Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 FRANK READE JR.'S ELECTRIC AIR CANOE. ae was that, sor! Shure phwat will be the next move I'd loike to know ¢*] jes’ fink I would dump de rascals overb'd,” cried Pomp. But Frank was of a more humane turn of mind. Despite the fuct that they had meant to take his life, he could not bear :he idea of such wholesale slaughter. ** No!” he eald, Hoally. ‘‘ I have something better!” ‘¢ Shure | don’t see bow there kin be anythin’ betther,” said Barney. ‘* Well, you will see it!” said Frank, curtly. *¢ Divil a bit, sor.” Frank went into the pilot-house. He lowered the Air Canoe until It hung over the diamond valley. Then be let the ship down until within a dozen feet of the ground where the cead gurillaa lay. The woods were now seen to be full of the live gorillas, and with savage cries they now rushed toward the air-ship. The natives had been constrained to leap overboard. But now they paused in warrantable terror. There was certainly good cause. , Frank threw open the door of the cabin and motioned to them to enp. But they still clang to the rail in abject terror. ‘*Be me sowl, they don’t loike the medicine at all—at all!” cried Barney. *« I] don't fink dey does,” said Pomp. ‘¢)'ll ix them!” gritted Frank. ie turned a lever, which sent the full force of the current into the rail. The effect was laughable as well as tragical. The savages were hurled over the rail like puppets. Striking the ground they regained their feet and rushed away like frightened deer. ut the gorillas were about them. Frank raised the Air Canoe fifty feet and watched the scene. It was a thrilling one. The savages were hemmed in upon all eides but one. This was the swift current of the river. In their desperation they started for it. Bat three of them reached it. The others were overtaken by the gorillas and instantly struck dead, their bodies being carried away into the forest. Three of the savages swam the stream and escaped. Barney was itching to pick them off with bis Winchester, bat Frank said: «Give them their lives. They have well earnett liberty.” _ To resume intercourse with the villagers was now out of the ques- tioa. What was to be done? **Upon my word!” exclaimed Frank, ‘‘I don’t wonder that the hsbarp in this valley has never been carried away. Its dangers are egion.’ There seemed no other way but to wage a war of extermination against the gorillas. This would be no light task. , Frank reckoned that there were huodreds of them in the woods ard caves about. Somehow there was something ‘positively sickening about killing the brutes, they so strongly resembled a human being. But Frank had nigh made up his mind to begin the battle when he caught sight of a thrillirg object. From the direction of tae upper end of the valley dense clouds of smoke weie arisiug. What did it mean? It was certaioly fire. ** What on earth is it?” cried the ynung inventor. ** Begorra, it’s a foire!” vouchsafed Burney, explicitly. ** Yes, but what is burning?” ** Shure, it'll not take yez long fer to find oat.” “* You're right.” Frark sprang into the cabin and turned the rotascope lever. The Air Canoe shot up higher. Then the full exp!anation was ensy to be seen. The whole native village was in flames. It was a tremendous cone flagration. “ They are burning up!” cried Frank. ‘‘ What does it mean?” *¢ Shure, Misther Frank, let us take a lak in at thim an’ see.” “ All right.” Frank started the Air Canoe ahead. in a very few moments ao full explanation was accorded the voy- re. A battle was in progress upon the lake shore. The nativer had Leen surprised and attacked by a war party of the deadly Mazootas, as Frank guessed them to be. It was certainly a savage battle in progress there. The Air Canoe hung over the scene. Its appearance, however, did not check the cunflict. Indeed the participants seemed to fight barder than ever. The ad vantage seemed upon the Mazootas’ side. “*On me worrud, Oi think it’s the bist thing we kin do is to let thim até each other up av they will,” cried Barney. ‘* You're right!” agreed Frank. ‘‘ We will not mix in the fray.” It would hnve been easy work for Frank with the electric gun to have decided the contest for either aide. Rat as he hed declared, be had a0 preference. It was a matter of little interest to him which side won. The Mazoctas were avowed enemies to the whites. So that really it was of little concern to the voyagers. If both —— were extioguished it would be the very best thing hat could be one, But ‘t was iodeed exciting to witness the battle, which was a bot one. CHAPTER XI. THE FLOOD. Tae Mazootas certainly seemed to be the best fighters. ety forced their enemies back to the very verge of the diamond The Gesacent here was asteep one, and if they were forced over it the loss of life would be large. The natives fought desperately. But they had not their chief with them to direct them. He hud fallen a victim to the vengeance of tne gorillas. Hotter waxed the fight. Finally the natives were driven down into the sacred valley, Here they made a bold stand, and aided by some uneven ground, held the Muzocotas at bay. Bat the latter did not seem to press the fight so hard now. Iodeed, their purpose was a far deeper one and meant she exter- niination of the foe at one fell blow. How they brought this about was quickly seen. A number of them rushed to the bead of the flame. It seemed that it was a well-known fact to the natives that but one log kept the lake back from flooding the valley. The parting of this single log would allow the debris to fall, and the lake would leap from its imprisoument. . Even Frank Reade, Jr., liad not discovered that fact. Bat the Mazootas had got hold of it in some way. Frank saw their purpose when it was too late to prevent it. If he could have prevented it be would certainly have done so for many important reasona, Tbe most important was the fact that the valley would be so flooded that it would be out of question to even work the diamond diggings. Bat it was too late. ‘* My soul!” cried Frank. ‘It is good-bye to our diamoads now!” Barney and Pomp uttesed a great cry. ‘Then a Icud and sullen foar rose upon the air. The Mazootas had liberated the lake, and it was on its fearfal way down the flume. The natives in the vaHey realized this, and ran shrieking for the heights. But they never reached them. {Down ato the Valiey of Diamonds surged the tremendous avalanche of water. In a resistless volume it raced to the farthest end. There was no outlet there. The lake was held imprisoned. It had merely exchanged one bed for another. The two miles of wild valley was in leas than fifteen miautes trans- formed foto a mighty body of water. Buried now forever were the treasures of the diamond valley. Nobody would ever know just what treasures were buried there, or what was the real worth of the diggings. Our adventurers gazed spellbound upon the impressive scene. ' The Muzootas were holding orgies upon the ruins of their foes’ vil- age. ‘‘Our quest is énded!” cried Frank, with a shade of disappointment io his voice. ‘*The diamond valley and its wealth is buried forever.” ‘*Golly! dat am a sattin’ fac’!” cried Pomp. ‘ Bat look yender.” The darky pointed to the dry bed of the lake. ** Don’ yo’ spose dar am diamonds to be found dar?” he asked. ‘‘ Bejabers, mebbe the naygur be right,” said Barney, scratching his head. But Frank looked incredulous. However, he said: ‘* Well, we will take a look about and see. Bat the first thing is to rid ourselves of those tienda below.” The young inventor went forward and thrast a dynamite cartridge into the pneumatic gun. He was in just the mood io give the barbarian Mazootas a good essen. , He inclined the muzzle of the gun downward and drew back the air- valve. Down went the projectile with lightning speed. It struck the center of a group of barbarians. Iona flash the air was filled with debris, and in mad terror the band of looters fied incontinently. Another projectile sent after them effectually warned them away. Then Frank allowed the Air Canoe to settle down over the surface of the lake bed. In places the water yet stood in pools. But there were wide strotches of sand and gravel. Upon one of these Frank allowed the Alr Canoe to reat. Then preparations were made for exploring the bed of the lake. Frank was descending the gang-ladder when saddenly a glitcering object in the sand attracted his attention. CONMUC DOOKS.CO