Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

FRANK KEADE JR.'S ELECTRIC AIR CANOE. Mir. Reade. In fact, I may safely say, the geolus of the age.” Fravk blushed confasedly at such a direct compliment as this. He proceeded at once to show his visitors over the alr-sbip. The two scientists were delighted. They declared the Air Cunoe the moet wonderful of modern inven- tons. —— gentlemen,” eaid Frank, pleasantly, ‘‘where shall I drop ou ** If I were allowed to follow my own inclination,” sak Gray, ‘1 should beg of you to allow us to travel with you on this wonderfal vo in qaeat of the Valley of Diamonds.” ‘¢] fear that would be impossible,” said Frank, politely. ** Ob, of course! Bat we wish you success, Mr. Reade.” “‘ Thank you.” ** As for that—you may drop us at Stirling, a village at the other end 7 this ae We can make our way home easily from there.” ** Very well!” A short while later the Alr Canoe descended in the vicinity of the small town named, and leave was taken of the scientists. Once more the Air Canoe shot upwards and took ite southward course, No other aeronauts were encountered, and in two days’ time Pomp hted the Galf of Mexico. me bours later they were above this vast body of water. Straight to the southward the air-sbip kept, passing over certain islands of the West Indies. Then one day land was sighted, which Frank detlared to be the coast of Venezuela. The air-ship was here allowed to descend nearer the earth. The rocky coast was revealed, with its aboree ric with tropical verdare. The beat was intense and the voyagers had all donned white linen suite and cork bats. Frank took his bearings, and calculated that they were not far from the mouth of the Orinoco river. wie” were 60 near the estuary of the great river it was decided to bit. Accordingly the air-ship was headed a little to the east, and the coast was followed for one hundred miles or more. Théo the next morning Barney first sighted tbe mouth of the mighty river so near (the equator. A wonderful sigut was spread before the gaze of our voyagers. The delta of the Orinoco preseuted a scene of impressive grandear. Divided into a thousand streame the great river here waters a vust territory, back of which the scenery is us wild and grand as apy bu- man mind could conceive. The air-ship was now headed inland. Several large towns were passed over and in one of these there was a large fort. From this cannon shots were fired upward at the Air Canoe. Bat at that height our voyayers could laugh at this. From what could be seen of the people below, they seemed to have been thrown into a state of the greatest excitement. There was no doubt but that the appearauvce of the air-sbip had a superstitious effect upon them. Frank did not retaliate, for he had no degire to shed human biood. With bia dynamite projectiles he coald bave blown the town to atoms, bat he did not think of such a thing. The air-ship passed on over mighty plantations where negro slaves were at work in gangs. On for a whole day the Air Canoe swiftly sailed. Then civilization was left behind, and a voantry wilder than the haman imagination could picture was encountered. The country pow became more billy and waterfalls became fre- quent. At times small native settlements were seen in the woods below. The air-ship was sailing over the the surface of the river when a thrilling lucident occurred. Across the river, at an angle where it was not very wide, a rope bridge was stretched. The ropes were manofactured of a kind cf fiber or vine which grows in the forest and are very strong and durable. Oftera the South American natives bridge the deepest chasms or most dangerous streams with these ropes. At sight of the rope bridge Barney ave a sharp cry. ‘Shure wad yez lak at the bridge av ropes!” he cried; ‘that’s foine worruk to be shure.” ‘You are right!” cried Frank. ‘‘ But ah—look at that.” A native half naked had started to croes the rope. It wag a female, ana she was balf way across when she chanced to look up and see the air-ship. A yell of terror escaped her lips and she wont off the bridge like a h as e@ Down ioto the water she went with a great splash. Bat this was not all. The moment she struck the water from the shores avout there started @ wyriad savage alligators all eager for a meal. CHAPTER IV. THE WHITE EXILE. Tux fall of the native woman into the water was a matter of little consequence. She