*CHAPTER XXVI.*
*THE WIRELESS MESSAGE.*
While Agrando was issuing the orders which would precipitate hislong-thought-of revolt against his overlord King Ivanta, Alondra and hisfour companions were waiting, with what patience they could command, forthe hoped-for arrival of their friends.
For a while there was a pause in the hostilities. Either their foesrecognised that it was not possible to attack them successfully with themeans then at their disposal, or they deemed it impolitic to do so.After taking counsel together, they appeared resolved to contentthemselves for the time with laying siege to the pavilion.
The only incident worthy of note during this interval was that a windsprang up, bringing with it heavy clouds. Rumblings were heard morethan once as of distant thunder, and there were other indications of acoming storm.
Jack's abrupt announcement of Alondra's identity had naturally produceda great effect upon the two officers of Agrando with whom they hadbecome so strangely associated. So surprising had the statement seemedthat Malto had at first been inclined to be incredulous. Hehalf-suspected that the statement might be a bit of rather ill-timedlevity on the part of the one who had made it. But a little reflectionaltered this view.
'I have been foolish--blind--not to have guessed it before!' heexclaimed. 'Prince, I have to ask your pardon for several things I saidwhich may perhaps have displeased you, especially when I refusedpoint-blank to answer some of your questions.'
'Nay, I think you were right in the circumstances,' said Alondra. 'Itproves that one can rely upon you to be close and discreet when you deemit necessary.'
Malandris also had apologies to make; but Jack and Gerald both noticedthat his demeanour was different from that of Malto. The former spokeand behaved just in the way that any one might be expected to do who isconfused at finding he has been all unknowingly talking rather freely inthe presence of a superior. Malto, on the other hand, appeared in nowise embarrassed. He made his apologies with perfect self-possession,and carried himself as though he were in the habit of associating withdistinguished personages every day of his life.
Alondra noticed this too, and at first was a little inclined to resentit; but Malto's manner was so entirely unconscious and free from offencethat, with his usual good nature, the young prince quickly thrust theidea aside. 'Well, now,' he said, when he had listened to theirapologies and given kindly and suitable replies, 'we are wasting time.As my people don't seem to be coming to look for me of their own accord,I must summon them.'
His companions stared at him with puzzled looks.
'I don't see how you are going to do that!' observed Jack.
'I will let you into a little secret, then. My royal father lent me,just before we came away, one of his pocket telegraph-boxes; and he lentMonck Affelda another, so that we might be able to communicate with oneanother if we were separated. Perhaps he did not trust King Agrandoquite so much as he appeared to do. Anyway, he lent us these. Heusually keeps them for the exclusive use of himself and his mostconfidential officers, and very few people even know of their existence.He invented and designed them himself, and the working parts were madeby workmen he could trust, who were sworn to secrecy.'
The term 'Affelda,' applied to Monck, it may be here explained, was aterm of courtesy and respect in use among the Martians. It signifiedrather more than our 'Mr' and something less than 'lord.'
As Alondra spoke he drew from a side-pocket a small affair which lookedat first sight like a gold chronometer attached to a gold chain. Justthen there came another rumbling warning of the approaching storm.
'Come inside. We shall be quieter there,' he said.
They left the outside gallery, or balcony, and went into an innerchamber, where were seats and a plain wood table. Upon the latter heplaced the little 'watch.'
'The wood acts as a sounding-board, and we shall hear better,' heexplained.
He touched a spring and a lid flew open. Then he touched other springs,and at once there was heard the sound of little bells or gongs notunlike those of a repeater watch. He repeated this performance severaltimes, waiting a little while between, as though expecting some replywhich did not come.
The others stood around, looking on with perplexed curiosity andwondering what it was all about.
'It seems to me it is a repeater watch,' said Jack presently. 'Thegongs are beautiful and silvery in tone; but how in the world they aregoing to'----
'Hush!' exclaimed Alondra, with a warning gesture. He had placed theinstrument on the table and left it to itself; and now, lo! the littlegongs were ringing away on their own account. Alondra bent over it andlistened intently, holding up his hand the while to enjoin strictsilence on his companions. Then, when the sounds ceased, he manipulatedthe gongs himself in turn; immediately he left them alone they againrung out by themselves.
It appeared to the onlookers as though a sort of conversation were beingcarried on in some mysterious fashion between Alondra and the curiouslittle machine.
