CHAPTER XVIII. WHAT HAPPENED TO DICK AND QUEEN OLIVE.

When Dick Vincey felt the cold snout of an animal touching his face, a convulsive 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 horrible picuasus, as he supposed it to be, the animal uttered a low whine, and began 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 must be a dog.

He opened his eyes and strove in vain to pierce the inky darkness and see what it was.

The footsteps were coming nearer all the time, and fearful that the person who was approaching might turn in some other direction, Dick shouted out:

“Help!”

Queen Olive awoke with a wild cry of alarm on her lips, and tremblingly asked 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 fantastic garb of limited extent, hurrying toward them.

A huge dog was standing over Dick, which the boy recognized at once as Jupiter, 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 torch near their faces, a cry of astonishment, intermingled with joy, left the 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 from his belt, he quickly severed the bonds that held the couple prisoners.

“How came you here?” he asked, as Dick arose to his feet and patted Jupiter on the head.

“You shall hear the whole story,” was the reply; “but let us first get out of this place. I, for one, have had quite enough of it to last the rest of my life. Come, Olive, we are saved!”

Without any further ado, Lacy led the way out of the cave, going through a long, dark passage, the mouth of which opened into the vast cavern 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 and myself came to be in the predicament you found us.”

He then related, in as few words as possible, all that had transpired in the past few hours, winding up by asking Lacy how he and the dog escaped 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, the danger of going over them is not great. There is another person who went 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 and hearty 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 in character 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. But come, we had better be moving from here; there is no telling when one of those big turtle spiders might show up. What do you say if you both accompany me to the city of the Naztecs? I’ll guarantee that you will be used well.”

“We will go!” said Queen Olive, suddenly. “It would not do for me to go back to Hez at this late hour. The people would scarcely believe the abduction, 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 can of it.”

Reginald Lacy had left the city with his dog to make an exploration of the surrounding country.

Unconsciously his steps led him to the spot where Dick and his fair companion lay bound hand and foot.

But it was Jupiter’s fault more than his own that he came that far away from the little city.

The dog wanted to pursue an upward course, and Lacy allowed him to have his way.

He had passed through many caverns and chambers, and were it not for the 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 this better than his master.

Lacy was very much pleased at finding Dick, and as they threaded their way through the mazes of the underground world, he told the boy about the 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 to let what has passed be forgotten. He is very bitter against me, though for 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 the valley below.

That she was becoming weary and footsore was plainly evident by the manner in which she clung to Dick’s arm.

She was as much puzzled as Dick when they entered the lighted chamber and started through it.

But when they came to what lay beyond she could scarcely believe her senses.

She had never laid eyes upon such buildings as the little city contained, and could hardly bring herself to believe that she was not dreaming.

With Dick it was different. He was not surprised at anything, but took every new thing he saw the same as though he had always been aware of its existence.

As Lacy and his dog entered the city with the two strangers, much excitement was manifested by the Naztecs.

They crowded around the newcomers, and began asking all sorts of questions in their peculiar language.

Queen Olive understood it perfectly, and she lost no time in giving them all the information they desired.

Attracted by the confusion outside, Azurma came forth from the room assigned to her in the purple-hued building.

As soon as she observed who the strangers were, a cry of joy left her lips, 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 for speaking as I did. You did but your duty.”

Then, as is generally the case, the two women embraced each other, and were more friendly than they had ever been before.

The Naztecs seemed very proud of their visitors, and treated them with the utmost kindness.

They were also given rooms in the palace, and a royal reception was held in their honor.

But though Dick was treated after the manner of a prince, and had the girl 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 associates about him, it would have been different.