the land of the changing sun-第3部分

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ort　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　a　moment　the　vessel　glided　away　from　the　shore。　The　men　all　sank　into　easy　positions　on　the　couches；　and　delightful　music　as　soft　as　an　Aeolian　lyre　seemed　to　be　breathed　from　the　walls　and　floor。　Then　the　music　seemed　to　die　away　and　a　bell　down　in　the　vessel's　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　become　more　com…　pact　as　if　compressed；　and　the　water　was　set　into　such　violent　commotion　that　it　was　dashed　against　the　glass　sides　in　billows　as　white　as　snow。　Then　Johnston　found　that　he　could　not　breathe　freely；　and　he　understood　the　trouble　of　the　Englishman。

Captain　Tradmos　came　suddenly　to　the　door。　He　was　smiling　as　he　motioned　toward　the　wines　on　the　table。

〃You　had　better　drink　more　of　the　wine；〃　he　advised　sententiously。

Both　of　the　captives　rushed　to　the　table。　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　refilled　his　friend's　glass。　I　thought　I　was　gone　up；〃　he　said；　〃I　never　had　such　a　choky　sensation　in　my　life；　you　are　still　purple　in　the　face。〃

〃Eat　of　what　is　before　you；〃　said　the　captain；　looking　in　at　the　door；　〃you　cannot　stand　the　increasing　pressure　unless　you　do。〃

They　needed　no　second　invitation；　for　they　were　half…famished。　The　fish　and　meat　were　delicious；　and　the　bread　was　delightfully　sweet。

〃Look　outside！〃　cried　Johnston。　The　water　was　now　still；　but　it　was　gradually　rising　up　the　sides　of　the　boat；　and　in　a　moment　it　had　closed　over　the　crystal　roof。　Both　of　the　captives　were　conscious　of　a　heavy　sensation　in　the　head　and　a　dull　roaring　in　the　ears。　Down　they　went；　at　first　slowly　and　then　more　rapidly；　till　it　seemed　to　them　that　they　had　descended　over　a　thousand　feet。　Great　monsters　like　whales　swam　to　the　vessel；　as　if　attracted　by　the　lights；　and　their　massive　bodies　jarred　against　the　glass　walls　as　they　turned　to　swim　away。　They　sank　about　five　hundred　feet　lower；　and　all　at　once　the　lights　went　out；　and　the　boat　gradually　stopped。

It　was　at　once　so　dark　that　the　two　captives　could　not　see　each　other；　though　only　the　width　of　the　table　separated　them。　Everything　was　profoundly　still；　not　a　sound　came　from　the　men　in　the　other　rooms。　Presently　Thorndyke　whispered；　〃Look；　do　you　see　that　red　light　overhead？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Johnston；　〃it　looks　like　a　star。〃

〃It　is　our　bonfire；〃　said　Thorndyke；　〃that's　what　betrayed　us。〃

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　struggle　like　some　living　monster；　〃the　sides　of　this　thing　will　collapse　like　an　egg…shell　and　we　will　be　as　flat　as　pancakes。〃

〃You　need　not　fear；　we　have　much　lower　to　go！〃　It　was　the　captain's　voice；　but　they　could　not　tell　from　whence　it　came。　Then　they　heard　again　the　seductive　music；　and　it　was　so　soothing　that　they　soon　fell　asleep。

They　had　no　idea　how　long　they　had　slept；　but　they　were　awakened　by　the　ringing　of　a　bell　and　felt　the　vessel　was　coming　to　a　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　a　wide　succession　of　submerged　hills；　vales；　and　rugged　cliffs。　Before　them　was　a　great　mountain…side　and　in　it　they　saw　the　mouth　of　a　dark　tunnel。　They　had　scarcely　noticed　it　before　the　vessel　rose　a　little　and　glided　toward　the　tunnel　and　entered　it。　Through　the　glass　walls　they　could　see　that　it　was　narrow；　and　that　the　ragged　sides　and　roof　were　barely　far　enough　apart　to　admit　them。

