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THE WAYOEOSS HEEUfLD JOLT 31. J8i7.
ICopjrtfht, UBT.brUM Ksrrlaa Ooapaoy.]
“I cannot understand.*” And after a •
pause in which Johnston could bear the
great fellow's heart beating be contin
ued: "That most be the heaven the man
•Poke about. And beyond the water is
it always dark like this, and do they
banish people there as the king has
w?”
"No. Beyond are other countries. Bnt
is there no chance for us to escape from
here?"
The Alphian laughed bitterly. "None.
What were you banished for?"
"I hardly know."
"Bold out your arm. There," as be
grasped Johnston’s arm in a clasp of
iron, "I see. You are undeveloped, un
fit. None but the healthy and strong
is allowed to live in Alpha. It is
right, of course, but it is bard to bear.
But I must lie down. I am wearied
with constant rambling. 1 am nervous
too. I fell asleep awhile ago and
dreamed I heard all my friends in a
great, clamoring body calling my name,
‘Branasko!’ and then I awoke and cried
for help."
As he spoke he sank with a sigh to
the ground and rested bis bead on his
elbows and knees and seemed asleep.
The American sat down beside him, and
for a long time neither spoke. Branasko
broke the silence. He awoke with a
\ broke
start
"Ugh, I dreamed again!" be grunted.
"Are you asieep?"
"No," was Johnston’s reply. "I am
hungry and thirsty and cannot sleep."
"So am I, but we mnst wait till it is
lighter; then we can go in search of
food. When I was a boy, I learned to
catch fish in pools with my bands, and
it has prolonged my life here. When the
light comes again, I shall show you
how I do it. ”
"Then the day does break? I thought
it was eternally dark here."
"It does not get very light, because
we are behind the sun, but it is lighter
than now, for we get the sun’s reflec
tion, enough at least to keep us from
falling into the chasms."
Branasko lowered his head to bis
knees and slept again, but the Ameri
can, though wearied, was wakeful.
Several hours passed. The Alpbian was
sleeping soundly, his breathing was
very heavy, and he had rolled down on
his side.
Far away in the east the darkness
gradually faded into purple, and then
into gray, and slowly hints of pink ap
peared in the skies. It was dawn. John
ston touched his companion. The man
awoke and looked at him from bis
great swollen eyes.
"It is day," ho yawned, rising and
stretching himself.
"But the hud is not ia sight.»’
"No, it shows itself only in the mid
dle of the day, and then but fox a few
minutes -iVo jaspjt *o _pow ^nd search
rbrTotxT. I'wliTHio "VLu C3Tch
Once Johnaton't foot slipped,
the eyeless tun in the black caverns
over there." And he led the American
into the blackness behind them. Every
now and then, as they stumbled along,
Johnston would look longingly back to
ward the faint pink light that shone
above the high black wall, but Branas-
ko hastened on.
Presently they came to the edge of a
black chasm, and the American was
filled with awe, for, from the seemingly
fathomless depths, came a great roaring
sound like that of a mighty wind, and
the air that came from it was hot,
though pure and free from the odor of
**"What ia this?" be asked.
"They are everywhere," answered
Branasko. "If it were not for their hot
breathing, the Land of the Changing
Sun would be cold and damp."
"Then the sun does not gtve out
heat?"
"No."
"It is cold?" •
"I believe so. I have never thought
xapeh about it.**
The American was mystified, but he
did not question further, for Branasko
was carefully lowering himself into the
hot suit
"Follow me," he eaid. "We must
cross it to reach the caves. I will guide
you. I have been over this way before.’*
"But can we stand the beat?"
"Ob, yes. When we get used to it, it
is invigorating. I perspire in streams,
but I feel better afterward. Come on."
' Branasko’s bead only was abqvq ti»
ground. "I am standing on a ledge,"
be said. "Get down beside me. Fear
nothing. It is solid. Besides, what does
it matter? You can die buto>—s and it
would really *jo better to tall down
there into the internal fires than to
starve slowly."
