〃We　shall　soon　be　through　the　shaft　we　first　discovered　and　throw　our　light　over　Alpha。〃　As　he　spoke　the　space　about　them　broke　into　blinding　brightness　and　for　a　few　moments　they　could　only　open　their　eyes　for　an　instant　at　a　time。　After　a　while　Branasko　opened　the　closet　door　and　they　went　up　the　stairs。
  The　first　apartment　they　entered　was　most　luxuriously　furnished。　Sofas；　couches　and　reclining…chairs　were　scattered　here　and　there　over　the　elegant　carpet；　and　statues　of　gold　and　marble　stood　in　alcoves　and　niches　and　strange　stereopticon　lanterns；　hanging　from　the　ceiling　threw　ever…changing　and　life…like　pictures　on　the　walls。　The　light　streamed　in　from　without　through　small　circular　windows。　After　they　had　walked　about　the　room　for　some　minutes；　the　Alphian　pointed　to　a　half…　open　door　and　a　staircase　at　one　side　of　the　room。
  〃I　think　it　leads　to　some　sort　of　observatory　on　top；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　heard　that　when　the　royal　family　makes　this　voyage　they　are　fond　of　looking　out　from　it。　Suppose　we　see。〃　Johnston　acquiesced；　and　Branasko　opened　the　door。　From　the　increased　brightness　that　came　in　they　were　assured　that　the　stairs　led　outward。
  Ascending　many　flights　of　stairs　and　traversing　a　narrow　winding　gallery　which　seemed　to　be　gradually　sloping　upward；　they　finally　reached　the　outside；　and　found　themselves　on　a　platform　about　forty　feet　square　surrounded　by　iron　balustrades。　Above　hung　impenetrable　blackness；　below　curved　a　majestic　sphere　of　white　light。
  Chapter　XII。
  The　sunlight　was　fading　into　gray　when　the　princess　turned　to　leave　Thorndyke。　Night　was　drawing　near。
  〃Have　they　assigned　you　a　chamber　yet？〃　she　paused　to　ask。
  〃No。〃
  〃Then　they　have　overlooked　it；　I　shall　remind　the　king。〃
  Her　beautiful；　lithe　form　was　clearly　outlined　against　the　red　glow　of　the　massive　swinging　lamp　as　she　moved　gracefully　away；　and　Thorndyke's　heart　bounded　with　admiration　and　hope　as　he　thought　of　her　growing　regard　for　him。　He　resumed　his　seat　among　the　flowers；　listening；　as　if　in　a　delightful　dream；　to　the　seductive　music　from　bands　in　different　parts　of　the　palace　and　the　never…ceasing　sound　in　the　air　which　seemed　to　him　to　be　the　concentrated　echo　of　all　the　sounds　in　the　strange　country　rebounding　from　the　vast　cavern　roof。
  It　grew　darker。　The　gray　outside　had　changed　to　purple。　In　the　palace　the　brilliant　electric　lights　in　prismatic　globes　refused　to　allow　the　day　to　die。　He　was　thinking　of　returning　to　the　throne…room　when　a　page　in　silken　attire　approached　from　the　direction　of　the　king's　quarters。
  〃To　your　chambers；　master；〃　he　announced；　bowing　respectfully。
  Thorndyke　arose　and　followed　him　to　an　elevator　near　by。　They　ascended　to　the　highest　balcony　of　the　great　rotunda。　Here　they　alighted　and　turned　to　the　right；　the　page　leading　the　way；　a　key　in　his　hand。　Presently　the　page　stopped　at　a　door　and　unlocked　it　and　preceded　the　Englishman　into　the　room。　As　they　entered　an　electric　light　in　a　chandelier　flashed　up　automatically。
