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"
Eat these," he said, offering one of each to the sailors.
At first they could not understand that these small tablets would be able
to allay the pangs of hunger; but when Rob explained their virtues the
men ate them greedily. Within a few moments they were so greatly
restored to strength and courage that their eyes brightened, their sunken
cheeks flushed, and they were able to converse with their benefactor with
calmness and intelligence.
Then the boy sat beside them upon the grass and told them the story of
his acquaintance with the Demon and of all his adventures since he had
come into possession of the wonderful electric contrivances. In his
present mood he felt it would be a relief to confide in some one, and so
these poor, lonely men were the first to hear his story.
When he related the manner in which he had clung to the Turk while
both ascended into the air, the elder of the two sailors listened with rapt
attention, and then, after some thought, asked:
"
Why couldn't you carry one or both of us to America?"
Rob took time seriously to consider this idea, while the sailors eyed him
with eager interest. Finally he said:
"
I'm afraid I couldn't support your weight long enough to reach any other
land. It's a long journey, and you'd pull my arms out of joint before we'd
been up an hour."
Their faces fell at this, but one of them said:
"
Why couldn't we swing ourselves over your shoulders with a rope? Our
two bodies would balance each other and we are so thin and emaciated
that we do not weigh very much."
While considering this suggestion Rob remembered how at one time five
pirates had clung to his left leg and been carried some distance through
the air.
"
Have you a rope?" he asked.
"
No," was the answer; "but there are plenty of long, tough vines growing
on the island that are just as strong and pliable as ropes."
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