The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-20

SSsVss" s'
Poor fellow! lie is hero" Johnston
stepped back and shook the Alphian,
but the poor fellow g head only rolled to
one side, showing his bloodshot eyes
He was insensible.
"He Is in a bad fix," said Thorndyke
Where Si;i j." carnc FROM"
"Banished like myself. We met over
there in the dark and roamed about TO-
gether."
"What are you going to dor"
II don't know. Twas following his
lead. We will both be put to death II
we are discovered"
"Did he not tell you his planr'
Johnston started visibly. "Oh, ! for.
goti' he exclaimed. HE declares that
all this vast cavern Ia in danger. Over
In the west we discovered d hole in the
roof through which the ocean ia stream.
ing in 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 moment2 The king
must be informed at once"
Johnston bad grown suddenly paler.
cit may not be as bad as Branasko fear.
ed, and the king would have 40 mercy
On me and him."
Leave that to me, said Thorndyke.
II have made a good friend Of the Prin.
cess Bernardino. She will tell me what
Is best to do. Remain here"
In breathless haste Fhorndyke went
into the audience chamber. Fortunately
the king was not on bis 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.
II must see your mistress" he said.
"Tell her to come to me at once. We
are in great peril" n
The girl swept her eyes over the bal.
comics and the throne and said: "She
is in her apartments, sir. shall bring
her. F."
"Tell her to meet me at the fountain
where we last met" And no hastened
back to the spot mentioned.
She soon came. "What Is itr' she
asked exoitedly.
Johnston is back" he replied. he
is in the wood there with fellow who
escaped with him in a 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 has never happen
ed"
ut may have been caused by the ex-
plosives during the Storm" went on
Thorndyke. "Branasko, the Alphian
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 the afternoon lay over ev-
erything. She stood mute and motion
less for long time, looking steadily at
the horizon; then she started suddenly,
changed her position and shaded her
eyes from the sunlight.
ut really does seem to me that there
is cloud rising, and it is unlike any
cloud I ever saw"
II see it, tooi'' cried the Engtshman.
ut must be that the water has already
reached the internal fires.
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 TO-
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 fs asleep" he said in an
undertone.
"Wake him; wake him at oncel"
commanded the excited girl.
II cannot. 1t would offend him."
was the reply.
She did not pause an instant; but,
darling 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"
"Whatl' he growled, half awake.
1.-THE sea is breaking through in the
west and running into the internal
fires"
How do you know that?"
"a dense cloud is rising in the west,
and"-
"Impossibler The word came from
far down in his throat, and he was
CHASTITY pale. He ran to the table and
touched q button, and to the astonish-
ment of Thorndyke the walls on the west
ern side of the room silently parted,
showing a little balcony overlooking
the street below. The king went hastily
out and looked toward the west The
others followed him.
The princess stifled a cry Of alarm
when she glanced at the sky.
Great, black, rolling clouds were rap
idly spreading along the horizon.
The king looked at them as helplessly
as frightened child. "The ARP he
groaned. 1T is hoti" And then he held
ont his hand to the princess and showed
her flake Of SCOT on it, and he dumbly
pointed 10 others that were falling
about them.
"How did you discover it?" he ask
ed, and Thorndyke saw that he was try
ing to appear calm.
"Mr. this gentleman's friend has
returned from Punishment, and"-
Returned Has the wall been dc.
stroyed?"
"No. He accidentally discovered the
danger and came in flying machine to
warn you"
where is he? Bring him to me,
quick"
"But you will not''-
He waved his hand impatiently.
"Go If Alpha is saved, he shall be at
liberty; if it is not, what does 1t mat
terp''
Thorndyke fastened away after John
ston, who, when he was told Of the