a moment."

"My God, have mercy on us!" cried the king. But his prayer was drowned
in a deafening sound. Bernardino had leaned into the arms of her
lover. "Don't despair," he said tenderly, "the prince may have been
successful."

"I feel that he has," she replied. "But, oh, it is dreadful!"

The crowds below seemed to understand that their fate depended on the
news that would reach them in a few minutes.

Boom! Boom! kr-kr-kr-kr-boom! There seemed to be no lessening of the
volcanic disturbance, and the earth groaned and rocked and quivered as
before.

"It is impossible to tell yet," groaned the king. "Oh, God, save us;
give us a chance to escape this awful doom!"

Johnston bethought himself that he might learn something in the Electric
Auditorium and he went into it. It was empty and dark; not a soul was
there save himself. He was turning to leave when his eye was drawn to
the great mirror by a faint pink glow appearing upon it. He stood still,
a superstitious fear coming over him as he thought of being alone with
a possible messenger from the far-away scene of disaster. The light went
out tremblingly; then it flashed up again, and the American thought
he saw the face of Waldmeer. The light grew steadier, stronger. It was
Waldmeer, but he was submerged in smoke. Hark! he was speaking.

"Marentel is successful! Entrance closed temporarily, and will be
strengthened!"

Johnston rushed out to the balcony. "I have been to the Auditorium," he
announced. "I have seen Waldmeer. He says the experiment was successful.
It is closed temporarily, and can be strengthened."

The king grasped the hand of the American. "Thank God!" he ejaculated,
"if I can only save my people I shall desire nothing more." The princess
moved toward him affectionately, but he put her aside and retired into
the palace.

"He will at once communicate with the people," remarked Bernardino
hopefully, and she turned her face again toward the west. The red glare
was dying down, and the dense clouds in the sky were thinning. In
an hour the face of the sun broke through the smoke, and the
flying-machines of the protectors began to return.

That night the king caused the pink light of the "Ideal Dawn" to flood
the eastern sky, and, as before, he appeared in a circle of dazzling
light and addressed his subjects:

"All danger to life is over; but the ultimate fate of Alpha is sealed.
Prince Marentel has effectually closed the entrance of the ocean, but