Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

FRANK READE JR.S ELECTRIO AIR CANOR 3 Scientific instruments and a few articles of vertu hang upon the walls or rested on shelves. Frank motioned the to a seat at a table and said: wn breath. reporter eli, what do you think of the Air Canoe?” “‘ Wonderfal!” averred the scribe, with a | “Nothing on earth can equal it. Yet it does not seem possible vie Lares comes cases fy. . *¢ It is not only possible, but certain, replied Frank. «I should like to experience the novelty.” mia shall have the green reporter shrugged shoulders. ‘The earth is good enough for me,” be averred. “I thiok I will back out.” ‘* But I can assure you that there is no risk whatever!” declared Frank. ‘‘ You are perfectly safe.” ‘“‘Not to-day,” laughed scribe. “ But by the way, Mr. Reade, what will be the object of your first trip?” Frank Reade, Jr., arose. He croesed the room to a small glass cabinet, unlocked the door and took oat a bundle of charts, These he threw upon the table. ** Do you see that?’ he cried. ‘‘ Well, that is the map of Brazil!” ** 1 see,” replied the reporter. ‘Is that your objective point?’ **But study the chart a bit,” said Frank. ‘‘ Do you see, here is the — of the Amazon?” a6 es.” “ Lb here is a tributary, and it rises in a pecallar country.” ** Explorers have returned from this country with wonderful stories. It is eald that savage and warlike tribes abound there, and that it is mare theo snus man’s life is worth to venture down there.” 06 DB ** Worse than all else are the huge pythons which infest the jorests, the gorillas and pumas, which are of the wildest and fiercest.” “J declare! A good place to keep away from.” ‘* Do you think so” s¢ Yes!” ‘¢ Well, that is where I am going with the Air Canoe!” The reporter looked start! ** You don’t mean it?” “* Yea, I dol” ee Bat——” ‘* I know what you woald say. You want to know why I go there.” *« You bave guessed t” ‘* Well, I will tell you,” said Frank, slowly. ‘‘ It is quite a story.” The reporter brightened up. ‘“¢ That is just what I want,” he said. ‘ Something exciting!” ‘¢ ] have no doubt you will coneider it an exciting topic. I will pat my cd upon a certain spot on the map. Do you see it!” ‘* Yes bad ‘¢ Well, there is a most wonderfal valley in the center of this peril- ous region. Out of a party of one hundred and twenty-five armed ex- lorers only one lived to escape from that valley and to reach Rio gry hn tell bis wonderful story.” a6 A ‘* He gave a wonderfal account of their adventures. He sald that that valley was literaly strewn with diamonds in the rough. They abounded as common pebbles in the hed of the river, were stadded in the mountain wall and could be found in the auriferous soll by digging ae Aye f ds!” ** A valley of diamonds!” gasped the reporter. ‘* That is it precisely. He brought back three huge stones, which for brilliancy are truly wonderful. They made him rich!” ‘‘ Heavens! Whatachance. Of course he will go back with a larger party?’ ‘* Nothing would hire him to go back. Neither has any one the bardihood to attempt the feat after listening to his tale!” *¢ But you think of going?’ ** Trae; bat I shall not have to thread on foot two thousand miles of dense forest peopled with a million perils. With the Air Canoe I shall be able to defy the perils of the wonderful Valley of Diamonds.” CHAPTER II. THE STRANGE BALLOON. Tue ecribe sat like one in n daze for some moments. Then he heaved a deep sigh. ‘*Ugh!” he exclaimed, ‘‘I wish I had the courage to ventare to go with you. As ‘tis 1 can only embrace this excellent material for a etory. Of course you will find no trouble in reaching the Valley of diamonds®”’ ‘*On the contrary, I expect considerable difficulty,” said Frank, rising. ‘Bat I mean to surmount it.” ‘“‘T have no doubt you will. All the civilized world will be agape to learn how you succeed in your purpose.” ween! left the yard, and a few moments later Frank took leave of his r Then he retarned to the building and said to Barney: ‘* Now, Barney, [ want you to have all stores aboard to-morrow morning and ready for the start.” ** All roight, sor!” ** You'll attend to it.” goo Maree Frank!” cried Pomp, patting hie head out a Ww. ** Shut up, ye African misfit!” shouted Barney, asgrily. ‘' Whe- ever