of wires. He had a
"switch-board," to be sure, where he could make and break connections
as he chose; but the wires had somehow become mixed, and he could not
tell what combinations to use to throw the power on to his miniature
electric lights.
So he experimented in a rather haphazard fashion, connecting this and
that wire blindly and by guesswork, in the hope that he would strike
the right combination. Then he thought the combination might be right
and there was a lack of power; so he added other lines of wire to his
connections, and still others, until he had employed almost every wire
in the room.
[Illustration: A quick flash of light almost blinded Rob]
Yet it would not work; and after pausing a moment to try to think
what was wrong he went at it again, putting this and that line into
connection, adding another here and another there, until suddenly,
as he made a last change, a quick flash of light almost blinded him,
and the switch-board crackled ominously, as if struggling to carry a
powerful current.
Rob covered his face at the flash, but finding himself unhurt he took
away his hands and with blinking eyes attempted to look at a wonderful
radiance which seemed to fill the room, making it many times brighter
than the brightest day.
Although at first completely dazzled, he peered before him until he
discovered that the light was concentrated near one spot, from which
all the glorious rays seemed to scintillate.
He closed his eyes a moment to rest them; then re-opening them and
shading them somewhat with his hands, he made out the form of a
curious Being standing with majesty and composure in the center of the
magnificent radiance and looking down upon him!
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_CHAPTER TWO_
THE DEMON OF ELECTRICITY
Rob was a courageous boy, but a thrill of fear passed over him in spite
of his bravest endeavor as he gazed upon the wondrous apparition that
confronted him. For several moments he sat as if turned to stone, so
motionless was he; but his eyes were nevertheless fastened upon the
Being and devouring every detail of his appearance.
And how strange an appearance he presented!
His jacket was a wavering mass of white light, edged with braid of
red flames that shot little tongues in all directions. The buttons
blazed in golden fire. His trousers had a bluish, incandescent color,
with glowing stripes of crimson braid. His vest was gorgeous with
all the colors of the rainbow blended into a flashing, resplendent
mass. In feature he was most majestic, and his eyes held the soft but
penetrating brilliance of electric lights.
It was hard to meet the gaze of those searching eyes, but Rob did it,
and at once the splendid apparition bowed and said in a low, clear
voice:
"I am here."
"I know that," answered the boy, trembling, "but _why_ are you here?"
"Because you have touched the Master Key of Electricity, and I must
obey the laws of nature that compel me to respond to your summons."
"I--I didn't know I touched the Master Key," faltered the boy.
"I understand that. You did it unconsciously. No one in the world
has ever done it before, for Nature has hitherto kept the secret safe
locked within her bosom."
Rob took time to wonder at this statement.
"Then who are you?" he inquired, at length.
"The Demon of Electricity," was the solemn answer.
"Good gracious!" exclaimed Rob, "a demon!"
"Certainly. I am, in truth, the Slave of the Master Key, and am forced
to obey the commands of any one who is wise and brave enough--or, as in
your own case, fortunate and fool-hardy enough--to touch it."
"I--I've never guessed there was such a thing as a Master Key, or--or a
Demon of Electricity, and--and I'm awfully sorry I--I called you up!"
stammered the boy, abashed by the imposing appearance of his companion.
The Demon actually smiled at this speech,--a smile that was almost
reassuring.
"I am not sorry," he said, in kindlier tone, "for it is not much
pleasure waiting century after century for some one to command my
services. I have often thought my existence uncalled for, since you
Earth people are so stupid and ignorant that you seem unlikely ever to
master the secret of electrical power."
"Oh, we have some great masters among us!" cried Rob, rather nettled at
this statement. "Now, there's Edison--"
"Edison!" exclaimed the Demon, with a faint sneer; "what does he know?"
"Lots of things," declared the boy. "He's invented no end of wonderful
electrical things."
"You are wrong to call them wonderful," replied the Demon, lightly.
