Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-09-18

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 endur ance of man Of iron,
he would have succumbed to the heat,
and We would have been lost We sank
60 far down that I became insensible
aud never knew a thing till the fresh
air revived me. Sec; my beard and hair
are singed, and look how he is blistered
Poor fellowl He is a hero" Johnston
stepped back and shook the Alphian,
but the poor fellows head only rolled to
one side, showing his bloodshot eyeA
He was insensible.
HE is in a bad fix, said Thorndyka
''Where did he como from?"
''Banished like myself. We met over
there in the dark and roamed about to-
gether."
what are you going to do3'
II don't know. was following his
lead. We will both be put to death il
We are discovered.
did he not tell you his plan?"
Johnston started visibly. "Oh, I for
gotv" he exclaimed. HE declares that
oil this vast cavern is in danger. Over
In the west We discovered hole in the
roof through which the ocean is stream
ing in q torrent. He calculated that be-
fore many hours the water would over
flow into the internal fires and produce
. volcanic eruption that will swallow
up all Of Alpha"
''Merciful heavenl And you are hid
ing here at such moment2 The king
must be informed at once"
Johnston had grown suddenly paler.
"It may not be as bad as Branasko fear
ed. and the king would have no mercy
on me and him."
Leave that to me" said Thorndyke.
II have made a good friend Of the Prin-
cess Bernardino. She will tell me what
is best to do. Remain here"
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.
II 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 bring
her,
"Tell her to meet me at the fountain
where we last met" And he hastened
back to the spot mentioned.
She soon came what is it?" she
asked excitedly.
Johnston is back" he replied. He
Is in the wood there with a fellow who
escaped with him in a disabled flying
machine. He SAYS the sea has broken
through over in the west and is stream
ing into Alpha in a torrent"
"Surely there is some mistake, Z" she
said. "Such thing has never happen
ed"
ut may have been caused by the ex-
plosives during the Storm" went ON
Thorndyke. "Branasko, the Alphian
who was with Johnston. says We are in
imminent peril"
There must be some mistake" she
repeated incredulously as she looked to
westward. The green glow Of the Sec
ond hour Of the afternoon lay over ev-
erything. She stood mute and motion
less for long time. looking steadily at
the horizon; then she started suddenly,
changed her position and shaded her
eyes from the sunlight
1T really does seem to me that there
is q cloud rising, and it is unlike any
cloud I ever saw"
II see 1t, tool" cried the Englishman.
1T must be that the water has already
reached the internal fires"
Bernardino was very pale when she
turned to him.
my father must know this at once.
Come with me-"
Into the palace, through the vast 70
tunda, past the throne and into the very
apartment Of the king himself she led
him hastily. Aroyal attendant met them
and held up his hands warningly.
"The king is asleep" he said in an
undertone.
"Wake him; wake him at oncep
commanded the excited girl.
II cannot. It would offend him."
was the reply.
She did not pause an instant; but
darting past the man and running to
the kings couch, she drew the curtain
aside and touched the sleeper. He walked
in anger, but her first word disarmed
him.
"Alpha is in danger.
"What!" he growled, half awake.
"The sea is breaking through in the
west and running into the internal
fires
How do you know that?''
IA dense cloud is rising in the west,
and"-
''Impossible" The word came from
far down in his throat, and he was
CHASTITY pale. He ran to the table and