The Land of the Changing Sun

eaning, and Bernardino's whispered warning filled him with dread. "Keep your presence of

tones were cold and slimy. After a moment the guard succeeded in unlocking the door and roughly pushed the Englishman forward. The door closed with a little puff, and Thorndyke felt about him for the guide; but

r by, and then the invisible whisperer moved away, making a weird soun

the door and his blood ran cold. There was no knob, latch, or key-hole, and he could feel the soft padding into which the door closed to keep out sound. Then he remembered the warning of the princess, and strove with all his might to fig

the sliding noise on the wall. Some one was coming to him. The sound grew louder and ne

ther door opened-a door that closed after them without any sound. Here the s

a chair. As soon as he was seated two metal clamps grasped like a vise his arm

rnardino, but in vain. Did they intend to drive him to madness? He began to suspect that the king had discovered his natural superstitio

pea, and then he discovered that, at times, it would seem miles away in space and then again to draw quite near to hand. Glancing down, he noticed that it cast a bright round spot about an inch in diameter on the floor, and that the spot was slowly revolving in a circle so small that its motion was hardly observable. Surely the mind of a superstitious man was never so punished! When Thorndyke looked steadily at the spot, t

toward him, he thought his heart had stopped beating; his brain was in a whirl. After a long while the spot reached his feet and

sessed of some strange hellish purpose, crossed his thighs and began to climb up his body, the brain of the prisoner seemed on fire. He tried to close his eyes, but, horror of horrors! his eyelids were paralyzed. It was almost

ll he could see dimly the outlines of the chamber. It was bare save for the chair he occupied against a wall, and a couch on the opposite side of the room. The

rt stopped pulsing as the figure on the couch began to move. Slowly the sheet fell from the head and the figure sat up stiffly. There was a faint hu

breathing came from the mouth and nostrils. Slowly and haltingly the figure advanced toward Thorndyke. The poor fellow tried to wrench himself free f

three or four times, and slowly opened its mouth. There was a sharp

my spirit has left my body; and I shall wander about my d

creature's breast went on. The figure shambled

of Alpha, the wonderful Land of the Changing Sun, is in the hands of its ruler. Beware! My death-torture is to be lingering and horrible. I sink into deepest dejection. I was eager to re

thickened till the couch and the outlines of the chamber were obscured. Then Thorndyke's chair was lifted, as if by unseen hands, and he was b

like a glimpse of Paradise. The attendant left him at the door and he walked in, so dazed and weak that he hardly knew what to do.

hers and moved on till she had disappeared behind a great carved wine-cistern which stood on the backs of four crouching golden leopards in a retired part of the r

s arm impulsively, and then quickly rem

what?"

ture so well; several men have die

your advice; t

r us to try to re

orgotten him

s. We shall need an air-ship and he has one at his di

want with t

and over the

way from here wit

or night, but tomorrow the king has planned to

f the El

l seem to set the world on fire. That will be our chance. When it is darkest we shall try to get away unseen. We may fail. Such a daring thing has