the land of the changing sun-第15部分

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〃It　is　the　sun's　headlight；〃　explained　Branasko。

Johnston　was　thrilled　to　the　centre　of　his　being　as　he　saw　the　light　playing　over　the　polished　tracks　and　cables　and　illuminating　the　walls　of　the　great　tunnel。

Suddenly　there　was　a　deep；　mellow…toned　stroke　of　a　bell　in　the　sun；　and；　as　the　two　men　shrank　involuntarily　into　the　deeper　shade　of　the　cliff；　the　great　globe；　a　stupendous　ball　of　crystal；　five　hundred　feet　in　height；　slowly　emerged　from　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel　and　came　to　a　stop　under　the　opening　in　the　rock　which　led　to　the　space　above。

〃What　had　we　better　do　now？〃　said　Johnston。

〃Wait；〃　cautioned　Branasko；　and　he　drew　the　American　to　a　great　boulder　nearer　the　sun；　from　behind　which　they　could；　without　being　seen；　watch　the　action　of　the　crowd　of　workmen　that　was　hurriedly　approaching。　They　placed　ladders　of　steel　against　the　sides　of　the　sun　and　swarmed　over　it　like　bees。

〃They　are　cleaning　the　glass　and　adjusting　the　lights；〃　said　the　Alphian；　〃wait　till　they　go　round　to　the　other　side。　Don't　you　see　that　square　opening　near　the　ground？〃

The　American　nodded。

〃It　is　the　door；〃　said　Branasko；　〃and　we　must　try　to　enter　it　while　they　are　on　the　other　side。　Let　us　slip　nearer；　there　is　another　rock　ahead　that　we　can　hide　behind。〃　Suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　Branasko　led　the　way；　stooping　near　to　the　ground　until　both　were　safely　ensconced　behind　the　boulder　in　question。　They　were　now　so　near　that　they　could　hear　the　electricians　rubbing　the　glass。

One　who　seemed　to　be　superintending　the　work　opened　the　door　and　went　into　the　sun　and　lighted　a　bright　light。　From　where　they　were　crouched　Johnston　and　Branasko　caught　a　view　of　a　little　hall；　a　flight　of　stairs；　and　some　pictures　on　the　walls。

Presently　the　man　extinguished　the　light　and　came　out。

〃They　are　removing　their　ladders　from　this　side；〃　said　Branasko　in　a　whisper。　〃Be　ready；　we　must　act　quickly　and　without　a　particle　of　sound。　Run　straight　for　that　door　and　climb　up　the　steps　immediately。〃

The　men　had　all　gone　round　to　the　other　side；　and　no　one　was　in　sight。

〃Quick！　Follow　me；〃　and　bending　low　to　the　earth　the　Alphian　darted　across　the　intervening　space　and　into　the　doorway。　Johnston　was　quite　as　successful。　As　he　entered　the　door　he　saw　Branasko　crawling　up　the　carpeted　stairs　ahead　of　him；　and；　on　his　all…　fours；　he　followed。　The　first　landing　was　large；　and　there　in　the　wall　they　found　a　closet。　It　would　have　been　dark　but　for　a　dim　light　that　streamed　down　from　above。　Branasko　opened　the　closet　door。　〃We　must　hide　here　for　the　present；〃　he　whispered。

They　had　barely　got　seated　on　the　floor　and　closed　the　door　when　a　bright　light　broke　round　them　and　they　heard　somebody　ascending　the　stairs。　The　person　passed　by　and　went　on　further　up。　The　two　adventurers　dared　not　exchange　a　word。　They　could　hear　the　footsteps　above　and　the　sound　of　the　electricians　outside　as　they　polished　the　lights　and　moved　their　ladders　from　place　to　place。

〃If　he　should　stay；　what　could　we　do？〃　asked　Johnston；　after　a　long　pause；　and　when　the　footsteps　sounded　farther　away。

〃There　are　two　of　us　and　one　of　him；〃　grimly　replied　the　brawny　Alphian。

Johnston　shuddered。　〃Let's　not　commit　murder　in　any　emergency；〃　he　said。

〃It　would　not　be　murder；　every　man　has　a　right　to　save　his　own　life。〃

Nothing　more　was　said　just　then；　for　the　footsteps　were　growing　nearer。　The　man　was　descending。　He　crossed　the　landing　they　were　on　and　went　down　the　last　flight　of　stairs　and　out　of　the　door。

