A THREATENING CALAMITY.
And through all this J. Archibald Meigs slept placidly on. Presently a perfect roar of awe and dismay broke from thousands of word-boxes. In the midst of the hubbub the king could be seen waving his hands to command silence and attention. The glittering soldiers in the turrets sounded a clarion warning and silence fell once more.
"Marvelous are the powers of these colossi!" cried the king with trembling voice. "The sleeping thief receives my royal pardon; the offense of his two friends, in attempting to succor him, is condoned. From now henceforth these three are my honored guests! Let all take heed!"
I caught the professor's hand and gave it a fervent clasp.
"You saved our lives, professor," said I.
"Hardly," he returned, smiling. "It was the anti-gravity compound that did that. Now that we can inflate our lungs without catching our breath, suppose we waken Mr. Meigs."
On being aroused Meigs sat up and stared around at him. He was not long in picking up the trend of events where he had left off during the night.
"Are they ready to—to kill us?" he asked, clasping his hands.
"They are not going to kill us, Mr. Meigs," answered the professor. "The king has changed his mind, and we are now his honored guests."
"You don't mean it!" exclaimed the broker.