"He really knows little more than yourself about the laws that control
electricity. His inventions are trifling things in comparison with
the really wonderful results to be obtained by one who would actually
know how to direct the electric powers instead of groping blindly after
insignificant effects. Why, I've stood for months by Edison's elbow,
hoping and longing for him to touch the Master Key; but I can see
plainly he will never accomplish it."
"Then there's Tesla," said the boy.
The Demon laughed.
"There is Tesla, to be sure," he said. "But what of him?"
"Why, he's discovered a powerful light," the Demon gave an amused
chuckle, "and he's in communication with the people in Mars."
"What people?"
"Why, the people who live there."
"There are none."
This quiet statement almost took Rob's breath away, and caused him to
stare hard at his visitor.
"It's generally thought," he resumed, in an annoyed tone, "that Mars
has inhabitants who are far in advance of ourselves in civilization.
Many scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to
signal us for years, only we don't understand their signals. And
great novelists have written about the Martians and their wonderful
civilization, and--"
"And they all know as much about that little planet as you do
yourself," interrupted the Demon, impatiently. "The trouble with you
Earth people is that you delight in guessing about what you can not
know. Now I happen to know all about Mars, because I can traverse
all space and have had ample leisure to investigate the different
planets. Mars is not peopled at all, nor is any other of the planets
you recognize in the heavens. Some contain low orders of beasts, to
be sure, but Earth alone has an intelligent, thinking, reasoning
population, and your scientists and novelists would do better trying to
comprehend their own planet than in groping through space to unravel
the mysteries of barren and unimportant worlds."
Rob listened to this with surprise and disappointment; but he reflected
that the Demon ought to know what he was talking about, so he did not
venture to contradict him.
"It is really astonishing," continued the Apparition, "how little you
people have learned about electricity. It is an Earth element that has
existed since the Earth itself was formed, and if you but understood
its proper use humanity would be marvelously benefited in many ways."
"We are, already," protested Rob; "our discoveries in electricity have
enabled us to live much more conveniently."
"Then imagine your condition were you able fully to control this great
element," replied the other, gravely. "The weaknesses and privations of
mankind would be converted into power and luxury."
"That's true, Mr.--Mr.--Demon," said the boy. "Excuse me if I don't get
your name right, but I understood you to say you are a demon."
"Certainly. The Demon of Electricity."
"But electricity is a good thing, you know, and--and--"
"Well?"
"I've always understood that demons were bad things," added Rob, boldly.
"Not necessarily," returned his visitor. "If you will take the trouble
to consult your dictionary, you will find that demons may be either
good or bad, like any other class of beings. Originally all demons were
good, yet of late years people have come to consider all demons evil. I
do not know why. Should you read Hesiod you will find he says:
'Soon was a world of holy demons made,
Aerial spirits, by great Jove designed
To be on earth the guardians of mankind.'"
"But Jove was himself a myth," objected Rob, who had been studying
mythology.
The Demon shrugged his shoulders.
"Then take the words of Mr. Shakespeare, to whom you all defer," he
replied. "Do you not remember that he says:
'Thy demon (that's thy spirit which keeps thee) is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable.'"
"Oh, if Shakespeare says it, that's all right," answered the boy. "But
it seems you're more like a genius, for you answer the summons of the
Master Key of Electricity in the same way Aladdin's genius answered the
rubbing of the lamp."
"To be sure. A demon is also a genius; and a genius is a demon," said
the Being. "What matters a name? I am here to do your bidding."
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_CHAPTER THREE_
THE THREE GIFTS
Familiarity with any great thing removes our awe of it. The great
general is only terrible to the enemy; the great poet is frequently
scolded by his wife; the children of the great statesman clamber about
his knees with perfect trust and impunity; the great actor who is
called before the curtain by admiring audiences is often waylaid at the
stage door by his creditors.
So Rob, having conversed for a time with the glorious Demon of
Electricity, began to regard him with more composure and less awe, as
his eyes grew more and more accustomed to the splendor that at first
had well-nigh blinded them.