Johnston shaddered convulsively as
he let himself down beside Branasko.
His foot dislodged a stone. With a crash
it fell upon a lower ledge and bounded
Off and went whizzing down into the
depths. Both men listened. They heard
the stone bounding from ledge to ledge
till the sound was lost in the internal
roaring.
**Jt is mighty deep," said Johnston.
"Yes; but follow me. We cannot stop
here. We mnst go along this ledge till
we get to the point where the chasm is
narrow enough to jump across. I have
done it."
•’The American held to his companion
with one hand and the rock with the
other, and they slowly made their way
along the narrow ledge, pausing every
now and then to rest At every step the
path grew more perilous and narrower,
and the cliff on their left rose higher
and higher, till the reflected light of the
sun had entirely disappeared. At cer
tain points the hot wind dashed upon
them as furiously as the whirling mist
in the Cave of the Winds at Niagara
falls. Once Johnston's foot slipped and
he fell, but was drawn back to safety
by the strong arm of the Alphian.
4 ‘Be careful. Hold to the cliff’s face,”
Warned BraSasko indifferently, and he
moved onward as if nothing unusual
had occurred. Presently they reached
a point where a narrow bowlder jutted
out over the chasm toward the opposite
side, and Branasko cautiously crawled
rat upon it. When be had got to its
end, Johnston could not see him in the
gloom, bnt his voice came to him oat
of the Tearing of the chasm.
"I can see the other side and am go
ing to jump." An instant later the
American heard the clatter of the Al-
pbian’s shoes on the rock and bis grunt
of satisfaction. Then Branasko called
out: "Come on. Crawl out till you feel
the end of the rock, and then you can
see me."
-In great trepidation the American
slowly crawled out on the narrow rock.
Below him yawned the hot darkness;
abow hung that black, ominona canopy
tf nothingness. Slowly he.advonced on
bands and knees, every: moment feeling
the sharp rock growing narrower, till
finally he reached the end.' He looked
ahead. He could bnt faintly see the
ledge and Branasko’s tall form silhou
etted npon it.
"See, this is whero you have to
alight," cried the Alphian. "Jump. I
will catch you."
"I am afraid I shall topple over when
I stand up," replied the American.
"The rock is narrow, and my head is
already swimming. I fear I cannot
reach yon. It is no use."
‘‘Tut, tut!" exclaimed Branasko.
"Stand np quickly and jump at once.
Don’t stop to think about it”
Johnston obeyed. He felt his feet
firmly braced on the rock, and he sprang
toward the opposite ledge with all his
might. Branasko canght him.
“Good," he granted. "There ia an
other place; we must jump again. It is
farther on." Along this ledge they
went for some distance, Branasko lead
ing the way and holding the arm of the
American.
now, here we are. The chasm is a
little wider, bnt the ledge on the other
side is broader." As be spoke he re
leased Johnston’s arm and prepared to
jump. He filled his lungs two or three
times. But he seemed to hesitate.
‘Pshaw! Watching you back there has
made me nervous. 1 never cared before.
If I should happen to fall, go back to
where we met. It is safer there without
• guide than here."
Without another word Branasko
hurled himself forward. Johnston held
his breath in horror, for Branasko’s foot
had slipped as be jumped. The Alphian
bad struck the opposite ledge, but not
with bis feet, as he intended. He
clntched it with his hands and hung
there for a moment, straggling to get a
foothold in the emptiness beneath him.
* ‘It’s no use; I am falling. I can bold
no longer." And Johnston, too terrified
to reply, heard the poor fellow’s hands
slipping from the rock, causipg a quan
tity of loose stones to go rattling down
Wilow. With a low cry, Branasko fell.
An instant later Johnston heard birr
strike the ledge beneath and heard him
cry out in pain. Then all was still ex
cept the echoes of Branasko’s cry, which
bounded and rebounded from side to
ride of the chasm and grew fainter and
fainter, till it was submerged in the
roaring below. Then there was a rattle
of stones, and Branasko’s voice sounded.
‘‘A narrow escape!" be said faintly.
