child. He was about the same age as Gerald, with an exceedingly
handsome, open, merry-looking countenance, lithe and graceful in figure
and in every movement. On this occasion he was clad in a most bizarre
costume, which included two large wings, just now folded back behind the
shoulders, and trailing on the floor of the deck.
It was impossible to guess what these wings could be made of. The
surface was composed of thin, feathery flakes in constant motion, which
glistened in the sunshine with iridescent brilliance, something between
the sheen of silver and the sparkle of crystal. A tunic of the same
marvellous material covered the body to the knees, below which were
attachments like smaller wings, which now fitted closely round the
ankles.
Evidently this wondrous outfit was as new and surprising to the king as
it was to the strangers.
The youth seemed delighted at the impression he had created. He walked
to and fro, opening and folding his wings, and turning this way and that
to show them off to advantage.
'Almost all my own invention, father,' he laughed, as he moved
about--'mine and Amaldo's! We were afraid we should not get it finished
and in working order before your return. Indeed, I only took my
trial-flight in it yesterday! Is it not a splendid creation'?'
He opened the wings and fluttered them in the sunlight. Ripples of
light and dancing colours ran incessantly over the surface, producing
effects so exquisitely varied and beautiful as to be absolutely
indescribable.
'It is perfect, Alondra! Truly, as you say, a splendid creation!' said
Ivanta admiringly.
'These things, however, are a little too long when folded, as you can
see,' Alondra continued, looking down at them with a critical air. 'I
must have them shortened. You can see that if you are not careful you
may catch your feet in them and get a tumble.'
In order the better to explain his meaning, he stepped backwards towards
Gerald, who was standing near, watching everything with intense
interest.
Scarcely had the young experimenter uttered the words than he
involuntarily illustrated them, in the most practical fashion, by
tripping on one of the wings, and rolling over at Gerald's feet.
Gerald stepped quickly forward to help him up, and in doing so was
astonished at the youth's seeming lightness. So light was he that
Gerald, in trying to raise him, lifted him clean off his feet, almost as
though he had been made of cork. As a consequence, Alondra came near to
losing his balance and rolling over again. Then the two stood staring
and smiling at one another.
'Why, how strong you must be!' exclaimed the young prince.
'H--how light you must be!' was Gerald's answer. And he looked so very
puzzled and perplexed that the other burst into a merry peal of
laughter. Then he turned to the king. 'Father,' he began, but stopped
and hesitated.
Ivanta interpreted the inquiring look. 'Your surprising creation has
made me forgetful of other matters, my son,' said he. 'I owe an apology
to our friends here. These gentlemen, Alondra, are visitors from
Lokris, the planet I have been to visit. They are our guests. I need
not say more than that to commend them to your attention and care.--My
guests, this is my son, Prince Alondra, who, I am sure, is ready to add
his welcome to my own!'
'That I am!' cried the young prince, his handsome face alight with
interest and surprise. 'A warm welcome to you all! Welcome to Zotis!'
'Ah, they do not know our world by our name!' Ivanta reminded him.
'They call it Mars.'
'Welcome, then, to Mars!' said Alondra.
He held out both hands at once; and, as it happened, he caught hold of
one each of Gerald and Jack, and they returned his greeting as heartily
as it was given. Then he caught sight of Monck, who was standing a
little in the background. At once he made a dart for him.
'Why, there is Monck Affelda!' he cried. 'You have returned, then!
Welcome, dear friend! I was afraid that, perhaps, when you got back to
your own world you would stay there, and we should never see you more!'
'Alondra, here are others waiting to know you!' the king reminded him.
And the lad at once turned obediently, with a look of quick apology at
Monck for not saying more at the moment.
All the rest of the strangers having been duly presented, Ivanta gave
his attention to his own subjects, who were now streaming up the ladders
which had been let down the sides of the aerostat and crowding the deck
to pay their respects to their sovereign.
Alondra, meantime, stepped back to where the two chums were standing
with their guardian and the engineer, and commenced a lively chat,
asking them a hundred questions concerning the world they came from, the
incidents of the voyage, and so forth.
Both Gerald and Jack took to him at once. It was almost impossible,
indeed, to do otherwise. His frank, gay, smiling manner, his attractive
face, and easy, graceful air captivated them completely. Never, they
afterwards declared, had they met so attractive a personality. 'A true
son of the stars,' Jack dubbed him. Glad were they then that they had
made such good use of their time and had learned the language of their
hosts in advance. Even Silas, who presently joined the group, became
quite amiable under the young prince's genial influence; and little
Freddy fell in love with him then and there.
Naturally, amongst these young people, there was a lot to ask about on
both sides. Question followed question, inquiries and explanations were
interrupted with exclamations of surprise, wonder, admiration, and
delight.
Then Alondra caught sight of others who were known to him, among them
Aveena the young noble, and went off to greet them on their return.
'He is a splendid youngster, the prince,' observed Monck admiringly.
'Everybody loves him. Clever, too--quite a young inventor, I can assure
you.'
'What is this flying-dress affair?' asked Jack. 'Do people fly here,
then? Or is this the first time it has been done?'
'To the last question the reply would be both yes and no,' Monck
answered. 'If you had noticed, as we came down, you would have seen
many aeronauts flying about singly amongst the various airships and
flying-machines.'
'I thought I saw something of the kind,' Jack returned. 'But we circled
about so rapidly, and there were so many buzzing around, that I scarcely
had a chance to make them out.'
'As you now know, the air here is very dense.'
'To me it seems very light and exhilarating,' Gerald put in. 'I
expected, when you used to tell us it was so dense, to find, when we
arrived here, that we should scarcely be able to breathe.'
'Ah, that is another matter which I will explain directly. As I have
told you before, the air here is so dense that to make a flying-machine
was never a matter of any great difficulty. For the same reason, with a
properly constructed pair of wings, you can, after a little practice
under expert tuition, very soon learn to soar into the air, and fly
about after a fashion. It has, however, hither-to, it must be
confessed, been a rather clumsy fashion. Now, this is the first time I
have seen it really gracefully and easily done. I knew before we went
away that Prince Alondra and his tutor--an old scientist named Amaldo,
who was also the king's tutor when he was a boy--were at work upon some
new device which was understood to be the prince's own idea originally.
What it was I never knew exactly, for they kept it a sort of
half-secret. Here, however, it seems, is the outcome of the idea; and a
very successful outcome too, so far as I can judge.'
'What is the invention?' asked practical Jack. 'Does it consist, I mean,
in the dress, in the material of which it is composed--wonderful stuff
it certainly seems to be--or in a new shape for the wings, or what?'
'Ah, that is exactly what I do not yet know any more than you.
Doubtless, the prince will enlighten us ere long--when he has enjoyed
the general mystification a little longer.
'Well, now, to turn to the other point. You say the air here feels to
you light and exhilarating rather than dense and heavy. It is not
exactly the air which gives you this feeling; it is due rather to the
difference in what we call gravity. On Mars, things weigh only half what
they would weigh on our Earth. It follows that our muscles feel
stronger in proportion. It requires less strength, less exertion, to
lift your leg or your arm. Every action or movement, great or small, is
easier--even breathing. Therefore, you have a sense of lightness, of
ease, of unusual strength.'
A light broke upon Gerald. 'I see! That was why the prince seemed so
light to me when I went to help him up just now!' he cried.
'Exactly. We who have come from Earth, and who possess muscles used to
the greater weight of everything there, are all "strong men" here. You
will find this one of the first and one of the most curious of your
experiences here.'
Just then they saw King Ivanta approaching, bringing Alondra with him.
They had left the crowd of richly arrayed courtiers and officers to come
across to Gerald.
'Alondra,' said the king, indicating Gerald as they drew near, 'I wish
to commend this brave young gentleman to your especial care; and I hope
you two will become good friends. You must teach him to fly. If he
learns to fly as well as he has learned to swim, then I can testify that
he should make a clever performer; for he saved your father's life!'
*CHAPTER XIII.*
*THE PALACE IN THE CLOUDS.*
Ivanta said a few more kindly words, and then returned to the brilliant
circle he had left, this time beckoning the Diamond King to accompany
him.
'My father says I may conduct you to our home,' said Alondra, as the
king went away. 'So, if you are agreeable, we will start at once. My
yacht is waiting close by.'
'We are ready, I think,' said Armeath. But in his manner there was some
hesitation.
Monck interposed. 'You are thinking of your baggage,' he said, with a
smile; 'but you need not trouble. It will be looked after, and whatever
you want will be brought on afterwards.'
'Good! That being so, we are at your service, Prince. Shall our
attendants come with us?'
