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He twisted his head around, and seeing the black again make a

movement with the spear, Rob turned his electric tube upon him and

keeled him over like a ten-pin.

The natives, who had looked up at his cry of pain, again prostrated

themselves, kicking their toes against the ground in a terrified tattoo at

this new evidence of the god's powers.

The situation was growing somewhat strained by this time, and Rob did

not know what the savages would decide to do next; so he thought it best

to move away from them, since he was unable to rise to a greater height.

He turned the indicator towards the south, where a level space appeared

between the trees; but instead of taking that direction he moved towards

the northeast, a proof that his machine had now become absolutely

unreliable. Moreover, he was slowly approaching the fire, which,

although it had ceased blazing, was a mass of glowing red embers.

In his excitement he turned the indicator this way and that, trying to

change the direction of his flight, but the only result of his endeavor was

to carry him directly over the fire, where he came to a full stop.

Murder! Help! Fire and blazes!" he cried, as he felt the glow of the coals

beneath him. "I'll be roasted, after all! Here; help, Fatty, help!"

The fat chief sprang to his feet and came to the rescue. He reached up,

caught Rob by the heels, and pulled him down to the ground, away from

the fire. But the next moment, as he clung to the boy's feet, they both

soared into the air again, and, although now far enough from the fire to

escape its heat, the savage, finding himself lifted from the earth, uttered

a scream of horror and let go of Rob, to fall head over heels upon the

ground.

The other blacks had by this time regained their feet, and now they

crowded around their chief and set him upright again.

Rob continued to float in the air, just above their heads, and now

abandoned all thoughts of escaping by means of his wrecked traveling

machine. But he resolved to regain a foothold upon the earth and take

his chances of escape by running rather than flying. So he turned the

indicator to the word "down," and very slowly it obeyed, allowing him, to

his great relief, to sink gently to the ground.

The Master Key