the land of the changing sun-第13节

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〃It　goes　back　to　its　place　of　rising　through　a　great　tunnel　beneath　us。〃

Thorndyke　sat　in　deep　thought　for　a　moment；　then　he　looked　so　steadily　and　so　admiringly　into　Bernardino's　eyes　that　she　grew　red　with　confusion。　〃But　you；　yourself；　are　you　thoroughly　content　here？〃

〃I　know　nothing　else；〃　she　continued。　〃I　have　heard　little　about　your　world　except　that　your　people　are　discontented；　weak　and　insane；　and　that　your　changeable　weather　and　your　careless　laws　regarding　marriage　and　heredity　produce　perpetual　and　innumerable　diseases；　that　your　people　are　not　well　developed　and　beautiful；　that　you　war　with　one　another；　and　that　one　tears　down　what　another　builds。　I　have；　too；　always　been　happy；　and　since　you　came　I　am　happier　still。　I　don't　know　what　it　means。　I　have　never　been　so　much　interested　in　any　one　before。〃

〃It　is　love　on　the　part　of　both　of　us；〃　replied　the　Englishman　impulsively；　taking　her　hand。　〃I　never　was　content　before。　I　went　roving　over　the　earth　trying　to　end　my　life　at　sea　or　in　balloon　voyages；　but　now　I　only　want　to　be　with　you。　I　have　never　dreamed　that　I　could　be　so　happy　or　that　I　would　meet　any　one　so　beautiful　as　you　are。〃

Bernardino's　delight　showed　itself　in　blushes　on　her　face；　and　Thorndyke；　unable　to　restrain　himself；　put　his　arm　around　her　and　drew　her　to　his　breast　and　kissed　her。

She　sprang　up　quickly　and　he　saw　that　she　was　trembling　and　that　all　the　color　had　fled　from　her　face。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　in　alarm。

At　first　she　did　not　answer；　but　only　looked　at　him　half…　frightened；　and　then　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。　He　drew　them　from　her　face　and　compelled　her　to　look　at　him。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　he　repeated；　a　strange　fear　at　his　heart。

〃You　have　broken　one　of　the　most　sacred　laws　of　our　country；〃　she　faltered；　in　great　embarrassment；　〃my　father　would　punish　me　very　severely　if　he　knew　of　it；　and　he　would　banish　you；　for；　to　treat　me　in　that　manner；　as　his　daughter；　is　regarded　as　an　insult　to　him。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon　most　humbly；〃　said　the　contrite　Englishman。　〃It　was　all　on　account　of　my　ignorance　of　your　customs　and　my　impulsiveness。　It　shall　never　happen　again；　I　promise　you。〃

Her　face　brightened　a　little　and　the　color　came　back　slowly。　She　sat　down　again；　but　not　so　near　Thorndyke；　and　seemed　desirous　of　changing　the　subject。

〃And　do　you　love　the　man　my　father　has　transported？〃　she　questioned。

〃Yes；　he　is　a　good；　faithful　fellow；　and　it　is　hard　to　die　so　far　away　from　friends。〃

〃We　must　try　to　save　him；　but　I　cannot　now　think　of　a　safe　plan。　The　police　are　very　vigilant。〃

〃Where　was　he　taken？〃

〃Into　the　darkness　behind　the　sunbeyond　the　wall　of　which　I　spoke。〃

A　flush　of　shame　came　into　Thorndyke's　face　over　the　remembrance　that　he　had　made　no　effort　to　aid　poor　Johnston；　and　was　sitting　listening　with　delight　to　the　conversation　of　Bernardino。　He　rose　suddenly。

〃I　must　be　doing　something　to　aid　him；〃　he　said。　〃I　cannot　sit　here　inactive　while　he　is　in　danger。〃

