puzzled to formulate a reply, and he simply waited
for the Alphian to continue.

"Let's go on," said Branasko; and in his tone and hesitating manner
Johnston detected the first appearance of superstitious fear that he had
seen in the brawny Alphian.

Chapter VIII.

As Thorndyke watched the flying machine that was bearing his friend
away a genuine feeling of pity went over him. Poor Johnston! He had been
haunted 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 fears. When the air-ship had become a mere speck in the sky, the
Englishman turned back into the palace and strolled about in the vast
crowd.

A handsome young man in uniform approached and touched his hat:

"Are you the comrade of the fellow they are just sending away?" he
asked.

"Yes. Where are they taking him?"

"To the 'Barrens,' of course; where do you suppose they would take such
a man? He couldn't pass his examination. You are not a great physical
success yourself, but they say you pleased the king with your tongue."

"To the Barrens," repeated Thorndyke, too much concerned over the fate
of his comrade to notice the speaker's tone of contempt; "what are they,
where are they?"

The Alphian officer changed countenance, as he looked him over with
widening eyes.

"Your accent is strange; are you from the other world?"

"I suppose so,--this is a new one to me at any rate."

"The world of endless oceans?"

"Yes."

"And the unchanging sun--forever white and----?"

"Yes; but where the devil is the Barrens?"

"Behind the sun, beyond the great endless wall."

"Do they intend to put him to death?"

"No, that would be--what do you call it? murder; they will simply leave
him there to die of his own accord. And the king is right. I never saw
such a weakling. He would taint our whole race with his presence."

Without a word Thorndyke abruptly turned from the officer and hastened
toward the apartment of the king. He would demand the return of poor
Johnston 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 had not seen. At every step he was more and more impressed
with the magnificent proportions of the structure and the grandeur of
everything about it.

Passing hurriedly through a large hall he saw an assemblage of beautiful
women and handsome men dancing to the