The Master of the World

doubtless among the most extraordinary which this twentieth century will witness. Sometimes I even ask myself

which is mysterious, I naturally became much interested in these remarkable occurrences. And as I have been employed by the government in various important affairs and secret missions since I was

eve my word. For some of the facts I can bring no other testimony than my own.

idge Mountains rises the crest called the Great Eyrie. Its huge rounded form is distinctly seen from the little town of Mor

dea one would naturally get from the name is of a refuge for birds of prey, eagles condors, vultures; the home of vast numbers of the feathered tribes, wheeling and screaming above peaks beyond the reach of man. Now, the Great Eyrie did not seem particularly

ep and rounded walls there might well be a huge deep basin. Perhaps there might even lie within their circuit a mountai

d the violence of Mount Krakatoa or the terrible disaster of Mont Pelee? If there were indeed a central lake, was there not danger that its waters, penetrating the strata beneath, wou

well be due to volcanic action. Smoke had floated above the mountain and once the country folk passing near

ashes drifted down from it. And finally one stormy night pale flames, reflected from

g headlines, "The Mystery of Great Eyrie!" They asked if it was not dangerous to dwell in such a region. Their articles aroused curiosity and fear-curiosity among those who being in no danger themselves were interested in the disturbance merely as a strange phenome

h surrounded it had never been scaled. Perhaps they might offer no path by which even the most daring climber could penetrate to the interior. Yet,

able year, a well-known aeronaut named Wilker came to Morganton with his balloon. By waiting for a breeze from the east, he could easily rise in his balloon and drift over the Great Eyrie. There from a safe height above he could search with a powerful glass

were disappearing under the vigorous rays of the sun. If the interior of the Great Eyrie was not filled with smoke, the aerona

ake itself felt at that height. Then, unlucky chance, the balloon was caught in an adverse current, and began to drift toward the east. Its distance from the mountain chain rapidly increased. Despite all

rom the mountain, accompanied by heavy clouds and wavering glimmerings of light at night. Folk began to realize that the Great Eyrie

urned to actual panic. The newspapers gave prompt echo to the public terror. The enti

thought that the mountains were falling upon them. They rushed from their houses, ready for instant flig

ressed down upon the plain. Even had it been day th

ened groups of men, women, and children groped their way along the black roads in wild confusion. From every quarte

hat stones, lava, ashes, were

east their lurid reflections would have penetrated the clouds. Now, even these reflections were no longer seen. If there had been an earthquake, the terrified people saw that at le

ueridge, set the pines and hemlocks wailing on the higher slopes. There seemed no new cause for pa

ove the rocky wall of the Great Eyrie. Reflected from the clouds, they illuminated the

conflagration; for no thunder had been heard. True, there was plenty of material for fire; at this hei

ion! An e

ages even, had it reawakened? Added to the flames, was a rain of stones and ashes about to follow? Were the lavas going to pour down torrents of molten fire, destroying ever

livestock, cows, sheep, pigs, which fled in all directions. What disorder resulted from this agglomeration, human and animal, under darkest night, amid forests, threatened by the fires of the volcano, along the border of marshes whose waters migh

y saw that the glare of the flames was decreasing. In truth it hardly seemed that the region was immediately menaced by any further upheaval. No stones were being hurled into space

they seemed secure from all danger. Then a few ventured back towar

cloud of smoke. The fires were certainly at an end; and if it were impossible to d

ter of volcanic phenomena at all. There was no further evidence that t

across the air, a sort of whirring, accompanied by the beating of mighty wings. And had it been a clear day, perhaps the farmers would ha