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

cautiously crepr down The steep incline
to the body. He raised it in his arms
and was about to cast it from him when
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 moment he rose and, carefully
scanning the space overhead, he crawled
OH hands and knees toward the ma
chine. Johnston heard him chuckling
to himself and uttering spasmodle
laughs, and he watched him closely as
he reached the machine. For several
minutes he seemed to be inspecting 1t
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 he as the
Alphian assisted him to rise from his
hands and knees.
Branasko touched the machine and
smiled. His face was shining with en-
thusiasm.
"The question of our returning to
Alpha Is settled" he said sententiously.
"How?"
"We can so in this"
"Can you manage it?"
Easily. That fellow must have been
drunk. The machine is in good order, I
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 startled bird and flew out
quickly over the pit.
Branasko bit his lip, and Johnston
heard him stifie 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 oyelhanging mouth of the
pit and look far. down into a 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
Aln'ian 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 reeeding.
They were sinking down into the fire.
Almost wild with terror, the Amer
ican sprang toward the wheel, bnt
Branasko pushed him away roughly.
"Stand back!'' he ordered gruffiy,
"It 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 pergpiration was rolling from their
bodies i'll 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 O cave behind Branasko.
Look % he cried; cant 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
4 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 a pretty pickle now, .
said Johnston despondently as they
alighted from the car.
"Nothing to do but to make the best
of it, sighed Branasko. Perhaps this
cave may lead out into some place O.
safety
Johnston s eyes had become somewha
accustomed to the gloom, and he Degal
to peer into the darkness.
81 see light" he exclaimed. Il
cannot be a reflection from the fire il
the pit, for it is whittier.
The Alphian gazed at it steadily TO
, moment; then he said decidedly "W
must go and see what it isl Withou
another word he started toward TIL
white, starlike spot, sliding his han'
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 inidiamete
and height, and almost in the center
the floor from red and purple noun
) of cooling lava leaped a white strear
of molten matter from the floor to tn
. dome, and in the black dome, wher
: =. ...~ ...,. :..Ao-. :. --olten spray, hun
5 countless stalactites of every cole
/ known to the artistic eye, and from th
$ foot of the fountain ran tortuous rivr
8 let that lighted the walls and roof OF
Q narrow chamber that extended for mile
D down toward the bowels of the earth.
: Branasko was delighted.
o ssThe king does not know OF this, =