"It is the bell of danger," said Miela quickly. "The girls are ringing it to arouse the city. Up here then will the people hurry to find out what it is that threatens."
"They're outside now," I retorted. "Order all the king's councilors here at once. Find out if any guards are about the place. Send them here. Where is the head of the city's police? Send him here to me! Tell him to call out all his men."
What was I saying? I had forgotten the one vital thing!
"Miela! The light‑ray! These men of science who guard it, where are they? Send for their leader. Get him here to me at once—we must have the ray!"
Miela stood very quietly beside me. Her face was white; her eyes blazed, but she seemed calm and unfrightened.
"He will come," she said, "and armed with the ray. The bell will bring him. Your other commands I will see are obeyed."
The old councilor, who had been standing by, dazed, came slowly forward at Miela's call. The king's councilor! And all the others were like him. The king was dead, and here was the little prince huddled in his mother's arm! Realization had been slow in coming, but now it broke upon me like a great light.
I flung the bludgeon away from me, and stood erect.
"Miela," I cried, "tell him—tell them all—their king is dead. It is I who command now. There is no one else—and I have the power. Tell them that. It is I, the man from earth, who commands!"
