short time the Turkish forces were entirely conquered, all having been
reduced to unconsciousness except a few cowards who had run away and
hidden in the cellars or garrets of the houses.
The Tatars entered the city with shouts of triumph, and the chief was
so delighted that he threw his arms around Rob's neck and embraced him
warmly.
Then began the sack of Yarkand, the fierce Tatars plundering the
bazaars and houses, stripping them of everything of value they could
find.
Rob searched anxiously among the bodies of the unconscious Turks for
the two men who had robbed him, but neither could be found. He was more
successful later, for in running through the streets he came upon a
band of Tatars leading a man with a rope around his neck, whom Rob
quickly recognized as one of the thieves he was hunting for. The Tatars
willingly allowed him to search the fellow, and in one of his pockets
Rob found the Record of Events.
He had now recovered all his property, except the traveling machine,
the one thing that was absolutely necessary to enable him to escape
from this barbarous country.
He continued his search persistently, and an hour later found the dead
body of the third robber lying in the square in the center of the city.
But the traveling machine was not on his person, and for the first time
the boy began to give way to despair.
In the distance he heard loud shouts and sound of renewed strife,
warning him that the Turks were recovering consciousness and engaging
the Tatars with great fierceness. The latter had scattered throughout
the town, thinking themselves perfectly secure, so that not only were
they unprepared to fight, but they became panic-stricken at seeing
their foes return, as it seemed, from death to life. Their usual
courage forsook them, and they ran, terrified, in every direction, only
to be cut down by the revengeful Turkish simitars.
Rob was sitting upon the edge of a marble fountain in the center of the
square when a crowd of victorious Turks appeared and quickly surrounded
him. The boy paid no attention to their gestures and the Turks feared
to approach him nearly, so they stood a short distance away and fired
volleys at him from their rifles and pistols.
Rob glared at them scornfully, and seeing they could not injure him
the Turks desisted; but they still surrounded him, and the crowd grew
thicker every moment.
Women now came creeping from their hiding places and mingled with the
ranks of the men, and Rob guessed, from their joyous chattering, that
the Turks had regained the city and driven out or killed the Tatar
warriors. He reflected, gloomily, that this did not affect his own
position in any way, since he could not escape from the oasis.
Suddenly, on glancing at the crowd, Rob saw something that arrested
his attention. A young girl was fastening some article to the wrist of
a burly, villainous-looking Turk. The boy saw a glitter that reminded
him of the traveling machine, but immediately afterward the man and the
girl bent their heads over the fellow's wrist in such a way that Rob
could see nothing more.
While the couple were apparently examining the strange device, Rob
started to his feet and walked toward them. The crowd fell back at his
approach, but the man and the girl were so interested that they did not
notice him. He was still several paces away when the girl put out her
finger and touched the indicator on the dial.
To Rob's horror and consternation the big Turk began to rise slowly
into the air, while a howl of fear burst from the crowd. But the boy
made a mighty spring and caught the Turk by his foot, clinging to it
with desperate tenacity, while they both mounted steadily upward until
they were far above the city of the desert.
[Illustration: The Turk rose slowly into the air, with Rob clinging to
him with desperate tenacity]
The big Turk screamed pitifully at first, and then actually fainted
away from fright. Rob was much frightened, on his part, for he knew if
his hands slipped from their hold he would fall to his death. Indeed,
one hand was slipping already, so he made a frantic clutch and caught
firmly hold of the Turk's baggy trousers. Then, slowly and carefully,
he drew himself up and seized the leather belt that encircled the man's
waist. This firm grip gave him new confidence, and he began to breathe
more freely.
He now clung to the body of the Turk with both legs entwined, in the
way he was accustomed to cling to a tree-trunk when he climbed after
cherries at home. He had conquered his fear of falling, and took time
to recover his wits and his strength.
They had now reached such a tremendous height that the city looked
like a speck on the desert beneath them. Knowing he must act quickly,
Rob seized the dangling left arm of the unconscious Turk and raised
it until he could reach the dial of the traveling machine. He feared
to unclasp the machine just then, for two reasons: if it slipped from
his grasp they would both plunge downward to their death; and he was
not sure the machine would work at all if in any other position than
fastened to the left wrist.
