“Perhaps it may so seem to you,” replied Robert, “but it’s nevertheless true. When the hour comes we shall strike, to the full extent that may be necessary, but not one step beyond that. Those are the orders--the orders of the High President.” “The High President!” exclaimed Mortimer, coming to a dead stop. “Ah! I see--I see! I’ve heard that title before. This--this--camp is a camp of Reactionists and you--you--you--are rebels--conspirators against the King!” “Hush!” said Robert warningly. “You deny it!” cried Mortimer. “I affirm or deny nothing!” replied Robert. “I’ve already said too much. Come, let us move on.” He touched Mortimer lightly on the arm. They walked a short distance further on down the valley, to a large circular opening between the mountains, where a singular sight confronted them. In that great circular valley, moored to right and left, like shipping in a harbor, lay some two dozen air-ships of varying sizes. In the foremost rank were the four great ships which had effected their capture, and nestling behind these four was their own craft, the “Royal Dean.” Here and there men at work were moving about among the ships. Silently they stared for a moment upon the scene before them. “I would much like to inspect some of these,” whispered Dean to Robert. “May I?” “I hardly think I have authority to grant you that privilege,” replied Robert, smiling, “but _your_ ship will doubtless be subjected to very careful scrutiny by us. By the way, is there anything about it that requires attention for the moment?” “Nothing,” replied Dean; “everything is automatically controlled and it can remain as it is for a month without injury.” “Did you take part in fitting it up?” asked Robert curiously. “For any and all information,” replied Dean, with a laugh, “I must refer you to Captain Mortimer.” Robert good-naturedly joined in the laugh against himself and led the way on board one of the larger air-ships. This air-ship was supplied with quite a spacious cabin and into this cabin Robert showed his prisoners, unbinding the ropes which confined their arms. “This will have to be your dungeon cell for the present,” he said, with a wave of the hand around the cabin, “and I think you will agree it might be worse. For my part, I’ll do all in my power to make you as comfortable as possible. We have a very fair commissariat department, I think you’ll find, and I’ll at least see to it that you’re well looked after in that direction. My quarters are quite close to yours and whatever is prepared for my daughter and myself you shall share.” “Your daughter,” repeated Mortimer. “Was that the lady whom we saw when we landed?”