THE ELECTRIC REMEDY
"Get Professor Henderson!" directed Jack, "Where is Mr. Roumann,
Washington?"
"In heah!" exclaimed the colored man, pointing to the shop. "He
am all blowed to pieces!"
Jack and Mark were terribly afraid. The smoke of the explosion
hung all about. They rushed through it, and into the shop. Part
of the side of the wooden building had been blown out.
"Where is he?" asked Mark. "I can't see anything."
"Over here," called Jack, as he saw a huddled heap in one corner.
As the smoke cleared away he could see pieces of machinery
scattered all about.
"Is the projectile damaged?" asked Mark anxiously.
"Doesn't seem to be--at least, on the outside," answered Jack, as
he looked at the huge shape of the Annihilator looming up before
him. "But I'm afraid it's all up with Mr. Roumann."
He bent over the German scientist. The man seemed lifeless.
There was quite a cut on his head and his clothes were torn.
"He's breathing a little!" cried jack. "We must get Professor
Henderson here. He'll know what to do--if anything can be done
for him."
"They must have exploded a bomb in here," said Mark, as he looked
around at the ruin about, them.
"Something like that," admitted jack. "Here, help me carry Mr.
Roumann out of the fumes," for there was a choking smell in the
shop.
The two boys found it hard work to carry that limp form out, but
they managed it. Just as they got outside the shop they saw
Professor Henderson running toward them, followed by Washington
and Andy.
"What has happened?" asked the inventor, for he had not been able
to learn much from Washington's excited account.
"I don't know," answered Jack. "We heard a explosion, just after
we saw two men running away from the shop, and we found Mr.
Roumann senseless."
Professor Henderson bent over, and placed his hand on the heart
of his friend.
"I'm afraid he's dying," he said.
"Dying?" cried jack in dismay.
"Yes; and if he expires, the secret of the wonderful power will
die with him. We will never be able to get to Mars!"
The professor placed his ear against the breast of the unconscious
man.
"There is still a spark of life," he remarked. "Perhaps I can
save him. I will try my electric remedy."
He got up and hurried to the house. Mr. Henderson had invented a
number of medical appliances, not the least of which was an
affair, different from an electric battery in that it allowed a
current to be administered internally. It was this that he now
decided to try on the unfortunate German.
He came back in less than a minute with a curious machine. It
was shaped like a box, but on the outside had a number of shiny
knobs, and several wires ending in brass handles.
Professor Henderson placed a brass handle in each of the palms of
the German, directing Mark and jack to hold them there. Then he
placed several of the shining knobs at the back of his head, and
ran a long wire around his waist.
"Now, Andy," ordered the inventor, "if you will take hold of this
rod and place the end of it on his tongue when I open his mouth,
I think we may be able to revive him."
This was done, and Mr. Henderson turned on the current. There
was a buzzing sound from the box, and a slight tremor was visible
throughout the whole body of the unconscious man.
"It is beginning to work!" exclaimed the professor. "He is
coming to!"
Mr. Roumann opened his eyes.
"Take the rod from his tongue, Andy," directed Mr. Henderson.
The hunter did so, and the German, looking curiously about him,
asked:
"Is the projectile damaged?"
"It doesn't seem to be," replied Jack quickly.
"Are you much hurt?" asked the professor.
Mr. Roumann passed his hand slowly across his head.
"I feel rather strange here," he said. "There seems to be some
injury."
Mark silently pointed to the cut. Mr. Henderson quickly examined
it.
"The skull is not injured," he announced. "It is merely a scalp
wound. Wait a moment now and I will give you something to make
you feel better."
From a small pocket case he took a spoon and a bottle. He poured
out a strong-smelling liquid, and administered a few drops to the
German. The latter's pale face at once became flushed.
"I think you will be all right now," said Mr. Henderson. "But it
was a narrow escape. Do you feel well enough to let us take you
to the house?"
"I think so. But guard the shop well. That crazy machinist came
back, and some one was with him. Then came an explosion--and I
don't remember any more."
"I'll guard the place!" exclaimed Andy. "And if any of those
chaps come around--well, they'll wish they hadn't," and he looked
significantly at his gun.
Mr. Roumann was getting better every moment, and was soon able to
stand. He was assisted to the house, where Mr. Henderson
attended to the injury on his head.
Then, after some more medicine had been administered, and the
electric remedy had been applied again, the German announced that
he felt almost as good as ever, except for an aching head.
"How did it all happen?" asked Mr. Henderson, and Jack and Mark
told what they knew of the explosion.
"I was working over an extra air-pump that I wish to take along
with us," stated Mr. Roumann, "when I was startled by seeing two
strangers standing near my work bench. One I recognized as the
insane machinist who was here before. The other--"
"The other was the same one who looked in the window one night,
and who, I believe, stole the power plates," interrupted Jack.
"I wish I had known that," went on Mr. Roumann. "I would have
made him give them back. But I did not have time to do anything.
Before I could stop him the crazy machinist had thrown something
at me, which I now know must have been a bomb. Then came the
explosion, and knew nothing more until you revived me. Is the
place much wrecked?"
"I think not," answered Jack.
"We will go look in a little while; just as soon as we see that
you are all right," announced the professor.
"Oh, I am all right. Go now. I am anxious to know."
Having assured himself that the German was able to walk to the
shop, Mr. Henderson an assent, and the two boys, Washington and
two scientists started for the place where Annihilator was kept.
"How did you happen to see it, Washington?" asked Mark.
"I was out fixin' a loose board on mah chicken coop," explained
the colored man, "when I seen dem two rapscallions come runnin'
out ob de place. I knowed dey hadn't no right dere, an' I
hollered at 'em. But dey didn't stop, an' de nextest t'ing I
knowed dere was a big bang. I run in, an' I seed Mistah Roumann
all blowed to pieces."
"Hardly as bad as that," said the German with a smile.
"Well, almost," insisted Washington.
They reached the machine shop. The smoke had all cleared away,
but the fumes from the bomb were still noticeable.
"I wonder what their object could have been?" said Jack.
"I believe they are urged on by some of my enemies," was the
German's reply. "But let us see what damage has been done. I
hope it is not much."
Pieces of broken machinery, twisted wheels, bent levers,
shattered cogs and smashed plates were all about one corner of
the shop. But the great projectile was still in place. It had
not even been jarred.
Mr. Roumann went to an opening in the side that led to the
engine-room. No sooner had he entered than he uttered a cry.
"The Etherium motor is damaged!" he exclaimed, and with fear in
their hearts the others followed him inside the Annihilator.