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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/285-0.txt b/285-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4da3fc --- /dev/null +++ b/285-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9975 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost Continent, by C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lost Continent + +Author: C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne + +Release Date: July 6, 2008 [EBook #285] +Last Updated: November 8, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST CONTINENT *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss + + + + + +THE LOST CONTINENT + +C. J. Cutliffe Hyne + + + +CONTENTS + + PREFATORY: THE LEGATEES OF DEUCALION + 1 MY RECALL + 2 BACK TO ATLANTIS + 3 A RIVAL NAVY + 4 THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE + 5 ZAEMON’S CURSE + 6 THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS + 7 THE BITERS OF THE WALLS + (FURTHER ACCOUNT) + 8 THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS + 9 PHORENICE, GODDESS + 10 A WOOING + 11 AN AFFAIR WITH THE BARBAROUS FISHERS + 12 THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE MOON + 13 THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS + 14 AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE + 15 ZAEMON’S SUMMONS + 16 SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + 17 NAIS THE REGAINED + 18 STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + 19 DESTRUCTION OF THE ATLANTIS + 20 ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP + + + + + + +PREFATORY: + +THE LEGATEES OF DEUCALION + + +We were both of us not a little stiff as the result of sleeping out in +the open all that night, for even in Grand Canary the dew-fall and the +comparative chill of darkness are not to be trifled with. For myself on +these occasions I like a bit of a run as an early refresher. But here on +this rough ground in the middle of the island there were not three yards +of level to be found, and so as Coppinger proceeded to go through some +sort of dumb-bell exercises with a couple of lumps of bristly lava, I +followed his example. Coppinger has done a good deal of roughing it in +his time, but being a doctor of medicine amongst other things--he takes +out a new degree of some sort on an average every other year--he is +great on health theories, and practises them like a religion. + +There had been rain two days before, and as there was still a bit of +stream trickling along at the bottom of the barranca, we went down there +and had a wash, and brushed our teeth. Greatest luxury imaginable, a +toothbrush, on this sort of expedition. + +“Now,” said Coppinger when we had emptied our pockets, “there’s precious +little grub left, and it’s none the better for being carried in a local +Spanish newspaper.” + +“Yours is mostly tobacco ashes.” + +“It’ll get worse if we leave it. We’ve a lot more bad scrambling ahead +of us.” + +That was obvious. So we sat down beside the stream there at the bottom +of the barranca, and ate up all of what was left. It was a ten-mile +tramp to the fonda at Santa Brigida, where we had set down our traps; +and as Coppinger wanted to take a lot more photographs and measurements +before we left this particular group of caves, it was likely we should +be pretty sharp set before we got our next meal, and our next taste of +the PATRON’S splendid old country wine. My faith! If only they knew down +in the English hotels in Las Palmas what magnificent wines one could +get--with diplomacy--up in some of the mountain villages, the old +vintage would become a thing of the past in a week. + +Now to tell the truth, the two mummies he had gathered already quite +satisfied my small ambition. The goatskins in which they were sewn up +were as brittle as paper, and the poor old things themselves gave out +dust like a puffball whenever they were touched. But you know what +Coppinger is. He thought he’d come upon traces of an old Guanche +university, or sacred college, or something of that kind, like the one +there is on the other side of the island, and he wouldn’t be satisfied +till he’d ransacked every cave in the whole face of the cliff. He’d +plenty of stuff left for the flashlight thing, and twenty-eight more +films in his kodak, and said we might as well get through with the job +then as make a return journey all on purpose. So he took the crowbar, +and I shouldered the rope, and away we went up to the ridge of the +cliff, where we had got such a baking from the sun the day before. + +Of course these caves were not easy to come at, or else they would have +been raided years before. Coppinger, who on principle makes out he +knows all about these things, says that in the old Guanche days they +had ladders of goatskin rope which they could pull up when they were at +home, and so keep out undesirable callers; and as no other plan occurs +to me, perhaps he may be right. Anyway the mouths of the caves were in +a more or less level row thirty feet below the ridge of the cliff, and +fifty feet above the bottom; and Spanish curiosity doesn’t go in much +where it cannot walk. + +Now laddering such caves from below would have been cumbersome, but a +light knotted rope is easily carried, and though it would have been hard +to climb up this, our plan was to descend on each cave mouth from above, +and then slip down to the foot of the cliffs, and start again AB INITIO +for the next. + +Coppinger is plucky enough, and he has a good head on a height, but +there is no getting over the fact that he is portly and nearer fifty +than forty-five. So you can see he must have been pretty keen. Of course +I went first each time, and got into the cave mouth, and did what I +could to help him in; but when you have to walk down a vertical cliff +face fly-fashion, with only a thin bootlace of a rope for support, it +is not much real help the man below can give, except offer you his best +wishes. + +I wanted to save him as much as I could, and as the first three caves +I climbed to were small and empty, seeming to be merely store-places, +I asked him to take them for granted, and save himself the rest. But +he insisted on clambering down to each one in person, and as he decided +that one of my granaries was a prison, and another a pot-making factory, +and another a schoolroom for young priests, he naturally said he hadn’t +much reliance on my judgment, and would have to go through the whole +lot himself. You know what these thorough-going archaeologists are for +imagination. + +But as the day went on, and the sun rose higher, Coppinger began clearly +to have had enough of it, though he was very game, and insisted on going +on much longer than was safe. I must say I didn’t like it. You see +the drop was seldom less than eighty feet from the top of the cliffs. +However, at last he was forced to give it up. I suggested marching off +to Santa Brigida forthwith, but he wouldn’t do that. There were three +more cave-openings to be looked into, and if I wouldn’t do them for him, +he would have to make another effort to get there himself. He tried to +make out he was conferring a very great favour on me by offering to take +a report solely from my untrained observation, but I flatly refused to +look at it in that light. I was pretty tired also; I was soaked with +perspiration from the heat; my head ached from the violence of the sun; +and my hands were cut raw with the rope. + +Coppinger might be tired, but he was still enthusiastic. He tried to +make me enthusiastic also. “Look here,” he said, “there’s no knowing +what you may find up there, and if you do lay hands on anything, +remember it’s your own. I shall have no claim whatever.” + +“Very kind of you, but I’ve got no use for any more mummies done up in +goatskin bags.” + +“Bah! That’s not a burial cave up there. Don’t you know the difference +yet in the openings? Now, be a good fellow. It doesn’t follow that +because we have drawn all the rest blank, you won’t stumble across a +good find for yourself up there.” + +“Oh, very well,” I said, as he seemed so set on it; and away I stumbled +over the fallen rocks, and along the ledge, and then scrambled up by +that fissure in the cliff which saved us the two-mile round which we had +had to take at first. I wrenched out the crowbar, and jammed it down +in a new place, and then away I went over the side, with hands smarting +worse at every new grip of the rope. It was an awkward job swinging into +the cave mouth because the rock above overhung, or else (what came to +the same thing) it had broken away below; but I managed it somehow, +although I landed with an awkward thump on my back, and at the same time +I didn’t let go the rope. It wouldn’t do to have lost the rope then: +Coppinger couldn’t have flicked it into me from where he was below. + +Now from the first glance I could see that this cave was of different +structure to the others. They were for the most part mere dens, rounded +out anyhow; this had been faced up with cutting tools, so that all the +angles were clean, and the sides smooth and flat. The walls inclined +inwards to the roof, reminding me of an architecture I had seen before +but could not recollect where, and moreover there were several rooms +connected up with passages. I was pleased to find that the other +cave-openings which Coppinger wanted me to explore were merely the +windows or the doorways of two of these other rooms. + +Of inscriptions or markings on the walls there was not a trace, though I +looked carefully, and except for bats the place was entirely bare. I +lit a cigarette and smoked it through--Coppinger always thinks one is +slurring over work if it is got through too quickly--and then I went +to the entrance where the rope was, and leaned out, and shouted down my +news. + +He turned up a very anxious face. “Have you searched it thoroughly?” he +bawled back. + +“Of course I have. What do you think I’ve been doing all this time?” + +“No, don’t come down yet. Wait a minute. I say, old man, do wait a +minute. I’m making fast the kodak and the flashlight apparatus on the +end of the rope. Pull them up, and just make me half a dozen exposures, +there’s a good fellow.” + +“Oh, all right,” I said, and hauled the things up, and got them inside. +The photographs would be absolutely dull and uninteresting, but that +wouldn’t matter to Coppinger. He rather preferred them that way. One has +to be careful about halation in photographing these dark interiors, but +there was a sort of ledge like a seat by the side of each doorway, and +so I lodged the camera on that to get a steady stand, and snapped off +the flashlight from behind and above. + +I got pictures of four of the chambers this way, and then came to one +where the ledge was higher and wider. I put down the camera, wedged it +level with scraps of stone, and then sat down myself to recharge the +flashlight machine. But the moment my weight got on that ledge, there +was a sharp crackle, and down I went half a dozen inches. + +Of course I was up again pretty sharply, and snapped up the kodak just +as it was going to slide off to the ground. I will confess, too, I was +feeling pleased. Here at any rate was a Guanche cupboard of sorts, and +as they had taken the trouble to hermetically seal it with cement, the +odds were that it had something inside worth hiding. At first there +was nothing to be seen but a lot of dust and rubble, so I lit a bit of +candle and cleared this away. Presently, however, I began to find that +I was shelling out something that was not cement. It chipped away, in +regular layers, and when I took it to the daylight I found that each +layer was made up of two parts. One side was shiny stuff that looked +like talc, and on this was smeared a coating of dark toffee-coloured +material, that might have been wax. The toffee-coloured surface was +worked over with some kind of pattern. + +Now I do not profess to any knowledge on these matters, and as a +consequence took what Coppinger had told me about Guanche habits and +acquirements as more or less true. For instance, he had repeatedly +impressed upon me that this old people could not write, and having this +in my memory, I did not guess that the patterns scribed through the +wax were letters in some obsolete character, which, if left to myself, +probably I should have done. But still at the same time I came to +the conclusion that the stuff was worth looting, and so set to work +quarrying it out with the heel of my boot and a pocket-knife. + +The sheets were all more or less stuck together, and so I did not go in +for separating them farther. They fitted exactly to the cavity in which +they were stored, but by smashing down its front I was able to get at +the foot of them, and then I hacked away through the bottom layers with +the knife till I got the bulk out in one solid piece. It measured some +twenty inches by fifteen, by fifteen, but it was not so heavy as it +looked, and when I had taken the remaining photographs, I lowered it +down to Coppinger on the end of the rope. + +There was nothing more to do in the caves then, so I went down myself +next. The lump of sheets was on the ground, and Coppinger was on all +fours beside it. He was pretty nearly mad with excitement. + + +“What is it?” I asked him. + +“I don’t know yet. But it is the most valuable find ever made in the +Canary Islands, and it’s yours, you unappreciative beggar; at least what +there is left of it. Oh, man, man, you’ve smashed up the beginning, and +you’ve smashed up the end of some history that is probably priceless. +It’s my own fault. I ought to have known better than set an untrained +man to do important exploring work.” + +“I should say it’s your fault if anything’s gone wrong. You said there +was no such thing as writing known to these ancient Canarios, and I +took your word for it. For anything I knew the stuff might have been +something to eat.” + +“It isn’t Guanche work at all,” said he testily. “You ought to have +known that from the talc. Great heavens, man, have you no eyes? Haven’t +you seen the general