The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-07-21

s.ssu no, 1Or Ids ngnJ IS wnlre anc
the glow of the fires is red. !.
i Let's turn back, ; suggested John
ston. 1t can do us no good to 60 dow
there. It is only taking us farther from
4 the wall. /"
/ II should like to understand it, > re-
turned the Alphian thoughtfully, ssand,
| besides, there can be no more danger
there than back among the hot creyices.
We have got to perish anyway, and we
might as we'll 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. - ~. B
"I'll follow you anywhere" acoui-
esce6 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 PARKWAY but ever in
creasing light shone upon glistening
stalactites that hung from the darkness
above them like daggers of diamonds set
in ebony.
'It is not SO near as supposed, "
said the Alphian YEARLY. "And the
light seemed to me to be shining on a
cliff over which water is pouring in
places. Yes, you can see that it is wa
ter by the ripples in the Light
"Yes, but where can the light itself
ae?''
II cannot yet tell. Wait till we get
aearer"
In about an hour they came to wide
chasm, on the other side of which tow
cred vast cliff of white crystal. It was
ON this that the trembling light was
playing.
"Not waterfall after all, " said Bra
nasko. "See, there is the source of the
reflection. 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 a few
steps forward, and then, happening to
look over his shoulder, ne stopped abb
luptly and uttered an exclamation of
surprise.
''What is it?'' And Johnston follow
ed the eyes of the Alphian.
Our shadows on the crystal cliff"
said Branasko in an awed tone. "Only
tie light from the changing sun could |
make them so''
Johnston shuddered superstitiously at |
the tone of Branaskos quiyering 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.
eff we have happened upon the home
Of the sun, only the spirit of the dead
kings could tell what will become of
u.s. said Branasko.
"Puh! You are blindly superstitious,
aid Johnston. "What if we do come
lpon the sun? Let's go down there and
ook into the mystery
Branasko fell into the rear, and the
American stoutly pushed ahead toward
he light, which was every moment in
reasing. As they advanced the cave got
anger until it opened out into larger
lain, over which hung fatkcplcScs dark- ,
less, and ont of the plain great, daz-
ling globe of light was slowly rising.
at is the sun ITSELF" exclaimed Bra. !
asko,. and he sank to the earth and ,
overed his face with his hands. 81 ,
ad not thought ever to see it out of +
be sky :
The American was deeply TIM He'd by
ne grand sight. He sat downIhy Bra I