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

tain, and, holding to each others hands
and aided by the light behind them,
they stumbled laboriously through the
semidarkness. Branasko's ears were
very acute. He paused to listens
"Hark yep' he cautioned.
The combined roar of the pit and the
fountain of lava had sunk to low muir
muir, but ahead of them they now heard
rushing sound like a distant tornado.
"Come on said the Alphian, and he
| drew his companion after him with an
eagerness the American was slow to I'M
derstand. The light i'll the cavern grad
ually grew brighter. By clrcultous
route they were again approaching the
pit of fire, though it was still hidden
from sight.
Finally they reached point where
the wind was blowing stiff1y, and farther
on volume of cold spray suddenly
dashed upon them and wet them to the
skin, and when their eyes had become
accustomed to the rolling mist they saw
a great lake, and pouring into it from
high above was mighty waterfall.
"MercyH' calculated the Aiphian in
great alarm. eff this is salt water, we
are lost All Alpha will come to an
end"
"What do you mean?" And Johnston
wondered if Branasko s trials and strug-
giles could have turned his brain.
eff it be salt water, then it has bro
ken in from the ocean above Alpha, y
he explained "The king has often said
that not a drop of the ocean has ever
entered the great cavern. "
Branasko stopped and wet his hand
in a little pool at his feet. Il am al
most afraid to taste it,, said he, hold
ing his hand near his mouth. "lt would
settle all our fates." He waited mo-
ment and then touched his fingers to
his tongue.
"Saltp' That was all he said for sew
eral moments He folded his arms and
looked mutely toward the boiling lake
Presently he raised his eyes 10 the great
hole in the roof and groaned:
"The break is gradually widening.
These stones are freshly broken, and
the great bowl is filing"
cit will fill all Alpha with water
and drown every soul in it, added the
terrified American.
"That, however, is not the most i'm
mediate danger" said Branasko wisely.
''They would first suffocate, and later
their bodies would be swallowed up i'll
the stomach Of the earth. -
"What do you mean?"
Branasko shrugged his shoulders. GAS
soon as this bowl is filed with water,
which would not take many hours, it
would run over into the lake Of fire and
produce an explosion that would rend
Alpha from end to end.
"Who knows but it might turn the
whole Atlantic into the center of the
earth and destroy the entire earth"
But Branasko was unable to grasp the
full magnitude of the remark, for to
him the world was simply a vast cavern
lighted by human ingenuity. He fQs-
tened narrow splinter of stone upright
in the shallow water att his feet, and,
lying down on his stomach, with his
eyes close to it, he studied it for several
minutes. When be got UP, desperate
CLEAN was in his dark eyes.
cit is rising fast" he said. eve
must attempt to get to the capitol and
warn the king. 1t is possible that he
may be able to stop the opening. The
only thing Aeft to Us is to Try our ma
chine again.
/ Johnston found it hard to keep pace
with him as he bounded out Of the mist
and Oh toward the faint glow ahead.
Reaching the flying machine, Branaskc
entered it aud turned on asmall electric
light.
"Ahp' he grunted with satisfaction.
81 have found a light, l can now sec
what is the matter with it. -
Johnston stood outside and heard him
hammcring on the metal parts in the
car and became SO absorbed in thinking
of the peril Of their position that hi
was startled when Branasko cried on
to him: Cali right. think we Cal
make it do A pin has lost out but per
haps I can hold the piece in place with
my foot. If only we can stand the hea
of the pit long enough to rise above it
we may escape. -
Johnston followed him into the Car
Branasko seated himself firmly ait
gave the wheel a little turn. Slowl.
the machine rose. "Seer' cried Branas
ko. cit is under control! We must no
be too hasty. Now for the pit!''
The heart of the American was in hi
mouth as the long black wings waves
up and down and the airship, like som
live thing, shuddered and swept grace
fully out of the mouth of the cave int
! the glare and heat of the pit.
''Hold your BREATHE yelled Branas
; ko, and he bent lower into the car t
escape the shower of hot ashes that we
falling about them. Far out over th
! lake in straight line they glided, an
there came to sudden halt Johnston
eyes. were glued ON his companion
face. Branasko sat doubled up, ever
} muscle drawn, his eyes bullying fro,
{ their sockets. Would he be stron
) enough? To Johnston everything seen
| ed in whirl. The walls of the pit wei
+ rising around them.
r CHAPTER XVI.