Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-08-26

mot tho east, Ornethelo!' cried the
king impatiently. "Go on; the west.
the west!"
The black landscape flashed by like O
glimpse Of night from flying train,
and then a blur Of redly illuminated
smoke in rolling billows seemed to
swell out from the surface Of the mirror
into the room.
"There, slowi" cried the king, and
then frightful scene burst upon their
sight. They beheld great belching pit
of fire and flames. The sky from the
earth to the zenith was vast expanse
of illuminated smoke, and the black
landscape round about was cut by rivu.
let's Of molten lava rolling on and on
like restless streams Of quicksilver.
Tho king leaned against the stand as
If faint with despair. Call Prince
Arthur" he ordered, and almost at that
instant the young man appeared
"Fatherr'
The king pointed quivering finger
at the mirror and said huskily:
LET not the sun go down. Let its
light be white as at noon"
But, father, it has never been done
before. IT,
"Alpha has never faced such danger.
All our dream is about to end. Co."
Without a word the young man has.
tened away, and it seemed scarcely q
moment before the sunlight streaming
in at the oval glass roof changed from
green to white.
The king pushed Ornothelo impatient
ly aside. His eyes held dull gleam Of
despair, and he seemed to have grown
ten years older He touched q button,
and the awful scene at the pit gave
place to bright view Of tho capitol,
which was plainly seen from its crowd
ed center to its scattering suburbs. The
squads of protectors stood like ar
mics ready for battle, their rigid faces
still toward the awful west.
'They are ready-the signall' yelled
the king, waving his hand 1.-THE sig
nall' Ornethelo caught his breath sud
denly and tottered as he went across the
room and touched button on the wall.
Tho kings eyes were glued Oh the mir
rored view of the capitol, his trembling
hands held out, as if commanding ST.
lence Then Il deafening trumpet blast
broke Oh the ear. The masses of citi
zens pressed near the edges OF the roofs
and close against the walls along the
streets as the protectors rushed into the
flying machines. Another trumpet
blast, and away they flew, long black
line, every instant growing smaller rs
it receded in the murky distance.
The princess. white and silent, led
Thorndyke and Johnston back to the
balcony.
The line of machines was now mere
thread in the sky, but the ominous
,loud IN the west had increased, a1d
fine sand and ashes were added TO the
fail Of SCOT.
What was thatT' gasped the prtn-
cess. 1t was low rumble like distaut
thunder, and the balcony shook.
"An earthquake, said ThorndyRa
II am really afraid there Is not ghost
Of chance for Us. The water running
into the fire is sure to cause an eruption
Of some sort, and even slight one
would be likely to enlarge the opening
to the ocean"
Johnston nodded knowingly as he
looked into his friends face; but, con-
sidering the presence Of the princess, he
said nothing.
my brother, Prince Maentel, Is tho
greatest man in our kingdom, " she re-
marked. HE has taken enough explo-
siyes to remove mountain.
How will he use thema' asked
Thorndyke.
II don't know, but ] fancy he will
try to close the opening IN some way.
Thorndyke slowly shook his head II
fear he will fail. The fall must be as
voluminous as Niagara by this time"
my father must have lost hope, OF
he would not have stopped the sun, "
sighed the princess, and abe cast sad