formation of the island? Don’t you know there’s no +talc here?” + +“I’m no geologist. Is this imported literature then?” + +“Of course. It’s Egyptian: that’s obvious at a glance. Though how +it’s got here I can’t tell yet. It isn’t stuff you can read off like +a newspaper. The character’s a variant on any of those that have been +discovered so far. And as for this waxy stuff spread over the talc, +it’s unique. It’s some sort of a mineral, I think: perhaps asphalt. It +doesn’t scratch up like animal wax. I’ll analyse that later. Why they +once invented it, and then let such a splendid notion drop out of use, +is just a marvel. I could stay gloating over this all day.” + +“Well,” I said, “if it’s all the same for you, I’d rather gloat over a +meal. It’s a good ten miles hard going to the fonda, and I’m as hungry +as a hawk already. Look here, do you know it is four o’clock already? +It takes longer than you think climbing down to each of these caves, and +then getting up again for the next.” + +Coppinger spread his coat on the ground, and wrapped the lump of sheets +with tender care, but would not allow it to be tied with a rope for fear +of breaking more of the edges. He insisted on carrying it himself too, +and did so for the larger part of the way to Santa Brigida, and it was +only when he was within an ace of dropping himself with sheer tiredness +that he condescended to let me take my turn. He was tolerably ungracious +about it too. “I suppose you may as well carry the stuff,” he snapped, +“seeing that after all it’s your own.” + +Personally, when we got to the fonda, I had as good a dinner as was +procurable, and a bottle of that old Canary wine, and turned into bed +after a final pipe. Coppinger dined also, but I have reason to believe +he did not sleep much. At any rate I found him still poring over the +find next morning, and looking very heavy-eyed, but brimming with +enthusiasm. + +“Do you know,” he said, “that you’ve blundered upon the most valuable +historical manuscript that the modern world has ever yet seen? Of +course, with your clumsy way of getting it out, you’ve done an infinity +of damage. For instance, those top sheets you shelled away and +spoiled, contained probably an absolutely unique account of the ancient +civilisation of Yucatan.” + +“Where’s that, anyway?” + +“In the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s all ruins to-day, but once it +was a very prosperous colony of the Atlanteans.” + +“Never heard of them. Oh yes, I have though. They were the people +Herodotus wrote about, didn’t he? But I thought they were mythical.” + +“They were very real, and so was Atlantis, the continent where they +lived, which lay just north of the Canaries here.” + +“What’s that crocodile sort of thing with wings drawn in the margin?” + +“Some sort of beast that lived in those bygone days. The pages are full +of them. That’s a cave-tiger. And that’s some sort of colossal bat. +Thank goodness he had the sense to illustrate fully, the man who wrote +this, or we should never have been able to reconstruct the tale, or at +any rate we could not have understood half of it. Whole species have +died out since this was written, just as a whole continent has been +swept away and three civilisations quenched. The worst of it is, it was +written by a highly-educated man who somewhat naturally writes a very +bad fist. I’ve hammered at it all the night through, and have only +managed to make out a few sentences here and there”--he rubbed his hands +appreciatively. “It will take me a year’s hard work to translate this +properly.” + +“Every man to his taste. I’m afraid my interest in the thing wouldn’t +last as long as that. But how did it get there? Did your ancient +Egyptian come to Grand Canary for the good of his lungs, and write it +because he felt dull up in that cave?” + +“I made a mistake there. The author was not an Egyptian. It was the +similarity of the inscribed character which misled me. The book was +written by one Deucalion, who seems to have been a priest or general--or +perhaps both--and he was an Atlantean. How it got there, I don’t know +yet. Probably that was told in the last few pages, which a certain +vandal smashed up with his pocketknife, in getting them away from the +place where they were stowed.” + +“That’s right, abuse me. Deucalion you say? There was a Deucalion in the +Greek mythology. He was one of the two who escaped from the Flood: their +Noah, in fact.” + +“The swamping of the continent of Atlantis might very well correspond to +the Flood.” + +“Is there a Pyrrha then? She was Deucalion’s wife.” + +“I haven’t come across her yet. But there’s a Phorenice, who may be the +same. She seems to have been the reigning Empress, as far as I can make +out at present.” + +I looked with interest at illustrations in the margin. They were quite +understandable, although the perspective was all wrong. “Weird beasts +they seem to have had knocking about the country in those days. Whacking +big size too, if one may judge. By Jove, that’ll be a cave-tiger trying +to puff down a mammoth. I shouldn’t care to have lived in those days.” + +“Probably they had some way of fighting the creatures. However, that +will show itself as I get along with the translation.” He looked at his +watch--“I suppose I ought to be ashamed of myself, but I haven’t been to +bed. Are you going out?” + +“I shall drive back to Las Palmas. I promised a man to have a round at +golf this afternoon.” + +“Very well, see you at dinner. I hope they’ve sent back my dress shirts +from the wash. O, lord! I am sleepy.” + +I left him going up to bed, and went outside and ordered a carriage to +take me down, and there I may say we parted for a considerable time. +A cable was waiting for me in the hotel at Las Palmas to go home for +business forthwith, and there was a Liverpool boat in the harbour which +I just managed to catch as she was steaming out. It was a close thing, +and the boatmen made a small fortune out of my hurry. + +Now Coppinger was only an hotel acquaintance, and as I was up to the +eyes in work when I got back to England, I’m afraid I didn’t think very +much more about him at the time. One doesn’t with people one just meets +casually abroad like that. And it must have been at least a year later +that I saw by a paragraph in one of the papers, that he had given the +lump of sheets to the British Museum, and that the estimated worth of +them was ten thousand pounds at the lowest valuation. + +Well, this was a bit of revelation, and as he had so repeatedly +impressed on me that the things were mine by right of discovery, I wrote +rather a pointed note to him mentioning that he seemed to have been +making rather free with my property. Promptly came back a stilted letter +beginning, “Doctor Coppinger regrets” and so on, and with it the English +translation of the wax-upon-talc MSS. He “quite admitted” my claim, +and “trusted that the profits of publication would be a sufficient +reimbursement for any damage received.” + +Now I had no idea that he would take me unpleasantly like this, and +wrote back a pretty warm reply to that effect; but the only answer I got +to this was through a firm of solicitors, who stated that all further +communications with Dr. Coppinger must be made through them. + +I will say here publicly that I regret the line he has taken over the +matter; but as the affair has gone so far, I am disposed to follow out +his proposition. Accordingly the old history is here printed; the credit +(and the responsibility) of the translation rests with Dr. Coppinger; +and whatever revenue accrues from readers, goes to the finder of the +original talc-upon-wax sheets, myself. + +If there is a further alteration in this arrangement, it will be +announced publicly at a later date. But at present this appears to be +most unlikely. + + + + +1. MY RECALL + + +The public official reception was over. The sentence had been read, the +name of Phorenice, the Empress, adored, and the new Viceroy installed +with all that vast and ponderous ceremonial which had gained its pomp +and majesty from the ages. Formally, I had delivered up the reins of my +government; formally, Tatho had seated himself on the snake-throne, and +had put over his neck the chain of gems which symbolised the supreme +office; and then, whilst the drums and the trumpets made their +proclamation of clamour, he had risen to his feet, for his first state +progress round that gilded council chamber as Viceroy of the Province of +Yucatan. + +With folded arms and bended head, I followed him between the glittering +lines of soldiers, and the brilliant throng of courtiers, and chiefs, +and statesmen. The roof-beams quivered to the cries of “Long Live +Tatho!” “Flourish the Empress!” which came forth as in duty bound, and +the new ruler acknowledged the welcome with stately inclinations of +the head. In turn he went to the three lesser thrones of the lesser +governors--in the East, the North, and the South, and received homage +from each as the ritual was; and I, the man whom his coming had deposed, +followed with the prescribed meekness in his train. + +It was a hard task, but we who hold the higher offices learn to carry +before the people a passionless face. Once, twenty years before, these +same fine obeisances had been made to me; now the Gods had seen fit to +make fortune change. But as I walked bent and humbly on behind the heels +of Tatho, though etiquette forbade noisy salutations to myself, it could +not inhibit kindly glances, and these came from every soldier, every +courtier, and every chief who stood there in that gilded hall, and +they fell upon me very gratefully. It is not often the fallen meet such +tender looks. + +The form goes, handed down from immemorial custom, that on these great +ceremonial days of changing a ruler, those of the people being present +may bring forward petitions and requests; may make accusations against +their retiring head with sure immunity from his vengeance; or may state +their own private theories for the better government of the State in the +future. I think it may be pardoned to my vanity if I record that not a +voice was raised against me, or against any of the items of my twenty +years of rule. Nor did any speak out for alterations in the future. +Yes, even though we made the circuit for the three prescribed times, all +present showed their approval in generous silence. + +Then, one behind the other, the new Viceroy and the old, we marched with +formal step over golden tiles of that council hall beneath the pyramid, +and the great officers of state left their stations and joined in our +train; and at the farther wall we came to the door of those private +chambers which an hour ago had been mine own. + +Ah, well! I had no home now in any of those wondrous cities of Yucatan, +and I could not help feeling a bitterness, though in sooth I should have +been thankful enough to return to the Continent of Atlantis with my head +still in its proper station. + +Tatho gave his formal summons of “Open ye to the Viceroy,” which the +ritual commands, and the slaves within sent the massive stone valves of +the door gaping wide. Tatho entered, I at his heels; the others halted, +sending valedictions from the threshold; and the valves of the door +clanged on the lock behind us. We passed on to the chamber beyond, and +then, when for the first time we were alone together, and the forced +etiquette of courts was behind us, the new Viceroy turned with meekly +folded arms, and bowed low before me. + +“Deucalion,” he said, “believe me that I have not sought this office. It +was thrust upon me. Had I not accepted, my head would have paid forfeit, +and another man--your enemy--would have been sent out as viceroy in +your place. The Empress does not permit that her will shall ever be +questioned.” + +“My friend,” I made answer, “my brother in all but blood, there is no +man living in all Atlantis or her territories to whom I had liefer hand +over my government. For twenty years now have I ruled this country +of Yucatan, and Mexico beyond, first under the old King, and then +as minister to this new Empress. I know my colony like a book. I am +intimate with all her wonderful cities, with their palaces, their +pyramids, and their people. I have hunted the beasts and the savages in +the forests. I have built roads, and made the rivers so that they will +carry shipping. I have fostered the arts and crafts like a merchant; I +have discoursed, three times each day, the cult of the Gods with +mine own lips. Through evil years and through good have I ruled here, +striving only for the prosperity of the land and the strengthening of +Atlantis, and I have grown to love the peoples like a father. To you I +bequeath them, Tatho, with tender supplications for their interests.” + +“It is not I that can carry on Deucalion’s work with Deucalion’s power, +but rest content, my friend, that I shall do my humble best to follow +exactly on in your footsteps. Believe me, I came out to this government +with a thousand regrets, but I would have died sooner than take your +place had I known how vigorously the supplanting would trouble you.” + +“We are alone here,” I said, “away from the formalities of formal +assemblies, and a man may give vent to his natural self without fear of +tarnishing a ceremony. Your coming was something of the suddenest. +Till an hour ago, when you demanded audience, I had thought to rule on +longer; and even now I do not know for what cause I am deposed.” + +“The proclamation said: ‘We relieve our well-beloved Deucalion of his +present service, because we have great need of his powers at home in our +kingdom of Atlantis.’” + +“A mere formality.” + +Tatho looked uneasily round the hangings of the chamber, and drew me +with him to its centre, and lowered his voice. + +“I do not think so,” he whispered. “I believe she has need of you. There +are troublous times on hand, and Phorenice wants the ablest men in the +kingdom ready to her call.” + +“You may speak openly,” I said, “and without fear of eavesdroppers. +We are in the heart of the pyramid