L. Frank Baum Read Online Free PDF Page A

where Rob was thrust into
a brushwood hut and thrown upon the ground, still tightly bound.
    "We light fire," said the chief. "Then kill little white man. Then
eat him."
    With this comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone to think
the matter over.
    "This is tough," reflected the boy, with a groan. "I never expected to
feed cannibals. Wish I was at home with mother and dad and the girls.
Wish I'd never seen the Demon of Electricity and his wonderful
inventions. I was happy enough before I struck that awful Master Key.
And now I'll be eaten—with salt and pepper, probably. Wonder if
there'll be any gravy. Perhaps they'll boil me, with biscuits, as
mother does chickens. Oh-h-h-h-h! It's just awful!"
    In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware that
something was hurting his back. After rolling over he found that he
had been lying upon a sharp stone that stuck out of the earth. This
gave him an idea. He rolled upon the stone again and began rubbing the
rope that bound him against the sharp edge.
    Outside he could hear the crackling of fagots and the roar of a
newly-kindled fire, so he knew he had no time to spare. He wriggled
and pushed his body right and left, right and left, sawing away at the
rope, until the strain and exertion started the perspiration from every
pore.
    At length the rope parted, and hastily uncoiling it from his body Rob
stood up and rubbed his benumbed muscles and tried to regain his lost
breath. He had not freed himself a moment too soon, he found, for
hearing a grunt of surprise behind him he turned around and saw a
native standing in the door of the hut.
    Rob laughed, for he was not a bit afraid of the blacks now. As the
native made a rush toward him the boy drew the electric tube from his
pocket, pointed it at the foe, and pressed the button. The fellow sank
to the earth without even a groan, and lay still.
    Then another black entered, followed by the fat chief. When they saw
Rob at liberty, and their comrade lying apparently dead, the chief
cried out in surprise, using some expressive words in his own language.
    "If it's just the same to you, old chap," said Rob, coolly, "I won't be
eaten to-day. You can make a pie of that fellow on the ground."
    "No! We eat you," cried the chief, angrily. "You cut rope, but no get
away; no boat!"
    "I don't need a boat, thank you," said the boy; and then, as the other
native sprang forward, he pointed the tube and laid him out beside his
first victim.
    At this act the chief stood an instant in amazed uncertainty. Then he
turned and rushed from the hut.
    Laughing with amusement at the waddling, fat figure, Rob followed the
chief and found himself standing almost in the center of the native
village. A big fire was blazing merrily and the blacks were busy
making preparations for a grand feast.
    Rob was quickly surrounded by a crowd of the villagers, who chattered
fiercely and made threatening motions in his direction; but as the
chief cried out to them a warning in the native tongue they kept a
respectful distance and contented themselves with brandishing their
spears and clubs.
    "If any of your fellows come nearer," Rob said to the fat chief, "I'll
knock 'em over."
    "What you make do?" asked the chief, nervously.
    "Watch sharp, and you'll see," answered Rob. Then he made a mocking
bow to the circle and continued: "I'm pleased to have met you fellows,
and proud to think you like me well enough to want to eat me; but I'm
in a bit of a hurry to-day, so I can't stop to be digested." After
which, as the crowd broke into a hum of surprise, he added: "Good-day,
black folks!" and quickly turned the indicator of his traveling machine
to the word "up."
    Slowly he rose into the air, until his heels were just above the gaping
blacks; but there he stopped short. With a thrill of fear he glanced
at the indicator. It was pointed properly, and he knew at once that
something was wrong with the delicate mechanism that controlled it.
Probably the pressure of the rope