Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-07-10
CHAPTER II. Continued )

"One of the first things will be to
take us down to the bottom Of this lake
where we saw them awhile ago, and l
don't fancy it at all. What if this blast
ed glass case should burst? We NAV
have dropped into a den of outlaws Oh
gigantic scale, and it may be necessa-
~ to put us out of the way to keep our
mouths closed"
Il am hungry and ain going to eat,
said the American, drawing IA cushion
ed stool up to the table. Here goes for
some Of the wine. Remember, it is a
sort of breath restOrer l am curious
enough not to want to collapse till l
have seen this thing through. He said
something about "a palace and king
Where can we be going:"
''Down into the center of the earth,
possibly" And the handsome English
man moved stool to the table and took
the glass of green colored wine that
Johnston pushed toward him. "Some
scientists hold that the earth is filled
with water instead of fire. Who knows
where this blamed thing may not take
us? Here is to a safe return from the
amphibious land"
Both drank their wine simultaneous
", lowered their glasses at the same in
slant, and gazed into each others eyes.
did you ever taste such iquor?"
asked Thorndyke. 1T seems to run like
streams of fire through every vein I
have"
Johnston shook his head mutely and
held the sparkling, effervescing fluid
between him and the light
Ugh! Take it down, cried the Eng.
lishman. 1T throws a green color on
your face that makes you look like
corpse. Johnston clinked the glass
against that of his companion. and they
drained the glasses. Hush; what was
that" asked Thorndyke.
There was a sound like boiling water
outside and as if air were being pumped
ont Of some receptacle, and the vessel
began to move up and down in q 1.-the
sort of fashion and to bend tortuously
from side to side like a great sluggish
fish. Through the partitions of glass
they saw one Of the men closing the
door, and in moment the vessel glided
away from the shore. The men all sank
into easy positions on the touches, and
delightful music as soft as an Eolian
Tyre seemed to be breathed from the
walls and floor. Then the music seemed
10 die away, and bell down in the YES
sells hull rang.
"We are in the middle Of the lake."
said Thorndyke. looking through the
glass toward the black, cliffy shore.
"The next thing will be our descent I
wonder
But he was unable to proceed, and
Johnston noticed in alarm that his eyes
were slightly protruding from their
sockets. The air seemed suddenly to be-
come more compact, as if compressed,
and the water was set into such violent
commotion that it was dashed against
the glass sides in pillows as white as
snow. Then Johnston found that he
could not breathe freely, and he under
stood the trouble of the Englishman.
Captain Tradmos came suddenly to
the door. He was smiling as he mo-
toned toward the wines on the table.
"You had better drink more of the
wine" he advised sententiously.
Both Of the captives rushed to the ia
BILE. The instant they had swallowed
the wine they felt relieved, but were
still weak. The captain bowed and
went away. Thorndyke's hand trembled
as he reflled his friends glass. I
thought was gone up" he said. II
never had such q choky sensation in my
life. You are still purple in the face. "
Eat of what is before you. F" said the
captain. looking in at the door. "You
cannot stand the increasing pressure I'M
less you do"
They needed no second invitation, for
hey were half famished. The fish and
meat were delicious, aud the bread was
delightfully."- sweet.
LOOK outside!' cried Johnston. The
water was now still, but it was grad
ually rising up the sides Of the boat.
and in moment it had closed over the
crystal roof. Both Of the captives were
conscious Of heavy sensation in tho
head and dull roaring in the ears.
Down they went, at first slowly and
then more rapidly, till 1t seemed to
them that they had descended over
1000 feet. Great monsters like whales
swan to the vessel, as if attracted by
the lights, and their massive bodies jar
red against the glass walls as they turn
ed to swim away. They sank about 500
feet lower, and all at once the lights
went out, and the boat gradually stop
ped.
1t was at once so dark that the two
captives could net see each other,
though only the width Of the table sep
arated them. Everything was profound
" still. Not a sound came from the
men in the other rooms. Presently
Thorndyke whispered, Look. do you
see that red light overhead?''
Eyes" said Johnston. 1T looks like
star
1T is our BONFIRE" said Thorndyke
''That's what betrayed U.S."
Again the vessel began to sink, and
more rapidly than ever. Indeed, as
Thorndyke expressed it. he had the cool
feeling that nervous people experience
in going down quickly IN an elevator.
IF we go any lower" he added, as
the great rubber hull seemed to strug-
gle like some living monster, 1.-THE sides
Of this thing will collapse like an egg
shell, and we will be as fiat as pan
cakes"
you need not fear; we have much
lower to 60" 1t was the captains
voice, but they could not tell from
whence it came. Then they heard again
the seductive music, and it was SO sooth-
ing that they soon fell asleep.
They had no idea how long they had
slept, but they were awakened by the
ringing Of bell and felt the vessel was
coming to stop They were still far
beneath the surface-indeed, the boat
was resting on the bottom, for in the
light Of two or three powerful search
lights they saw wide succession of
submerged hills, wales and rugged cliffs.
Before them was great mountain side,
and in it they saw the mouth of dark
tunnel. They had scarcely noticed it be-
fore the vessel rose a little and glided
toward the tunnel and entered it.
Through the glass walls they could see