The Master Key Page 6

  _CHAPTER TEN_

  HOW ROB SERVED A MIGHTY KING

  The new traveling machine was a distinct improvement over the old one,for it carried Rob with wonderful speed across the broad Atlantic.

  He fell asleep soon after starting, and only wakened when the sun washigh in the heavens. But he found himself whirling along at a goodrate, with the greenish shimmer of the peaceful ocean waves spreadbeneath him far beyond his range of vision.

  Being in the track of the ocean steamers it was not long before hefound himself overtaking a magnificent vessel whose decks were crowdedwith passengers. He dropped down some distance, to enable him to seethese people more plainly, and while he hovered near he could hear theexcited exclamations of the passengers, who focused dozens of marineglasses upon his floating form. This inspection somewhat embarrassedhim, and having no mind to be stared at he put on additional speed andsoon left the steamer far behind him.

  About noon the sky clouded over, and Rob feared a rainstorm wasapproaching. So he rose to a point considerably beyond the clouds,where the air was thin but remarkably pleasant to inhale and the raysof the sun were not so hot as when reflected by the surface of thewater.

  He could see the dark clouds rolling beneath him like volumes of smokefrom a factory chimney, and knew the earth was catching a severe showerof rain; yet he congratulated himself on his foresight in not beingburdened with umbrella or rain-coat, since his elevated positionrendered him secure from rain-clouds.

  But, having cut himself off from the earth, there remained nothing tosee except the clear sky overhead and the tumbling clouds beneath; sohe took from his pocket the Automatic Record of Events, and watchedwith breathless interest the incidents occurring in different parts ofthe world. A big battle was being fought in the Philippines, and sofiercely was it contested that Rob watched its progress for hours, withrapt attention. Finally a brave rally by the Americans sent their foesto the cover of the woods, where they scattered in every direction,only to form again in a deep valley hidden by high hills.

  "If only I was there," thought Rob, "I could show that captain whereto find the rebels and capture them. But I guess the Philippines arerather out of my way, so our soldiers will never know how near they areto a complete victory."

  The boy also found considerable amusement in watching the course ofan insurrection in Venezuela, where opposing armies of well-armed menpreferred to bluster and threaten rather than come to blows.

  During the evening he found that an "important event" was MadameBernhardt's production of a new play, and Rob followed it frombeginning to end with great enjoyment, although he felt a bit guilty atnot having purchased a ticket.

  "But it's a crowded house, anyway," he reflected, "and I'm not takingup a reserved seat or keeping any one else from seeing the show. Sowhere's the harm? Yet it seems to me if these Records get to be common,as the Demon wishes, people will all stay at home and see the shows,and the poor actors 'll starve to death."

  The thought made him uneasy, and he began, for the first time, toentertain a doubt of the Demon's wisdom in forcing such devices uponhumanity.

  The clouds had now passed away and the moon sent her rays to turn theedges of the waves into glistening showers of jewels.

  Rob closed the lid of the wonderful Record of Events and soon fell intoa deep sleep that held him unconscious for many hours.

  When he awoke he gave a start of surprise, for beneath him was land.How long it was since he had left the ocean behind him he could notguess, but his first thought was to set the indicator of the travelingmachine to zero and to hover over the country until he could determinewhere he was.

  This was no easy matter. He saw green fields, lakes, groves andvillages; but these might exist in any country. Being still at a greatelevation he descended gradually until he was about twenty feet fromthe surface of the earth, where he paused near the edge of a smallvillage.

  At once a crowd of excited people assembled, shouting to one anotherand pointing towards him in wonder. In order to be prepared foremergencies Rob had taken the electric tube from his pocket, and now,as he examined the dress and features of the people below, the tubesuddenly slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, where one endstuck slantingly into the soft earth.

  A man rushed eagerly towards it, but the next moment he threw up hishands and fell upon his back, unconscious. Others who ran to assisttheir fallen comrade quickly tumbled into a heap beside him.

  A man rushed toward it, but the next moment he threw uphis hands and fell unconscious]

  It was evident to Rob that the tube had fallen in such a position thatthe button was being pressed continually and a current of electricfluid issued to shock whoever came near. Not wishing to injure thesepeople he dropped to the ground and drew the tube from the earth, thusreleasing the pressure upon the button.

  But the villagers had now decided that the boy was their enemy, and nosooner had he touched the ground than a shower of stones and sticksrained about him. Not one reached his body, however, for the Garmentof Repulsion stopped their flight and returned them to rattle withmore or less force against those who had thrown them--"like regularboomerangs," thought Rob.

  To receive their own blows in this fashion seemed so like magic tothe simple folk that with roars of fear and pain they ran away in alldirections.

  "It's no use stopping here," remarked Rob, regretfully, "for I'vespoiled my welcome by this accident. I think these people are Irish, bytheir looks and speech, so I must be somewhere in the Emerald Isle."

  He consulted his map and decided upon the general direction he shouldtake to reach England, after which he again rose into the air andbefore long was passing over the channel towards the shores of England.

  Either his map or compass or his calculations proved wrong, for it washigh noon before, having changed his direction a half dozen times,he came to the great city of London. He saw at a glance that it wouldnever do to drop into the crowded streets, unless he wanted to becomean object of public curiosity; so he looked around for a suitable placeto alight.

  Near by was a monstrous church that sent a sharp steeple far into theair. Rob examined this spire and saw a narrow opening in the masonrythat led to a small room where a chime of bells hung. He crept throughthe opening and, finding a ladder that connected the belfry with aplatform below, began to descend.

  There were three ladders, and then a winding flight of narrow, ricketystairs to be passed before Rob finally reached a small room in thebody of the church. This room proved to have two doors, one connectingwith the auditorium and the other letting into a side street. Bothwere locked, but Rob pointed the electric tube at the outside doorand broke the lock in an instant. Then he walked into the street ascomposedly as if he had lived all his life in London.

  There were plenty of sights to see, you may be sure, and Rob walkedaround until he was so tired that he was glad to rest upon one of thebenches in a beautiful park. Here, half hidden by the trees, he amusedhimself by looking at the Record of Events.

  "London's a great town, and no mistake," he said to himself; "but let'ssee what the British are doing in South Africa to-day."

  He turned the cylinder to "South Africa," and, opening the lid, at oncebecame interested. An English column, commanded by a brave but stubbornofficer, was surrounded by the Boer forces and fighting desperately toavoid capture or annihilation.

  "This would be interesting to King Edward," thought the boy. "GuessI'll hunt him up and tell him about it."

  A few steps away stood a policeman. Rob approached him and asked:

  "Where's the king to-day?"

  The officer looked at him with mingled surprise and suspicion.

  "'Is Majesty is sojournin' at Marlb'ro 'Ouse, just now," was the reply."Per'aps you wants to make 'im a wissit," he continued, with loftysarcasm.

  "That's it, exactly," said Rob. "I'm an American, and thought while Iwas in London I'd drop in on His Royal Highness and say 'hello' to him."

  The officer chuckled, as if
much amused.

  "Hamericans is bloomin' green," he remarked, "so youse can stand forHamerican, right enough. No other wissitors is such blarsted fools. Butyon's the palace, an' I s'pose 'is Majesty'll give ye a 'ot reception."

  "Thanks; I'll look him up," said the boy, and left the officerconvulsed with laughter.

  He soon knew why. The palace was surrounded by a cordon of the king'sown life guards, who admitted no one save those who presented propercredentials.

  "There's only one thing to do;" thought Rob, "and that's towalk straight in, as I haven't any friends to give me a regularintroduction."

  So he boldly advanced to the gate, where he found himself stopped bycrossed carbines and a cry of "Halt!"

  "Excuse me," said Rob; "I'm in a hurry."

  He pushed the carbines aside and marched on. The soldiers made thrustsat him with their weapons, and an officer jabbed at his breast with aglittering sword, but the Garment of Repulsion protected him from thesedangers as well as from a hail of bullets that followed his advancingfigure.

  He reached the entrance of the palace only to face another group ofguardsmen and a second order to halt, and as these soldiers were oversix feet tall and stood shoulder to shoulder Rob saw that he could nothope to pass them without using his electric tube.

  Rob reached the entrance of the palace, only to faceanother group of guardsmen]

  "Stand aside, you fellows!" he ordered.

  There was no response. He extended the tube and, as he pressed thebutton, described a semi-circle with the instrument. Immediately thetall guardsmen toppled over like so many tenpins, and Rob steppedacross their bodies and penetrated to the reception room, where abrilliant assemblage awaited, in hushed and anxious groups, foropportunity to obtain audience with the king.

  "I hope his Majesty isn't busy," said Rob to a solemn-visaged officialwho confronted him. "I want to have a little talk with him."

  "I--I--ah--beg pardon!" exclaimed the astounded master of ceremonies."What name, please?"

  "Oh, never mind my name," replied Rob, and pushing the gentleman asidehe entered the audience chamber of the great king.

  King Edward was engaged in earnest consultation with one of hisministers, and after a look of surprise in Rob's direction and a gravebow he bestowed no further attention upon the intruder.

  But Rob was not to be baffled now.

  "Your Majesty," he interrupted, "I've important news for you. A bigfight is taking place in South Africa and your soldiers will probablybe cut into mince meat."

  The minister strode towards the boy angrily.

  "Explain this intrusion!" he cried.

  "I have explained. The Boers are having a regular killing-bee. Here!Take a look at it yourselves."

  He drew the Record from his pocket, and at the movement the ministershrank back as if he suspected it was an infernal machine and mightblow his head off; but the king stepped quietly to the boy's side andlooked into the box when Rob threw open the lid.

  As he comprehended the full wonder of the phenomenon he was observingEdward uttered a low cry of amazement, but thereafter he silently gazedupon the fierce battle that still raged far away upon the African_veld_. Before long his keen eye recognized the troops engaged andrealized their imminent danger.

  "They'll be utterly annihilated!" he gasped. "What shall we do?"

  "Oh, we can't do anything just now," answered Rob. "But it's curious towatch how bravely the poor fellows fight for their lives."

  The minister, who by this time was also peering into the box, groanedaloud, and then all three forgot their surroundings in the tragedy theywere beholding.

