Frank Reade Library, No. 15 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

FRANK READE JR.'S ELECTRIC AIR CANOE. — Tre huge serpent, full forty feet in length, reared in the air, hissed ly, and started for the Air Canoe. The attack of the python was no light matter to our voyagers. That buge glistening body weigh of tre ous strength. If it should strike the air-ship fall tilt the effect might be serious. All three of the explorers sprang for the cauvin. Rusbing in, they flung the door abut. Frank tarred it. : He well knew the danger. If any of the pythons came aboard of the Air Canoe, there was no doubt but that a bloody batile must ensue. Frank rashed to a porthole and fired another shot at the oncoming snake, Bat it did not check it. Oo came the python like a veritable thunderbolt. It struck the air-sbip’s rail with a shock which shook it from stem to stern. All three of the inmates of the cabin were thrown ftom their feet. Frauvk was at the porthole quickly thougb, and fired point blank at the reptile. The shot told. The monster's backbone was disintegrated, and it lay upon the deck unable to move. ‘* Whurroo!” cried Barney. bastes!” But Frank Reade, Jr., gave a gasping cry. ** My God!” be cried. ‘ Will you see them come? How many of the reptiles are there, anyway?’ There was good cause for the young inventor's exclamation. Fiom the bulrashes, from a clump of trees near the mountain side and from a jangle near, fully half a score of the pythons had appeared. Some of them were of enormous size. They seemed to have been attracted by the rifle shots. The situation was a thrilling one. * My soul!” gasped Frank, ‘‘ there is no doubt but that we are in the valley of the pythons!” He realized that Jasper White had not enlarged upon the tratb The position of our voyagers was now a most serious one. In order to leave the spot the storage jurs must be replenished. To do this it was necessary to procure water. To get water one of them must venture from the cabin. This it seemed most dangerous to do. What was to be done? Frauk realized thut they were likely to be kept here an indefinite **Shure it’s oursilves as kin lick the period, 4 half-ecore of the monster pythons was no light obstacle for them to face. To venture from the cabin seemed almost certain death. But something bad got to be done and at once. . ane was rapidly slipping away, and darkness would soon be at ap In vain the young invertor tried to conjure up a plan. The pythons came about the Air Canoe, hissing savagely, and seem- ingly longing to get at the inmates. ** I don’t think we will venture out,” said Frank, as if talking to the snakes. ‘‘ Ry the way, Barney, did you place the end of the hose in the brook” ‘* I did, yer kin bet,’”’ replied Barney. ‘* Then we ought to be able to oat water,” said Frank, brasquely. The young Inventor boldly risked a turn at the pump on deck. Water came, and Frank caused several bucketsful to be carried into the cabin. Some of the jars were filled. But yet there was aot enough of the subtie force to operate the Air Canoe'’s machinery. Also by this time the pythons had seen Frank, and seemed disposed to attack him. Frank was obliged to retire to the cabin again. What was to be done? It was useless to think of a wholesale slaughter of the snakes. This would have been an undertaking of a gigantic sort. Had it been a pack of wolves, or tigers even, it would not have been difficult to terrify them and drive them away. But the snakes knew nothing of the word fear. They came swarming about the Air Canoe in vast, squirming masses. Several of them crawled across the deck. Their tremendous weight made the joints of the aerial vessel creak and strain sorely. ‘* Bejabers, av yez cad. get a chance, Misther Frank, it wad be a foine thing to give ‘em the contints av the dynamite gun*” — right, Barney!” agreed Frank, ‘‘but I don’t see the chance!” ‘* Share, av we cud ooly git up enuff av a current aither, we moight give thim a bit av a shock!” ** You're right!” cried Frank. band Boron “on hry { 66 rra, et’s ry oe *¢ All right, Barney!” - Bat before they could make a move to do this a loud cry came from ‘om ‘¢Ob, Marse Frank!” cried the darky. ‘* Fo’ de Lor sakes wud yo jes’ come yar. Here am de funniest ting yo’ ebber see!” Frank Reade, Jr., lost no