here, built in every way by a man’s +length of solid stone. Myself, I oversaw the laying of every course. +And besides, here in Yucatan, we have not the niceties of your old world +diplomacy, and do not listen, because we count it shame to do so.” + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. “I acted only according to mine education. +At home, a loose tongue makes a loose head, and there are those whose +trade it is to carry tales. Still, what I say is this: The throne +shakes, and Phorenice sees the need of sturdy props. So she has sent +this proclamation.” + +“But why come to me? It is twenty years since I sailed to this colony, +and from that day I have not returned to Atlantis once. I know little of +the old country’s politics. What small parcel of news drifts out to us +across the ocean, reads with slender interest here. Yucatan is another +world, my dear Tatho, as you in the course of your government will +learn, with new interests, new people, new everything. To us here, +Atlantis is only a figment, a shadow, far away across the waters. It +is for this new world of Yucatan that I have striven through all these +years.” + +“If Deucalion has small time to spare from his government for brooding +over his fatherland, Atlantis, at least, has found leisure to admire +the deeds of her brilliant son. Why, sir, over yonder at home, your name +carries magic with it. When you and I were lads together, it was the +custom in the colleges to teach that the men of the past were the +greatest this world has ever seen; but to-day this teaching is changed. +It is Deucalion who is held up as the model and example. Mothers name +their sons Deucalion, as the most valuable birth-gift they can make. +Deucalion is a household word. Indeed, there is only one name that is +near to it in familiarity.” + +“You trouble me,” I said, frowning. “I have tried to do my duty for its +own sake, and for the country’s sake, not for the pattings and fondlings +of the vulgar. And besides, if there are names to be in every one’s +mouth, they should be the names of the Gods.” + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. “The Gods? They occupy us very little +these latter years. With our modern science, we have grown past the +tether of the older Gods, and no new one has appeared. No, my Lord +Deucalion, if it were merely the Gods who were your competitors on men’s +lips, your name would be a thousand times the better known.” + +“Of mere human names,” I said, “the name of this new Empress should come +first in Atlantis, our lord the old King being now dead.” + +“She certainly would have it so,” replied Tatho, and there was something +in his tone which made me see that more was meant behind the words. I +drew him to one of the marble seats, and bent myself familiarly towards +him. “I am speaking,” I said, “not to the new Viceroy of Yucatan, but +to my old friend Tatho, a member of the Priests’ Clan, like myself, with +whom I worked side by side in a score of the smaller home governments, +in hamlets, in villages, in smaller towns, in greater towns, as we +gained experience in war and knowledge in the art of ruling people, and +so tediously won our promotion. I am speaking in Tatho’s private abode, +that was mine own not two hours since, and I would have an answer with +that plainness which we always then used to one another.” + +The new Viceroy sighed whimsically. “I almost forget how to speak in +plain words now,” he said. “We have grown so polished in these latter +days, that mere bald truth would be hissed as indelicate. But for the +memory of those early years, when we expended as much law and thought +over the ownership of a hay-byre as we should now over the fate of a +rebellious city, I will try and speak plain to you even now, Deucalion. +Tell me, old friend, what is it?” + +“What of this new Empress?” + +He frowned. “I might have guessed your subject,” he said. + + +“Then speak upon it. Tell me of all the changes that have been made. +What has this Phorenice done to make her throne unstable in Atlantis?” + +Tatho frowned still. “If I did not know you to be as honest as our Lord +the Sun, your questions would carry mischief with them. Phorenice has a +short way with those who are daring enough to discuss her policies for +other purpose than politely to praise them.” + +“You can leave me ignorant if you wish,” I said with a touch of chill. +This Tatho seemed to be different from the Tatho I had known at home, +Tatho my workmate, Tatho who had read with me in the College of Priests, +who had run with me in many a furious charge, who had laboured with me +so heavily that the peoples under us might prosper. But he was quick +enough to see my change of tone. + +“You force me back to my old self,” he said with a half smile, “though +it is hard enough to forget the caution one has learned during the last +twenty years, even when speaking with you. Still, whatever may have +happened to the rest of us, it is clear to see that you at least have +not changed, and, old friend, I am ready to trust you with my life if +you ask it. In fact, you do ask me that very thing when you tell me to +speak all I know of Phorenice.” + +I nodded. This was more like the old times, when there was full +confidence between us. “The Gods will it now that I return to Atlantis,” + I said, “and what happens after that the Gods alone know. But it would +be of service to me if I could land on her shores with some knowledge of +this Phorenice, for at present I am as ignorant concerning her as some +savage from Europe or mid-Africa.” + +“What would you have me tell?” + +“Tell all. I know only that she, a woman, reigns, whereby the ancient +law of the land, a man should rule; that she is not even of the Priestly +Clan from which the law says all rulers must be drawn; and that, from +what you say, she has caused the throne to totter. The throne was as +firm as the everlasting hills in the old King’s day, Tatho.” + +“History has moved with pace since then, and Phorenice has spurred it. +You know her origin?” + +“I know only the exact little I have told you.” + +“She was a swineherd’s daughter from the mountains, though this is never +even whispered now, as she has declared herself to be a daughter of the +Gods, with a miraculous birth and upbringing. As she has decreed it a +sacrilege to question this parentage, and has ordered to be burnt all +those that seem to recollect her more earthly origin, the fable passes +current for truth. You see the faith I put in you, Deucalion, by telling +you what you wish to learn.” + +“There has always been trust between us.” + +“I know; but this habit of suspicion is hard to cast off, even with you. +However, let me put your good faith between me and the torture further. +Zaemon, you remember, was governor of the swineherd’s province, and +Zaemon’s wife saw Phorenice and took her away to adopt and bring up as +her own. It is said that the swineherd and his woman objected; perhaps +they did; anyway, I know they died; and Phorenice was taught the arts +and graces, and brought up as a daughter of the Priestly Clan.” + +“But still she was an adopted daughter only,” I objected. + +“The omission of the ‘adopted’ was her will at an early age,” said Tatho +dryly, “and she learnt early to have her wishes carried into fact. It +was notorious that before she had grown to fifteen years she ruled not +only the women of the household, but Zaemon also, and the province that +was beyond Zaemon.” + +“Zaemon was learned,” I said, “and a devout follower of the Gods, and +searcher into the higher mysteries; but, as a ruler, he was always a +flabby fellow.” + +“I do not say that opportunities have not come usefully in Phorenice’s +way, but she has genius as well. For her to have raised herself at all +from what she was, was remarkable. Not one woman out of a thousand, +placed as she was, would have grown to be aught higher than a mere wife +of some sturdy countryman, who was sufficiently simple to care nothing +for pedigree. But look at Phorenice: it was her whim to take exercise +as a man-at-arms and practise with all the utensils of war; and then, +before any one quite knows how or why it happened, a rebellion had +broken out in the province, and here was she, a slip of a girl, leading +Zaemon’s troops.” + +“Zaemon, when I knew him, was a mere derision in the field.” + +“Hear me on. Phorenice put down the rebellion in masterly fashion, and +gave the conquered a choice between sword and service. They fell into +her ranks at once, and were faithful to her from that moment. I tell +you, Deucalion, there is a marvellous fascination about the woman.” + +“Her present historian seems to have felt it.” + +“Of course I have. Every one who sees her comes under her spell. And +frankly, I am in love with her also, and look upon my coming here as +detestable exile. Every one near to Phorenice, high and low, loves her +just the same, even though they know it may be her whim to send them to +execution next minute.” + +Perhaps I let my scorn of this appear. + +“You feel contempt for our weakness? You were always a strong man, +Deucalion.” + +“At any rate you see me still unmarried. I have found no time to palter +with the fripperies of women.” + +“Ah, but these colonists here are crude and unfascinating. Wait till you +see the ladies of the court, my ascetic.” + +“It comes to my mind,” I said dryly, “that I lived in Atlantis before I +came out here, and at that time I used to see as much of court life as +most men. Yet then, also, I felt no inducement to marry.” + +Tatho chuckled. “Atlantis has changed so that you would hardly know the +country to-day. A new era has come over everything, especially over +the other sex. Well do I remember the women of the old King’s time, how +monstrous uncomely they were, how little they knew how to walk or carry +themselves, how painfully barbaric was their notion of dress. I dare +swear that your ladies here in Yucatan are not so provincial to-day as +ours were then. But you should see them now at home. They are delicious. +And above all in charm is the Empress. Oh, Deucalion, you shall see +Phorenice in all her glorious beauty and her magnificence one of these +fine days soon, and believe me you will go down on your knees and +repent.” + +“I may see, and (because you say so) I may alter my life’s ways. The +Gods make all things possible. But for the present I remain as I am, +celibate, and not wishful to be otherwise; and so in the meantime I +would hear the continuance of your history.” + +“It is one long story of success. She deposed Zaemon from his government +in name as well as in fact, and the news was spread, and the Priestly +Clan rose in its wrath. The two neighbouring governors were bidden join +forces, take her captive, and bring her for execution. Poor men! They +tried to obey their orders; they attacked her surely enough, but in +battle she could laugh at them. She killed both, and made some slaughter +amongst their troops; and to those that remained alive and became her +prisoners, she made her usual offer--the sword or service. Naturally +they were not long over making their choice: to these common people one +ruler is much the same as another: and so again her army was reinforced. + +“Three times were bodies of soldiery sent against her, and three times +was she victorious. The last was a final effort. Before, it had been +customary to despise this adventuress who had sprung up so suddenly. But +then the priests began to realise their peril; to see that the throne +itself was in danger; and to know that if she were to be crushed, they +would have to put forth their utmost. Every man who could carry arms was +pressed into the service. Every known art of war was ordered to be put +into employment. It was the largest army, and the best equipped army +that Atlantis then had ever raised, and the Priestly Clan saw fit to put +in supreme command their general, Tatho.” + +“You!” I cried. + +“Even myself, Deucalion. And mark you, I fought my utmost. I was not her +creature then; and when I set out (because they wanted to spur me to the +uttermost) the High Council of the priests pointed out my prospects. The +King we had known so long, was ailing and wearily old; he was so wrapped +up in the study of the mysteries, and the joy of closely knowing them, +that earthly matters had grown nauseous to him; and at any time he might +decide to die. The Priestly Clan uses its own discretion in the election +of a new king, but it takes note of popular sentiment; and a general who +at the critical time could come home victorious from a great campaign, +which moreover would release a harassed people from the constant +application of arms, would be the idol of the moment. These things were +pointed out to me solemnly and in the full council.” + +“What! They promised you the throne?” + +“Even that. So you see I set out with a high stake before me. Phorenice +I had never seen, and I swore to take her alive, and give her to be the +sport of my soldiery. I had a fine confidence in my own strategy then, +Deucalion. But the old Gods, in whom I trusted then, remained old, +taught me no new thing. I drilled and exercised my army according to the +forms you and I learnt together, old comrade, and in many a tough fight +found to serve well; I armed them with the choicest weapons we knew of +then, with sling and mace, with bow and spear, with axe and knife, with +sword and the throwing fire; their bodies I covered with metal plates; +even their bellies I cared for, with droves of cattle driven in the rear +of the fighting troops. + +“But when the encounter came, they might have been men of straw for all +the harm they did. Out of her own brain Phorenice had made fire-tubes +that cast a dart which would kill beyond two bowshots, and the fashion +in which she handled her troops dazzled me. They threatened us on one +flank, they harassed us on the other. It was not war as we had been +accustomed to. It was a newer and more deadly game, and I had to watch +my splendid army eaten away as waves eat a sandhill. Never once did I +get a chance of forcing close action. These new tactics that had come +from Phorenice’s invention, were beyond my art to meet or understand. We +were eight to her one, and our close-packed numbers only made us so much +the more easy for slaughter. A panic came, and those who could fled. +Myself, I had no wish to go back and earn the axe that waits for the +unsuccessful general. I tried to die there fighting where I stood. But +death would not come. It was a fine melee, Deucalion, that last one.” + +“And so she took you?” + +“I stood with three others back to back, with a ring of dead round us, +and a ring of the enemy hemming us in. We taunted them to come on. But +at hand-to-hand courtesies we had shown we could hold our own, and so +they were calling for fire-tubes with which they could strike us down +in safety from a distance. Then up came Phorenice. ‘What is this to-do?’ +says she. ‘We seek to kill Lord Tatho, who led against you,’ say they. +‘So that is Tatho?’ says she. ‘A fine figure of a man indeed, and a +pretty fighter seemingly, after the old manner. Doubtless he is one +who would acquire the newer method. See now Tatho,’ says she, ‘it is my +custom to offer those I vanquish either the sword (which, believe me, +was never nearer your neck than now) or service under my banner. Will +you make a choice?’ + +“‘Woman,’ I said, ‘fairest that ever I saw, finest general the world +has ever borne, you tempt me sorely by your qualities, but there is a +tradition in our Clan, that we should be true to the salt we eat. I am +the King’s man still, and so I can take no service from you.’ + +“‘The King is dead,’ says she. ‘A runner has just brought the tidings, +meaning them to have fallen into your hands. And I am the Empress.’ + +“‘Who made you Empress?’ I asked. + +“‘The same most capable hand that has given me this battle,’ says she. +‘It is a capable hand, as you have seen: it can be a kind hand also, as +you may learn if you choose. With the King dead, Tatho is a masterless +man now. Is Tatho in want of a mistress?’ + +“‘Such a glorious mistress as you,’ I said, ‘Yes.’ And from that moment, +Deucalion, I have been her slave. Oh, you may frown; you may get up from +this seat and walk away if you will. But I ask you this: keep back your +worst judgment of me, old friend, till after you have seen Phorenice +herself in the warm and lovely flesh. Then your own ears and your own +senses will be my advocates, to win me back your old esteem.” + + + + +2. BACK TO ATLANTIS + + +The words of Tatho were no sleeping draught for me that night. I began +to think that I had made somewhat a mistake in wrapping myself up so +entirely in my government of Yucatan, and not contriving to keep more in +touch with events that were passing at home in Atlantis. For many years +past it had been easy to see that the mariner folk who did traffic +across the seas spoke with restraint, and that only what news the +Empress pleased was allowed to ooze out beyond her borders. But, as +I say, I was fully occupied with my work in the colony, and had no +curiosity to pull away a veil intentionally placed. Besides, it has +always been against my principles to put to the torture men who had +received orders for silence from their superiors, merely that they shall +break these orders for my private convenience. + +However, the iron discipline of our Priestly Clan left me no choice +of procedure. As was customary, I had been deprived of my office at a +moment’s notice. From that time on, all papers and authority belonged to +my successor, and, although by courtesy I might be permitted to remain +as a guest in the pyramid that had so recently been mine, to see another +sunrise, it was clearly enjoined that I must leave the territory then at +the topmost of my speed and hasten to report in Atlantis. + +Tatho, to give him credit, was anxious to further my interests to the +utmost in his power. He was by my side again before the dawn, putting +all his resources at my disposal. + +I had little enough to ask him. “A ship to take me home,” I said, “and I +shall be your debtor.” + +The request seemed to surprise him. “That you may certainly have if you +wish it. But my ships are foul with the long passage, and are in need +of a careen. If you take them, you will make a slow voyage of it to +Atlantis. Why do you not take your own navy? The ships are in harbour +now, for I saw them there when we came in. Brave ships they are too.” + +“But not mine. That navy belongs to Yucatan.” + +“Well, Deucalion, you are Yucatan; or, rather, you were yesterday, and +have been these twenty years.” + +I saw what he meant, and the idea did not please me. I answered stiffly +enough that the ships were owned by private merchants, or belonged to +the State, and I could not claim so much as a ten-slave galley. + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. “I suppose you know your own policies +best,” he said, “though to me it seems but risky for a man who has +attained to a position like yours and mine not to have provided himself +with a stout navy of his own. One never knows when a recall may be sent, +and, through lack of these precautions, a life’s earnings may very well +be lost in a dozen hours.” + +“I have no fear for mine,” I said coldly. + +“Of course not, because you know me to be your friend. But had another +man been appointed to this vice-royalty, you might have been sadly +shorn, Deucalion. It is not many fellows who can resist a snug hoard +ready and waiting in the very coffers they have come to line.” + +“My Lord Tatho,” I said, “it is clear to me that you and I have grown to +be of different tastes. All of the hoard that I have made for myself in +this colony, few men would covet. I have the poor clothes you see me +in this moment, and a box of drugs such as I have found useful to the +stomach. I possess also three slaves, two of them scribes and the third +a sturdy savage from Europe, who cooks my victual and fills for me the +bath. For my maintenance during my years of service, here, I have bled +the State of a soldier’s ration and nothing beyond; and if in my name +any man has mulcted a creature in Yucatan of so much as an ounce of +bronze, I request you as a last service to have that man hanged for me +as a liar and a thief.” + +Tatho looked at me curiously. “I do not know whether I admire you most +or whether I pity. I do not know whether to be astonished or to despise. +We had heard of much of your uprightness over yonder in Atlantis, of +your sternness and your justice, but I swear by the old Gods that no +soul guessed you carried your fancy so far as this. Why, man, money is +power. With money and the resources money can buy, nothing could stop +a fellow like you; whilst without it you may be tripped up and trodden +down irrevocably at the first puny reverse.” + +“The Gods will choose my fate.” + +“Possibly; but for mine, I prefer to nourish it myself. I tell you with +frankness that I have not come here to follow in the pattern you have +made for a vice-royalty. I shall govern Yucatan wisely and well to the +best of my ability; but I shall govern it also for the good of Tatho, +the viceroy. I have brought with me here my navy of eight ships and a +personal bodyguard. There is my wife also, and her women and her slaves. +All these must be provided for. And why indeed should it be otherwise? +If a people is to be governed, it should be their privilege to pay +handsomely for their prince.” + +“We shall not agree on this. You have the power now, and can employ it +as you choose. If I thought it would be of any use, I should like to +supplicate you most humbly to deal with lenience when you come to tax +these people who are under you. They have grown very dear to me.” + +“I have disgusted you with me, and I am grieved for it. But even to +retain your good opinion, Deucalion--which I value more than that of any +man living--I cannot do here as you have done. It would be impossible, +even if I wished it. You must not judge all other men by your own +strong standard: a Tatho is by no means a colossus like a Deucalion. And +besides, I have a wife and children, and they must be provided for, even +if I neglect myself.” + +“Ah, there,” I said, “it does seem that I possess the advantage. I have +no wife, to clog me.” + +He caught up my word quickly. “It seems to me you have nothing that +makes life worth living. You have neither wife, children, riches, cooks, +retinue, dresses, nor anything else in proportion to your station. You +will pardon my saying it, old comrade, but you are plaguey ignorant +about some matters. For example, you do not know how to dine. During +every day of a very weary voyage, I have promised myself when sitting +before the meagre sea victual, that presently the abstinence would be +more than repaid by Deucalion’s welcoming feast. Oh, I tell you that +feast was one of the vividest things that ever came before my eyes. And +then when we get to the actuality, what was it? Why, a country farmer +every day sits down to more delicate fare. You told me how it was +prepared. Well, your savage from Europe may be lusty, and perchance is +faithful, but he is a devil-possessed cook. Gods! I have lived better on +a campaign. + +“I know this is a colony here, without any of the home refinements; but +if in the days to come, the deer of the forest, the fish of the stream, +and the other resources of the place are not put to better use than +heretofore, I shall see it my duty as ruler to fry some of the +kitchen staff alive in grease so as to encourage better cookery. Gods! +Deucalion, have you forgotten what it is to have a palate? And have +you no esteem for your own dignity? Man, look at your clothes. You are +garbed like a herdsman, and you have not a gaud or a jewel to brighten +you.” + +“I eat,” I said coldly, “when my hunger bids me, and I carry this one +robe upon my person till it is worn out and needs replacement. The +grossness of excessive banqueting, and the effeminacy of many clothes +are attainments that never met my fancy. But I think we have talked here +over long, and there seems little chance of our finding agreement. You +have changed, Tatho, with the years, and perhaps I have changed also. +These alterations creep imperceptibly into one’s being as time advances. +Let us part now, and, forgetting these present differences, remember +only our friendship of twenty years agone. That for me, at any rate, has +always had a pleasant savour when called up into the memory.” + +Tatho bowed his head. “So be it,” he said. + +“And I would still charge myself upon your bounty for that ship. Dawn +cannot be far off now, and it is not decent that the man who has ruled +here so long, should walk in daylight through the streets on the morning +after his dismissal.” + +“So be it,” said Tatho. “You shall have my poor navy. I could have +wished that you had asked me something greater.” + +“Not the navy, Tatho; one small ship. Believe me, more is wasted.” + +“Now, there,” said Tatho, “I shall act the tyrant. I am viceroy here +now, and will have my way in this. You may go naked of all possessions: +that I cannot help. But depart for Atlantis unattended, that you shall +not.” + +And so, in fine, as the choice was set beyond me, it was in the “Bear,” + Tatho’s own private ship, with all the rest of his navy sailing in +escort, that I did finally make my transit. + +But the start was not immediate. The vessels lay moored against the +stone quays of the inner harbour, gutted of their stores, and with crews +exhausted, and it would have been suicide to have forced them out then +and there to again take the seas. + +So the courtesies were fulfilled by the craft whereon I abode hauling +out into the entrance basin, and anchoring there in the swells of the +fairway; and forthwith she and her consorts took in wood and water, +cured meat and fish ashore, and refitted in all needful ways, with all +speed attainable. + +For myself there came then, as the first time during twenty busy years, +a breathing space from work. I had no further connection with the +country of my labours; indeed, officially, I had left it already. Into +the working of the ship it was contrary to rule that I should make +any inspection or interest, since all sea matters were the exclusive +property of the Mariners’ Guild, secured to them by royal patent, and +most jealously guarded. + +So there remained to me in my day, hours to gaze (if I would) upon the +quays, the harbours, the palaces, and the pyramids of the splendid city +before me which I had seen grow stone by stone from its foundations; or +to roam my eye over the pastures and the grain lands beyond the walls, +and to look longingly at the dense forests behind, from which field by +field we had so tediously ripped our territory. + +Would Tatho continue the work so healthily begun? I trusted so, even in +spite of his selfish words. And at all hours, during the radiance of +our Lord the Sun, or under the stars of night, I was free to pursue +that study of the higher mysteries, on which we of the Priests’ Clan are +trained to set our minds, without aid of book or instrument, of image or +temple. + +The refitting of the navy was gone about with speed. Never, it is said, +had ships been reprovisioned and caulked, and remanned with greater +speed for the over-ocean voyage. Indeed, it was barely over a month from +the day that they brought up in the harbour, they put out beyond the +walls, and began their voyage eastward over the hills and dale of the +ocean. + +Rowing-slaves from Europe for this long passage of sea are not taken +now, owing to the difficulty in provisioning them, for modern humanity +forbids the practice of letting them eat one another according to the +home custom of their continent; sails alone are but an indifferent stand +by; but modern science has shown how to extract force from the Sun, when +He is free from cloud, and this (in a manner kept secret by mariners) is +made to draw sea-water at the forepart of the vessel, and eject it with +such force at the stern that she is appreciably driven forward, even +with the wind adverse. + +In another matter also