When the Demon announced himself ready to do the boy's bidding, he
frankly replied:
"I am no skilled electrician, as you very well know. My calling you
here was an accident. So I don't know how to command you, nor what to
ask you to do."
"But I must not take advantage of your ignorance," answered the Demon.
"Also, I am quite anxious to utilize this opportunity to show the world
what a powerful element electricity really is. So permit me to inform
you that, having struck the Master Key, you are at liberty to demand
from me three gifts each week for three successive weeks. These gifts,
provided they are within the scope of electricity, I will grant."
Rob shook his head regretfully.
"If I were a great electrician I should know what to ask," he said.
"But I am too ignorant to take advantage of your kind offer."
"Then," replied the Demon, "I will myself suggest the gifts, and they
will be of such a character that the Earth people will learn the
possibilities that lie before them and be encouraged to work more
intelligently and to persevere in mastering those natural and simple
laws which control electricity. For one of the greatest errors they now
labor under is that electricity is complicated and hard to understand.
It is really the simplest Earth element, lying within easy reach of any
one who stretches out his hand to grasp and control its powers."
Rob yawned, for he thought the Demon's speeches were growing rather
tiresome. Perhaps the genius noticed this rudeness, for he continued:
"I regret, of course, that you are a boy instead of a grown man, for
it will appear singular to your friends that so thoughtless a youth
should seemingly have mastered the secrets that have baffled your most
learned scientists. But that can not be helped, and presently you will
become, through my aid, the most powerful and wonderful personage in
all the world."
"Thank you," said Rob, meekly. "It'll be no end of fun."
"Fun!" echoed the Demon, scornfully. "But never mind; I must use the
material Fate has provided for me, and make the best of it."
"What will you give me first?" asked the boy, eagerly.
"That requires some thought," returned the Demon, and paused for
several moments, while Rob feasted his eyes upon the gorgeous rays of
color that flashed and vibrated in every direction and surrounded the
figure of his visitor with an intense glow that resembled a halo.
Then the Demon raised his head and said:
"The thing most necessary to man is food to nourish his body. He passes
a considerable part of his life in the struggle to procure food, to
prepare it properly, and in the act of eating. This is not right. Your
body can not be very valuable to you if all your time is required to
feed it. I shall, therefore, present you, as my first gift, this box of
tablets. Within each tablet are stored certain elements of electricity
which are capable of nourishing a human body for a full day. All you
need do is to toss one into your mouth each day and swallow it. It
will nourish you, satisfy your hunger and build up your health and
strength. The ordinary food of mankind is more or less injurious; this
is entirely beneficial. Moreover, you may carry enough tablets in your
pocket to last for months."
Here he presented Rob the silver box of tablets, and the boy, somewhat
nervously, thanked him for the gift.
"The next requirement of man," continued the Demon, "is defense
from his enemies. I notice with sorrow that men frequently have wars
and kill one another. Also, even in civilized communities, man is
in constant danger from highwaymen, cranks and policemen. To defend
himself he uses heavy and dangerous guns, with which to destroy his
enemies. This is wrong. He has no right to take away what he can not
bestow; to destroy what he can not create. To kill a fellow-creature
is a horrid crime, even if done in self-defense. Therefore, my second
gift to you is this little tube. You may carry it within your pocket.
Whenever an enemy threatens you, be it man or beast, simply point the
tube and press this button in the handle. An electric current will
instantly be directed upon your foe, rendering him wholly unconscious
for the period of one hour. During that time you will have opportunity
to escape. As for your enemy, after regaining consciousness he will
suffer no inconvenience from the encounter beyond a slight headache."
"That's fine!" said Rob, as he took the tube. It was scarcely six
inches long, and hollow at one end.
"The busy lives of men," proceeded the Demon, "require them to move
about and travel in all directions. Yet to assist them there are only
such crude and awkward machines as electric trolleys, cable cars, steam
railways and automobiles. These crawl slowly over the uneven surface of
the earth and frequently get out of order. It has grieved me that men
have not yet discovered what even the birds know: that the atmosphere
offers them swift and easy means of traveling from one part of the
earth's surface to another."
