Frank Reade Library No. 73: Six Weeks in the Clouds — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 SIX WEEKS IN THE CLOUDS. SE SSS ——————————————— ‘¢You will find that I shall hold the ship,” she declared. ‘T can handle a rifle, and it will not be easy for them to get up here.” Pomp showed her how to work the electric levers for the ascension or descent of the air-ship. Then the three men went down the ladder and were lost to view in the cavern. 7 It was a novel situation for Hattie, who had endured perils encugh, however, in the last month to harden her fears reasonably well. Sha thought more of the peril of her father and husband in the cav- ern than of herself. Yet in spite of this she did not lose sight of the fact that it was neces- sary to be constantly on her guard. And as chance had it, her friends had not been absent upon their mission many minutes when thrillicg danger presented itself. It seemed as if Klamaths were constantly arriving at the cavern. Suddenly from a point on the mountain wall Hattie saw a dozen of the red foe come into view. They paused, apparently astonished at sight of the air-ship. Their predecessors had been glad enough to seek the cover of the cavern at once, but these fellows paused and studied the air-ship. Hattie knelt by the rail and watched them furtively with wildly- beating heart. ‘¢ Will they dare to attack the air-sbip?” she thought. what will become of me?” Her question seemed to be almost immediately answered when one of the party suddenly discharged an arrow at the ship. It struck the metal hull and bounced clanking upon the deck. Another and another came. . Ag there seemed no show of resistance from the air-ship, the sav- ages were emboldened to approach nearer. They came down slowly. The air-ship seemed to possess a peculiar fascination for them. They studied it for a while. Then one of them began to pull on the anchor rope. He was not strong enough, however, to overcome the resistance of the rotascopes. The savages held an excited consultation under the air-ship. The result was that one of them suddenly began to climb the anchor rope. Deadly alarm seized Hattie. For a moment she was like one spellbound. 'wo more of the savages were climbing the other anchor ropes. What was she to do? Her heart beat so fast that she well nigh suf- focated. Still she was powerless. At that distance she could easily have shot the savage. Yet some strange fascination, which she could not overcome, held her in restraint. | vp came the red foe until his hand was actually at the air-ship’s rail, Then Hattie acted. She sprang up and cried forcibly: ‘©Go back! back I tell you, or I shall fire at you!” The savage’s head was above the rail. He paused with a guttural ery. But he did not. fall back. His keen, black eyes took in the deck of the air-ship and its ap- pointments. He saw only a very handsome and ‘slender young wom- an to oppose him. He laughed in a fiendish manner and essayed to cross the rail. Fatal move! Up went the rille to Hattie’s shoulder. She was a sure shot. Crack! With a mortal cry the savage lost his hold and fell. The thud of his body upon the rocks below nigh caused Hattie to faint. A loud, angry yell went up from the other Klamatas. were upon the other anchor rope. The next moment they were at the rail. One shared the fate of the first. in a hurry. Hattie was holding the fort in royal fashion. She had killed two of the savages with ease. This had a salutary effect upon the others. again to ascend the rope. But with loud, defiant yells, they retired to a higher point on the mountain side. From there they essayed shots at the air-ship. Hattie narrowly missed being struck by one of the arrows. She crouched down behind the steel netting of the bulwarks and watched the red foe anxiously. As matters now stood she had decidedly the best of the situation. But the shock of the affair bad taxed her nerves greatly. She did not dare Lo look down apon the bodies below, for fear she might faint. She had learned the use of the rifle well, being a good huatsman. But human game was a kind which had taxed the nervous system of even the strongest man. It seemed hours to Hattie crouching there upon the air-ship’s deck, before there was any change in the situation. She could easily have shot othera of the savages in the interim. But this she did not care to do. She had no desire to unnecessarily take human life. the Klamaths that this was so. Time passed slowly. Again and again she fancied she heard the return of her friends, only to be disappointed. Would they never come? Had they fallen