’Not so, oh king!’ Fumenta answered, drawing himself up proudly. ’No rebel against you have I ever been! No one can say it! But against your vassal Agrando, yes! I have been his sworn enemy for many a year, and not without good reason; but against you I have had no other complaint to make than that you supported him against me. Doubtless you were misled by false and lying misrepresentations, and had you known the truth—— But there is no time for the discussion of such matters now. I offer you safe asylum, not for yourself and your followers only, but for your airships. You will find that I and all my people are loyal to you, and will fight to the death against Agrando and his allies.’ ’But how can you hide my airships away?’ asked the king doubtfully. ’You shall soon see, oh king! Do not delay, I pray you. The mist is already getting thinner. A little longer, and our chance will be gone.’ Ivanta looked at Alondra, and the two conferred apart for a brief space. Then Ivanta returned to Fumenta, and, holding out his hand, said, ’I hear you have been a good friend to my son and his companions in the time of their need. That is enough for me! Henceforth you are my friends—you and all your followers.’ Fumenta thereupon took charge of the craft as a pilot might, issuing instructions in low tones to the officers. Under his guidance, the _Nelda_ glided slowly through the mist, closely followed by the _Lokris_, which had been resting a few yards away. Then, as they went along, Alondra asked for tidings of their friends, and heard bad news indeed. Many of the party who had accompanied Alondra to Agrando’s court had been treacherously seized. Monck, it seemed, had got away in the _Lokris_, bringing with him the two sailors and—somewhat curiously—Zuanstroom’s nephew Freddy, who had sought shelter with him and begged piteously not to be left behind. These were all safe on board the other yacht. ’But of others,’ said the king, ’I am sorry to say that they are now held as prisoners by Agrando. Aveena and several of your friends, Alondra, are amongst them, and,’ he went on, slowly and bitterly, ’most humiliating of all, for me to have to confess it—for it seems as though I had failed in a host’s first duty—so, I am deeply pained to tell you, is our friend Armeath.’ *CHAPTER XXXIV.* *A NIGHT EXPEDITION.* It was getting near dawn, and the mist was perceptibly clearing away, when the two air-yachts approached the great funnel-shaped opening leading down to the ancient volcano. Ivanta, who had been wondering how Fumenta was going to keep the promise he had made that he would hide the airships away, looked with great curiosity at the dark, uninviting cavity. ’Are we to try to squeeze in there, friend Fumenta?’ he asked. ’Is that your idea?’