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 as they 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 hands of the two brave, young fellows who had been his companions in their journey 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 he shook hands with his former associates.

Then he proceeded to relate what had befallen him from the time he and the queen had disappeared from the magic chamber.

When he came to the point where their newly constructed cannon was fired off, in order to test it, he said:

“The report must have caused some disturbance among the gases and electric fluids in the underground country, for immediately afterward there came a terrible shock, and everything was in darkness.

“It seemed to be a veritable earthquake, and we were thrown to the ground with such force that it was several minutes before we regained our senses and rose to our feet.

“When we did so we knew that something awful had happened, so we put for 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 the combustible substances in the place had taken fire from the burning furnaces that had been in some of the houses.

“As the flames leaped upward it was a grand but terrible sight, and we could 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, only twenty-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 the discharge of our gun, were our wives--I mean Queen Olive, Azurma and two Naztec ladies, whom Lacy and Owens were wedded to.

“The survivors were terror-stricken, and begged us to lead them from the spot at once to the land of the Hezzians, and fearful that another shock might take place, we placed our gun on an improvised drag and started, knowing that we could do nothing further for those who lay beneath the ruins of the city.

“Full of sorrow, we turned the angle that hid our view of the destroyed city, and journeyed through the chamber of rock to the open.

“Here everything was in darkness, but we had provided ourselves with torches, and lighted them as we emerged. Shortly after that we heard the 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 so recently taken place, and, recognizing the situation, the professor and his two companions did not question him further.

On the contrary, they related their experiences since they had parted company, and then, seizing hold of the ropes attached to the drag, they all started for Hez.

Andrew Jones knew full well that the Hezzians would not allow them to depart in peace from the underground world, or he would never have sanctioned the movement to drag the cannon along with them.

He thought if the destructive powers of the weapon was once proved to them, they would give in and allow the party to depart.

It was no easy matter to drag the heavy piece up the steep hills they were forced to traverse, but there were enough to do it, and so they managed it very well.

On their way to Hez they observed that the earthquake, or whatever it might be called, had caused many changes.

But, luckily for them, their way was not blocked up, and in due time they 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 the opening above the village of stone huts more than four times its former size.

The majority of the buildings were buried from sight beneath tons of dirt, 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 of heartfelt 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 frightened to proceed further.

In vain did Dick and Leo coax them to come up; but they only shook their heads, and at length turned their steps in the direction of their former homes in the bowels of the earth.

The swamp explorers found themselves upon a comparatively high piece of ground, which was surrounded by the marsh lands that composed the greater portion of the vast Everglades.

It was the first time they had set eyes upon the huge trees and tangled undergrowth of the outside world in two whole years, and, dreary as their surroundings were, they thought it the most beautiful sight they had ever witnessed.

Those who had reached the earth’s surface were Dick Vincey, Leo Malvern, Prof. Remington Easy, Martin Haypole, Andrew Jones, Reginald Lacy 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 going back to search for him.

As they were arguing over the matter with their friends they heard a whistle 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 de people. 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 big gravestone had fall down an’ broke in two. I was terribly scared--’deed I was; an’ waited in de bushes till I heered youse a-talkin’. Den I whistled an’ cum over here.”

That was the explanation Lucky gave for his sudden appearance, and it about covered the matter.