the land of the changing sun-第22章

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od　omen！　God　will　save　us！〃

It　was　true；　the　sun　was　standing　still。　A　deep　silence　was　on　the　city。　The　crowds　in　the　street　neither　moved　nor　spoke。　Without　a　murmur　or　complaint　they　stood　facing　the　frowning　west。　Suddenly　the　silence　was　interrupted　by　a　low　volcanic　rumble。　The　earth　heaved；　and　rolled；　and　far　away　in　the　suburbs　of　the　city　the　spire　of　a　public　building　fell　with　a　loud　crash。　A　groan　swept　from　mouth　to　mouth　and　then　died　away。

〃The　cloud　is　increasing　rapidly；〃　said　Thorndyke。　〃I　can　really　see　little　hope。　I　shall　return　in　a　moment。〃

While　he　was　gone　Bernardino　knelt　and　prayed。　Again　overcome　with　fear　Branasko　crouched　down　in　his　corner。　Another　shudder　and　rumble　from　the　earth；　another　long　moan　from　the　people。　Thorndyke　came　back。　He　spoke　to　the　princess：

〃The　dam　built　by　Prince　Marentel　has　been　swept　away。　The　ocean　is　pouring　into　the　internal　fires。　There　is　scarcely　any　hope　now。〃

Branasko　groaned；　but　Bernardino's　face　was　aglow　with　celestial　faith。　She　shook　her　head。

〃They　will　not　be　destroyed　in　this　way；〃　she　said；〃　they　have　had　no　chance　to　know　God。〃

〃It　all　depends　on　the　explosion　which　may　take　place　at　any　moment；〃　and　Thorndyke　took　her　into　his　arms　and　whispered　into　her　ear；　〃I　do　not　care　for　myself；　but　I　cannot　bear　to　think　of　your　suffering　pain。〃

She　answered　only　by　pressing　his　hand。　The　clouds　were　now　rolling　upward　in　greater　volume　than　ever。　It　was　growing　darker。　The　little　group　on　the　balcony　could　now　scarcely　see　the　people　below　them。　The　fall　of　damp　ashes　was　resumed。　The　air　had　grown　hot　and　close。

Boom！　Boom！　Boom！　the　streets　of　the　city　rose　nd　fell　with　the　undulating　motion　of　a　swelling　sea。　Blacker　and　blacker　grew　the　sky；　closer　and　closer　the　atmosphere；　damper　and　damper　became　the　fog；　thicker　and　thicker　fell　the　wet　sand　and　ashes。

〃Perhaps　we　would　be　safer　in　the　streets；〃　suggested　Thorndyke；　drawing　Bernardino　closer　into　his　arms；　〃the　palace　may　fall　on　us。〃

But　the　princess　shook　her　head。　〃Father　would　not　know　where　to　find　me；　I　shall　await　him　here。〃　Branasko　had　edged　nearer　to　her。　His　eyes　were　glued　on　her　face　and　he　hung　on　her　words　as　if　his　fate　were　in　her　hands。　He　had　no　regard　for　the　opinions　of　the　others。

〃The　explosion　will　soon　take　place　now　unless　something　has　happened　contrary　to　the　expectations　of　the　prince；〃　said　the　Englishman。

Boom！　Boom！　kr…kr…kr…kr…boom！　The　noise　seemed　to　shake　the　earth　to　its　centre。　Now　the　far…away　pit　was　belching　forth　fire　and　molten　lava　rather　than　steam　and　smoke。　The　flames　had　spread　out　against　the　sloping　roof　of　the　cavern；　and　seemed　to　extend　for　a　mile　along　the　horizon。　〃They　can　do　nothing　in　that　heat；〃　exclaimed　Johnston；　〃they　could　not　get　near　enough　to　the　pit。　Thorndyke；　old　fellow；　I　can't　see　a　ghost　of　a　chance。　We　might　as　well　say　good…bye。〃

〃Hush！〃　It　was　the　voice　of　the　princess。　〃I　feel　that　we　shall　not　be　lost；　I　say。〃　And　as　she　spoke　Branasko　crept　toward　her　and　raised　the　hem　of　her　gown　to　his　white　lips。　Something　dark　came　between　them　and　the　far…off　glare。　It　was　a　flying…machine。

〃It　is　father；〃　cried　Bernardino；　and　she　called　out　to　him：　〃Father！　father！　Here　we　are；　waiting　for　you！〃　In　a　moment　he　was　with　them。

〃All　right　in　the　east；〃　he　said　gloomily。　〃Baryonay　is　there。　They　deserted　him；　but　they　returned　when　the　flames　went　down。　This　is　awful；　daughter；　it　means　death！　It　means　annihilation！〃

She　put　her　arms　round　his　neck　and　drew　his　face　close　to　hers。　〃No；　no；〃　she　said　earnestly；　〃I　see　with　a　new　lighta　new　spiritual　light。　There　is　mercy　in　the　divine　heart　of　Him　that　made　the　walls　of　our　little　world　and　constructed　countless　other　worlds。　I　have　prayed　for　mercy；　and　into　my　heart　has　come　a　sweet　peace　I　never　knew　before。　We　shall　not　be　lost。　He　will　give　us　time　to　give　up　our　sinful　life　here　and　seek　Him。〃

The　old　man　quivered　as　with　ague；　he　searched　her　face　eagerly；　drew　her　spasmodically　into　his　arms；　and　then　sank　to　the　floor；　overcome　with　exhaustion。