could have swam double that diatance to sipre. Bat in the treacherous waters of the river, with the alligators all atoat her, her fate seemed sealed. a tra, it's eaten up she'll be!” cried Barney. ** Golly, you'se right!” cried Pomp. ‘** She must be saved!” declared Frank, with rigid face, ‘¢ down with the rope ladder. Lively! Pomp, you steady the ship.” Barney needed no further bidding. The way he put the rope ladder over the rail was wonderful. Frank e, Jr., sprang to the dynamite gun in the bo w. The native woman bad crawled upon a rock, bot she was by 20 oe out of the way of the alligators, who were comiog for her full cuit. Frank pulled back the alrvaive of the pneamatic gun and seta projectile in the breech. : e took careful aim at a mass of the alligators and pulled the ever. The next moment the projectile struck the water aud raised a col- umn fifty feet in height. Half a dozen dead alligators lay belly upward in the water. Quick as a flaah Frank turned the gun in anvther direction and The effect was the same. It was a slaughter of suurians. The wat-r was red with biood and the bodies of the alligators float- ed everywhere. Meanwhile, Barney had gone down the rope ladder like a monkey. He reached down aud threw one arm about the terrified native woman. ‘¢ Shure, av yez will help yersilfa bit we'll soon git yez out av this ecrape,” cried the Celt. But the native woman was too terrified to heed what was said to ber, nor could she have uncerstood Burney if she had. But Barney lifted her in his powerful arms and yell-d to Pomp. The darky started the Air Canoe forwar:!, and in this manner Bar- ney ana Lis charge were swung across the bosom of the river to the Here the Celt dropped his load and himeelf upon the ground. But the native woman at once fell upon her fuce before her rescuer in the moat abject manner. ‘* Bejabera, yez needn't do that!” cried the Celt, humorously. ‘ Shure it’s not perlite in ye to throw yeallf at a gintleman’s feet. The leddies ln our conuthry don’t do that. 1t’s the other way, begorra.” But the ative woman evidently believed her captor a deity and was bound to pay him homage. Frank from tbe deck saw the situation. He laughed in amusement. e Now is your chance, Barney!” he cried. ‘‘ Why don’t you catch on ‘¢ Share an’ I might av I wasn’t a married man,” cried the Celt. ‘ Share, it’s not ivery man can have the ladies worship bim.” Frank came down the ladder with this, Pomp meanwhile loweriag the Air Canoe. But no sooner had the young Inventor’s feet touched the ground when a startling thing happened. From the undergrowth about full a score of uncouth natives leaped out. Ttey were armed to the teeth. But at sight of the air-ship they all fell upon their faces. ‘* Begorra, it’s a very polite lot av haythins they be, to be shure,” cried parte. ‘* Mebbe |.’s their way av gettin’ acquainted.” ‘*No doubt,” said Frank, with a laagh. Finally one of the notives, evidently tbe chief of the tribe arose, and ventured to approach Frank. He was a white-haired, patriarchal-looking old fellow and wore 8 bage embroidered belt of python’s skin. He jabbered away for a few moments, and then began sign talk. As near as poss'‘ble Frank learned from hia) that they were at the moment in the heart of a dangerous country, and that there were hos- tile tribes near. ‘* Well,” said Frank to Barney, after awhile, ‘‘ we caa galo nothing by staying here. Let us get out!” ‘‘ All roight, sor!” Barney had tarned to go aboard the air-sbip. Bat at that moment a startling thing happened. There came from the woods a wild cry, and into the open sprang @ At firet the voyazers took him for one of the natives. He was dreesed just the same, and his skin exposed for so long te the tropical suns was of nearly the same color. Bat that he was a white man and an American was quickly known. Long matted hair fell down apop his shoulders and a beard upon his breast. He rushed up to Frank, crying wildly: ‘¢One of my own countrymen. God be praised! How glad I am to see you!” ‘« Heavens!” gasped Frank. ‘‘ Who are you?’ ** Well may you ask that question!” cried the nomad. pigh lost my identity in all these years!” ‘* You are a white man?” vee and a native of New York. Are you an American?” “Tam.” **] knew it. My name is Jasper White. I was once a man of wealth in New York City.” ‘¢ But—what are you doing here?” asked Frank, in amasement. so] have COnnicoooks (CO