When Rob had been hugged and kissed by his mother and sisters, an. even Mr. Joslyn had embraced him warmly, he gave them a brief accoun. of his adventures. The story was received with many doubtful looks an. much grave shaking of heads, as was quite natural under the circumstances.
"I hope, my dear son," said the father, "that you have now passe. through enough dangers to last you a lifetime, so that hereafter yo. will be contented to remain at home.""Oh, Robert!" cried his mother, with tears in her loving eyes, "yo. don't know how we've all worried about you for the past week!""A week?" asked Rob, with surprise.
"Yes; it's a week to-morrow morning since you flew into the ai. and disappeared.""Then," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've reached home just in time.""In time for what?" she asked.
But he did not answer that question. He was thinking of the Demon. and that on the afternoon of this very day he might expect the wis. and splendid genius to visit him a second time.
At luncheon, although he did not feel hungry, he joined the family a. the table and pleased his mother by eating as heartily as of old. H. was surprised to find how good the food tasted, and to realize what . pleasure it is to gratify one's sense of taste. The tablets were al. right for a journey, he thought, but if he always ate them he would b. sure to miss a great deal of enjoyment, since there was no taste t. them at all.
At four o'clock he went to his workshop and unlocked the door.
Everything was exactly as he had left it, and he looked at his simpl. electrical devices with some amusement. They seemed tame beside th. wonders now in his possession; yet he recollected that his numerou. wires had enabled him to strike the Master Key, and therefore shoul. not be despised.
Before long he noticed a quickening in the air, as if it were suddenl. surcharged with electric fluid, and the next instant, in a dazzlin. flash of light, appeared the Demon.
"I am here!" he announced.
"So am I," answered Rob. "But at one time I really thought I shoul. never see you again. I've been--""Spare me your history," said the Demon, coldly. "I am awar. of your adventures.""Oh, you are!" said Rob, amazed. "Then you know--""I know all about your foolish experiences," interrupted the Demon. "for I have been with you constantly, although I remained invisible.""Then you know what a jolly time I've had," returned the boy. "Bu. why do you call them foolish experiences?""Because they were, abominably foolish!" retorted the Demon, bitterly.
"I entrusted to you gifts of rare scientific interest--electrica. devices of such utility that their general adoption by mankind woul. create a new era in earth life. I hoped your use of these device. would convey such hints to electrical engineers that they woul. quickly comprehend their mechanism and be able to reproduce them i. sufficient quantities to supply the world. And how do you treat thes. marvelous gifts. Why, you carry them to a cannibal island, where eve. your crude civilization has not yet penetrated!""I wanted to astonish the natives," said Rob, grinning.
The Demon uttered an exclamation of anger, and stamped his foot s. fiercely that thousands of electric sparks filled the air, t. disappear quickly with a hissing, crinkling sound.
"You might have astonished those ignorant natives as easily by showin. them an ordinary electric light," he cried, mockingly. "The power o. your gifts would have startled the most advanced electricians of th. world. Why did you waste them upon barbarians?""Really," faltered Rob, who was frightened and awed by the Demon'. vehement anger, "I never intended to visit a cannibal island. I mean. to go to Cuba.""Cuba. Is that a center of advanced scientific thought. Why did yo. not take your marvels to New York or Chicago; or, if you wished t. cross the ocean, to Paris or Vienna?""I never thought of those places," acknowledged Rob, meekly.
"Then you were foolish, as I said," declared the Demon, in a calme. tone. "Can you not realize that it is better to be considered grea. by the intelligent thinkers of the earth, than to be taken for a go. by stupid cannibals?""Oh, yes, of course," said Rob. "I wish now that I had gone to Europe.
But you're not the only one who has a kick coming," he continued.
"Your flimsy traveling machine was nearly the death of me.""Ah, it is true," acknowledged the Demon, frankly. "The case was mad. of too light material. When the rim was bent it pressed against th. works and impeded the proper action of the currents. Had you gone t. a civilized country such an accident could not have happened; but t. avoid possible trouble in the future I have prepared a new instrument. having a stronger case, which I will exchange for the one you now have.""That's very kind of you," said Rob, eagerly handing his battere. machine to the Demon and receiving the new one in return. "Are yo. sure this will work?""It is impossible for you to injure it," answered the other.
"And how about the next three gifts?" inquired the boy, anxiously.
"Before I grant them," replied the Demon, "you must give me a promis. to keep away from uncivilized places and to exhibit your acquirement. only among people of intelligence.""All right," agreed the boy; "I'm not anxious to visit that islan. again, or any other uncivilized country.""Then I will add to your possessions three gifts, each more preciou. and important than the three you have already received."At this announcement Rob began to quiver with excitement, and sa. staring eagerly at the Demon, while the latter increased in statur. and sparkled and glowed more brilliantly than ever.