"Some people have tried to build air-ships," remarked Rob.
"So they have; great, unwieldy machines which offer so much resistance
to the air that they are quite useless. A big machine is not needed
to carry one through the air. There are forces in nature which may be
readily used for such purpose. Tell me, what holds you to the Earth,
and makes a stone fall to the ground?"
"Attraction of gravitation," said Rob, promptly.
"Exactly. That is one force I refer to," said the Demon. "The force
of repulsion, which is little known, but just as powerful, is another
that mankind may direct. Then there are the Polar electric forces,
attracting objects toward the north or south poles. You have guessed
something of this by the use of the compass, or electric needle.
Opposed to these is centrifugal electric force, drawing objects from
east to west, or in the opposite direction. This force is created by
the whirl of the earth upon its axis, and is easily utilized, although
your scientific men have as yet paid little attention to it.
"These forces, operating in all directions, absolute and immutable, are
at the disposal of mankind. They will carry you through the atmosphere
wherever and whenever you choose. That is, if you know how to control
them. Now, here is a machine I have myself perfected."
The Demon drew from his pocket something that resembled an open-faced
watch, having a narrow, flexible band attached to it.
"When you wish to travel," said he, "attach this little machine to your
left wrist by means of the band. It is very light and will not be in
your way. On this dial are points marked 'up' and 'down' as well as a
perfect compass. When you desire to rise into the air set the indicator
to the word 'up,' using a finger of your right hand to turn it. When
you have risen as high as you wish, set the indicator to the point of
the compass you want to follow and you will be carried by the proper
electric force in that direction. To descend, set the indicator to the
word 'down.' Do you understand?"
"Perfectly!" cried Rob, taking the machine from the Demon with
unfeigned delight. "This is really wonderful, and I'm awfully obliged
to you!"
"Don't mention it," returned the Demon, dryly. "These three gifts you
may amuse yourself with for the next week. It seems hard to entrust
such great scientific discoveries to the discretion of a mere boy; but
they are quite harmless, so if you exercise proper care you can not get
into trouble through their possession. And who knows what benefits to
humanity may result? One week from to-day, at this hour, I will again
appear to you, at which time you shall receive the second series of
electrical gifts."
"I'm not sure," said Rob, "that I shall be able again to make the
connections that will strike the Master Key."
"Probably not," answered the Demon. "Could you accomplish that, you
might command my services forever. But, having once succeeded, you are
entitled to the nine gifts--three each week for three weeks--so you
have no need to call me to do my duty. I shall appear of my own accord."
"Thank you," murmured the boy.
The Demon bowed and spread his hands in the form of a semi-circle. An
instant later there was a blinding flash, and when Rob recovered from
it and opened his eyes the Demon of Electricity had disappeared.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_CHAPTER FOUR_
TESTING THE INSTRUMENTS
There is little doubt that had this strange experience befallen a grown
man he would have been stricken with a fit of trembling or a sense of
apprehension, or even fear, at the thought of having faced the terrible
Demon of Electricity, of having struck the Master Key of the world's
greatest natural forces, and finding himself possessed of three such
wonderful and useful gifts. But a boy takes everything as a matter
of course. As the tree of knowledge sprouts and expands within him,
shooting out leaf after leaf of practical experience, the succession
of surprises dulls his faculty of wonderment. It takes a great deal to
startle a boy.
Rob was full of delight at his unexpected good fortune; but he did not
stop to consider that there was anything remarkably queer or uncanny
in the manner in which it had come to him. His chief sensation was one
of pride. He would now be able to surprise those who had made fun of
his electrical craze and force them to respect his marvelous powers. He
decided to say nothing about the Demon or the accidental striking of
the Master Key. In exhibiting to his friends the electrical devices he
had acquired it would be "no end of fun" to mark their amazement and
leave them to guess how he performed his feats.
So he put his treasures into his pocket, locked his workshop and went
downstairs to his room to prepare for dinner.
