HOME AGAIN
In a part of Perthshire, in a among the mountains, and hard of access, a building. Any one with a knowledge of would have it as a for an airship. A narrow from it to a in which three men—Sir John Forsyth, Abel Masters and Hector Murdoch, the a and mechanic. Shortly after Alan’s death, Sir John gave up to the last object of his life—the and success of his airship. He had very about it. He had it and taken to pieces, and in pieces it was sent to Scotland to experiments. A had been built, the had gone—and then the three men set to work to up the “Argenta” once again. Sir John had of his in the Marshfielden collieries, and his London offices had been taken over by the new owners, hence he had no tie to keep him in the great metropolis.
For over five years he had worked, and now success had come. The powerful he had perfected as a power was and on the they were going for their trial in the great machine.
Sir John his hand over the metal. It meant to him since his had gone.
“It’s beautiful, Masters!” said he, and there was a note of in his voice. “It’s perfect.”
155“Yes, sir. Three hundred miles an hour we ought to do comfortably, that is the minimum, and from four hundred and fifty to five hundred at speed.”
“You’ve with me very faithfully, Masters. It was good of you to to the of an old man, and up here.”
“I was only too to come, Sir John,” answered Masters. “For forty-five years I in your office—your father’s it was then, sir. I was the to him after Victoria, God her, had him a baronet. For over twenty years I was your servant—”
“Friend! Masters, friend!” Sir John.
“Well, friend, if I may say so. I was always in electricity and mechanics, and when you started experimenting, it was me you asked to help you. I have that, Sir John, and now I am proud to have been the one to see the work of years by such success.”
“Where is Hector this morning?”
“He has to Arroch Head for the letters.”
“Is it the day?”
“Yes, Sir John, it’s Friday.”
“Ah, of course, so it is.”
Since Sir John had been at Dalmyrnie, no one had his address the Poste Restante at Arroch Head—the nearest village fourteen miles away. No was to make him his place. He to live in of his being from him. No was too great to take to prevent such a catastrophe.
“Lunch is ready, Sir John,” came a voice from him. It was Hector who had returned. The three men all had together in the little honeysuckle-covered that had once been a gamekeeper’s. There was no ceremony—they were all together.
The leather Post Office was on the table, and Sir John it with the key that so on the wall.
“What a budget,” said he testily. “Why do people 156bother me?” He to the letters. “One from Freemantle and Goddard—their account, I suppose. That’s from Armstrong’s with their for those screws. A wire for you,” the little orange across to Masters.
Masters it up gingerly. “Who can it be from? Oh,” as he read it. “I don’t it. I think it must be meant for you, sir.”
Sir John looked up. “Why?” he asked.
“It was in at yesterday at Plymouth. It was on from the old London offices. It says, ‘Landed safely. Leaving Plymouth this morning. Arrive Paddington 5:20. Will come to you. Forsyth.’”
“Forsyth!” Sir John. “Who on earth can it be? And if it’s for me, why did they address it to you?”
“I don’t it at all, sir,” said Masters. “Haven’t you a cousin—Dr. Forsyth who to Canada some years ago?”
“Yes, yes! Malcolm Forsyth! Of course, of course. Well, I can’t see him. I won’t see him. I don’t want to see anyone. But why did he wire you, Masters? He didn’t know your name.”
“I can’t it at all, Sir John,” then his brightened, “unless the who it put my name on by mistake.”
“Ah, that was it. Oh well, mind,” said Sir John testily. “You must and say I can’t see him. Here’s a for you, too,” he on.
“I it’s from the Stores,” said Masters. “I have been their list of foods with the value. We want them in our flights.”
He opened the casually. “My God!” he and it from his fingers.
“For Heaven’s yourself,” said Sir John sharply. Now his was complete, his nerves were all on waiting for the trial. “What is it? What is it?”
“I’m sorry,” said Masters penitently, “but I’ve had 157a shock. I’ve from some one I was years ago.”