"I am on another ledge." Then, after
a slight pause:. "It is much wider—I
don’t know how wide. Are you listen
ing?”
"Yes; but are you hurt?"
"Not at all. Simply knocked the
breath ozt cf u*c for a moment There
is a cave behind me, and (for a mo
ment there was silence) ! can see a
light ahead in the cave. I think it must
be the reflection of the internal fire.
Come down to me, and we will explore
the cavern and see where the light
comes from."
"I can’t get down there," shouted
Johnston to make himself bear ! above
a suuden increase in the roaring in the
chasm. "There is no way."
"Wait a moment,’* came from the
Alphian. "This ledge seems to incline
upward."
Johnston stood perfectly motionless,
afraid to move from the ledge either to
right or to left, and beard Branasko’s
footsteps along the rock beneath. "All
right so far," be called up, and his
voice showed that he had gone to a con
siderable distance to the left. "The
ledge seems to be still leading gradu
ally upward. I think I can reach you.'*
Fifteen minutes passed. The lone
American could no longer bear Branas-
ko’s footsteps. Johnston was becoming
uneasy, and the boi air was causing his
head to swim. He was thinking of trv-
ing to retrace Ids footsteps to a place of
mors security, when be beard footsteps
and »nen the cheery voice of Branasko
nearly opposite him aoroes the chasm:
"Are yon there?**
“Yes."
"It is well. I have discovered a good
pathway down to the cave and a pool of
fishes besides. I have saved some for
you. I was so hungry I had to eat.
Now, yon must jump over to me."
“I cannot," declared the American.
"I cannot jump so far; besides; you
failed.**
Branasko laughed. "I did not leap
in the right direction. It is this point
on which I am now standing that I
should have tried to reach. Come, I
will catch you."
Johnston could not bear to be con
sidered cowardly, so he stepped to the
verge cf the chasm and prepared to
jump. His head felt more dizzy as he
thought of the fathomless depths be
neath, and the rash of hot air up the
side of the cliff took his breath away,
but he braced himself and said calmly:
"All right. I am coming." The next
instant he sprang forward. Branasko
raugbt him in his anus, and they both
tolled back on the level stone.
"Good," cried the Alpbian, trying to
catch liis breath, which Johnston had
knocked out of him by the fall. "You
did better than L You are lighter."
"Where shall we go now?" asked
Johnston, regaining his feet and feeling
of bis legs and arms to see if he had
broken any bones.
"Down this winding path to the
place where I saw that light. I want to
understand it. But you mnst first eat
this fish. It is delicious. They are
swarming in the pools below."
“And water?" said Johnston.
“An abundance of it, as cold as ice."
As Branasko preceded him down the
tortuous path Johnston ate the raw fish
eagerly. Presently they came to a deep
pool of water, and both men threw
themselves down on their stomachs and
drank freely. After this they proceeded
slowly for several hundred yards, and
finally reached the entrance to the cave
in which Branasko had seen the light
At that distance it looked like the light
of some great conflagration reflected
from the face of a cliff.
They enterpH the rpyp and made good
progress toward Cue I.’guC; Tjt fTs^oWea
them the dangerous fissures, sharp
bowlders and stalactites. They had
walked along in silence for several min
utes, when the Alphian stopped abrupt
ly and turned to bis companion.
"What is the matter?" asked John
ston.
“It cannot come from the internal
fires,” replied Branasko, "for the at-
| mosphere grows cooler as we get nearer
the light and away from the chasm. ’’
Johnston was too much puzzled to
formulate a reply, and he simply wait-
i ed for the Alpbian to continue,
j "Let’s go on," said Branasko, and in
| his tone and hesitating manner John-
! ston detected the first appearance of su-
| perstitious fear that he hud seen in the
' brawny Alphian.
CHAPTER VHL
As Thoradyke watched the flying
machine that was bearing his friend
away a genuine feeling of pity went
over him.
