wer to
carry him through the air. Whether he remained in the ship or trusted
to the machine, he stood a good chance of dropping into the sea at any
moment. So, while he hesitated, he attached the machine to his wrist
and leaned over the bulwarks to watch the progress of the storm. He
might stay in the ship until it foundered, he thought, and then take
his chances with the machine. He decided to wait until a climax
arrived.

The climax came the next moment, for while he leaned over the bulwarks
the buccaneers stole up behind him and suddenly seized him in their
grasp. While two of them held his arms the others searched his
pockets, taking from him the electric tube and the silver box
containing his tablets. These they carried to the cabin and threw upon
the heap of other valuables they had stolen. They did not notice his
traveling machine, however, but seeing him now unarmed they began
jeering and laughing at him, while the brutal captain relieved his
anger by giving the prisoner several malicious kicks.

Rob bore his misfortune meekly, although he was almost ready to cry
with grief and disappointment. But when one of the pirates, to inflict
further punishment on the boy, came towards him with a heavy strap, he
resolved not to await the blow.

Turning the indicator to the word "up" he found, to his joy and relief,
that it would yet obey the influence of the power of repulsion. Seeing
him rise into the air the fellow made a grab for his foot and held it
firmly, while his companions ran to help him. Weight seemed to make no
difference in the machine; it lifted the pirate as well as Rob; it
lifted another who clung to the first man's leg, and another who clung
to him. The other two also caught hold, hoping their united strength
would pull him down, and the next minute Rob was soaring through the
air with the entire string of five buccaneers dangling from his left
leg.

At first the villains were too astounded to speak, but as they realized
that they were being carried through the air and away from their ship
they broke into loud shouts of dismay, and finally the one who grasped
Rob's leg lost his hold and the five plunged downward and splashed into
the sea.

Finding the machine disposed to work accurately, Rob left the
buccaneers to swim to the ship in the best way they could, while he
dropped down to the deck again and recovered from the cabin his box of
tablets and the electric tube. The fellows were ju