has navigation vastly improved. It is not +necessary now, as formerly, to trust wholly to a starry night (when +beyond sight of land) to find direction. A little image has been made, +and is stood balanced in the forepart of every vessel, with an arm +outstretched, pointing constantly to the direction where the Southern +Cross lies in the Heavens. So, by setting an angle, can a just course be +correctly steered. Other instruments have they also for finding a true +position on the ocean wastes, for the newer mariner, when he is at sea, +puts little trust in the Gods, and confides mightily in his own thews +and wits. + +Still, it is amusing to see these tarry fellows, even in this modern +day, take their last farewell of the harbour town. The ship is stowed, +and all ready for sea, and they wash and put on all their bravery of +attire. Ashore they go, their faces long with piety, and seek some +obscure temple whose God has little flavour with shore folk, and here +they make sacrifice with clamour and lavish outlay. And, finally, there +follows a feast in honour of the God, and they arrive back on board, and +put to sea for the most part drunken, and all heavy and evil-humoured +with gluttony and their other excesses. + +The voyage was very different to my previous sea-going. There was no +creeping timorously along in touch with the coasts. We stood straight +across the open gulf in the direction of home, came up with the band of +the Carib Islands, and worked confidently through them, as though they +had been signposts to mark the sea highway; and stopped only twice +to replenish with wood, water, and fruit. These commodities, too, the +savages brought us freely, so great was their subjection, and in +neither place did we have even the semblance of a fight. It was a great +certificate of the growing power of Atlantis and her finest over-sea +colony. + +Then boldly on we went across the vast ocean beyond, with never a +sacrifice to implore the Gods that they should help our direction. One +might feel censure towards these rugged mariners for their impiety, but +one could not help an admiration for their lusty skill and confidence. + +The dangers of the desolate sea are dealt out as the Gods will, and man +can only take them as they come. Storms we encountered, and the mariners +fought them with stubborn endurance; twice a blazing stone from Heaven +hissed into the sea beside us, though without injuring any of our ships; +and, as was unavoidable, the great beasts of the sea hunted us with +their accustomed savagery. But only once did we suffer material loss +from these last, and that was when three of the greater sea lizards +attacked the “Bear,” the ship whereon I travelled, at one and the same +time. + +The hour of their onset was during the blazing midday heat, and the Sun +being at the full of His power, our machines were getting full force +from Him. The vessel was travelling forward faster than a man on dry +land could walk. But for the power escape she might as well have been +standing still when the beasts sighted her. There were three of them, +as I have said, and we saw them come up over the curve of the horizon, +beating the sea into foam with their flappers, and waving their great +necks like masts as they swam. Our navy was spread out in a long line +of ships, and in olden days each of the beasts would have selected a +separate prey, and proceeded for it; but, like man, these beasts have +learned the necessities of warfare, and they hunt in pack now and do not +separate their forces. + +It was plain they were making for our ship, and Tob, the captain, would +have had me go into the after-castle, and there be secure from their +marauding. He was responsible to the Lord Tatho, he said, for my safe +conduct; it was certain that the beasts would contrive to seize some of +the ship’s company before they were satiated; and if the hap came to the +Lord Deucalion, he (the captain) would have to give himself voluntarily +to the beasts then, to escape a very painful death at Tatho’s hands +later on. + +However, my mind was set. A man can never have too much experience in +fighting enemies, whether human or bestial, and the attack of these +creatures was new to me, and I was fain to learn its method. So I gave +the captain a letter to Tatho, saying how the matter lay (and for which, +it may be mentioned, the rude fellow seemed little enough grateful), and +stayed in my chair under the awning. + +The beasts surged up to us with champing jaws, and all the shipmen +stood armed on their defence. They came up alongside, two females (the +smaller) on the flank of the ship, the giant male by himself on the +other. Their great heads swooped about, as high as the yards that held +the sails, and the reek from them gave one physical sickness. + +The shipmen faced the monsters with a sturdy courage. Arrows were +useless against the smooth, bull-like hides. Even the throwing fire +could not so much as singe them; nothing but twenty axe blows delivered +on an attacking head together could beat it back, and even these +succeeded only through sheer weight of metal, and did not make so much +as the scratch of a wound. + +During all time beasts have disputed with man the mastery of the earth, +and it is only in Atlantis and Egypt and Yucatan that man has dared to +hold his own, and fight them with a mind made strong by many previous +victories. In Europe and mid-Africa the greater beasts hold full +dominion, and man admits his puny number and force, and lives in earth +crannies and the higher tree-tops, as a fugitive confessed. And upon the +great oceans, the beasts are lords, unchecked. + +Still here, upon this desolate sea, although the giant lizards were new +to me, it was a pleasure to pit my knowledge of war against their brute +strength and courage. Ever since the first men did their business upon +the great waters, they fulfilled their instincts in fighting the beasts +with desperation. Hiding coward-like in a hold was useless, for if this +enemy could not find men above decks to glut them, they would break +a ship with their paddles, and so all would be slain. And so it was +recognised that the fight should go forward as desperately as might be, +and that it could only end when the beasts had got their prey and had +gone away satisfied. + +It was in a one-sided conflict after this fashion then, that I found +myself, and felt the joy once more to have my thews in action. But after +my axe had got in some dozen lusty blows, which, for all the harm they +did, might have been delivered against some city wall, or, indeed, +against the ark of the Mysteries itself, I sought about me till I found +a lance, and with that made very different play. + +The eyes of these lizards are small, and set deep in a bony socket, but +I judged them to be vulnerable, and it was upon the eyes of the beast +that I made my attack. The decks were slippery with the horrid slime of +them. The crew surged about in their battling, and, moreover, constantly +offered themselves as a rampart before me by reason of Tob, the +captain’s threats. But I gave a few shrewd progues with the lance to +show that I did not choose my will to be overridden, and presently was +given room for manoeuvre. + +Deliberately I placed myself in the sight of one of the lizards, and +offered my body to its attack. The challenge was accepted. It swooped +like a dropping stone, and I swerved and drove in the lance at its oozy +eye. + +I thanked the Gods then that I had been trained with the lance till +certain aim was a matter of instinct with me. The blade went true to +its mark and stuck there, and the shaft broke in my hand. The beast drew +off, blinded and bellowing, and beating the sea with its paddles. In a +great cataract of foam I saw it bend its great long neck, and rub its +head (with the spear still fixed) against its back, thereby enduring new +agonies, but without dislodging the weapon. And then presently, finding +this of no avail, it set off for the place from which it came with +extraordinary quickness, and rapidly grew smaller against the horizon. + +The male and the other female lizard had also left us, but not in +similar plight. Tob, the captain, seeing my resolve to take hazards, +deliberately thrust a shipman into the jaws of each of the others, +so that they might be sated and get them gone. It was clear that Tob +dreaded very much for his own skin if I came by harm, and I thought with +a warming heart of the threats that Tatho must have used in his kind +anxiety for my safety. It is pleasant when one’s old friends do not omit +to pay these little attentions. + + + + +3. A RIVAL NAVY + + +Now, when we came up with the coasts of Atlantis, though Tob, with +the aid of his modern instruments, had made his landfall with most +marvellous skill and nearness, there still remained some ten days’ more +journey in which we had to retrace our course, till we came to that arm +of the sea up which lies the great city of Atlantis, the capital. + +The sight of the land, and the breath of earth and herbage which came +off from it with the breezes, were, I believe, under the Gods, the +means of saving the lives of all of us. For, as is necessary with long +cross-ocean voyages, many of our ships’ companies had died, and still +more were sick with scurvy through the unnatural tossing, or (as some +have it) through the salt, unnatural food inseparable from shipboard. +But these last, the sight and the smells of land heartened up in +extraordinary fashion, and from being helpless logs, unable to move even +under blows of the scourge, they became active again, able to help in +the shipwork, and lusty (when the time came) to fight for their lives +and their vessels. + +From the moment that I was deposed in Yucatan, despite Tatho’s +assurances, there had been doubts in my mind as to what nature would +be my reception in Atlantis. But I had faced this event of the future +without concern: it was in the hands of the Gods. The Empress Phorenice +might be supreme on earth; she might cause my head to be lopped from its +proper shoulders the moment I set foot ashore; but my Lord the Sun was +above Phorenice, and if my head fell, it would be because He saw best +that it should be so. On which account, therefore, I had not troubled +myself about the matter during the voyage, but had followed out my calm +study of the higher mysteries with an unloaded mind. + +But when our navy had retraced sufficiently the course that had been +overrun, and came up with the two vast headlands which marked the +entrance to the inland waters, there, a bare two days from the Atlantis +capital, we met with another navy which was, beyond doubt, waiting to +give us a reception. The ships were riding at anchor in a bay which lent +them shelter, but they had scouts on the high land above, who cried +the alarm of our approach, and when we rounded the headland, they were +standing out to dispute our passage. + +Of us there were now but five ships, the rest having been lost in +storms, or fallen behind because all their crews were dead from the +scurvy; and of the strangers there were three fine ships, and three +galleys of many oars apiece. They were clean and bright and black; our +ships were storm-ragged and weather-worn, and had bottoms that were foul +with trailing ocean weed. Our ships hung out the colours and signs of +Tatho and Deucalion openly and without shame, so that all who looked +might know their origin and errand; but the other navy came on without +banner or antient, as though they were some low creatures feeling shame +for their birth. + +Clear it seemed also that they would not let us pass without a fight, +and in this there was nothing uncommon; for no law carries out over the +seas, and a brother in one ship feels quite free to harry his brother +in another vessel if he meets him out of earshot of the beach--more +especially if that other brother be coming home laden from foray or +trading tour. So Tob, with system and method, got our vessel into +fighting trim, and the other four captains did the like with theirs, +and drew close in to us to form a compact squadron. They had no wish to +smell slavery, now that the voyage had come so near to its end. + +Our Lord the Sun shone brilliantly, giving full speed to the machines, +as though He was fully willing for the affair to proceed, and the two +navies approached one another with quickness, the three galleys holding +back to stay in line with their consorts. But when some bare hundred +ship-lengths separated us, the other navy halted, and one of the +galleys, drawing ahead, flew green branches from her masts, seeking for +a parley. + +The course was unusual, but we, in our sea-battered state, were no navy +to invite a fight unnecessarily. So in hoarse sea-bawls word was passed, +and we too halted, and Tob hoisted a withered stick (which had to do +duty for greenery), to show that we were ready for talk, and would +respect the person of an ambassador. + +The galley drew on, swung round, and backed till its stern rasped on our +shield rail, and one of her people clambered up and jumped down upon +our decks. He was a dandily rigged-out fellow, young and lusty, and all +healthy from the land and land victual, and he looked round him with a +sneer at our sea-tatteredness, and with a fine self-confidence. Then, +seeing Tob, he nodded as one meets an acquaintance. “Old pot-mate,” he +said, “your woman waits for you up by the quay-side in Atlantis yonder, +with four youngsters at her heels. I saw her not half a month ago.” + +“You didn’t come out here to tell me home news,” said Tob; “that I’ll be +sworn. I’ve drunk enough pots with you, Dason, to know your pleasantries +thoroughly.” + +“I wanted to point out to you that your home is still there, with your +wife and children ready to welcome you.” + +“I am not a man that ever forgets it,” said Tob grimly; “and because +I’ve got them always at the back of my mind, I’ve sailed this ship over +the top of more than one pirate, when, if I’d been a single man, I might +have been e’en content to take the hap of slavery.” + +“Oh, I