eyes　filled　as　he　hastened　away。　Down　below　they　saw　him　spring　lightly　into　the　gold…mounted　car；　and　the　next　instant　the　graceful　vessel　rose　above　the　palace　roof　and　sped　like　an　arrow　across　the　sky　toward　the　east。
  A　faint　cheer　broke　from　the　lips　of　the　crowd　which　seemed　suddenly　to　take　new　hope　from　the　king's　departure。　Some　of　them　waved　their　hats　and　scarfs；　and　many　watched　the　air…ship　till　it　had　disappeared　in　the　murky　distance。
  〃He　may　not　get　there　in　time！〃　cried　the　princess；　〃it　seems　to　be　going　down　faster　than　it　ever　did　before；　and　he　has　a　great　distance　to　go。〃
  The　little　party　on　the　balcony　were　silent　for　a　long　time。　Presently　Bernardino　turned　her　tearful　eyes　to　the　face　of　Thorndyke。
  〃The　smoke　and　steam　do　not　seem　so　voluminous；　do　you　think　all　will　go　well？〃
  The　Englishman　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　want　to　depress　you　more　than　you　are；　but　I　think　at　such　a　time　we　ought　to　realize　the　worst。　It　is　true；　the　clouds　are　not　so　heavy；　and　the　earth…　quakes　are　less　frequent；　but；　unfortunately；　it　is　owing　to　the　fact　that　the　volume　of　water　has　been　turned　away　from　the　pit　into　the　tunnel。　Be　prepared　for　the　worst。　If　your　father　cannot　reach　the　machinery　in　the　east　soon　enough；　our　light　will　go　out；　and；　worse　than　that；　if　Prince　Marentel　should　fail　in　his　next　venture　with　explosives；　all　hope　will　be　gone。〃
  〃I　have　never　desired　to　live　so　much　as　now；〃　she　answered；　inclining　with　an　air　of　tenderness　toward；　him。　〃I　never　knew　what　it　was　to　fear　death　tilltill　you　came　to　us。〃
  He　made　no　reply。　There　was　a　lump　in　his　throat　and　he　could　not　trust　his　voice　to　speech。　Branasko　and　Johnston　left　them　together　to　go　into　the　Electric　Auditorium。　They　returned　in　great　haste。
  〃The　prince　is　ready　for　the　explosion；〃　panted　Johnston。　Thorndyke；　old　man；　this　is　simply　awful！　It　is　not　like　standing　up　to　be　shot　at；　or　being　jerked　through　the　clouds　in　a　balloon。　It　seems　to　me　that　out　there　is　the　endless　space　of　infinity；　and　that　all　the　material　world　is　coming　to　an　end。　My　God！　look　at　that　hellish　fire；　the　awful　smoke　and　that　black　sky！　Oh；　the　blasphemy　of　a　such　a　paltry　imitation　of　the　handiwork　of　the　Creator！　We　are　damned！　I　say　damned；　and　by　a　just　and　angry　God！〃
  〃Don't　be　a　fool；〃　said　Thorndyke；　and　he　threw　a　warning　glance　at　Bernardino；　who；　with　staring；　distended　eyes　was　listening　to　Johnston。
  〃No；　he　is　right；〃　she　said　in　a　low　tone。　〃I　have　never　seen　your　world；　but　I　know　my　people　must　be　woefully　wrong。　In　your　land　they　say　men　teach　things　about　Infinity　and　an　eternal　life　for　the　soul；　and　that　one　may　prepare　for　that　life　by　living　pure；　and　in　striving　to　attain　a　high　spiritual　state。　Oh；　why　have　you　not　told　me　about　that？　It　is　the　one　important　thing。　I　have　long　wanted　to　know　if　my　soul　will　be　safe　at　death；　but　I　can　learn　nothing　of　my　people。　They　have　always　tried　to　rival　God；　and；　in　their　mad　pursuit　of　perfection　in　science；　they　have　been　reduced　tothis。　That　black　cloud　is　the　frown　of　God；　hose　mad　flames　may　burst　forth　at　any　moment　and　engulf　us。〃
