Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 FRANK READE JR.'S ELECTRIC AIR CANOE. Any one venturing to clamber aboard would certainly meet with a hot reception. Barney and Pomp now had the diamond fever fully as bad as Frank A few moments later they stood upon the bank of the stream. Frank descended to the water’s edge, and taking up a handfal of the soil, began to examine it. te satisfied as to its character he began to dig into the Every little pebble was closely examined. Saddenly Frank picked up what looked like an ordinary pebbie. He struck it sharply against the corner of bis shovel. The result was that the outer crust was diplaced. A brilliant light was disclosed, and in a flash Frank saw that he had Giscovered a beautiful specimen. Of course it was impossible to judge as to its water yet. This could only be determined after treatment by the lapidary. ** Golly, J jes’ reckon I mus’ be de nex’ lucky man!” cried Pomp. *¢ Bejabers, yell have to worruk thin, naygur!” cried Barney. With this all fell to work in lusty fashion. But the next half bour’s digging bronght no frait. It occurred to Frank as not a bad idea to change the locality. Accordingly he startea up with that purpose, But as he gianced over the edge of the bank toward the Air Canoe he beheld a thrilling spectacle. ** Great heavens!” he Fasped, ‘¢what do you call that?” *¢ Phwat’s that ye say?” cried Barney, starting up. Truly it was a thrilling sight which met their gaze. Crossing the open space between them and the Air Canoe was a creature of moet extraordinary appearance. It bad the form of a haman being, with tremendous proportions and huge, hairy body. Its long arms reached to its knees, and it carried a heavy sapling in its right band. “A gorilla!” gasped Frank. *¢ Bejabers, ye’re roight!” cried aareer **Golly! I neber de likes ob dat afo’ in all mah life!” cried Pomp in utter amazement. ott Frank was considering thelr chances for reaching the Air noe. They seemed to him very slight. He knew that a collision with the gorilla was inevitable and must be no light affair. Barney fluoy tis rifle to his shoulder. ‘¢ Begorrs, 1’ll sphile the beauty av him!” he cried. Bat Frank put a band on his rifle barrel. ** Hold on!” he cried, sternly. ‘* Howld on, is it, sor? cried the astonished Celt. phwy should I howid on” ** Jt won't do to shoot.” ** An’ phwy not, sor?’ ** Nothing would be guined by it. The creature's hide is too tough for a bullet at this distance!” ‘*Shure ye don’t mane it!” “Yea, I do.” Barney reluctantly lowered his rife. ** Phwativer shall we do, Misther Frank?” he asked. ‘“*Keep quiet fora while!” said Frank, with discernment. may thank our lucky stars if we escape au attack by the brute.” Barney had no more to say. Pomp all the while had been watching the creature with wonder- ment. aoa gorilla seemed wrapped in astonished contemplation of the r Canoe. To ite primitive mind the invention of civilized beings mast have indeed been an object of wonderment, The brute leaned upon its staff a moment contemplatively. Then it uttered a frightfal roar. Whirling the stout sapling aloft he flung it with terrific force straight at the air-sbip. It struck the rail with such force as to he splintered in fragments. ** Begorra, wad yez lak at the muscle av baste!” Barney. ** Shure he’s as sthrong as an ox.” “Strong!” cried Frank. ‘* Why, I tell you the Brazillian gorilla can fell an elephant. The livo is no match for bis powerfal arms.” The gorilla, now evidently satisfied as to the non-offensive charac- ter of the air-ship, advanced toward it. Frank now smiled. If the brate sbonld chance to come In contact with the rail it would be interesting to note the result. The strongest man cocld not resist the electric current. It was hardly likely that ius gorilla could. But Frank watched with great interest. The beast npproached the Air Canoe cautiously. Then slowly it reached up and grasped the rail. The result was thrilling as well as extremely comical. For once in its life the gorilla encountered a force greater than its own. As tho it were bat a puppet the hage brute was hurled back with such force that it tarned a couple of desperate somersaults. A more astonished unimal than that goriila when it