m impulsively, and then
quickly removing her hand as if afraid of detection.

"Glad of what?" he asked.

"Glad that you stood that--that torture so well; several men have died
in that chair and some went mad."

"I remembered your advice; that saved me."

"I have a plan for us to try to rescue your friend."

"Ah, I had forgotten him! what is it?"

"Captain Tradmos likes you and has consented to aid us. We shall need
an air-ship and he has one at his disposal which is used only for
governmental purposes."

"What do you want with the air-ship?"

"To go beyond and over the great wall."

"But can we get away from here without being seen?"

"Under ordinary circumstances, neither by day nor night, but tomorrow
the king has planned to let his people witness a 'War of the Elements.'"

"A War of the Elements?"

"Yes, the grandest fete of Alpha. There will be a frightful storm in the
sky; no light for hours; the thunder will be musical and the lightning
will seem to set the world on fire. That will be our chance. When it
is darkest we shall try to get away unseen. We may fail. Such a daring
thing has never been attempted by any one. If we are detected we shall
suffer death as the penalty, the king could never pardon such a bold
violation of law."

Chapter XI.

Johnston clung tenaciously to the rock. He tried to look down to see if
the barge had passed beneath him, but the intense strain on his arm now
drew his head back, so that he could not do so. Once more he made an
effort to regain his position on the rock, but he was not able to raise
himself an inch.

He felt certain that the fall would kill him, and he groaned in agony.
His fingers were benumbed and beginning to slip. Then he fell. The air
whizzed in his ears. He tried to keep his feet downward, but it was
no use. He was whirled heels over head many times, and his senses were
leaving him when he was restored by a plunge into the cold water.

Down he sank. It seemed to him that he never would lose his momentum
and that he would strangle before he could rise to the surface. Finally,
however, he came up more dead than alive. He had narrowly missed the
flat-boat, for he saw it receding from him only a few yards away. On the
shore stood Branasko motioning to him; and, slowly, for his strength was
almost gone, Johnston swam toward him.

The latter waded out into the shallow water and drew him ashore.

"You had a narrow escape," he said, with a dry laugh