solute freedom of action."

"We have discovered a perceptible movement toward the sun at a height
of fifty miles," said the governor; "at that height our wayleals cease
to revolve with the earth, and therefore have no weight--but your
astronomer can easily verify this fact by his own experience."

"Do you think our couriers will receive opposition from the king's
wayleals?" I inquired.

"I would suggest their being disguised as the king's wayleals as a
means of safety. If they travel as wayleals of her majesty they are
liable to be captured."

The astronomer and Flathootly made the necessary disguise in their
attire as a measure of safety, each donning a leathern cuirass, highly
decorated with white-metal helmet and boots, and packing a sufficient
quantity of food in a portable trunk to supply them during the
journey. They bade us good-by, soaring from the deck into the gulfs of
air above Atvatabar, and directed their flight to Egyplosis.

CHAPTER XLVII.

THE COUNCIL OF WAR IN KIORAM.

The sensation produced by the defeat of the royal fleet, the
destruction of forty of the ships, and the defection of the remaining
sixty vessels to the cause of Queen Lyone, shook the nation from its
centre to circumference. It appeared incredible that one ship could
destroy so many well-armed vessels. Our terrorite guns were considered
demon powers, and such was the consternation produced by their
terrible energy that, were it possible for us to use such weapons in
aerial battle, their appearance would alone cause the royal army to
surrender.

Coltonobory was confident he could soon suppress the insurrection by
virtue of his superior force.

As for his majesty, he was beside himself with rage at the loss of his
fleet. Had Admiral Jolar been alive he would have answered for his
defeat with his life. The following royal proclamation testified to
the implacable wrath of the king:

"_His Majesty_ KING ALDEMEGRY BHOOLMAKAR _of Atvatabar to
his faithful people_:

"Know ye, my people of Atvatabar, that the desperate
barbarian who commands the alien ship, the _Polar King_, has
not only alienated the affections of the Goddess Lyone,
thereby insulting our holy religion and our laws, but has
destroyed forty of our ships of war, and induced the
remainder of our fleet to follow his fortunes, thereby
giving him power to destroy our commerce, blockade our
harbors, and burn our ci