第33章 Shipwrecked Mariners(1)

Ample proof of Rob's careless and restless nature having been frankl. placed before the reader in these pages, you will doubtless b. surprised when I relate that during the next few hours our youn. gentleman suffered from a severe attack of homesickness, becoming a. gloomy and unhappy in its duration as ever a homesick boy could be.

It may have been because he was just then cut off from all hi. fellow-creatures and even from the world itself; it may have bee. because he was satiated with marvels and with the almost absolut. control over the powers which the Demon had conferred upon him; or i. may have been because he was born and reared a hearty, health. American boy, with a disposition to battle openly with the world an. take his chances equally with his fellows, rather than be placed i. such an exclusive position that no one could hope successfully t. oppose him.

Perhaps he himself did not know what gave him this horrible attack o. "the blues," but the truth is he took out his handkerchief and crie. like a baby from very loneliness and misery.

There was no one to see him, thank goodness! and the tears gave hi. considerable relief. He dried his eyes, made an honest struggle t. regain his cheerfulness, and then muttered to himself:

"If I stay up here, like an air-bubble in the sky, I shall certainl. go crazy. I suppose there's nothing but water to look at down below. but if I could only sight a ship, or even see a fish jump, it would d. me no end of good."Thereupon he descended until, as the ocean's surface same nearer an. nearer, he discovered a tiny island lying almost directly underneat. him. It was hardly big enough to make a dot on the biggest map, but . clump of trees grew in the central portion, while around the edge. were jagged rocks protecting a sandy beach and a stretch o. flower-strewn upland leading to the trees.

It looked beautiful from Rob's elevated position, and his spirit. brightened at once.

"I'll drop down and pick a bouquet," he exclaimed, and a few moment. later his feet touched the firm earth of the island.

But before he could gather a dozen of the brilliant flowers a gla. shout reached his ears, and, looking up, he saw two men running toward. him from the trees.

They were dressed in sailor fashion, but their clothing was reduced t. rags and scarcely clung to their brown, skinny bodies. As they advance. they waved their arms wildly in the air and cried in joyful tones:

"A boat! a boat!"

Rob stared at them wonderingly, and had much ado to prevent the poo. fellows from hugging him outright, so great was their joy at hi. appearance. One of them rolled upon the ground, laughing and cryin. by turns, while the other danced and cut capers until he became s. exhausted that he sank down breathless beside his comrade.

"How came you here?" then inquired the boy, in pitying tones.

"We're shipwrecked American sailors from the bark 'Cynthia Jane,' which went down near here over a month ago," answered the smallest an. thinnest of the two. "We escaped by clinging to a bit of wreckage an. floated to this island, where we have nearly starved to death.

Indeed, we now have eaten everything on the island that was eatable. and had your boat arrived a few days later you'd have found us lyin. dead upon the beach!"Rob listened to this sad tale with real sympathy.

"But I didn't come here in a boat," said he.

The men sprang to their feet with white, scared faces.

"No boat!" they cried; "are you, too, shipwrecked?""No;" he answered. "I flew here through the air.. And then h. explained to them the wonderful electric traveling machine.

But the sailors had no interest whatever in the relation. Thei. disappointment was something awful to witness, and one of them lai. his head upon his comrade's shoulder and wept with unrestrained grief. so weak and discouraged had they become through suffering.

Suddenly Rob remembered that he could assist them, and took the box o. concentrated food tablets from his pocket.

"Eat these," he said, offering one of each to the sailors.

At first they could not understand that these small tablets would b. able to allay the pangs of hunger; but when Rob explained thei. virtues the men ate them greedily. Within a few moments they were s. greatly restored to strength and courage that their eyes brightened. their sunken cheeks flushed, and they were able to converse with thei. benefactor with calmness and intelligence.

Then the boy sat beside them upon the grass and told them the story o. his acquaintance with the Demon and of all his adventures since he ha. come into possession of the wonderful electric contrivances. In hi. present mood he felt it would be a relief to confide in some one, an. so these poor, lonely men were the first to hear his story.

When he related the manner in which he had clung to the Turk while bot. ascended into the air, the elder of the two sailors listened with rap. attention, and then, after some thought, asked:

"Why couldn't you carry one or both of us to America?"Rob took time seriously to consider this idea, while the sailors eye. him with eager interest. Finally he said: