CHAPTER XXII. FREEDOM AT LAST.
Well satisfied that Leo was in the approaching party of torch bearers,the professor and his two companions hurried to meet them as fast asthey could run.
In less than five minutes the two parties met.
A cry of joy went up from the three searchers.
There were four men of their own race in the party of torch bearers.
A single glance told them this much, and they also recognized all four.
They were Leo Malvern, Dick Vincey, Reginald Lacy and Philander Owens.
Martin Haypole uttered a whoop, and, rushing forward, seized the handsof the two brave, young fellows who had been his companions in theirjourney through the Everglades to the end of mystery.
“I’m downright glad to see you both alive an’ well!” he exclaimed.“Where in thunderation have you been so long, Dick?”
“I can tell you the whole thing in a few words,” replied Dick, as heshook hands with his former associates.
Then he proceeded to relate what had befallen him from the time he andthe queen had disappeared from the magic chamber.
When he came to the point where their newly constructed cannon wasfired off, in order to test it, he said:
“The report must have caused some disturbance among the gases andelectric fluids in the underground country, for immediately afterwardthere came a terrible shock, and everything was in darkness.
“It seemed to be a veritable earthquake, and we were thrown to theground with such force that it was several minutes before we regainedour senses and rose to our feet.
“When we did so we knew that something awful had happened, so we putfor the city with all possible speed.
“On arriving there, we discovered that it was but a mass of ruins.
“Every building in it was leveled to the ground, and all thecombustible substances in the place had taken fire from the burningfurnaces that had been in some of the houses.
“As the flames leaped upward it was a grand but terrible sight, and wecould but look upon it with a feeling of awe.
“But we were sickened at heart when we learned, a few minutes later,that of all the inhabitants of the thriving little city, onlytwenty-nine were left.
“The others had all been crushed to death by the falling buildings.
“Among the victims of the terrible disaster, brought about by thedischarge of our gun, were our wives--I mean Queen Olive, Azurma andtwo Naztec ladies, whom Lacy and Owens were wedded to.
“The survivors were terror-stricken, and begged us to lead them fromthe spot at once to the land of the Hezzians, and fearful that anothershock might take place, we placed our gun on an improvised drag andstarted, knowing that we could do nothing further for those who laybeneath the ruins of the city.
“Full of sorrow, we turned the angle that hid our view of the destroyedcity, and journeyed through the chamber of rock to the open.
“Here everything was in darkness, but we had provided ourselves withtorches, and lighted them as we emerged. Shortly after that we heardthe shot you fired, and Leo answered it. That is all there is of it,but it is quite enough, I can tell you.”
There were tears in Dick’s eyes as he related the events that had sorecently taken place, and, recognizing the situation, the professorand his two companions did not question him further.
On the contrary, they related their experiences since they had partedcompany, and then, seizing hold of the ropes attached to the drag, theyall started for Hez.
Andrew Jones knew full well that the Hezzians would not allow them todepart in peace from the underground world, or he would never havesanctioned the movement to drag the cannon along with them.
He thought if the destructive powers of the weapon was once proved tothem, they would give in and allow the party to depart.
It was no easy matter to drag the heavy piece up the steep hills theywere forced to traverse, but there were enough to do it, and so theymanaged it very well.
On their way to Hez they observed that the earthquake, or whatever itmight be called, had caused many changes.
But, luckily for them, their way was not blocked up, and in due timethey came in sight of the village.
But what a wonderful change had been wrought here!
The surface of the ground above had given way and caved in, making theopening above the village of stone huts more than four times its formersize.
The majority of the buildings were buried from sight beneath tons ofdirt, and not a sign of any of the Hezzians could be seen.
The earth had caved in in the form of a slant, and, with a cry of joy,our friends began mounting this.
When they reached the top crust of the earth once more, a prayer ofheartfelt thanks left the lips of one and all.
But the Naztecs could not be induced to follow them to the outside.
The light of day was so strange to them that they were too frightenedto proceed further.
In vain did Dick and Leo coax them to come up; but they only shooktheir heads, and at length turned their steps in the direction of theirformer homes in the bowels of the earth.
The swamp explorers found themselves upon a comparatively high pieceof ground, which was surrounded by the marsh lands that composed thegreater portion of the vast Everglades.
It was the first time they had set eyes upon the huge trees and tangledundergrowth of the outside world in two whole years, and, dreary astheir surroundings were, they thought it the most beautiful sight theyhad ever witnessed.
Those who had reached the earth’s surface were Dick Vincey, LeoMalvern, Prof. Remington Easy, Martin Haypole, Andrew Jones, ReginaldLacy and Philander Owens.
The only one missing of those who had entered the door in the obelisk,two years before, was Lucky, the darky.
Leo and Dick thought of this at about the same time, and were for goingback to search for him.
As they were arguing over the matter with their friends they heard awhistle in the distance, and, on looking in the direction it came from,discovered the darky approaching them.
“Hurrah!” yelled Lucky, as he observed them, “I’s so glad I hab foun’youse, Massa Leo and Massa Dick.”
“How did you get out of the Land of Hez?” asked Leo.
“De roof done cave in a little while back an’ kill putty nigh all depeople. I run for de stairs dat we cum down when we fust cum here, an’went up them till I seed a light. I got out easy enough, as de biggravestone had fall down an’ broke in two. I was terribly scared--’deedI was; an’ waited in de bushes till I heered youse a-talkin’. Den Iwhistled an’ cum over here.”
That was the explanation Lucky gave for his sudden appearance, and itabout covered the matter.