The Master Key

by L. Frank Baum

  Having found that he moved more swiftly when farthest from the earth'ssurface, because the air was more rarefied and offered less resistance,Rob mounted upwards until the islands of Japan were mere specks visiblethrough the clear, sunny atmosphere.

  Then he began his eastward flight, the broad surface of the Pacificseeming like a blue cloud far beneath him.

  _CHAPTER SIXTEEN_

  SHIPWRECKED MARINERS

  Ample proof of Rob's careless and restless nature having beenfrankly placed before the reader in these pages, you will doubtlessbe surprised when I relate that during the next few hours our younggentleman suffered from a severe attack of homesickness, becoming asgloomy and unhappy in its duration as ever a homesick boy could be.

  It may have been because he was just then cut off from all hisfellow-creatures and even from the world itself; it may have beenbecause he was satiated with marvels and with the almost absolutecontrol over the powers which the Demon had conferred upon him; or itmay have been because he was born and reared a hearty, healthy Americanboy, with a disposition to battle openly with the world and take hischances equally with his fellows, rather than be placed in such anexclusive position that no one could hope successfully to oppose him.

  Perhaps he himself did not know what gave him this horrible attack of"the blues," but the truth is he took out his handkerchief and criedlike a baby from very loneliness and misery.

  There was no one to see him, thank goodness! and the tears gave himconsiderable relief. He dried his eyes, made an honest struggle toregain his cheerfulness, and then muttered to himself:

  "If I stay up here, like an air-bubble in the sky, I shall certainly gocrazy. I suppose there's nothing but water to look at down below, butif I could only sight a ship, or even see a fish jump, it would do meno end of good."

  Thereupon he descended until, as the ocean's surface came nearer andnearer, he discovered a tiny island lying almost directly underneathhim. It was hardly big enough to make a dot on the biggest map, but aclump of trees grew in the central portion, while around the edges werejagged rocks protecting a sandy beach and a stretch of flower-strewnupland leading to the trees.

  It looked very beautiful from Rob's elevated position, and his spiritsbrightened at once.

  "I'll drop down and pick a bouquet," he exclaimed, and a few momentslater his feet touched the firm earth of the island.

  But before he could gather a dozen of the brilliant flowers a gladshout reached his ears, and, looking up, he saw two men running towardshim from the trees.

  They were dressed in sailor fashion, but their clothing was reduced torags and scarcely clung to their brown, skinny bodies. As they advancedthey waved their arms wildly in the air and cried in joyful tones:

  "A boat! a boat!"

  Rob stared at them wonderingly, and had much ado to prevent the poorfellows from hugging him outright, so great was their joy at hisappearance. One of them rolled upon the ground, laughing and cryingby turns, while the other danced and cut capers until he became soexhausted that he sank down breathless beside his comrade.

  "How came you here?" then inquired the boy, in pitying tones.

  "We're shipwrecked American sailors from the bark 'Cynthia Jane,'which went down near here over a month ago," answered the smallest andthinnest of the two. "We escaped by clinging to a bit of wreckage andfloated to this island, where we have nearly starved to death. Indeed,we now have eaten everything on the island that was eatable, and hadyour boat arrived a few days later you'd have found us lying dead uponthe beach!"

  Rob listened to this sad tale with real sympathy.

  "But I didn't come here in a boat," said he.

  The men sprang to their feet with white, scared faces.

  "No boat!" they cried; "are you, too, shipwrecked?"

  "No;" he answered. "I flew here through the air." And then he explainedto them the wonderful electric traveling machine.

  But the sailors had no interest whatever in the relation. Theirdisappointment was something awful to witness, and one of them laid hishead upon his comrade's shoulder and wept with unrestrained grief, soweak and discouraged had they become through suffering.

  The disappointment of the sailors was something awful towitness]

  Suddenly Rob remembered that he could assist them, and took the box ofconcentrated food tablets from his pocket.