While brushing his hair he remembered it was no longer necessary for
him to eat ordinary food. He was feeling quite hungry at that moment,
for he had a boy's ravenous appetite; but, taking the silver box from
his pocket, he swallowed a tablet and at once felt his hunger as fully
satisfied as if he had partaken of a hearty meal, while at the same
time he experienced an exhilarating glow throughout his body and a
clearness of brain and gaiety of spirits which filled him with intense
gratification.
Still, he entered the dining-room when the bell rang and found his
father and mother and sisters already assembled there.
"Where have you been all day, Robert?" inquired his mother.
"No need to ask," said Mr. Joslyn, with a laugh. "Fussing over
electricity, I'll bet a cookie!"
"I do wish," said the mother, fretfully, "that he would get over that
mania. It unfits him for anything else."
"Precisely," returned her husband, dishing the soup; "but it fits him
for a great career when he becomes a man. Why shouldn't he spend his
summer vacation in pursuit of useful knowledge instead of romping
around like ordinary boys?"
"No soup, thank you," said Rob.
"What!" exclaimed his father, looking at him in surprise, "it's your
favorite soup."
"I know," said Rob, quietly, "but I don't want any."
"Are you ill, Robert?" asked his mother.
"Never felt better in my life," answered Rob, truthfully.
Yet Mrs. Joslyn looked worried, and when Rob refused the roast, she was
really shocked.
"Let me feel your pulse, my poor boy!" she commanded, and wondered to
find it so regular.
In fact, Rob's action surprised them all. He sat calmly throughout the
meal, eating nothing, but apparently in good health and spirits, while
even his sisters regarded him with troubled countenances.
"He's worked too hard, I guess," said Mr. Joslyn, shaking his head
sadly.
"Oh, no; I haven't," protested Rob; "but I've decided not to eat
anything, hereafter. It's a bad habit, and does more harm than good."
"Wait till breakfast," said sister Helen, with a laugh; "you'll be
hungry enough by that time."
However, the boy had no desire for food at breakfast time, either, as
the tablet sufficed for an entire day. So he renewed the anxiety of the
family by refusing to join them at the table.
"If this goes on," Mr. Joslyn said to his son, when breakfast was
finished, "I shall be obliged to send you away for your health."
"I think of making a trip this morning," said Rob, carelessly.
"Where to?"
"Oh, I may go to Boston, or take a run over to Cuba or Jamaica,"
replied the boy.
"But you can not go so far by yourself," declared his father; "and
there is no one to go with you, just now. Nor can I spare the money at
present for so expensive a trip."
"Oh, it won't cost anything," replied Rob, with a smile.
Mr. Joslyn looked upon him gravely and sighed. Mrs. Joslyn bent over
her son with tears in her eyes and said:
"This electrical nonsense has affected your mind, dear. You must
promise me to keep away from that horrid workshop for a time."
"I won't enter it for a week," he answered. "But you needn't worry
about me. I haven't been experimenting with electricity all this time
for nothing, I can tell you. As for my health, I'm as well and strong
as any boy need be, and there's nothing wrong with my head, either.
Common folks always think great men are crazy, but Edison and Tesla
and I don't pay any attention to that. We've got our discoveries
to look after. Now, as I said, I'm going for a little trip in the
interests of science. I maybe back to-night, or I may be gone several
days. Anyhow, I'll be back in a week, and you mustn't worry about me a
single minute."
"How are you going?" inquired his father, in the gentle, soothing tone
persons use in addressing maniacs.
"Through the air," said Rob.
His father groaned.
"Where's your balloon?" inquired sister Mabel, sarcastically.
"I don't need a balloon," returned the boy. "That's a clumsy way of
traveling, at best. I shall go by electric propulsion."
"Good gracious!" cried Mr. Joslyn, and the mother murmured: "My poor
boy! my poor boy!"
"As you are my nearest relatives," continued Rob, not noticing these
exclamations, "I will allow you to come into the back yard and see me
start. You will then understand something of my electrical powers."
They followed him at once, although with unbelieving faces, and on the
way Rob clasped the little machine to his left wrist, so that his coat
sleeve nearly hid it.
