the land of the changing sun-第16章

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Slowly　the　hours　dragged　by　till　the　yellow　light　showed　that　it　was　the　sixth　hour。　Branasko　had　been　exploring　the　vast　interior　below　and　came　back　to　Johnston　who　was　asleep　on　the　floor　of　the　platform。

〃I　have　just　thought　of　something；〃　said　Branasko。　〃This　is　the　day　appointed　by　the　king　to　entertain　his　subjects　with　a　grand　display　of　the　elements。〃

〃I　do　not　understand；〃　said　Johnston。

〃The　king；〃　explained　the　Alphian；　〃darkens　the　sun　with　clouds　so　that　all　Alpha　is　blacker　than　night；　and　then　he　produces　great　storms　in　the　sky；　and　lightning　and　musical　thunder。　We　may；　perhaps；　hear　the　music；　but　we　cannot　witness　the　storm　and　electric　display　on　account　of　the　light　about　us。　It　usually　begins　at　this　hour；　so　be　silent　and　listen。〃

After　a　few　minutes　there　was　a　rumble　from　below　like　the　roar　of　a　volcano　and　an　answering　echo　from　the　black　dome　overhead。　This　died　away　and　was　succeeded　by　a　crash　of　musical　thunder　that　thrilled　Johnston's　being　to　its　very　core。　Branasko's　face　was　aglow　with　enthusiasm。

〃Grand；　glorious！〃　he　ejaculated；　〃but　if　only　you　could　see　the　lightning　and　the　dawn　in　the　east　you　would　remember　it　all　your　life。　The　sunlight　is　cut　off　from　Alpha　by　the　clouds；　and　there　is　no　light　except　the　wonderful　effects　in　the　sky。〃

Johnston　had　gone　back　to　the　wheel　and　was　examining　it　curiously。

〃I　have　a　mind　to　turn　off　the　current　for　a　moment　anyway；〃　he　said　doggedly；　〃if　the　sun　is　hidden　they　would　not　discover　it。〃

Branasko　came　to　him；　a　weird　look　of　interest　in　his　eyes。　〃That　is　true；〃　he　said；　〃besides；　what　matters　it？　We　may　not　live　to　see　another　day。〃

Johnston　acted　on　a　sudden　impulse。　He　intended　only　to　frighten　Branasko　by　moving　the　wheel　slightly；　and　he　had　turned　it　barely　an　eighth　of　an　inch；　when；　as　if　controlled　by　some　powerful　spring；　it　whirled　round　at　a　great　rate；　making　a　loud　rattling　noise。　To　their　dismay　the　light　went　out。

〃My　God！　what　have　I　done？〃　gasped　the　American　in　alarm。

〃Settled　our　fate；　I　have　no　doubt；〃　muttered　the　Alphian　from　the　darkness。

Johnston　had　recoiled　from　the　whirling　wheel；　and　now　cautiously　groped　back　to　it；　and　attempted　to　turn　it。　It　would　not　move。

〃It　has　caught　some　way；〃　he　groaned　under　his　breath。

〃And　we　have　no　light　to　find　the　cause　of　the　trouble；〃　added　the　Alphian；　who　had　knelt　down　and　was　feeling　about　the　wheel。　Presently　he　rose。

〃I　give　it　up；〃　he　sighed；　〃I　cannot　understand　it。　The　machinery　is　somewhere　inside。〃

〃It　has　grown　colder；〃　shuddered　Johnston。

〃We　were　warmed　by　the　light；　of　course；〃　remarked　Branasko；　〃and　now　we　feel　the　dampness　more。　We　are　going　at　a　frightful　speed。〃

Just　then　there　was　a　jar；　and　the　sun　swung　so　violently　from　side　to　side　that　the　two　men　were　prostrated　on　the　floor。　The　speed　seemed　to　slacken。

〃I　wonder　if　we　are　going　to　stop；〃　groaned　the　American；　and　he　sat　up　and　held　to　Branasko。　〃Perhaps　they　will　draw　us　back　to　rectify　the　mistake；　and　then〃

〃It　cannot　be　done；〃　interrupted　the　Alphian。　〃The　machinery　runs　only　one　way。　We　shall　simply　have　to　finish　our　journey　in　darkness。〃

〃They　may　catch　us　on　the　other　side　before　the　sun　starts　back　through　the　tunnel；〃　suggested　the　American。

〃Not　unlikely；〃　returned　Branasko。　〃There；　we　are　going　ahead　again。　One　thing　in　our　favor　is　that　we　can　more　easily　escape　capture　in　darkness　than　if　the　sun　were　shining。〃

〃Does　the　sun　stop　before　entering　the　tunnel？〃

〃I　do　not　know；〃　replied　Branasko；　〃perhaps　somebody　will　be　there　to　see　what　is　wrong　with　the　light。　We　must　have　our　wits　about　us　when　we　land。〃