know you’re a desperate enough fellow,” said Dason, “and I’m free +to confess that if it does come to blows we are like to lose a few +men before we get you and your cripples here, and your crazy ships +comfortably sunk. Our navy has its orders to carry out, and the cause of +my embassage is this: we wish to see if you will act the sensible part +and give us what we want, and so be permitted to go on your way home, +with a skin that is unslit and dry?” + +“You have come to the wrong bird here for a plucking,” said Tob with a +heavy laugh. “We took no treasure or merchandise on board in Yucatan. We +stayed in harbour long enough to cure our sea victual and fill with food +and water, and no longer. We sail back as we sailed out, barren ships. +You will not believe me, of course; I would not have believed you had +our places been changed; but you may go into the holds and search if +you choose. You will find there nothing but a few poor sailormen half in +pieces with the scurvy. No, you can steal nothing here but blows, Dason, +and we will give you those with but little asking.” + +“I am glad to see that you state your cargo at such slender value,” said +the envoy, “for it is the cargo I must take back with me on the galley, +if you are to earn your safe conduct to home.” + +Tob knit his brows. “You had better speak more plain,” he said. “I am a +common sailor, and do not understand fancy talk.” + +“It is clear to see,” said Dason, “that you have been set to bring +Deucalion back to Atlantis as a prop for Phorenice. Well, we others find +Phorenice hard enough to fight against without further reinforcements, +and so we want Deucalion in our own custody to deal with after our own +fashion.” + +“And if I do the miser, and deny you this piece of my freight?” + +The spruce envoy looked round at the splintered ship, and the battered +navy beside her. “Why, then, Tob, we shall send you all to the fishes +in very short time, and instead of Deucalion standing before the Gods +alone, he will go down with a fine ragged company limping at his heels.” + +“I doubt it,” said Tob, “but we shall see. As for letting you have my +Lord Deucalion, that is out of the question. For see here, pot-mate +Dason; in the first place, if I went to Atlantis without Deucalion, my +other lord, Tatho, would come back one of these days, and in his hands I +should die by the slowest of slow inches; in the second, I have seen +my Lord Deucalion kill a great sea lizard, and he showed himself such a +proper man that day that I would not give him up against his will, even +to Tatho himself; and in the third place, you owe me for your share in +our last wine-bout ashore, and I’ll see you with the nether Gods before +I give you aught till you’ve settled that score.” + +“Well, Tob, I hope you’ll drown easy. As for that wife of yours, I’ve +always had a fancy for her myself, and I shall know how to find a use +for the woman.” + +“I’ll draw your neck for that, you son of a European,” said Tob; “and +if you do not clear off this deck I’ll draw it here. Go,” he cried, “you +father of monkey children! Get away, and let me fight you fairly, or by +my honour I’ll stamp the inwards out of you, and make your silly crew +wear them as necklaces.” + +Upon which Dason went to his galley. + +Promptly Tob set going the machine on our own “Bear,” and bawled his +orders right and left to the other ships. The crew might be weak with +scurvy, but they were quick to obey. Instantly the five vessels were all +started, and because our Lord the Sun was shining brightly, got soon to +the full of their pace. The whole of our small navy converged, singling +out one ship of their opponents, and she, not being ready for so swift +an attack, got flurried, and endeavoured to turn and run for room, +instead of trying to meet us bows on. As a consequence, the whole of our +five ships hit her together on the broadside, tearing her planking with +their underwater beaks, and sinking her before we had backed clear from +the engage. + +But if we thus brought the enemy’s number down to five, and so equal to +our own, the advantage did not remain with us for long. The three nimble +galleys formed into line: their boatswains’ whips cracked as the slaves +bent to their oars, and presently one of our own ships was gored and +sunk, the men on her being killed in the water without hope of rescue. + +And then commenced a tight-locked melee that would have warmed the heart +of the greatest warrior alive. The ships and the galleys were forced +together and lay savagely grinding one another upon the swells, as +though they had been sentient animals. The men on board them shot their +arrows, slashed with axes, thrust and hacked with swords, and hurled the +throwing fire. But in every way the fight converged upon the “Bear.” It +was on her that the enemy spent the fiercest of their spite; it was to +the “Bear,” that the other crews of Tatho’s navy rallied as their own +vessels caught fire, or were sunk or taken. + +Battle is an old acquaintance with us of the Priestly Clan, and for +those of us who have had to carve out territories for the new colonies, +it comes with enough frequency to cloy even the most chivalrous +appetite. So I can speak here as a man of experience. Up till that time, +for half a life-span, I had heard men shout “Deucalion” as a battlecry, +and in my day had seen some lusty encounters. But this sea-fight +surprised even me in its savage fierceness. The bleak, unstable element +which surrounded us; the swaying decks on which we fought; the throwing +fire, which burnt flesh and wood alike with its horrid flame; the +great gluttonous man-eating birds that hovered in the sky overhead; +the man-eating fish that swarmed up from the seas around, gnawing and +quarrelling over those that fell into the waters, all went to make up a +circumstance fit to daunt the bravest men-at-arms ever gathered for an +army. + +But these tarry shipmen faced it all with an indomitable courage, and +never a cry of quailing. Life on the seas is so hard, and (from the +beasts that haunt the great waters) so full of savage dangers, that +Death has lost half his terrors to them through sheer familiarity. +They were fellows who from pure lust for a fray would fight to a finish +amongst themselves in the taverns ashore; and so here, in this desperate +sea-battle, the passion for killing burned in them, as a fire stone +from Heaven rages in a forest; and they took even their death-wounds +laughing. + +On our side the battle-cry was “Tob!” and the name of this obscure +ship-captain seemed to carry a confidence with it for our own crews that +many a well-known commander might have envied. The enemy had a +dozen rallying cries, and these confused them. But as their other +ship-commanders one by one were killed, and Dason remained, active +with mischief, “Dason!” became the shout which was thrown back at us in +response to our “Tob!” + +However, I will not load my page with farther long account of this +obscure sea-fight, whose only glory was its ferocity. One by one all the +ships of either side were sunk or lay with all their people killed, till +finally only Dason’s galley and our own “Bear” were left. For the moment +we were being mastered. We had a score of men remaining out of all those +that manned the navy when it sailed from Yucatan, and the enemy had +boarded us and made the decks of the “Bear” the field of battle. But +they had been over busy with the throwing fire, and presently, as we +raged at one another, the smoke and the flame from the sturdy vessel +herself let us very plainly know that she was past salvation. + +But Tob was nothing daunted. “They may stay here and fry if they +choose,” he shouted with his great boisterous laugh, “but for ourselves +the galley is good enough now. Keep a guard on Deucalion, and come with +me, shipmates!” + +“Tob!” our fellows shouted in their ecstasy of fighting madness, and I +too could not forbear sending out a “Tob!” for my battle-cry. It was a +change for me not to be leader, but it was a luxury for once to fight +in the wake of this Tob, despite his uncouthness of mien and plan. There +was no stopping this new rush, though progress still was slow. Tob with +his bloody axe cut the road in front, and we others, with the lust of +battle filling us to the chin, raged like furies in his wake. Gods! but +it was a fight. + +Ten of us won to the galley, with the flames and the smoke from the poor +“Bear” spurting at our heels. We turned and stabbed madly at all who +tried to follow, and hacked through the grapples that held the vessels +to their embrace. The sea-swells spurned the “Bear” away. + +The slaves chained to the rowing-galley’s benches had interest neither +one way nor the other, and looked on the contest with dull concern, save +when some stray missile found a billet amongst them. But a handful of +the fighting men had scrambled desperately on board the galley after us, +preferring any fate to a fiery death on the “Bear,” and these had to be +dealt with promptly. Three, with their fighting fury still red-hot in +them, had most wastefully to be killed out of mischief’s way; five, who +had pitched their weapons into the sea, were chained to oar looms, in +place of slaves who were dead; and there remained only Dason to have a +fate apportioned. + +The fight had cooled out of him, and he had thrown his arms to the sea, +and stood sullenly ready for what might befall; and to him Tob went up +with an exulting face. + +“Ho, pot-mate Dason,” cried he, “you made a lot of talk an hour ago +about that woman of mine, who lives with her brats on the quay-side in +Atlantis yonder. Now, I’ll give you a pleasant choice; either I’ll +take you along home, and tell her what you said before the whole ship’s +company (that are for the most part dead now, poor souls!), and I’ll +leave her to perform on your carcase as she sees fit by way of payment; +or, as the other choice, I’ll deal with you here now myself.” + +“I thank you for the chance,” said Dason, and knelt and offered his neck +to the axe. So Tob cut off his head, sticking it on the galley’s beak as +an advertisement of what had been done. The body he threw over the side, +and one of the great man-eating birds that hovered near, picked it up +and flew away with it to its nest amongst the crags. And so we were +free to get a meal of the fruits and the fresh meats which the galley +offered, whilst the oar-slaves sent the galley rushing onwards towards +the capital. + +There was a wine-skin in the after-castle, and I filled a horn and +poured some out at Tob’s feet in salutation. “My man,” I said, “you have +shown me a fight.” + +“Thanks,” said he, “and I know you are a judge. ‘Twas pretty whilst it +lasted; and, seeing that my lads were, for the most, scurvy-rotten, I +will say they fought with credit. I have lost my Lord Tatho’s navy, but +I think Phorenice will see me righted there. If those that are against +her took so much trouble to kill my Lord Deucalion before he could come +to her aid, I can fancy she will not be niggard in her joy when I put +Deucalion safe, if somewhat dented and blood-bespattered, on the quay.” + +“The Gods know,” I said, for it is never my custom to discuss policies +with my inferiors, even though etiquette be for the moment loosened, +as ours was then by the thrill of battle. “The Gods will decide what +is best for you, Tob, even as they have decided that it is best that I +should go on to Atlantis.” + +The sailor held a horn filled from the wine-skin in his hand, and I +think was minded to pour a libation at my feet, even as I had done at +his. But he changed his mind, and emptied it down his throat instead. +“It is thirsty work, this fighting,” he said, “and that drink comes very +useful.” + +I put my hand on his blood-smeared arm. “Tob,” I said, “whether I step +into power again, or whether I go to the block to-morrow, is another +matter which the Gods alone know, but hear me tell you now, that if a +chance is given me of showing my gratitude, I shall not forget the way +you have served me in this voyage, and the way you have fought this +day.” + +Tob filled another brimming horn from the wine-skin and splashed it at +my feet. “That’s good enough surety for me,” he said, “that my woman and +brats never want from this day onward. The Lord Deucalion for the block, +indeed!” + + + + +4. THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE + + +Now I can say it with all truth that, till the rival navy met us in the +mouth of the gulf, I had thought little enough of my importance as a +recruit for the Empress. But the laying in wait for us of those ships, +and the wild ferocity with which they fought so that I might fall into +their hands, were omens which the blindest could not fail to read. It +was clear that I was expected to play a lusty part in the fortunes of +the nation. + +But if our coming had been watched for by enemies it seemed that +Phorenice also had her scouts; and these saw us from the mountains, and +carried news to the capital. The arm of the sea at the head of which the +vast city of Atlantis stands, varies greatly in width. In places where +the mountains have over-boiled, and sent their liquid contents down to +form hard stone below, the channel has barely a river’s wideness, and +then beyond, for the next half-day’s sail it will widen out into a lake, +with the sides barely visible. Moreover, its course is winding, and so +a runner who knows his way across the flats, and the swamps, and between +the smoking hills which lie along the shore, and did not get overcome by +fire-streams, or water, or wandering beasts, could carry news overland +from seacoast to capital far speedier than even the most shrewdly +whipped of galleys could ferry it along the water. + +Of course there were heavy risks that a lone traveller would not make +a safe passage by this land route, if he were bidden to sacrifice all +precautions to speed. But Phorenice was no niggard with her couriers. +She sent a corps of twenty to the headland that overlooks the +sea-entrance to the straits; they started with the