the land of the changing sun-第13部分

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en　moving　about　below。　Later　they　observed　the　polished　parts　of　stupendous　machinerymachinery　that　moved　almost　noiselessly。

Johnston　caught　sight　of　a　great　net…work　of　moving　cables　reaching　from　the　machinery　up　through　the　hole　above　and　exclaimed　enthusiastically：〃A　mechanical　sun！　electric　daylight！　What　genius！　A　world　in　a　great　cave！　Hundreds　of　square　miles　and　thousands　of　well　organized　people　living　under　the　light　of　an　artificial　sun！〃

The　Alphian　looked　at　him　astonished。　〃Is　it　not　so　in　your　country？〃　he　asked。

Johnston　smiled。　〃The　great　sun　that　lights　the　outer　world　is　as　much　greater　than　that　ball　of　light　as　Alpha　is　greater　than　a　grain　of　sand。　But　this　surely　is　the　greatest　achievement　of　man。　But　while　I　now　understand　how　your　sun　goes　over　the　whole　of　Alpha；　I　cannot　see　how　it　returns。〃

〃Then　you　have　not　heard　of　the　great　tunnel　of　the　Sun；〃　replied　the　Alphian。

〃No；what　is　it？〃

〃It　runs　beneath　Alpha　and　connects　the　rising　and　setting　points　of　the　sun。　There　is　a　point　beneath　the　king's　palace　where；　by　a　staircase；　the　king　and　his　officers　may　go　down　and　inspect　the　sun　as　it　is　on　its　way　back　to　the　east　during　the　day。〃

〃Wonderful！〃

〃And　once　a　year　a　royal　party　goes　in　the　sun　over　its　entire　course。　It　is　said　that　it　is　sumptuously　furnished　inside；　and　not　too　warm；　the　lights　being　only　innumerable　small　ones　on　the　outside。〃

The　two　men　were　silent　for　a　moment　then　Johnston　said：

〃Perhaps　we　might　be　able　to　get　into　it　unobserved　and　be　thus　carried　over　to　the　other　side；　or　reach　the　palace　through　the　tunnel。〃

Branasko　started　convulsively；　and　then；　as　he　looked　into　the　earnest　eyes　of　the　American；　he　said　despondently：

〃We　have　got　to　die；　anyway；　it　may　be　well　for　us　to　think　of　it；　but　on　the　other　side；　in　the　Barrens；　there　is　no　more　chance　for　escape　than　here。　But　the　adventure　would　at　least　give　us　something　to　think　about；　let's　try　it。〃

〃All　right；　but　how　can　we　get　down　there　where　the　sun　starts　to　rise？〃　asked　the　American；　peering　cautiously　over　the　edge　of　the　hole。

〃There　must　be　some　way；〃　answered　Branasko。　〃Ah；　see！　further　to　the　left　there　are　some　ledges；　let's　see　what　can　be　done　that　way。〃

〃I　am　with　you。〃

The　rays　of　the　departing　sun　were　almost　gone；　and　the　electric　lights　down　among　the　machinery　seemed　afar　off　like　stars　reflected　in　deep　water。　With　great　difficulty　the　two　men　lowered　themselves　from　one　sharp　ledge　to　another　till　they　had　gone　half　down　to　the　bottom。

〃It　is　no　use；〃　said　Branasko；　peering　over　the　lowest　ledge。　〃There　are　no　more　ledges　and　this　one　juts　out　so　far　that　even　if　there　were　smaller　ones　beneath　we　could　not　get　to　them。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　agreed　the　American；　〃but　look；　is　not　that　a　lake　beneath？　I　think　it　must　be；　for　the　lights　are　reflected　on　its　surface。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　answered　Branasko；　〃and　I　now　see　a　chance　for　us　to　get　down　safely。〃

〃How？〃

〃The　workers　are　too　far　from　the　lake　to　see　us；　we　can　drop　into　the　water　and　swim　ashore。〃

〃Would　they　not　hear　the　splashing　of　our　bodies？〃

〃I　think　not；　but　first　let's　experiment　with　a　big　stone。〃

Suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　they　secured　a　stone　weighing　about　seventy…five　pounds　and　brought　it　to　the　ledge。　Carefully　poising　it　in　mid…air；　they　let　it　go。　Down　it　went；　cutting　the　air　with　a　sharp　whizzing　sound。　They　listened　breathlessly；　but　heard　no　sound　as　the　rock　struck　the　water；　and　the　men　among　the　machinery　seemed　undisturbed。　Only　the　widening　circles　of　rings　on　the　lake's　surface　indicated　where　the　stone　had　fallen。

