The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-19


not get better time" As he spoke he
entered the car and laid his hand on
the wheel. Johnston, obeying his nod,
| followed, shuddering as he remarked
the traces Of blood on the floor.
"All right" Branasko turned the
wheel slowly, and the wings outside be-
gan to flap, and the car mounted into
the air like startled bird and flew out
quickly over the pit.
Branasko bit his lip, and Johnston
heard him stifle an exclamation Of i'm
patience. As for the American, be was
at once thrilled and fascinated by the
awful sight below. He could now see
beneath The oytrkanging mouth Of the
pit and look far down into boundless
lake of molten matter that seemed as
restless as M ocean in storm.
Then the air became SO hot he could
hardly breathe. He looked at the
Alphian in alarm. The latter was
whirling the wheel first one way and
then another, with startled look of fear
in his eyes, and then Johnston noticed
that the walls Of the pit were rising
about them and the black canopy over
head rapidly receding.
They were sinking down into the fire.
Almost wild with terror, the Amer
lean sprang toward the wheel, but
Branasko pushed him away roughly.
"Stand backr' he ordered grufay.
at is the heat. Let me alone"
The American sank into his seat. The
heat became more and more intense.
Both men were purple in the face, and
the perspiration was rolling from their
bodies in streams. Down sank the ma
chine.
II can't manage it," said Branasko
hoarsely. "We'd as well give up"
Just then Johnston noticed the mouth
Of cave behind Brahasko.
= Look" he cried; "oan't we get in
to it?n
Branasko looked over his shoulder
| ard as he saw the cave he uttered a
glad cry. He quickly turned the wheel
and drew out lever at his right. 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 resting place on the rocky
floor Of the cave. Before them hung i'm
penetrable darkness, behind curtain Of
red light.
eve are in pretty pickle now,"
said Johnston despondently as they
alighted from the Car.
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.
II see light" he exclaimed. 1T
cannot be a reflection from the fire in
the pit, for it is whiter."
The Alphian gazed at it steadily for
moment; then he said decidedly, "We
must 20 and see what it is" Without
another word he started toward the
white, starlike spot, sliding his hand
over the rocky wall and springing over
fissure in the floor.
Gradually the light grew brighter
till, as they suddenly rounded cliff, a
grand sight burst upon their view. They
found themselves in vast dome shaped
cavern, thousands Of yards in diameter
and height, and almost in the center of
the floor from a red and purple mound
of cooling lava leaped white stream
of molten matter from the floor to the
dome, and in the black dome, where
the lava turned to molten spray, hung
countless stalactites of every color
known to the artistic eye, and from tho
foot of the fountain ran tortuous rivu-
let that lighted the walls and roof of
narrow chamber that extended for miles
down toward the bowels Of the earth.
Branasko was delighted.
1.-THE king does not know of this, )" he
declared, "else he would make it &C.
cessible TO his people and call it one Of
the wonders Of Alpha. By accidentally
sinking into the pit we have discovered
it; but" he concluded, 1--WE must at
once try to find some way out other
than that by which we came"
They turned from the beautiful foun-
tain, and, holding to each others hands
and aided by the light behind them,
they stumbled laboriously through the
semidarkness. Branasko's ears were
very acute. He paused to listen.
"Hark yer' he cautioned.
The combined roar sf the pit and the
fountain Of lava mad sunk to low muir
muir, but unead of them they now heard
a rushing sound like distant tornado.
Come on, said the Alphian, and he
drew his companion after him with an
eagerness the American was slow to un-
derstand. The light in the cavern grad
ually grew brighter. By circuitous
route they were again approaching the
pit Of fire, though it was still hidden
from sight.
Finally they reached point where
the wind was blowing stiffly, and farther
| on q volume Of cold spray suddenly
dashed upon them and wet them to the
skin, and when their eyes had become
accustomed to the rolling mist they saw
great lake, and pouring into it from
| high above was mighty waterfall.
"Mercyv calculated the Alphian in
great alarm. If this is salt water, we
are lost. All Alpha will come to an
end"
"What doyou mean?' And Johnston
| wondered if Branasko's trials and strug-
| giles could have turned his brain.
IF it be salt water, then it has bro
ken in from the ocean above Alpha, -
he explained. 1.-THE king has often said
that not drop Of the ocean has ever
entered the great cavern"
Branasko stopped and wet his hand
in little pool at his feet. II am al.
most afraid to taste it," said he. hold.
ing his hand near his mouth. at would
settle all our fates." He waited n mo-
ment and then touched his fingers to
his tongue.
"Salt!' That was all he said for sew
eral moments. He folded his arms and
looked mutely toward tho boiling lake
D,,s,o,tlyv Ia roicod bto npeo m the Ureat