THE MASTER KEY

Rob was surrounded by a group of natives

Copyright 1901 The Bowen-Merrill Company

PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO. BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS BROOKLYN, N. Y.

To my son

Robert Stanton Baum

CONTENTS

Chapter Page

I. Rob's Workshop 1

II. The Demon of Electricity 9

III. The Three Gifts 18

IV. Testing the Instruments 29

V. The Cannibal Island 43

VI. The Buccaneers 60

VII. The Demon Becomes Angry 78

VIII. Rob Acquires New Powers 86

IX. The Second Journey 97

X. How Rob Served a Mighty King 104

XI. The Man of Science 126

XII. How Rob Saved a Republic 136

XIII. Rob Loses His Treasures 146

XIV. Turk and Tatar 160

XV. A Battle With Monsters 182

XVI. Shipwrecked Mariners 192

XVII. The Coast of Oregon 206

XVIII. A Narrow Escape 214

XIX. Rob Makes a Resolution 225

XX. The Unhappy Fate of the Demon 230

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Rob was surrounded by a group of natives of hideous appearance—Frontispiece

From his workshop ran a network of wires throughout the house—Headpiece 1

A quick flash of light almost blinded Rob 6

A curious being looked upon him from a magnificent radiance—Tailpiece 8

Scientific men think the people of Mars have been trying to signal us—Headpiece 9

I am here to do your bidding, said the Demon—Tailpiece 17

Men have not yet discovered what the birds know—Headpiece 18

These three gifts may amuse you for the next week—Tailpiece 28

Rob's action surprised them all—Headpiece 29

"He'll break his neck!" cried the astounded father 36

The red-whiskered policeman keeled over—Tailpiece 42

Rob's captors caught up the end of the rope and led him away—Headpiece 43

"If it's just the same to you, old chap, I won't be eaten to-day"—Tailpiece 59

Rob soared through the air with five Buccaneers dangling from his leg—Headpiece 60

It was a strange sight to see the pirates drop to the deck and lie motionless 66

When night fell his slumber was broken and uneasy—Tailpiece 77

When Rob had been kissed by his mother, he gave an account of his adventures—Headpiece 78

Rob sat staring eagerly at the Demon—Tailpiece 85

The Being drew from an inner pocket something resembling a box—Headpiece 86

These spectacles will indicate the character of every one you meet—Tailpiece 96

Rob is in truth a typical American boy—Headpiece 97

Rob placed the indicator to a point north of east and began his journey—Tailpiece 103

A crowd assembled, all shouting and pointing toward him in wonder—Headpiece 104

A man rushed toward it, but the next moment he threw up his hands and fell unconscious 108

Rob reached the entrance of the palace, only to face another group of guardsmen 114

Rob only smiled in an amused way as he marched past them—Tailpiece 125

A tremendous din and clatter nearly deafened him—Headpiece 126

The eyes of the Frenchman were actually protruding from their sockets 128

From an elevation of fifty feet or more Rob overlooked a pretty garden—Headpiece 136

Placing the record so that the President could see clearly, Rob watched the changing expressions upon the great man's face 140

Rob experienced a decided sense of relief as he mixed with the gay populace—Tailpiece 145

Beneath him stretched a vast sandy plain, and speeding across this he came to a land abounding in vegetation—Headpiece 146

"Those fellows seem to be looking for trouble" 150

Uttering cries of terror and dismay, the three Turks took to their heels 158

Rob was miserable and unhappy, and remained brooding over his cruel fate—Tailpiece 159

The Tatars arrived swiftly and noiselessly—Headpiece 160

The Turk rose slowly into the air, with Rob clinging to him with desperate tenacity 176

Without more ado Rob mounted into the air, leaving the Turk staring after him—Tailpiece 181

Coming toward him was an immense bird—Headpiece 186

With one last scream the creature tumbled downward to join its fellow—Tailpiece 191

During the next few hours Rob suffered from a severe attack of homesickness—Headpiece 192

The disappointment of the sailors was something awful to witness 196

As they slowly mounted into the sky the sailor gave a squeal of terror—Tailpiece 205

Rob mounted skyward, to the unbounded amazement of the fishermen, who stared after him—Headpiece 206

Rob hovered over the great tower of the Lick Observatory until he attracted the excited gaze of its inhabitants—Tailpiece 213

Finding himself upon the lake front, Rob hunted up a vacant bench and sat down to rest—Headpiece 214

As he started downward he saw the old gentleman looking at him with a half-frightened, half-curious expression—Tailpiece 224

At precisely ten o'clock Rob reached the front door of his own house—Headpiece 225

Rob boldly ascended the stairs, entered the workshop and closed and locked the door—Tailpiece 229

The Demon sank into a chair nerveless and limp, but still staring fearfully at the boy—Headpiece 230

A flash of white light half-stunned and blinded Rob. When he recovered himself the Demon had disappeared—Tailpiece 245