news, each on his own +route; and it says much for their speed and cleverness, that no fewer +than seven of these agile fellows came through scathless with their +tidings, and of the others it was said that quite three were known to +have survived. + +Still, about this we had no means of knowing at the time, and pushed +on in fancy that our coming was quite unheralded. The slaves on the +galley’s row-banks were for the most part savages from Europe, and the +smell of them was so offensive that the voyage lost all its pleasures; +and as, moreover, the wind carried with it an infinite abundance of +small grit from some erupting fire mountain, we were anxious to linger +as little as possible. Besides, if I may confess to such a thing without +being unduly degraded, although by my priestly training I had been +taught stoicism, and knew that all the future was in the hands of the +Gods, I was frailly human still to have a very vast curiosity as to +what would be the form of my own reception at Atlantis. I could imagine +myself taken a formal prisoner on landing, and set on a formal trial +to answer for my cure of the colony of Yucatan; I could imagine myself +stepping ashore unknown and unnoticed, and after a due lapse, being +sent for by the Empress to take up new duties; but the manner of my real +welcome was a thing I did not even guess at. + +We came in sight of the peak of the sacred mountain, with its glare of +eternal fires which stand behind the city, one morning with the day’s +break, and the whips of the boatswains cracked more vehemently, so that +those offensive slaves should give the galley a final spurt. The wind +was adverse, and no sail could be spread, but under oars alone we made +a pretty pace, and the sides of the sacred mountain grew longer, and +presently the peaks of the pyramids in the city, the towers of the +higher buildings, began to show themselves as though they floated upon +the gleaming water. It was twenty years since I had seen Atlantis +last, and my heart glowed with the thought of treading again upon her +paving-stones. + +The splendid city grew out of the sea as we approached, and to every +throb of the oars, the shores leaped nearer. I saw the temple where I +had been admitted first to manhood; I saw the pyramid in whose heart +I had been initiated to the small mysteries; and then (as the lesser +objects became discernible) I made out the house where a father and a +mother had reared me, and my eyes became dim as the memories rose. + +We drew up outside the white walls of the harbour, as the law was, and +the slaves panted and sobbed in quietude over the oar-looms. For vessels +thus stationed there is, generally, a sufficiency of waiting, for a +port-captain is apt to be so uncertain of his own dignity, that he must +e’en keep folks waiting to prove it to them. But here for us it might +have been that the port-captain’s boat was waiting. The signal was +sounded from the two castles at the harbour’s entrance, the chain which +hung between them was dropped, and a ten-oared boat shot out from behind +the walls as fast as oars could drive her. She raced up alongside and +the questions were put: + +“That should be Dason’s galley?” + +“It was,” said Tob. + +“Oh, I saw Dason’s head on your beak,” said the port-captain. “You were +Tatho’s captain?” + +“And am still. Tatho’s fleet was sent by Dason and his friends to the +sea-floor, and so we took this stinking galley to finish the voyage in, +seeing that it was the only craft left afloat.” + +The port-captain was roving his eye over the group of us who stood on +the after-deck. “I fear me, captain, that you’ll have but a dangerous +reception. I do not see my Lord Deucalion. Or does he come with some +other navy? Gods, captain, if you have let him get killed whilst under +your charge, the Empress will have the skin torn slowly off you living.” + +“What with Phorenice and Tatho both so curious for his welfare,” said +Tob, “my Lord Deucalion seems but a dangerous passenger. But I shall +save my hide this voyage.” He jerked at me with his thumb. “He’s there +to put in a word for me himself.” + +The port-captain stared for a moment, as if unbelieving, and then, as +though satisfied, made obeisance like a fellow well used to ceremonial. +“I trust my lord, in his infinite strength, will pardon my sin in not +knowing him by his nobleness before. But truth to tell, I had looked to +see my lord more suitably apparelled.” + +“Pish,” I said; “if I choose to dress simply, I cannot object to being +mistaken for a simple man. It is not my pleasure to advertise my quality +by the gauds on my garb. If you think amends are due to me, I pray of +your charity that this inquisition may end.” + +The fellow was all bows and obsequiousness. “I am the humblest of my +lord’s servants,” he said. “It will be my exceeding honour to pilot my +lord’s galley into the berth appointed in harbour.” + +The boat shot ahead, and our galley-slaves swung into stroke again. Tob +watched me with a dry smile as he stood directing the men at the helms. + +“Well,” I said, humouring his whim, “what is it?” + +“I’m thinking,” said Tob, “that my Lord Deucalion will remember me +only as a very rude fellow when he steps ashore amongst all this fine +gentility.” + +“You don’t think,” said I, “anything of the kind.” + +“Then I must prove my refinement,” said Tob, “and not contradict.” He +picked up my hand in his huge, hard fist, and pressed it. “By the Gods, +Deucalion, you may be a great prince, but I’ve only known you as a +man. You’re the finest fighter of beasts and men that walks this world +to-day, and I love you for it. That spear-stroke of yours on the lizard +is a thing the singers in the taverns shall make chaunts about.” + +We drew rapidly into the harbour, the soldiers in the entrance castle +blowing their trumpets in welcome as we passed between them. The captain +of the port had run up my banner to the masthead of his boat, having +been provided with one apparently for this purpose of announcement, and +from the quays, across the vast basin of the harbour, there presently +came to us the noises of musicians, and the pale glow of welcoming +fires, dancing under the sunlight. I was almost awed to think that an +Empress of Atlantis had come to such straits as to feel an interest like +this in any mere returning subject. + +It was clear that nothing was to be done by halves. The port-captain’s +boat led, and we had no choice but to follow. Our galley was run up +alongside the royal quay and moored to its posts and rings of gold, all +of which are sacred to the reigning house. + +“If Dason could only have foreseen this honour,” said Tob, with grisly +jest, “I’m sure he’d have laid in a silken warp to make fast on the +bollards instead of mere plebeian hemp. I’m sure there’d be a frown on +Dason’s head this minute, if the sun hadn’t scorched it stiff. My Lord +Deucalion, will you pick your way with niceness over this common ship +and tread on the genteel carpet they’ve spread for you on the quay +yonder?” + +The port-captain heard Tob’s rude banter and looked up with a face of +horror, and I remembered, with a small sigh, that colonial freedom would +have no place here in Atlantis. Once more I must prepare myself for all +the dignity of rank, and make ready to tread the formalities of vast and +gorgeous ceremonial. + +But, be these things how they may, a self-respecting man must preserve +his individuality also, and though I consented to enter a pavilion of +crimson cloth, specially erected to shelter me till the Empress should +deign to arrive, there my complaisance ended. Again the matter of +clothes was harped upon. The three gorgeously caparisoned chamberlains, +who had inducted me to the shelter, laid before me changes of raiment +bedecked with every imaginable kind of frippery, and would have me +transform myself into a popinjay in fashion like their own. + +Curtly enough, I refused to alter my garb, and when one of them +stammeringly referred to the Empress’s tastes I asked him with plainness +if he had got any definite commands on this paltry matter from her +mightiness. + +Of course, he had to confess that there were none. + +Upon which I retorted that Phorenice had commanded Deucalion, the man, +to attend before her, and had sent no word of her pleasure as to his +outer casing. + +“This dress,” I said, “suits my temper well. It shields my poor body +from the heat and the wind, and, moreover, it is clean. It seems to +me, sirs,” I added, “that your interfering savours somewhat of an +impertinence.” + +With one accord the chamberlains drew their swords and pushed the hilts +towards me. + +“It would be a favour,” said their spokesman, “if the great Lord +Deucalion would take his vengeance now, instead of delivering us to the +tormentors hereafter.” + +“Poof,” I said, “the matter is forgotten. You make too much of a +little.” + +Nevertheless, their action gave me some enlightenment. They were +perfectly in earnest in offering me the swords, and I recognised that +this was a different Atlantis that I had come home to, where a man had +dread of the torture for a mere difference concerning the cut of a coat. + +There was a bath in the pavilion, and in that I regaled myself gladly, +though there was some paltry scent added to the water that took away +half its refreshing power; and then I set myself to wait with all +outward composure and placidity. The chamberlains were too well-bred to +break into my calm, and I did not condescend to small talk. So there we +remained, the four of us, I sitting, they standing, with our Lord the +Sun smiting heavily on the scarlet roof of the pavilion, whilst the +music blared, and the welcoming fires dispersed their odours from the +great paved square without, which faced upon the quay. + +It has been said that the great should always collect dignity by keeping +those of lesser degree waiting their pleasure, though for myself I must +say I have always thought the stratagem paltry and beneath me. Phorenice +also seemed of this opinion, for (as she herself told me later) at the +moment that Tob’s galley was reported as having its flank against the +marble of the royal quay, at that precise moment did she start out from +the palace. The gorgeous procession was already marshalled, bedecked, +and waiting only for its chiefest ornament, and as soon as she had +mounted to her steed, trumpets gave the order, and the advance began. + +Sitting in the doorway of the pavilion, I saw the soldiery who formed +the head of this vast concourse emerge from the great broad street where +it left the houses. They marched straight across to give me the salute, +and then ranged themselves on the farther side of the square. Then came +the Mariners’ Guild, then more soldiers, all making obeisance in +their turn, and passing on to make room for others. Following were the +merchants, the tanners, the spear-makers and all the other acknowledged +Guilds, deliberately attired (so it seemed to me) that they might make +a pageant; and whilst most walked on foot, there were some who proudly +rode on beasts which they had tamed into rendering them this menial +service. + +But presently came the two wonders of all that dazzling spectacle. From +out of the eclipse of the houses there swung into the open no less a +beast than a huge bull mammoth. The sight had sufficient surprise in it +almost to make me start. Many a time during my life had I led hunts +to kill the mammoth, when a herd of them had raided some village or +cornland under my charge. I had seen the huge brutes in the wild ground, +shaggy, horrid, monstrous; more fierce than even the cave-tiger or the +cave-bear; most dangerous beast of all that fight with man for dominion +of the earth, save only for a few of the greater lizards. And here +was this creature, a giant even amongst mammoths, yet tame as any +well-whipped slave, and bearing upon its back a great half-castle of +gold, stamped with the outstretched hand, and bedecked with silver +snakes. Its murderous tusks were gilded, its hairy neck was garlanded +with flowers, and it trod on in the procession as though assisting at +such pageantry was the beginning and end of its existence. Its tameness +seemed a fitting symbol of the masterful strength of this new ruler of +Atlantis. + +Simultaneously with the mammoth, there came into sight that other and +greater wonder, the mammoth’s mistress, the Empress Phorenice. The beast +took my eye at the first, from its very uncouth hugeness, from its +show of savage power restrained; but the lady who sat in the golden +half-castle on its lofty back quickly drew away my gaze, and held it +immovable from then onwards with an infinite attraction. + +I stood to my feet when the people first shouted at Phorenice’s +approach, and remained in the porchway of my scarlet pavilion till her +vast steed had halted in the centre of the square, and then I advanced +across the pavement towards her. + +“On your knees, my lord,” said one of the chamberlains behind me, in a +scared whisper. + +“At least with bent head,” urged another. + +But I had my own notions of what is due to one’s own self-respect in +these matters, and I marched across the bare open space with head erect, +giving the Empress gaze for gaze. She was clearly summing me up. I was +frankly doing the like by her. Gods! but those few short seconds made me +see a woman such as I never imagined could have lived. + +I know I have placed it on record earlier in this writing that, during +all the days of a long official life, women have had no influence over +me. But I have been quick to see that they often had a strong swaying +power over the policies of others, and as a consequence I have made it +my business to study them even as I have studied men. But this woman who +sat under the sacred snakes in her golden half-castle on the mammoth’s +back, fairly baffled me. Of her thoughts I could read no single +syllable. I could see a body slight, supple, and beautifully moulded; in +figure rather small. Her face was a most perfect book of cleverness, yet +she was fair, too, beyond belief, with