  "Eat these," he said, offering one to each of the sailors.

  At first they could not understand that these small tablets wouldbe able to allay the pangs of hunger; but when Rob explained theirvirtues the men ate them greedily. Within a few moments they were sogreatly restored to strength and courage that their eyes brightened,their sunken cheeks flushed, and they were able to converse with theirbenefactor with calmness and intelligence.

  Then the boy sat beside them upon the grass and told them the story ofhis acquaintance with the Demon and of all his adventures since he hadcome into possession of the wonderful electric contrivances. In hispresent mood he felt it would be a relief to confide in some one, andso these poor, lonely men were the first to hear his story.

  When he related the manner in which he had clung to the Turk while bothascended into the air, the elder of the two sailors listened with raptattention, and then, after some thought, asked:

  "Why couldn't you carry one or both of us to America?"

  Rob took time seriously to consider this idea, while the sailors eyedhim with eager interest. Finally he said:

  "I'm afraid I couldn't support your weight long enough to reach anyother land. It's a long journey, and you'd pull my arms out of jointbefore we'd been up an hour."

  Their faces fell at this, but one of them said:

  "Why couldn't we swing ourselves over your shoulders with a rope? Ourtwo bodies would balance each other and we are so thin and emaciatedthat we do not weigh very much."

  While considering this suggestion Rob remembered how at one time fivepirates had clung to his left leg and been carried some distancethrough the air.

  "Have you a rope?" he asked.

  "No," was the answer; "but there are plenty of long, tough vinesgrowing on the island that are just as strong and pliable as ropes."

  "Then, if you are willing to run the chances," decided the boy, "I willmake the attempt to save you. But I must warn you that in case I find Ican not support the weight of your bodies I shall drop one or both ofyou into the sea."

  They looked grave at this prospect, but the biggest one said:

  "We would soon meet death from starvation if you left us here on theisland; so, as there is at least a chance of our being able to escapein your company I, for one, am willing to risk being drowned. It iseasier and quicker than being starved. And, as I'm the heavier, Isuppose you'll drop me first."

  "Certainly," declared Rob, promptly.

  This announcement seemed to be an encouragement to the little sailor,but he said, nervously:

  "I hope you'll keep near the water, for I haven't a good head forheights--they always make me dizzy."

  "Oh, if you don't want to go," began Rob, "I can easily----"

  "But I do! I do! I do!" cried the little man, interrupting him. "Ishall die if you leave me behind!"

  "Well, then, get your ropes, and we'll do the best we can," said theboy.

  They ran to the trees, around the trunks of which were clinging manytendrils of greenish-brown vine which possessed remarkable strength.With their knives they cut a long section of this vine, the ends ofwhich were then tied into loops large enough to permit the sailors tosit in them comfortably. The connecting piece Rob padded with seaweedgathered from the shore, to prevent its cutting into his shoulders.

  "Now, then," he said, when all was ready, "take your places."

  The sailors squatted in the loops, and Rob swung the vine over hisshoulders and turned the indicator of the traveling machine to "up."

  As they slowly mounted into the sky the little sailor gave a squeal ofterror and clung to the boy's arm; but the other, although seeminglyanx
ious, sat quietly in his place and made no trouble.

  "D--d--don't g--g--go so high!" stammered the little one, tremblingly;"suppose we should f--f--fall!"

  "Well, s'pose we should?" answered Rob, gruffly. "You couldn't drownuntil you struck the water, so the higher we are the longer you'll livein case of accident."

  This phase of the question seemed to comfort the frightened fellowsomewhat; but, as he said, he had not a good head for heights, and socontinued to tremble in spite of his resolve to be brave.

  The weight on Rob's shoulders was not so great as he had feared, thetraveling machine seeming to give a certain lightness and buoyancy toeverything that came into contact with its wearer.

