Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 FRANK READE JR.'8 ELECTRIC AIR CANOE. There was but one hope and this was to them. He knew that by climbing ire tree the python would be taken at a disadvantage, for the hage snakes are not good tree climbers. At about twenty feet from the ground Frank halted. He unslang bis rifle and watched bis foe warily. But to his astocishment the menster did not attack him. To the contrary it gave a prodigious bise and lunging out of the copee started away like the wind. The speed of the monster was something frightfal. Frank felt the wind of ite huge, brown body as it swept under the tree beneath him. Straight toward the location of the Air Canoe went the monster. Frank shivered for Barney anc Pomp. He fired a shot after the python. But this was intended more as a warning for Barney and Pomp. Then the young inventor leaped down oat of the tree. He knew that there was need for immediate action. He did not hesitate a moment. Away in parsult after the python he ran. 4 few moments later he heard the repost of rifles and a terrible commotion. *s My soul!” he gasped, ‘‘ the monster has reached the Air Canoe!’ And be ran faster. Now he came io sight of the camp. The scene there was a thrill- ing one, and nigh paralyzed Frank with horror. *¢* My God!” he ei, ‘I fear that 1s the end of Pomp!” The monster python had the darky in its terrible coils. Barney lay half insensible upon the ground oear. Fomp was cutting and slashing away with his knife with all his streaogt The bivod was sparting in actual torrents from the python’s body. Bot the snake's folds were drawing Ughter, and it was striking aa witt its head with such foree as to nigh knoek the breath out | m. Frank saw that a moment's delay would be fatal to Pomp. Quick as a fiash he raised bis rifle. bl The snake’s head was reared high in air ready to deal Pomp another Ow. Frank took quick aim. The rifle spoke sharply. A great cry of joy welled from Frank’s throat as he saw the effect. The bullet went true to the mark. It strack the snake's head and spattered its brains. It seemed us if Pomp was saved. . Bat the mighty reptile’s coila in the death agony did not seem to relax about Pomp’s form. More than that, the snake went planging and twisting toward the river. The next moment into the water it went and Pomp also. Frank gave a cry of horror as he saw Pomp disappear beneath the waves. «« My God, he is lost!” ke cried. Bat thiz was not eo. The darky came to the surface like a cork, and striking out none the worse, swam ashore. Barney by this time had recovered himself. ** Bejabers, phwat happened to me?” he gasped, in astonishment. «‘ Phwat put yez into the wather, naygur?”’ Then Barney saw the body of the suake still squirming in the car- rent and he anderstood all. **On me sowl!” he cried, ‘‘I niver had sich a froight afore in me loife. Divil take the riptile!” *¢ Golly! I Jone fought mab lace’ day had come!” cried Pomp. 6s Marse Frank, dat was a great shot ob yours!” “¢It was a miracie!” exclaimed Frank, fervently. ‘I think the best thing we can do is to leave this place at once.” ae the words bad not left his lips when an astounding thing hap- pened. A distant wild yell was heard and a flight of arrows came tambiing about them. *¢ Jiniiny!” gasped Pomp. ‘ Whatebber was dat?” Bat the question was answered as they gazed out apon the river's surface. From a clamp of reeis 1 war canoe had shot out. x held fully galt aging of armed pte ey began diec ng arrows acd yelling. Frank saw that action mast be made at once. ** We've got to get out of here!” he cried. ‘* This is & little too un- comfortable.” ‘¢ Bejabers, that’s roight,” cried Barney. All started for the Air Canoe. But at that moment a cry of terror barst from Pomp’s lipe. ; : ; Fo’ de Lor’, Marse Frank, would yo’ jes’ listen to de likes ob ri Bat Frank had heard the sound. From the distance through the trees came a queer moaning sound. Then across the water there shot feathery gusts of wind. Great, deep shadows came creeping through the forest. The sky grew yellow and dark. ohare savages had ceased their yelling and were paddling madly for © reeds. Frank Reade, Jr., knew well what was coming. He knew full well the awful character of the Brasilian tornado, and how it mowed