the land of the changing sun-第2章

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The　Englishman　laughed　heartily　and　slapped　his　friend　on　the　shoulder。

〃I　think　we　are　somewhere　in　the　Atlantic；　but　your　finding　that　heel…tap　does　puzzle　me。〃

〃We　are　going　to　have　an　adventure；　beside　which　all　others　of　our　lives　will　pale　into　insignificance。　I　feel　it　in　my　bones。　See　how　evenly　this　road　has　been　worn　and　it　is　leading　toward　the　centre　of　the　island。〃

In　a　few　minutes　the　two　adventurers　came　to　a　point　in　the　road　where　tall　cliffs　on　either　side　stood　up　perpendicularly。　It　was　dark　and　cold；　and　but　a　faint　light　from　the　moon　shone　down　to　them。

〃I　don't　like　this；〃　said　Johnston；　who　was　behind　the　Englishman；　〃we　may　be　walking　into　the　ambush　of　an　enemy。〃

〃Pshaw！〃　and　Thorndyke　plunged　on　into　the　gloomy　passage。　Presently　the　walls　began　to　widen　like　a　letter　〃Y〃　and　in　a　great　open　space　they　saw　a　placid　lake　on　the　bosom　of　which　the　moon　was　shining。　On　all　sides　the　towering　walls　rose　for　hundreds　of　feet。　Speechless　with　wonder　and　with　quickly…　beating　hearts　they　stumbled　forward　over　the　uneven　road　till　they　reached　the　shore　of　the　lake。　The　water　was　so　clear　and　still　that　the　moon　and　stars　were　reflected　in　it　as　if　in　a　great　mirror。

〃Look　at　that！〃　exclaimed　Thorndyke；　pointing　down　into　the　depths；　〃what　can　that　be？〃

Johnston　followed　Thorndyke's　finger　with　his　eyes。　At　first　he　thought　that　it　was　a　comet　moving　across　the　sky　and　reflected　in　the　water；　but；　on　glancing　above；　he　saw　his　mistake。　It　looked；　at　first；　like　a　great　ball　of　fire　rolling　along　the　bottom　of　the　lake　with　a　stream　of　flame　in　its　wake。



Chapter　II。

The　two　men　watched　it　for　several　minutes；　all　the　time　it　seemed　to　be　growing　larger　and　brighter　till；　after　a　while；　they　saw　that　the　light　came　from　something　shaped　like　a　ship；　sharp　at　both　ends；　and　covered　with　oval　glass。　As　it　slowly　rose　to　the　surface　they　saw　that　it　contained　five　or　six　men；　sitting　in　easy　chairs　and　reclining　on　luxurious　divans。　One　of　them　sat　at　a　sort　of　pilot…wheel　and　was　directing　the　course　of　the　strange　craft；　which　was　moving　as　gracefully　as　a　great　fish。

Then　the　young　men　saw　the　man　at　the　pilot…wheel　raise　his　hand；　and　from　the　water　came　the　musical　notes　of　a　great　bell。　The　vessel　stopped；　and　one　of　the　men　sprang　up　and　raised　an　instrument　that　looked　like　a　telescope　to　his　eyes。　With　this　he　seemed　to　be　closely　searching　the　lake　shores；　for　he　did　not　move　for　several　minutes。　Then　he　lowered　the　instrument；　and　when　the　bell　had　rung　again；　the　vessel　rose　slowly　and　perpendicularly　to　the　surface　and　glided　to　the　shore　within　twenty　yards　of　where　the　adventurers　stood。

〃Could　they　have　seen　us？〃　whispered　Thorndyke；　drawing　Johnston　nearer　the　side　of　the　cliff。

〃I　think　so；　at　all　events；　they　are　between　us　and　the　outlet；　we　may　as　well　make　the　best　of　it。〃

The　men；　all　except　the　pilot；　landed；　and　a　dazzling　electric　search…light　was　turned　on　the　spot　where　Thorndyke　and　Johnston　stood。　For　a　moment　they　were　so　blinded　that　they　could　not　see；　and　then　they　heard　footsteps；　and；　their　eyes　becoming　accustomed　to　the　light；　they　found　themselves　surrounded　by　several　men；　very　strangely　clad。　They　all　wore　long　cloaks　that　covered　them　from　head　to　foot　and　every　man　was　more　than　six　feet　in　height　and　finely　proportioned。　One　of　them；　who　seemed　to　be　an　officer　in　command；　bowed　politely。

〃I　am　Captain　Tradmos；　gentlemen；　in　the　king's　service。　It　is　my　duty　to　make　you　my　prisoners。　I　must　escort　you　to　the　palace　of　the　king。〃

〃That's　cool；〃　said　Johnston；　to　conceal　the　discomfiture　that　he　felt；　〃we　had　no　idea　that　you　had　a　kingdom。　We　have　tramped　all　over　this　island；　and　you　are　the　first　signs　of　humanity　we　have　met。〃