Branasko　rubbed　his　rough　hands　together。　〃We　are　going　alone；〃　he　said　with　satisfaction。

There　was　a　sound　of　sliding　ladders　on　the　walls　outside。　The　workmen　had　finished　their　task。　A　moment　later　a　great　bell　overhead　rang　mellowly；　the　colossal　sphere　trembled　and　rocked　and　then　rose　and　swung　easily　forward　like　the　car　of　a　balloon。

〃We　are　rising；〃　said　the　Alphian；　in　a　tone　of　superstitious　awe。　Johnston　said　nothing。　There　was　a　cool；　sinking　sensation　in　his　stomach　and　his　head　was　swimming。　Branasko；　however；　was　in　possession　of　all　his　faculties。

〃We　shall　soon　be　through　the　shaft　we　first　discovered　and　throw　our　light　over　Alpha。〃　As　he　spoke　the　space　about　them　broke　into　blinding　brightness　and　for　a　few　moments　they　could　only　open　their　eyes　for　an　instant　at　a　time。　After　a　while　Branasko　opened　the　closet　door　and　they　went　up　the　stairs。

The　first　apartment　they　entered　was　most　luxuriously　furnished。　Sofas；　couches　and　reclining…chairs　were　scattered　here　and　there　over　the　elegant　carpet；　and　statues　of　gold　and　marble　stood　in　alcoves　and　niches　and　strange　stereopticon　lanterns；　hanging　from　the　ceiling　threw　ever…changing　and　life…like　pictures　on　the　walls。　The　light　streamed　in　from　without　through　small　circular　windows。　After　they　had　walked　about　the　room　for　some　minutes；　the　Alphian　pointed　to　a　half…　open　door　and　a　staircase　at　one　side　of　the　room。

〃I　think　it　leads　to　some　sort　of　observatory　on　top；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　heard　that　when　the　royal　family　makes　this　voyage　they　are　fond　of　looking　out　from　it。　Suppose　we　see。〃　Johnston　acquiesced；　and　Branasko　opened　the　door。　From　the　increased　brightness　that　came　in　they　were　assured　that　the　stairs　led　outward。

Ascending　many　flights　of　stairs　and　traversing　a　narrow　winding　gallery　which　seemed　to　be　gradually　sloping　upward；　they　finally　reached　the　outside；　and　found　themselves　on　a　platform　about　forty　feet　square　surrounded　by　iron　balustrades。　Above　hung　impenetrable　blackness；　below　curved　a　majestic　sphere　of　white　light。



Chapter　XII。

The　sunlight　was　fading　into　gray　when　the　princess　turned　to　leave　Thorndyke。　Night　was　drawing　near。

〃Have　they　assigned　you　a　chamber　yet？〃　she　paused　to　ask。

〃No。〃

〃Then　they　have　overlooked　it；　I　shall　remind　the　king。〃

Her　beautiful；　lithe　form　was　clearly　outlined　against　the　red　glow　of　the　massive　swinging　lamp　as　she　moved　gracefully　away；　and　Thorndyke's　heart　bounded　with　admiration　and　hope　as　he　thought　of　her　growing　regard　for　him。　He　resumed　his　seat　among　the　flowers；　listening；　as　if　in　a　delightful　dream；　to　the　seductive　music　from　bands　in　different　parts　of　the　palace　and　the　never…ceasing　sound　in　the　air　which　seemed　to　him　to　be　the　concentrated　echo　of　all　the　sounds　in　the　strange　country　rebounding　from　the　vast　cavern　roof。

It　grew　darker。　The　gray　outside　had　changed　to　purple。　In　the　palace　the　brilliant　electric　lights　in　prismatic　globes　refused　to　allow　the　day　to　die。　He　was　thinking　of　returning　to　the　throne…room　when　a　page　in　silken　attire　approached　from　the　direction　of　the　king's　quarters。

〃To　your　chambers；　master；〃　he　announced；　bowing　respectfully。

Thorndyke　arose　and　followed　him　to　an　elevator　near　by。　They　ascended　to　the　highest　balcony　of　the　great　rotunda。　Here　they　alighted　and　turned　to　the　right；　the　page　leading　the　way；　a　key　in　his　hand。　Presently　the　page　stopped　at　a　door　and　unlocked　it　and　preceded　the　Englishman　into　the　room。　As　they　entered　an　electric　light　in　a　chandelier　flashed　up　automatically。

