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　　The end of it all!
　　They had to sleep out in the open that night. Effans gave the children the rugs he had brought,because all their sleeping things had been left behind in the cave, on the mountain-side. Theprisoners slept apart, guarded by the dogs. It was very warm, and Snowy got pushed off byeveryone when he tried to cuddle down first on top of Philip, then on Jack¹, and then on the girls.
　　They had had a very long talk with Bill and told him all their adventures down to the last detail.
　　Bill had marvelled² at their accidental discovery of the strange mountain and its even strangersecret. He had examined the ‘wings’ which Philip had given to Johns to take care of for him.
　　‘I shall take those back to school with me next term!’ Philip said. ‘Won’t the boys stare! I betsome of them will want to try them!’
　　‘Well, all I can say is I should discourage anyone from jumping off the school roof or anythinglike that, and trusting to these wings,’ said Bill drily. ‘I have a feeling that the ingenious brainbehind these things is failing a little – the old “king” will never discover how to make the wings heso much wants to make. But he certainly has invented some remarkable³ things. I have had a talkwith Meier, and he has told me why he believed in Monally – that’s the “king’s” real name.’
　　‘Why did he believe in him?’ asked the children curiously⁴.
　　‘Well, apparently⁵ he has, at one time or another, produced the most remarkable inventions,’ saidBill, ‘and Meier has backed him and made a great deal of money out of them. How he came tofind this mountain, and the rare metal in its heart, which the “king” wanted for his latest idea ofconquering the pull of the earth, I haven’t been able to find out yet. Some dirty work of some sort,I expect.’
　　‘What are you going to do about everything?’ asked Jack.
　　‘Well – the paratroopers will be sent back home. The soldiers will be questioned and also sentback. I have a feeling there’s something strange about them too. The “king” will be taken intosafety,’ said Bill. ‘I shall send two or three scientists to the mountain to let them report on whatthey find there. I shouldn’t be surprised if they advise us to destroy everything in it. The “king”

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