Rob determined to take no chances, so he left the machine attached to
the Turk and turned the indicator to zero and then to "East," for he
did not wish to rejoin either his enemies the Turks or his equally
undesirable friends the Tatars.
After traveling eastward a few minutes he lost sight of the city
altogether; so, still clinging to the body of the Turk, he again turned
the indicator and began to descend. When, at last, they landed gently
upon a rocky eminence of the Kuen-Lun mountains, the boy's strength was
almost exhausted, and his limbs ached with the strain of clinging to
the Turk's body.
His first act was to transfer the traveling machine to his own wrist
and to see that his other electrical devices were safely bestowed in
his pockets. Then he sat upon the rock to rest until the Turk recovered
consciousness.
Presently the fellow moved uneasily, rolled over, and then sat up and
stared at his surroundings. Perhaps he thought he had been dreaming,
for he rubbed his eyes and looked again with mingled surprise and
alarm. Then, seeing Rob, he uttered a savage shout and drew his dagger.
Rob smiled and pointed the electric tube at the man, who doubtless
recognized its power, for he fell back scowling and trembling.
"This place seems like a good jog from civilization," remarked the boy,
as coolly as if his companion could understand what he said; "but as
your legs are long and strong you may be able to find your way. It's
true you're liable to starve to death, but if you do it will be your
own misfortune and not my fault."
The Turk glared at him sullenly, but did not attempt to reply.
Rob took out his box of tablets, ate one of them and offered another to
his enemy. The fellow accepted it ungraciously enough, but seeing Rob
eat one he decided to follow his example, and consumed the tablet with
a queer expression of distrust upon his face.
"Brave man!" cried Rob, laughingly; "you've avoided the pangs of
starvation for a time, anyhow, so I can leave you with a clear
conscience."
Without more ado he turned the indicator of the traveling machine and
mounted into the air, leaving the Turk sitting upon the rocks and
staring after him in comical bewilderment.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_CHAPTER FIFTEEN_
A BATTLE WITH MONSTERS
Our young adventurer never experienced a more grateful feeling of
relief and security than when he found himself once more high in the
air, alone, and in undisputed possession of the electrical devices
bestowed upon him by the Demon.
The dangers he had passed through since landing at the city of the
desert and the desperate chance that alone had permitted him to regain
the traveling machine made him shudder at the bare recollection and
rendered him more sober and thoughtful than usual.
We who stick closely to the earth's surface can scarcely realize how
Rob could travel through the air at such dizzy heights without any fear
or concern whatsoever. But he had come to consider the air a veritable
refuge. Experience had given him implicit confidence in the powers of
the electrical instrument whose unseen forces carried him so swiftly
and surely, and while the tiny, watch-like machine was clasped to his
wrist he felt himself to be absolutely safe.
Having slipped away from the Turk and attained a fair altitude, he set
the indicator at zero and paused long enough to consult his map and
decide what direction it was best for him to take. The mischance that
had swept him unwittingly over the countries of Europe had also carried
him more than half way around the world from his home. Therefore the
nearest way to reach America would be to continue traveling to the
eastward.
So much time had been consumed at the desert oasis that he felt he
must now hasten if he wished to reach home by Saturday afternoon; so,
having quickly come to a decision, he turned the indicator and began a
swift flight into the east.
For several hours he traveled above the great desert of Gobi, but by
noon signs of a more fertile country began to appear, and, dropping to
a point nearer the earth, he was able to observe closely the country
of the Chinese, with its crowded population and ancient but crude
civilization.
Then he came to the Great Wall of China and to mighty Peking, above
which he hovered some time, examining it curiously. He really longed to
make a stop there, but with his late experiences fresh in his mind he
thought it much safer to view the wonderful city from a distance.
Resuming his flight he presently came to the gulf of Laou Tong, whose
fair face was freckled with many ships of many nations, and so on to
Korea, which seemed to him a land fully a century behind the times.