'I dare say they will feel a bit lost if you leave them alone in a
strange world,' laughed Alondra. 'So, by all means bring them with you,
if it so pleases you.'
So Tom Clinch and Bob Reid, looking very confused and wonderstruck at
their new surroundings, were sent for; and the whole party followed
Alondra--who had been joined by Aveena--to the other end of the deck.
Here, to their surprise, they found a most beautiful structure awaiting
them, moored, so to speak, to the _Ivenia_.
Compared with the great aerostat in which they had made their memorable
voyage, she was like a tiny, graceful yacht beside one of our modern
warships; yet she was large and roomy enough to accommodate a numerous
party.
Alondra led his guests across a gangway on to the deck, and then,
begging them to excuse him, he dived into a cabin. In a minute or two
he returned, having divested himself of his 'flying dress,' and
appearing now in a rich costume similar to that usually worn by the king
and his courtiers.
He gave the signal, ropes were cast off, unseen engines began to work
with a quiet, smooth, scarcely perceptible vibration, setting in motion
several curious spiral contrivances which revolved round three masts.
The 'yacht' rose quietly through the air, and when she was clear of the
_Ivenia_, wings spread out on each side. Then she sailed swiftly away
in a direction a little to the right of the city they had seen.
'What a curious arrangement!' exclaimed Jack, as he watched the
revolving spirals.
'They take the place of fans,' Monck explained. 'They are far more handy
and more powerful.'
'And far prettier too!' cried Gerald. 'What lovely coloured devices
they make as they twirl round! They are like kaleidoscopes; and the
wings, too, seem to be spangled with gold.'
'She is a beautifully designed structure in every way,' observed Monck.
'One of the latest and best, and also one of the fastest of our pleasure
yachts.'
Meanwhile, a little apart, Tom Clinch and Bob Reid sat together, staring
about, noticing everything, and making their comments in low, awe-struck
tones.
'Well, well! that ever I should live t' see the likes o' this!' said
Clinch. 'What d'ye think of it all, Bob?'
'I 'm thinkin' what 'd happen if she was t' shift 'er ballast, Tom. I
do 'ope it be well stowed.'
'Ay, ay, Bob. Theer be a lot in the way a ship be ballasted. But 'ow
do she manage t' keep up? That 's what beats me! Them wings scarcely
moves at all.'
'Tom,' said Reid, leaning over to speak almost in a whisper, 'don't ye
notice what queer sort o' air this be 'ere? 'Tain't a bit like ourn at
'ome.'
'No, it ain't. I notices that. What about it?'
'It must be some o' the liquid air I've read of, as scientific chaps
thinks a lot of in our world. Depend on it, this is where it comes
from!'
Tom slapped his thigh.
'Right ye are, mate! That explanations it. That 's 'ow 'tis she floats
like this 'ere. They be all a-livin' 'ere in liquid air! An' them
wings bain't wings at all! They be fins!'
Just then Monck drew Armeath's attention to a comparatively large,
heavy-looking airship which was just rising into the air from near where
the _Ivenia_ lay.
'That,' said he, 'is one of King Agrando's war-vessels; or rather she
was formerly a war-craft, but now she serves the purpose of a private
yacht. She is just starting off to carry him and his people back to
their own country.'
'Is that far away, Mr Monck?' Gerald asked.
'Yes. A pretty good distance as distances are reckoned on this globe.'
'The farther away the better, I should say,' muttered Jack. 'Good
riddance go with him!'
A little while afterwards they neared a grand-looking mass of rock which
rose abruptly from the plains below. It was a precipitous mountain, and
upon its lofty summit, literally amongst the clouds, rose the noble
towers and domes of the most stately building the strangers had ever
seen.
They realised at once that none of our earthly buildings could compare
with this magnificent pile. As the yacht rose in the air, and they
obtained a better view, their amazement increased, every moment
exhibiting more clearly its vast proportions and revealing some fresh
surprise. What it might be built of was a puzzle; for it shone through
the rosy haze with a golden lustre, and looked a veritable fairy palace
of the upper air.
'Wh-what is that wonderful sight? Is it another town--a real town--or
an effect of sunlight among the clouds?' gasped Gerald.
'That is King Ivanta's palace,' said Monck quietly. 'It is Alondra's
home--the place we are going to stay at.'
'But how do you get to it?'
