To Mars with Tesla by Charley Allen

Author:Charley Allen [Allen, Charley]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Our Pub House
Published: 2016-07-10T03:00:00+00:00

12

Passport to Mars

Something was buzzing like a bumblebee in the interior mechanism of the flying machine, and something like paddles beat the air, automatically, behind young Edison’s back.

It took Frank a few moments to get his breath, and overcome the apprehension and strangeness of the situation.

But Frank was now getting used to these extraordinary aerial flights, and practical suggestions soon thronged his energetic mind.

Finally he could reach his eyes by skillfully crooking an arm. He tore the blindfold off and took a look around.

As he was progressing away from the magnetic mountain, he could not glance around to determine how far away from it he’d gotten.

He was passing rapidly over a varied, unfamiliar landscape, not so very high above the ground. Frank had observed that the machine was being driven from behind. His hands were constrained, however, so he could not reach the rear gearing, and for the moment he contented himself with drifting as the flying machine took him.

Suddenly the observant sky traveler heard a series of loud, fierce shouts.

Frank glanced toward the apparent source of the commotion.

He was just passing over a plateau, where some twenty Indians were making their camp.

The natives had noticed the flying oddity, and their excitement over it was intense.

Bang! Bang!

Every man had sprung to his rifle. Frank felt he was in grave danger.

Bang! Bang!

Out of seven shots fired, all but two reached the target. Frank heard the bullets zip and strike, penetrating the framework at the back.

They numbed his shoulders in places. Had he been hit?

No, he was sure of it, as half a dozen other shots struck him directly in the back.

Then Frank recalled that he still had on the short, heavy coat he had hastily donned in the cavern.

“It’s a piece of bullet-proof armor!” he murmured. “What else could resist that peppering? Ah, I’ve drifted past that danger, at least! Wait, turning back? No; a veer. Yikes, I’ll be dashed to pieces!”

The bullets had missed Frank, but one of them had caused serious disaster, it seemed.

It had struck some part of the operating mechanism, so that the entire course and conduct of the machine were changed.

Its captive was whirled off in a slanting, side position, rapidly approaching the ground.

Frank watched as the rocks seemed to rise up and meet him—he feared he would be dashed to pieces.

Nearer came the earth. There was a dull jar, a shock—

Crash!

Frank felt himself momentarily stunned. Then the entire flying apparatus was stripped from him completely.

He had landed amid a honeycombed, earthly formation, and, drifting through a round hole, his substantial overcoat was torn to shreds.

Free from major injury, young Edison tumbled along a slant, then hit bottom.

“Heavens!” uttered a loud voice.

“Whew!” muttered Frank.

He had struck a pile of leaves and sprigs being used to feed a campfire.

The sparks and ashes flew up, and bolting into a nest of bushes, Frank scrambled to right himself.

“It’s young Edison!” hailed a wondering voice.

“Professor Combe!” cried the astonished astronaut.

Frank was delighted to find not only the professors at the camp, but Nikola Tesla also.

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