Poor Johnston 1 He had been hannted
all day with, the belief that he was to
meet with some misfortune from which
Thoradyke was to be spared, and Thora
dyke had ridiculed his fears. When the
airship had become a mere speck in the
sky. the Englishman turned back into
the palace and strolled about in the vast
crowd.
A handsome yonng man in uniform
approached and touched bis hat
"Are you the comrade of the fellow
they are just sending away?" he asked.
"Yes. Where are they taking him?"
"To the Barrens, of course. Where
Jo you suppose they would take such a
man? He couldn’t pass his examination.
You are not a great physical success
yourself, but they say you pleased the
king with your tongue."
"To the Barrens," repeated Thorn-
dyke, too much concerned over the fate
of bis comrade to notice the speaker’s
tone of contempt "What are they?
Where are they?"
The Alphian officer changed counte
nance as he looked him over with wid
ening eyes.
"Your accent is strange. Are you
from the other world?"
"I suppose so. This is a new one to
me at any rate."
‘♦The world of endless oceans?"
"Yea."
"And the unchanging sun, forever
white and"—
"Yes. But where the devil is the
"Behind the sun, beyond the great
endless wall.'*
"Do they intend to put him to death?’*
"No; that would be— What do you
call it—murder? They will simply
leave him there to die of Jiis own ac
cord, and the king is right I never saw
such a weakling. Ho would taint our
whole race with his presence.”
Without a word Thoradyke abruptly
turned from tho officer and hastened to
ward the apartment of the king. He
would demand the return of poor John
ston or kill tho king if his dcmoqfl was
not grunted. Ia his ha.-te and perturba
tion, however, he lost bis way aud wan
dered. into n part of the palace he had
not seen. A t every step he wna more
and more impressed with tlio magnifi
cent proportions cf the structure and the
grandeur of everything about it
Passing hurriedly through a large
hall, be saw an assemblage cf beautiful
women and handsome men dancing to
the music of a great orchestra. Farther
on, in a great court, a regiment of sol
diers was drilling, its rapid evolutions
making xx> more sound than if it were
moving in midair. In another room he
saw a great body of men, women and
children in varicolored suits WMffg in
a pool of rose colored, perfumed water.
He was pasting cn when a woman,
close!; veiled .and simply dressed.
touched his arm.
"Be watchful and follow me,” she
said in a low, guarded tone.
The heart of the Englishman boundeu
and bis blood rushed to his face, for the
speaker was the Princess Bernardino.
Bh* did not pause, but glided on into
the shade of a great palm tree, and be
hind a row of thick growing ferns of
great height and thickness she waited
for him.
She lowered her veil as he approach
ed and looked at him from her deep
brown eyes in great concern. He stood
spellbound under the witchery of her
beauty.
"I came to warn you, prince," she
said, and her soft musical voice set ev
ery nerve in Thorndyke’s body to tin
gling with delight. "My father has ban
ished the faithful slave that you love,
but you mnst not show the anger that
you feel, else he will kill you. You
must be exceedingly cautious if you
would save him. My father would pun
ish me severely if he knew that I bad
aongbt you in this way. I was obliged
to come in disguise. This dress belongs
to my most trusted maid."
"And you came for my sake?" blurted
out the Englishman, much embarrassed.
"I am not worthy of such a high honor. *’ I
She smiled, and tears rose in her
eyes.
"Oh, prince, don’t speak to me so.!
You are iar above me.- i am weax. I
know nothing. I never cared for other
men than the king and my brothers till
I saw you today, but ’now I would will
ingly be your slave."
"I am yours forever and a humble
one," bowed the courteous Englishman.
"The moment I saw you at the throne
of your father my heart went out to
you. You wound it up in your music
and trampled it under your dancing
feet I have been over the whole world,
and you are the loveliest creature in it
It is because I saw you, because you are
here, that I do not want to leave your
country. They may do as they will with
me if they only will let me see you now
and then."
The princess was deeply moved. The
blood rushed to her face and beaut; ;.*;d
it Her eyc-s fell beneath his admit mg
glance. Thoradyke could not restrain
himself. He caught her slender hand
and pressed it passionately to hi* lips,
and 6he made only a slight effort to pre
vent it
"I am your obedient slave. What
shall I do?" he asked.