time in obeyirg. ‘TI think we can generate enoogh by enormously and was possessed | sights he © sprang to the loophole at which Pomp stood. Frank gee th ouch the le hole and bebeld one of the strangest rou @ loop an one ever seen in his life. CHAPTER VIII. THE GORILLA. It was traly a strange sight which the young inventor bebeld. The air was filled with a strange squealing noise. The pythons seemed sil in a state of anrest and excitemen‘. Those on the air-ship’s deck glided otf, and Frank was astounded to see some of them making for the cover of tho jungle pcet haste. The explanation of this, however, was close at band. into the clearing there bad swung a vast berd of carious little anl- mals. They looked very much like pigs, but ran like squirrels over the groun Frank knew at once what they were. He understood all. They were peccaries. These curious little animals are a terror in their way. Woe to the luckless traveler or animal who gete in their path when once they start to run. The peccary is of the swine family, and these are all known as the implacable enemy of the snake. The huge pythons were no objects of terror to the peccaries. No python was ever yet known to crash a peccary in its folds. The iittle animale are too spry and agile and have such fearful razor like tusks that they would make mince maat of a snake instanter. Frank Reade, Jr., knew this well. “" when he saw the peccaries coming be kuew thoir slegs Was at a& end. Down into the clearing came the jes. There seamed a thousand of them In the drove. Nothing could stand before them. Sach of the pythons as stood their ground met aswift fate. In legs than two minutes after the peccaries had struck the snake scarcely a vestige of it could be seen anywhere. With their fearful sharp jaws they had torn the reptiles to pieces with the swiftness and ease of a mince meat chopper. Down through the glade went the flying peccaries. In a twiokling they were out of aight. But not a python was lef* on the scene. Tbe peccaries had cleaned them out completely. It bad been a wonderful sight, and the spectators never forgot it. ‘¢Wharroo!” cried Barney. ‘* Did iver yez see the loikes av that? Shure thim little pigs are jist loike the koind that run wild in ould Ire- land!” ‘‘ Easy, Barney!” said Frank, with a laugh; ‘‘bat come, let us get out of this infamous place.” ‘Dat am what I say, Marse Frank,” cried Pomp. The darky rushed out on deck and began work with the pane Barney joined him, and in a short while the jars were filled. Soon the dyoamos were once more working, aud all was in readi- ness to start. Frank lost no time. He had no desire to stay longer in the valley of the pythons. *¢ The diamond vulley next!” he cried. The Air Ship rose once more finaty the air. thon valley went the air-ehip. Very soon the entrance tu the valley end was reached. It was a deep pass between high walls of stone. The alr-ship passed over it and hovered over the Valley of Dia- monds. At last the Mecca of their pilgrimage bad been reached. The voy- agers were t to begin work. There certainly was a large stream which flowed through the val- Down through the py- Ve By other points Frank also recognized it as the spot for which they had been searching. The young inventor viewed the scene with varied emotions. ‘* Indeed!” he exclaimed; ‘‘ it is just such a spot as I should have imagined for a diamond mine!” ‘* Begorra, it luks to me very much loike a howling wilderness,” asserted Barney. ‘© Of course!” agreed Frank; * but it is in just a wilderness that precious stones and miuerals are found. Louk at the Kimberly mines, for example.” Barney said no more. Frank decided upon a spot to land, and the air-ship slowly settled down upon the earth. It was a level spot not far from the stream. This latter was quite a torrent, rushing down over rocks ut a rapid rate, ** Now for work!” cried Frank, as he emerged from the cabin with a pick-ax aad light spade. ‘'Come, Barney and Pomp, let as see how true this story of the existence of diamonds is.” “ All right, sor,” cried Barney. Both followed Frank over the rail. The Air Canoe was securely anchored. There was little chance for it to get away, and the young inventor felt safe enough in leaving it. The rai} had been cleverly charged with electricity. COMIC OOO Ss (CO