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.
15 - 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
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.
15 - 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
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