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Johnston nodded knowingly as he looked into his friend's face； but； considering 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 explosives to remove a mountain。〃
〃How will he use them？〃 asked Thorndyke。
〃I don't know； but I fancy he will try to close the opening in some way。〃
The latter slowly shook his head。 〃I fear he will fail。 The fall must be as voluminous as Niagara by this time。〃
〃My father must have lost hope； or he would not have stopped the sun；〃 sighed the princess； and she cast a sad glance towards the west。 The rolling clouds had become more dense； and the rumbling and booming in the distance was growing more frequent。 A thin gray cloud passed before the sun； and a dim shadow fell over the city。
〃That is a natural cloud；〃 said Thorndyke； 〃it comes from the steam that rises from the pit。〃
〃It is exactly like our rain clouds；〃 returned the princess； 〃but it comes from the steam； as you say。 But let us go into the Electric Auditorium and hear the news。 As soon as anything is done we will hear of it there。〃 The others had no time to question her； for she was hastening into the corridor outside。 She piloted them down a flight of stairs into a large circular room beneath the surface of the ground。 It was filled with seats like a modern theatre； and in the place where the stage would have been； stood a mighty mirror over an hundred feet square。 She led them to a private box in front of the mirror。 The room was filled from the first row of chairs to the rear with a silent； anxious crowd。 In the massive frame of the mirror were numerous bell…shaped trumpets like those on the ordinary phonograph； though much larger。
〃Watch the mirror；〃 whispered Bernardino as she sat down。
And at that instant the surface of the great glass began to glow like the sky at dawn； and all the lights in the room went out。 Then from the trumpets in the frame came the loud ringing of musical bells。
〃They are ready；〃 whispered Bernardino； 〃now watch and listen。〃
The pink light on the mirror faded； and a life…like reflection appearedthe reflection of a young man standing on a rock in bold relief against a dark background of rugged； slabbering cliffs and the forbidding mouths of caves。
〃Waldmeer！〃 ejaculated the princess； and she relapsed into silence。
The young man held in his hand a cup…shaped instrument from which extended a wire to the ground。 He raised it to his lips； and instantly a calm； deliberate voice came from the mirror； soft and low and yet loud； enough to reach the most remote parts of the great room。
〃The ocean；〃 began he； 〃is pouring into the 'Volcano of the Dead' in a gradually increasing torrent。 Prince Marentel hopes temporarily to delay the crisis by partially turning the torrent away from the pit into the lowlands of the country。 For that purpose a portion of the endless wall is being torn down； and Marentel's forces are placing their explosives。 After this is done an attempt will be made to stop the original break。 There is； however； little hope。 The prince has warned the king to be prepared for the worst。〃
At this point； the speaker turned as if startled toward the red glare at his right。 He quickly picked up another instrument attached to a wire and put it to his ear。 A look of horror changed his face as he turned to the audience and began to speak：〃The opening in the wall is not progressing rapidly。 Workmen are drowning and the tunnel of the sun is filling with water。 It will be impossible for the sun to go through to the east。〃
Just then there was a far…away crash； and instantly the mirror was void。 There was now no sound except the low groans of women in the audience and the subdued curses of maddened men。 The silence was profound。 Then the mirror began to glow； and the image of another man took Waldmeer's place。
〃It is the Mayor of Telmantio；〃 whispered the princess； 〃a place near the western limits of Alpha。〃
He held a like instrument to the one used by Waldmeer； and through it spoke：〃Venus； one of the great stars； has been shaken from the firmament。 It fell in the suburbs of Telmantio； and many lives were lost。〃
That was all； and the figure vanished。 Presently Waldmeer reappeared。 He seemed to be standing nearer the pit； for the entire background was aflame； volumes of black smoke now and then hid him from view； and a thick shower of ashes and small stones were falling round him。 He spoke； but his voice was drowned in a deafening explosion； and the whole landscape about him seemed afire。 In the semi…darkness hundreds of protectors could be seen struggling in the rushing water； moving stones and building a dam。 Waldmeer again faced his far…off audience and spoke：〃Prince Marentel has turned the course of the stream。 All now depends on the success or failure of his final test with explosives； which will take place in about half an hour。〃