  As soon as he had reached a sufficient elevation to admit of good speedhe turned the indicator once more to the east and began moving rapidlythrough the air, the shipwrecked sailors dangling at either side.

  "This is aw--aw--awful!" gasped the little one.

  "Say, you shut up!" commanded the boy, angrily. "If your friend was asbig a coward as you are I'd drop you both this minute. Let go my armand keep quiet, if you want to reach land alive."

  The fellow whimpered a little, but managed to remain silent for severalminutes. Then he gave a sudden twitch and grabbed Rob's arm again.

  "S'pose--s'pose the vine should break!" he moaned, a horrified lookupon his face.

  "I've had about enough of this," said Rob, savagely. "If you haven'tany sense you don't deserve to live." He turned the indicator on thedial of the machine and they began to descend rapidly.

  The little fellow screamed with fear, but Rob paid no attention to himuntil the feet of the two suspended sailors were actually dipping intothe waves, when he brought their progress to an abrupt halt.

  "Wh--wh--what are you g--g--going to do?" gurgled the cowardly sailor.

  "I'm going to feed you to the sharks--unless you promise to keep yourmouth shut," retorted the boy. "Now, then; decide at once! Which willit be--sharks or silence?"

  "I won't say a word--'pon my honor, I won't!" said the sailor,shudderingly.

  "All right; remember your promise and we'll have no further trouble,"remarked Rob, who had hard work to keep from laughing at the man'sabject terror.

  Once more he ascended and continued the journey, and for several hoursthey rode along swiftly and silently. Rob's shoulders were beginning toache with the continued tugging of the vine upon them, but the thoughtthat he was saving the lives of two unfortunate fellow-creatures gavehim strength and courage to persevere.

  Night was falling when they first sighted land; a wild and seeminglyuninhabited stretch of the American coast. Rob made no effort to selecta landing place, for he was nearly worn out with the strain and anxietyof the journey. He dropped his burden upon the brow of a high bluffoverlooking the sea and, casting the vine from his shoulders, fell tothe earth exhausted and half fainting.

  _CHAPTER SEVENTEEN_

  THE COAST OF OREGON

  When he had somewhat recovered, Rob sat up and looked around him. Theelder sailor was kneeling in earnest prayer, offering grateful thanksfor his escape from suffering and death. The younger one lay upon theground sobbing and still violently agitated by recollections of thefrightful experiences he had undergone. Although he did not show hisfeelings as plainly as the men, the boy was none the less gratified athaving been instrumental in saving the lives of two fellow-beings.

  The darkness was by this time rapidly enveloping them, so Rob askedhis companions to gather some brushwood and light a fire, which theyquickly did. The evening was cool for the time of year, and the heatfrom the fire was cheering and grateful; so they all lay near theglowing embers and fell fast asleep.

  The sound of voices aroused Rob next morning, and on opening his eyesand gazing around he saw several rudely dressed men approaching. Thetwo shipwrecked sailors were still sound asleep.

  Rob stood up and waited for the strangers to draw near. They seemed tobe fishermen, and were much surprised at finding three people asleepupon the bluff.

  "Whar 'n thunder'd ye come from?" asked the foremost fisherman, in asurprised voice.

  "From the sea," replied the boy. "My friends here are shipwreckedsailors from the 'Cynthia Jane.'"

  "But how'd ye make out to climb the bluff?" inquired a secondfisherman; "no one ever did it afore, as we knows on."

  "Oh, that is a long story," replied the boy, evasively.

  The two sailors had awakened and now saluted the new-comers. Soon theywere exchanging a running fire of questions and answers.

  "Where are we?" Rob heard the little sailor ask.

  "Coast of Oregon," was the reply. "We're about seven miles from PortOrford by land an' about ten miles by sea."

  "Do you live at Port Orford?" inquired the sailor.

  "That's what we do, friend; an' if your party wants to join us we'll doour best to make you comf'table, bein' as you're shipwrecked an' needhelp."