Sir John little interest. “Well let us now on with lunch,” was all he said.
“I don’t think I’ll have any if you don’t mind,” said Masters. “I must go into Arroch Head at once and send a telegram. I may have the car I suppose?”
“Why, of course, but do have your first.”
“No—no I can’t wait. I must go at once.”
Masters had had a shock. He had Alan’s from Sydney, and the meaning of the was clear. Alan and Desmond were safe and had in England. He must wire them at once, and give them Sir John’s address. He how to the news to him, and it him as he into the little village.
“Have you your friend?” asked Sir John when he got back.
“Yes.”
“Do you want to see him—if so you had take a after the trial.”
“Thank you all the same, Sir John, but I’ve them to come to Arroch Head.”
“The you have!” Sir John. “I the next thing will be that you want them to come over here and see the Argenta.”
“I was going to it to you,” answered Masters imperturbably.
“Have you taken of your senses? Show my work—the child of my brain to strangers? Never!”
“They are not strangers, Sir John. The is—” he hesitated, “I told you I had them as dead—so have you, Sir John.”
“What?”
“I have them your address and—”
“You’ve them my address?” the old in rage.
“Yes, Sir John—don’t you now? I told you that you too had them as dead.”
Sir John looked at Masters, and as he into his he read there the truth. “Alan—Desmond,” 158he said hoarsely. Masters his and Sir John into his chair.
“Alan!” he whispered. “Is it true?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t joke, man, for God’s sake! Don’t me! It can’t be true. It’s six years since the accident. Why the mine has been in use since—not that part.”
“Don’t you the now, sir?” Masters it out. “They have been away, but now they are in England.”
“Was that the this morning?”
“Yes! Read it.”
Sir John was overcome. “I’m sure it’s a joke,” he over and over again. “It can’t be true. The thing’s impossible.”
All that day work was at a standstill. Hector alone saw to the of the men, and as were at their proper times.
“They will be here for the trial,” Sir John excitedly. “Oh my God!” and the old man into tears. His at the of his two had been so great, his for them so that he that in some way they still lived.
“Will you meet the train?” asked Masters as they retired for the night.
“Yes! Yes! Of course! Take the large car. Are you sure is for them? You see there will be a lady, too. Desmond’s wife—my niece.”
“Everything is all right. We have the place comfortable—we will the two rooms there, and that will three in the free. Yours, Mr. Alan’s, and the largest, at the front, for Mr. Desmond and his wife.”
“Splendid, Masters, splendid.” It was a glorious, late September when the Scotch in. Alan was out of the train first.
“Uncle,” said he, “dear old uncle.”
“My boy—my boy! How are you? Oh, how you have changed! Desmond, my boy, welcome home!”
159“This is Mavis, Uncle John.”
Sir John her by the and looked into her eyes. She see that had left its mark on the old man’s face, so she her arm his and him. “Uncle John,” she whispered. “I’ve so much about you from Desmond and Alan. I’ve been just to come home—to you!”
It was a very party that home to Dalmyrnie.
“Eat your breakfasts,” Uncle John. “You shall tell me your afterwards. But have a good first.” After breakfast, they sat in the old-world garden, among the trees—Sir John and Masters, the two boys and Mavis, and their was told.
Desmond by telling how he was by the Light, nothing, and Alan the story. “Now here is the and here are the and the censer. These, I think, will prove the truth of our story.”
“And you to say there is a of people in the centre of the Earth?”
“Yes, indeed, where we have been actually for the past years.”
“They are actually from Korah, Abiram and Dathan?”
“Yes, as I told you, they still speak a Hebrew—they a copy of part of the Pentateuch—they the God of the old Testament, Jehovah, the great ‘I am’.”
“And yet you say they are savage?”
