The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-16

"Wonderful!"

"Wonderfulr'
"And once year royal party goe
In the sun over its entire course. 1t il
said that 1t is sumptuously furnished
inside and not too warm, the lights be
ing only innumerable small ones on thu
outside"
The two men were silent for mo
ment. Then Johnston said:
perhaps we might be able to get in
to II unobserved and be thus carriet
over to the other side or reach the pal
ace through the tunnel"
Branasko started oonvulsively, and
then, az he looked into the earnest eyer
Of the American, he said despondently
"Wo have got to die anyway. 1t may
be we'll for us to think Of 1t, but on the
other side, In the Barrens, there is nc
more chance for escape than here. But
the adventure would at least give nj
something to think about. Let's try 1t. u
"All right, but how can we get down
there where the sun starts to rise2" ask.
ed the American. peering cautiously
UVel tuo Guys VI tuo uOl6.
"There must be some way" answer.
ed Branasko. "Ah, seel Farther to the
left there are some lodges. Let's see
what oan be done that way"
II am wits you"
The rays Of the departing sun were
almost gone, and the electric lights
down among the machinery seemed afa1
off like stars reflected In deep water.
With great difficulty the two men low.
cred themselves from one sharp ledge
toanother till they had gone half down
/. to the bottom. -,
1T is no use," said Branasko, peer
ing over the lowest ledge. "There are
NO more lodges, and this one juts out SO
far that even If there were smaller ones
beneath we could not get to them"
THAT Is true, agreed the American.
But lookl Is not that lake beneath?
think it must be. for the lights are re-
fleoted on its surface"
lyon are right" answered Branas-
ko, land now see chance for us to
get dowr safely"
Howl"
1.-The workers are too far from the
lake to see us. We can drop into the
water and swim ashore"
Would they not hear the splashing
Of our bcdies2"
II think not. but first let's expert
ment wi th big stone" -
Suiting the action to the word, they
secured q stone weighing about 10
pounds and brought it to the ledge.
Carefully posing it in midair, they let
1t go. Down 1t went, cutting the air
with sharp, whizzing sound. They
listened, breathless, but heard no sound
as tho rock struck the water and the
men among the machinery seemed I'M
disturbed. Only the widening circles Of
rings OH the lakes surface indicated
where the stone had fallen.
Good" calculated the Alphian.
"Are you equal to such plunge? The
water must be deep, and we won't be
hurt at all if only we can keep our feet
downward and hold our breath long
enough. Our clothing will soon dry
down there, for feel the warmth that
comes from below"
The Alphian slowly crawled out on
the sharpest projection Of the ledge.
"Are you willing to try it?" he asked
over his shoulder.
yes"
well, wait till you see me swim
ashore and then follow"
Johnston shuddered as the strong fell
low swung himself over the ledge and
hung downward.
"Adieu," said Branasko, and he let
go. Down he fell, as straight as an ar
row, into the shadows below. For an
instant Johnston heard the futtering Of
the fellows clothing as he fell through
the darkness, and then there was no
sound except the low whir Of tho cables
and the monotonous hum Of the great
wheels beneath. Then the smooth sur.
face Of the lake was broken in white
foaming spot, and later he saw some.
thing small and dark slowly swimming
shoreward. 1t was Branasko, and the
men to the right had not heard Or seen
him
Johnston saw him reach tho shore.
Then he crawled out to the point Of the
projecting rock and tremblingly lowered
himself till he hung downward, as
Branasko had done. He had just drawn
deep breath preparatory to letting go
his hold when, CHANGING to look down,
be saw long, narrow barge slowly
emerging from the cliff directly under
him. For AL instant he was SO much
startled that he almost lost his grip Oh
the rock. He tried to climb back Oh the
ledge, but his strength was gone. He
felt that he could not hold out till the
boat had passed. Death was before him
and horrible one The boat seemed to
crawl. Everything was blur before his
eyes. His fingers began to relax, and
with low cry he fell.