When they reached the lawn at the back of the house Rob kissed them all
good-by, much to his sisters' amusement, and turned the indicator of
the little instrument to the word "up."
Immediately he began to rise into the air.
"Don't worry about me!" he called down to them. "Good-by!"
Mrs. Joslyn, with a scream of terror, hid her face in her hands.
"He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded father, tipping back his
head to look after his departing son.
[Illustration: "He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded father]
"Come back! Come back!" shouted the girls to the soaring adventurer.
"I will--some day!" was the far-away answer.
Having risen high enough to pass over the tallest tree or steeple, Rob
put the indicator to the east of the compass-dial and at once began
moving rapidly in that direction.
The sensation was delightful. He rode as gently as a feather floats,
without any exertion at all on his own part; yet he moved so swiftly
that he easily distanced a railway train that was speeding in the same
direction.
"This is great!" reflected the youth. "Here I am, traveling in fine
style, without a penny to pay any one! And I've enough food to last
me a month in my coat pocket. This electricity is the proper stuff,
after all! And the Demon's a trump, and no mistake. Whee-ee! How small
everything looks down below there. The people are bugs, and the houses
are soap-boxes, and the trees are like clumps of grass. I seem to
be passing over a town. Guess I'll drop down a bit, and take in the
sights."
He pointed the indicator to the word "down," and at once began
dropping through the air. He experienced the sensation one feels while
descending in an elevator. When he reached a point just above the
town he put the indicator to the zero mark and remained stationary,
while he examined the place. But there was nothing to interest him,
particularly; so after a brief survey he once more ascended and
continued his journey toward the east.
At about two o'clock in the afternoon he reached the city of Boston,
and alighting unobserved in a quiet street he walked around for several
hours enjoying the sights and wondering what people would think of him
if they but knew his remarkable powers. But as he looked just like any
other boy no one noticed him in any way.
It was nearly evening, and Rob had wandered down by the wharves to
look at the shipping, when his attention was called to an ugly looking
bull dog, which ran toward him and began barking ferociously.
"Get out!" said the boy, carelessly, and made a kick at the brute.
The dog uttered a fierce growl and sprang upon him with bared teeth
and flashing red eyes. Instantly Rob drew the electric tube from his
pocket, pointed it at the dog and pressed the button. Almost at the
same moment the dog gave a yelp, rolled over once or twice and lay
still.
"I guess that'll settle him," laughed the boy; but just then he heard
an angry shout, and looking around saw a policeman running toward him.
"Kill me dog, will ye--eh?" yelled the officer; "well, I'll just run ye
in for that same, an' ye'll spend the night in the lock-up!" And on he
came, with drawn club in one hand and a big revolver in the other.
"You'll have to catch me first," said Rob, still laughing, and to the
amazement of the policeman he began rising straight into the air.
"Come down here! Come down, or I'll shoot!" shouted the fellow,
flourishing his revolver.
Rob was afraid he would; so, to avoid accidents, he pointed the tube
at him and pressed the button. The red-whiskered policeman keeled
over quite gracefully and fell across the body of the dog, while Rob
continued to mount upward until he was out of sight of those in the
streets.
"That was a narrow escape," he thought, breathing more freely. "I hated
to paralyze that policeman, but he might have sent a bullet after me.
Anyhow, he'll be all right again in an hour, so I needn't worry."
It was beginning to grow dark, and he wondered what he should do next.
Had he possessed any money he would have descended to the town and
taken a bed at a hotel, but he had left home without a single penny.
Fortunately the nights were warm at this season, so he determined to
travel all night, that he might reach by morning some place he had
never before visited.
Cuba had always interested him, and he judged it ought to lie in a
southeasterly direction from Boston. So he set the indicator to that
point and began gliding swiftly toward the southeast.
He now remembered that it was twenty-four hours since he had eaten
the first electrical tablet. As he rode through the air he consumed
another. All hunger at once left him, while he felt the same
invigorating sensations as before.