into a death trap? ‘<Tf they do Two of them But they did not croas it. The other slid dowu down the rope They did not venture It was well for EE ae i a Sn = A slow sense of horror came over her as she realized what a posi- tion hers would be if this were really so. But she clung to hope. Certainly fate would not be so cruel. Only once more did the Klamaths venture to attack the air-ship. Several of them went down and tried their strength upon the archor rope. Bui they could not pull the air-ship down. random to frighten them away. It had the desired effect. They retreated in hot haste to the cover of the cavern, From this on the young defender of the air-ship was not molested. But still she kept a vigilant watch. Of course at any noment a larger crew of savages might come upon the scene. In that event the outlook would be a serious one. Also it would indicate the fate of her friends. Realizing this, the young girl prayed earnestly that such a thing might not come to pass. And thus situated, let us leave her fora brief time to follow the thrilling adventures of the other characters of this story. Hattie fired 9 shot at In entering the Klamaths’ cave with Denham and Wall,, Pomp realized well enough the risk he was incurring. He was really the only fighting man in the party, though doubtless Denham and Wall would do their duty. The darky had but one motive uppermost in his mind, and this was to rescue Frank Reade, Jr. He was deeply devoted to his young master, and was ready at all times to sell his life for him. Into the cave the three men holdly pushed. in its tortuous windings. They went on rapidly for some distance before they saw or heard anything of the foe. Then suddenly from behizd an angle in the passage tLey came face to face with a couple of the Klamathbs, Tnere was no time for sentiment. of the quickest for the best. The Klamaths had instantly unswung their bows. Arrows were already half headed to the bowstrivg, when—— Crack—ack!” Pomp’s rifle spoke, and blended with Denham’s. The two savages fell dend. Then the white men waited the appearance of others. But singularly enough they did not appear. The two Indians had, apparently, been unaccompanied by others. ‘T done fink webettah go right on,” cried Pomp. anyfing by waitin’ yer.” So they pressed on, Through the passage they went rapidy. Soon, upon turning an angle, a distant staruling sound came to their hearing. It was the crack of rifles, blended with loud yells. explanation was necessary. A battle was in progress just ahead. ‘* Forward, gemmens!” cried Pomy. to take a hand in dat scrap!” “The firing would seem to indicate that our friends are not dead yet,” said Rev. Schuyler Wall. ‘‘ Vou are right,” agreed the professor. there in time,” «© Yo’ kin jes’ bet we will!” cried Pomp, confidently. dar!” All ducked their heads just in time. whizzing over. ““ Gib it to ’em!” cried Pomp. All three opened fire. Their volleys, sweeping down the long passage, were very de- structive. The savages were completely taken by surprise. The besieged white men in the cavern were not a little surprised at the sound of firing in that direction. Barney gave a joyful shout of comprehension. ‘‘ Bejabers, it’s the naygur an’ the others!” he cried. they’re comin’ just in the nick of time.” This gave all renewed hope, and the battle went on more reso- lutely. The Klamaths had been pressing them hard. But now they seemed bewildered and dismayed by the inex- plicable attack in their rear. A sort of panic seemed to seize them, and they broke and retreated wildly to the further end of the cavern chamber. This left the patk open to the outer passage. It is needless to say that Frank and his companions quickly gained Soon they were deep Nor for parley. It was a case ‘« Neber gain No further ‘6 I jone reckon we wants fo’ ‘““T think we shall get *« Look out A flight of arrows went ‘“* Shure, it. They were met there by Pomp and the others, The meeting was a joyful one. Pomp and his two associates had cleared the passage be- fore them. The battle was over. The Klamaths still kept up their fire from the lower end of the cham- ber, but it was not returned. Frank had no desire of conducting the conflict further. His end, that of Barney’s rescue, had been accomplished. More he could not ask for. The exchange of greetings was joyous enough, but Frank cried: “Come! Let us go back to the air-ship. There is nothing to keep us here. In another hour we must be on our way to Readestown.” Then the one query came to all. Would they find the air-ship safe in the charge of its fair defender? GOmMilGooo (Cc SS (SO)