  Hemmed in by vastly superior numbers, the English were calmly andstubbornly resisting every inch of advance and selling their lives asdearly as possible. Their leader fell pierced by a hundred bullets,and the king, who had known him from boyhood, passed his hand acrosshis eyes as if to shut out the awful sight. But the fascination of thebattle forced him to look again, and the next moment he cried aloud:

  "Look there! Look there!"

  Over the edge of a line of hills appeared the helmets of a file ofEnglish soldiers. They reached the summit, followed by rank afterrank, until the hillside was alive with them. And then, with a ringingcheer that came like a faint echo to the ears of the three watchers,they broke into a run and dashed forward to the rescue of their bravecomrades. The Boers faltered, gave back, and the next moment fledprecipitately, while the exhausted survivors of the courageous bandfell sobbing into the arms of their rescuers.

  Rob closed the lid of the Record with a sudden snap that betrayed hisdeep feeling, and the king pretended to cough behind his handkerchiefand stealthily wiped his eyes.

  "'Twasn't so bad, after all," remarked the boy, with assumedcheerfulness; "but it looked mighty ticklish for your men at one time."

  King Edward regarded the boy curiously, remembering his abrupt entranceand the marvelous device he had exhibited.

  "What do you call that?" he asked, pointing at the Record with a fingerthat trembled slightly from excitement.

  "It is a new electrical invention," replied Rob, replacing it in hispocket, "and so constructed that events are reproduced at the exactmoment they occur."

  "Where can I purchase one?" demanded the king, eagerly.

  "They're not for sale," said Rob. "This one of mine is the first thatever happened."

  "Oh!"

  "I really think," continued the boy, nodding sagely, "that it wouldn'tbe well to have these Records scattered around. Their use would givesome folks unfair advantage over others, you know."

  "Certainly."

  "I only showed you this battle because I happened to be in London atthe time and thought you'd be interested."

  "It was very kind of you," said Edward; "but how did you gainadmittance?"

  "Well, to tell the truth, I was obliged to knock over a few of yourtall life-guards. They seem to think you're a good thing and needlooking after, like jam in a cupboard."

  The king smiled.

  "I hope you haven't killed my guards," said he.

  "Oh, no; they'll come around all right."

  "It is necessary," continued Edward, "that public men be protected fromintrusion, no matter how democratic they may be personally. You wouldprobably find it as difficult to approach the President of the UnitedStates as the King of England."

  "Oh, I'm not complaining," said Rob. "It wasn't much trouble to breakthrough."

  "You seem quite young to have mastered such wonderful secrets ofNature," continued the king.

  "So I am," replied Rob, modestly; "but these natural forces havereally existed since the beginning of the world, and some one wassure to discover them in time." He was quoting the Demon, althoughunconsciously.

  "You are an American, I suppose," said the minister, coming close toRob and staring him in the face.

  "Guessed right the first time," answered the boy, and drawing hisCharacter Marking spectacles from his pocket, he put them on and staredat the minister in turn.

  Upon the man's forehead appeared the letter "E".

  "Your Majesty," said Rob, "I have here another queer invention. Willyou please wear these spectacles for a few moments?"

  The king at once put them on.

  "They are called Character Markers," continued the boy, "becausethe lenses catch and concentrate the character vibrations radiatingfrom every human individual and reflect the true character of theperson upon his forehead. If a letter 'G' appears, you may be surehis disposition is good; if his forehead is marked with an 'E' hischaracter is evil, and you must beware of treachery."

  The king saw the "E" plainly marked upon his minister's forehead, buthe said nothing except "Thank you," and returned the spectacles to Rob.

  But the minister, who from the first had been ill at ease, now becamepositively angry.

  "Do not believe him, your Majesty!" he cried. "It is a trick, andmeant to deceive you."

  "I did not accuse you," answered the king, sternly. Then he added: "Iwish
to be alone with this young gentleman."

  The minister left the room with an anxious face and hanging head.

  "Now," said Rob, "let's look over the record of the past day and see ifthat fellow has been up to any mischief."

  He turned the cylinder of the Record to "England," and slowly theevents of the last twenty-four hours were reproduced, one after theother, upon the polished plate.

  Before long the king uttered an exclamation. The Record pictured asmall room in which were seated three gentlemen engaged in earnestconversation. One of them was the accused minister.

  "Those men," said the king in a low voice, while he pointed out theother two, "are my avowed enemies. This is proof that your wonderfulspectacles indicated my minister's character with perfect truth. I amgrateful to you for thus putting me upon my guard, for I have trustedthe man fully."

  "Oh, don't mention it," replied the boy, lightly; "I'm glad to havebeen of service to you. But it's time for me to go."

  "I hope you will favor me with another interview," said the king, "forI am much interested in your electrical inventions. I will instruct myguards to admit you at any time, so you will not be obliged to fightyour way in."

  "All right. But it really doesn't matter," answered Rob. "It's notrouble at all to knock 'em over."

  Then he remembered his manners and bowed low before the king, whoseemed to him "a fine fellow and not a bit stuck up." And then hewalked calmly from the palace.