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then they heard footsteps； and； their eyes becoming accustomed to the light； they found themselves surrounded by several men； very strangely clad。 They all wore long cloaks that covered them from head to foot and every man was more than six feet in height and finely proportioned。 One of them； who seemed to be an officer in command； bowed politely。
〃I am Captain Tradmos； gentlemen； in the king's service。 It is my duty to make you my prisoners。 I must escort you to the palace of the king。〃
〃That's cool；〃 said Johnston； to conceal the discomfiture that he felt； 〃we had no idea that you had a kingdom。 We have tramped all over this island； and you are the first signs of humanity we have met。〃
He would have recalled his words before he had finished speaking； if he could have done so； for he saw by the manner of the captain that he had been over bold。
〃Follow me；〃 answered the officer curtly； and with a motion of his hand to his men he turned toward the odd…looking vessel。
The two adventurers obeyed； and the cloaked men fell in behind them。 Neither Johnston nor Thorndyke had ever seen anything like the peculiar boat that was moored to the rocky shore。 It was about forty feet in length； had a hull shaped like a racing yacht； but which was made of black rubber inflated with air。 It was covered with glass； save for a doorway about six feet high and three feet wide in the side； and looked like a great oblong bubble floating on the still dark water。 As they approached the searchlight was extinguished； and they were enabled to see the boat to a better advantage by the aid of the electric lights that illuminated the interior。 It was with feelings of awe that the two adventurers followed the captain across the gang…plank into the vessel。
The electric light was brilliantly white； and in various places pink； red and light…blue screens mellowed it into an artistic effect that was very soothing to the eye。 The ceiling was hung with festoons of prisms as brilliant as the purest diamonds； and in them； owing to the gently undulatory movement of the vessel； colors more beautiful than those of a rainbow played entrancingly。 Rare pictures in frames of delicate gold were interspersed among the clusters of prisms； and the floor was covered with carpets that felt as soft beneath the foot as pillows of eider…down。
As he entered the door the officer threw off his gray cloak； and his men did likewise； disclosing to view the finest uniforms the prisoners had ever seen。 Captain Tradmos's legs were clothed in tights of light…blue silk； and he wore a blue sack…coat of silk plush and a belt of pliant gold； the buckles of which were ornamented with brilliant gems。 His eyes were dark and penetrating； and his black hair lay in glossy masses on his shoulders。 He had the head of an Apollo and a brow indicative of the highest intellect。
Leaving his men in the first room that they entered； he gracefully conducted his prisoners through another room to a small cabin in the stern of the boat； and told them to make themselves comfortable on the luxurious couches that lined the circular glass walls。
〃Our journey will be of considerable length；〃 he said； 〃and as you are no doubt fatigued； you had better take all the rest you can get。 I see that you need food and have ordered a repast which will refresh you。〃 As he concluded he touched a button in the wall and instantly a table； laden with substantial food； rare delicacies and wines； rose through a trap…door in the floor。 He smiled at the expressions of surprise on their faces and touched a green bottle of wine with his white tapering hand。
〃The greater part of our journey will be under water； and our wines are specially prepared to render us capable of subsisting on a rather limited quantity of air during the voyage； so I advise you to partake of them freely； you will find them very agreeable to the taste。〃
〃We are very grateful；〃 bowed Thorndyke； from his seat on a couch。 〃I am sure no prisoners were ever more graciously or royally entertained。 To be your prisoner is a pleasure to be remembered。〃
〃Till our heads are cut off； anyway；〃 put in the irrepressible American。
Tradmos smiled good…humoredly。
〃I shall leave you now；〃 he said； and with a bow he withdrew。
〃This is an adventure in earnest；〃 whispered Johnston； 〃my stars！ what can they intend to do with us？〃
〃One of the first things will be to take us down to the bottom of this lake where we saw them awhile ago； and I don't fancy it at all； what if this blasted glass…case should burst？ We may have dropped into a den of outlaws on a gigantic scale； and it may be necessary to put us out of the way to keep our mouths closed。〃
〃I am hungry； and am going to eat；〃 said the American； drawing a cushioned stool up to the table。 〃Here goes for some of the wine； remember； it is a sort of breath…restorer。 I am curious enough not to want to collapse till I have seen this thing through。 He said something about a palace and a king。 Where can we be going？〃
〃Down into the centre of the earth； possibly；〃 and the handsome Englishman moved a stool to the table and took the glass of green…colored wine that Johnston pushed toward him。 〃Some scientists hold that the earth is filled with water instead of fire。 Who knows where this blamed thing may not take us？ Here is to a safe return from the amphibious land！〃
Both drank their wine simultaneously； lowered their glasses at the same instant； and gazed into each other's eyes。
〃Did you ever taste such liquor？〃 asked Thorndyke； 〃it seems to run like streams of fire through every vein I have。〃
Johnston shook his head mutely； and held the sparkling effervescing fluid between him and the light。
〃Ugh！ take it down；〃 cried the Englishman； 〃it throws a green color on your face that makes you look like a corpse。〃 Johnston clinked the glass against that of his companion and they drained the glasses。 〃Hush； what was that？〃 asked Thorndyke。
There was a sound like boiling water outside and as if air were being pumped out of some receptacle； and the vessel began to move up and down in a lithe sort of fashion and to bend tortuously from side to side like a great sluggish fish。 Through the partitions of glass they saw one of the men closing the door； and in a moment the vessel glided away from the shore。 The men all sank into easy positions on the couches； and delightful music as soft as an Aeolian lyre seemed to be breathed from the walls and floor。 Then the music seemed to die away and a bell down in the vessel's hull rang。
〃We are in the middle of the lake；〃 said Thorndyke； looking through the glass toward the black cliffy shore； 〃the next thing will be our descent。 I wonder〃
But he was unable to proceed； and Johnston noticed in alarm that his eyes were slightly protruding from their sockets。 The air seemed suddenly to become more com… pact as if compressed； and the water was set into such violent commotion that it was dashed against the glass sides in billows as white as snow。 Then Johnston found that he could not breathe freely； and he understood the trouble of the Englishman。
Captain Tradmos came suddenly to the door。 He was smiling as he motioned toward the wines on the table。
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