The　roar　in　the　west　was　increasing。　Hot　ashes；　gravel　and　small　stones　were　falling　on　the　roofs　and　the　people。　Now　and　then　a　cry　of　pain　was　heard；　but　they　would　not　seek　the　shelter　of　the　buildings。　If　they　had　to　die　they　wanted　to　fall　facing　the　enemy。　Suddenly　the　king　rose。　He　looked　to　the　west　and　groaned。　Something　told　them　that　the　explosion　was　coming。　Expectation；　horrible　suspense　was　in　the　air。　There　was　a　mighty　flare　of　light。　The　entire　heavens　were　lighted　from　horizon　to　horizon；　and　then　the　light　went　out。

〃Oh；　I　thought　it　〃　but　the　princess　did　not　finish　her　sentence。

〃The　explosion；〃　said　Thorndyke；　〃the　sound　will　follow　in　a　moment。〃

〃My　God；　have　mercy　on　us！〃　cried　the　king。　But　his　prayer　was　drowned　in　a　deafening　sound。　Bernardino　had　leaned　into　the　arms　of　her　lover。　〃Don't　despair；〃　he　said　tenderly；　〃the　prince　may　have　been　successful。〃

〃I　feel　that　he　has；〃　she　replied。　〃But；　oh；　it　is　dreadful！〃

The　crowds　below　seemed　to　understand　that　their　fate　depended　on　the　news　that　would　reach　them　in　a　few　minutes。

Boom！　Boom！　kr…kr…kr…kr…boom！　There　seemed　to　be　no　lessening　of　the　volcanic　disturbance；　and　the　earth　groaned　and　rocked　and　quivered　as　before。

〃It　is　impossible　to　tell　yet；〃　groaned　the　king。　〃Oh；　God；　save　us；　give　us　a　chance　to　escape　this　awful　doom！〃

Johnston　bethought　himself　that　he　might　learn　something　in　the　Electric　Auditorium　and　he　went　into　it。　It　was　empty　and　dark；　not　a　soul　was　there　save　himself。　He　was　turning　to　leave　when　his　eye　was　drawn　to　the　great　mirror　by　a　faint　pink　glow　appearing　upon　it。　He　stood　still；　a　superstitious　fear　coming　over　him　as　he　thought　of　being　alone　with　a　possible　messenger　from　the　far…away　scene　of　disaster。　The　light　went　out　tremblingly；　then　it　flashed　up　again；　and　the　American　thought　he　saw　the　face　of　Waldmeer。　The　light　grew　steadier；　stronger。　It　was　Waldmeer；　but　he　was　submerged　in　smoke。　Hark！　he　was　speaking。

〃Marentel　is　successful！　Entrance　closed　temporarily；　and　will　be　strengthened！〃

Johnston　rushed　out　to　the　balcony。　〃I　have　been　to　the　Auditorium；〃　he　announced。　〃I　have　seen　Waldmeer。　He　says　the　experiment　was　successful。　It　is　closed　temporarily；　and　can　be　strengthened。〃

The　king　grasped　the　hand　of　the　American。　〃Thank　God！〃　he　ejaculated；　〃if　I　can　only　save　my　people　I　shall　desire　nothing　more。〃　The　princess　moved　toward　him　affectionately；　but　he　put　her　aside　and　retired　into　the　palace。

〃He　will　at　once　communicate　with　the　people；〃　remarked　Bernardino　hopefully；　and　she　turned　her　face　again　toward　the　west。　The　red　glare　was　dying　down；　and　the　dense　clouds　in　the　sky　were　thinning。　In　an　hour　the　face　of　the　sun　broke　through　the　smoke；　and　the　flying…machines　of　the　protectors　began　to　return。

That　night　the　king　caused　the　pink　light　of　the　〃Ideal　Dawn〃　to　flood　the　eastern　sky；　and；　as　before；　he　appeared　in　a　circle　of　dazzling　light　and　addressed　his　subjects：

〃All　danger　to　life　is　over；　but　the　ultimate　fate　of　Alpha　is　sealed。　Prince　Marentel　has　effectually　closed　the　entrance　of　the　ocean；　but　the　internal　fires　are　gradually　burning　through　the　rocky　bed　of　the　ocean。　In　a　couple　of　years　Alpha　will　be　demolished。　All　our　wealth　shall　be　equally　distributed　among　you；　and　my　ships　shall　transport　you　to　whatever　destination　you　desire。　Let　there　be　no　haste。　Order　shall　be　preserved　throughout。〃

That　was　all。　The　king　bowed　and　the　picture　faded　from　view。　A　deep　silence　was　over　everything。　The　only　light　came　from　the　stars　and　from　the　moon。　Then　there　was　a　sound　like　the　wind　passing　over　a　vast　forest　of　dry…leaved　treesthe　people　were　returning　to　their　homes。

〃I　should　have　thought　they　would　greet　the　king's　announcement　with　a　cheer　of　joy；〃　said　Thorndyke　to　the　princess；　as　they　returned　to　the　palace。

〃They　don't　know　whether　to　weep　or　laugh；〃　she　replied。　〃They　love　Alpha；　and　the　other　world　will　be　strange　to　most　of　them。　As　for　myself；　now　that　I　am　to　leave；　I　feel　a　few　misgivings。〃

〃I　shall　see　that　you　are　perfectly　happy；〃　he　said　tenderly。　〃You　are　to　be　my　wife。　I　shall　always　love　you　and　care　for　you；　you　need　have　no　fears。〃

And　a　moment　later；　with　joyous　tears　and　face　aglow；　she　assured　him　she　had　none。








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