Night overtook him while speeding across the Sea of Japan, and having a
great desire to view the Mikado's famous islands, he put the indicator
at zero, and, coming to a full stop, composed himself to sleep until
morning, that he might run no chances of being carried beyond his
knowledge during the night.
You might suppose it no easy task to sleep suspended in mid-air, yet
the magnetic currents controlled by the traveling machine were so
evenly balanced that Rob was fully as comfortable as if reposing upon
a bed of down. He had become somewhat accustomed to passing the night
in the air and now slept remarkably well, having no fear of burglars or
fire or other interruptions that dwellers in cities are subject to.
One thing, however, he should have remembered: that he was in an
ancient and little known part of the world and reposing above a sea
famous in fable as the home of many fierce and terrible creatures;
while not far away lay the land of the dragon, the simurg and other
ferocious monsters.
Rob may have read of these things in fairy tales and books of travel,
but if so they had entirely slipped his mind; so he slumbered
peacefully and actually snored a little, I believe, towards morning.
But even as the red sun peeped curiously over the horizon he was
awakened by a most unusual disturbance--a succession of hoarse screams
and a pounding of the air as from the quickly revolving blades of some
huge windmill.
He rubbed his eyes and looked around.
Coming towards him at his right hand was an immense bird, whose body
seemed almost as big as that of a horse. Its wide-open, curving beak
was set with rows of pointed teeth, and the talons held against its
breast and turned threateningly outward were more powerful and
dreadful than a tiger's claws.
While, fascinated and horrified, he watched the approach of this
feathered monster, a scream sounded just behind him and the next
instant the stroke of a mighty wing sent him whirling over and over
through the air.
He soon came to a stop, however, and saw that another of the monsters
had come upon him from the rear and was now, with its mate, circling
closely around him, while both uttered continuously their hoarse,
savage cries.
Rob wondered why the Garment of Repulsion had not protected him from
the blow of the bird's wing; but, as a matter of fact, it had protected
him. For it was not the wing itself but the force of the eddying
currents of air that had sent him whirling away from the monster. With
the indicator at zero the magnetic currents and the opposing powers
of attraction and repulsion were so evenly balanced that any violent
atmospheric disturbance affected him in the same way that thistledown
is affected by a summer breeze. He had noticed something of this
before, but whenever a strong wind was blowing he was accustomed to
rise to a position above the air currents. This was the first time he
had slept with the indicator at zero.
The huge birds at once renewed their attack, but Rob had now recovered
his wits sufficiently to draw the electric tube from his pocket. The
first one to dart towards him received the powerful electric current
direct from the tube, and fell stunned and fluttering to the surface
of the sea, where it floated motionless. Its mate, perhaps warned by
this sudden disaster, renewed its circling flight, moving so swiftly
that Rob could scarcely follow it, and drawing nearer and nearer every
moment to its intended victim. The boy could not turn in the air
very quickly, and he feared an attack in the back, mistrusting the
saving power of the Garment of Repulsion under such circumstances;
so in desperation he pressed his finger upon the button of the tube
and whirled the instrument around his head in the opposite direction
to that in which the monster was circling. Presently the current and
the bird met, and with one last scream the creature tumbled downwards
to join its fellow upon the waves, where they lay like two floating
islands.
Their presence had left a rank, sickening stench in the surrounding
atmosphere, so Rob made haste to resume his journey and was soon moving
rapidly eastward.
He could not control a shudder at the recollection of his recent
combat, and realized the horror of a meeting with such creatures by one
who had no protection from their sharp beaks and talons.
"It's no wonder the Japs draw ugly pictures of those monsters," he
thought. "People who live in these parts must pass most of their lives
in a tremble."
The sun was now shining brilliantly, and when the beautiful islands
of Japan came in sight Rob found that he had recovered his wonted
cheerfulness. He moved along slowly, hovering with curious interest
over the quaint and picturesque villages and watching the industrious
Japanese patiently toiling at their tasks. Just before he reached Tokio
he came to a military fort, and for nearly an hour watched the skilful
maneuvers of a regiment of soldiers at their morning drill. They were
not very big people, compared with other nations, but they seemed alert
and well trained, and the boy decided it would require a brave enemy to
face them on a field of battle.
