We could feel what they said about us. We knew that they regarded us as inhabitants of the mysterious, unvisited side of their world, and the contrast in appearance between Juba and us amazed them, as it had amazed their countrymen who first beheld us.
But they were not afforded much opportunity to study us, for we were hustled through the throng, without catching sight of Ala again, and presently we embarked with our captors on one of the "elevators," and made a thrillingly rapid descent. Arrived at the bottom we were led through some long stone-walled passages into a veritable dungeon.
And there they left us!
I wondered if this had been done by Ala's orders. The reflection shook my confidence in my theory.
"I wasn't prepared for this," said Edmund, speaking through the darkness, for we could not see one another; "but I couldn't have been better provided if I had foreseen the emergency."
Almost as he spoke, a brilliant light illuminated the place. He had turned on a pocket electric lamp. We looked about, and found that we were in a square chamber, about fifteen feet on a side, with walls of heavy, closely dressed and matched stones.
"They make these things solid enough down here," said Jack, "however light and airy they may be above."
In Prison
Henry sank upon the floor, the picture of dejection and despair. I expected from him another outbreak like that in the ice-mountains, but he spoke not a word. His heart was too full for utterance. I pitied him so much that it served to reanimate my spirits a little.
"Come now," I said, "don't take it that way, man. Have confidence in Edmund. He has never yet been beaten."
"He's got his hands full this time, I reckon," Jack broke in pessimistically. "What do you think, Edmund? Can your interatomic energy bore a hole through these walls?"
"If I had anything to work with, you'd see," Edmund replied. "But there's no occasion to worry. We'll come out all right."
It was his universal remark when in difficulties, and somehow it always enheartened us.
Juba, more accustomed than we were to such situations, seemed to be the least disturbed member of the party. He rolled his huge eyes around, and then lay down on the floor and seemed at once to fall asleep.
"That's a good idea," said Edmund, smiling. "It's a long time since we’ve had a nap. Let's all try a little sleep, I may dream of some way out of this."
It was a fact that we were exhausted for want of sleep, and, in spite of our situation, we fell into deep slumber, as peaceful as if we had been in our beds at home. Edmund had turned out the lamp, and the silence and the darkness were equally profound.
Planning An Escape
I have no idea how long I slept. I only know that I awoke startled by the light, and found them all on their feet, except Juba, who sat on the floor blinking his big eyes. Edmund, seeing me rise, said at once:
"I've found a way out. I'm half disposed not to try it, because I have an idea that we'll come out all right anyhow. But when you are in a hole, and Providence throws you a rope, perhaps it's best to test it."
"What have you found out?"
"Something extremely simple. This is no prison-cell, but a part of what we should call the engine-rooms. Probably it's a mere store-room. They have put us here for convenience, trusting more to the darkness than to the lock, for the corridors outside are as black as Erebus and as crooked as a labyrinth."
"How do you know?"
"Because while you slept I investigated. The lock is nothing. The merest tyro could pick it. Fortunately they never guessed I had a lamp in my pocket.
"Around a corner, a little way from our door, there is another door, opening into a passage that leads past a power-house. That passage gives access to a sort of garage of airplanes, and when I stole into it five minutes ago, there was not a soul in sight.
"We'll simply slip out there, and if I can't run away with one of their machines I'm no engineer."
I thought of Ala again, and Edmund's expression of confidence in our ultimate safety made me hesitate to take this new risk, but Jack and Henry were eager to get out, and we decided to try.
Motioning Juba to follow, we stole out, and stepping noiselessly by the power-house, where we saw several men at work, we found ourselves among the airplanes. Edmund had no difficulty in opening a door, which led out into a deserted courtyard.
I never admired Edmund more than when I saw the masterly way in which he manipulated one of the airplanes.
One would have said that it was his own invention, so well did he handle it.
It rested on runners, and all we had to do was to push it out of the door, while Edmund turned on the power. We jumped aboard, and in a moment were circling in the air.
At this instant we were seen! There was a flashing of signals, and two airplanes shot into sight above us.
"Now for a chase!" said Edmund.
We darted upward in a long curve.
The others turned and swooped upon us!
CHAPTER X.
A Parley Ten Miles High
With a quick turn, Edmund dodged the nearest pursuer, and we rose so rapidly that in two seconds we were skirting the great tower. Then others saw us, and forty airships joined in the chase. Jack's spirits rose with the excitement.
"Sorry to run away from these Venuses," he said, "but no dungeons for me, if you please."
"We're not away yet," Edmund responded over his shoulder.
Indeed, we were not!