〃Good；〃　ejaculated　the　Alphian；　〃are　you　equal　to　such　a　plunge？　The　water　must　be　deep；　and　we　won't　be　hurt　at　all　if　only　we　can　keep　our　feet　downward　and　hold　our　breath　long　enough。　Our　clothing　will　soon　dry　down　there；　for　feel　the　warmth　that　comes　from　below。〃

The　Alphian　slowly　crawled　out　on　the　sharpest　projection　of　the　ledge。　〃Are　you　willing　to　try　it？〃　he　asked；　over　his　shoulder。

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　wait　till　you　see　me　swim　ashore；　and　then　follow。〃

Johnston　shuddered　as　the　strong　fellow　swung　himself　over　the　ledge　and　hung　downward。

〃Adieu；〃　said　Branasko；　and　he　let　go。　Down　he　fell；　as　straight　as　an　arrow；　into　the　shadows　below。　For　an　instant　Johnston　heard　the　fluttering　of　the　fellow's　clothing　as　he　fell　through　the　darkness；　and　then　there　was　no　sound　except　the　low　whirr　of　the　cables　and　the　monotonous　hum　of　the　great　wheels　beneath。　Then　the　smooth　surface　of　the　lake　was　broken　in　a　white　foaming　spot；　and；　later；　he　saw　something　small　and　dark　slowly　swimming　shoreward。　It　was　Branasko；　and　the　men　to　the　right　had　not　heard　or　seen　him。

Johnston　saw　him　reach　the　shore；　then　he　crawled　out　to　the　point　of　the　projecting　rock　and　tremblingly　lowered　himself　till　he　hung　downward　as　Branasko　had　done。　He　had　just　drawn　a　deep　breath　preparatory　to　letting　go　his　hold；　when；　chancing　to　look　down；　he　saw　a　long　narrow　barge　slowly　emerging　from　the　cliff　directly　under　him。　For　an　instant　he　was　so　much　startled　that　he　almost　lost　his　grip　on　the　rock。　He　tried　to　climb　back　on　the　ledge；　but　his　strength　was　gone。　He　felt　that　he　could　not　hold　out　till　the　boat　had　passed。　Death　was　before　him；　and　a　horrible　one。　The　boat　seemed　to　crawl。　Everything　was　a　blur　before　his　eyes。　His　fingers　began　to　relax；　and　with　a　low　cry　he　fell。



Chapter　X。

To　Thorndyke　the　dark　corridor　seemed　endless。　The　king's　last　words　had　now　a　sinister　meaning；　and　Bernardino's　whispered　warning　filled　him　with　dread。　〃Keep　your　presence　of　mind；〃　she　urged；　was　it　then；　some　frightful　mental　ordeal　he　was　about　to　pass　through？

Presently　they　came　to　a　door。　Thorn…　dyke　heard　his　guide　feeling　for　the　bolt　and　key…hole。　The　rattling　of　the　keys　sounded　like　a　ghostly　threat　in　the　empty　corridors。　The　air　was　as　damp　as　a　fog；　and　the　stones　were　cold　and　slimy。　After　a　moment　the　guard　succeeded　in　unlocking　the　door　and　roughly　pushed　the　Englishman　forward。　The　door　closed　with　a　little　puff；　and　Thorndyke　felt　about　him　for　the　guide；　but　he　was　alone。　For　a　moment　there　was　no　sound。　With　the　closing　of　the　door　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　cut　off　from　every　living　creature。　In　the　awful　silence　he　could　hear　his　own　heart　beating　like　a　drum。

〃Stand　where　you　are！〃　came　in　a　hissing　whisper　from　the　darkness　near　by；　and　then　the　invisible　whisperer　moved　away；　making　a　weird　sound　as　he　slid　his　hand　along　a　wall；　till　it　died　away　in　the　distance。

