the land of the changing sun-第20章

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nd　to　the　princess；　and　showed　her　a　flake　of　soot　on　it；　and　he　dumbly　pointed　to　others　that　were　falling　about　them。

〃How　did　you　discover　it？〃　he　asked；　and　Thorndyke　saw　that　he　was　trying　to　appear　calm。

〃Mr。this　gentleman's　friend　has　returned　from　banishment；　and〃

〃Returned！　has　the　wall　been　destroyed？〃

〃No；　he　accidentally　discovered　the　danger；　and　came　in　a　flying…　machine　to　warn　you。〃

〃Where　is　he？　bring　him　to　me；　quick！〃

〃But　you　will　not　〃

He　waved　his　hand　impatiently。　〃Go；　if　Alpha　is　saved　he　shall　be　at　libertyif　it　is　not；　what　does　it　matter？〃

Thorndyke　hastened　away　after　Johnston；　who；　when　he　was　told　of　the　king's　words；　readily　accompanied　his　friend　to　the　presence　of　the　ruler。　They　found　him　with　his　daughter　still　on　the　balcony。

〃How　did　you　discover　this？〃　asked　the　king；　turning　to　the　American。

As　quickly　as　possible；　Johnston　related　his　adventures；　and　particularly　the　story　of　the　shooting　fountain　and　the　fall　of　salt　water。　The　king　did　not　wait　for　him　to　conclude。　He　ran　back　into　his　chamber；　touched　another　button；　and　the　next　instant　alarm…bells　were　ringing　all　over　the　city。

〃A　signal　to　the　protectors；〃　explained　the　princess　to　Thorndyke；　〃by　this　time　they　are　ringing　all　over　Alpha。　Oh；　what　will　become　of　us？〃　as　she　spoke　she　leaned　over　the　balustrade　and　looked　down　into　the　street。　Vast　crowds　had　gathered　and　were　motionless；　except　at　points　where　the　purple…clad　〃protectors〃　rushed　from　public　buildings　to　assemble　in　squads　on　the　street　corner。



Chapter　XVII。

Bernardino　turned　to　look　after　her　father　as　he　was　leaving　the　room。

〃He　is　going　to　the　observatory；〃　she　said　to　Thorndyke　and　Johnston。　〃Let　us　go　also。〃　And　they　followed　the　king　into　the　room　with　the　glass　roof　and　walls　covered　with　mirrors　which　he　had　shown　the　strangers　several　days　before。　A　white…headed　old　man　stood　at　the　stand；　his　fingers　trembling　over　the　half　circle　of　electric　buttons。　In　a　mirror　before　him　he　was　studying　the　reflection　of　a　town　of　perhaps　a　hundred　houses。　The　streets　were　filled　with　excited　citizens；　and　a　squad　of　protectors　stood　ready　for　action　near　a　row　of　flying…machines。

〃Ornethelo；〃　said　the　king；　and　at　the　sound　of　his　voice　the　old　man　turned　and　bowed　humbly。

〃All　right；〃　went　on　the　king；　〃I　will　take　your　place　a　moment。〃

He　went　to　the　stand　and　touched　a　button。　Instantly　the　scene　changed；　fields；　forests；　streams　and　hills　ran　by　in　a　murky　blur；　and　then　a　larger　town　flashed　on　the　mirror。　Here　the　same　stir　and　alertness　characterized　the　scene。　The　gaze　of　every　inhabitant　was　fixed　on　the　threatening　horizon。　Rapidly　the　scenes　shifted　at　the　king's　will；　till　a　hundred　cities；　towns　and　villages　had　been　reviewed。

〃Enough！　They　are　all　readyall　faithful；〃　groaned　the　king；　〃and；　Ornethelo；　they　may　all　have　to　perish　to…day；　and　all　for　our　ambition。　Poor　mortals！〃

Ornethelo's　face　was　half　submerged　in　the　beard　on　his　breast；　but　he　looked　up　suddenly　and　spoke：

〃For　their　sakes；　then；　we　ought　not　to　delay；　there　may　yet　be　hope。〃

〃You　are　right；　Ornethelo。〃　There　was　a　ring　of　hope　in　the　voice　of　the　king。　〃Quick！　show　me　my　capitol；　that　I　may　see　if　all　the　protectors　are　ready。〃

Ornethelo　touched　another　button；　and；　as　if　seen　from　a　great　height；　the　fair　and　wondrous　city　dawned　before　the　eyes　of　the　spectators。　In　every　street　policemen　and　protectors　and　flying…　machines　stood　in　orderly　readiness。　The　housetops　were　colored　with　the　variegated　costumes　of　men；　women　and　children。　Over　all　lay　the　wondrous　sunlight；　through　the　green　splendor　of　which　the　flakes　of　soot　were　falling　like　black　snow。

The　king　touched　the　old　man's　arm。　〃I　must　see　beyond　the　walls；　are　the　connections　made？〃

