ring the park we saw, some fifty miles to the north,
the ship containing the sailors rapidly approaching Egyplosis. It had
also escaped destruction by the cyclone, having doubtless followed us
down the canyon we sought refuge in.

It was a new sensation to float bird-like over the enchanted fields in
this most mysterious of worlds, toward a spot that has no prototype on
earth.

A multitude of domes and crenelated walls grew into immense
proportions beneath the boundless light. Egyplosis possessed in its
palaces the enchanted calm of Hindoo and Greek architecture, together
with the thrilling ecstasy of Gothic shrines. Blended with these
precious qualities there was a poetic generalization of the mighty
activities of modern civilization. It was the home of spiritual and
physical empire.

I wondered greatly what Eleusinian mysteries its courts contained. I
was indeed another Hercules visiting the realms of Pluto and the
garden of Proserpine in quest of the immortal fruits of knowledge.
Would I be successful in my quest, and bear back to the outer world
some magical secret its nations would be glad to know?

Finally, we saw the clear and marvellous palace close at hand.

[Illustration: LYONE WAS BORNE ON A LITTER FROM THE AERIAL SHIP TO THE
PALACE.]

A hundred banners floated from its walls, and music from an army of
neophytes on its towers saluted us.

The _Aeropher_ swept over the lake, and, reaching the island, alighted
on a marble causeway leading to the grand entrance of the palace. A
thousand wayleals stood ranged on either side as a guard of honor. We
had left the forest that largely covers the island, and on either hand
stretched gardens of rainbow-colored flowers, and here and there
fountains sparkled in the sunny air.

Lyone seemed the impersonation of divine loveliness as she was borne
in a litter from the aerial ship to the palace. On her head sparkled
the bird of yearning, typical of hopeless love.

The high priest Hushnoly and the priestess Zooly-Soase of the supernal
palace and the grand sorcerer Charka and the grand sorceress Thoubool
of the infernal palace, surrounded by the chief priests and
priestesses, magicians, sorcerers, wizards, theosophists,
spiritualists, etc., gave us a royal welcome, and were jubilant at the
return of the supreme goddess to Egyplosis.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE GRAND TEMPLE OF HARIKAR.

Twelve of the most handsome priests and priestesses constituted the
guard