'The way we are getting to it now; there is no other way. No person
could climb up that mountain. There is no road, no path to it. It can
only be approached by airship.'
Just then a hoarse shout was heard, and there came a loud clanging of
bells and gongs.
Amidst it all, Tom Clinch's voice was clearly heard. 'Avast theer, ye
galoots!' he cried. 'Port yer helm, ye blunderin' lubbers! Can't ye
see yer runnin' inter us?'
So absorbed had the strangers been in gazing at the palace on the
mountain-top that they had not noticed a flying-craft which had been
travelling behind them, and had almost overtaken them. Alondra and his
attendants, seeing the effect produced upon his guests by the scene
before them, had reduced the speed, and allowed the yacht to float
upwards in leisurely fashion, omitting to look out for what might be
behind them.
There was now a sudden bustle on board as the navigators rushed to the
various levers, and a moment later the yacht dropped suddenly with a
downward swoop, allowing the strange craft to pass harmlessly overhead.
'Jupiter!' cried Gerald, 'that was a near squeak! What careless people
they must be! Is that sort of thing common here?'
Monck scowled and shook his head. 'No,' he said curtly. 'And there
will be trouble about it to-morrow. Some one will be called to account
for it, you may be sure!'
Alondra made no remark, but coolly resumed the journey as though nothing
out of the way had happened.
Gradually they drew nearer to the mountain-top, and all the while fresh
beauties burst upon their view. Down the rocky sides tumbled mighty
waterfalls, which gleamed like masses of molten gold till they were lost
in clouds of golden spray below. Around the wondrous edifice itself
were now seen groves and terraces upon a tableland broken by hills and
dales extending far into the clouds beyond.
The travellers from the distant Earth, reassured by Alondra's coolness,
gazed upon the scene of grandeur and sublimity in wondering silence, and
seemed for a while scarcely to breathe. So entranced were they that
they scarcely noticed when their yacht 'grounded' upon the summit of the
mountain, at a short distance from an imposing gateway which formed the
main entrance to the palace.
A minute or two later they passed down a gangway, and then followed
their young host towards the gateway, which seemed to loom up larger and
higher as they approached it.
Suddenly the massive gates were thrown open, and a stream of attendants
sallied forth and ranged themselves in two rows, between which the
guests were ushered into the building. Through wide galleries, open
courtyards, where fountains played among strange plants and flowers, and
up spacious staircases, they passed onwards to a central hall, where
they found another assembly of nobles and officials, evidently waiting
to receive them.
At one end, upon a dais, was a throne of ivory and gold, and on each
side of it a number of richly upholstered seats.
Alondra signed to his chief guests to seat themselves upon the latter,
while he himself occupied the throne.
'Good friends,' said he, addressing the assembly, 'I bring you glorious
news--the news of the safe return of the king, my father! You have
doubtless already seen that his "chariot of the skies" has arrived? To
that I am rejoiced to be able to add the welcome tidings that my royal
father, and all who accompanied him, have come back safely and in good
health.'
At this there was much shouting and clapping of hands upon the part of
the hitherto silent crowd. Evidently they had been awaiting news in
some suspense, anxious as to whether, though they knew the _Ivenia_ had
returned, some untoward accident might have happened to any of those on
board.
'I am also the bearer, good friends, of commands to you from the king,'
continued Alondra, when the shouting had died down. 'By his wish I take
my seat here in his absence, to welcome in his name to his royal home
some strangers he has brought with him from a far-distant planet. Good
friends, that is all I need say to you! These strangers are the king's
friends and guests, and as such he bids you receive and treat them until
he comes himself to attend to their pleasure and comfort.'
Then such a clamour was heard as fairly took the visitors by surprise.
It seemed even to surpass that which had greeted the announcement of the
king's safe return. Hands, handkerchiefs, banners, were waved, trumpets
blared, cymbals sounded. Finally, at a sign from the prince, there was
a general rush towards the dais, the friendly crowd almost tumbling over
one another, as each seemed determined to be the first to shake hands
with these strangers from a distant world.
*CHAPTER XIV.*
*TOM CLINCH'S STATEMENT.*
When the plaudits which greeted the strangers had subsided, and the
strenuous handshaking had come to an end, Monck, at a signal from
Alondra, conducted them from the great hall to a private suite of
apartments.
