As the young prince finished, he started. While he had been speaking the last few words there had been heard a tiny, muffled 'ting-ting,' and now, in the surrounding stillness, it was heard still more plainly.
'Ting--ting-ting--ting--ting!' it rang out.
'By Jove!' exclaimed Jack, 'that's your wireless telegraph affair!'
Alondra plunged a hand into his breast and brought out the little instrument they had seen when they had been in the pavilion.
He placed it on his outstretched palm, and again were heard the clear, silvery notes of the little gongs.
Excitedly he opened it and began to manipulate the miniature levers and pins.
'What did I tell you?' he breathed, in low accents. 'Said I not that my father would be soon on his way to our assistance?'
Just then Fumenta came gliding back like some weird, mysterious shadow.
'Follow me,' he said, 'and I will show you a strange sight!'
'My father King Ivanta has come to seek us,' Alondra said joyously. 'He is not far away!'
To their surprise the outlaw chief nodded his head and answered slowly, 'I know. But he cannot help us. He is in hiding, as we are. He cannot aid us at present. I may, however, help him by offering him a temporary refuge, as I have done to you.'
Alondra turned and faced him in amazement, his eyes flashing, and his cheeks flushing with indignation.
'My father--in hiding? You--offering him a refuge?' he gasped. 'Sir, have you suddenly'----
'Peace, my son! You speak too loudly,' rejoined the old man quietly. 'However painful it may be to you to hear it, what I have said is but the exact truth, as I will prove to you presently. Come with me, and I will show you something that will surprise you.'
He commenced his upward flight as he spoke, and the others wonderingly followed. His words had, so to speak, struck them dumb; and no one uttered another word.
After a few minutes' flight it grew lighter, and they could tell that they were nearing the limits of the mist above them. Then Fumenta stopped upon a sloping rock, and, looking round at his companions to enjoin caution, signed to them to walk slowly up the incline.
They obeyed, and, behold! quite suddenly their heads were above the mist. It was almost as if they had put them up through a trap-door and looked around. The vapours closed round them below like a mantle. They could not see their own hands, but they could see for miles around on every side.