Then a thought flashed into Jack's mind. 'Wireless telegraphy--or I 'ma Dutchman!' he breathed. Still the curious performance went on, and thelonger it continued the graver grew Alondra's face. His brow cloudedover, and at last, when there came a pause, and he drew himself up, itcould be seen that his face was flushed and his eyes flashing.
'Treason!' he cried. 'Foul treachery is at work! Agrando has made anattempt to seize my whole party! Some of them he has indeed alreadybasely captured; and he has now actually attacked some of our airships.Monck is in difficulties himself, he tells me; but he hopes to be ableto send my yacht to our aid soon, now that I have told him where we are.Whether he can do more than that, he says, he really does not yet know.'
There were exclamations of amazement at these sinister tidings, and thefriends stared at one another in bewildered perplexity.
'I can scarcely, even now, believe it!' cried Alondra.
'You are sure there is no mistake? Or may it be that some one isplaying a joke upon you?' suggested Gerald rather vaguely.
'No one would dare to attempt such a thing!' Alondra asserted haughtily.
'But--it sounds impossible,' said Jack helplessly.
'It wouldn't if you knew our master as well as we do,' Malandris put in.'I have had an idea for some time past that something of the kind washatching.'
'If it be as you say, Prince, our position is critical indeed,' Maltodeclared. 'Agrando will not hesitate now to send one of his airshipsagainst us--the very thing I thought we were safe from so long asdaylight lasted. I am afraid we must make up our minds to theinevitable--we shall all be his prisoners before another hour is over.And what that means you can now guess; although what we have alreadytold you is but a small portion of the actual truth.'
'My father will rescue us; and they dare not harm us meantime!' criedAlondra proudly. 'Agrando knows too well the terrible vengeance thatwould be exacted.'
Malto shook his head.
'Do not count too much upon that, Prince,' he said. 'It was partly thefear that some such plot was brewing which made me wish to see KingIvanta in order that I might warn him. I had hoped that in return hewould be willing to assist me in another matter on which my heart isset--to right a great wrong. But I fear it is useless to dream of itnow.' And he sighed.
'But is there no other way of escape open to us?' Jack asked. 'Surely,if it be that our friends cannot come to our aid, we should do better totry some other plan rather than stay on here to be tamely capturedwhenever it pleases Agrando to send an airship to take us prisoners!'
'Yes, it might be better even to risk a run across the enclosure whereyour monster lives,' Gerald put in. 'It is only a choice ofmonsters--that or Agrando.'
'Very likely both--Agrando will give us to him later on,' said Malandrisgrimly.
'Well, then, what is this place that we are in?' Jack went on. 'Is itempty? Is there nothing in the place that might be useful to help us todefe
nd ourselves?'
'This pavilion is a sort of grand stand--a place of vantage from whichthe privileged spectators obtain a good view--and a safe one--of whattakes place in the enclosure when there is anything exciting going on,'Malandris explained. 'It is not used for any other purpose, and isempty'----
'Wait a moment!' Malto interrupted, with a sudden light in his eyes. 'Iam not so sure that it is quite empty. Is there not a store-placebelow, where they keep'----
'You are right, Malto,' the other answered in some excitement. 'I hadforgotten it. There may be some arms and things there which would beuseful indeed if we have to try to hold out for a time till assistancecan reach us. But I am afraid the place is locked up'----
'Perhaps my key will fit; if not, we must break it open.'
Just then there came a great gust of wind and another and louder growlof thunder; and a little later there was heard an outburst of shoutingoutside. Malto ran out on to the balcony to see what it meant.
There was a good deal of excitement amongst their enemies below. Peoplewere talking one to another, and some were pointing up at the pavilion,while a few were huddled together in a knot. In the middle of these lastwere seen two men who were doing something with some wings, seeminglypreparatory to taking a flight in the air.
'They have thrown off all thought of concealment,' said Malto, cominginside again. 'You can see that. So what you told us, Prince, must beonly too true! They are going to send a couple of fliers up to attemptour capture.'
'But in that case, why does not Agrando send an airship and settle thematter at once?' Gerald asked.
'I expect just now all his airships are busy fighting my friends,' saidAlondra. 'They will attend to us presently, I suppose, if the peoplehere don't succeed.'
'Well, we will make a fight of it, anyway!' cried Malto sturdily. 'Ibelieve we may find the means down below, if you can keep them at bayfor a little time while we search'----
'We can manage that, I think,' Jack answered him. 'Do you go below andsee what you can find to help us.'
Again there came a blustering gust of the fast-rising wind. Then therewas a blinding flash, followed by a deafening crash of thunder whichshook the whole building to its foundations.