After a time the moon came out, and Rob amused himself gazing at the
countless stars in the sky and wondering if the Demon was right when he
said the world was the most important of all the planets.
But presently he grew sleepy, and before he realized what was happening
he had fallen into a sound and peaceful slumber, while the indicator
still pointed to the southeast and he continued to move rapidly through
the cool night air.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_CHAPTER FIVE_
THE CANNIBAL ISLAND
Doubtless the adventures of the day had tired Rob, for he slept
throughout the night as comfortably as if he had been within his own
room, lying upon his own bed. When, at last, he opened his eyes and
gazed sleepily about him, he found himself over a great body of water,
moving along with considerable speed.
"It's the ocean, of course," he said to himself. "I haven't reached
Cuba yet."
It is to be regretted that Rob's knowledge of geography was so
superficial; for, as he had intended to reach Cuba, he should have
taken a course almost southwest from Boston, instead of southeast. The
sad result of his ignorance you will presently learn, for during the
entire day he continued to travel over a boundless waste of ocean,
without the sight of even an island to cheer him.
The sun shone so hot that he regretted he had not brought an umbrella.
But he wore a wide-brimmed straw hat, which protected him somewhat, and
he finally discovered that by rising to a considerable distance above
the ocean he avoided the reflection of the sun upon the water and also
came within the current of good breeze.
Of course he dared not stop, for there was no place to land; so he
calmly continued his journey.
"It may be I've missed Cuba," he thought; "but I can not change my
course now, for if I did I might get lost, and never be able to find
land again. If I keep on as I am I shall be sure to reach land of some
sort, in time, and when I wish to return home I can set the indicator
to the northwest and that will take me directly back to Boston."
This was good reasoning, but the rash youth had no idea he was speeding
over the ocean, or that he was destined to arrive shortly at the
barbarous island of Brava, off the coast of Africa. Yet such was the
case; just as the sun sank over the edge of the waves he saw, to his
great relief, a large island directly in his path.
He dropped to a lower position in the air, and when he judged himself
to be over the center of the island he turned the indicator to zero and
stopped short.
The country was beautifully wooded, while pretty brooks sparkled
through the rich green foliage of the trees. The island sloped upwards
from the sea-coast in all directions, rising to a hill that was almost
a mountain in the center. There were two open spaces, one on each
side of the island, and Rob saw that these spaces were occupied by
queer-looking huts built from brushwood and branches of trees. This
showed that the island was inhabited, but as Rob had no idea what
island it was he wisely determined not to meet the natives until he had
discovered what they were like and whether they were disposed to be
friendly.
So he moved over the hill, the top of which proved to be a flat,
grass-covered plateau about fifty feet in diameter. Finding it could
not be easily reached from below, on account of its steep sides, and
contained neither men nor animals, he alighted on the hill-top and
touched his feet to the earth for the first time in twenty-four hours.
The ride through the air had not tired him in the least; in fact,
he felt as fresh and vigorous as if he had been resting throughout
the journey. As he walked upon the soft grass of the plateau he felt
elated, and compared himself to the explorers of ancient days; for it
was evident that civilization had not yet reached this delightful spot.
There was scarcely any twilight in this tropical climate and it grew
dark quickly. Within a few minutes the entire island, save where he
stood, became dim and indistinct. He ate his daily tablet, and after
watching the red glow fade in the western sky and the gray shadows of
night settle around him he stretched himself comfortably upon the grass
and went to sleep.
The events of the day must have deepened his slumber, for when he awoke
the sun was shining almost directly over him, showing that the day was
well advanced. He stood up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes and decided
he would like a drink of water. From where he stood he could see
several little brooks following winding paths through the forest, so he
settled upon one that seemed farthest from the brushwood villages, and
turning his indicator in that direction soon floated through the air
to a sheltered spot upon the bank.
Kneeling down, he enjoyed a long, refreshing drink of the clear water,
but as he started to regain his feet a coil of rope was suddenly thrown
about him, pinning his arms to his sides and rendering him absolutely
helpless.
