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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 bang-stick."

The chief listened to this statement carefully, but only understood it in

part. After a moment's reflection he declared:

White man lie. Lie all time. Me eat plenty white man. Never get sick;

never die." Then he added, with renewed cheerfulness: "Me eat you, too!"

Before Rob could think of a further protest, his captors caught up the

end of the rope and led him away through the forest. He was tightly

bound, and one strand of rope ran across the machine on his wrist and

pressed it into his flesh until the pain was severe. But he resolved to be

brave, whatever happened, so he stumbled along after the savages

without a word.

After a brief journey they came to a village, where Rob was thrust into a

brushwood hut and thrown upon the ground, still tightly bound.

We light fire," said the chief. "Then kill little white man. Then eat him."

With this comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone to think

the matter over.

This is tough," reflected the boy, with a groan. "I never expected to feed

cannibals. Wish I was at home with mother and dad and the girls. Wish

I'd never seen the Demon of Electricity and his wonderful inventions. I

was happy enough before I struck that awful Master Key. And now I'll be

eaten--with salt and pepper, probably. Wonder if there'll be any gravy.

Perhaps they'll boil me, with biscuits, as mother does chickens. Oh-h-h-

h-h! It's just awful!"

In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware that

something was hurting his back. After rolling over he found that he had

The Master Key