He　would　have　recalled　his　words　before　he　had　finished　speaking；　if　he　could　have　done　so；　for　he　saw　by　the　manner　of　the　captain　that　he　had　been　over　bold。

〃Follow　me；〃　answered　the　officer　curtly；　and　with　a　motion　of　his　hand　to　his　men　he　turned　toward　the　odd…looking　vessel。

The　two　adventurers　obeyed；　and　the　cloaked　men　fell　in　behind　them。　Neither　Johnston　nor　Thorndyke　had　ever　seen　anything　like　the　peculiar　boat　that　was　moored　to　the　rocky　shore。　It　was　about　forty　feet　in　length；　had　a　hull　shaped　like　a　racing　yacht；　but　which　was　made　of　black　rubber　inflated　with　air。　It　was　covered　with　glass；　save　for　a　doorway　about　six　feet　high　and　three　feet　wide　in　the　side；　and　looked　like　a　great　oblong　bubble　floating　on　the　still　dark　water。　As　they　approached　the　searchlight　was　extinguished；　and　they　were　enabled　to　see　the　boat　to　a　better　advantage　by　the　aid　of　the　electric　lights　that　illuminated　the　interior。　It　was　with　feelings　of　awe　that　the　two　adventurers　followed　the　captain　across　the　gang…plank　into　the　vessel。

The　electric　light　was　brilliantly　white；　and　in　various　places　pink；　red　and　light…blue　screens　mellowed　it　into　an　artistic　effect　that　was　very　soothing　to　the　eye。　The　ceiling　was　hung　with　festoons　of　prisms　as　brilliant　as　the　purest　diamonds；　and　in　them；　owing　to　the　gently　undulatory　movement　of　the　vessel；　colors　more　beautiful　than　those　of　a　rainbow　played　entrancingly。　Rare　pictures　in　frames　of　delicate　gold　were　interspersed　among　the　clusters　of　prisms；　and　the　floor　was　covered　with　carpets　that　felt　as　soft　beneath　the　foot　as　pillows　of　eider…down。

As　he　entered　the　door　the　officer　threw　off　his　gray　cloak；　and　his　men　did　likewise；　disclosing　to　view　the　finest　uniforms　the　prisoners　had　ever　seen。　Captain　Tradmos's　legs　were　clothed　in　tights　of　light…blue　silk；　and　he　wore　a　blue　sack…coat　of　silk　plush　and　a　belt　of　pliant　gold；　the　buckles　of　which　were　ornamented　with　brilliant　gems。　His　eyes　were　dark　and　penetrating；　and　his　black　hair　lay　in　glossy　masses　on　his　shoulders。　He　had　the　head　of　an　Apollo　and　a　brow　indicative　of　the　highest　intellect。

Leaving　his　men　in　the　first　room　that　they　entered；　he　gracefully　conducted　his　prisoners　through　another　room　to　a　small　cabin　in　the　stern　of　the　boat；　and　told　them　to　make　themselves　comfortable　on　the　luxurious　couches　that　lined　the　circular　glass　walls。

〃Our　journey　will　be　of　considerable　length；〃　he　said；　〃and　as　you　are　no　doubt　fatigued；　you　had　better　take　all　the　rest　you　can　get。　I　see　that　you　need　food　and　have　ordered　a　repast　which　will　refresh　you。〃　As　he　concluded　he　touched　a　button　in　the　wall　and　instantly　a　table；　laden　with　substantial　food；　rare　delicacies　and　wines；　rose　through　a　trap…door　in　the　floor。　He　smiled　at　the　expressions　of　surprise　on　their　faces　and　touched　a　green　bottle　of　wine　with　his　white　tapering　hand。

〃The　greater　part　of　our　journey　will　be　under　water；　and　our　wines　are　specially　prepared　to　render　us　capable　of　subsisting　on　a　rather　limited　quantity　of　air　during　the　voyage；　so　I　advise　you　to　partake　of　them　freely；　you　will　find　them　very　agreeable　to　the　taste。〃

〃We　are　very　grateful；〃　bowed　Thorndyke；　from　his　seat　on　a　couch。　〃I　am　sure　no　prisoners　were　ever　more　graciously　or　royally　entertained。　To　be　your　prisoner　is　a　pleasure　to　be　remembered。〃

〃Till　our　heads　are　cut　off；　anyway；〃　put　in　the　irrepressible　American。

Tradmos　smiled　good…humoredly。

〃I　shall　leave　you　now；〃　he　said；　and　with　a　bow　he　withdrew。

〃This　is　an　adventure　in　earnest；〃　whispered　Johnston；　〃my　stars！　what　can　they　intend　to　do　with　us？〃