“I don’t think my can be good, if I left you with that impression,” said Alan thoughtfully. “They are not like the black, of the present day. I should say rather, that they still the of our forefathers. The of creatures, humanity, not them. They are to great pain themselves, and can watch it in others without flinching. The they offered to the Fire must have life was 160in them; but to their mind the pain they were the still more to their Almighty. They terrible on their Virgin Watchers of the Temple—they were cruel, cunning, vile—yet in other they were too to be called savages. Savage yes, but not savages.”
“I see the you mean, my boy. But didn’t you say they the Fire?”
“Yes. It is itself a part of their religion. I don’t think I it properly myself. They looked on the Fire almost as God himself—not a different God, but just God. Yet at the same time they that the God of their Fathers in the Heaven above the Upper World. It very complicated, I am afraid.”
“No, no, my boy. I well what you mean.”
“They they had to offer to the Fire to keep it burning. The part of their is, that when the Fire die out, then will come the of the entire world—not only theirs but ours too.”
“Then they know of our world?”
“Oh yes. Dathan and Abiram left about the world they had left—the world they had once inhabited.”
“Going to the Fire,” said Sir John. “Is it large?”
“Enormous. We saw it in its entirety. It to away into the for miles. It was in with a glass-like substance, and was any fire we had before. It to have no substance—was all leaping, flames—yet the of it solid and firm. During our we see that the Fire was less and less. Imperceptibly at first, but by and bounds.”
“I wonder what will when the Fire go out,” said Desmond thoughtfully. “It has on itself for these thousands of years. The only fuel that was it was or animal life. Surely that a Fire.”
161“I think some world-wide will come when the Fire dies out, if it does,” said Alan.
“And Jez-Riah just to dust,” on Sir John slowly.
“Yes.”
Mavis was very excited. “Why our are made,” she cried. “Of you’ll to the papers?”
“We didn’t know what to do,” said Alan. “Desmond and I talked it over and came to the we would tell Uncle John and his advice.”
“No one else at all?”
“No one but us five.”
Masters looked up and gave Alan a look. “It was good of you to me,” said he.
“Why, you are part and parcel of ourselves, Masters,” laughed Alan. “Nothing would be complete without you,” and he hands with his uncle’s friend.
“We must go to London,” said Sir John at last. “I will wire Sir Christopher Somerville—he’s President of the Geographical Research Society you know—and Professor Chard of the Geological Society to meet us in town. I will put the whole them and take their advice. But, my dear boys, I can yet I have you with me again.”
“Have you done any more with your Argenta?” asked Desmond suddenly.
Sir John’s shone. “Come with me,” said he and he took them to the hangar. “She is complete and I think perfect,” said he simply. Very looked the Argenta. There was a perfect leading from the to a large, field.
“I shall her the slope,” he explained, “and the in the is for and descending.”
“Have you her yet?”
“No. We were going to try her yesterday, Mr. Alan,” said Masters, “but Sir John it until your arrival.”
162“And we must it again, I am afraid,” said Sir John, sadly.
“Is it necessary, Uncle John?” asked Mavis.
“I think so, my dear. Your is too to keep a moment longer than is necessary. We will go to London to-morrow, and after all are done with, will come back, try the Argenta, and if she is as I think she is, we will go for a long in her.”
“Shall I you?” asked Masters.
“Just as you like,” answered Sir John. “Come with us by all means, or with Hector and watch over the Argenta.”
“I would here, sir, if you have no objection. I’ve no that take me to town, and I would by the Argenta.”
Forty-eight hours later Sir John, Alan, and Desmond and his wife in London. Sir John had let his town house, so they a hotel at the of Berkeley Square for their domicile.
Sir Christopher Somerville and Professor Chard the made, and once again the boys their adventures. “Wonderful! Marvellous! Miraculous!” the to themselves, as the was to them, piece by piece.
“Now,” said Sir John, when it was at last told. “There are seven people only that have this story. What do you us to do?”
