invigorating　air　they　had　ever　inhaled。　Instantly　their　strength　returned；　and　they　felt　remarkably　buoyant　as　they　were　led　along　over　another　pavement　of　polished　stone。
  Tradmos　laughed。　〃You　like　the　atmosphere？〃
  〃I　never　heard　of　anything　like　it；〃　said　Thorndyke。　〃It　is　so　delightful　I　can　almost　taste　it。〃
  〃It　was　that　which　made　Alpha　what　it　isthe　most　wonderful　country　in　the　universe；〃　said　the　officer。　〃There　is　much　in　store　for　you。〃
  The　ears　of　the　two　captives　were　greeted　by　a　vague；　indefinable　hum；　like　and　yet　unlike　that　of　a　busy　city。　It　was　like　many　far…off　sounds　carefully　muffled。　Now　and　then　they　heard　human　voices；　laughter；　and　singing　in　the　distance；　and　the　twanging　of　musical　instruments。
  Then　they　knew　that　they　were　entering　a　building　of　some　sort；　for　they　heard　a　key　turn　in　a　lock　and　the　humming　sound　in　the　distance　was　cut　off。　They　felt　a　soft　carpet　under　their　feet；　and　the　feet　of　their　guards　no　longer　clinked　on　the　stones。
  When　the　bandages　were　removed　they　found　themselves　in　a　sumptuous　chamber；　alone　with　the　captain。　The　brilliant　light　from　a　quaintly…shaped　candelabrum；　in　the　centre　of　the　chamber；　dazzled　them；　but　in　a　few　minutes　their　eyes　had　become　accustomed　to　it。
  Tradmos　seemed　to　be　enjoying　the　looks　of　astonishment　on　their　faces　as　they　glanced　at　the　different　objects　in　the　room。
  〃It　is　night；〃　he　said　smilingly。　〃You　need　rest　after　your　voyage。　Lie　down　on　the　beds　and　sleep。　To…morrow　you　will　be　conducted　to　the　palace　of　the　king。〃
  With　a　bow　he　withdrew；　and　they　heard　a　massive　bolt　slide　into　the　socket　of　a　door　hidden　behind　a　curtain。　The　two　men　gazed　at　each　other　without　speaking；　for　a　moment；　and　then　they　began　to　inspect　the　room。
  In　alcoves　half…veiled　with　silken　curtains　stood　statues　in　gold　and　bronze。　The　walls　and　ceilings　were　decorated　with　pictures　unlike　any　they　had　ever　seen。　Before　one；　the　picture　of　an　angel　flying　through　a　dark；　star…filled　sky；　they　both　stood　enchanted。
  〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Thorndyke；　finding　voice　finally。　〃It　is　not　done　with　brush　or　pencil；　the　features　seem　alive　and；　by　Jove；　you　can　actually　see　it　breathe。　Don't　you　see　the　clouds　gliding　by；　and　the　wings　moving？〃
  〃It　is　lightit　is　formed　by　light！〃　declared　the　other　enthusiastically；　and　he　ran　to　the　wall；　about　six　feet　from　the　picture；　and　put　his　hand　on　a　square　metal　box　screwed　to　the　wall。
  〃I　have　it；〃　he　said　quickly；　〃come　here！〃
  The　Englishman　advanced　curiously　and　examined　the　box。
  〃Don't　you　see　that　tiny　speck　of　light　in　the　side　towards　the　picture？　Well；　the　view　is　thrown　from　this　box　on　the　wall；　and　it　is　the　motion　of　the　powerful　light　that　gives　apparent　life　to　the　angel。　It　is　wonderful。〃
  In　a　commodious　alcove；　in　a　glow　of　pink　light　from　above；　was　a　life…sized　group　of　musiciansstatues　in　colored　metal　of　a　Spanish　girl　playing　a　mandora；　an　Italian　with　a　slender　calascione；　a　Russian　playing　his　jorbon；　and　an　African　playing　a　banjo。　Luxurious　couches　hung　by　spiral　springs　from　the　ceiling　to　a　convenient　height　from　the　floor；　and　here　and　there　lay　rugs　of　rare　beauty　and　great　ottomans　of　artistic　designs　and　colors。
