登陆注册
15459700000018

第18章 How Rob Served a Mighty King(1)

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.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 末日创生录

    末日创生录

    这是末世,该来的,终究还是要来,这一次,我不会再让她离我而去,这一次,我要站在世界的巅峰,熙,我会保护好你的。。。整个世界扩大一百倍,无数怪物,丧尸,可恶,这该死的丧尸,该死的末世,该死的神。。。(嗯,,我承认我写的不怎么样,但是我会努力的。本书读起来是较为轻松的。)
  • 棺材明鉴

    棺材明鉴

    棺材,亦称寿棺,老房,四块半,寿方,是盛载死尸的空匣子,通常在葬礼中使用。装着死尸的棺材称为灵柩。棺材可以由不同的物料制造,最常见的以木制造。亦有以铜、石等制造的棺材。
  • 总裁请相信有真爱

    总裁请相信有真爱

    真爱多么靓丽的词,女主角孟欢欣善良可爱,对爱情至死不渝,当她遇到性格有点冰冷的男主角又会擦出咋样的火花?当她面临儿时青梅竹马的爱情告白又当如何抉择?当冷思成的前女友回来,制造种种误会,孟欢心,冷思成是否能用真爱打败。
  • 重生之大妖怪

    重生之大妖怪

    一个少年,终于从被困了多年的牢里逃了出来。于是,少年一路热血,一路横扫的成就了一个传奇,成为了一个绝世。Ps:简介无能,请多点击。本文够热血,够爽,还不浪。已已百万字作品,请收藏入坑,保证爽。
  • 神曜天穹

    神曜天穹

    这是一个强者的时代,实力决定着命运。许多的青年俊杰在为自己修炼成功兴奋不已之时,一位少年却是在备受嘲讽、讥笑中清扫着石阶。……终于,在某一天。少年用自己手中的剑,改变了自己的命运,击败了那些桀骜不驯的天骄们,甚至将这片天都是捅开了窟窿。这是弱者逆袭的道路,艰辛却又带着别样的风采。
  • 门第

    门第

    幼年跟随多病的爷爷从闽南到北京乞讨的珍珠,因偶遇音乐学院梁教授而彻底改变命运,然而于卑微出身中幻化出的高贵梦想却因遭遇致命对手成为绝唱。一曲钢琴的挽歌让她在十八岁时挥泪饮恨,超越血缘的爱伴随她渐渐成长。与两个不同家庭背景的男子相逢,则让她在爱情与门第之间饱受煎熬,演绎出另类的一往情深。
  • 西荒传奇

    西荒传奇

    桃溪村的一个好吃懒做的少年,祖上八代习武,最大的梦想就是给老爹考个状元回来。哪知天不遂人意,稀里糊涂的被人打晕了,带到另一个世界,开始了一段耍赖撒泼的传奇旅程。
  • 都市系统邪少

    都市系统邪少

    一次意外让他获得了一个超凡的系统,从此他的生活发生了翻天覆地的变化!甲说:“我武功很高,轻功很好”“呵呵,没事咱有系统,咱兑换去,神马如来神掌啊!神马九阴真经啊!神马凌波微步啊!咱都会!”乙说:“我会放电,会喷火”“呵呵,咱有系统,会召唤,会透视……”
  • 再遇前夫,温绵入骨

    再遇前夫,温绵入骨

    结婚两年,小三挺着大肚子登门拜访,据说怀的是双胞胎。彼时她也已经怀孕五周,本想给他一个惊喜,却不成想,惊喜被她人提前占用。站在那个气势凌人的女人面前,第一次知道什么叫侮辱和背叛。只是作为陆家千金,小三插足,是一件多么不光彩的事情。她说,离婚可以,但是条件是,不许外界知道。他点头,说:陆清离,你放心,即时你不说,我也不准备公开我们已离婚的事实。因为,我还需要这个身份。只是,席慕尧,既然我们已经分道扬镳,戏不要演得太真。那个孩子,他有自己的父亲,绝对不是你。************************************虽然,我也曾把你爱到骨里。
  • 崛起之途

    崛起之途

    纵有天大打击、谁能断我生存纵有无数坎坷、谁能阻我崛起纵有困难重重、谁能拦我讨债纵有生命危险、谁能误导我心中崛起的含义