“I will see the Home Secretary,” said Sir Christopher at last. “This is a Government affair, of course. England’s to the again; lucky they their way out on British territory. The question will be up in the House—an must be formed, and the two would like to us, and help us with their knowledge of the place.”
“Don’t go again,” Mavis, her blanching. “Oh you wouldn’t take him from me?”
“Don’t be afraid,” said Alan kindly. “Nothing is done yet, and when it is they will be with me alone.”
163“Would you go again?” wide open in horror.
“Of course, Mavis, but I’ll see that Desmond doesn’t go,” and he laughed cheerily.
The called a meeting of their upon the of “THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW AND HITHERTO UNSUSPECTED PEOPLE” and the two boys came in for a great of and applause. Everything was settled at last, however; were through the right and a was up in the House of Commons. The only point that was not public was the exact place of the entrance to Kalvar. That was secret—the Home Secretary having his word that until the necessary had been the two Governments, that of the Mother Country, together with the Commonwealth of Australia, most should be kept, so that no one possibly know that Walla Balla was the spot.
All the papers were full of the new discovery. Reporters, ordinary newspaper men, big newspaper correspondents, all their way to the little hotel. Alan and Desmond Forsyth had famous! Kings and princes,—commoners and dukes, all with one another to meet and the two men who had had such experiences.
At last the was complete and was to sail in a fortnight’s time. Meanwhile, Alan, who was to it, was to take a fortnight’s entire rest. Geologists, historians, geographers, all wanted sent. Mechanics, and a small had to be provided. The Government had already a large to the Mining Company at Walla Balla, and had the entire for a mile each way from the Second Pit.
The whole was a one, and once again Britain and her Colonies came to the as the in the world.
The had been offered to the British Museum, and had been accepted. The had been in the hands of who the document to be genuine. Antiquarians 164from all parts of the world came to see the relics, and the newspapers had paragraphs in them every day, to the “Kalvar Expedition.”
“Phew!” said Alan one day as he in a taxi. “That is the last public speech I shall make for months, I hope.” He and Desmond had been guests of at a by the Society of Antiquarians. “Thank we to-night for Scotland. To-morrow we shall see the Argenta. Nine months since we were there. What a we have into our these last months.”
“I think we’ve up for our six years,” laughed Desmond.
Masters met them at Arroch Head and was to welcome them back.
“Nine months since we were here,” said Sir John. “You’ve the news in the papers, of course?”
“Of course, Sir John. The Cavalier in a fortnight, I believe.”
“Yes,” answered Alan, “and I am going to take fourteen days rest, and then—well, off to Kalvar again, only this time of my own free will.”
The longed-for moment had come! Hector was in the mechanic’s seat, while Masters the great ship the slope. Gracefully she out of the hangar, and the and stopped on the level. Sir John was very excited. “You are sure you want to test her?” he asked. “Remember she has been up before—you have only my word for it that she’s safe. Desmond, don’t you think you had with Mavis, in case—”
But Mavis interposed. “Nonsense, Uncle John. This is the day of my life. Now give me your hand,” and she herself up the and on to the deck. Sir John suit, and they by side, the the ladder.
At last! They were all and the six themselves to the bird that in the sunshine. They the in, Masters touched a lever, and they started. 165Slowly they at first—but higher and higher, and until the was to and they saw only of country them.
“Oh!” said Mavis breathlessly. “We’re off. Where are we going?”
“I want to make a of the British Isles, and then home to Dalmyrnie.”
“But shall we have time?”
“At speed we ought to do it in about four hours.”
“Only four hours?” in amazement.
“Well, we shall only go from Dalmyrnie—we shan’t touch north to-day.”
“Now,” on Mavis impatiently. “I want you to take me all over this ship. I want to see everything. I want to know how it is possible to and such a by the work of only two men.”
“Then we’ll start right now,” laughed Sir John. “Come, boys, we’ll the Argenta, and then have some tea.”
166