everything down io ite path. “* Quick!” he shouted. ‘‘On deck! throw out the anchors. Lash the air-ship securely or we are lost!” CHAPTER XIII. THE END. Tu tornado was close at hand and there was no time to lose. Barney and Pomp rushed to the anchor ropes. But they were barely able to throw them ont when the storm broke. With all haste the three adventurers rushed into the cabin. The dia was now tremendous. Rain was swept io torrents through the alr, fiying debris, sticks, stones and other material and the boaghe and bran of trees, ae hurricane churned the waters of the river into we like those of the sea. A literal path was mowed through the forest. Frank was io the pilot-hoase trying to see out of the windows. He feared every moment that the Air Canoe woald be lifted bodily and blown into the river. The force of the wind was something frightfal, Suddenly there was a wrenching and twisting and a whirring of the rotascope shafts. Frank experienced a chill of horror. One of them had been demolished and swept away by the tornado. The next moment another went the same way. ‘* My God!” gasped the young inventor, ‘‘ we are lost.” Without the rotascopes of course the Air Canoe couid not sail. They were cast away as it were in the very heart of the South Amer- ican wilds, peopled with a million perils. Without a boat or any other means of travel they had not the slight- est chance.of ever reaching civilization. But the worst was yet to come. Saddenly above the thunder of the tornado there came a tremen- dous, resounding crash. The Air Canoe’s deck gave in, there was a terrific grinding and crushing, shaking, jolting and jarriog. The voyagers were thrown flat upon their faces. Bat in that supreme moment the tornado spent its force. It was gone as quickly as it hed come. The three victims of ine catastroph crawled out of the wreck of the Alr Canoe. It was a pitiable sight. Every rotascope was gone and the propeller. The whole after part of the aerial vessel had been crushed in by the weight of a falling tree. The Air Canoe could never be redeemed. Repairing or reconstruction was wholly out of the question. Frank Reade, Jr., stood for some tame sorro y viewing the wreck of his wonderful invention. ‘¢ That is bard lack!” he declared. ‘ The fates are against us.” ** Share it’s the ind av as!” wailed Barney. ‘“ Arrah, an’ I'd niver loike to die in this out-av-the-way part av the worruld an’ niver a wow! to mourn fer yelr Pomp was equally as mach affected. But Frank Reade, Jr., was possessed of a lion’s courage. He eet his lips rmly. ‘Never mind!” he gritted. ‘* We'll pull out of this serape yet.” Ther he set to work directing the building of a raft. For four days all worked like beavers. At the end of that time the raft was finished. On this Frank Loped to float down to some civilized settlement. It was the dernier ressoré, the forlorn hope of the castaways. The raft was well fittec ap with stuff from the wrecked air-ship. Provisions wéte placed a and ammunition. a took all of bis scientific inatruments and al] elee of value that could. Then the vo set forth upon the broad bosom of the Amason. They had made long sweeps with which to propel the raft. For two days they progressed slowly down the river. Bat the tropical san was broiling hot, and the nights damp and misty. The spirits of all were depressed. It seemed an interminable distance to cover. A kinder fate, how- ever, now waited apon them. Fifty miles further down the river they were picked up by an explor- ing steamer owned by Ra asi planter. ey were kindly ved by the Spanierds, and six weeks later Lb landed at Para. From there a steamer was taken for New ork. People in Readestown were delighted to welcome them back, and sorry to learn of the loss of the Air Canoe. Bat Frank Reade, Jr., sald: ‘* Never mind! The Air Canoe ts gone, but I'll constract an air- a Sapo shail excel all my past efforts. ® young inventor kept his word. What the next air-ship was like and the adventares experienced with it will be told to the reader in due form in a fature number of this library. (THE END.) SSS SE —EE——EEe——eEEEeESEESES————————— SSS Tye next number of the Frank Reape LipRary will contain another thrilling story, entitled—"‘ FRANK READE AND HIS NEW STEAM TEAM.” EO NOOKKS AUUC (CO