  〃We　ought　to　go　to　bed；〃　proposed　Thorndyke；　〃we　shall　have　plenty　of　time　to　see　this　Aladdin's　land　before　we　get　away　from　it。〃
  There　were　two　large　downy　beds　on　quaintly　wrought　bedsteads　of　brass；　but　the　two　captives　decided　to　sleep　together。
  Thorndyke　was　the　first　to　awaken。　The　lights　in　the　candelabrum　were　out；　but　a　gray　light　came　in　at　the　top　and　bottom　of　the　window。　He　rose　and　drew　the　heavy　curtain　of　one　of　the　windows　aside。　He　shrank　back　in　astonishment。
  Chapter　III。
  〃What　is　it；　Thorndyke？　What　are　you　looking　at？〃　And　the　American　slowly　left　the　bed　and　approached　his　friend。
  Thorndyke　only　held　the　curtain　further　back　and　watched　Johnston's　face　as　he　looked　through　the　wide　plate…glass　window。
  〃My　gracious！〃　ejaculated　the　latter　as　he　drew　nearer。　It　was　a　wondrous　scene。　The　building　in　which　they　were　imprisoned　stood　on　a　gentle　hill　clad　in　luxuriant；　smoothly…cut　grass　and　ornamented　with　beautiful　flowers　and　plants；　and　below　lay　a　splendid　citya　city　built　on　undulating　ground　with　innumerable　grand　structures　of　white　marble；　with　turrets；　domes　and　pinnacles　of　gold。　Wide　streets　paved　in　polished　stone　and　bordered　with　lush…green　grass　interspersed　with　statues　and　beds　and　mounds　of　strange　plants　and　flowers　stretched　away　in　front　of　them　till　they　were　lost　in　the　dim；　misty　distance。　Parks　filled　with　pavilions；　pleasure…lakes；　fountains　and　tortuous　drives　and　walks；　dotted　the　landscape　in　all　directions。
  Thorndyke's　breath　had　clouded　the　glass　of　the　window；　and　he　rubbed　it　with　his　handkerchief。　As　he　did　so　the　sash　slowly；　and　without　a　particle　of　sound；　slid　to　one　side；　disclosing　a　narrow　balcony　outside。　It　had　a　graceful　balustrade；　made　of　carved　red…and…white　mottled　marble；　and　on　the　end　of　the　balcony　facing　the　city　sat　a　great　gold　and　silver　jug；　ten　feet　high；　of　rare　design。　The　spout　was　formed　by　the　body　of　a　dragon　with　wings　extended；　the　handle　was　a　serpent　with　the　extremity　of　its　tail　coiled　around　the　neck　of　the　jug。
  The　air　that　came　in　at　the　window　was　fresh　and　dewy；　and　laden　with　the　most　entrancing　odors。　Thorndyke　led　the　way　out；　treading　very　gently　at　first。　Johnston　followed　him；　too　much　surprised　to　make　any　comment。　From　this　position；　their　view　to　the　left　round　the　corner　of　the　building　was　widened；　and　new　wonders　appeared　on　every　hand。
  Over　the　polished　stone　pavements　strange　vehicles　ran　noiselessly；　as　if　the　wheels　had　cushioned　tires；　and　the　streets　were　crowded　with　an　active；　strangely…　clad　populace。
  〃Look　at　that！〃　exclaimed　the　American；　and　from　a　street　corner　they　saw　a　queer…looking　machine；　carrying　half…a…dozen　passengers；rise　like　a　bird　with　wings　outspread　and　fly　away　toward　the　east。　They　watched　it　till　it　disappeared　in　the　distance。
  〃We　are　indeed　in　wonderland；〃　said　the　Englishman；　〃I　can't　make　head　nor　tail　of　it。　We　were　on　an　isolated　island；　the　Lord　only　knows　where；　and　have　suddenly　been　transported　to　a　new　world！〃