  Just then a loud laugh came from another group, where the elder sailorhad been trying to explain Rob's method of flying through the air.

  "Laugh all you want to," said the sailor, sullenly; "it's true--ev'ryword of it!"

  "Mebbe you think it, friend," answered a big, good-natured fisherman;"but it's well known that shipwrecked folks go crazy sometimes, an'imagine strange things. Your mind seems clear enough in other ways, soI advise you to try and forget your dreams about flyin'."

  Rob now stepped forward and shook hands with the sailors.

  "I see you have found friends," he said to them, "so I will leave youand continue my journey, as I'm in something of a hurry."

  Both sailors began to thank him profusely for their rescue, but he cutthem short.

  "That's all right. Of course I couldn't leave you on that island tostarve to death, and I'm glad I was able to bring you away with me."

  "But you threatened to drop me into the sea," remarked the littlesailor, in a grieved voice.

  "So I did," said Rob, laughing; "but I wouldn't have done it for theworld--not even to have saved my own life. Good-by!"

  He turned the indicator and mounted skyward, to the unbounded amazementof the fishermen, who stared after him with round eyes and wide openmouths.

  "This sight will prove to them that the sailors are not crazy," hethought, as he turned to the south and sped away from the bluff."I suppose those simple fishermen will never forget this wonderfuloccurrence, and they'll probably make reg'lar heroes of the two men whohave crossed the Pacific through the air."

  He followed the coast line, keeping but a short distance above theearth, and after an hour's swift flight reached the city of SanFrancisco.

  His shoulders were sore and stiff from the heavy strain upon them ofthe previous day, and he wished more than once that he had some of hismother's household liniment to rub them with. Yet so great was hisdelight at reaching once more his native land that all discomforts werespeedily forgotten.

  Much as he would have enjoyed a day in the great metropolis of thePacific slope, Rob dared not delay longer than to take a general viewof the place, to note its handsome edifices and to wonder at the throngof Chinese inhabiting one section of the town.

  These things were much more plainly and quickly viewed by Rob fromabove than by threading a way through the streets on foot; for helooked down upon the city as a bird does, and covered miles with asingle glance.

  Having satisfied his curiosity without attempting to alight, he turnedto the southeast and followed the peninsula as far as Palo Alto,where he viewed the magnificent buildings of the university. Changinghis course to the east, he soon reached Mount Hamilton, and, beingattracted by the great tower of the Lick Observatory, he hovered overit until he found he had attracted the excited gaze of its inhabitants,who doubtless observed him very plainly through the big telescope.

  But so unreal and seemingly impossible was the sight witnessed by thelearned astronomers that they have never ventured to make the incidentpublic, although long after the boy had darted away into the east theyargu
ed together concerning the marvelous and incomprehensible vision.Afterward they secretly engrossed the circumstance upon their records,but resolved never to mention it in public, lest their wisdom andveracity should be assailed by the skeptical.

  Meantime Rob rose to a higher altitude, and sped swiftly acrossthe great continent. By noon he sighted Chicago, and after a briefinspection of the place from the air determined to devote at leastan hour to forming the acquaintance of this most wonderful andcosmopolitan city.

  _CHAPTER EIGHTEEN_

  A NARROW ESCAPE

  The Auditorium Tower, where "the weather man" sits to flash hisreports throughout the country, offered an inviting place for the boyto alight. He dropped quietly upon the roof of the great building andwalked down the staircase until he reached the elevators, by meansof which he descended to the ground floor without exciting specialattention.

  The eager rush and hurry of the people crowding the sidewalks impressedRob with the idea that they were all behind time and were tryinghard to catch up. He found it impossible to walk along comfortablywithout being elbowed and pushed from side to side; so a half hour'ssight-seeing under such difficulties tired him greatly. It was abeautiful afternoon, and finding himself upon the Lake Front, Robhunted up a vacant bench and sat down to rest.