  She　uttered　a　low　groan　and　hung　her　head　as　if　in　prayer。　Johnston　and　Thorndyke　were　awed　to　silence。　Never　had　the　Englishman　loved　her　as　at　that　moment。　She　was　no　longer　simply　a　beautiful　human　creature；　but　a　divinity；　speaking　truths　from　Heaven　itself。　He　felt　too　unworthy　to　stand　in　her　presence；　and　yet　his　heart　was　aching　to　comfort　her。
  She　raised　her　pallid　face　heavenward　and　extended　her　fair；　fragile　hands　toward　the　lowering　sky　and　began　to　pray。　〃My　Creator；〃　she　said　reverently；　childishly；　〃I　have　never　come　to　Thee；　but　they　say　that　people　far　away　from　this　dark　land；　under　Thy　own　sun；　moon　and　stars　do　ask　aid　of　Thee；　and　I；　too；　want　Thy　help。　Forgive　me　and　my　people。　They　have　been　sinful；　and　vain；　and　thoughtless；　but　let　them　not　perish　in　utter　gloom。　Forgive　them；　O　thou　Maker　of　all　that　existsthou　Creator　of　pain　that　we　may　love　joy；　Creator　of　evil　that　we　may　know　good；　turn　not　from　us！　We　are　but　thoughtless　childrenand　Thy　childrengive　us　time　to　realize　the　awful　error　of　our　hollow　pretensions！　Give　them　all　now；　at　once；　if　they　are　to　die；　that　spirit　which　is　awakened　in　me　by　the　awful　majesty　of　Thy　anger！　Hear　me；　O　God！〃　And　with　a　sob　she　sank　on　her　knees；　clasped　her　hands　and　raised　them　upward。　Thorndyke　tried　to　lift　her　up；　but　she　shook　her　head　and　continued　her　prayer　in　silence。　A　marked　change　had　come　over　Branasko。　He　looked　at　Johnston　and　Thorndyke　in　a　strange；　helpless　way；　and　then；　in　a　corner　of　the　balcony　the　begrimed　and　tattered　man　fell　on　his　knees。　He　knew　not　the　meaning　of　prayer；　but　there　was　something　in　the　reverent　attitude　of　the　princess　that　drew　his　untutored　being　toward　his　Maker。　He　covered　his　face　with　his　hands　and　his　shaggy　head　sank　to　his　knees。
  Johnston　hastened　back　into　the　Auditorium。　Returning　in　a　moment；　he　found　the　Englishman　tenderly　lifting　Bernardino　from　her　knees　and　Branasko　still　crouching　in　a　corner。
  〃What　is　the　news？〃　asked　Thorndyke。
  〃Everything　is　ready　for　the　explosion。　The　prince　seems　only　waiting　because　he　dreads　failure。　The　people　in　there　are　so　frightened　that　they　cannot　move　from　their　seats。〃
  Just　then　Branasko　raised　a　haggard　face　and　looked　appealingly　at　the　princess。　She　caught　his　eye。
  〃Fear　nothing；　good　man；〃　she　said；　〃the　God　of　the　Christians　will　not　harm　us；　we　are　safe　in　His　hands。　I　felt　it　here　in　my　heart　when　I　prayed　to　Him。　Oh；　why　has　my　father　and　the　other　kings　of　Alpha　not　taught　us　that　grand　simple　truth！　But　before　I　die　I　want　to　leave　this　dark　pit　of　sin；　and　look　out　once　into　endless；　world…　filled　space。〃
  A　joyous　flush　came　into　the　face　of　the　Alphian。　His　fear　had　vanished。　She　had　promised　him　safety。　He　bowed　worshipfully；　but　he　spoke　not；　for　Bernardino　was　eagerly　pointing　to　the　sun。
  〃Look！〃　she　cried　gleefully；　with　the　merry　tremolo　of　a　happy；　surprised　child。　〃The　sun　is　not　moving。　Father　has　been　successful！　It　is　a　good　omen！　God　will　save　us！〃
