the land of the changing sun-第4部分

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s　hung　by　spiral　springs　from　the　ceiling　to　a　convenient　height　from　the　floor；　and　here　and　there　lay　rugs　of　rare　beauty　and　great　ottomans　of　artistic　designs　and　colors。

〃We　ought　to　go　to　bed；〃　proposed　Thorndyke；　〃we　shall　have　plenty　of　time　to　see　this　Aladdin's　land　before　we　get　away　from　it。〃

There　were　two　large　downy　beds　on　quaintly　wrought　bedsteads　of　brass；　but　the　two　captives　decided　to　sleep　together。

Thorndyke　was　the　first　to　awaken。　The　lights　in　the　candelabrum　were　out；　but　a　gray　light　came　in　at　the　top　and　bottom　of　the　window。　He　rose　and　drew　the　heavy　curtain　of　one　of　the　windows　aside。　He　shrank　back　in　astonishment。



Chapter　III。

〃What　is　it；　Thorndyke？　What　are　you　looking　at？〃　And　the　American　slowly　left　the　bed　and　approached　his　friend。

Thorndyke　only　held　the　curtain　further　back　and　watched　Johnston's　face　as　he　looked　through　the　wide　plate…glass　window。

〃My　gracious！〃　ejaculated　the　latter　as　he　drew　nearer。　It　was　a　wondrous　scene。　The　building　in　which　they　were　imprisoned　stood　on　a　gentle　hill　clad　in　luxuriant；　smoothly…cut　grass　and　ornamented　with　beautiful　flowers　and　plants；　and　below　lay　a　splendid　citya　city　built　on　undulating　ground　with　innumerable　grand　structures　of　white　marble；　with　turrets；　domes　and　pinnacles　of　gold。　Wide　streets　paved　in　polished　stone　and　bordered　with　lush…green　grass　interspersed　with　statues　and　beds　and　mounds　of　strange　plants　and　flowers　stretched　away　in　front　of　them　till　they　were　lost　in　the　dim；　misty　distance。　Parks　filled　with　pavilions；　pleasure…lakes；　fountains　and　tortuous　drives　and　walks；　dotted　the　landscape　in　all　directions。

Thorndyke's　breath　had　clouded　the　glass　of　the　window；　and　he　rubbed　it　with　his　handkerchief。　As　he　did　so　the　sash　slowly；　and　without　a　particle　of　sound；　slid　to　one　side；　disclosing　a　narrow　balcony　outside。　It　had　a　graceful　balustrade；　made　of　carved　red…and…white　mottled　marble；　and　on　the　end　of　the　balcony　facing　the　city　sat　a　great　gold　and　silver　jug；　ten　feet　high；　of　rare　design。　The　spout　was　formed　by　the　body　of　a　dragon　with　wings　extended；　the　handle　was　a　serpent　with　the　extremity　of　its　tail　coiled　around　the　neck　of　the　jug。

The　air　that　came　in　at　the　window　was　fresh　and　dewy；　and　laden　with　the　most　entrancing　odors。　Thorndyke　led　the　way　out；　treading　very　gently　at　first。　Johnston　followed　him；　too　much　surprised　to　make　any　comment。　From　this　position；　their　view　to　the　left　round　the　corner　of　the　building　was　widened；　and　new　wonders　appeared　on　every　hand。

Over　the　polished　stone　pavements　strange　vehicles　ran　noiselessly；　as　if　the　wheels　had　cushioned　tires；　and　the　streets　were　crowded　with　an　active；　strangely…　clad　populace。

〃Look　at　that！〃　exclaimed　the　American；　and　from　a　street　corner　they　saw　a　queer…looking　machine；　carrying　half…a…dozen　passengers；rise　like　a　bird　with　wings　outspread　and　fly　away　toward　the　east。　They　watched　it　till　it　disappeared　in　the　distance。

〃We　are　indeed　in　wonderland；〃　said　the　Englishman；　〃I　can't　make　head　nor　tail　of　it。　We　were　on　an　isolated　island；　the　Lord　only　knows　where；　and　have　suddenly　been　transported　to　a　new　world！〃

〃I　can't　feel　at　all　as　if　we　were　in　the　world　we　were　born　in；〃　returned　Johnston。　〃I　feel　strange。〃

〃The　wine；〃　suggested　the　Englishman；　〃you　know　it　did　wonders　for　us　in　that　subwater　thing。〃

