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Updated: May 3, 2025
Now for the pit!" The heart of the American was in his mouth as the long black wings waved up and down and the air-ship, like some live thing, shuddered and swept gracefully out of the mouth of the cave into the glare and heat of the pit. "Hold your breath!" yelled Branasko, and he bent lower into the car to escape the shower of hot ashes that was falling about them.
It was Branasko, and the men to the right had not heard or seen him. Johnston saw him reach the shore, then he crawled out to the point of the projecting rock and tremblingly lowered himself till he hung downward as Branasko had done.
"All right; but how can we get down there where the sun starts to rise?" asked the American, peering cautiously over the edge of the hole. "There must be some way," answered Branasko. "Ah, see! further to the left there are some ledges; let's see what can be done that way." "I am with you."
"Give this man food and drink at once," she ordered, and Branasko, with a grateful bow and glance, withdrew. Johnston followed him to the door. "Fear nothing," he said. "If the danger passes we are safe; the king has promised to pardon me, and he will do the same for you." "There is no hope for any of us," replied Branasko grimly; "but I do not want to die with this gnawing in my stomach; adieu."
"Just in time," exulted Branasko, and he quickly drew Johnston into a little cave in the face of a cliff. Crouching behind a great rock, they saw and heard the men as they approached. Some of them walked around the sun, and two, evidently in authority, entered the door.
Branasko started convulsively, and then, as he looked into the earnest eyes of the American, he said despondently: "We have got to die, anyway; it may be well for us to think of it; but on the other side, in the Barrens, there is no more chance for escape than here. But the adventure would at least give us something to think about; let's try it."
"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.
"Well, wait till you see me swim ashore, and then follow." Johnston shuddered as the strong fellow swung himself over the ledge and hung downward. "Adieu," said Branasko, and he let go. Down he fell, as straight as an arrow, into the shadows below.
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.
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.
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