〃Ready；　sir。〃

〃Try　them；　they　must　not　fail　me　now！〃

The　old　man　tremblingly　unlocked　a　cabinet　on　the　table；　and　another　row　of　electric　buttons　was　displayed。　Ornethelo　touched　one。　Immediately　there　was　a　sharp　clicking　sound　under　the　stand；　and　the　view　was　swept　from　the　mirror。　Nothing　could　be　seen　but　a　dark　suggestion　of　towering　cliffs　and　yawning　caverns。

〃Not　the　east；　Ornethelo；〃　cried　the　king　impatiently。　〃Go　on！　the　west！　the　west！〃

The　black　landscape　flashed　by　like　a　glimpse　of　night　from　a　flying　train；　and　then　a　blur　of　redly　illuminated　smoke　in　rolling　billows　seemed　to　swell　out　from　the　surface　of　the　mirror　into　the　room。

〃There；　slow！〃　cried　the　king；　and　then　a　frightful　scene　burst　upon　their　sight。　They　beheld　a　great　belching　pit　of　fire　and　flames。　The　sky　from　the　earth　to　the　zenith　was　a　vast　expanse　of　illuminated　smoke；　and　the　black　landscape　round　about　was　cut　by　rivulets　of　molten　lava　rolling　on　and　on　like　restless　streams　of　quicksilver。

The　king　leaned　against　the　stand　as　if　faint　with　despair。　〃Call　Prince　Arthur！〃　he　ordered；　and　almost　at　that　instant　the　young　man　appeared。

〃Father！〃

The　king　pointed　a　quivering　finger　at　the　mirror；　and　said　huskily：

〃Let　not　the　sun　go　down！　Let　its　light　be　white　as　at　noon。〃

〃But；　father；　it　has　never　been　done　before；　it〃

〃Alpha　has　never　faced　such　danger。　All　our　dream　is　about　to　end。　Go！〃

Without　a　word　the　young　man　hastened　away；　and　it　seemed　scarcely　a　moment　before　the　sunlight　streaming　in　at　the　oval　glass　roof　changed　from　green　to　white。

The　king　pushed　Ornethelo　impatiently　aside；　his　eyes　held　a　dull　gleam　of　despair；　and　he　seemed　to　have　grown　ten　years　older。　He　touched　a　button；　and　the　awful　scene　at　the　pit　gave　place　to　a　bright　view　of　the　capitol；　which　was　plainly　seen　from　its　crowded　centre　to　its　scattering　suburbs。　The　squads　of　〃protectors〃　stood　like　armies　ready　for　battle；　their　rigid　faces　still　toward　the　awful　west。

〃They　are　readythe　signal！〃　yelled　the　king；　waving　his　hand；　〃the　signal！〃　Ornethelo　caught　his　breath　suddenly　and　tottered　as　he　went　across　the　room；　and　touched　a　button　on　the　wall。　The　king's　eyes　were　glued　on　the　mirrored　view　of　the　capitol；　his　trembling　hands　held　out；　as　if　commanding　silence。　Then　a　deafening　trumpet　blast　broke　on　the　ear。　The　masses　of　citizens　pressed　near　the　edges　of　the　roofs　and　close　against　the　walls　along　the　streets；　as　the　protectors　rushed　into　the　flying…　machines。　Another　trumpet…blast；　and　away　they　flew；　a　long　black　line；　every　instant　growing　smaller　as　it　receded　in　the　murky　distance。　The　princess；　white　and　silent；　led　Thorndyke　and　Johnston　back　to　the　balcony。　The　line　of　machines　was　now　a　mere　thread　in　the　sky；　but　the　ominous　cloud　in　the　west　had　increased；　and　fine　sand　and　ashes　were　added　to　the　fall　of　soot。

〃What　was　that？〃　gasped　the　princess。　It　was　a　low　rumble　like　distant　thunder；　and　the　balcony　shook　violently。

〃An　earthquake；〃　said　Thorndyke。　〃I　am　really　afraid　there　is　not　a　ghost　of　a　chance　for　us；　the　water　running　into　the　fire　is　sure　to　cause　an　eruption　of　some　sort；　and　even　a　slight　one　would　be　likely　to　enlarge　the　opening　to　the　ocean。〃

Johnston　nodded　knowingly　as　he　looked　into　his　friend's　face；　but；　considering　the　presence　of　the　princess；　he　said　nothing。

〃My　brother；　Prince　Marentel；　is　the　greatest　man　in　our　kingdom；〃　she　re　marked。　〃He　has　taken　enough　explosives　to　remove　a　mountain。〃

〃How　will　he　use　them？〃　asked　Thorndyke。

〃I　don't　know；　but　I　fancy　he　will　try　to　close　the　opening　in　some　way。〃

The　latter　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃I　fear　he　will　fail。　The　fall　must　be　as　voluminous　as　Niagara　by　this　time。〃