At the same time his ears were saluted with a wild chattering in an
unknown tongue, and he found himself surrounded by a group of natives
of hideous appearance. They were nearly naked, and bore spears and
heavy clubs as their only weapons. Their hair was long, curly, and
thick as bushes, and through their noses and ears were stuck the teeth
of sharks and curious metal ornaments.
These creatures had stolen upon Rob so quietly that he had not heard a
sound, but now they jabbered loudly, as if much excited.
Finally one fat and somewhat aged native, who seemed to be a chief,
came close to Rob and said, in broken English:
"How get here?"
"I flew," said the boy, with a grin.
The chief shook his head, saying:
"No boat come. How white man come?"
"Through the air," replied Rob, who was rather flattered at being
called a "man."
The chief looked into the air with a puzzled expression and shook his
head again.
"White man lie," he said calmly.
Then he held further conversation with his fellows, after which he
turned to Rob and announced:
"Me see white man many times. Come in big boats. White men all bad.
Make kill with bang-sticks. We kill white man with club. Then we eat
white man. Dead white man good. Live white man bad!"
This did not please Rob at all. The idea of being eaten by savages had
never occurred to him as a sequel to his adventures. So he said rather
anxiously to the chief:
"Look here, old fellow; do you want to die?"
"Me no die. You die," was the reply.
"You'll die, too, if you eat me," said Rob. "I'm full of poison."
"Poison? Don't know poison," returned the chief, much perplexed to
understand him.
"Well, poison will make you sick--awful sick. Then you'll die. I'm full
of it; eat it every day for breakfast. It don't hurt white men, you
see, but it kills black men quicker than the bang-stick."
The chief listened to this statement carefully, but only understood it
in part. After a moment's reflection he declared:
"White man lie. Lie all time. Me eat plenty white man. Never get sick;
never die." Then he added, with renewed cheerfulness: "Me eat you, too!"
Before Rob could think of a further protest, his captors caught up the
end of the rope and led him away through the forest. He was tightly
bound, and one strand of rope ran across the machine on his wrist and
pressed it into his flesh until the pain was severe. But he resolved
to be brave, whatever happened, so he stumbled along after the savages
without a word.
After a brief journey they came to a village, where Rob was thrust into
a brushwood hut and thrown upon the ground, still tightly bound.
"We light fire," said the chief. "Then kill little white man. Then eat
him."
With this comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone to think
the matter over.
"This is tough," reflected the boy, with a groan. "I never expected
to feed cannibals. Wish I was at home with mother and dad and the
girls. Wish I'd never seen the Demon of Electricity and his wonderful
inventions. I was happy enough before I struck that awful Master
Key. And now I'll be eaten--with salt and pepper, probably. Wonder
if there'll be any gravy. Perhaps they'll boil me, with biscuits, as
mother does chickens. Oh-h-h-h-h! It's just awful!"
In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware that
something was hurting his back. After rolling over he found that he had
been lying upon a sharp stone that stuck out of the earth. This gave
him an idea. He rolled upon the stone again and began rubbing the rope
that bound him against the sharp edge.
Outside he could hear the crackling of fagots and the roar of a
newly-kindled fire, so he knew he had no time to spare. He wriggled
and pushed his body right and left, right and left, sawing away at the
rope, until the strain and exertion started the perspiration from every
pore.
At length the rope parted, and hastily uncoiling it from his body Rob
stood up and rubbed his benumbed muscles and tried to regain his
lost breath. He had not freed himself a moment too soon, he found,
for hearing a grunt of surprise behind him he turned around and saw a
native standing in the door of the hut.
Rob laughed, for he was not a bit afraid of the blacks now. As the
native made a rush toward him the boy drew the electric tube from his
pocket, pointed it at the foe, and pressed the button. The fellow sank
to the earth without even a groan, and lay still.
Then another black entered, followed by the fat chief. When they saw
Rob at liberty, and their comrade lying apparently dead, the chief
cried out in surprise, using some expressive words in his own language.