〃Be　patient；〃　she　advised；　looking　at　him　admiringly；　〃it　is　near　night；　see；　it　is　the　gray　light　of　dusk；　the　sun　is　out　of　sight。　To…night；　if　possible；　I　shall　come　to　you。　Perhaps　I　shall　approach　you　without　disguise　if　you　are　in　the　throne…room　and　my　father　does　not　object　to　my　entertaining　you；　but　for　the　present　we　must　separate。　Adieu。〃

He　bowed　low　as　she　turned　away；　and　joined　the　throng　that　was　passing　along　outside。　An　officer　approached　him。　It　was　Captain　Tradmos；　who　bowed　and　smiled　pleasantly。

〃I　congratulate　you；〃　he　said；　with　suave　pleasantness。

〃Upon　what？〃　Thorndyke　was　on　his　guard　at　once。

〃Upon　having　pleased　the　king　so　thoroughly。　No　stranger；　in　my　memory；　has　ever　been　treated　so　courteously。　Every　other　new…　comer　is　put　under　surveillance；　but　you　are　left　unwatched。〃

〃He　is　easily　pleased；〃　said　the　Englishman；　〃for　I　have　done　nothing　to　gratify　him。〃

〃I　thought　he　would　like　you；　and　I　felt　that　your　friend　would　have　to　suffer；　but　I　could　not　help　him。〃

〃He　shall　not　suffer　if　I　can　prevent　it。〃

〃Shbe　cautious。　Those　words；　implying　an　inclination　to　treason；　if　spoken　to　any　other　officer　would　place　you　under　immediate　arrest。　I　like　you；　therefore　I　want　to　warn　you　against　such　folly。　You　are　wholly　in　the　king's　power。　Another　thing　I　would　specially　warn　you　against〃

〃And　that　is？〃

〃Not　to　allow　the　king　to　suspect　your　admiration　for　the　Princess　Bernardino。　It　would　displease　the　king。　She　is　much　taken　with　you；　I　saw　it　in　her　eyes　when　she　danced　for　your　entertainment。〃

Thorndyke　made　no　reply；　but　gazed　searchingly　into　the　eyes　of　the　officer。　Tradmos　laughed。

〃You　are　afraid　of　me。〃

〃No；　I　am　not；　I　trust　you　wholly；　I　know　that　you　are　honorable；　I　never　make　a　mistake　along　that　line。〃

Tradmos　bowed；　pleased　by　the　compliment。

〃I　shall　aid　you　all　I　can　with　my　advice；　for　I　know　you　will　not　betray　me；　but　at　present　I　am　powerless　to　give　you　material　aid。　Every　subject　of　this　realm　is　bound　to　the　autocratic　will　of　the　king。　It　is　impossible　for　any　one　to　get　from　under　his　power。〃

〃Why？〃

〃The　only　outlet　to　the　upper　world　is　carefully　guarded　by　men　who　would　not　be　bribed。〃

〃Is　there　any　chance　for　my　friend？〃

〃None　that　I　can　see；　but　I　must　walk　on；　there　comes　one　of　the　king's　attendants。〃

〃The　king　has　asked　to　speak　to　you；〃　announced　the　attendant　to　Thorndyke。

〃I　will　go　with　you；〃　was　his　reply；　and　he　followed　the　man　through　the　crowded　corridors　into　the　throne…room　of　the　king。　Thorndyke　forced　a　smile　as　he　saw　the　king　smiling　at　him　as　he　approached　the　throne。

〃What　do　you　think　of　my　palace？〃　asked　the　king；　after　Thorndyke　had　knelt　before　him。

〃It　is　superb；〃　answered　the　Englishman；　recalling　the　advice　of　Bernardino。　〃I　am　dazed　by　its　splendor；　its　architecture；　and　its　art。　I　have　seen　nothing　to　equal　it　on　earth。〃

The　king　rose　and　stood　beside　him。　His　manner　was　both　pleasing　and　sympathetic。　〃I　am　persuaded；〃　said　he；　〃that　you　will　make　a　good　subject；　and　have　the　interest　of　Alpha　always　at　heart；　but　I　have　often　been　mistaken　in　the　character　of　men　and　think　it　best　to　give　you　a　timely　warning。　An　attendant　will　conduct　you　to　a　chamber　beneath　the　palace　where　it　will　be　your　privilege　to　converse　with　a　man　who　once　planned　to　get　up　a　rebellion　among　my　people。〃

