on aided
Bruno.

CHAPTER XXXII. ADIEU TO THE LOST CITY.

And Bruno clung fast to the half-swooning maiden, so that two in place
of one had to be assisted by uncle and nephew!

Barely a score of seconds thus employed, then the gallant air-ship
responded to the touch of master-hand, and floated away from the bloody
temple-top with its increased burden, even as the last survivor of the
Sun Children's body-guard sank down in death.

A brief stupor came over the amazed heathen at sight of this awful
air-devil from whose sides spat forth invisible death; but then, as they
divined at least a portion of the truth, as they saw their longed-for
victims thus borne bodily away, a revulsion came, and, amid the most
hideous howls and screeches, missiles flew towards the air-ship,
menacing sudden death to all therein.

But fate would not have it thus, and, under the guidance of that
master-hand, the aeromotor flew higher and farther, quickly leaving
behind all peril from javelins, darts, arrows, or stones from slings.
And but one of their number had suffered aught: Bruno lay as one dead,
blood flowing from a stone-gash over an eye, but with one hand still
gripping the butt of an empty pistol; his other arm was--around the Sun
Daughter's waist!

And Gladys? First she shrunk back with a gasping cry of mingled fear and
grief; only to quickly recover and--did she kiss that curiously spotted,
streaked face?

Waldo afterwards declared she certainly did, for that a moment later he
saw some of that moistened stain upon her quivering lips; but Waldo was
ever extravagantly fond of a jest, and it may be--never mind!

Not until the air-ship was safely past peril from yonder howling, raving
lunatics in bronze did Professor Featherwit give heed to aught else,
and by that time Victoria had left the ardent embrace of her husband, to
care for the elder Gillespie, whose single-hearted devotion all through
that bloody retreat and bloodier struggle upon the temple had not wholly
escaped her notice.

Under such tender ministrations, Bruno quickly revived, and, after
assuring himself that the Children of the Sun were alive and unharmed,
while the Lost City was now left far behind them, he huskily begged
uncle Phaeton to descend to earth, where he might find water enough to
remove what remained of that loathsome disguise!

But Professor Featherwit was far too shrewd a general to take any
unnecessary risks. His last glimpse of yonder valley