〃No；　the　wine　has　nothing　to　do　with　it。　My　head　never　was　clearer。　The　very　atmosphere　is　peculiar。　The　air　is　invigorating；　and　I　can't　get　enough　of　it。〃

〃That　is　exactly　the　way　I　feel；〃　was　Thorndyke's　answer。

〃Look　at　the　sunlight；〃　went　on　Johnston；　〃it　is　gray　like　our　dawn；　but　see　how　transparent　it　is。　You　can　look　through　it　for　miles　and　miles。　It　is　becoming　pink　in　the　east；　the　sun　will　soon　be　up；　and　I　am　curious　to　see　it。〃

〃It　must　be　up　now；　but　we　cannot　see　it　for　the　hills　and　buildings。　My　goodness；　see　that！〃　and　the　Englishman　pointed　to　the　east。　A　flood　of　delicate　pink　light　was　now　pouring　into　the　vast　body　of　gray　and　was　slowly　driving　the　more　sombre　color　toward　the　west。　The　line　of　separation　was　markedso　marked；　indeed；　that　it　seemed　a　vast；　rose…colored　billow　rolling；　widening　and　sweeping　onward　like　a　swell　of　the　ocean　shoreward。　On　it　came　rapidly；　till　the　whole　landscape　was　magically　changed。　The　flowers；　the　trees；　the　grass；　the　waters　of　the　lakes；　the　white　buildings；　the　costumes　of　the　people　in　the　streets；　even　the　sky；　changed　in　aspect。　The　white　clouds　looked　like　fire…lit　smoke；　and　far　toward　the　west　rolled　the　long　line　of　pink　still　struggling　with　the　gray　and　driving　it　back。

The　sun　now　came　into　sight；　a　great　bleeding　ball　of　fire　slowly　rising　above　the　gilded　roofs　in　the　distance。

〃By　Jove；　look　at　our　shadows！〃　exclaimed　Johnston；　and　both　men　gazed　at　the　balcony　floor　in　amazement；　their　shadows　were　as　clearly　defined　and　black　as　silhouettes。　〃How　do　you　account　for　that？〃　continued　the　American；　〃I　am　firmly　convinced　that　this　sun　is　not　the　orb　that　shines　over　my　native　land。〃

Thorndyke　laughed；　but　his　laugh　was　forced。　〃How　absurd！　and　yet〃　He　extended　his　hand　over　the　balustrade　into　the　rosy　glow；　and　without　concluding　his　remark　held　it　back　into　the　shadow　of　the　window…casement。　〃By　Jove！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃there　is　not　a　particle　of　warmth　in　it。　It　is　exactly　the　same　temperature　in　the　shade　as　in　the　light。〃　He　moved　back　against　the　wall。　〃No；　there　is　no　difference；　the　blamed　thing　doesn't　give　out　any　warmth。〃

Johnston's　hands　were　extended　in　the　light。　〃I　believe　you　are　right；〃　he　declared　in　awe；　〃something　is　wrong。〃

At　that　moment　appeared　from　the　room　behind　them　a　handsome　youth；　attired　in　a　suit　of　scarlet　silk　that　fitted　his　athletic　figure　perfectly。　He　rapped　softly　on　the　window…　casement　and　bowed　when　they　turned。

〃Your　breakfast　is　waiting　for　you；〃　he　announced。　They　followed　him　into　a　room　adjoining　the　one　they　had　occupied；　and　found　a　table　holding　a　sumptuous　repast。　The　boy　gave　them　seats　and　handed　them　golden　plates　to　eat　upon。　The　fruits；　wine　and　meats　were　very　appetizing；　and　they　ate　with　relish。

〃I　believe　we　are　to　be　conducted　to　the　palace　of　your　king　to…　morrow；〃　ventured　the　Englishman　to　the　boy。

The　boy　shook　his　head；　but　made　no　reply；　and　busied　himself　with　removing　the　dishes。　As　they　were　rising　from　the　table；　they　heard　footsteps　in　the　hall　outside。　The　door　opened。　It　was　Captain　Tradmos；　and　he　was　accompanied　by　a　tall；　bearded　man　with　a　leather　case　under　his　arm。

〃You　must　undergo　a　medical　examination；〃　the　captain　said　smilingly。　〃It　is　our　invariable　custom；　but　this　is　by　a　special　order　from　the　king。〃