Suddenly　one　of　the　men　came　in　and　drew　a　curtain　down　behind　them；　and；　with　a　vexed　look　on　his　face　retired。

When　he　was　gone　Johnston　put　his　lips　close　to　Thorndyke's　ear　and　whispered：

〃Did　you　see　that？〃

〃See　what？〃

〃Just　as　he　drew　the　curtain　down　I　saw　what　looked　to　me　like　a　cliff　of　solid　gold。　It　had　been　dug　out　into　a　cavern　in　which　I　saw　a　vessel　like　this；　and　men　in　diving　suits　digging　and　loading　it。〃

This　took　the　Englishman's　breath　away　for　a　moment；　then　he　remarked：　〃That　accounts　for　the　heel…tap　we　found；　who　knows；　these　people　may　be　possessors　of　the　richest　gold　and　silver　mines　on　earth。〃

The　bell　rang　again。　〃We　are　rising；〃　said　Johnston。　〃If　this　is　the　only　way　of　reaching　the　king's　domain；　we　could　never　get　back　to　civilization　unless　they　release　us　of　their　own　accord；　that's　certain！〃

〃Heavens；　isn't　it　still！〃　exclaimed　the　Englishman。　〃The　machinery　of　this　thing　moves　as　noiselessly　as　the　backbone　of　an　eel。　I　wish　I　could　understand　its　works。〃

〃I　am　more　concerned　about　where　we　are　going。　I　tell　you　we　are　being　taken　to　some　wonderful　place。　People　who　can　construct　such　marvels　of　mechanical　skill　as　this　boat　will　not　be　behind　in　other　things；　then　look　at　the　physiques　of　those　giants。〃

Just　then　the　man　who　had　drawn　down　the　shade　came　in　and　raised　it。　Both　the　captives　pretended　to　be　uninterested　in　his　movements；　but　when　he　had　withdrawn　they　looked　through　the　glass　eagerly。

〃See；〃　whispered　Thorndyke；　in　the　ear　of　his　companion；　〃the　walls　are　close　to　us；　and　are　as　perpendicular　as　those　of　the　lake　in　which　they　found　us。〃

Johnston　said　nothing。　His　attention　was　riveted　to　the　walls　of　rock；　the　vessel　was　rising　rapidly。　An　hour　passed。　The　soft　music　had　ceased；　and　the　air　seemed　less　dense　and　fresher。　Then　the　waters　suddenly　parted　over　the　roof　and　ran　in　crystal　streams　down　the　oval　glass。

They　were　on　the　surface；　and　the　vessel　was　slowly　gliding　toward　the　shore　which　could　not　be　seen　owing　to　there　now　being　no　light　except　that　inside　the　boat。　Captain　Tradmos　entered；　followed　by　two　of　his　men　holding　black　silken　bandages。

〃We　must　blindfold　you；〃　he　said；　〃cap…　tives　are　not　allowed　to　see　the　entrance　to　our　kingdom。〃

Without　a　word　they　submitted。

〃This　way；〃　said　the　captain　kindly；　and；　holding　to　an　arm　of　each；　he　piloted　them　out　of　the　vessel　to　the　shore。　Then　he　led　them　through　what　they　imagined　to　be　a　long　stone　corridor　or　arcade　from　the　ringing　echoes　of　their　feet　on　the　stone　pavement。　Presently　they　came　to　what　seemed　to　be　an　elevator；　for　when　they　had　entered　it　and　sat　down；　they　heard　a　metallic　door　slide　back　into　its　place；　and　they　descended　quickly。

They　could　form　no　idea　as　to　the　distance　they　went　down；　but　Thorndyke　declared　afterward　that　it　was　over　ten　thousand　feet。　When　the　elevator　stopped　Captain　Tradmos　led　them　out；　and　both　of　the　captives　were　conscious　of　breathing　the　purest；　most　invigorating　air　they　had　ever　inhaled。　Instantly　their　strength　returned；　and　they　felt　remarkably　buoyant　as　they　were　led　along　over　another　pavement　of　polished　stone。

