ghts
down among the machinery seemed afar off like stars reflected in deep
water. With great difficulty the two men lowered themselves from one
sharp ledge to another till they had gone half down to the bottom.

"It is no use," said Branasko, peering over the lowest ledge. "There
are no more ledges and this one juts out so far that even if there were
smaller ones beneath we could not get to them."

"That is true," agreed the American, "but look, is not that a lake
beneath? I think it must be, for the lights are reflected on its
surface."

"You are right," answered Branasko; "and I now see a chance for us to
get down safely."

"How?"

"The workers are too far from the lake to see us; we can drop into the
water and swim ashore."

"Would they not hear the splashing of our bodies?"

"I think not; but first let's experiment with a big stone."

Suiting the action to the word, they secured a stone weighing about
seventy-five pounds and brought it to the ledge. Carefully poising it
in mid-air, they let it go. Down it went, cutting the air with a sharp
whizzing sound. They listened breathlessly, but heard no sound as
the rock struck the water, and the men among the machinery seemed
undisturbed. Only the widening circles of rings on the lake's surface
indicated where the stone had fallen.

"Good," ejaculated the Alphian; "are you equal to such a plunge? The
water must be deep, and we won't be hurt at all if only we can keep our
feet downward and hold our breath long enough. Our clothing will soon
dry down there, for feel the warmth that comes from below."

The Alphian slowly crawled out on the sharpest projection of the ledge.
"Are you willing to try it?" he asked, over his shoulder.

"Yes."

"Well, wait till you see me swim ashore, and then follow."

Johnston shuddered as the strong fellow swung himself over the ledge and
hung downward.

"Adieu," said Branasko, and he let go. Down he fell, as straight as
an arrow, into the shadows below. For an instant Johnston heard the
fluttering of the fellow's clothing as he fell through the darkness,
and then there was no sound except the low whirr of the cables and the
monotonous hum of the great wheels beneath. Then the smooth surface
of the lake was broken in a white foaming spot, and, later, he saw
something small and dark slowly swimming shoreward. It was Branasko, and
the men to the right had not heard or seen him.

Johnston saw him reach the shore, then he crawled