The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-30
CHAPTER V.

dredS of feet above them.
CHAPTER V.
s'Follow me" said the captain stifay,
for there were several guards IN white
and gold uniforms pacing to and fro ON
the battlementlike walls. He led the
two adventures through door III the
base of the dome. At first they were
dazed by brilliant light from above,
and, looking up, they beheld marvel
of kaleidoscope colors formed by a
myriad of electric lighted prisms slop-
ing gradually from the floor to the
apex of the dome. Thorndyke could
compare it to nothing but stupendous
diamond, the very heart of which the
eye penetrated.
''Don't look at it now," advised
Tradmos in an undertone. cit was con-
structed to be seen from below and to
light the great rotunda.'
Mutely the captives obeyed. At every
turn they were greeted with new
wonder The captain now led them
round a narrow balcony OH the inside
of the vast dome, and, looking over the
railing down below, they saw vast
tessellated pavement made of polished
stones of various and brilliant colors
and so artistically arranged that from
where they stood lifelike pictures of
landscapes seemed to rise to meet the
vision wherever the eye rested. Statues
of white marble, gold and bronze were
placed here and there, and in squares Of
living green fountains threw up streams
of crystal water. Tradmos paused for
them to look down and smiled at their
evident admiration.
'How far is it down there?" Thorn
dyke yentured to ask.
"Oyer !, 600 feet" replied Tradmos.
"Look across opposite and you will see
that there are 90 floors beneath us, and
each floor has a balcony like this over
looking the court
"What is the sound that comes up
from below?" asked the Englishman.
sit is the voices of the people and
their footsteps Oh the stone, -
"What people?'
"Don't you see them? Your eyes are
dazzled by the light. I ought to have
warned you against looking up into the
dome. The people are down there. Do
the views in the pavement not look a
little Blurred"
"Yes"
"Mell, if you will look more closely
you will see that it is multitude Of
people"
"Great heavensr exclaimed the Eng
lishman, and he became deeply absorb
ed in the contemplation OF the rarest
sight he had ever seen. AS he looked
closely he noticed black spot growing
larger and nearer, and he glanced in
quiringly at the captain.
SIT is an elevator. There are great
many of them used in the palace, but
none has happened to rise as high as
this since we came. The one you see is
coming for u.s. The next moment the
strange vehicle was floating toward
them. The captain opened the door and
preceded the captives into the interior.
''The royal audience chamber" he
said carelessiy to the driver behind the
glass of the adjoining compartment, and
down they foated as lightly as bub-
ble-down past balcony after balcony,
laden with moving throngs, until they
alighted in great conservatory.
Near them was tall fountain, the
water of which was playing weird nu-
sic on great bells of glass, some of
which hung i'll the fountains stream,
and others rose and fell, giving forth
strange, submerged tones i'll the foam
ing basin.
"It is new invention recently placed
here by the kings son, who is a musical
genius, explained Tradmos. "You will
be astonished at some of his inventions. !"
He led them, as if to avoid the great
crowds that they could now hear on all
sides, down long vista of palms, the
branches of which met over their heads,
to the wide door of the audience cham
Der. A party of men dressed in uniforms
of white silk with gold and silver orna-
ments bowed before tie capta--l and
made way for him.
The captives now found themselves in
the most splendid and spacious room
they had ever seen, at the far end of
which was a To-, dais AID Oh it an
elaborate ,llrone.
s'Ishall be obliged to leave you when
the king comes,' said Tradmos te,
Tborndyke, but ] shall hope tosee you
again. Don't forget my name and rank,
fer l may send you message some time
that may aid you. -
'"Thank YOU replied the English
man, and then as a throng of beautiful
young women came from a room on the
side and gathered about the throne he
added inquisitiyely, who are they?"
The wives and daughtersof the king
and the wives of the princes" was the
cautious answer, but don't look at any
one of them cloaely. =
81 don't see how fellow can help it;
they are ravishingly beautiful. cont
you think so, Johnson"
ia 0T>r,,,f hq a fool ,, SuanDed the