Johnston　shuddered　as　he　looked　at　the　odd…looking　instruments　the　medical　man　was　taking　from　the　case；　but　Thorndyke　watched　his　movements　with　phlegmatic　indifference。　He　stood　erect；　threw　back　his　shoulders；　expanded　his　massive　chest　and　struck　it　with　his　clenched　fist　in　pantomimic　boastfulness。

Tradmos　smiled　genially；　but　there　was　something　curt　and　official　in　his　tone　when　he　next　spoke　that　took　the　Englishman　slightly　aback。　〃You　must　bare　your　breast　over　your　heart　and　lungs；〃　he　said；　and　while　Thorndyke　was　unbuttoning　his　shirt；　he　and　the　medical　man　went　to　the　door　and　brought　into　the　room　a　great　golden　bell　hanging　in　a　metallic　frame。

The　bell　was　so　thin　and　sensitive　to　the　slightest　jar　or　movement　that；　although　it　had　been　handled　with　extreme　care；　the　captives　could　see　that　it　was　vibrating　considerably；　and　the　room　was　filled　with　a　low　metallic　sound　that　not　only　affected　the　ear　of　the　hearer　but　set　every　nerve　to　tingling。　The　medical　man　stopped　the　sound　by　laying　his　hand　upon　the　bell。　To　a　tube　in　the　top　of　the　bell　he　fastened　one　end　of　a　rubber　pipe；　the　other　end　was　finished　with　a　silver　device　shaped　like　the　mouth…piece　of　a　speaking　tube。　This　he　firmly　pressed　over　the　Englishman's　heart。　Thorndyke　winced　and　bit　his　lip；　for　the　strange　thing　took　hold　of　his　flesh　with　the　tenacity　of　a　powerful　suction…pump。

〃Ouch！〃　he　exclaimed　playfully；　but　Johnston　saw　that　he　had　turned　pale；　and　that　his　face　was　drawn　as　if　from　pain。

〃Hold　still！〃　ordered　the　medical　man；　〃it　will　be　over　in　a　minute；　now；　be　perfectly　quiet　and　listen　to　the　bell！〃

The　Englishman　stood　motionless；　the　sinews　of　his　neck　drawn　and　knotted；　his　eyes　starting　from　their　sockets。　Thorndyke　felt　the　rubber　tube　quiver　suddenly　and　writhe　with　the　slow　energy　of　a　dying　snake；　and　then　from　the　quivering　bell　came　a　low；　gurgling　sound　like　a　stream　of　water　being　forced　backward　and　forward。

Tradmos　and　the　medical　man　stepped　to　the　bell　and　inspected　a　small　dial　on　its　top。

〃What　was　that？〃　gasped　the　Englishman；　purple　in　the　face。

〃The　sound　of　your　blood；〃　answered　Tradmos；　as　he　removed　the　instrument　from　Thorndyke's　flesh；　〃it　is　as　regular　as　mine；　you　are　very　lucky；　you　are　slightly　fatigued；　but　you　will　be　sound　in　a　day　or　two。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　replied　the　Englishman；　but　he　sank　into　a　chair；　overcome　with　weakness。

〃Now；　I'll　take　you；　please；〃　said　the　medical　man；　motioning　Johnston　to　rise。

〃I　am　slightly　nervous；〃　apologized　the　latter；　as　he　stood　up　and　awkwardly　fumbled　the　buttons　of　his　coat。

〃Nervousness　is　a　mental　disease；〃　said　the　man；　with　professional　brusqueness；　〃it　has　nothing　to　do　with　the　body　except　to　dominate　it　at　times。　If　you　pass　your　examination　you　may　live　to　overcome　it。〃

The　American　looked　furtively　at　Thorndyke；　but　the　head　of　the　Englishman　had　sunk　on　his　breast　and　he　seemed　to　be　asleep。　Johnston　had　never　felt　so　lonely　and　forsaken　in　his　life。　From　his　childhood　he　had　entertained　a　secret　fear　that　he　had　inherited　heart　disease；　and　like　Maupassant's　〃Coward；〃　who　committed　suicide　rather　than　meet　a　man　in　a　duel；　he　had　tried　in　vain　to　get　away　from　the　horrible；　ever…present　thought　by　plunging　into　perilous　adventures。

At　that　moment　he　felt　that　he　would　rather　die　than　know　the　worst　from　the　uncanny　instrument　that　had　just　tortured　his　strong　comrade　till　he　was　overcome　with　exhaustion。

〃I　never　felt　better　in　my　life；〃　he　said　falteringly；