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Updated: June 3, 2025
Johnston uttered an exclamation of horror, but Branasko was unmoved. After a moment he rose, and carefully scanning the space overhead, he crawled on hands and knees toward the machine. Johnston heard him chuckling to himself and uttering spasmodic laughs, and he watched him closely as he reached the machine.
The others were placing ladders against the side of the sphere, when suddenly there was a loud clattering in the interior, a whirling of wheels under the platform above, and the surface of the sun burst into light. The two refugees were momentarily blinded. Branasko had the presence of mind to quickly draw his companion down close to the earth behind the rock.
Branasko bit his lip, and Johnston heard him stifle an exclamation of impatience. As for the American, he was at once thrilled and fascinated by the awful sight below; he could now see beneath the overhanging mouth of the pit, and look far down into a boundless lake of molten matter that seemed as restless as an ocean in a storm. Then the air became so hot he could hardly breathe.
The machine obeyed instantly; it swerved round suddenly and dived into the cave. The cool air soon revived them, and Branasko had little trouble in bringing the car to a resting-place on the rocky floor of the cave. Before them hung impenetrable darkness, behind a curtain of red light. "We are in a pretty pickle now," said Johnston despondently, as they alighted from the car.
It was on this that the trembling light was playing. "Not a waterfall after all," said Branasko; "see, there is the source of the reflection," and he pointed to the left through a series of dark chambers of the cavern to a dazzling light. "Come, let's go nearer it."
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 machinery runs only one way. We shall simply have to finish our journey in darkness." "They may catch us on the other side before the sun starts back through the tunnel," suggested the American. "Not unlikely," returned Branasko. "There, we are going ahead again. One thing in our favor is that we can more easily escape capture in darkness than if the sun were shining."
"Nothing to do but to make the best of it," sighed Branasko. "Perhaps this cave may lead out into some place of safety." Johnston's eyes had become somewhat accustomed to the gloom, and he began to peer into the darkness. "I see a light," he exclaimed; "it cannot be a reflection from the fire in the pit, for it is whiter."
Finally, after an arduous tramp of an hour, they climbed up a steep hill and looked sharply down into a vast bubbling lake of molten matter more than a thousand yards below. Branasko noticed a stone weighing several tons evenly balanced on the verge of the great gulf, and pushed it with both his hands. It rocked, broke loose from its slender hold on the cliff and bounded out into the red space.
Branasko touched the machine and smiled. His face was shining with enthusiasm. "The question of our returning to Alpha is settled," he said sententiously. "How?" "We can go in this." "Can you manage it?" "Easily; that fellow must have been drunk; the machine is in good order, I think." "When do you propose to start?" and the American eyed the funeral-car dubiously.
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