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Updated: June 3, 2025
"Ah," he grunted with satisfaction, "I have found a light. I can now see what is the matter with it." Johnston stood outside and heard him hammering on the metal parts in the car, and became so absorbed in thinking of the peril of their position that he was startled when Branasko cried out to him: "All right.
At certain points the hot wind dashed upon them as furiously as the whirling mist in 'The Cave of Winds' at Niagara Falls. Once Johnston's foot slipped and he fell, but was drawn back to safety by the strong arm of the Alphian. "Be careful; hold to the cliff's face," warned Branasko indifferently, and he moved onward as if nothing unusual had occurred.
"Surely there is some mistake," she said; "such a thing has never happened." "It may have been caused by the explosives during the storm," went on Thorndyke. "Branasko, the Alphian who was with Johnston, says we are in imminent peril." "There must be some mistake," she repeated incredulously, as she looked to westward. The green glow of the second hour of the afternoon lay over everything.
He knew not the meaning of prayer, but there was something in the reverent attitude of the princess that drew his untutored being toward his Maker. He covered his face with his hands and his shaggy head sank to his knees. Johnston hastened back into the Auditorium. Returning in a moment, he found the Englishman tenderly lifting Bernardino from her knees and Branasko still crouching in a corner.
"Something has happened," whispered Branasko, "some great calamity, for surely so many people do not die in Alpha in a single day." For an hour they watched the coming and going of the vultures, till, finally the last one hovered over the lake of fire. Suddenly the machine swerved so near to Branasko and Johnston that they shrank close to the earth to keep from being seen.
"They are everywhere," answered Branasko, "if it were not for their hot breathing the Land of the Changing Sun would be cold and damp." "Then the sun does not give out heat?" "No." "It is cold?" "I believe so, I have never thought much about it." The American was mystified, but he did not question farther, for Branasko was carefully lowering himself into the hot gulf.
Johnston was too much puzzled to formulate a reply, and he simply waited for the Alphian to continue. "Let's go on," said Branasko; and in his tone and hesitating manner Johnston detected the first appearance of superstitious fear that he had seen in the brawny Alphian. As Thorndyke watched the flying machine that was bearing his friend away a genuine feeling of pity went over him. Poor Johnston!
He had narrowly missed the flat-boat, for he saw it receding from him only a few yards away. On the shore stood Branasko motioning to him; and, slowly, for his strength was almost gone, Johnston swam toward him. The latter waded out into the shallow water and drew him ashore. "You had a narrow escape," he said, with a dry laugh.
His head felt more dizzy as he thought of the fathomless depths beneath, and the rush of hot air up the side of the cliff took his breath away, but he braced himself and said calmly: "All right, I am coming." The next instant he sprang forward. Branasko caught him into his arms and they both rolled back on the level stone.
And from the foot of the fountain ran a tortuous rivulet that lighted the walls and roof of a narrow chamber that extended for miles down toward the bowels of the earth. Branasko was delighted. "The king does not know of this," he declared, "else he would make it accessible to his people, and call it one of the wonders of Alpha. By accidentally sinking into the pit we have discovered it.
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