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 wa. high in the heavens. But he found himself whirling along at a goo. rate, with the greenish shimmer of the peaceful ocean waves sprea. beneath him far beyond his range of vision.
Being in the track of the ocean steamers it was not long before h. found himself overtaking a magnificent vessel whose decks were crowde. with passengers. He dropped down some distance, to enable him to se. these people more plainly, and while he hovered near he could hear th. excited exclamations of the passengers, who focused dozens of marin. glasses upon his floating form. This inspection somewhat embarrasse. him, and having no mind to be stared at he put on additional speed an. soon left the steamer far behind him.
About noon the sky clouded over, and Rob feared a rainstorm wa. approaching. So he rose to a point considerably beyond the clouds. where the air was thin but remarkably pleasant to inhale and the ray. of the sun were not so hot as when reflected by the surface of the water.
He could see the dark clouds rolling beneath him like volumes of smok. from a factory chimney, and knew the earth was catching a sever. shower of rain; yet he congratulated himself on his foresight in no. being burdened with umbrella or raincoat, since his elevated positio. rendered him secure from rain-clouds.
But, having cut himself off from the earth, there remained nothing t. see except the clear sky overhead and the tumbling clouds beneath; s. he took from his pocket the Automatic Record of Events, and watche. with breathless interest the incidents occurring in different parts o. the world. A big battle was being fought in the Philippines, and s. fiercely was it contested that Rob watched its progress for hours. with rapt attention. Finally a brave rally by the Americans sen. their foes to the cover of the woods, where they scattered in ever. 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 wher. to find the rebels and capture them. But I guess the Philippines ar. rather out of my way, so our soldiers will never know how near the. are to a complete victory."The boy also found considerable amusement in watching the course of a. insurrection in Venezuela, where opposing armies of well-armed me. preferred to bluster and threaten rather than come to blows.
During the evening he found that an "important event" was Madam. Bernhardt's production of a new play, and Rob followed it fro. beginning to end with great enjoyment, although he felt a bit guilt. at not having purchased a ticket.
"But it's a crowded house, anyway," he reflected, "and I'm not takin. up a reserved seat or keeping any one else from seeing the show. S. where's the harm. Yet it seems to me if these Records get to b. common, as the Demon wishes, people will all stay at home and see th. shows, and the poor actors 'll starve to death."The thought made him uneasy, and he began, for the first time. to entertain a doubt of the Demon's wisdom in forcing such device. upon humanity.
The clouds had now passed away and the moon sent her rays to turn th. edges of the waves into glistening showers of jewels.
Rob closed the lid of the wonderful Record of Events and soon fel. into a 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 no. guess, but his first thought was to set the indicator of the travelin. machine to zero and to hover over the country until he could determin. where he was.
This was no easy matter. He saw green fields, lakes, groves an. villages; but these might exist in any country. Being still at . great elevation he descended gradually until he was about twenty fee. from the surface of the earth, where he paused near the edge of . small village.
At once a crowd of excited people assembled, shouting to one anothe. and pointing towards him in wonder. In order to be prepared fo. emergencies Rob had taken the electric tube from his pocket, and now. as he examined the dress and features of the people below, the tub. suddenly slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, where one en. stuck slantingly into the soft earth.
A man rushed eagerly towards it, but the next moment he threw up hi. hands and fell upon his back, unconscious. Others who ran to assis. their fallen comrade quickly tumbled into a heap beside him.
It was evident to Rob that the tube had fallen in such a position tha. the button was being pressed continually and a current of electri. fluid issued to shock whoever came near. Not wishing to injure thes. people he dropped to the ground and drew the tube from the earth, thu. releasing the pressure upon the button.
But the villagers had now decided that the boy was their enemy, and n. sooner had he touched the ground than a shower of stones and stick. rained about him. Not one reached his body, however, for the Garmen. of Repulsion stopped their flight and returned them to rattle wit. more or less force against those who had thrown them--"like regula. boomerangs," thought Rob.
To receive their own blows in this fashion seemed so like magi. to the simple folk that with roars of fear and pain they ran awa. in all directions.
"It's no use stopping here," remarked Rob, regretfully, "for I'v. spoiled my welcome by this accident. I think these people are Irish. by their looks and speech, so I must be somewhere in the Emerald Isle."He consulted his map and decided upon the general direction he shoul. take to reach England, after which he again rose into the air an. before long was passing over the channel towards the shores of England.
