Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 FRANK READE JR.'S ELECTRIC AIR CANOE, SS ES SD However, be ventured to make no farther demur and Barney diew @ bead upoo one of the deer and fired. The shot was true. The animal leaped into the air and fell dead. ‘¢ Wharroo!” cried Barney, triumphantly. shot I med. Wad yez luk at that, puygur. aotlers to pay fer it.” Pomp’s eyes twinkled. He had long been waiting for a chance to get square with Barney for the whitewash trick played upon him. He believed that the chance was now offered. He kept bis own counsel, while Barney proceeded to lower the ship so that he might secure the antlers. As it bappened, Frank was asleep in the cabin. This the Celt believed was an opportunity not to be despised of baving a little fun. Down settled the Air Canoe, and rested upon the ground near the epot where lay the deer. Barney, with huntiog-knife in hand, sprang to the rail. la another moment he went over and started for the deer. , It required but a moment or two for him to rip off the deer’s ant- ers. Pomp in the meanwinle bad not been idle. He had sneaked into the cabin and broaght a wire oat. This he hitched to the rail and connected with the dynamos. The current thas waa sent iuto the rail. Pomp was not foolish enough to give the fall current. It was a nice little dose prepared for Barney. The Celt bad procured his antlera, and now started to return to the air-sbip. ‘¢ Beyorra, wud yez luk at the loikes av thim!” he cried triusapbantly, waiving the antlers aloft. *¢ Dey am jes’ fine, alu’ dey, I’ish?” said Pomp. ‘* Yez kin bet on that, naygur!” *¢Wha’ yo’ do wid ’em?” ‘*Didn’t I tell yez? Shure lll put them up over the door av me castle in ould Ireland.” ** Yo’ mean yo’ shanty, Dish!” ‘¢Whiaht now, gossoon! I'd have yez undherstand that Barney O’Shea was niver born in a shanty.” Pomp looked incredalous. But Barney now reached the rail and started to spring over it. The next moment he was sorry for the attempt. He placed his hand apon the iron and received the full force of the current. It was simply tremendous. He was burled back like a puppet and lay upon the ground count- ing shooting stars. ‘ Ow-ouch! Divil take it!” he yelled in agony. ‘‘ Shure it’s kilt I am!” Bat he was a good ways from being kiiied. He recovered quickly and was upon his feet instantly. He saw Pomp convuleed with mirth rolling about the deck. ‘* Ho, ho, bo!” laughed the darky. ‘‘ Dat am jes’ payisg yo’ back fo’ Jo treatment ob me, yo’ big staff. Dat am squar’ wid de white- wash!” A madder Irishman than Barney was never seen. ** Be me sowl, did yez play that thrick upon me?” he yelled. av the scalp av vez for that!” ‘* Huh! don’ vo’ fink yo’sef so smabt, Tish!” ‘* Begorra, ye'll ace!” Barney made a rueli for the rail. He cleared it at a bound and reached the deck. There was no doubt but that he would have tackled Pomp roughly bat for an incident. Frank Reade, Jr., appeared in the cabin door. *¢ What is all this?’ cried the young inventor, sternly ; ‘‘ what do you mean by this kind of work?” Barney and Pomp melted. Pomp disconnected the wire, and Barney iaid the antlers on the deck in mate explanation. Frank was haif tempted tu smile, but instead said firmly: ** Don’t ever dare to descend without my orders again. great risk jo doing so.” * A’right, sab!” said Pomp, sneaking into the pilot-house. The Air Canoe once more sprang aloft and continued on her journey. As the days passed now they began to draw rapidly near that region where | Frank believed that he would find the famous Valley of Dia- mon One day with a ginss he sighted a distant range of hills and made a startling statement. ‘If Tam right yonder is the Valley of Pythons!” he declared, ‘‘ and that beyond it ie the Valley of Diamonds.” Barney and Pomp were at once all excitement. Of course they were eager to reach their destination, and the Air Canoe was put to fall speed. Soon they passed over a mighty deep gorge between rocky mouat- ain heights and entered a broad valiev. PR ad Air Canoe thas far bad performed the journey ia rare good on. Barney now, however, came