"I know," said Rob; "but I couldn't help it. It was the only way I had to protect myself."
"Therefore my next gift shall be this Garment of Protection. You must wear it underneath3 your clothing. It has power to accumulate and exercise electrical repellent force. Perhaps you do not know what that means, so I will explain more fully4. When any missile, such as a bullet, sword or lance, approaches your person, its rush through the air will arouse the repellent force of which I speak, and this force, being more powerful than the projective force, will arrest the flight of the missile and throw it back again. Therefore nothing can touch your person that comes with any degree of force or swiftness, and you will be safe from all ordinary weapons. When wearing this Garment you will find it unnecessary to use the electric tube except on rare occasions. Never allow revenge or animosity to influence your conduct. Men may threaten, but they can not injure you, so you must remember that they do not possess your mighty5 advantages, and that, because of your strength, you should bear with them patiently."
Rob examined the garment with much curiosity. It glittered like silver, yet was soft and pliable6 as lamb's wool. Evidently the Demon had prepared it especially for his use, for it was just Rob's size.
"Now," continued the Demon, more gravely, "we approach the subject of an electrical device so truly marvelous that even I am awed7 when I contemplate8 the accuracy and perfection of the natural laws which guide it and permit it to exercise its functions. Mankind has as yet conceived nothing like it, for it requires full knowledge of electrical power to understand even its possibilities."
The Being paused, and drew from an inner pocket something resembling a flat metal box. In size it was about four inches by six, and nearly an inch in thickness.
"What is it?" asked Rob, wonderingly.
"It is an automatic Record of Events," answered the Demon.
"I don't understand," said Rob, with hesitation9.
"I will explain to you its use," returned the Demon, "although the electrical forces which operate it and the vibratory currents which are the true records must remain unknown to you until your brain has mastered the higher knowledge of electricity. At present the practical side of this invention will be more interesting to you than a review of its scientific construction.
"Suppose you wish to know the principal events that are occurring in Germany at the present moment. You first turn this little wheel at the side until the word 'Germany' appears in the slot at the small end. Then open the top cover, which is hinged, and those passing events in which you are interested will appear before your eyes."
The Demon, as he spoke10, opened the cover, and, looking within, the boy saw, as in a mirror, a moving picture before him. A regiment11 of soldiers was marching through the streets of Berlin, and at its head rode a body of horsemen, in the midst of which was the Emperor himself. The people who thronged12 the sidewalks cheered and waved their hats and handkerchiefs with enthusiasm, while a band of musicians played a German air, which Rob could distinctly hear.
While he gazed, spell-bound, the scene changed, and he looked upon a great warship13 entering a harbor with flying pennants14. The rails were lined with officers and men straining their eyes for the first sight of their beloved "VATERLAND" after a long foreign cruise, and a ringing cheer, as from a thousand throats, came faintly to Rob's ear.
Again the scene changed, and within a dingy15, underground room, hemmed16 in by walls of stone, and dimly lighted by a flickering17 lamp, a body of wild-eyed, desperate men were plighting18 an oath to murder the Emperor and overthrow19 his government.
"Anarchists20?" asked Rob, trembling with excitement.
"Anarchists!" answered the Demon, with a faint sneer21, and he shut the cover of the Record with a sudden snap.
"It's wonderful!" cried the boy, with a sigh that was followed by a slight shiver.
"The Record is, indeed, proof within itself of the marvelous possibilities of electricity. Men are now obliged to depend upon newspapers for information; but these can only relate events long after they have occurred. And newspaper statements are often unreliable and sometimes wholly false, while many events of real importance are never printed in their columns. You may guess what an improvement is this automatic Record of Events, which is as reliable as Truth itself. Nothing can be altered or falsified, for the vibratory currents convey the actual events to your vision, even as they happen."
"But suppose," said Rob, "that something important should happen while I'm asleep, or not looking at the box?"
"I have called this a Record," replied the Demon, "and such it really is, although I have shown you only such events as are in process of being recorded. By pressing this spring you may open the opposite cover of the box, where all events of importance that have occurred throughout the world during the previous twenty-four hours will appear before you in succession. You may thus study them at your leisure. The various scenes constitute a register of the world's history, and may be recalled to view as often as you desire."
"It's—it's like knowing everything," murmured Rob, deeply impressed for perhaps the first time in his life.
"It IS knowing everything," returning the Demon; "and this mighty gift I have decided22 to entrust23 to your care. Be very careful as to whom you permit to gaze upon these pictures of passing events, for knowledge may often cause great misery24 to the human race."
"I'll be careful," promised the boy, as he took the box reverently25 within his own hands.
"The third and last gift of the present series," resumed the Demon, "is one no less curious than the Record of Events, although it has an entirely26 different value. It is a Character Marker."
"What's that?" inquired Rob.
"I will explain. Perhaps you know that your fellow-creatures are more or less hypocritical. That is, they try to appear good when they are not, and wise when in reality they are foolish. They tell you they are friendly when they positively27 hate you, and try to make you believe they are kind when their natures are cruel. This hypocrisy28 seems to be a human failing. One of your writers has said, with truth, that among civilized29 people things are seldom what they seem."
"I've heard that," remarked Rob.
"On the other hand," continued the Demon, "some people with fierce countenances30 are kindly31 by nature, and many who appear to be evil are in reality honorable and trustworthy. Therefore, that you may judge all your fellow-creatures truly, and know upon whom to depend, I give you the Character Marker. It consists of this pair of spectacles. While you wear them every one you meet will be marked upon the forehead with a letter indicating his or her character. The good will bear the letter 'G,' the evil the letter 'E.' The wise will be marked with a 'W' and the foolish with an 'F.' The kind will show a 'K' upon their foreheads and the cruel a letter 'C.' Thus you may determine by a single look the true natures of all those you encounter."
"And are these, also, electrical in their construction?" asked the boy, as he took the spectacles.
"Certainly. Goodness, wisdom and kindness are natural forces, creating character. For this reason men are not always to blame for bad character, as they acquire it unconsciously. All character sends out certain electrical vibrations32, which these spectacles concentrate in their lenses and exhibit to the gaze of their wearer, as I have explained."
"It's a fine idea," said the boy; "who discovered it?"
"Oh!" said Rob.
"With these gifts, and the ones you acquired a week ago, you are now equipped to astound34 the world and awaken35 mankind to a realization36 of the wonders that may be accomplished37 by natural forces. See that you employ these powers wisely, in the interests of science, and do not forget your promise to exhibit your electrical marvels38 only to those who are most capable of comprehending them."
"I'll remember," said Rob.
"Then adieu until a week from to-day, when I will meet you here at this hour and bestow39 upon you the last three gifts which you are entitled to receive. Good-by!"
"Good-by!" repeated Rob, and in a gorgeous flash of color the Demon disappeared, leaving the boy alone in the room with his new and wonderful possessions.
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1
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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pliable
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| adj.易受影响的；易弯的；柔顺的，易驾驭的 | |
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7
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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10
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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12
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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pennants
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| n.校旗( pennant的名词复数 )；锦标旗；长三角旗；信号旗 | |
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15
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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16
hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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17
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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18
plighting
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| vt.保证，约定（plight的现在分词形式） | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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anarchists
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| 无政府主义者( anarchist的名词复数 ) | |
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21
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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22
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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24
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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31
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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32
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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33
utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
astound
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| v.使震惊，使大吃一惊 | |
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35
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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36
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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37
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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38
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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