"What you got thar, Bull?" said the man, as he approached the sapling, at the root of which the dog was barking in a most vociferous manner. "What is it, old feller?" he continued. "B'ar, painter, ur catamount?"
Bull's response was an abortive attempt to climb the tree, accompanied by a most furious outburst of barking.
"Be quiet, old feller," said the man; "we'll soon see what it is," at the same time raising his rifle to his shoulder.
"Hold on there," shouted the professor, who was beginning to realize the perilous position in which he was placed, and the imminent danger he was in of being shot for a bear or catamount. "I am no varmint. I'm Nicodemus Squab, Professor of Orthography in the Jimtown district school."
"Hallo," said the backwoodsman, as he lowered his rifle, "is that so? Well, that gits me. What in thunder ur you doin' up thar?"
"Wait till I get down, and I'll tell you."
And crawling out of the crotch in which he had been seated, the professor slid down the sapling, when he soon succeeded in explaining matters to the satisfaction of that thinly clad backwoodsman and his savage bulldog.
It was now broad daylight, and when he reached Jimtown the sun was some distance above the horizon, climbing upward toward the zenith.
Of course every man, woman, and child in the place beheld, with wonder-depicted countenances, the advent of the mud-begrimed, hatless professor, and a thousand conjectures were indulged in as to the cause of his singular appearance.
The professor was disposed to be reticent on the subject, answering interrogatories in relation to the matter evasively; but the joke was too good to be kept, and in less than twenty-four hours his approach toward any crowd was greeted by a broad grin overspreading the countenances of a majority of the members thereof, and his departure signalized by a long guffaw.
This conduct on the part of the citizens annoyed the professor considerably at first; then it grew monotonous, and he became disgusted.
Finally he burst into a flame of indignation, and after taking his revenge out of the hides of the pupils, especially Mose Howard and his confederates, the irate professor shook the dust of Jimtown off his feet, and betook himself to parts unknown.
"Race war in Alabama. Take cinematograph pictures of fighting and country." "Want pictures of Dyaks of Borneo as soon as possible." "Series wanted of whale-hunting in Arctic regions."
The average man, receiving one of these messages with his breakfast, would not regard the commission exactly in the light of a pleasure trip. To the cinematograph man, however, such orders are all in a day's work. He simply packs up his machine, makes his arrangements in the shortest possible time, and goes right ahead with the business.
It is thrilling and wonderful work at times; and it requires a little patience, too. "One of our photographers," said the manager of a company recently, "once sat beside a geyser in Iceland for three weeks, waiting for an eruption to take place, in order that he might obtain some pictures of this wonderful phenomenon. The geyser seemed in no hurry to oblige him, so he left the district for a couple of days. When he returned he found that the eruption had taken place and the geyser had again become inactive.
"Another of our photographers, who went out to Borneo to take pictures of the home life of the natives, narrowly escaped losing his head as well as his machine. The natives thought the latter was some new and powerful weapon, and it was only by the timely intervention of the interpreter, who explained matters, that they adopted a more friendly attitude.
"By the way, this particular photographer raised a good laugh when he came home. We wanted some pictures taken while traveling down the water chute at an exhibition. It was necessary for the operator and the machine to be strapped to the boat, in order that he might be quite free to turn the handle and take the photographs as he shot down the chute. I asked the photographer from Borneo to do the job. 'I would rather be excused,' he said; 'I've got a weak heart.' Here was a man, who spent weeks among one of the most savage tribes in the world, who was afraid to go down a water chute. Nerves are peculiar things.
"I think, however, the worst experience which has befallen one of our photographers was that of the man we sent to take the pictures of a whale-hunting expedition. A fine school—I believe that is the correct term—of whales was sighted one day. The boats went in pursuit, and our photographer with his machine entered one of them. The crew of this boat managed to harpoon a fine big whale, who went through the sea at a terrific pace, dragging the boat behind him. Our photographer was just congratulating himself on getting some of the most realistic pictures ever obtained, when suddenly the whale doubled in its tracks, and, to make a long story short, smashed the boat. Luckily, another boat came up at the critical moment and rescued the crew and the photographer. But the latter is always bemoaning the fact that one of the finest sets of cinematograph pictures ever taken lies at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean."