Having at length satisfied his curiosity as to Japanese life and
customs Rob prepared for his long flight across the Pacific Ocean.
By consulting his map he discovered that should he maintain his course
due east, as before, he would arrive at a point in America very near to
San Francisco, which suited his plans excellently.
Having found that he moved more swiftly when farthest from the earth's
surface, because the air was more rarefied and offered less resistance,
Rob mounted upwards until the islands of Japan were mere specks visible
through the clear, sunny atmosphere.
Then he began his eastward flight, the broad surface of the Pacific
seeming like a blue cloud far beneath him.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
_CHAPTER SIXTEEN_
SHIPWRECKED MARINERS
Ample proof of Rob's careless and restless nature having been
frankly placed before the reader in these pages, you will doubtless
be surprised when I relate that during the next few hours our young
gentleman suffered from a severe attack of homesickness, becoming as
gloomy and unhappy in its duration as ever a homesick boy could be.
It may have been because he was just then cut off from all his
fellow-creatures and even from the world itself; it may have been
because he was satiated with marvels and with the almost absolute
control over the powers which the Demon had conferred upon him; or it
may have been because he was born and reared a hearty, healthy American
boy, with a disposition to battle openly with the world and take his
chances equally with his fellows, rather than be placed in such an
exclusive position that no one could hope successfully to oppose him.
Perhaps he himself did not know what gave him this horrible attack of
"the blues," but the truth is he took out his handkerchief and cried
like a baby from very loneliness and misery.
There was no one to see him, thank goodness! and the tears gave him
considerable relief. He dried his eyes, made an honest struggle to
regain his cheerfulness, and then muttered to himself:
"If I stay up here, like an air-bubble in the sky, I shall certainly go
crazy. I suppose there's nothing but water to look at down below, but
if I could only sight a ship, or even see a fish jump, it would do me
no end of good."
Thereupon he descended until, as the ocean's surface came nearer and
nearer, he discovered a tiny island lying almost directly underneath
him. It was hardly big enough to make a dot on the biggest map, but a
clump of trees grew in the central portion, while around the edges were
jagged rocks protecting a sandy beach and a stretch of flower-strewn
upland leading to the trees.
It looked very beautiful from Rob's elevated position, and his spirits
brightened at once.
"I'll drop down and pick a bouquet," he exclaimed, and a few moments
later his feet touched the firm earth of the island.
But before he could gather a dozen of the brilliant flowers a glad
shout reached his ears, and, looking up, he saw two men running towards
him from the trees.
They were dressed in sailor fashion, but their clothing was reduced to
rags and scarcely clung to their brown, skinny bodies. As they advanced
they waved their arms wildly in the air and cried in joyful tones:
"A boat! a boat!"
Rob stared at them wonderingly, and had much ado to prevent the poor
fellows from hugging him outright, so great was their joy at his
appearance. One of them rolled upon the ground, laughing and crying
by turns, while the other danced and cut capers until he became so
exhausted that he sank down breathless beside his comrade.
"How came you here?" then inquired the boy, in pitying tones.
"We're shipwrecked American sailors from the bark 'Cynthia Jane,'
which went down near here over a month ago," answered the smallest and
thinnest of the two. "We escaped by clinging to a bit of wreckage and
floated to this island, where we have nearly starved to death. Indeed,
we now have eaten everything on the island that was eatable, and had
your boat arrived a few days later you'd have found us lying dead upon
the beach!"
Rob listened to this sad tale with real sympathy.
"But I didn't come here in a boat," said he.
The men sprang to their feet with white, scared faces.
"No boat!" they cried; "are you, too, shipwrecked?"
"No;" he answered. "I flew here through the air." And then he explained
to them the wonderful electric traveling machine.
But the sailors had no interest whatever in the relation. Their
disappointment was something awful to witness, and one of them laid his
head upon his comrade's shoulder and wept with unrestrained grief, so
weak and discouraged had they become through suffering.