It　was　a　sumptuous　apartment；　and　adjoining　it　were　several　connecting　rooms　all　elegantly　furnished。　The　page　crossed　the　room　and　opened　a　door　to　a　little　stairway。

〃It　leads　to　the　roof；〃　he　said。　〃The　princess　told　me　to　call　your　attention　to　it；　that　you　might　go　out　and　view　the　starlight。〃

When　the　page　had　retired；　Thorndyke；　feeling　lonely；　ascended　the　stairs　to　the　roof。　It　was　perfectly　flat　save　for　the　great　dome　which　stood　in　the　centre　and　the　numerous　pinnacles　and　cupolas　on　every　hand；　and　was　very　spacious。　The　Englishman's　loneliness　increased；　for　no　matter　in　what　direction　he　looked；　there　was　not　a　living　soul　in　sight。　Far　in　front　of　him　he　saw　a　stone　parapet。　He　went　to　this　and　looked　down　on　the　city。　The　electric　lights　were　vari…colored；　and　arranged　so　that　when　seen　from　a　distance　or　from　a　great　height　they　assumed　artistic　designs　that　were　beautiful　to　behold。

The　regular　streets　and　rows　of　buildings　stretched　away　till　the　light　in　the　farthest　distance　seemed　an　ocean　of　blending　colors。　Overhead　the　vault　was　black；　and　only　here　and　there　shone　a　star；　but　as　he　looked　upward　they　began　to　flash　into　being；　and　so　rapidly　that　the　sky　seemed　a　vast　battlefield　of　electricity。

〃Wonderful！　Wonderful！〃　he　ejaculated　enthusiastically；　when　the　black　dome　was　filled　with　twinkling　stars。　He　leaned　for　a　long　time　against　the　parapet；　listening　to　the　music　from　the　streets　below；　and　watching　the　flying…machines　with　their　vari…colored　lights　rise　from　the　little　parks　at　the　intersection　of　the　streets　and　dart　away　over　the　roofs　like　big　fireflies。　Then　he　began　to　feel　sleepy；　and；　going　back　to　his　chambers；　he　retired。

When　he　awoke　the　next　morning；　the　rosy　glow　of　the　sun　was　shining　in　at　his　windows。　On　rising　he　was　surprised　to　find　a　delectable　breakfast　spread　on　a　table　in　his　sitting…room。

〃Treating　me　like　a　lord；　any　way；〃　he　said　drily。　〃I　can't　say　I　dislike　the　thing　as　a　whole。〃　When　he　had　satisfied　his　sharp　hunger　he　went　out　into　a　corridor　and　seeing　an　elevator　he　entered　it　and　went　down　to　the　throne…room。　The　king　was　just　leaving　his　throne；　but　seeing　Thorndyke　he　turned　to　him　with　a　smile。

〃How　did　you　sleep？〃　he　asked。

〃Well；　indeed；〃　replied　Thorndyke；　with　a　low　bow。

〃I　cannot　talk　to　you　now。　I　intended　to；　but　I　have　promised　my　people　a　'War　of　the　Elements'　to…day　and　am　busy。　You　will　enjoy　it；　I　trust。〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；　your　Majesty。〃

〃Well；　be　about　the　palace；　for　it　is　a　good　point　from　which　to　view　the　display。〃

With　these　words　he　turned　away　and　the　Englishman；　as　if　drawn　there　by　the　memory　of　his　last　conversation　with　Bernardino；　sought　the　retreat　where　he　had　bidden　her　good…night。　He　sat　down　on　the　seat　they　had　occupied；　and　gave　himself　over　to　delightful　reveries　about　her　beauty　and　loveliness　of　nature。　Looking　up　suddenly　he　saw　a　pair　of　white　hands　part　the　palm　leaves　in　front　of　him　and　the　subject　of　his　thoughts　emerged　into　view。

She　wore　a　regal　gown　and　beautiful　silken　head…dress　set　with　fine　gems；　and　gave　him　a　warm　glance　of　friendly　greeting。

〃I　half　hoped　to　fi