Johnston　was　looking　over　the　edge　of　the　platform。　〃If　the　king's　display　is　taking　place　down　there　I　can　see　no　sign　of　it。〃

〃How　stupid　of　us！〃　ejaculated　Branasko。　〃Of　course；　clouds　sufficiently　dense　to　hide　the　sun　from　Alpha　would　also　prevent　us　from　seeing　the　display　below。　I　ought　to〃

He　was　interrupted　by　a　grand　outburst　of　harmony。　The　whole　earth　seemed　to　vibrate　with　sublime　melody。　〃Our　blunder　has　not　been　discovered　yet；〃　finished　Branasko；　after　a　pause；　〃else　the　fete　down　below　would　have　been　over。　I　am　cold；　shall　we　go　inside？〃

Johnston's　answer　was　taken　out　of　his　mouth　by　a　loud　rattling　beneath　the　floor；　near　the　wheel　he　had　just　turned；　the　sun　shook　spasmodically　for　an　instant；　and　its　entire　surface　was　faintly　illuminated；　but　the　light　failed　signally。

〃It　must　have　been　an　extra　current　of　electricity　sent　to　relight　the　lamps；〃　remarked　Johnston；　and；　as　he　concluded；　the　sun　trembled　again；　and　another　flash　and　failure　occurred。　〃Look；〃　cried　the　American；　〃the　clouds　are　thinning；　see　the　lights　below！　They　have　discovered　the　accident！〃

They　both　leaned　over　the　railing　and　looked　below。　As　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　within　the　arc　of　their　vision；　they　could　see　fitful　lights　flashing　up；　here　and　there；　and　going　out　again。　And　then　they　heard　faint　sounds　of　crashing　masonry　and　the　condensed　roar　of　human　voices；　which　seemed　to　come　from　above　rather　than　from　below。　The　Alphian　turned。　〃I　cannot　stand　the　cold；〃　he　said。

Johnston　followed　him。　The　rapid　motion　of　the　swinging　sphere　made　him　dizzy；　and　he　caught　Branasko's　arm　to　keep　from　falling。

〃How　can　we　tell　when　we　go　over　the　wall？〃　he　asked　anxiously。

〃We　shall　have　to　guess　at　it；〃　was　the　answer。　〃At　any　rate　we　must　be　near　the　lower　door　so　as　to　get　out　quickly　if　it　is　necessary　to　do　so　to　escape　detection。〃

In　the　darkness　they　slowly　made　their　way　down　the　stairs　to　the　great　room。

〃There　ought　to　be　some　way　of　making　a　light；〃　said　the　Alphian；　and　his　voice　sounded　loud　and　hollow　in　the　empty　chamber。　After　several　failures　to　find　the　stairs　they　descended　to　the　door　they　had　entered。　Branasko　opened　it　a　little；　and　a　breeze　came　in。　They　sat　down　on　the　stone；　and　after　a　while；　in　sheer　fatigue；　they　fell　asleep。　Hours　passed。　Branasko　rose　with　a　start；　and　shook　Johnston。

〃Our　speed　is　lessening；〃　he　exclaimed。　〃We　must　be　going　down。　Be　ready　to　jump　out　the　instant　we　stop。　There；　let　me　open　the　door　wider。〃



Chapter　XIV。

When　Tradmos　spoke　the　words　of　warning；　Thorndyke　put　his　arm　round　the　princess　and　drew　her　after　Tradmos；　who　was　hastening　away　in　the　gloom。

〃Wait；〃　she　said；　drawing　back。　〃Let　us　not　get　excited。　We　are　really　as　safe　here　as　there；　for　in　their　madness　they　will　kill　one　another　and　trample　them　under　foot。〃　She　led　him　to　a　parapet　overlooking　the　great　court　below。　〃Hear　them；〃　she　said；　in　pity；　〃listen　to　their　blows　and　cries。　That　was　a　woman's　voice；　and　some　man　must　have　struck　her。〃

〃Tell　me　what　is　best　to　do；〃　said　the　Englishman。　〃I　want　to　protect　you；　but　I　am　helpless；　I　don't　know　which　way　to　turn。〃

〃Wait；〃　she　said　simply；　and　the　Englishman　thought　she　drew　closer　to　him；　as　if　touched　by　his　words。

There　was　a　crash　of　timbersa　massive　door　had　fallena　scrambling　of　feet　on　the　stone　pavement；　and　they　could　see　the　dark　human　mass　surging　into　the　court　through　the　corridors　leading　from　the　streets。

〃What　are　they　doing？〃　asked　Thorn　dyke。

She　shrank　from　the　parapet　as　if　she　had　been　struck。

〃Tearing　the　pillars　down；〃　she　replied　aghast；　〃this　part　of　the　palace　will　fall。　Oh；　what　can　be　done！〃

