Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

é FRANK KEADB JR.'S ELECTRIC AIR CANOR. noly aes even at that distance two men could be seen engaged in a dead le. One had forced the other to the edge of the basket, He seemed trying hard to throw him out. But the struggle was merinotained with deadly force. The balloon rocked and swayed in a frightful manner. ** Fools!” gasped Frank, in horror. ‘‘ Don’t they know that they are in awful peril?’ Whether they knew it or not, the two men continued to struggle ly. Frank remained inactive no longer. ** Head the Canoe for the balloon!” he said to Barney. The Celt quickly changed the course of the Air Canoe. The balloon speedily drew nearer. The two miles were covered very quickly. It could then be easily seen that the struggle in the basket was one of deadly sort. The balloon was exactly on a line with the air-sbip. Frank Reade, Jr., knew that it would never do for the balloon and the air-ship to meet. There was no doubt but that the rigging of the balloon would catch in the rotascopes or rigging of the air-ehip and the result would be us, So Frank directed Barney to elevate the air-sbip so that it would float a bundred feet or more over the balloon. P The struggle between the two occupants of the basket was going on ercely. Frank Reade, Jr., was in a quandary. What was to be cone? Barely if the struggle was permitted to go on murder would be the result. Yet the occupants of the Air Canoe seemed powerless. * Share, sor, phwativer wad yez do aboat it?” cried Barney. *¢ Mercy on us! Ido not know,” replied Frank. ** Golly! I done fink dey kill each older fo’ suah!” cried Pomp. Frank was like one insane. He walked up and down the deck, shouting frantically to the two men to desiat. ** Cease yoar foolisk quarrel!” he shouted. ‘* Don’t you know that it will be the death of you?” Bat he might as well have talked to empty air. One of the men, however, looked up and saw the alr-ship. won was ao expression of mingled astonishment and relief upon ace. Then suddenly, with what seemed a renewal! of superhuman strength, be forced his antagonist back and dealt him a blow which laid bim insensible in the bottom of the basket. The deadly straggie was over. Paoting and exhausted, the victor for a momert leaned over the edge of the basket. ** Hello, down there!” shouted Frank Reade, Jr. ‘‘ What on earth alls you?” The survivor of the combat looked up and made a gesture. ** Hello!” he replied, faintly. °* Who are you?” **T am Frank Reade, Jr.” ‘*Tbhe inventor of fying machines?” e6 ” **] have heard of you. Heaven be praised! you have come ia time to save me.” ‘* What is the matter with you?” *¢ I have been In the clutches of a maniac for the last twelve hours. Ob, God! I could not have stood it much longer.” ‘* A maniac?” ** Yes; but if you will rescue me from this perilous position, I will tell you all about it.” **T will try!” Frank Reade, Jr., tarned to Pomp. ‘* Bricg out that long rope ladder,” he ordered. Pomp hastened to obey. ‘ In a few moments he came out of the cabin with the article in ques- on. seit was a very light but streng rope ladder, fully two hundred feet in le Pomp fastened it to the rail and threw it over. Down it fell beside the balloon. The occupant of the car was eagerly watching for it. ** Hold firm!” shouted Frank. ‘* We shall have to ask you to climb up on this ladder as we fear collision with the balloon.” ** All right!” replied the balloonist; ‘* but you will have to hurry as T can see a seam opening in the balloon now.” *¢ All right!” Frank made an effort to sway the ladder over within reach of the balldonist bat at that moment there was a tremendous report, the vast globe collapsed, and shot downward like a meteor. CHAPTER III. RESCUED. A MORE awfal development could hardly have been imagined. : Ereat cry of horror went ap from Frank Reade, Jr., and Barney and Pomp. **My God! they bave gone down to death!” cried Frank, in agony. **Fo’ suah, it-am de las’ ob dem!” wailed Pomp. ‘* Begorra, it’s the ind av toim!” averred Barney. —————— All crowded to the rail of the Air Cance to watch the downward course of the fateou balloon. It was a dizzy height. The earth seemed miles away, and objects there were dim and The balloon was traveling downward like a meteor. Those on board the Air