It was wonderful to note the change that came over the face of Poppet when he heard the boy's words.
Turning to the excited crowd about the pit, he addressed them in the language of the city, telling them exactly what our hero had said.
This seemed to satisfy them, and the next moment the entire crowd were gazing at the plucky American boy with admiring eyes.
"Well," observed Poppet, at length, turning to our friends, "I am the master of all executions that take place, and overseer of prisoners as well. For the present I will have this man locked up, and to-night the city officers will decide upon what is to be done with him. It may be that they will approve of what you say; and if so, the confession you desire will be forced from him, after which he will be executed after the fashion of your country."
"What did he do that caused him to be thrown to the lion?" asked Joe, turning his large, dark eyes upon Poppet.
"He insulted the daughter of one of the best men in Utopia last night, and when a man does that here the penalty is that he shall be thrown into the lion's pit," was the reply.
Our friends were now conducted back to the house of their host, and here it was that they learned two things which had hitherto seemed rather queer to them.
The first was how it was that Doc Clancy had discovered the horses rigged up in such a curious fashion; and this was explained by Poppet as being a ruse practiced by his people to frighten their enemies who dwelt outside the wall. In this case the man who led the mounted dummies had been killed in some manner, and thus it was that Clancy and his associate had discovered the horses, who had returned to the gate in the huge wall.
The other thing which became plain to them was that of the iron gate opening and shutting without apparent cause, and we will explain it in Poppet's own words.
"Whenever the gate is opened it must be done by a person in the center of our little city," said he. "There are wires laid underground to the gate, and when admission is sought the person in charge of them becomes aware of it immediately, as a bell will ring twice in quick succession. A knob is touched and open comes the gate, and when the person or persons are through it shuts."