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Updated: June 3, 2025
"Call him to us," she said eagerly, and the American went down to the Alphian. As they entered together, Branasko uncovered his dishevelled head and bowed most humbly. "You look tired and sick and hungry; have you eaten anything today?" she asked. "Not in two days," he replied. The princess called to a frightened maid who was wringing her hands in a corridor.
The sunlight is cut off from Alpha by the clouds, and there is no light except the wonderful effects in the sky." Johnston had gone back to the wheel and was examining it curiously. "I have a mind to turn off the current for a moment anyway," he said doggedly; "if the sun is hidden they would not discover it." Branasko came to him, a weird look of interest in his eyes.
He sat down by Branasko and together they watched the vast ball of light emerge from the black earth and gradually disappear in a great hole in the roof of the cavern. It left a broad stream of light behind it, and, now that the sun itself was out of view, the silent spectators could see the great square hole from which it had risen.
"Quick," whispered Branasko, "we must get down while it is swinging, no time to lose not an instant!" And as the sun moved backward, with his hand on the doorsill, he leaped to the earth. Johnston followed him. They were not a moment too soon, for about fifty yards away they saw a body of sixty or seventy men with lights in their hands hastening toward them.
But this made no difference to the throngs in the now muddy and slippery streets. They stood shivering in damp and soiled clothing, their blearing eyes fixed hopelessly on the lowering signs in the west. Johnston noticed a bent figure crouched against a wall beneath them. It was Branasko. "Who is it?" inquired the princess. "Branasko, the companion of my adventures," he replied.
They sat down on the stone, and after a while, in sheer fatigue, they fell asleep. Hours passed. Branasko rose with a start, and shook Johnston. "Our speed is lessening," he exclaimed. "We must be going down. Be ready to jump out the instant we stop. There, let me open the door wider."
Slowly and majestically it swept over the rocky earth, followed by the crowd, till it reached a great hole and sank into it. "Gone into the tunnel," said the Alphian, as the crowd disappeared behind the cliff. "What are we to do now?" asked Johnston. "We certainly can't go through with the sun." "Wait till the next trip," grimly replied Branasko.
The rumbling noise from the big hole gradually died away, and the two men left their hiding-place. "What is that?" asked Johnston. He pointed to the west, where a red light shone against the towering cliffs. "It must be the internal fires," answered Branasko, with a noticeable shudder. "Let's go nearer; I have heard that there is a point near here where one can look down into the Lake of Flame."
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.
The rays of the departing sun were almost gone, and the electric lights down among the machinery seemed afar off like stars reflected in deep water. With great difficulty the two men lowered themselves from one sharp ledge to another till they had gone half down to the bottom. "It is no use," said Branasko, peering over the lowest ledge.
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