CHAPTER XVIII. WHAT HAPPENED TO DICK AND QUEEN OLIVE.
When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, aconvulsive shudder ran over his body.
He thought that his earthly career was ended, for a certainty.
But, instead of being seized and torn to pieces by the horriblepicuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, andbegan licking his face.
Almost at the same instant the boy heard footsteps approaching.
Then it flashed across his mind that the animal who stood over him mustbe a dog.
He opened his eyes and strove in vain to pierce the inky darkness andsee what it was.
The footsteps were coming nearer all the time, and fearful that theperson who was approaching might turn in some other direction, Dickshouted out:
“Help!”
Queen Olive awoke with a wild cry of alarm on her lips, and tremblinglyasked Dick what had happened.
Before he could reply, a light flashed up and illumined the cave,almost blinding the two prisoners for a moment.
But this soon passed off, and they saw a man, attired in a fantasticgarb of limited extent, hurrying toward them.
A huge dog was standing over Dick, which the boy recognized at once asJupiter, the dog he had seen go over the falls with his master.
But when the man halted in front of them and held his lighted torchnear their faces, a cry of astonishment, intermingled with joy, leftthe boy prisoner’s lips.
It was no other than Reginald Lacy himself who stood before them.
Lacy seemed to be as much surprised as Dick, but drawing a knife fromhis belt, he quickly severed the bonds that held the couple prisoners.
“How came you here?” he asked, as Dick arose to his feet and pattedJupiter on the head.
“You shall hear the whole story,” was the reply; “but let us first getout of this place. I, for one, have had quite enough of it to last therest of my life. Come, Olive, we are saved!”
Without any further ado, Lacy led the way out of the cave, goingthrough a long, dark passage, the mouth of which opened into the vastcavern just above the falls.
Once here, Dick breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now, Mr. Lacy,” said he, “I will tell you how the queen of Hez andmyself came to be in the predicament you found us.”
He then related, in as few words as possible, all that had transpiredin the past few hours, winding up by asking Lacy how he and the dogescaped death when they went whirling over the falls.
“That is easily explained,” returned Reginald Lacy, with a smile.“There were no rocks at the foot of the falls, and, consequently, thedanger of going over them is not great. There is another person whowent safely over them since I did.”
“Who was it?” asked Dick. “Surely not Azurma?”
“But it was, just the same. She is now living, and is as hale andhearty as she ever was.”
“Where is she?” asked Queen Olive, in an interested manner.
“In the city of the Naztecs, a few miles from here.”
“What do you mean?” gasped Dick, in astonishment.
“Exactly what I say, my boy. There is a race of people, similar incharacter to those who live in the Land of Hez, not far from here.Their city is my home for the present, as well as that of Azurma. Butcome, we had better be moving from here; there is no telling when oneof those big turtle spiders might show up. What do you say if you bothaccompany me to the city of the Naztecs? I’ll guarantee that you willbe used well.”
“We will go!” said Queen Olive, suddenly. “It would not do for me to goback to Hez at this late hour. The people would scarcely believe theabduction, and it is hard to tell exactly what might take place.”
“Lead the way, Mr. Lacy,” spoke up Dick. “I am satisfied with anything.This is a country of wonder and mystery, and I desire to see all I canof it.”
Reginald Lacy had left the city with his dog to make an exploration ofthe surrounding country.
Unconsciously his steps led him to the spot where Dick and his faircompanion lay bound hand and foot.
But it was Jupiter’s fault more than his own that he came that far awayfrom the little city.
The dog wanted to pursue an upward course, and Lacy allowed him to havehis way.
He had passed through many caverns and chambers, and were it not forthe dog, he knew that he would never be able to find his way back again.
But Jupiter was a dog that could be depended upon, and no one knew thisbetter than his master.
Lacy was very much pleased at finding Dick, and as they threaded theirway through the mazes of the underground world, he told the boy aboutthe presence of Philander Owens in the city they were bound for.
“I wish,” said he, “that you would see him, and endeavor to get him tolet what has passed be forgotten. He is very bitter against me, thoughfor what reason it is not likely that anybody, save the pair of us,will ever know.”
“I will do all I can,” returned Dick.
The beautiful queen spoke never a word during the descent into thevalley below.
That she was becoming weary and footsore was plainly evident by themanner in which she clung to Dick’s arm.
She was as much puzzled as Dick when they entered the lighted chamberand started through it.
But when they came to what lay beyond she could scarcely believe hersenses.
She had never laid eyes upon such buildings as the little citycontained, and could hardly bring herself to believe that she was notdreaming.
With Dick it was different. He was not surprised at anything, but tookevery new thing he saw the same as though he had always been aware ofits existence.
As Lacy and his dog entered the city with the two strangers, muchexcitement was manifested by the Naztecs.
They crowded around the newcomers, and began asking all sorts ofquestions in their peculiar language.
Queen Olive understood it perfectly, and she lost no time in givingthem all the information they desired.
Attracted by the confusion outside, Azurma came forth from the roomassigned to her in the purple-hued building.
As soon as she observed who the strangers were, a cry of joy left herlips, and she rushed to them.
“Where is Leo? Did he not come with you?” she asked of Dick.
“No, he did not,” was the reply. “So you escaped death, after all,Azurma?”
“Yes, but no thanks to her who condemned me to death!” said the girl,looking at her former queen.
“Was it my fault that you were condemned to death?” asked Queen Olive,in a calm voice.
“No,” replied the girl, after a moment’s thought. “Forgive me forspeaking as I did. You did but your duty.”
Then, as is generally the case, the two women embraced each other, andwere more friendly than they had ever been before.
The Naztecs seemed very proud of their visitors, and treated them withthe utmost kindness.
They were also given rooms in the palace, and a royal reception washeld in their honor.
But though Dick was treated after the manner of a prince, and had thegirl he loved near him, he was yet far from being happy.
Had he been in his own country, with Leo and the rest of his associatesabout him, it would have been different.