The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-08-25

Before their eyes lay q qUtC1e eTDQ7lSe OF
S7lOtc c0CeTcd roads.
him from a hedge of ferns at his right.
He stepped back few PAGES. A man
came out of the woods
1t was Johnston, his face white and
haggard, his clothing rent and soiled.
"My God, can it be you?" gasped
the Englishman. -.,
'Nobody. else," gToaned Johnston,
cautiously advancing and laying a trem-
bling hand on the arm of Thorndyke.
But don't talk loud. They will find
me- 49,
"Where did you come from?"
Johnston pointed first to the east,
and then swept his hand over the sky
to the west. ,.-.
"Over the wall" he said Respondent
~, from the dead lands behind the
SUM-"
How did you get back here?''
For reply Johnston parted the fern
leaves and pointed to the lank figure of
the tall Alphian who lay curled up on
the grass as if asleep. f'He brought me
in that flying machine there, hpt he has
spent all his strength in trying TO man.
age the thing, which was out of order,
and now he is helpless. Twice we came
within an inch of sinking down into the
internal fires. The last time we escaped
only by the breadth of hair. IF he had
not had the endurance of man of iron,
he would have succumbed to the heat,
and we would have been lost We sank
so far down that I became insensible
and never knew a thing till the fresh
air revived me- See; my beard and hair
are singed, and look how he is blistered.
Poor fellowl He is hero" Johnston
stepped back and shook the Alphian,
but the poor fellows head only rolled to
one side, showing his bloodshot eyes.
Ee was insensible.
"He is in a bad fix, said Thorndyke,
ssWhere did he come from?'
"Banished like myself. We net over
fhvse in the dark and roamed about to-
gether."
"What are you going to do?"
81 don't know I was following his
lead. We will both bo put TO death If
we are discovered.
"Did he not tell yon his plan?'
Johnston started yisibly. "Oh, for
gotP' he exclaimed. "He declares that
all this vast cavern is in danger. Over
in the west we discovered hole in the
roof through which the ocean is stream
ing in torrent. He calculated that be-
fore many hours the water would over
flow into the internal fires end produce
a volcanic eruption that will swallow
mp all of Alpha, .
..Merciful heaveni And you are hid
ing here at such moment? The king
must be informed at once.
Johnston had growa suddenly paler.
sit may not be as bad as Branasko fear
ed, and the king would have no mercy
ON me and him.
Leave that to me, y said Thorndyke.
81 have made a good friend OF the Prin'
cess Bernardino. She ~Fill tell me what
is best to do. Remain mere.
In breathless haste Thorndyke went
into the audience chamber. Fortunately
the king was not on his 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.
81 must see your mistress, he said.
"Tell her to come to me at once. We
are in great peril. .
The girl swept her eyes over the bal
comics and the throne and said: She
is in her apartments, sir. shall brine
hes 2
TELL her to meet ne at the fountain
where ne last met. And Le hastenee
back to the spot mentioned.
She soon came. What is lt?' sht
asked excitedly.
Johnston is back" he replied. Ht
is in the wood there with fellow who
escaped with him in disabled hyins
machine He says the sea has broker
through over in the west and is stream
ing into Alpha in a torrent. =
- sL>e.A is soma. mistakes, sini