A　cold　thrill　ran　over　him。　He　was　a　brave　man　and　feared　no　living　man　or　beast；　but　the　superstitious　fears　of　his　childhood　now　came　upon　him　with　redoubled　force。　For　several　minutes　he　did　not　stir；　presently　he　put　out　his　hand　to　the　door　and　his　blood　ran　cold。　There　was　no　knob；　latch；　or　key…hole；　and　he　could　feel　the　soft　padding　into　which　the　door　closed　to　keep　out　sound。　Then　he　remembered　the　warning　of　the　princess；　and　strove　with　all　his　might　to　fight　down　his　apprehensions。　〃For　your　life　keep　your　presence　of　mind；〃　he　repeated　over　and　over；　but　try　as　he　would　his　terror　over…powered　him。　He　laughed　out　loud；　but　in　the　dreadful　silence　and　darkness　his　laugh　sounded　unearthly。

A　cold　perspiration　broke　out　on　him。　It　seemed　as　if　hours　passed　before　he　again　heard　the　sliding　noise　on　the　wall。　Some　one　was　coming　to　him。　The　sound　grew　louder　and　nearer；　till　a　firm　hand　was　laid　on　his　arm；　it　felt　as　cold　as　ice　through　his　clothing。

〃Come；〃　a　voice　whispered；　and　the　Englishman　was　led　forward。　Presently　another　door　openeda　door　that　closed　after　them　without　any　sound。　Here　the　silence　was　more　intensified；　the　darkness　thicker　as　if　compressed　like　air。

Hands　were　placed　on　the　shoulders　of　Thorndyke　and　he　was　gently　forced　into　a　chair。　As　soon　as　he　was　seated　two　metal　clamps　grasped　like　a　vise　his　arms　between　the　elbows　and　the　shoulders；　and　two　more　fastened　round　his　ankles。

There　was　a　faint　puff　of　air　from　the　door　and　the　prisoner　felt　that　he　was　alone。　Terror　held　him　in　bondage。　He　tried　to　think　of　Bernardino；　but　in　vain。　Did　they　intend　to　drive　him　to　madness？　He　began　to　suspect　that　the　king　had　discovered　his　natural　superstition　and　had　decided　to　put　it　to　a　test。　What　he　had　undergone　so　far　he　felt　was　but　the　introduction　to　greater　terrors　in　store　for　him。

There　was　a　sigh　far　away　in　the　darknessthen　a　groan　that　seemed　to　flit　about　in　space；　as　if　seeking　to　escape　the　dark；　and　then　died　away　in　a　low　moan　of　despair。　Before　him　the　blackness　seemed　to　hang　like　a　dark　curtain　about　ten　yards　in　front　of　him；　and　in　it　shone　a　tiny　speck　of　light　no　larger　than　the　head　of　a　pin；　and　which　was　so　bright　that　he　could　not　look　at　it　steadily。　It　increased　to　the　size　of　a　pea；　and　then　he　discovered　that；　at　times；　it　would　seem　miles　away　in　space　and　then　again　to　draw　quite　near　to　hand。　Glancing　down；　he　noticed　that　it　cast　a　bright　round　spot　about　an　inch　in　diameter　on　the　floor；　and　that　the　spot　was　slowly　revolving　in　a　circle　so　small　that　its　motion　was　hardly　observable。　Surely　the　mind　of　a　superstitious　man　was　never　so　punished！　When　Thorndyke　looked　steadily　at　the　spot；　the　black　floor　seemed　to　recede；　and　the　spot　to　sink　far　down　into　the　empty　darkness　below　like　a　solitary　star；　So　realistic　was　this　that　the　Englishman　could　not　keep　from　fancying　that　this　chair　was　poised　in　some　way　over　fathomless　space。　Presently　he　noticed　that　the　spot　had　ceased　its　circular　movement　and　was　slowlyalmost　as　slowly　as　the　movement　of　the　hand　of　a　clockadvancing　in　a　straight　line　toward　him。

No　such　terror　had　ever　before　possessed　the　stout　heart　of　the　Englishman。　As　the　uncanny　spot；　ever　growing　brighter；　advanced　toward　him；　he　thought　his　heart　had　stopped　beating；　his　brain　was　in　a　whirl。　After　a　long　while　the　spot　reached　his　feet　and　began　to　climb　up　his　legs。　With　a　shudder　and　a　smothered　cry；　he　tried　to　draw　his　feet　away；　but　they　were　too　firmly　manacled。

〃It　is　searching　for　my　heart；〃　thought　Thorndyke。　〃My　God；　when　it　reaches　it；　I　shall　die！〃　As　the　strange　spot；　gleaming　like　a　burning　diamond　in　whose　heart　leaped　a　t