  It　was　true；　the　sun　was　standing　still。　A　deep　silence　was　on　the　city。　The　crowds　in　the　street　neither　moved　nor　spoke。　Without　a　murmur　or　complaint　they　stood　facing　the　frowning　west。　Suddenly　the　silence　was　interrupted　by　a　low　volcanic　rumble。　The　earth　heaved；　and　rolled；　and　far　away　in　the　suburbs　of　the　city　the　spire　of　a　public　building　fell　with　a　loud　crash。　A　groan　swept　from　mouth　to　mouth　and　then　died　away。
  〃The　cloud　is　increasing　rapidly；〃　said　Thorndyke。　〃I　can　really　see　little　hope。　I　shall　return　in　a　moment。〃
  While　he　was　gone　Bernardino　knelt　and　prayed。　Again　overcome　with　fear　Branasko　crouched　down　in　his　corner。　Another　shudder　and　rumble　from　the　earth；　another　long　moan　from　the　people。　Thorndyke　came　back。　He　spoke　to　the　princess：
  〃The　dam　built　by　Prince　Marentel　has　been　swept　away。　The　ocean　is　pouring　into　the　internal　fires。　There　is　scarcely　any　hope　now。〃
  Branasko　groaned；　but　Bernardino's　face　was　aglow　with　celestial　faith。　She　shook　her　head。
  〃They　will　not　be　destroyed　in　this　way；〃　she　said；〃　they　have　had　no　chance　to　know　God。〃
  〃It　all　depends　on　the　explosion　which　may　take　place　at　any　moment；〃　and　Thorndyke　took　her　into　his　arms　and　whispered　into　her　ear；　〃I　do　not　care　for　myself；　but　I　cannot　bear　to　think　of　your　suffering　pain。〃
  She　answered　only　by　pressing　his　hand。　The　clouds　were　now　rolling　upward　in　greater　volume　than　ever。　It　was　growing　darker。　The　little　group　on　the　balcony　could　now　scarcely　see　the　people　below　them。　The　fall　of　damp　ashes　was　resumed。　The　air　had　grown　hot　and　close。
  Boom！　Boom！　Boom！　the　streets　of　the　city　rose　nd　fell　with　the　undulating　motion　of　a　swelling　sea。　Blacker　and　blacker　grew　the　sky；　closer　and　closer　the　atmosphere；　damper　and　damper　became　the　fog；　thicker　and　thicker　fell　the　wet　sand　and　ashes。
  〃Perhaps　we　would　be　safer　in　the　streets；〃　suggested　Thorndyke；　drawing　Bernardino　closer　into　his　arms；　〃the　palace　may　fall　on　us。〃
  But　the　princess　shook　her　head。　〃Father　would　not　know　where　to　find　me；　I　shall　await　him　here。〃　Branasko　had　edged　nearer　to　her。　His　eyes　were　glued　on　her　face　and　he　hung　on　her　words　as　if　his　fate　were　in　her　hands。　He　had　no　regard　for　the　opinions　of　the　others。
  〃The　explosion　will　soon　take　place　now　unless　something　has　happened　contrary　to　the　expectations　of　the　prince；〃　said　the　Englishman。
  Boom！　Boom！　kr…kr…kr…kr…boom！　The　noise　seemed　to　shake　the　earth　to　its　centre。　Now　the　far…away　pit　was　belching　forth　fire　and　molten　lava　rather　than　steam　and　smoke。　The　flames　had　spread　out　against　the　sloping　roof　of　the　cavern；　and　seemed　to　extend　for　a　mile　along　the　horizon。　〃They　can　do　nothing　in　that　heat；〃　exclaimed　Johnston；　〃they　could　not　get　near　enough　to　the　pit。　Thorndyke；　old　fellow；　I　can't　see　a　ghost　of　a　chance。　We　might　as　well　say　good…bye。〃
  〃Hush！〃　It　was　the　voice　of　the　princess。　〃I　feel　that　we　shall　not　be　lost；　I　say。〃　And　as　she　spoke　Branasko　crept　toward　her　and　raised　the　hem　of　her　gown　to　his　white　lips。　Something　dark　came　between　them　and　the　far…off　glare。　It　was　a　flyi