"Do not try to rescue him now,” she
said softly. "I shall come to you again
when we are not watched. Y ou can
know me by this dress. There is no
need for great haste. He could live in
the Barrens several days. I shall try to
think of some way to save him, though
such a thing has never been done—
never."
Footsteps were heard on the other''
ride of the row of ferns. A man was
passing, and others soon followed him.
The leathers were leaving the great pool.
"I muBt leave you now," she whis
pered. "If the king honors you again
by talking of bis kingdom, continue to
act as you did. Your fearlessness and
good humor have pleased him greatly."
"Could I not persuade him to bring
Johnston back?"
"No; that would be impossible. Those
who are pronounced physically unfit are
obliged to die. It has been a law for a
long time. You must not count on that.
I have, however, another plan, but I
cannot tell yon of it now, for they may
min me and wonder where I am, and
then, too. my father may be looking for
you. He will naturally desire to see you
®oofi_ajzain. ”
Bowing, she turned away and passed
on toward the apartments of the king,
which the Englishman now recognized
in the distance. Thoradyke went into
the bathing room to watch those re
maining in the great pool of rose color
ed water. Tho sight was betfutifuL The
waves which lapped against the shelv
ing shores of white marble were pink
and white, and tho deeper water was
as red as coral.
I The Englishman was at once troubled
over the fate cf Johnston and elated
over having wen Bernardino’s regard.
Thoughtfully he strolled away from the
bathers into a great picture gallery.
Here hung on the walls and stood on
pedestals some of the rarest works of
art he had ever seen. He passed through
this room and was entering a shady re
treat where plants, flowers and am
brageous trees grew thickly, when be
heard a step behind him and the rus
tling of a silken skirt against the plants.
It was Bernardino.
“We can be unobserved here," she
said, taking off her thick veil and ar
ranging her luxuriant hair. “I hasten
back. The king thinks, so my maid tells
me, that I am asleep in my chamber.
He is busy with an audience of police
from a neighboring town and will not
think of us."
She sat down on a sofa upholstered in
leather, and be took a seat beside her.
"I am glad that we can talk alone," be
said, “for I have much to ask yon.
First, tell me where we are—where
this strange country is on the map of
the world."
"It is a long story," she replied,
"and it would greatly incense the king
if he should find out that I bad told
you, for one of his chief pleasures is to
note the surprise and admiration of
newcomers over wbat they see here, but
if you will promise to gratify his vanity
in this particular I will trjt to explain
it all."
"I promise, and you can depend on
my not getting you into trouble," re
plied Thoradyke. "I never was so puz
zled in my life with that sullen sky
overhead, the wonderful, changing sun
light and the remarkable atmosphere.
I am both bewildered and entranced.
Every, moment I see something new and
startling Where are we?"
“Far beneath the ocean and the sur
face of the earth. I only know what the
king has let fall in my hearing in hit
back, I suppose, Chat one or my ances
tors discovered a little isolated island in
the Atlantic ocean. He wae forced in a
storm to laud there with his ship and
crew to make some repairs to his veaseL
In wandering about over the island he
discovered a narrow entrance to a cave,
and with two ce three Of his men he be
gan to explore it. When they bad gone
for a mile or two down into the interior
of the cavern, which seemed to lead
straight down toward the center of the
earth, they began to find small pieces of
gold. The farther they went the more
they found, till at last the very cavern
walls seemed lined with it •
“They were at first wildly excited
over their sudden good fortune and were
about to load their ship with it and re
turn to Europe at once, but the better
judgment of my ancestor prevailed.
He explained that if the world were in
formed of the discovery of such an in-
“Where are wtV'
exhaustible mine of gold the value
of the precious metal would decline till
it would be worth little more than some
grosser metal, and that if they would
only keep their secret to themselves they
could in time control the tiuauces of the
world. So, actiug on this suggestion,
they only dug out a few thousand
pounds and took part of it to Europe
and part of it to America and turned it
into money.
