“I don't know; I was following his lead. We will both be put to death if we are discovered.”
“Did he not tell you his plan?”
Johnston started visibly. “Oh, I forgot,” he exclaimed. “He declares that all this vast cavern is in danger. Over in the west we discovered a hole in the roof through which the ocean is streaming in a torrent. He calculated that before many hours the water would overflow into the internal fires and produce a volcanic eruption that will swallow up all of Alpha.”
“Merciful Heaven! and you are hiding here at such a moment? The king must be informed at once.”
Johnston had grown suddenly paler. “It may not be as bad as Branasko feared, and the king would have no mercy on me and him.”
“Leave that to me,” said Thorndyke; “I have made a good friend of the Princess Bernardino. She will tell me what is best to do. Remain here.”
In breathless haste, Thorndyke went into the audience chamber. Fortunately the king was not on his throne, and he caught sight of the confidential maid of the princess.
She saw him approaching, and withdrew behind a cluster of tall white jars of porcelain containing rare plants.
“I must see your mistress,” he said; “tell her to come to me at once; we are in great peril!”
The girl swept her eyes over the balconies and the throne and said: “She is in her apartments, sir; I shall bring her.”