asked yes advice, anyway?” Frank had now oat of the yard. Pomp had merely spoken to irritate Barney. The two were ever playing ‘* roots” upon each other with varying saccess. ay Row saw a chance to get even with Pomp for a joke of which D the victim the day before. Pomp’s head was still thrust th the window. He was lug after Frank and did not heed Barney. It was the Ceit’s opportunity. Quick as a fiash be reached down and caught up a pail of white- wash which sat upon the steps. He was a trifle higher ap than Pomp and this aided him. With ekilled hand Barney swung the bucket ap aud let its contents drive right at Pomp’s woolly head The result was aria ae The darky looked like a whitened post, and drew his heed in with @ sputtering yell. uecoeereay for a moment Pomp thought an avalanche had Utwueln m He was transformed in that swift moment of time from an ebony African into a queer looking white man. ‘* Golly—golly! I’se killed! I’se jee’ done fo’—clar done fo’, an’ Tee a dead ni dis berry minnit!” howled the darky, wildly, as he danced like a dervish and clawed bis face and hend like a maniac. It required not much time for bim thus to scrape off enough of the whitewash so that his identity was made plainer. Then a madder darky never lived when be realized the trath. aun shrieks of laughter in which Barney was indulging assured him ‘* Fo’ de good Lor’!” he sputtered. ‘I done beliebe it am de wok ob dat lish loafabh. I jes’ break hie jaw fo him or I nebber lib to see anoder day!” With this he rushed after the Celt. But Barney was too wary to be caught napping thus. He quickly got out of the way, an4 Pomp was unable to find him. That sable gentleman finally gave up the quest and went away to clean himself up, but muttering vengeance upon the author of his misery. ‘*Fo’ de Lor’, I git squar wif dat I’ishman if I bab to live a huaderd year!” he deciared, resolately. ‘I jes’ ix up one fo’ him.” And Pomp was just the sort to keep his word. The next morning great preperations were going on in the yard of the Reade works. All was bastie and excitement. This was the day the Electric Air Catloe was to sail. The canoe bad been brought out of the shop and rested upon stag- ings in the yard. Hundreds of people had already hegun to gather about the works to see the ascension. The excitement and Interest was of the most intense sort. An hoor later a cheering crowd saw Frank Reade, Jr., with a nume- ber of the prominent citizens, enter the yard. A sort of ovation was given the young inventor In honor of his de- rture. The band played, salutes were fired, and cheers given. Barney and Pomp were already aboard the Air Canoe. Barney was in the pilot-house with bis hand apon the lever which was to set the rotascopes in motion. He waited only for the signal. hie Reade, Jr., now lilted his hat to the crowd and stepped over e rail. He motioned to Barney. Down went the lever, there was a whirring of machinery, the hiss- ing of the rotascopes, the alr-ship trembled for an Instant and then leaped into space. A mad yell went up from the crowd, cannons boomed, and Frank ys ase fired a dynamite projectile from his gun, which exploded n mid-air. Then the Electric Air Canoe set a course to the southward, and half an hour later Readestown bad entirely gone from view. The great journey was begun. The Air Canoe was sailing like a bird through the alr. Frank Reade, fr., with a thril! of pardonabvie pride, saw that his in- vention was a wonderful success. ** There is now no reason why we should not find that Valley of Diamonds,” he declared, confidently. ‘** Bejahers, we'll thry,” declared Barney. Frank, phwat wud yez call that?” The Celt had suddenly caught sight of an object in the air just ahead not more than two miles. It had shot into view from the depths of a fleecy clond. ‘* A balloon!” gasped the young Inventor with amazement. ‘¢Sbure an’ it is that, sor!” cried Barney, excitedly. “Tt is coming this way!” Frank sprang into the cabin and procured his glass. Emerging, he brought it to bear apon the distant balloon. There was no doubt bat that an air current was bringing the bab loon towards them. ** Share, can yez eee anybody In the basket?” asked Barney. * Yes!” replied Frank. ‘‘ And—my God! see—they are “fighting” ‘¢Omme worrud, Misther COnmicoooks (CO