scarcely be heard. There was commotion about the throne.

The king was coming. Every person on the dais stood motionless,
expectant. A page drew aside the rich curtain from a door on the right,
and an old man, wearing a robe of scarlet ornamented with jewels and a
crown set with sparkling gems, entered and seated himself on the throne.
The music sank lower; so soft did it become that the tinkling bells of
the great fountain outside could be heard throughout the room.

The king bowed to the throng on the dais and spoke a few words to a
courtier who advanced as he sat down. The courtier must have spoken of
them, for the king at once looked down at Johnston and Thorn-dyke and
nodded his head. The courtier spoke to a page, and the youth left the
dais and came toward the captives.

"We are in for it," cautioned Thorndyke, "now don't be afraid of your
shadow; we'll come out all right."

"The king has sent for you," said the page, the next instant. "Go to the
throne."

They were the cynosure of the entire room as they went up the carpeted
steps of the dais and knelt before the king.

Chapter VI.

"Rise!" commanded the king, in a deep, well-modulated voice, and when
they had arisen he inspected them critically, his eyes lingering on
Thorndyke.

"You look as if you take life easily; you have a jovial countenance," he
said cordially.

Thorndyke returned his smile and at once felt at ease.

"There is no use in taking it any other way," he said; "it doesn't
amount to much at best."

"You are wrong," returned the king, playing with the jewels on his robe,
"that is because you have been reared as you have--in your unsystematic
world. Here we make life a serious study. It is our object to assist
nature in all things. The efforts of your people amount to nothing
because they are not carried far enough. Your scientists are dreaming
idiots. They are continually groping after the ideal and doing nothing
with the positive. It was for us to carry out everything to perfection.
Show me where we can make a single improvement and you shall become a
prince."

"If my life depended on that, my head would be off this instant," was
the quick-witted reply of the Englishman.

This so pleased the king that he laughed till he shook. "Well said," he
smiled; "so you like our country?"

"Absolutely charmed; my friend (Thorndyke was determined to bring his
companion into favor, if possible) and I have been in raptures ever
since we ro