Canoe had expected to see it strike the earth with a mighty rebound. Rtg a thing would of course have settled the fate of those in the et. Bat now a great cry went up from Barney. ** Bejabere, wad yez seethe wather!” he cried; ‘‘ they'll bit for sure!” Directly beneath the descending balloon was a large lake. That the balloon would strike in about its ceuter Frank was assured. In an instant hope dawned in the young inventor's breast. He knew tbat it was a good chacce for the seronauts to escape death if they should atrike the bosom of the lake. If trey were good swimmers and the maniac recovered his senses there was a chance for them. Frank tarned to Barney. ** Down—down!” be cried. board! Quickly!” ‘+ All roight, sor!’ Into the pilot-house sprang Barney. sine Celt turned the lever in question, and downward darted the r-ehip. Of course it was impossible to overtake the balloon. This bad already struck the surface of the lake. The silk envelope was spread out upon the water, and a great cry went up from wstehing Pomp. ‘* Fo’ de Lor’, Maree Frank,” cried the darky, ‘‘ dey am bof ob dem swimminy fo’ all dey is wuflt” This was true. There were two forms in the water below, and they were stragglirg to keep afloat. The lake was large, and there was no possipility that they might swim to the shore. There was no time to lose. ‘* Down—down faster, Barnes!” cried Frank, excitedly. But the Celt needed no urging. The air-eliip was now but three handred feet above the water. Another huodred feet and the rope ladder dangled in the water. The two swimmers saw it and nfade for it. The next moment both were drawn on board, not much the worse for their involuntary bath. The maniac seeme) as intelligent and lucid as his companion. ‘* God be praiaed, we are saveu!” he cried. And then be passed a hand across his forehead, gazing about bim io a dazed way. ‘* Bot what is all this? he exclaimed, vaguely. or ie it reality?” ‘* It ie reality, Heory Haines:” said his companion, gripping his hand. ‘* Poor fellow, you bave been through a good deal. You prob- ably are not aware of the fuct that you were temporarily a madman up there in the air and came bear taking my life!” ** My God: do not tell me that!” groaned the restored madman. ‘“‘Iuistrue. If I hado’t rapped you on the head pretty hard you would have thrown me oat of the balloon!” ‘- God forgive me! I have no recollection of it, Allan Gray. It must have been the rorefied air and the pressure up there!” “That was it,” replied Allan Gray; ‘* but we have , 80 let us congratulate ourselves, i think this will end our ballooning expe- riences.’ ‘* Reverse the lever on the switch- ‘* Am I dreaming ** God grant it may!” _ de, Jr., had listened with interest and now anderstood He knew that the preasure upon the brain in upper air stratem ve. often caused temporary aberration of mind. is no doubt was what had overtaken Henry Haines, the aeronaat. He was once more himself, however, as could be plainly seen. ‘¢ Then your companion is not a confirmed madman? asked Frank, as he shook handa with Gray. **Qh, no,” replied the younger aeronont. ‘‘ You understand how it was. Bat I beg pardon. Allow me to introduce myself. Iam Allan Gray, Professor of Latin und (Greek in the Western University of Ethics and Science. This my co-luborer, Dr. Henry Haines.” ‘* Tam giad to meet you, gentlemen,” said Frank, warmly. ‘‘ Need I introduce myself?” ** We have heard of you, and are well acquainted with your fame as an inventor,” declared Gray, cordially. ‘ But I promised to tell you how we happened in our flight up there so far!” ** Very good!” Fraok. ‘* Tre balloon is of our own conatruction. We have long had in mind this ascension, as we desired much to know the effect of the upper atmosphere upon certain chemicals which we had hoped to per- fect in such mapver as to improve upon our present style of bar- ometers. We were succeeding fairly well, when the valve rope broke and we were unable to descend. Then Halacs went mad. You know the rest. “3 think you may congratulate yourselves upon a fortunate es- cape,” said Frank. ** Indeed we may, and we owe the preservation of our lives to you.” ‘*T am glad to have been able to serve you,” sald Frank, modestly. * Bat what a wonderfal invention tnis is! Truly you are a genias, COnnicboooks (CO