Some of the most interesting pictures shown, however, are scenes taken en route while traveling by rail in various parts of the world. A special engine is chartered, and the operator, with his machine, takes his place on the front platform of the engine, or on a low truck which the engine pushes in front of it. Thus mile after mile of scenery is photographed as the engine rushes along. It is a rather ticklish job, particularly in wild regions where all sorts of animals stray on to the line, and there is a risk of collision and general smash.
Doubtless many readers are acquainted with the entertaining and novel manner in which these pictures are afterward shown. One sits in a stationary model of a railway carriage, the picture being thrown on a screen at the end. A motor underneath the carriage gives a realistic impression of the noise made by a train when traveling, and thus one seems to be rushing through the country which is being depicted on the screen. It is a novel notion, which is deserving of all the success and popularity it has attained.
The most beautiful and withal costly fishes in the world come from China, and of these the most expensive and rarest is the brush-tail goldfish. Specimens of these have sold for as high as $700 each, and in Europe the prices range from $250 to $500. The brush-tail goldfish is so small that a half-crown piece will cover it, and probably there is no living thing of its size and weight that is worth so much money.
The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it is. See for yourself.High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Castaway in the Bahamas.13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of theHawk.15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of theGrampus.16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right.23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck That Wins.24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying For Fame and Fortune.
11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.
12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Castaway in the Bahamas.
13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.
14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of theHawk.
15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of theGrampus.
16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.
17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.
18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.
19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.
20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.
22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right.
23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck That Wins.
24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying For Fame and Fortune.
The most popular publication for boys. The adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell can be had only in this weekly.High art colored covers. Thirty-two pages. Price, 5 cents.
684—Dick Merriwell at the "Meet"; or, Honors Worth Winning.685—Dick Merriwell's Protest; or, The Man Who Would Not Play Clean.686—Dick Merriwell In The Marathon; or, The Sensation of the Great Run.687—Dick Merriwell's Colors; or, All For the Blue.688—Dick Merriwell, Driver; or, The Race for the Daremore Cup.689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep; or, The Cruise of theYale.690—Dick Merriwell in the North Woods; or, The Timber Thieves of the Floodwood.691—Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy Nine.692—Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and the "Princess."693—Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for "Dead Injun" Mine.694—Dick Merriwell in Utah; or, The Road to "Promised Land."695—Dick Merriwell's Bluff; or, The Boy Who Ran Away.696—Dick Merriwell in the Saddle; or, The Bunch from the Bar-Z.697—Dick Merriwell's Ranch Friends; or, Sport on the Range.
684—Dick Merriwell at the "Meet"; or, Honors Worth Winning.
685—Dick Merriwell's Protest; or, The Man Who Would Not Play Clean.
686—Dick Merriwell In The Marathon; or, The Sensation of the Great Run.
687—Dick Merriwell's Colors; or, All For the Blue.
688—Dick Merriwell, Driver; or, The Race for the Daremore Cup.
689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep; or, The Cruise of theYale.
690—Dick Merriwell in the North Woods; or, The Timber Thieves of the Floodwood.
691—Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy Nine.
692—Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and the "Princess."
693—Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for "Dead Injun" Mine.
694—Dick Merriwell in Utah; or, The Road to "Promised Land."
695—Dick Merriwell's Bluff; or, The Boy Who Ran Away.
696—Dick Merriwell in the Saddle; or, The Bunch from the Bar-Z.
697—Dick Merriwell's Ranch Friends; or, Sport on the Range.
The best detective stories on earth. Nick Carter's exploits are read the world over.High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
646—Three Times Stolen; or, Nick Carter's Strange Clue.647—The Great Diamond Syndicate; or, Nick Carter's Cleverest Foes.648—The House of the Yellow Door; or, Nick Carter in the Old French Quarter.649—The Triangle Clue; or, Nick Carter's Greenwich Village Case.650—The Hollingsworth Puzzle; or, Nick Carter Three Times Baffled.651—The Affair of the Missing Bonds; or, Nick Carter in the Harness.652—The Green Box Clue; or, Nick Carter's Good Friend.653—The Taxicab Mystery; or, Nick Carter Closes a Deal.654—The Mystery of a Hotel Room; or, Nick Carter's Best Work.655—The Tragedy of the Well; or, Nick Carter Under Suspicion.656—The Black Hand; or, Chick Carter's Well-laid Plot.657—The Black Hand Nemesis; or, Chick Carter and the Mysterious Woman.658—A Masterly Trick; or, Chick and the Beautiful Italian.659—A Dangerous Man; or, Nick Carter and the Famous Castor Case.