'These are assigned to you for your own use during your stay here,' he
explained. 'I may tell you, in confidence, that they have never been
occupied by any save guests of consequence. Therefore, the fact that
they have been allotted to you is one more proof that my royal master
desires to pay you special honour in the eyes of his people.'
'It is very kind of him,' murmured Armeath, 'but a little embarrassing.
It is likely to cause misapprehension. We are no royal visitors, you
know.'
'My master knows it also,' Monck reminded him. 'But he is not like
other monarchs. You know by this time, for instance, that he never
allows any one to address him as "your Majesty." He looks upon it as
unnecessary, and resents it as he does any kind of adulation or
flattery. He expects that we shall treat him with due respect as the
head of the State. If you go beyond that, so far from pleasing him, you
only offend him.'
'And if you do less,' observed Gerald, 'why then'----
'I cannot tell you what would happen,' returned Monck drily. 'So far as
my experience extends, I have never seen it attempted.'
'Truly, these are sumptuous quarters,' said Armeath, gazing round at the
richly furnished rooms.
'You will find your sleeping apartments equally comfortable, with marble
baths attached, where you can have a swim before breakfast if it so
please you. Also, you will see there is an ample wardrobe from which to
select your Court dress'----
'Eh, what's that? Are we to put on Court dress, sir?' Jack stared, and
looked first at the engineer and then at his guardian in serio-comic
distress. 'Must we do that? We've never been used to that sort of
thing, you know!'
'What does that matter?' said Gerald. 'When one goes to Rome one must
do as Rome does.'
A little while later the two chums were looking over a collection of the
most gorgeous raiment they had ever set eyes upon. Gerald viewed the
dazzling costumes with enthusiastic admiration; but Jack was inclined to
regard them almost with disfavour.
'Beautiful! Splendid!' exclaimed Gerald. 'Just what I have seen in my
sleep when I was a child, and I used to gaze at the stars and dream that
I went up into the heavens to visit them! In those dreams I went from
one star to another, and saw the most charming countries and places, and
all the good people in them were dressed in clothes something like
these.'
'And how were the bad ones dressed?' asked Jack quizzically.
'There weren't any,' Gerald declared stoutly.
'What! No ogres, or giants, or bad fairies? However, it's odd, now, to
think of those old dreams of yours! I remember how you used to recount
them to us afterwards. It's curious to think how, after all, they seem
to be coming true, isn't it?'
'Yes,' answered Gerald slowly, as the dreamy, far-away look came again
into his eyes. 'But this is only the beginning. If they are all coming
true, we have experiences before us more wonderful even than anything
that has happened yet! Perhaps it will turn out so. Who can tell?'
'Well, I've got to that state of mind now that I sha'n't be so very much
surprised if they do; and if they don't, I 'm quite content with what we
have in hand,' said practical-minded Jack.
Their two attendants were lodged in adjacent rooms, so that they might
be within call when wanted. Presently, Gerald looked in upon them to
see how they were getting on, and was much amused to see Reid staring
blankly at a heap of clothes, much as Jack had been doing but a little
while before. These costumes, it is true, were much plainer and less
pretentious; but they were, nevertheless, far finer clothes than either
of the two worthies had ever yet worn, or ever expected to.
'Why, Bob, what's the matter?' Gerald asked. 'You look as dismal as if
you were going to have a tooth out!'
''E 's a poor sort o' creechure sometimes, be Bob Reid,' said Clinch
sententiously. Tom was busy picking out the most showy dress he could
find, and attiring himself therein. ''E often doan't seem to know when
'e's in luck. What's these yer fine things sent for if we ain't t' wear
'em? Take what Providence sends ye, an' be thankful! Them's my
sentiments.'
As he spoke he selected a coloured hat with a very high crown and poised
it on his head, opposite a looking-glass.
'I never 'ad no 'igh 'at to wear afore, an' I ain't a-goin' t' throw
this chance away,' said Tom.--'Look at that, Bob Reid,' he continued, as
he surveyed himself in the glass and strutted to and fro. 'See 'ow it
sets off yer figger, me lad!'
Gerald smiled, and was turning away, when Tom suddenly threw the hat on
one side, and, looking very serious, said, 'Mr Gerald, I wants a wurd
wi' ye. Ye knows as we was nearly run down a while since a-comin' up
'ere?'
'Yes, Tom. Well?'
'D' ye know who was in that blunderin' pirate as tried t' send us
rattlin' down on the rocks below?'