recovered iteelf wir spite f the peril ec] them, the voyagers could n spite of the 60 close upon them, the vo could not re- frain from a hearty laugh. *¢ An’ share, sor, ‘We The gorilla heard it, and terning about saw Barney's bead , above river bank. With a roar of wrath the beast started for him. OHAPTER IX. THE MATIVE VILLAGE. THE eitaation was now to say the least alarming. Barney gave a yell and ducked bis head. ‘‘Qch hone, the bloody baste is afther us, Misther Frank!” he cried. ‘ Shure it's kilt we'll all be!” It was indeed a terrifying sight to see the huge monster bearing downjaypon them s0 savagely. Barney was well justified in his terror. He and Pomp crouched close beside Frank in abject terror. But the young Inventor was as cool as anu icicle. He drew back the hammer of his rifle and said, steroly: ‘‘ Stop your foolishness! Be men now! When I givethe word fire!” This re-assured the two servitors greatly and they complied. the gorilla was a fearful object to look at. The monster's jaws were reeking with blood and foam. Its eyes were staring wide with fury, and its long, powerfal arms were heroely erie: e alr. S t for the three men the huge gorilla made. Should he reach them and his grip upon them, it was doubtful if enough of their bodies could be found ina short time to make a funeral over. Loud, snarling cries burst from the creature’s mouth. The next moment it was within a few yards of the edge of the bank. It was a critical moment. Now or never. Frank Reade, Jr., drew aim ‘and then cried, in a shaking voice: Pc boya, let him have it!” rack ! . The pieces blended in one explosion. Every bullet went trae to the mark. The monstrous beast’s hide at that short range could not withstand the ballets from the deadly Wiochesters. The monster fell in a heaf. Death was instantaneous. But the beast was not ten feet from Frank Reade, Jr. It was a decidedly close call for the young inventor. a a shiver Frank drew himself up. Barney let out a triamphant me Bejabers, we spiled him that toime fer share!” he cried. * Shure, I thought we was all goners, be me sow!!” “ It was a close one,” admitted Frank. ‘‘ But a mise is as good as @ mile. ‘* You'se jes’ right, Marse Frank,” Pomp. All now gathered aroand the mighty brute and surveyed him. It was doubtful if haman eyes had ever before beheld a larger speci- men of the gorilla. Now that the danger was over the spirits of all arose. They would no doubt have retarned to the diamond diggings but for an Incident. A sharp cry escaped from Frank Reade, Jr. ‘* Heavens, that looks squaily!” At that moment, from a clamp of trees not one hundred yards dis- tant, another gorilla had appeered. He was scarcely inferior in size to the firet. To Frank’s horror and amazement another appeared bebind him. wine fact, in a few seconds half a dozen of the monsters appeared to ew. It was a ulead situation. To stay where they were was wholly out of the question. To regain the air-ship was at once an instant necessity. There was certainly not a moment to lose. The conseqaences could be easily foreecen, should the gorillas chance to get there first. — was no doabt but that they would tear the Air Canoe all to pleces. Barney and Pomp saw this as well as Frank. ae Golly” cried Pomp. ‘I done fink we don’ want no part ob dem ape. a an right!” cried Frank. ‘Break for the Canoe. Lose no me!” The gorillas seeming to divine the fact that one of their number had been killed, uttered vengeful cries and came forward on the ran. Their strides were long and loping. the tug! ae distance been greater they would surely have overtaken ® ves. Bat as it was they reached the Air Canoe first. Barney rushed into the pilot-house and threw the lever over. Two of the gorillas reached the ral of the Air Canoe. In throwing open the lever, Barney had also shut off the current which conn with the rail. So when the gorillas struck the rail they were not repelled bat hung on grimly. The ailr-ship leaped into space, and the las were one haodred feet in the air clinging to the air-ship’s rail in a twinkling. Pomp, who saw the danger of their climbing aboard, selzed a hatchet He rushed to the rail. In another moment the gorillas would have drawn themeelves aboard the air-ship. COMICOOOKS.E€O