The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-06-16
I Sack CENTRE HERAl.D5 THURSDAY, suss Ia.

So ssss.
only way Of reaching -the king do
main, we can never get back to DIV
ilization unless they release us Of their
own accord that's certain. .
Heavens, isn't it stilll,' exclaimed
the EnRlishman s.Pbe machinery Of
this thing moves as noiselessly as the
backbone Of an eel. wish could un-
derstand its works. ~ = y
i am more concerned about where
we are going. tell you've. are being
taken to some wonderful place. People
who can construct such marvels of
mechanical skill as this boat will not
he behind in other things; then look at
nhysiques of those giants"
then the man who had drawn
down :, hade came in and raised it.
Both the CD. 8 pretended to be unin-
terested in his movements, but when he
had Withdrawn they looked through
the glass eagerly.
See" whispered Thorndyke in the
ear of his companion, the walls are
close to us and are as perpendicular as
those of the lake in which thy found
u.s."
Johnston said nothing. His attention
was riveted to the walls of rock. The
vessel was rising rapidly. An hour
passed. The soft music had ceased, and
the air seemed less dense and fresher.
Then the waters suddenly parted over
the roof and ran in crystal streams
down the oval glass.
They were on the surface, and the
vessel was slowly gliding toward the
shore. which could not be seen, owing
to there now being no light except that
inside the boat Captain Tradmos en-
tered, followed by two of his men hold
ing black silken bandages.
eve must blindfold you," he said.
"Captives are not allowed to see the
entrance to our kingdom. h
Withrmt;a word they submitted.
"Thisway," said the captain kindly,
and holding to an arm of each he pilot
ed them out of the vessel to the shore.
Then he led them through what they
imagined to be long stone corridor or
arcade, from the ringing echoes of their
feet on THE stone pavement. Presently
they came to what seemed to be an ele-
vator, forwhen they had entered it and
sat down they heard metallic door
slide back into it's place, and they de-
soended, quickly.
They could form no idea as to the
distances they went down. But Thorn
dyke declared afterward that it was
over 10000 feet. When the elevator
stopped, Captain Tradmos led them
out, and both of the captives We're con-
scinus of breathing the purest, most in
MIGRATING air they had ever inhaled.
Instantly their strength returned, and
they felt remarkably buoyant as they
were led along over another pavement
of polished stone.
'Tradmos laughed. "You like the at
,mosphere?"
'Inever heard Of anything like it,
said Thorndyke. sit is SO delightful ]
can almost taste it. -
alt was that which made Alpha what
it is--the most wonderful country III
the universe said the officer. .sThere
is much in store for you -
The ears of the two captiNes were
greeted by a vague, indefnable hum
like and yet unlike that of busy city
TWAS like many faroff sounds carefully
mufied. Now and then they heard hu
man voices laughter and singing in the
distance and the twanging of musica
Instruments. 49,,
Then they knew that they We're en-
tering,a building of some sort, for they
heard "a key turn in lock, and the
hulnming sound in the distancewas Cut
off. They felt soft carpet under theil
feet and the feet of their guards NJ
congratulated ON the stones.
When 1.-THE bandages were removed
they found themselves in sunIptuous
chamber. alone with the captain. The
brilliant light from quaintly shaped
candelabrum, in the center Of the cham
Der, Sdazzled them, but in a few minutes
their, eyes had become accustomed to 1T.
Tradmos seemed to be enjoying the
looks of establishment on their faces .a
they glanced at the different objects III
the room.
cit is might he said smilingly.
sc You need rest after your voyage Lie
down ON the beds and sleep. Tomorrow
you will he conducted to the palace o1
the king"
With a bow he withdrew, and they
heard massive bolt slide into the sock
ct of door hidden behind curtain.
The two men gazed at each other with
ont speaking for moment, and then
they began to inspect the room.
I'm alcoves half yelled with silken
curtains stood statues in gold and
bronze. The walls and ceilings were
decorated with pictures unlike any they
bad ever seen Before one, the picture
Of All angel flying through dark,
star 1llled sky, they both stood, enchant-
ed.
''Nhat is it," asked Thorndyke, find
ing voice finally. s"It is not done with
brush or pencil. The features seem
alive, and, by Jowe, you can actually
see it breathe. DON'T you see the clouds
gliding by and the wings moving?''
'sIt is light-it is formed by lightP'
declared the other enthusiastically, and
he ran to the wall. about six feet from
the picture, and put his hand on a
square metal box screwed to the wall.
81 have it, 4" he said quickly. Come
here
L Il L.