  〃I　can't　feel　at　all　as　if　we　were　in　the　world　we　were　born　in；〃　returned　Johnston。　〃I　feel　strange。〃
  〃The　wine；〃　suggested　the　Englishman；　〃you　know　it　did　wonders　for　us　in　that　subwater　thing。〃
  〃No；　the　wine　has　nothing　to　do　with　it。　My　head　never　was　clearer。　The　very　atmosphere　is　peculiar。　The　air　is　invigorating；　and　I　can't　get　enough　of　it。〃
  〃That　is　exactly　the　way　I　feel；〃　was　Thorndyke's　answer。
  〃Look　at　the　sunlight；〃　went　on　Johnston；　〃it　is　gray　like　our　dawn；　but　see　how　transparent　it　is。　You　can　look　through　it　for　miles　and　miles。　It　is　becoming　pink　in　the　east；　the　sun　will　soon　be　up；　and　I　am　curious　to　see　it。〃
  〃It　must　be　up　now；　but　we　cannot　see　it　for　the　hills　and　buildings。　My　goodness；　see　that！〃　and　the　Englishman　pointed　to　the　east。　A　flood　of　delicate　pink　light　was　now　pouring　into　the　vast　body　of　gray　and　was　slowly　driving　the　more　sombre　color　toward　the　west。　The　line　of　separation　was　markedso　marked；　indeed；　that　it　seemed　a　vast；　rose…colored　billow　rolling；　widening　and　sweeping　onward　like　a　swell　of　the　ocean　shoreward。　On　it　came　rapidly；　till　the　whole　landscape　was　magically　changed。　The　flowers；　the　trees；　the　grass；　the　waters　of　the　lakes；　the　white　buildings；　the　costumes　of　the　people　in　the　streets；　even　the　sky；　changed　in　aspect。　The　white　clouds　looked　like　fire…lit　smoke；　and　far　toward　the　west　rolled　the　long　line　of　pink　still　struggling　with　the　gray　and　driving　it　back。
  The　sun　now　came　into　sight；　a　great　bleeding　ball　of　fire　slowly　rising　above　the　gilded　roofs　in　the　distance。
  〃By　Jove；　look　at　our　shadows！〃　exclaimed　Johnston；　and　both　men　gazed　at　the　balcony　floor　in　amazement；　their　shadows　were　as　clearly　defined　and　black　as　silhouettes。　〃How　do　you　account　for　that？〃　continued　the　American；　〃I　am　firmly　convinced　that　this　sun　is　not　the　orb　that　shines　over　my　native　land。〃
  Thorndyke　laughed；　but　his　laugh　was　forced。　〃How　absurd！　and　yet〃　He　extended　his　hand　over　the　balustrade　into　the　rosy　glow；　and　without　concluding　his　remark　held　it　back　into　the　shadow　of　the　window…casement。　〃By　Jove！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃there　is　not　a　particle　of　warmth　in　it。　It　is　exactly　the　same　temperature　in　the　shade　as　in　the　light。〃　He　moved　back　against　the　wall。　〃No；　there　is　no　difference；　the　blamed　thing　doesn't　give　out　any　warmth。〃
  Johnston's　hands　were　extended　in　the　light。　〃I　believe　you　are　right；〃　he　declared　in　awe；　〃something　is　wrong。〃
  At　that　moment　appeared　from　the　room　behind　them　a　handsome　youth；　attired　in　a　suit　of　scarlet　silk　that　fitted　his　athletic　figure　perfectly。　He　rapped　softly　on　the　window…　casement　and　bowed　when　they　turned。
  〃Your　breakfast　is　waiting　for　you；〃　he　announced。　They　followed　him　into　a　room　adjoining　the　one　they　had　occupied；　and　found　a　table　holding　a　sumptuous　repast。　The　boy　gave　them　seats　and　handed　them　golden　plates　to　eat　upon。　The　fruits；　wine　and　meats　were　very　appetizing；　and　they　ate　with　relish。
  〃I　bel