The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-08-18

| allu IDS dDOllU W IUri1OAI "hSA
his foot slipped, and with cry OF hor-
TOR he fell with his burden over the
cliffs edge into. the red abyss.
Johnston uttered an exclamation OF
horror, but Branasko was unmoved. Aft
| er a moment he rose and, carefully
scanning the space overhead, he crawled
on hands and knees toward the ma
chine. Johnston heard him chuckling
| to himself and uttering spasmodlc
laughs, and he watched him closely as
he reached the machine. For several
! minutes he seemed to be inspecting it
critically, both inside and out; then he
stood away from it, bold, black sill
houette on background of flame, and
motioned the American to come to him.
Johnston promptly but not without
many misgivings obeyed his signal.
"What are you up top asked be as the
Alphian assisted him to rise from his
! hands and knees.
Branasko touched the machine ana
| smiled. His face was shining with en-
| thusiasm.
"The question of our returning to
Alpha is settled" he said sententiously.
How"
"We can go in this. -
"Can you manage it?''
y" easily. That fellow must have been
drunk. The machine is i'll good order, 1
/ think "
"When do you propose to start?"
And the American eyed the funeral car
obviously.
"The night is before us. We could
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.
call right" Branasko turned the
wheel slowly, and the wings outside be-
gan to flap, and the car mounted into
the air like a startled bird and flew out
quickly over the pit.
Branasko bit his lip, and Johnston
heard him stife all exclamation of i'm
patience. AS for the American, he was
at once thrilled and fascinated by the
awful sight below. He could now see
beneath the oyerhanging mouth of the
pit and look far down into boundless
lake of molten matter that seemed as
restless as an ocean In o storm.
Then the air became so hot he could
hardly breathe He looked at the
Alnhian in alarm. The latter was
whirling the wheel first one way and
then another, with a 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. 49,.
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 back!" he ordered gruffiy,
. ''Jt 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 porspiration was rolling from their
bodies in streams. Down sank the ma
chine.
81 can't manage it," said Branasko
hoarsely. "We'd as well give up"
Just then Johnston noticed the mouth
Of cave behind Branasko.
"Look," he cried; 'can't we get in
to it?''
Branasko looked over his shoulder,
and 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. 1t 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 a curtain Of
red light
1--WE are in pretty pickle now
said Johnston despondently as they
ahghted from the car.
"Nothing to do but to make the bes
of it, sighed Branasko. Perhaps this
cave may lead out into some place O.
4 safety"
Johnston s eyes had become somewha
accustomed to the gloom, and he began
to peer into the darkness.
81 see a light, !" he exclaimed. II
cannot be a reflection from the fire il
, the pit, for it is whittier. -
j The Alphian gazed at it steadily TO
moment; then he said decidedly w
must go and see what it is. = Withou
another word he started toward tn
i white, starlike spot, sliding his han'
J, over the rocky wall and springing owe
, fissure in the floor.
Gradually the light grew brighte
| till, as they suddenly rounded cliff,
J grand sight burst upon their view. The
( found themselves in vast dome shape
cavern, thousands of yards inldiamete
: and height, and almost in the center
the floor from red and purple moun
) of cooling lava leaped white strear
of molten matter from the floor to tn
> dome, and in the black dome, wher
9 L. -, ). .u...o. -. often spray, hun
5 countless stalactites of every colo
! known to the artistic eye, and from th
s foot Of the fountain ran tortuous riyr
q let that lighted the walls and roof OF
. narrow chamber that extended for mile
D down toward the bowels of the earth.
: Branasko was delighted.
0 s'The king does not know of this, " b
6 declared. ''else he would make it al
/ cessible to his people and call 1t one
r the wonders of Alpha. By accidental