  It　was　a　sumptuous　apartment；　and　adjoining　it　were　several　connecting　rooms　all　elegantly　furnished。　The　page　crossed　the　room　and　opened　a　door　to　a　little　stairway。
  〃It　leads　to　the　roof；〃　he　said。　〃The　princess　told　me　to　call　your　attention　to　it；　that　you　might　go　out　and　view　the　starlight。〃
  When　the　page　had　retired；　Thorndyke；　feeling　lonely；　ascended　the　stairs　to　the　roof。　It　was　perfectly　flat　save　for　the　great　dome　which　stood　in　the　centre　and　the　numerous　pinnacles　and　cupolas　on　every　hand；　and　was　very　spacious。　The　Englishman's　loneliness　increased；　for　no　matter　in　what　direction　he　looked；　there　was　not　a　living　soul　in　sight。　Far　in　front　of　him　he　saw　a　stone　parapet。　He　went　to　this　and　looked　down　on　the　city。　The　electric　lights　were　vari…colored；　and　arranged　so　that　when　seen　from　a　distance　or　from　a　great　height　they　assumed　artistic　designs　that　were　beautiful　to　behold。
  The　regular　streets　and　rows　of　buildings　stretched　away　till　the　light　in　the　farthest　distance　seemed　an　ocean　of　blending　colors。　Overhead　the　vault　was　black；　and　only　here　and　there　shone　a　star；　but　as　he　looked　upward　they　began　to　flash　into　being；　and　so　rapidly　that　the　sky　seemed　a　vast　battlefield　of　electricity。
  〃Wonderful！　Wonderful！〃　he　ejaculated　enthusiastically；　when　the　black　dome　was　filled　with　twinkling　stars。　He　leaned　for　a　long　time　against　the　parapet；　listening　to　the　music　from　the　streets　below；　and　watching　the　flying…machines　with　their　vari…colored　lights　rise　from　the　little　parks　at　the　intersection　of　the　streets　and　dart　away　over　the　roofs　like　big　fireflies。　Then　he　began　to　feel　sleepy；　and；　going　back　to　his　chambers；　he　retired。
  When　he　awoke　the　next　morning；　the　rosy　glow　of　the　sun　was　shining　in　at　his　windows。　On　rising　he　was　surprised　to　find　a　delectable　breakfast　spread　on　a　table　in　his　sitting…room。
  〃Treating　me　like　a　lord；　any　way；〃　he　said　drily。　〃I　can't　say　I　dislike　the　thing　as　a　whole。〃　When　he　had　satisfied　his　sharp　hunger　he　went　out　into　a　corridor　and　seeing　an　elevator　he　entered　it　and　went　down　to　the　throne…room。　The　king　was　just　leaving　his　throne；　but　seeing　Thorndyke　he　turned　to　him　with　a　smile。
  〃How　did　you　sleep？〃　he　asked。
  〃Well；　indeed；〃　replied　Thorndyke；　with　a　low　bow。
  〃I　cannot　talk　to　you　now。　I　intended　to；　but　I　have　promised　my　people　a　'War　of　the　Elements'　to…day　and　am　busy。　You　will　enjoy　it；　I　trust。〃
  〃I　am　sure　of　it；　your　Majesty。〃
  〃Well；　be　about　the　palace；　for　it　is　a　good　point　from　which　to　view　the　display。〃
  With　these　words　he　turned　away　and　the　Englishman；　as　if　drawn　there　by　the　memory　of　his　last　conversation　with　Bernardino；　sought　the　retreat　where　he　had　bidden　her　good…night。　He　sat　down　on　the　seat　they　had　occupied；　and　gave　himself　over　to　delightful　reveries　about　her　beauty　and　loveliness　of　nature。　Looking　up　suddenly　he　saw　a　pair　of　white　hands　part　the　palm　leaves　in　front　of　him　and　the　subject　of　his　thoughts　emerged　into　view。
  She　wore　a　regal　gown　and　beautiful　silken　head…dress　set　with　fine　gems；　and　gave　him　a　warm　glance　of　friendly　greeting。
