Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ranks. SIX WEEKS With the greatest of zest Barney was rendering a genuine break- down, and the. Klamaths, who had never seen anything of the kind be- fore, were more than interested. In their stoical way, they smoked their pipes and applauded in gut- tural tones. The greatest difficulty for Barney seemed to be, however, that the Indiaus could not seem to get enough of the thing. He was Kept at it hammer and tongs, and when he seemed disposed to pause, one of the party would prod him with the point of a spear. “« Bejabers, phwat do yez take me fer—an Eyetalian hand organ?” cried Barney, finally breaking down from sheer exhaustion. ‘ Shure [’'m not a perpetual motion mact:ine, Ow—ouch!” One of the Klamaths had pricked him with a spear. doubled up. The others roared with laughter. The I[riahman saw the point, and his combative spirit was aroused. Quick as a flash he hit out from the shoulder, and the fellow with the spear went dawn like a log. To the surprise of the three epectators in the outer passage the other Klamaths seemed to treat this as a joke and only laughed and applauded the more. Even the three white friends of the Celt were constrained to smile, though they trembled for his safety. ‘¢ Good for Barney!” muttered Warden. scamp!”’ ‘‘ But I fear for Barney now!” said Charlie, apprehensively. ‘+ Stand ready!” said Frank, cocking his rifle, ‘‘ we may have to shoot quick!” The savage knocked down by Barney now gained his feet, and made a savage rush at the Celt. Barney promptly knocked him down again. At this several of the Klamaths rushed upon the Irishman with uplifted tomahawks. The crisis had come. ‘¢ Pick your men!” cried Frank. Crack-ack! Crash! The rifles spoke, and the explosive shells striking in the midst of the Klamath crew created havoc. Four of the savages were instantly killed. The effect upon the oth- ers was exciting. Instantly they were upon their feet, the personification of surprise and fury. They huddled together, seemingly for 2 moment undecided as to which way to turn. This was just the opportunity Frank wanted. ‘¢Now, boys,” he cried, ‘‘give it to them again!” Crack, crack, boom! Again the explosive Shells plowed their way through the Klamath This was quite enough for the savages. They broke for cover at once. Into the depths of the cavern chamber they fled, for the moment out of range. But the point was gained and Frank Reade, Jr., did not care to carry the war further. Barney had astutely divined the situation and in the confusion had made his escape and was now with his friends. It ia needless to aay that he was warmly welcomed. ‘* Begorra, Misther Frank,” he cried, excitedly, ‘‘shure yez cum jist in toime! They wuce have burned me at the stake a bit later.” ‘Did you think we’d go home and leave you in this fix?” asked Frank. ‘¢ Divil a bit av it, sor. Shure, I was on the lookout for yez.” ‘¢ Well, how are our chances, Barney? Are there many of the red men in the cave?” ‘ Bejabers, there’s a raft av thim!” cried Barney, excitedly. ‘¢Shure, sor, I’m afther thinkin’ the best we can do is to get out of bere at wanst, sor.” ‘«T agree with you,” declared Frank. air-ship.” All now set out rapidly down the passage. was called to a halt. This was caused by the sudden sound of the telegraph in his pocket. He drew the instrument out and read this communication: ‘‘ Look out! half a hundred of the savages are in the passage. tried to stop them and killed a score of them, but they got by us.” ‘* Mercy!” cried I'rank, excitedly; ‘‘there is danger for us! What shall we do?” To face the crew of fifty armed Klamaths seemed madness, in spite of the explosive rifles and the bullet-proof armor. The Klamaths earried heavy axes, which in a close struggle would, no doubt, batter the armor wearers into insensibilitv. What was to be done? ‘¢To go back into the cavern chamher seemed fully as bad. They were hemmed in upon all sides. The situation certainly looked very dubious. But there was little time for retlection. Something must be done and at once. Barney. * ‘* How is it, Barney?” necried. ‘* You ought to know something about affairs here. Are there any other modes of exit?’ ‘Oh, yes, sor,” replied the Celt. ‘* Shure, the hill is full of holes and corners and corridors like. Shure, sor, I was not brought here this way at all.” ** Indeed!” cried Frank. ‘In what way then?” ‘*T think I can foind it if yez will follow me.” ‘Go ahead!” The Celt was ‘¢T hope he has killed the ‘“Take those nearest Barney!’ This put them «Then let us return to the But suddenly Frank We Frank turned in despair to IN THE CLOUDS. SS 13 Barney needed no second bidding. Back he went to the cavern chamder. He pointed across this. ‘¢ Shure, it’s over there,” he cried. ‘* Will we thry it?” Frank was about to answer in the affirmative when Barney dodged back. He was just in time to escape a shower of arrows which came rattling into the passage. Some of these struck Frank and Warden. would have been seriously wounded. Ag it was, however, the arrows rattled off harmlessly. It was now a question as to whether it would be safe to try the other passage of exit. Those wearing armor had uothing to fear. But Barney would be almost sure to be hit by the bulleta or arrows of the foe. Frank, however, hit upon a plan. ‘‘ Here, Barney!” he cried. ‘‘ You get behind us. pose our bodies between you and the savages,” The idea looked feasible enough. Keeping well in the shadow of the further side of the amphitheater the four white men started for the other passage cf exit. But the Klamaths had evidently foreseen this purpoge and had pro- vided for it. They massed themselves therein great numbers and Frank saw be- fore half the distance had been covered that it wus going to be trouble- some to force a way through. Indeed he was obliged to halt and open fire upon the foe. What made matters all the more complicated now was the appear- ance of the Klamaths in the passage they had just left. The situa- tion was thrilling. They were hemmed in on all sides. cape. Charlie Allen was deadly pale and gasped: ‘‘My God! are we destined to die thus like rats in a trap?” ‘* No!” cried Frank, forcibly. ‘* We must fight our way out!” With which he sent a shell into the midst of he red foe. Had the battle been carried on thus at a distance il was easy to see that the piee eo wouldjhave had the best of it so long as their ammucition lastec But the Klamaths seemed to realize that their great hope wag to bring the battle to close quarters. So” they made a charge upon their white foe! ment for our friends, Had Barney possessed weapons it would have made things more even. But le had nota cudgel. Iudeed he was obliged to keep behind the three mail clad men to avoid being instantly “killed. Frank, Warden and Charlie kept up a hot fire. Before it the Kla- maths fell like sheep. But the places of these that fell seemed in- stantly to be filled by others. Thus the fight waged for some while with no appreciable advantage upon either side. But now a chill cume over Frank. He knew that their ammunition was getlirg low, and that in such an event the end would come quickly. Something desperate must be done and at once. The young invertor was not long in adopting a plan. He communi- cated his idea to the others and it was carried out. ‘‘Keep close to the wall!” he directed, ‘*we must work our way along step by step and force the enemy back until we reach the pas- sage, a The scheme proved a good one. But even then the fate of the party would have been undoubtedly sealed had it not been for aid from an. Other quarter. Back on the air-ship the knowledge of the dangerous position of those in the cavern had excited them creatly. Pomp was almost beside himseif. ‘‘] done fink I mus’ go to help dem, fo’ suah!” he cried, excitedly. ‘Dey mus’ hab help from some one!” ‘« By all means go!” pleaded Hattie, who was convulsed with ter- ror. ‘Oh, do not let them die iu such a manner!” ‘¢ But I jes’ don’ Know what to do about de air-ship.” ‘« Leave it with me!” cried Hattie. ‘* Go, all of you!” Pomp was reflective a moment. He knew that he was the only one safe to remain with the air-sbip. Yet if it was anchored it would be all safe in Hattie’s charge mute they returned, provided that it was not attacked. It was a hard problem for the faithful darky to solve. He was more than anxious to go to the aid of his friends, but yet he disliked to disobey orders ard leave the air-ship. However, it was a question of the air-ship or his voung master’s life. Pomp at once decided. ‘* Jes’ yo’ get yo’ guns!” he cried, turning to Denham and the Rev. Schuyler Wall. ‘' We’s jes’ gwine to go to the rescue ob Marse Frank an’ don’ yo’ fo’git it!” But for their armor they We will inter- There seemed no avenue of es- It was a critical mo- CHAPTER XII. HATTIE BECOMES A HEROINE, ALTHOUGH not aman of warlike propensittes, the Rev. Schuyler Wall was willing to gird on his armor and for once forego his profes sion to indulge in battle which he felt assured was for the right. Rifles were brought, and the three men were ready to go to the rescue. Hattie was pale but very resolute, connicbooe (Cc <S (SO