The Land of the Changing Sun

aunted all day with the belief that he was to meet with some misfortune from which Thorndyke was to be spared, and Thorndyke had ridiculed his

in uniform approached

the fellow they are just

are they t

h a man? He couldn't pass his examination. You are not a great physica

ned over the fate of his comrade to notice the speake

countenance, as he looked

range; are you fro

is is a new one t

of endles

es

ging sun-foreve

e the devil is

beyond the grea

end to put h

e him there to die of his own accord. And the king is right. I never

or kill the king if his demand was not granted. In his haste and perturbation, however, he lost his way and wandered into a part of the palace he h

urther on-in a great court-a regiment of soldiers were drilling, their rapid evolutions making no more sound than if they were moving in mid

man, closely veiled and sim

low me," she said, i

e Princess Bernardino. She did not pause, but glided on into the shade of a great palm tree,

him from her deep brown eyes in great concern. He

faithful slave that you love, but you must not show the anger that you feel, else he will kill you. You must be exceedingly cautious if you would save him. M

ut the Englishman, much embarrassed;

nd tears ros

I know nothing. I never cared for other men than the king and my bro

ound it up in your music and trampled it under your dancing feet. I have been over the whole world, and you are the loveliest creature in it. It is because

beneath his admiring glance. Thorndyke could not restrain himself. He caught her slender ha

t slave; what shal

you can know me by this dress. There is no need for great haste, he could live in the Barrens severa

of ferns. A man was passing and others soon foll

u again by talking of his kingdom, continue to act as you did

suade him to bri

g time; you must not count on that. I have, however, another plan, but I cannot tell you of it now, for they may miss me

horndyke went into the bathing-room to watch those remaining in the great pool of rose-colored water. The sight was beautiful.

a great picture-gallery. Here hung on the walls and stood on pedestals some of the rarest works of art he had ever seen. He passed through this room and was enter

Berna

t hair. "I hasten back. The king thinks, so my maid tells me, that I am asleep in my chambe

"I am glad that we can talk alone," he said, "for I have much to ask you. Firs

told you, for one of his chief pleasures is to note the surprise and admiration of new-comers over what the

zzled in my life, with that sullen sky overhead, the wonderful changing sunlight, and the remarkable atmo

ing has let fall in my hearing in his conferences with his men of science a

epairs in his vessel. In wandering about over the island he discovered a narrow entrance to a cave, and, with two or three of his men, he began to explore it. When they had gone for a mile or two down into the interior o

re informed of the discovery of such an inexhaustible mine of gold, that the value of the precious metal would decline till it would be worth little more than some grosser metal, and that if they would only keep their secr

ips loaded with every available convenience that inexhaustible wealth could

outh of the cavern my ancestor supplied himself with several stron

inverted bowl. And when they had travelled about ten days and reached the other side my ancestor calculated that the cave must be over one hundred miles in diameter and almost circular in shape. But what elated and surprised them most was the remarkable salubrity of the atmosphere. In all parts of the cav

in astonishment, for, in the dim light of the lanterns they had carried, they had not noticed the great change that had come over them. They had all become the finest specimens of physical health that could be imagined. Their b

xplained that, while they might, by using the utmost discretion, hold the financial world in their power by means of their inexhaustible wealth, that the laws and restrictions of different countries prevented men of vast wealth from really e

hought of putting electricity to practical use. You are surprised? Yes, it has been applied to o

he Englishman. "I see it all

es

over its great course as

s a great electric light was simply suspended in the centre of the cavern's roof and the light did not vary in color. A son of the first king suggested the plan of giving the sun diurnal movement and the changing light. The moon and stars were a later development. They found

temperature of the atmosphere, how does tha

ithout in some mysterious way. At first, in a few places, the heat was too severe, but the scientific men among the first sett

e, where did t

elected such men and women that were willing to come, and

f out in the world, when they have all the wea

life is prolonged here; our medical men declare t

me about the sun, when it

ce of rising through a g

dily and so admiringly into Bernardino's eyes that she grew red wi

s laws regarding marriage and heredity produce perpetual and innumerable diseases; that your people are not well developed and beautiful; that you war with one another, and that one te

before. I went roving over the earth trying to end my life at sea or in balloon voyages, but now I only want to

ce, and Thorndyke, unable to restrain himself, put his

hat she was trembling and that all

matter?" he a

frightened, and then covered her face with her hands. He

he repeated, a stran

rrassment; "my father would punish me very severely if he knew of it, and he would banish

. "It was all on account of my ignorance of your customs and

ck slowly. She sat down again, but not so near Tho

an my father has trans

fellow, and it is hard to d

cannot now think of a safe pla

was he

ind the sun-beyond the

t he had made no effort to aid poor Johnston, and was sitting listen

him," he said. "I cannot sit her

s out of sight. To-night, if possible, I shall come to you. Perhaps I shall approach you without disguise if you are

hat was passing along outside. An officer approached him

u," he said, with

rndyke was on hi

y memory, has ever been treated so courteously. Every other ne

the Englishman, "for I have

felt that your friend would have t

suffer if I ca

r would place you under immediate arrest. I like you, therefore I want to warn you against such

tha

s Bernardino. It would displease the king. She is much taken with

zed searchingly into the eyes o

e afrai

I know that you are honorable; I ne

, pleased by

sent I am powerless to give you material aid. Every subject of this realm is bound to th

hy

world is carefully guarded b

y chance for

must walk on; there comes on

eak to you," announced th

he crowded corridors into the throne-room of the king. Thorndyke force

ce?" asked the king, after Th

ce of Bernardino. "I am dazed by its splendor, its architec

e interest of Alpha always at heart, but I have often been mistaken in the character of men and think it best to give you a timely warning. An attendant wil

held up his hand. "Wait till you have visited the dungeon of Nordeskyne, then I am sure that you will be convinced that strict obedie

n of Nordeskyne, and retur

ed a door at the back of the throne-room and they were confronted by darkness. They went along a narrow corridor for some distance, the darkness thickenin

ow close behind, and do

n another direction when Thorndyke felt a soft warm hand steal into his from behind, and knew intuitively that it was

love-for your life, keep y

ng suddenly and catching the Englishman

ishman pressed the hand of the princess, who, presse

arm and hastily drew him onward. Thorndyke's spirits sank lower. The air of the n