Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-09-25
CHAPTER XVII.

He Is going to the observatory, &"
she said to Thorndyke and Johnston.
Let us go also" And they followed
the king into the room with the glass
roof and walls covered with mirrors
which he had shown the strangers sew
eral days before. A white headed old
man stood at the stand, his fingers trem.
bling over the half circle of electric but
tons. In mirror before him he was
studying the reflection of town Of
perhaps 100 houses. Tho streets were
filled with excited citizens, and squad
Of protectors stood reisly for action near
row Of flying machines.
"Ornethelo," said the king, and at
the sound of his voice the old man turn
ed and bowed humbly.
"All right" went on the king. Il
will take your place moment" He
went to the stand and touched button.
Instantly the scene changed. Fields.
forests. streams and hills ran by in a
murky blur, and then a larger town
flashed on the mirror Here the same
stir and alertness characterized the
scene. The gaze Of every inhabitant
was fixed on the threatening horizon.
Rapidly the scenes shifted at the kings
will, till 100 cities, towns and villages
had been reviewed.
"Enoughl They are all ready-all
faithful" groaned the king, land, Or
nethelO, they may all have to perish to-
day, and all for our ambition. Poor
mortals!"
Ornethelo's face was half submerged
in the beard on his breast, but he look
ed up suddenly and spoke:
For their sakes, then, we ought not
to delay. There may yet be hope"
"You are right, Ornethelo. There
was q ring Of hope in the voice of the
king. "Quicki Show me my capitol,
that I may see if all the protectors are
ready"
Ornethelo touched another button,
and, as if seen from q great height, the
fair and wondrous city dawned before
the eyes Of the spectators. In every
street policemen and protectors and fly
ing machines stood in orderly readiness.
The house tops were colored with the
variegated costumes Of men, women
and children. Over all lay the wondrous
sunlight, through the green splendor Of
which the fakes Of SCOT Nere falling like
black snow.
The king touched the old mans arm.
II must see beyond the walls. 49, the
connections nader"
Ready, sir"
"Try them. They must not fail me
now"
The old man tremblingly unlocked q
cabinet on the table. and another row
OF electric buttons was displayed. Orne-
thelo touched on6. Immediately there
was sharp clicking sound under The
stand, and the view was swept from the
minor. Nothing could be seen but
dark suggestion Of towering cliffs and
yawning caverns.
MOT the east, Ornetheloi" cried tina
king impatiently. go o.: the west,
the westp'
The black landscape flashed by like q
glimpse Of night from o flying train,
and then a blur Of redly illuminated
smoke in rolling pillows seemed to
swell out from the surface Of the mirror
into the room.
''There, slowY' cried the king, and
then frightful scene burst upon their
sight. They beheld great belching pit
Of fire and flames. The sky from the
earth to the zenith was q vast expanse
Of illuminated smoke, and the black
landscape round about was cut by rivu-
let's Of molten lava rolling ON and on
like restless streams Of quicksilver.
The king leaned against the stand a.
if faint with despair. Call Prince
Arthur" he ordered. and almost at that
instant the young man appeared.
"Catheri''
The king pointed . quivering finger
at the mirror and said huskily:
LET not the sun go down. Let its
Light be white as at noon"
but, father, it has never been done
before. IT,
alpha has never faced such danger.
All our dream is about to end. Co."
Without a word the young man has.
tened away. and it seemed scarcely q
moment before the sunlight streaming
in at the oval glass roof changed from
green to white.
The king pushed Ornethelo impatient.
" aside. His eyes held a dull CLEAN Of
despair, and he seemed to have grown
ten years older. He touched button,
and the awful scene at the pit gave
place to q bright view Of the capitol.
which was plainly seen from its crowd.
ed center to its scattering suburbs. The
squads Of protectors stood like ar
mics ready for battle, their rigid faces
still toward the awful west.
"They are ready-the signalr" yelled
the king, waving his hand. 1.-The sig.
nall" Ornethelo caught his breath sud,
denly and tottered AZ he went across the
room and touched button on the wall
The kings eyes were glued ON the mir
rored view of the capitol, his trembling
hands held out as II commanding 81.
1enoe. Then deafening trumpet blast
broke on the ear. The masses Of citi.
'zens pressed near the edges Of the roofs
and close against the walls along the
streets as the protectors rushed into the
flying machines Another trumpet
blast and away they flew, long black
line evssy instant growing smaller a
i3t reoeded in the murky distance.
The princess. white and silent, led
Thorndyke and Johnston back to the
balcony.
The line Of machines was now mers
thread in the sky, but the ominou'
cloud In the west had increased, and
fine sand and ashes were added to the
fall of SCOT.
"What was that?" gasped the prin-
cew. 1t was low rumble like distant
thunder, and the balcony shook.
IAN earthquake, said Thorndyke
II am really afraid there ia not ghost
Of a chance for us The water running
into the fire is sure to cause an eruption
Of some sort. and even a slight one
would be likely to enlarge the opening
20 the ocean"
Johnston nodded knowingly as he
looked into his friends face; but, con-
sidering the presence Of the princess, he
said nothing.
my brother, Prince Marentel, is the
greatest man in our kingdom, she re-
marked. HE has taken enough explo-
siyes to remove a mountain"