The Master Key | Page 9

path.
He dropped to a lower position in the air, and when he judged himself
to be over the center of the island he turned the indicator to zero and
stopped short.
The country was beautifully wooded, while pretty brooks sparkled
through the rich green foliage of the trees. The island sloped upwards
from the sea-coast in all directions, rising to a hill that was almost a
mountain in the center. There were two open spaces, one on each side
of the island, and Rob saw that these spaces were occupied by
queer-looking huts built from brushwood and branches of trees. This
showed that the island was inhabited, but as Rob had no idea what
island it was he wisely determined not to meet the natives until he had

discovered what they were like and whether they were disposed to be
friendly.
So he moved over the hill, the top of which proved to be a flat,
grass-covered plateau about fifty feet in diameter. Finding it could not
be easily reached from below, on account of its steep sides, and
contained neither men nor animals, he alighted on the hill-top and
touched his feet to the earth for the first time in twenty-four hours.
The ride through the air had not tired him in the least; in fact, he felt as
fresh and vigorous as if he had been resting throughout the journey. As
he walked upon the soft grass of the plateau he felt elated, and
compared himself to the explorers of ancient days; for it was evident
that civilization had not yet reached this delightful spot.
There was scarcely any twilight in this tropical climate and it grew dark
quickly. Within a few minutes the entire island, save where he stood,
became dim and indistinct. He ate his daily tablet, and after watching
the red glow fade in the western sky and the gray shadows of night
settle around him he stretched himself comfortably upon the grass and
went to sleep.
The events of the day must have deepened his slumber, for when he
awoke the sun was shining almost directly over him, showing that the
day was well advanced. He stood up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes
and decided he would like a drink of water. From where he stood he
could see several little brooks following winding paths through the
forest, so he settled upon one that seemed farthest from the brushwood
villages, and turning his indicator in that direction soon floated through
the air to a sheltered spot upon the bank.
Kneeling down, he enjoyed a long, refreshing drink of the clear water,
but as he started to regain his feet a coil of rope was suddenly thrown
about him, pinning his arms to his sides and rendering him absolutely
helpless.
At the same time his ears were saluted with a wild chattering in an
unknown tongue, and he found himself surrounded by a group of

natives of hideous appearance. They were nearly naked, and bore
spears and heavy clubs as their only weapons. Their hair was long,
curly, and thick as bushes, and through their noses and ears were stuck
the teeth of sharks and curious metal ornaments.
These creatures had stolen upon Rob so quietly that he had not heard a
sound, but now they jabbered loudly, as if much excited.
Finally one fat and somewhat aged native, who seemed to be a chief,
came close to Rob and said, in broken English:
"How get here?"
"I flew," said the boy, with a grin.
The chief shook his head, saying:
"No boat come. How white man come?"
"Through the air," replied Rob, who was rather flattered at being called
a "man."
The chief looked into the air with a puzzled expression and shook his
head again.
"White man lie," he said calmly.
Then he held further conversation with his fellows, after which he
turned to Rob and announced:
"Me see white man many times. Come in big boats. White man all bad.
Make kill with bang-sticks. We kill white man with club. Then we eat
white man. Dead white man good. Live white man bad!"
This did not please Rob at all. The idea of being eaten by savages had
never occurred to him as a sequel to his adventures. So he said rather
anxiously to the chief.
"Look here, old fellow; do you want to die?"

"Me no die. You die," was the reply.
"You'll die, too, if you eat me," said Rob. "I'm full of poison."
"Poison? Don't know poison," returned the chief, much perplexed to
understand him.
"Well, poison will make you sick--awful sick. Then you'll die. I'm full
of it; eat it every day for breakfast. It don't hurt white men, you see, but
it kills black men quicker than the