〃One　of　the　first　things　will　be　to　take　us　down　to　the　bottom　of　this　lake　where　we　saw　them　awhile　ago；　and　I　don't　fancy　it　at　all；　what　if　this　blasted　glass…case　should　burst？　We　may　have　dropped　into　a　den　of　outlaws　on　a　gigantic　scale；　and　it　may　be　necessary　to　put　us　out　of　the　way　to　keep　our　mouths　closed。〃

〃I　am　hungry；　and　am　going　to　eat；〃　said　the　American；　drawing　a　cushioned　stool　up　to　the　table。　〃Here　goes　for　some　of　the　wine；　remember；　it　is　a　sort　of　breath…restorer。　I　am　curious　enough　not　to　want　to　collapse　till　I　have　seen　this　thing　through。　He　said　something　about　a　palace　and　a　king。　Where　can　we　be　going？〃

〃Down　into　the　centre　of　the　earth；　possibly；〃　and　the　handsome　Englishman　moved　a　stool　to　the　table　and　took　the　glass　of　green…colored　wine　that　Johnston　pushed　toward　him。　〃Some　scientists　hold　that　the　earth　is　filled　with　water　instead　of　fire。　Who　knows　where　this　blamed　thing　may　not　take　us？　Here　is　to　a　safe　return　from　the　amphibious　land！〃

Both　drank　their　wine　simultaneously；　lowered　their　glasses　at　the　same　instant；　and　gazed　into　each　other's　eyes。

〃Did　you　ever　taste　such　liquor？〃　asked　Thorndyke；　〃it　seems　to　run　like　streams　of　fire　through　every　vein　I　have。〃

Johnston　shook　his　head　mutely；　and　held　the　sparkling　effervescing　fluid　between　him　and　the　light。

〃Ugh！　take　it　down；〃　cried　the　Englishman；　〃it　throws　a　green　color　on　your　face　that　makes　you　look　like　a　corpse。〃　Johnston　clinked　the　glass　against　that　of　his　companion　and　they　drained　the　glasses。　〃Hush；　what　was　that？〃　asked　Thorndyke。

There　was　a　sound　like　boiling　water　outside　and　as　if　air　were　being　pumped　out　of　some　receptacle；　and　the　vessel　began　to　move　up　and　down　in　a　lithe　sort　of　fashion　and　to　bend　tortuously　from　side　to　side　like　a　great　sluggish　fish。　Through　the　partitions　of　glass　they　saw　one　of　the　men　closing　the　door；　and　in　a　moment　the　vessel　glided　away　from　the　shore。　The　men　all　sank　into　easy　positions　on　the　couches；　and　delightful　music　as　soft　as　an　Aeolian　lyre　seemed　to　be　breathed　from　the　walls　and　floor。　Then　the　music　seemed　to　die　away　and　a　bell　down　in　the　vessel's　hull　rang。

〃We　are　in　the　middle　of　the　lake；〃　said　Thorndyke；　looking　through　the　glass　toward　the　black　cliffy　shore；　〃the　next　thing　will　be　our　descent。　I　wonder〃

But　he　was　unable　to　proceed；　and　Johnston　noticed　in　alarm　that　his　eyes　were　slightly　protruding　from　their　sockets。　The　air　seemed　suddenly　to　become　more　com…　pact　as　if　compressed；　and　the　water　was　set　into　such　violent　commotion　that　it　was　dashed　against　the　glass　sides　in　billows　as　white　as　snow。　Then　Johnston　found　that　he　could　not　breathe　freely；　and　he　understood　the　trouble　of　the　Englishman。

Captain　Tradmos　came　suddenly　to　the　door。　He　was　smiling　as　he　motioned　toward　the　wines　on　the　table。

〃You　had　better　drink　more　of　the　wine；〃　he　advised　sententiously。

Both　of　the　captives　rushed　to　the　table。　The　instant　they　had　swallowed　the　wine　they　felt　relieved；　but　were　still　weak。　The　captain　bowed　and　went　away。　Thorndyke's　hand　trembled　as　he　refilled　his　friend's　glass。　I　thought　I　was　gone　up；〃　he　said；　〃I　never　had　such　a　choky　sensation　in　my　life；　you　are　still　purple　in　the　face。〃

〃Eat　of　what　is　before　you；〃　said　the　captain；　looking　in　at　the　door；　〃you　cannot　stand　the　increasing　pressure　unless　you　do。〃

They　needed　no　second　invitation；　for　they　were　half…famished。　The　fish　and　meat　were　delicious；　and　the　bread　was　delightfully　sweet。

〃Look　outside！〃　cried　Johnston。　The　water　was　now　still；　but　it　was　gradually　rising　up　the　sides　of　the　boat；　and　in　a　moment　it　had　closed　over　the　crystal　roof。　Both　of　the　captives　were　conscious　of　a　heavy　sensation　in　the　head　and　a　dull　roaring　in　the　ears。　Down　they　went；　at　first　slowly　and　then　more　rapidl