There　had　come　suddenly　a　stern　harshness　into　the　king's　tone　that　roused　the　fears　of　Thorndyke。　He　was　about　to　reply；　but　the　king　held　up　his　hand。　〃Wait　till　you　have　visited　the　dungeon　of　Nordeskyne；　then　I　am　sure　that　you　will　be　convinced　that　strict　obedience　in　thought　as　well　as　deed　is　best　for　an　inhabitant　of　Alpha。〃　Speaking　thus；　he　signed　to　an　attendant　who　came　forward　and　bowed。

〃Conduct　him　to　the　dungeon　of　Nordeskyne；　and　return　to　me；〃　ordered　the　king。

Thorndyke's　heart　was　heavy；　and　he　was　filled　with　strange　forebodings；　but　he　simply　smiled　and　bowed；　as　the　attendant　led　him　away。　The　attendant　opened　a　door　at　the　back　of　the　throne…　room　and　they　were　confronted　by　darkness。　They　went　along　a　narrow　corridor　for　some　distance；　the　dark…　ness　thickening　at　every　step。　There　was　no　sound　except　the　sound　of　the　guide's　shoes　on　the　smooth　stone　pavement。　Presently　the　man　released　Thorndyke's　arm；　saying：

〃It　is　narrow　here；　follow　close　behind；　and　do　not　attempt　to　go　back。〃

〃I　shall　certainly　stick　to　you；〃　replied　the　Englishman　drily。　They　turned　a　sharp　corner　suddenly；　and　were　going　in　another　direction　when　Thorndyke　felt　a　soft　warm　hand　steal　into　his　from　behind；　and　knew　intuitively　that　it　was　Bernardino。　The　guide　was　a　few　feet　in　advance　of　them　and　she　drew　Thorndyke's　head　down　and　whispered　into　his　ear。

〃Be　braveby　all　that　you　lovefor　your　life；　keep　your　presence　of　mind；　and〃

〃What　was　that？〃　asked　the　guide；　turning　suddenly　and　catching　the　Englishman's　arm；　〃I　thought　I　heard　whispering。〃

〃I　was　saying　my　prayers；　that　is　all；〃　and　the　Englishman　pressed　the　hand　of　the　princess；　who；　pressed　close　against　the　wall；　was　gliding　cautiously　away。

〃Prayers；　humphyou'll　need　them　later；come　on！〃　and　he　caught　the　Englishman's　arm　and　hastily　drew　him　onward。　Thorndyke's　spirits　sank　lower。　The　air　of　the　narrow　under…ground　corridor　was　cold　and　damp；　and　he　quivered　from　head　to　foot。



Chapter　IX。

Branasko　paused　again　in　his　walk　towards　the　mysterious　light。

〃It　cannot　be　from　the　internal　fires；〃　said　he；　〃for　this　light　is　white；　and　the　glow　of　the　fires　is　red。〃

〃Let's　turn　back；〃　suggested　Johnston；　〃it　can　do　us　no　good　to　go　down　there；　it　is　only　taking　us　further　from　the　wall。〃

〃I　should　like　to　understand　it；〃　returned　the　Alphian　thoughtfully；　〃and；　besides；　there　can　be　no　more　danger　there　than　back　among　the　hot　crevices。　We　have　got　to　perish　anyway；　and　we　might　as　well　spice　the　remainder　of　our　lives　with　whatever　adventure　we　can。　Who　knows　what　we　may　not　discover？　There　are　many　things　about　the　land　of　Alpha　that　the　inhabitants　do　not　understand。〃

〃I'll　follow　you　anywhere；〃　acquiesced　Johnston；　〃you　are　right。〃

They　stumbled　on　over　the　rocky　surface　in　silence。　At　times；　the　roof　of　the　cavern　sank