646—Three Times Stolen; or, Nick Carter's Strange Clue.
647—The Great Diamond Syndicate; or, Nick Carter's Cleverest Foes.
648—The House of the Yellow Door; or, Nick Carter in the Old French Quarter.
649—The Triangle Clue; or, Nick Carter's Greenwich Village Case.
650—The Hollingsworth Puzzle; or, Nick Carter Three Times Baffled.
651—The Affair of the Missing Bonds; or, Nick Carter in the Harness.
652—The Green Box Clue; or, Nick Carter's Good Friend.
653—The Taxicab Mystery; or, Nick Carter Closes a Deal.
654—The Mystery of a Hotel Room; or, Nick Carter's Best Work.
655—The Tragedy of the Well; or, Nick Carter Under Suspicion.
656—The Black Hand; or, Chick Carter's Well-laid Plot.
657—The Black Hand Nemesis; or, Chick Carter and the Mysterious Woman.
658—A Masterly Trick; or, Chick and the Beautiful Italian.
659—A Dangerous Man; or, Nick Carter and the Famous Castor Case.
For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by
STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERSof our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail.POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.
IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERSof our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail.POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.
MOTOR STORIES
Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which are making their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and delighted. Surprised at the generous quantity of reading matter that we are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating interest of the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly.
Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are unusual, they are, however, drawn so true to life that the reader can clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary boy to experience them.
HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED:
1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's Courier.4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the "Comet."5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot.6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High Gear.7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the Bahamas.13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the "Hawk."15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the "Grampus."16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right.23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck that Wins.24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune.
1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.
2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.
3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's Courier.
4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the "Comet."
5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot.
6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High Gear.
7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.
8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.
9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.
10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.
11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.
12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the Bahamas.
13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.
14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the "Hawk."
15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the "Grampus."
16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.
17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.
18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.
19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.
20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
21—Motor Matt's Launch; or, A Friend in Need.
22—Motor Matt's Enemies; or, A Struggle for the Right.
23—Motor Matt's Prize; or, The Pluck that Wins.
24—Motor Matt on the Wing; or, Flying for Fame and Fortune.
To be Published on August 9th.
25—Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game.
25—Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Game.
To be Published on August 16th.
26—Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of Friendship.
26—Motor Matt's "Make or Break"; or, Advancing the Spark of Friendship.
To be Published on August 23d.
27—Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show.
27—Motor Matt's Engagement; or, On the Road With a Show.
To be Published on August 30th.
28—Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow.
28—Motor Matt's "Short Circuit"; or, The Mahout's Vow.
PRICE, FIVE CENTS
At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of the price.
Transcriber's Notes:Added table of contents.Images may be clicked to view larger versions.Page 2, corrected "aëroplan" to "aëroplane" in "Traquair and his aëroplane."Page 3, corrected "Tarquair" to "Traquair" in "try-out of the Traquair" and "you and Mrs. Traquair sold."Page 6, corrected "wil" to "will" in "money will go to you."Page 10, corrected "se" to "see" in "see the time-piece."Page 25, corrected "Pebbles" to "Prebbles" in "good stuff in young Pebbles."Page 29, corrected "thty" to "they" in "which they kept till."
Added table of contents.
Images may be clicked to view larger versions.
Page 2, corrected "aëroplan" to "aëroplane" in "Traquair and his aëroplane."
Page 3, corrected "Tarquair" to "Traquair" in "try-out of the Traquair" and "you and Mrs. Traquair sold."
Page 6, corrected "wil" to "will" in "money will go to you."
Page 10, corrected "se" to "see" in "see the time-piece."
Page 25, corrected "Pebbles" to "Prebbles" in "good stuff in young Pebbles."
Page 29, corrected "thty" to "they" in "which they kept till."