Tradmos　laughed。　〃You　like　the　atmosphere？〃

〃I　never　heard　of　anything　like　it；〃　said　Thorndyke。　〃It　is　so　delightful　I　can　almost　taste　it。〃

〃It　was　that　which　made　Alpha　what　it　isthe　most　wonderful　country　in　the　universe；〃　said　the　officer。　〃There　is　much　in　store　for　you。〃

The　ears　of　the　two　captives　were　greeted　by　a　vague；　indefinable　hum；　like　and　yet　unlike　that　of　a　busy　city。　It　was　like　many　far…off　sounds　carefully　muffled。　Now　and　then　they　heard　human　voices；　laughter；　and　singing　in　the　distance；　and　the　twanging　of　musical　instruments。

Then　they　knew　that　they　were　entering　a　building　of　some　sort；　for　they　heard　a　key　turn　in　a　lock　and　the　humming　sound　in　the　distance　was　cut　off。　They　felt　a　soft　carpet　under　their　feet；　and　the　feet　of　their　guards　no　longer　clinked　on　the　stones。

When　the　bandages　were　removed　they　found　themselves　in　a　sumptuous　chamber；　alone　with　the　captain。　The　brilliant　light　from　a　quaintly…shaped　candelabrum；　in　the　centre　of　the　chamber；　dazzled　them；　but　in　a　few　minutes　their　eyes　had　become　accustomed　to　it。

Tradmos　seemed　to　be　enjoying　the　looks　of　astonishment　on　their　faces　as　they　glanced　at　the　different　objects　in　the　room。

〃It　is　night；〃　he　said　smilingly。　〃You　need　rest　after　your　voyage。　Lie　down　on　the　beds　and　sleep。　To…morrow　you　will　be　conducted　to　the　palace　of　the　king。〃

With　a　bow　he　withdrew；　and　they　heard　a　massive　bolt　slide　into　the　socket　of　a　door　hidden　behind　a　curtain。　The　two　men　gazed　at　each　other　without　speaking；　for　a　moment；　and　then　they　began　to　inspect　the　room。

In　alcoves　half…veiled　with　silken　curtains　stood　statues　in　gold　and　bronze。　The　walls　and　ceilings　were　decorated　with　pictures　unlike　any　they　had　ever　seen。　Before　one；　the　picture　of　an　angel　flying　through　a　dark；　star…filled　sky；　they　both　stood　enchanted。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Thorndyke；　finding　voice　finally。　〃It　is　not　done　with　brush　or　pencil；　the　features　seem　alive　and；　by　Jove；　you　can　actually　see　it　breathe。　Don't　you　see　the　clouds　gliding　by；　and　the　wings　moving？〃

〃It　is　lightit　is　formed　by　light！〃　declared　the　other　enthusiastically；　and　he　ran　to　the　wall；　about　six　feet　from　the　picture；　and　put　his　hand　on　a　square　metal　box　screwed　to　the　wall。

〃I　have　it；〃　he　said　quickly；　〃come　here！〃

The　Englishman　advanced　curiously　and　examined　the　box。

〃Don't　you　see　that　tiny　speck　of　light　in　the　side　towards　the　picture？　Well；　the　view　is　thrown　from　this　box　on　the　wall；　and　it　is　the　motion　of　the　powerful　light　that　gives　apparent　life　to　the　angel。　It　is　wonderful。〃

In　a　commodious　alcove；　in　a　glow　of　pink　light　from　above；　was　a　life…sized　group　of　musiciansstatues　in　colored　metal　of　a　Spanish　girl　playing　a　mandora；　an　Italian　with　a　slender　calascione；　a　Russian　playing　his　jorbon；　and　an　African　playing　a　banjo。　Luxurious　couches　hung　by　spiral　springs　from　the　ceiling　to　a　convenient　height　from　the　floor；　and　here　and　there