"I don't need a balloon," returned the boy. "That's a clumsy way o. traveling, at best. I shall go by electric propulsion.""Good gracious!" cried Mr. Joslyn, and the mother murmured: "My poo. boy! my poor boy!""As you are my nearest relatives," continued Rob, not noticing thes. exclamations, "I will allow you to come into the back yard and see m. start. You will then understand something of my electrical powers."They followed him at once, although with unbelieving faces, and on th. way Rob clasped the little machine to his left wrist, so that his coa. sleeve nearly hid it.
When they reached the lawn at the back of the house Rob kissed the. all good-by, much to his sisters' amusement, and turned the indicato. of the little instrument to the word "up."Immediately he began to rise into the air.
"Don't worry about me!" he called down to them. "Good-by!"Mrs. Joslyn, with a scream of terror, hid her face in her hands.
"He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded father, tipping back hi. head to look after his departing son.
"Come back. Come back!" shouted the girls to the soaring adventurer.
"I will--some day!" was the far-away answer.
Having risen high enough to pass over the tallest tree or steeple, Ro. put the indicator to the east of the compass-dial and at once bega. moving rapidly in that direction.
The sensation was delightful. He rode as gently as a feather floats. without any exertion at all on his own part; yet he moved so swiftl. that he easily distanced a railway train that was speeding in th. same direction.
"This is great!" reflected the youth. "Here I am, traveling in fin. style, without a penny to pay any one. And I've enough food to las. me a month in my coat pocket. This electricity is the proper stuff. after all. And the Demon's a trump, and no mistake. Whee-ee. Ho. small everything looks down below there. The people are bugs, and th. houses are soap-boxes, and the trees are like clumps of grass. I see. to be passing over a town. Guess I'll drop down a bit, and take i. the sights."He pointed the indicator to the word "down," and at once bega. dropping through the air. He experienced the sensation one feel. while descending in an elevator. When he reached a point just abov. the town he put the indicator to the zero mark and remaine. stationary, while he examined the place. But there was nothing t. interest him, particularly; so after a brief survey he once mor. ascended and continued his journey toward the east.
At about two o'clock in the afternoon he reached the city of Boston. and alighting unobserved in a quiet street he walked around fo. several hours enjoying the sights and wondering what people woul. think of him if they but knew his remarkable powers. But as he looke. just like any other boy no one noticed him in any way.
It was nearly evening, and Rob had wandered down by the wharves t. look at the shipping, when his attention was called to an ugly lookin. bull dog, which ran toward him and began barking ferociously.
"Get out!" said the boy, carelessly, and made a kick at the brute.
The dog uttered a fierce growl and sprang upon him with bared teet. and flashing red eyes. Instantly Rob drew the electric tube from hi. pocket, pointed it at the dog and pressed the button. Almost at th. same moment the dog gave a yelp, rolled over once or twice and lay still.
"I guess that'll settle him," laughed the boy; but just then he hear. an angry shout, and looking around saw a policeman running toward him.
"Kill me dog, will ye--eh?" yelled the officer; "well, I'll jus. run ye in for that same, an' ye'll spend the night in the lockup!"And on he came, with drawn club in one hand and a big revolve. in the other.
"You'll have to catch me first," said Rob, still laughing, and to th. amazement of the policeman he began rising straight into the air.
"Come down here. Come down, or I'll shoot!" shouted the fellow. flourishing his revolver.
Rob was afraid he would; so, to avoid accidents, he pointed the tub. at him and pressed the button. The red-whiskered policeman keele. over quite gracefully and fell across the body of the dog, while Ro. continued to mount upward until he was out of sight of thos. in the streets.
"That was a narrow escape," he thought, breathing more freely.
"I hated to paralyze that policeman, but he might have sent . bullet after me. Anyhow, he'll be all right again in an hour. so I needn't worry."It was beginning to grow dark, and he wondered what he should do next.
Had he possessed any money he would have descended to the town an. taken a bed at a hotel, but he had left home without a single penny.
Fortunately the nights were warm at this season, so he determined t. travel all night, that he might reach by morning some place he ha. never before visited.
Cuba had always interested him, and he judged it ought to lie in . southeasterly direction from Boston. So he set the indicator to tha. point and began gliding swiftly toward the southeast.
He now remembered that it was twenty-four hours since he had eaten th. first electrical tablet. As he rode through the air he consume. another. All hunger at once left him, while he felt the sam. invigorating sensations as before.
After a time the moon came out, and Rob amused himself gazing at th. countless stars in the sky and wondering if the Demon was right whe. he said the world was the most important of all the planets.
But presently he grew sleepy, and before he realized what wa. happening he had fallen into a sound and peaceful slumber, while th. indicator still pointed to the southeast and he continued to mov. rapidly through the cool night air.