“Then, to curtail my story, they
elected dV.ancestor as ruler, and, with
ahipsToaued'wTth every available con
venience that inexhaustible wealth could
procure and a colony of carefully cho
sen men, they returned to tho island.
"After the men and their families
had settled in the great, roomy month
of the cavern my ancestor supplied him
self with several strong men aud food
and lights and sought to explore the en
tire cavern.
"To their astonishment, they found
that it was practically endless. When
they had gone down about 60 or 70
miles below the sea level, they found
themselves cn a vast, undulating plain,
the soil of which was dark and rich,
with the black roof of the cavern arch
ing overhead like the bottom of a great,
inverted bowl. Aud when they had
traveled about ton days and reached the
ether side my ancestor calculated that
the cave must be over 100 miles in di
ameter and almost circular ita shape.
But what elated and surprised them
most WU3 the remarkable salubrity of
the atmosphere. In all parts of tho cave
it was exactly the same temperature,
and they found that they scarcely felt
any fetigue from their journey, and
that they had little desire to eat the
provisions with which they were sup
plied. Indeed, the very air seemed per
meated with a subtle^ quality that gave
them strength and energy of mind and
body.
"Finally, when after a month had
passed and they returned to tueir anx
ious friends, these people overwhelmed
them with exclamations of surprise over
their appearance. And in the light* cf
day the explorers looked at oue another
in astonishment, for in the dim light of
the lanterns they had carried they had
not noticed the great change that had
come over them. They bad all become
the finest specimens of physical health
that could be imagined. Their bodies
bad filled out: they were remarkably
strong; their skins shone with health
ful color and their eyes sparkled with
intellectual energy, and their xninds^
even to the humblest burden carrier,
were astonishingly acute and active.
"My ancestor was a remarkable man,
and be bad hitherto shown much in
ventive ability, bnt in that month in
the cave he had developed into an intel
lectual giant After mature delibera
tion be proposed a prodigious scheme
to his followers. He explained that
while they might, by using the utmost
discretion, hold the financial world in
their power by means of their inex
haustible wealth, the laws and re
strictions of different countries prevent
ed men of vast wealth from really en
joying more privileges than men of mod
erate means. He grew eloquent in
speaking of the underground atmos
phere and proposed that they light the
great cavern from end to end and make
it an ideal plaoe where they could live
as it suited them.
"I see that you guess the ecd. My
ancestor was a great student of the sci
ences and had already thought of put
ting electricity to practical use. You
are surprised? Yes, it has been applied
to our purposes for 200 years, while
your people have understood its use
such a short time."
"Great heavens!" exclaimed the Erg-
. lishman. ‘/I see it all. The sun is an
electric one."
"Yes."
"And it runs mechanically over its
great course as regularly as clockwork."
“More accurately, I assure you, but
there * --
conferences with his men at science’aud
inventors, but I shall try to make you
understand how it all came about.
“It was a long time ago; 200 jeers
_ should
be and the amount of light
fill all the recesses of the great vacancy.
It was all veryjaude at the start. For
years a great electric light was simply
suspended in the center of the cavern's
roof, and the tight did not vary in oolor.
A son of the first king suggested the
plan of giving the sun diurnal move
ment and the changing light. The
moon and start were a later develop
ment They found, too, that the light
could not be made to reach certain re
cesses in the cavern where the roof ap
proached the earth, so they finally built
a great wall to keep the inhabitants
within proscribed boundaries and to
prevent them from understanding the
machinery of the heavens."
“Wonderful!” exclaimed Thoradyke.
“But the temperature of the atmos
phere—how does that happen to be so
delightful and beneficial?"
"I believe they do not themselves
thoroughly comprehend that. The heat
comes from the internal fires and the
fresh air from without in some mysteri
ous way. At first in a few places the
heat was too severe, but the scientific
men among the first settlers obviated
this difficulty by closing up the hottest
of the fissures and opening others in the
cooler parts of the cavern.”
"And the people—where did they
come from?”
