The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-05
CHAPTER TX.


toward the mysterious light.
g 1t cannot be from the internal fires, "
said he, "for this light is white and
the glow of the fires is red -
Let's turn back, ;" suggested John
ston. 1T can do us no good 10 90 down
there. 1t is only taking us farther from
the wall. "
Il should like TO understand it, " re-
turned the Alphian thoughtfully, land,
besides, there can be 10 more danger
there. than back among the hot crevices.
We have got TO perish anyway, and we
might as well spice the remainder of
our lives with whatever adventure we
can. Who knows what we may not dis
cover? There are many things about the
land of Alpha that the inhabitants do
not understand. "
"Ill follow you anywhere" acqui-
esced Johnston. You are right"
They stumbled on over the rocky sur
face in silence. At times the roof Of the
cavern sank so low that they had to
stoop TO pass under it, and again it rose
sharply like the roof Of cathedral, and
the rays of the faraway but ever in
creasing light shone upon glistening
stalactites that hung from the darkness
above them like daggers of diamonds set
i'll ebony.
1T is not so near as 1 supposed, "
said the Alphian YEARLY "And the
light seemed to me to be shining on
cliff over which water is pouring in
places. Yes, you can see that it is wa
ter by the ripples in the light. f"
eyes, but where can the light itself
be?"
II cannot yet tell. Wait till we get
nearer "
In about an hour they came to a wide
chasm, on the other side of which tow
cred a vast cliff of white crystal. 1t was
on this that the trembling light was
playing.
mot a waterfall after all, :" said Bra
nasko. "See, there is the source of the
reflection. l." And he pointed to the left
through a series of dark chambers of
the cavern to dazzling light. Come,
let's go nearer it He moved few
steps forward, and then, happening to
look over his shoulder, ne stopped alb
luptly and uttered an exclamation of
surprise.
"What is it," And Johnston follow
ed the eyes of the Alphan.
Our shadows on the crystal cliff"
said Branasko in an awed tone. "Only
the light from the changing sun could
wake them so. -
Johnston shuddered superstitiously at
the tone Of Branasko's quivering voice
and their giant shadows, which stood
out on the smooth crystal like silhou-
cites. So clear cut were they that in his
own shadow the American could see his
breast heaving and in Branasko's the
quivering of the Alphian S huge body
and limbs.
If we have happened upon the home
Of the sun, only the spirit of the dead
kings could tell what will become of
us, said Branasko
"Puh You are blindly superstitious. -
said Johnston. "What if we do come
upon the sun? Let's go down there and
look into the mystery"
Branasko fell into the rear, and the
American stoutly pushed ahead toward
the light, which was every moment in
creasing. As they advanced the cave got
larger until it opened out into larger
plain, over which hung fathomless dark
ness, and ont of the plain great, daz-
zling globe of light was slowly rising.
1T is the sun ITSELF" exclaimed Bra.
nasko, and he sank to the earth and
covered his face with his hands. 81
had not thought ever to see it out of
the sky"
The American was deeply thrilled by
the grand sight. He sat down by Bra