〃We ought to go outside again；〃 suggested Bernardino； as Waldmeer's image disappeared； 〃my father might want us。〃
Seeing no one in the king's apartment； they passed through it to the balcony。 Half the sky was now covered with mingled fog and smoke； and the sun could be seen only now and then。 A drizzling rain was fallinga rain that brought down clots of ashes and soot。 But this made no difference to the throngs in the now muddy and slippery streets。 They stood shivering in damp and soiled clothing； their blearing eyes fixed hopelessly on the lowering signs in the west。 Johnston noticed a bent figure crouched against a wall beneath them。 It was Branasko。
〃Who is it？〃 inquired the princess。
〃Branasko； the companion of my adventures；〃 he replied。
〃Call him to us；〃 she said eagerly； and the American went down to the Alphian。
As they entered together； Branasko uncovered his dishevelled head and bowed most humbly。
〃You look tired and sick and hungry； have you eaten anything today？〃 she asked。
〃Not in two days；〃 he replied。
The princess called to a frightened maid who was wringing her hands in a corridor。
〃Give this man food and drink at once；〃 she ordered； and Branasko； with a grateful bow and glance； withdrew。 Johnston followed him to the door。
〃Fear nothing；〃 he said。 〃If the danger passes we are safe； the king has promised to pardon me； and he will do the same for you。〃
〃There is no hope for any of us；〃 replied Branasko grimly； 〃but I do not want to die with this gnawing in my stomach； adieu。〃
〃If the worst comes； is there any chance for us to escape from here to the outer world？〃 the Englishman was asking the princess when Johnston turned back to them。
〃For a few hundred； yes；by the sub…water ships； but for all； no； and； then； my father would not consent to rescue a part and not the whole of his subjects。 He would not try to save himself or any of his family。〃
The clouds still covered the sun； but on the eastern sky its rays were shining gloriously。 Ever and anon there sounded from afar a low rumbling as if the earth were swelling with heat。
Johnston left the two lovers together and went to the door of the Electric Auditorium； and over the heads of the breathless crowd he watched the great mirror。 After a few moments Waldmeer appeared and spoke：
〃Prince Marentel is operating with great difficulty。 A large quantity of his explosives has been injured by water； but he hopes there is enough left intact to serve his purpose。 The final explosion will soon take place。 The greatest peril hangs over Alpha。〃
Waldmeer's reflection was becoming in…distinct； and sick at heart the American elbowed his way through the muttering crowd into the corridor。 Here he met Branasko； and together they walked back to Thorndyke and the princess； who were mutely watching the signs in the east。 Just then the sun slowly emerged from the cloud。
〃Look！〃 cried Bernardino in horror。 〃The cloud is not moving； the sun has not stopped！ It is going down and we shall soon be in utter darkness。 Oh； it is awfulto die in this way！〃
The king had just returned； and he over…heard her words。 He came hastily to the edge of the balcony； and gazed at the sun。 The others held their breath and waited。 His face became more rigid； he swayed a little as he turned to her。
〃You are right； my daughter；〃 he groaned； 〃it is going down； the cowardly dogs in the east have deserted their posts。 It is going down！ It will sink into a tunnel filled with water； and the light of Alpha will be extinguished forever。 We are undone！ Say your prayers； my child； your prayers； I tell you； for an Infinite God is angry at our pretensions！〃
〃Don't despair； father；〃 and Bernardino put her arms gently round the old man's neck。 〃You understand the solar machinery； could you not stop the sun？〃
The eyes of the old man flashed。 He seemed electrified as he drew himself from her embrace and looked anxiously over the balustrade to a flying…machine in the street below。
〃I might reach the east in time；〃 he cried； 〃yes； you are right； I was acting cowardly。 The fastest air…ship in Alpha is ready； and Nanleon can drive it to its utmost speed。 If the worst comes； I shall see you no more； good…bye！〃 He kissed her brow tenderly； and her eyes filled as he hastened away。