〃My　father　must　have　lost　hope；　or　he　would　not　have　stopped　the　sun；〃　sighed　the　princess；　and　she　cast　a　sad　glance　towards　the　west。　The　rolling　clouds　had　become　more　dense；　and　the　rumbling　and　booming　in　the　distance　was　growing　more　frequent。　A　thin　gray　cloud　passed　before　the　sun；　and　a　dim　shadow　fell　over　the　city。

〃That　is　a　natural　cloud；〃　said　Thorndyke；　〃it　comes　from　the　steam　that　rises　from　the　pit。〃

〃It　is　exactly　like　our　rain　clouds；〃　returned　the　princess；　〃but　it　comes　from　the　steam；　as　you　say。　But　let　us　go　into　the　Electric　Auditorium　and　hear　the　news。　As　soon　as　anything　is　done　we　will　hear　of　it　there。〃　The　others　had　no　time　to　question　her；　for　she　was　hastening　into　the　corridor　outside。　She　piloted　them　down　a　flight　of　stairs　into　a　large　circular　room　beneath　the　surface　of　the　ground。　It　was　filled　with　seats　like　a　modern　theatre；　and　in　the　place　where　the　stage　would　have　been；　stood　a　mighty　mirror　over　an　hundred　feet　square。　She　led　them　to　a　private　box　in　front　of　the　mirror。　The　room　was　filled　from　the　first　row　of　chairs　to　the　rear　with　a　silent；　anxious　crowd。　In　the　massive　frame　of　the　mirror　were　numerous　bell…shaped　trumpets　like　those　on　the　ordinary　phonograph；　though　much　larger。

〃Watch　the　mirror；〃　whispered　Bernardino　as　she　sat　down。

And　at　that　instant　the　surface　of　the　great　glass　began　to　glow　like　the　sky　at　dawn；　and　all　the　lights　in　the　room　went　out。　Then　from　the　trumpets　in　the　frame　came　the　loud　ringing　of　musical　bells。

〃They　are　ready；〃　whispered　Bernardino；　〃now　watch　and　listen。〃

The　pink　light　on　the　mirror　faded；　and　a　life…like　reflection　appearedthe　reflection　of　a　young　man　standing　on　a　rock　in　bold　relief　against　a　dark　background　of　rugged；　slabbering　cliffs　and　the　forbidding　mouths　of　caves。

〃Waldmeer！〃　ejaculated　the　princess；　and　she　relapsed　into　silence。

The　young　man　held　in　his　hand　a　cup…shaped　instrument　from　which　extended　a　wire　to　the　ground。　He　raised　it　to　his　lips；　and　instantly　a　calm；　deliberate　voice　came　from　the　mirror；　soft　and　low　and　yet　loud；　enough　to　reach　the　most　remote　parts　of　the　great　room。

〃The　ocean；〃　began　he；　〃is　pouring　into　the　'Volcano　of　the　Dead'　in　a　gradually　increasing　torrent。　Prince　Marentel　hopes　temporarily　to　delay　the　crisis　by　partially　turning　the　torrent　away　from　the　pit　into　the　lowlands　of　the　country。　For　that　purpose　a　portion　of　the　endless　wall　is　being　torn　down；　and　Marentel's　forces　are　placing　their　explosives。　After　this　is　done　an　attempt　will　be　made　to　stop　the　original　break。　There　is；　however；　little　hope。　The　prince　has　warned　the　king　to　be　prepared　for　the　worst。〃

At　this　point；　the　speaker　turned　as　if　startled　toward　the　red　glare　at　his　right。　He　quickly　picked　up　another　instrument　attached　to　a　wire　and　put　it　to　his　ear。　A　look　of　horror　changed　his　face　as　he　turned　to　the　audience　and　began　to　speak：〃The　opening　in　the　wall　is　not　progressing　rapidly。　Workmen　are　drowning　and　the　tunnel　of　the　sun　is　filling　with　water。　It　will　be　impossible　for　the　sun　to　go　through　to　the　east。〃

Just　then　there　was　a　far…away　crash；　and　instantly　the　mirror　was　void。　There　was　now　no　sound　except　the　low　groans　of　women　in　the　audience　and　the　subdued　curses　of　maddened　men。　The　silence　was　profound。　Then　the　mirror　began　to　glow；　and　the　image　of　another　man　took　Waldmeer's　place。

〃It　is　the　Mayor　of　Telmantio；〃　whispered　the　princess；　〃a　place　near　the　western　limits　of　Alpha。〃

He　held　a　like　instrument　to　the　one　used　by　Waldmeer；　and　through　it　spoke：〃Venus；　one　of　the　great　stars；　has　been　shaken　from　the　firmament。　It　fell　in　the　suburbs　of　Telmantio；　and　many　lives　were　lost。〃

That　was　a