The Lost City

peril and its foiling, Professor Featherwit retained n

first aim was to swing the stranger far enough away from the whirlpool to give him a fair chance for

h moment seemed an age to the rescued stranger. Then the professor slowed h

aerostat. For another, unless he should grow weak, or suffer from vertigo, both t

eir muscles as well as their minds, Bruno flashed a look aroun

had the end drawn nigh; for, even as he looked that way, Gillespie saw the great trunk sucked into the hidden sink, th

tones, as the whole drift v

our-us' of both the male and female sect! Trot 'em to the fore, and if my little old suck don'

an either of the boys, he realised what an awful peril this stranger had so narrowly escaped

he bend of the grapnel, one hand tightly gripping the rope, its mate shading his eyes, as he sta

in that figure, and with his fears on that particular point set at r

od friend? Can you hold fast un

the reply, in half-choked tone

rily interrupted the professor, then adding, "Hold f

lent opportunity for making a safe landing, and as that accelerated motion did not a

ough, please," warned the professor, deftl

le sight than this half-naked shape, burned brown by the sun, poorly protected by light skins, with sinew fastenings, could scarcely be imagined

me,-for love of God and humanity, d

nding with greater haste than was exactly prudent, all things considered; but who co

the sands with friendly salutations, the rescued stranger staggered, hands clasping his temples

y obeyed by his nephews, and after a few minutes' well-directed work cons

m joy, and none who saw and heard could think that all this emot

e, yet something of the awful truth was to be gle

le glimpse of white face or figure. For ten ages no intelligible voice,

rack out o' this, then? I know I would; even if the woo

e stranger flung out his hands in a sweeping gesture, sunken eyes

e I have fought for what is ever more precious than bare life: for liberty; but though ten awful years have rolled by, here I remain, in worse than prison

all that time you have lived here al

y. And-pitiful Lord! How gladly would I have given my good right arm, just for one faraway glimpse of civilis

Waldo was less affected, and his curiosity could no longer b

onder in the big suck? Didn't you know th

a a smile, which strangely softened that hag

r ears,-the sound of a friendly voice! For so many weary years I have never heard one word from human

ly you hadn't ought to get caught in such a

ot you come to my aid so opportunely. And yet,-only for one thing,

ous grip, all betokening unusual agitation. Even Waldo was just a b

ping into his face, and relaxing those tensely drawn muscles once more. "While I w

ing of-no matter, now. And during that dreaming, the breeze must have blown me well out into the lake, for when I

nes in the lake,-but it proved far too powerful for me to manage, and dragged

you let it g

flint, but keen enough to serve,-only to have it jerked out of my hand and into the water. Th

t," declared Waldo, with a vigorous no

which had not yet fairly entered the whirl, but I could do nothing

aldo, content only when all

r, whether willingly or not I can only surmise. But all the while I was drifting yonder, around and around, with each circuit dra

ords; but Waldo was not yet wholly content, findin

ver: how do you k

ade reply, smiling once more, and, with an almost timid gesture, extend

ull of pathos to one who bore in mind those long years of solitary exile, b

of mind came to the rescue, lightly resting a hand upon the strange

ronaut, plainly drawing great comfort from that mere contact. And with like ease uncle Phaeton

, my youthful inquisitor, and that is by sending you on a voya

" drawing back a bit, with a shake of his cur

ly consists of this: yonder sink, or whirlpool, is certainly the method this lake has of relieving itself of

have to hold my bre