take place now unless something has happened
contrary to the expectations of the prince," said the Englishman.

Boom! Boom! kr-kr-kr-kr-boom! The noise seemed to shake the earth to
its centre. Now the far-away pit was belching forth fire and molten
lava rather than steam and smoke. The flames had spread out against the
sloping roof of the cavern, and seemed to extend for a mile along the
horizon. "They can do nothing in that heat," exclaimed Johnston; "they
could not get near enough to the pit. Thorndyke, old fellow, I can't see
a ghost of a chance. We might as well say good-bye."

"Hush!" It was the voice of the princess. "I feel that we shall not be
lost, I say." And as she spoke Branasko crept toward her and raised the
hem of her gown to his white lips. Something dark came between them and
the far-off glare. It was a flying-machine.

"It is father," cried Bernardino, and she called out to him: "Father!
father! Here we are, waiting for you!" In a moment he was with them.

"All right in the east," he said gloomily. "Baryonay is there. They
deserted him, but they returned when the flames went down. This is
awful, daughter; it means death! It means annihilation!"

She put her arms round his neck and drew his face close to hers. "No,
no," she said earnestly; "I see with a new light--a new spiritual light.
There is mercy in the divine heart of Him that made the walls of our
little world and constructed countless other worlds. I have prayed for
mercy, and into my heart has come a sweet peace I never knew before. We
shall not be lost. He will give us time to give up our sinful life here
and seek Him."

The old man quivered as with ague; he searched her face eagerly, drew
her spasmodically into his arms, and then sank to the floor, overcome
with exhaustion.

The roar in the west was increasing. Hot ashes, gravel and small stones
were falling on the roofs and the people. Now and then a cry of pain was
heard, but they would not seek the shelter of the buildings. If they had
to die they wanted to fall facing the enemy. Suddenly the king rose. He
looked to the west and groaned. Something told them that the explosion
was coming. Expectation, horrible suspense was in the air. There was a
mighty flare of light. The entire heavens were lighted from horizon to
horizon, and then the light went out.

"Oh, I thought it----" but the princess did not finish her sentence.

"The explosion," said Thorndyke, "the sound will follow in