ripples in the
light."

"Yes, but where can the light itself be?"

"I cannot yet tell; wait till we get nearer."

In about an hour they came to a wide chasm on the other side of which
towered a vast cliff of white crystal. It was on this that the trembling
light was playing.

"Not a waterfall after all," said Branasko; "see, there is the source
of the reflection," and he pointed to the left through a series of dark
chambers of the cavern to a dazzling light. "Come, let's go nearer
it." He moved a few steps forward and then happening to look over his
shoulder he stopped abruptly, and uttered an exclamation of surprise.

"What is it?" And Johnston followed the eyes of the Alphian.

"Our shadows on the crystal cliff," said Branasko in an awed tone; "only
the light from the changing sun could make them so."

Johnston shuddered superstitiously at the tone of Branasko's quivering
voice, and their giant shadows which stood out on the smooth crystal
like silhouettes. So clear-cut were they, that, in his own shadow, the
American could see his breast heaving and in Branasko's the quivering of
the Alphian's huge body and limbs.

"If we have happened upon the home of the sun, only the spirit of the
dead kings could tell what will become of us," said Branasko.

"Puh! you are blindly superstitious," said Johnston; "what if we do come
upon the sun? Let's go down there and look into the mystery."

Branasko fell into the rear and the American stoutly pushed ahead toward
the light which was every moment increasing. As they advanced the cave
got larger until it opened out into a larger plain over which hung
fathomless darkness, and out of the plain a great dazzling globe of
light was slowly rising.

"It is the sun itself," exclaimed Branasko, and he sank to the earth and
covered his face with his hands. "I have not thought ever to see it out
of the sky."

The American was deeply thrilled by the grand sight. He sat down by
Branasko and together they watched the vast ball of light emerge from
the black earth and gradually disappear in a great hole in the roof of
the cavern. It left a broad stream of light behind it, and, now that the
sun itself was out of view, the silent spectators could see the great
square hole from which it had risen.

As if by mutual consent, they rose and made their way over the rocks
to the verge of the hole, which seemed several thousand feet square.
At first, owing to the brightness of the sun overh