*CHAPTER XIII.*
*THE PALACE IN THE CLOUDS.*
Ivanta said a few more kindly words, and then returned to the brilliantcircle he had left, this time beckoning the Diamond King to accompanyhim.
'My father says I may conduct you to our home,' said Alondra, as theking went away. 'So, if you are agreeable, we will start at once. Myyacht is waiting close by.'
'We are ready, I think,' said Armeath. But in his manner there was somehesitation.
Monck interposed. 'You are thinking of your baggage,' he said, with asmile; 'but you need not trouble. It will be looked after, and whateveryou want will be brought on afterwards.'
'Good! That being so, we are at your service, Prince. Shall ourattendants come with us?'
'I dare say they will feel a bit lost if you leave them alone in astrange 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 attheir new surroundings, were sent for; and the whole party followedAlondra--who had been joined by Aveena--to the other end of the deck.
Here, to their surprise, they found a most beautiful structure awaitingthem, moored, so to speak, to the _Ivenia_.
Compared with the great aerostat in which they had made their memorablevoyage, she was like a tiny, graceful yacht beside one of our modernwarships; yet she was large and roomy enough to accommodate a numerousparty.
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 twohe returned, having divested himself of his 'flying dress,' andappearing now in a rich costume similar to that usually worn by the kingand his courtiers.
He gave the signal, ropes were cast off, unseen engines began to workwith a quiet, smooth, scarcely perceptible vibration, setting in motionseveral 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 awayin a direction a little to the right of the city they had seen.
'What a curious arrangement!' exclaimed Jack, as he watched therevolving spirals.
'They take the place of fans,' Monck explained. 'They are far more handyand more powerful.'
'And far prettier too!' cried Gerald. 'What lovely coloured devicesthey make as they twirl round! They are like kaleidoscopes; and thewings, 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 pleasureyachts.'
Meanwhile, a little apart, Tom Clinch and Bob Reid sat together, staringabout, noticing everything, and making their comments in low, awe-strucktones.
'Well, well! that ever I should live t' see the likes o' this!' saidClinch. 'What d'ye think of it all, Bob?'
'I 'm thinkin' what 'd happen if she was t' shift 'er ballast, Tom. Ido 'ope it be well stowed.'
'Ay, ay, Bob. Theer be a lot in the way a ship be ballasted. But 'owdo she manage t' keep up? That 's what beats me! Them wings scarcelymoves at all.'
'Tom,' said Reid, leaning over to speak almost in a whisper, 'don't yenotice 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 chapsthinks a lot of in our world. Depend on it, this is where it comesfrom!'
Tom slapped his thigh.
'Right ye are, mate! That explanations it. That 's 'ow 'tis she floatslike this 'ere. They be all a-livin' 'ere in liquid air! An' themwings 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 wherethe _Ivenia_ lay.
'That,' said he, 'is one of King Agrando's war-vessels; or rather shewas formerly a war-craft, but now she serves the purpose of a privateyacht. She is just starting off to carry him and his people back totheir 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. 'Goodriddance go with him!'
A little while afterwards they neared a grand-looking mass of rock whichrose abruptly from the plains below. It was a precipitous mountain, andupon its lofty summit, literally amongst the clouds, rose the nobletowers and domes of the most stately building the strangers had everseen.
They realised at once that none of our earthly buildings could comparewith this magnificent pile. As the yacht rose in the air, and theyobtained a better view, their amazement increased, every momentexhibiting more clearly its vast proportions and revealing some freshsurprise. What it might be built of was a puzzle; for it shone throughthe rosy haze with a golden lustre, and looked a veritable fairy palaceof the upper air.
'Wh-what is that wonderful sight? Is it another town--a real town--oran effect of sunlight among the clouds?' gasped Gerald.
'That is King Ivanta's palace,' said Monck quietly. 'It is Alondra'shome--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 personcould climb up that mountain. There is no road, no path to it. It canonly be approached by airship.'
Just then a hoarse shout was heard, and there came a loud clanging ofbells and gongs.
Amidst it all, Tom Clinch's voice was clearly heard. 'Avast theer, yegaloots!' he cried. 'Port yer helm, ye blunderin' lubbers! Can't yesee yer runnin' inter us?'
So absorbed had the strangers been in gazing at the palace on themountain-top that they had not noticed a flying-craft which had beentravelling behind them, and had almost overtaken them. Alondra and hisattendants, seeing the effect produced upon his guests by the scenebefore them, had reduced the speed, and allowed the yacht to floatupwards in leisurely fashion, omitting to look out for what might bebehind them.
There was now a sudden bustle on board as the navigators rushed to thevarious levers, and a moment later the yacht dropped suddenly with adownward swoop, allowing the strange craft to pass harmlessly overhead.
'Jupiter!' cried Gerald, 'that was a near squeak! What careless peoplethey must be! Is that sort of thing common here?'
Monck scowled and shook his head. 'No,' he said curtly. 'And therewill be trouble about it to-morrow. Some one will be called to accountfor it, you may be sure!'
Alondra made no remark, but coolly resumed the journey as though nothingout of the way had happened.
Gradually they drew nearer to the mountain-top, and all the while freshbeauties burst upon their view. Down the rocky sides tumbled mightywaterfalls, which gleamed like masses of molten gold till they were lostin clouds of golden spray below. Around the wondrous edifice itselfwere now seen groves and terraces upon a tableland broken by hills anddales 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, andseemed for a while scarcely to breathe. So entranced were they thatthey scarcely noticed when their yacht 'grounded' upon the summit of themountain, at a short distance from an imposing gateway which formed themain entrance to the palace.
A minute or two later they passed down a gangway, and then followedtheir young host towards the gateway, which seemed to loom up larger andhigher as they approached it.
Suddenly the massive gates were thrown open, and a stream of attendantssallied forth and ranged themselves in two rows, between which theguests were ushered into the building. Through wide galleries, opencourtyards, where fountains played among strange plants and flowers, andup spacious staircases, they passed onwards to a central hall, wherethey found another assembly of nobles and offici
als, evidently waitingto receive them.
At one end, upon a dais, was a throne of ivory and gold, and on eachside 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 gloriousnews--the news of the safe return of the king, my father! You havedoubtless already seen that his "chariot of the skies" has arrived? Tothat I am rejoiced to be able to add the welcome tidings that my royalfather, and all who accompanied him, have come back safely and in goodhealth.'
At this there was much shouting and clapping of hands upon the part ofthe hitherto silent crowd. Evidently they had been awaiting news insome suspense, anxious as to whether, though they knew the _Ivenia_ hadreturned, some untoward accident might have happened to any of those onboard.
'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 takemy seat here in his absence, to welcome in his name to his royal homesome strangers he has brought with him from a far-distant planet. Goodfriends, that is all I need say to you! These strangers are the king'sfriends and guests, and as such he bids you receive and treat them untilhe 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 thekind's safe return. Hands, handkerchiefs, banners, were waved, trumpetsblared, cymbals sounded. Finally, at a sign from the prince, there wasa general rush towards the dais, the friendly crowd almost tumbling overone another, as each seemed determined to be the first to shake handswith these strangers from a distant world.