There　was　a　grinding　of　stone　upon　stone；　a　mad　yell　from　an　hundred　throats；　the　crash　of　glass；　and；　with　a　thunderous　sound；　a　colossal　pillar　fell　to　the　earth。　The　roof　beneath　the　feet　of　the　princess　and　Thorndyke　trembled　and　sagged；　and　the　tiling　split　and　showered　about　them。

Raising　Bernardino　in　his　arms；　as　if　she　were　an　infant；　Thorndyke　sprang　toward　the　stairway　leading　to　his　chambers；　but　the　roof　had　sunken　till　it　was　steep　and　slippery。　One　instant　he　was　toppling　over　backward；　the　next；　by　a　mighty　effort；　he　had　recovered　his　equilibrium；　and　finally　managed　to　reach　a　safer　place。　As　he　hurried　on　another　pillar　went　down。　The　roof　sagged　lower；　and　an　avalanche　of　mortar　and　tiling　slid　into　the　court　below。　Yells；　groans；　and　cries　of　fury　rent　the　air。

Bernardino　had　fainted。　Thorndyke　tried　to　restore　her　to　consciousness；　but　dared　not　put　her　from　him　for　an　instant。　On　he　ran；　and　presently　reached　a　flight　of　stairs　which　he　thought　led　to　his　chambers。　He　descended　them；　and　was　hastening　along　a　narrow　corridor　on　the　floor　beneath　when　Bernardino　opened　her　eyes。　She　asked　to　be　released　from　his　arms。　He　put　her　down；　but　supported　her　along　the　corridor。

〃We　have　lost　our　way；〃　he　said；　as　he　discovered　that　the　corridor；　instead　of　leading　to　his　chambers；　turned　off　obliquely　in　another　direction。

〃Let's　go　on　anyway；〃　she　suggested；　〃it　may　lead　us　out。　I　have　never　been　here　before。　I〃　A　great　crash　drowned　her　words。　The　floor　quivered　and　swayed；　but　it　did　not　fall。　On　they　ran　through　the　darkness；　till　Thorndyke　felt　a　heavy　curtain　before。　He　paused　abruptly；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　Bernardino　felt　of　its　texture；　perplexed　for　an　instant。

〃Draw　it　aside；　it　seems　to　hang　across　the　corridor；〃　she　said。　He　obeyed　her；　and　only　a　few　yards　further　on　they　saw　another　curtain　with　bars　of　light　above　and　below　it。　They　drew　this　aside；　and　found　themselves　on　the　threshold　of　a　most　beautiful　apartment。

In　the　mosaic　floor　were　pictures　cut　in　colored　stones；　and　the　ceiling　was　a　silken　canopy　as　filmy　and　as　delicately　blue　as　the　sky　on　a　summer's　night。　The　floor　was　strewn　with　richly　embroidered　pillows；　couches；　rugs　and　ottomans；　and　here　and　there　were　palm　trees　and　beds　of　flowers　and　grottoes。　A　solitary　light；　representing　the　moon；　showed　through　the　silken　canopy　in　whose　folds　little　lights　sparkled　like　far…off　stars。

Thorndyke　looked　at　the　princess　inquiringly。　She　was　bewildered。

〃I　have　no　idea　where　we　are；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　am　sure　I　have　never　been　here　before；　but　there　is　another　apartment　beyond。　Listen！　I　hear　cries。〃

〃Some　one　in　distress；〃　he　answered；　and　he　drew　her　across　the　room　and　through　a　door　into　another　room　more　beautiful　than　the　one　they　had　just　left。　Here；　huddled　together　at　a　window　overlooking　the　court；　were　six　or　eight　beautiful　young　women。　They　were　staring　out　into　the　darkness；　and　moaning　and　muttering　low　cries　of　despair。

〃It　is　my　father's　ladies；〃　ejaculated　the　princess　aghast。　〃He　would　be　angry　if　he　knew　we　had　come　here。　No　one　but　himself　enters　these　apartments。〃

Just　then　one　of　the　women　turned　a　lovely　and　despairing　face　toward　them；　and　came　forward　and　knelt　at　the　feet　of　Bernardino。

〃Oh；　save　us；　Princess；〃　she　cried。

〃Be　calm；〃　said　the　princess；　touching　the　white　brow　of　the　woman。　〃The　danger　may　soon　pass；　this　portion　of　the　palace　is　too　strongly　built　for　them　to　injure　it。〃　Then　she　turned　to　Thorndyke：　〃We　must　hasten　on　and　find　our　way　down；　it　would　never　do　for　us　to　be　seen　here。〃　Then　she　turned　to　the　kneeling　woman　and　said　gently：　〃I　hope　you　will　say　nothing　to　the　king　of　this；　we　lost　our　way　in　trying　to　get　down　from　the　roof。〃

〃I　will　not；〃　gladly　promised　the　woman；　and　seeing　that　Bernardino　knew　not　which　way　to　turn；　she　guided　them　to　a　door　opening　into　a　dimly…lighted　corridor。　〃It　will　tak