[Illustration: The disappointment of the sailors was something awful to
witness]
Suddenly Rob remembered that he could assist them, and took the box of
concentrated food tablets from his pocket.
"Eat these," he said, offering one to each of the sailors.
At first they could not understand that these small tablets would
be able to allay the pangs of hunger; but when Rob explained their
virtues the men ate them greedily. Within a few moments they were so
greatly restored to strength and courage that their eyes brightened,
their sunken cheeks flushed, and they were able to converse with their
benefactor with calmness and intelligence.
Then the boy sat beside them upon the grass and told them the story of
his acquaintance with the Demon and of all his adventures since he had
come into possession of the wonderful electric contrivances. In his
present mood he felt it would be a relief to confide in some one, and
so these poor, lonely men were the first to hear his story.
When he related the manner in which he had clung to the Turk while both
ascended into the air, the elder of the two sailors listened with rapt
attention, and then, after some thought, asked:
"Why couldn't you carry one or both of us to America?"
Rob took time seriously to consider this idea, while the sailors eyed
him with eager interest. Finally he said:
"I'm afraid I couldn't support your weight long enough to reach any
other land. It's a long journey, and you'd pull my arms out of joint
before we'd been up an hour."
Their faces fell at this, but one of them said:
"Why couldn't we swing ourselves over your shoulders with a rope? Our
two bodies would balance each other and we are so thin and emaciated
that we do not weigh very much."
While considering this suggestion Rob remembered how at one time five
pirates had clung to his left leg and been carried some distance
through the air.
"Have you a rope?" he asked.
"No," was the answer; "but there are plenty of long, tough vines
growing on the island that are just as strong and pliable as ropes."
"Then, if you are willing to run the chances," decided the boy, "I will
make the attempt to save you. But I must warn you that in case I find I
can not support the weight of your bodies I shall drop one or both of
you into the sea."
They looked grave at this prospect, but the biggest one said:
"We would soon meet death from starvation if you left us here on the
island; so, as there is at least a chance of our being able to escape
in your company I, for one, am willing to risk being drowned. It is
easier and quicker than being starved. And, as I'm the heavier, I
suppose you'll drop me first."
"Certainly," declared Rob, promptly.
This announcement seemed to be an encouragement to the little sailor,
but he said, nervously:
"I hope you'll keep near the water, for I haven't a good head for
heights--they always make me dizzy."
"Oh, if you don't want to go," began Rob, "I can easily----"
"But I do! I do! I do!" cried the little man, interrupting him. "I
shall die if you leave me behind!"
"Well, then, get your ropes, and we'll do the best we can," said the
boy.
They ran to the trees, around the trunks of which were clinging many
tendrils of greenish-brown vine which possessed remarkable strength.
With their knives they cut a long section of this vine, the ends of
which were then tied into loops large enough to permit the sailors to
sit in them comfortably. The connecting piece Rob padded with seaweed
gathered from the shore, to prevent its cutting into his shoulders.
"Now, then," he said, when all was ready, "take your places."
The sailors squatted in the loops, and Rob swung the vine over his
shoulders and turned the indicator of the traveling machine to "up."
As they slowly mounted into the sky the little sailor gave a squeal of
terror and clung to the boy's arm; but the other, although seemingly
anxious, sat quietly in his place and made no trouble.
"D--d--don't g--g--go so high!" stammered the little one, tremblingly;
"suppose we should f--f--fall!"
"Well, s'pose we should?" answered Rob, gruffly. "You couldn't drown
until you struck the water, so the higher we are the longer you'll live
in case of accident."
This phase of the question seemed to comfort the frightened fellow
somewhat; but, as he said, he had not a good head for heights, and so
continued to tremble in spite of his resolve to be brave.
The weight on Rob's shoulders was not so great as he had feared, the
traveling machine seeming to give a certain lightness and buoyancy to
everything that came into contact with its wearer.
As soon as he had reached a sufficient elevation to admit of good speed
he turned the indicator once more to the east and began moving rapidly
through the air, the shipwrecked sailors dangling at either side.
"This is aw--aw--awful!" gasped the little one.