Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-08-19

!
cent bottles for sale by Dr. Jas. X. Waters
| ly, from the dead lands behind the
snu.
'How did you get back here?'
For reply Johnston parted the ferh
leaves and pointed to the lank figure Of
the tall Alphian who lay curled up on
the grass as if asleep. "He brought me
In that flying machine there, but he has
spent all his strength in trying to man-
age the thing, which was out Of order,
and now he is helpless Twice we camo
within an inch of sinking down into tho
internal fires. The last time VIC escaped
only by the breadth Of a hair. If he had
not had the endurance of man of iron,
he would have succumbed to the heat,
and wo would have been lost. We sank
so far down that / became insensible
and never knew thing till the fresh
air revived me. See; my beard and hair
arc singcd, and look how he is blistered.
Peer fellow! He is hero" Johnston
stepped back and shook the Alphian,
but the poor fellows head only rolled to
one side, showing his bloodshot eyes
He was insensible.
"He is III bad fix" said Thorndyke.
"Where did he come from?'
43anished like myself. We met over
t.ere in tho dark and roamed about to-
gether."
"What are you going to do?''
II don't know. was following his
lead. We will both be put to death il
we are discovered.
Ibid he not tell you bis planp'
Johnston started visibly. "Oh, for
gotp' he exclaimed. He declares that
all this vast cavern is in danger. Over
in the west we discovered hole in the
roof through which the ocean is stream
ing in q torrent. He calculated that be.
fore many hours the water would over
flow into the internal fires and produce
a volcanic eruption that will swallow
up all of Alpha"
"Merciful heaveni And you are hid.
ing here at such a moment? The king
must be informed at once"
Johnston had grown suddenly paler.
"It may not be as bad as Branasko fear!
ed, and the king would have no mercy
on me and him."
"Leave that to me-" said Thorndyka
II have mado good friend Of the Prin.
cess Bernardino. She will tell me what
is best to do. Remain here"
In breathless haste Thorndyke went
into the audience chamber. Fortunately
the king was not on his throne, and he
caught sight Of the confidential maid
Of the princess.
She saw him approaching and with.
drew behind cluster Of tall white jars
of porcelain containing rare plants.
IL must see your mistress" he said.
"Tell her to come to me at once We
are in great peril"
The girl swept her eyes over the bal.
comics and the throne and said, "She
is in her apartments, sir. shall bring
her."
TELL her to meet me at the fountain
vhero we last met" And he hastened
back to the spot mentioned
She soon came. "What is it7'' she
asked exoitedly.
Johnston is back" he replied. He
is in the wood there with. fellow who
escaped with him In disabled flying
machine. He says the sea has broken
through over in the west and is stream
ing into Alpha In torrent. "
"Surely there is some mistake" SHE
said. "Such thing hos mover happen'
ed"
"It may have been caused by the ex-
plosives during the Storm" went on
MI k11 lnh
who was with Johnston, says we are In
imminent peril "
"There must be some mistake" she
repeated incredulously as she looked to
westward. The green glow Of the sec
ond hour Of tho afternoon lay over ev.
erything. She stood mute and motion
less for long time, looking steadily 40
the horizon; then she started suddenly.
changed her position and shaded her
eyes from the sunlight
cit really does seom to me that there
Is a cloud rising, and 1t is unlike any
cloud ever saw"
II sec it, tool" cried the Englishman
"It must be that the water has already
reached the internal fires. y
Bernardino was very pale when she
turned to him.
my father must know this at once.
Come with me.
Into the palace, through the vast 70.
tunda, past the throne and into the very
apartment of the king himself she led
him hastily A royal attendant met them
and held up his hands warningly.
"The king is asleep" he said in an
undertone.
"Wake him; wake him at oncei"
commanded the excited girl.
II cannot 1t would offend him,
was the reply
She did not pause an instant; but,
darting past the man and running to
the kings couch, she drew the curtain
aside and touched the sleeper. He walked
in anger, but her first word disarmed
him.
"Alpha is in danger"
"Whatp' he growled, half awake.
"The sea Is breaking through in the
west and running into the internal
fires.
"How do you know that2"
"A dense cloud is rising in the west,
and''--