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D--d--don't g--g--go so high!" stammered the little one, tremblingly;

suppose we should f--f--fall!"

Well, s'pose we should?" answered Rob, gruffly. "You couldn't drown

until you struck the water, so the higher we are the longer you'll live in

case of accident."

This phase of the question seemed to comfort the frightened fellow

somewhat; but, as he said, he had not a good head for heights, and so

continued to tremble in spite of his resolve to be brave.

The weight on Rob's shoulders was not so great as he had feared, the

traveling machine seeming to give a certain lightness and buoyancy to

everything that came into contact with its wearer.

As soon as he had reached a sufficient elevation to admit of good speed

he turned the indicator once more to the east and began moving rapidly

through the air, the shipwrecked sailors dangling at either side.

This is aw--aw--awful!" gasped the little one.

Say, you shut up!" commanded the boy, angrily. "If your friend was as

big a coward as you are I'd drop you both this minute. Let go my arm

and keep quiet, if you want to reach land alive."

The fellow whimpered a little, but managed to remain silent for several

minutes. Then he gave a sudden twitch and grabbed Rob's arm again.

S'pose--s'pose the vine should break!" he moaned, a horrified look upon

his face.

I've had about enough of this," said Rob, savagely. "If you haven't any

sense you don't deserve to live." He turned the indicator on the dial of

the machine and they began to descend rapidly.

The little fellow screamed with fear, but Rob paid no attention to him

until the feet of the two suspended sailors were actually dipping into the

waves, when he brought their progress to an abrupt halt.

Wh--wh--what are you g--g--going to do?" gurgled the cowardly sailor.

I'm going to feed you to the sharks--unless you promise to keep your

mouth shut," retorted the boy. "Now, then; decide at once! Which will it

be--sharks or silence?"

The Master Key