up from the cabin and sald: “ bers, Misther Frank. the wather je nigh out of the storage jars. Share, wouldn’t it be better to fill thim at wanst?” ‘““Sbure, it’s a foine Shure, now. I'll bave me “Pil There is “ Why, of course!” cried the young ioventor. ‘It must be do. once!” An alarming cry came from Pomp at this moment. CHAPTER VII. IN THE PYTHONS VALLEY. THE cry given by Pomp was one of great alarm. But it was not necessary for bim to explain bis alarm, for the cause was at once made uppareut to the others. The Air Canoe had seemed to lose its headway and had begun to eink down to the earth. ‘* We are falling!” cried Frank. ‘* What is the matter?’ He rushed into the dynamo room. It was easy to see. The dynamoe did not work. What was the trouble? Frank guessed at once that it was on account of the empty storage ars. However, no harm could be done if the Air Canoe did not strike the earth too hard. But it seemed to settle gradually. The rotascopes kept up sufficient motion to steady the ship. Down went the aerial vessel and rested upon an open space of g”ount in the verge o! a dense growth of trees. Here the Air Canoe rested safe and secure. With joy Frauk saw a deep brook near from which to get water to repleoish the jars. ‘‘Golly, Marse Frank!” cried Pomp, with wide, open eyes. ‘‘ We'se jee’ in good luck dis time!” ‘* You are right!” agreed Frank; ‘* bat come, there is work for us all to do, and we must get about it.” The two faithfal serviturs needed no urging. A line of hose, connected with a force pump, was led to the waters of the brook. But before water could te pumped, a series of most thrilling inci- dents occurred. Barney was at the edge of the brook with the end of the hoee. Pomp was half way to the Air Canoe. Barney thrast the end of the hose into the brook. He was ubout to rise when he stepped upon what be thought was a long palmetto log. The Celt’s surprise was beyond expression when the supposed log ylelded and suddenly became a aquirming, live body. A great brown body rose in the air and threw itself into mighty coils. ‘Tare an’ ‘ounds!” shrieked the sstounded and terrified Celt. ‘It isashnake! Cure it’s kiltl am. Help—heilp!” Barney made a dive for the Air Canoe, Bat the hage python, for such it was, threw out a coil and caught him. In a trice Barney was lifted from bis feet, felt his riba cracking and saw the snake's huge jawa over him. The poor fellow shrieked with terror and despair. Pomp was so dazed and horrified that he could not act. But at that opportune moment Frank came on deck. He saw the situation. At once he cried: ‘‘Keep quiet, Barney. Don’t try to make a movel” The Celt heard Frank’s voice. **Save me, Misther Frank!” he cried. ‘Share, it’s the ind av me!” ‘¢ Have courage!” shouted Frank, and quick as a flash he threw his Winchester to his shoulder. He knew that it was a fine shot, and that only a chance of very narrow kind would save the Celt. Bat he did not hesitate to make it. He aimed straight at the huge serpent’s head. Crack! The bullet sped on its way. Instantly the tables turned. i The ball struck the serpent’s head and reduced it to a vulgar frac- tion. There was a convulsive plunge and Jeap of the coils. Barney felt himself freed and sprang away. But the headless coils of the snake went twisting away into a pile of bulrashes. No sooner had it struck the bulrashes, however, when the clamp seemed alive with twisting bodies. Oat intu the open abot a huge python. A second came close behind, and then a third. Three of the monsters were in the open. ‘* Heavens!” gasped Frank. ‘I nover saw such a den of snakes!” Barney had just clambered aboard the Air Canoe. Pomp had his rifle ready and drew aim apon one of the pythons. ‘* We are ludeed in the Python Valley,” cried Frank. ‘ Did you ever see 6O many snakes before?’ ‘* Look out dar!’ cried Pomp. ‘ Vse jes’ gwine to smash dat chap a! de aller body!” The darky’s rifle spoke. But bis alm had not been as good as Frank’s. The bullet struck the python bat not ite head. a. woun The ball plowed into the reptile’s body and ai an COMMUCLOOO) KSaGO