  〃I　half　hoped　to　find　you　here；〃　she　said；　blushing　modestly　under　his　ardent　gaze；　〃that　is；　I　knew　you　would　not　know　where　to　go　…　…〃　She　paused；　her　face　suffused　with　blushes。
  〃I　did　not　hope　to　find　you　here；〃　he　said；　coming　to　her　aid　gallantly；　〃but　it　was　a　delight　to　sit　here　where　I　last　saw　you。〃
  She　blushed　even　deeper；　and　a　pleased　look　flashed　into　her　eyes。　〃It　was　important　that　I　should　see　you　this　morning；〃　she　continued；　with　a　womanly　desire　to　disguise　her　own　feeling。　〃I　wanted　to　tell　you　where　to　meet　me　when　the　storm　begins。〃
  〃Where？〃　he　asked。
  〃On　the　roof　of　the　palace；　near　the　stairs　leading　down　to　your　chambers。　At　first　it　will　be　very　dark；　and　it　is　then　that　we　must　get　out　of　sight　of　the　palace。　No　other　flying…machines　will　be　in　the　air；　and　Captain　Tradmos　thinks；　if　we　are　very　careful；　we　can　get　away　safely　before　the　display　of　lightning。〃
  〃If　we　find　my　friend　what　can　we　do　with　him？〃
  She　hesitated　a　moment；　a　look　of　perplexity　on　her　face；　then　she　said：　〃We　can　bring　him　back　and　keep　him　hidden　in　your　chambers　till　some　better　arrangement　can　be　made。　We　shall　think　of　some　expedient　before　long；　but　at　present　he　must　be　saved　from　starvation。〃
  Thorndyke　attempted　to　draw　her　to　a　seat　beside　him；　but　she　held　back。　〃No；〃　she　said　resolutely；　〃it　would　never　do　for　us　to　be　seen　together。　If　my　father　should　suspect　anything　now；　all　hope　would　be　lost。〃
  Thorndyke　reluctantly　released　her　hand。
  〃You　are　right；　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　said　humbly。　〃I　shall　meet　you　promptly。　Of　course　I　want　to　save　poor　Johnston；　but　the　delight　of　being　with　you　again；　even　for　a　moment；　so　intoxicates　me　that　I　forget　even　my　duty　to　him。〃
  After　she　left　him　he　wandered　out　in　the　streets　along　the　busy　thoroughfares；　and　into　the　beautiful　parks；　the　flowers　and　foliage　changing　color　as　each　new　hour　dawned。　The　fragrance　of　the　flowers　delighted　his　sense　of　smell；　and　the　luscious　fruits　hung　from　vine　and　tree　in　great　abundance。
  He　was　impatient　for　the　time　to　arrive　at　which　he　was　to　meet　the　princess。　After　awhile　he　noticed　the　people　closing　the　shops　and　booths；　and　in　holiday　dress　going　to　the　parks　and　public　squares。　He　hastened　to　the　palace。　The　great　rotunda　and　the　throne…room　were　energetically　astir。　Everybody　wore　rich　apparel　and　was　talking　of　the　coming　fete。　The　king　was　on　his　throne　surrounded　by　his　men　of　science。　In　a　cluster　of　ladies　in　court　dress；　the　Englishman　recognized　Bernardino。　Catching　his　eye；　she　looked　startled　for　an　instant；　and；　then；　with　a　furtive　glance　at　the　king；　she　swept　her　eyes　back　to　Thorndyke　and　raised　them　significantly　toward　his　chambers。　He　understood；　and　his　quick　movement　was　his　reply。　He　turned　immediately　to　an　elevator　that　was　going　up；　and　entered　it。　Again　he　was　alone　on　the　palace　roof。　The　color　of　the　sunlight　looked　so　natural　that　he　studied　it　closely　to　see　if　he　could　not　detect　something　artificial　in　its　appearance；　but　in　vain。　He　found　that　it　did　not　pain　his　eyes　to　look　at　the　sun　steadily。　He　too