Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-08-14
CHAPTER N.

Il shall certainly stick to yOu," re-
Piled the Englishman dryly. They turn
ed sharp corner suddenly and were
going in another direction when Thorn
dyke felt q soft, warm hand steal into
his from behind and knew intuitively
that 1t was Bernardino. Tho guide was
few feet i'll advance of them, and she
drew ThornGyke's head down and whis-
pered into his ear:
Be brave-by all that you loye-for
your life, keep your presence Of mind,
and"-
What was that?' asked the guide,
turning suddenly and catching the Eng
lishman's arm. II thou hit heard whis-
pering'
Il was saying my prayers, that is
all, " and the Englishman pressed the
hand Of the princess, who, pressed close
against the wall, was gliding cautious
ly away
Prayers, humph-you'll need them
later, Come onl" And he caught the
Englishman's arm and hastily drew
him onward. Thorndyke's spirits sank
lower. The air Of the narrow under
ground corridor was cold and damp,
and he quivered from head to foot.
Branasko paused again in his walk
toward the mysterious light.
1T cannot be from the internalfres,"
said he, for this light is white and
the glow Of the fires is red"
Let's turn back, suggested John
ston. 1T can do US no good to go down
there. It is only taking us farther from
the WALL"
II should like to understand it," re-
turned the Alphian thoughtfully, land.
besides, there can be no more danger
there than back among the hot crevices
We have got to perish anyway, and we
might as well Lpice the remainder Of
our lives with whatever adventure we
can. Who knows what we may not dis
cover? There are many things about the
land Of Alpha that the inhabitants do
not understand. p"
I'll follow you anywhere" acqui-
esced Johnston. lyon are right"
They stumbled on over the rocky sur
face in silence. At times the roof Of the
cavern sank SO low that they had to
stoop to pass under it, and again it rose
sharply like the roof of a cathedral, and
the rays Of the faraway but ever in
creasing light shone upon glistening
stala6eites that hung from the darkness
above them like daggers of diamonds set
in ebony.
1T is not so near as supposed,
said the Alphian YEARLY. "And the
light seemed to me to be shining ON q
clif over which water is pouring in
places Yes, you can see that it is wa
ter by the ripples in the light
eyes, but where can the light itself
be?''
II cannot yet tell Wait till we &c.
nearer"
In about an hour they came to wide
chasm, ON the other side of which tow
cred q vast cliff Of white crystal. It was
ON this that the trembling light was
playing.
"Not q waterfall after all, !" said Bra
naako. "See, there is the source Of the
reflection. And he pointed to the left
through q series Of dark chambers Of
the cavern to dazzling light. Come,
let's 60 nearer it." He moved few
steps forward, and then. happening to
look over his shoulder, he stopped alb
fuptly and uttered an exclamation Of
surprise.
what is it?" And Johnston follow
ed the eyes Of the Alphian.
"Our shadows ON the crystal cliff, -
said Branasko in an awed tone. "Only
the light from the changing sun could
make them SO"
Johnston shuddered superstitiously at
the tone Of Branasko's quiveTing voice
and their giant shadows, which stood
out on the smooth crystal like silhou-
cites. So clear cut were they that in his
own shadow the American could see his
breast heaving and in Branasko's the
quivering Of the Alphian's huge body
and limbs.
If we have happened upon the home
Of the sun, only the spirit Of the dead
kings could tell what will become ID
u.s." said Branasko
"Puhl You are blindly superstitious.
said Johnston. What if we do come
upon the sun? Let's go down there and
look into the mystery"
Branasko fell into the rear, and the
American stoutly pushed ahead toward
the light, which was every moment in
creasing. As they advanced the cave got
larger until it opened out into q larger
plain. over which hung fathomless dark
ness, and out Of the plain great, daz.
cling globe Of light was slowly rising.
1T is the sun ITSELF" exclaimed Bra.
nasko, and he sank to the earth and
covered his face with his hands II
had not thought ever to zee it out oi
the sky"
The American was deeply thrilled by
the grand sight He sat down by Bra.