“From all parts of the earth. We had
agents outside who selected such men
and women as were willing to come
and who filled all the requirements,
mentally and physically."
"But why do they desire to live here
instead of out in the world, when they
have all the wealth that they need to
assure every advantage?"
‘‘Tbfjr dread .death,, and it is un
doubtedly true~tbaV*lITe S' prolonged
here. Our tu'edical men declare that the
longevity of every generation is im
proved."
“Is it possible? But tell me about the
sun. When it sets, what becomes of it?"
"It goes back to its plaoe of rising
through a great tunnel beneath us."
Thoradyke sat in deep thought for a
moment; then he looked so steadily and
so admiringly into Bernardino’s eyes
that she grew red with confusion. "Bnt
you, yourself—are you thoroughly con
tent here?"
‘I know nothing else," she contin
ued. "I have heard little about your
world except that your people are dis
contented, weak and insane, and that
yonr changeable weather and yonr care
less laws regarding marriage aud hered
ity produce perpetual and innumerable
diseases; that your people are not well
developed tiad beautiful; that you war
with oue smother, aud that one tears
down what another bnilds. 1 have, too,
always been happy, and since you csime
I am happier Htill. I don’t know what
it means. I liavo never been so much
interested in any ono before."
“It is love on the part of both of us,’*
replied tho Englishman impulsively,
taking her hand. “I never was content
before. I went roving over the earth
trying to end my life at sea or in bal
loon voyages, but now I only want to
be with you. I have never dreamed that
I could be so happy or that I would
meet any one so beautiful as you are."
Bernardino’s delight showed itself in
blushes on her face; and Thoradyke.
unable to restrain himself, pat his arm
around her and drew her to his breast
and kissed her.
She sprang up quickly, and he saw
that she was trembling and that all thq
color bad fled from her face.
“What is the matter?" be a&od ii*
alarm.
At first she did not answer, hot only-
looked at him half frightened, *hd $beq
covered her face with her hgnda 8*
drew them from her face and compelled
her to look at him.
"What ia the matter?" he repeated,'
a straugo fear at his heart.
"You have broken one of the most
sacred laws of our country," she fal
tered in great embarrassment "My
father would punish mo very severely if
he knew of it, and be wonld banish
you, for to treat me in that manner as
his daughter is regarded os an insult to
him."
I beg your pardon most humbly."
said the contrite Englishman. "It was
all on account of my ignorance of your
customs and my impulsiveness. It shall
never happen again, I premise you."
Her lace brightened a little, and tho
color came back slowly. She sat down
again, hut not so near Thoradyke, and
seemed desirous at changing the subject.
"And do you love the man my father
has transported?" she questioned.
"Yes. He is a good, faithful fellow,
and it ia hard to die so far away from
friends."
"We must try,to save him, bnt I can
not now think of a safe plan. The police
are very vigilant."
"Where was he taken?"
"Into the darkness behind the sun,
beyond the wall of which 1 spoke. **
A flash of shame came into Thorn-
dyke’s face over the remembrance that
he had made no effort to aid poor
Johnston and was sitting listening with
delight to the conversation of Bernar
dino. He rose suddenly.
"I must be doing something to aid
him," he said. “I cannot sit here in
active while he is in danger."
“Be patient," she advised, looking at
him admiringly. "It is near night See,
it is the gray light of desk. The sun is
out of sight Tonight, if possible, I shall
come to you. Perbjps 1 shall approach
you without disguise if you are in the
Ihroneroom and my father does not ob
ject to my entertaining yon, but for the
present we most separate. Adieu!"
He bowed low as she turned away and
joined the throng that was passing
along outside. An officer approached
him. It was Captain Tradmos, who
bowed and smiled pleasantly.
"I congratulate yon," he said, with
suave politeness.
"Upon what?” Thoradyke was on.
his guard at once.
"Upon having pleased the king so
thoroughly. No stranger, in my mem
ory, has ever been treated ao courteous
ly. Every other newcomer is put under
surveillance, but you are left unwatch-
[to bk cosmsrczD.]
s