hair of a lovely ruddiness, cut +short in the new fashion, and bunching on her shoulders. And eyes! Gods! +who could plumb the depths of Phorenice’s eyes, or find in mere tint a +trace of their heaven-made colour? + +It was plain, also, that she in her turn was searching me down to +my very soul, and it seemed that her scrutiny was not without its +satisfaction. She moved her head in little nods as I drew near, and when +I did the requisite obeisance permitted to my rank, she bade me in +a voice loud and clear enough for all at hand to hear, never to put +forehead on the ground again on her behalf so long as she ruled in +Atlantis. + +“For others,” she said, “it is fitting that they should do so, once, +twice, or several times, according to their rank and station, for I am +Empress, and they are all so far beneath me; but you are Deucalion, my +lord, and though till to-day I knew you only from pictures drawn with +tongues, I have seen you now, and have judged for myself. And so I make +this decree: Deucalion is above all other men in Atlantis, and if there +is one who does not render him obedience, that man is enemy also of +Phorenice, and shall feel her anger.” + +She made a sign, and a stair was brought, and then she called to me, and +I mounted and sat beside her in the golden half-castle under the canopy +of royal snakes. The girl who stood behind in attendance fanned us both +with perfumed feathers, and at a word from Phorenice the mammoth was +turned, bearing us back towards the royal pyramid by the way through +which it had come. At the same time also all the other machinery of +splendour was put in motion. The soldiers and the gaudily bedecked civil +traders fell into procession before and behind, and I noted that a body +of troops, heavily armed, marched on each of the mammoth’s flanks. + +Phorenice turned to me with a smile. “You piqued me,” she said, “at +first.” + +“Your Majesty overwhelms me with so much notice.” + +“You looked at my steed before you looked at me. A woman finds it hard +to forgive a slight like that.” + +“I envied you the greatest of your conquests, and do still. I have +fought mammoths myself, and at times have killed, but I never dared even +to think of taking one alive and bringing it into tameness.” + +“You speak boldly,” she said, still smiling, “and yet you can turn a +pretty compliment. Faugh! Deucalion, the way these people fawn on me +gives me a nausea. I am not of the same clay as they are, I know; but +just because I am the daughter of Gods they must needs feed me on the +pap of insincerity.” + +So Tatho was right, and the swineherd was forgotten. Well, if she chose +to keep up the fiction she had made, it was not my part to contradict +her. Rightly or wrongly I was her servant. + +“I have been pining this long enough for a stronger meat than they can +give,” she went on, “and at last I have sent for you. I have been at +some pains to procure my tongue-pictures of you, Deucalion, and though +you do not know me yet, I may say I knew you with all thoroughness even +before we met. I can admire a man with a mind great enough to forego the +silly gauds of clothes, or the excesses of feasts, or the pamperings of +women.” She looked down at her own silks and her glittering jewels. “We +women like to carry colours upon our persons, but that is a different +matter. And so I sent for you here to be my minister, and bear with me +the burden of ruling.” + +“There should be better men in broad Atlantis.” + +“There are not, my lord, and I who know them all by heart tell you so. +They are all enamoured of my poor person; they weary me with their empty +phrases and their importunities; and, though they are always brimming +with their cries of service, their own advancement and the filling of +their own treasuries ever comes first with them. So I have sent for you, +Deucalion, the one strong man in all the world. You at least will not +sigh to be my lover?” + +I saw her watching for my answer from the corner of her eyes. “The +Empress,” I said, “is my mistress, and I will be an honest minister to +her. With Phorenice, the woman, it is likely that I shall have little +enough to do. Besides, I am not the sort that sports with this toy they +call love.” + +“And yet you are a personable man enough,” she said rather thoughtfully. +“But that still further proves your strength, Deucalion. You at least +will not lose your head through weak infatuation for my poor looks and +graces.”--She turned to the girl who stood behind us.--“Ylga, fan not so +violently.” + +Our talk broke off then for the moment, and I had time to look about +me. We were passing through the chief street in the fairest, the most +wonderful city this world has ever seen. I had left it a score of years +before, and was curious to note its increase. + +In public buildings the city had certainly made growth; there were +new temples, new pyramids, new palaces, and statuary everywhere. Its +greatness and magnificence impressed me more strongly even than usual, +returning to it as I did from such a distance of time and space, for, +though the many cities of Yucatan might each of them be princely, this +great capital was a place not to be compared with any of them. It was +imperial and gorgeous beyond descriptive words. + +Yet most of all was I struck by the poverty and squalor which stood in +such close touch with all this magnificence. In the throngs that lined +the streets there were gaunt bodies and hungry faces everywhere. Here +and there stood one, a man or a woman, as naked as a savage in Europe, +and yet dull to shame. Even the trader, with trumpery gauds on his coat, +aping the prevailing fashion for display, had a scared, uneasy look to +his face, as though he had forgotten the mere name of safety, and hid a +frantic heart with his tawdry outward vauntings of prosperity. + +Phorenice read the direction of my looks. + +“The season,” she said, “has been unhealthy of recent months. These +lower people will not build fine houses to adorn my city, and because +they choose to live on in their squalid, unsightly kennels, there have +been calentures and other sicknesses amongst them, which make them +disinclined for work. And then, too, for the moment, earning is not +easy. Indeed, you may say trade is nearly stopped this last half-year, +since the rebels have been hammering so lustily at my city gates.” + +I was fairly startled out of my decorum. + +“Rebels!” I cried. “Who are hammering at the gates of Atlantis? Is the +city in a state of siege?” + +“Of their condescension,” said Phorenice lightly, “they are giving us +holiday to-day, and so, happily, my welcome to you comes undisturbed. +If they were fighting, your ears would have told you of it. To give them +their due, they are noisy enough in all their efforts. My spies say they +are making ready new engines for use against the walls, which you may +sally out to-morrow and break if it gives you amusement. But for to-day, +Deucalion, I have you, and you have me, and there is peace round us, and +some prettiness of display. If you ask for more I will give it you.” + +“I did not know of this rebellion,” I said, “but as Your Majesty has +made me your minister, it is well that I should know all about its scope +at once. This is a matter we should be serious upon.” + +“And do you think I cannot take it seriously also?” she retorted. +“Ylga,” she said to the girl that stood behind, “set loose my dress at +the shoulder.” + +And when the attendant had unlinked the jewelled clasp (as it seemed to +me with a very ill grace), she herself stripped down the fabric, baring +the pure skin beneath, and showing me just below the curve of the left +breast a bandage of bloodstained linen. + +“There is a guarantee of my seriousness yesterday, at any rate,” she +said, looking at me sidelong. “The arrow struck on a rib and that saved +me. If it had struck between, Deucalion would have been standing beside +my funeral pyre to-day instead of riding on this pretty steed of mine +which he admires so much. Your eye seems to feast itself most on the +mammoth, Deucalion. Ah, poor me. I am not one of your shaggy creatures, +and so it seems I shall never be able to catch your regard. Ylga,” she +said to the girl behind, “you may link my dress up again with its clasp. +My Lord Deucalion has seen wounds before, and there is nothing else here +to interest him.” + + + + +5. ZAEMON’S CURSE + + +It appeared that for the present at any rate I was to have my residence +in the royal pyramid. The glittering cavalcade drew up in the great +paved square which lies before the building, and massed itself in +groups. The mammoth was halted before the doorway, and when a stair had +been brought, the trumpets sounded, and we three who had ridden in the +golden half-castle under the canopy of snakes, descended to the ground. + +It was plain that we were going from beneath the open sky to the +apartments which lay inside the vast stone mazes of the pyramid, and +without thinking, the instinct of custom and reverence that had become +part of my nature caused me to turn to where the towering rocks of the +Sacred Mountain frowned above the city, and make the usual obeisance, +and offer up in silence the prescribed prayer. I say I did this thing +unthinking, and as a matter of common custom, but when I rose to my +feet, I could have sworn I heard a titter of laughter from somewhere in +that fancifully bedecked crowd of onlookers. + +I glanced in the direction of the scoffers, frowningly enough, and +then I turned to Phorenice to demand their prompt punishment for the +disrespect. But here was a strange thing. I had looked to see her in the +act and article of rising from an obeisance; but there she was, standing +erect, and had clearly never touched her forehead to the ground. +Moreover, she was regarding me with a queer look which I could not +fathom. + +But whatever was in her mind, she had no plan to bawl about it then +before the people collected in the square. She said to me, “Come,” + and, turning to the doorway, cried for entrance, giving the secret word +appointed for the day. The ponderous stone blocks, which barred the +porch, swung back on their hinges, and with stately tread she passed +out of the hot sunshine into the cool gloom beyond, with the fan-girl +following decorously at her heels. With a heaviness beginning to grow +at my heart, I too went inside the pyramid, and the stone doors, with a +sullen thud, closed behind us. + +We did not go far just then. Phorenice halted in the hall of waiting. +How well I remembered the place, with the pictures of kings on its red +walls, and the burning fountain of earth-breath which blazed from a jet +of bronze in the middle of the flooring and gave it light. The old King +that was gone had come this far of his complaisance when he bade +me farewell as I set out twenty years before for my vice-royalty in +Yucatan. But the air of the hall was different to what it had been in +those old days. Then it was pure and sweet. Now it was heavy with some +scent, and I found it languid and oppressive. + +“My minister,” said the Empress, “I acquit you of intentional insult; +but I think the colonial air has made you a very simple man. Such an +obeisance as you showed to that mountain not a minute since has not been +made since I was sent to reign over this kingdom.” + +“Your Majesty,” I said, “I am a member of the Priests’ Clan and was +brought up in their tenets. I have been taught, before entering a house, +to thank the Gods, and more especially our Lord the Sun, for the good +air that He and They have provided. It has been my fate more than once +to be chased by streams of fire and stinking air amongst the mountains +during one of their sudden boils, and so I can say the prescribed prayer +upon this matter straight from my heart.” + +“Circumstances have changed since you left Atlantis,” said Phorenice, +“and when thanks are given now, they are not thrown at those old Gods.” + +I saw her meaning, and almost started at the impiety of it. If this was +to be the new rule of things, I would have no hand in it. Fate might +deal with me as it chose. To serve truly a reigning monarch, that I was +prepared for; but to palter with sacrilege, and accept a swineherd’s +daughter as a God, who should receive prayers and obeisances, revolted +my manhood. So I invited a crisis. + +“Phorenice,” I said, “I have been a priest from my childhood up, +revering the Gods, and growing intimate with their mysteries. Till I +find for myself that those old things are false, I must stand by that +allegiance, and if there is a cost for this faithfulness I must pay it.” + +She looked at me with a slow smile. “You are a strong man, Deucalion,” + she said. + +I bowed. + +“I have heard others as stubborn,” she said, “but they were converted.” + She shook out the ruddy bunches of her hair, and stood so that the light +of the burning earth-breath might fall on the loveliness of her face and +form. “I have found it as easy to convert the stubborn as to burn them. +Indeed, there has been little talk of burning. They have all rushed to +conversion, whether I would or no. But it seems that my poor looks and +tongue are wanting in charm to-day.” + +“Phorenice is Empress,” I said stolidly, “and I am her servant. +To-morrow, if she gives me leave, I will clear away this rabble which +clamours outside the walls. I must begin to prove my uses.” + +“I am told you are a pretty fighter,” said she. “Well, I hold some small +skill in arms myself, and have a conceit that I am something of a judge. +To-morrow we will take a taste of battle together. But to-day I +must carry through the honourable reception I have planned for you, +Deucalion. The feast will be set ready soon, and you will wish to make +ready for the feast. There are chambers here selected for your use, and +stored with what is needful. Ylga will show you their places.” + +We waited, the fan-girl and I, till Phorenice had passed out of the glow +of the light-jet, and had left the hall of waiting through a doorway +amongst the shadows of its farther angle, and then (the girl taking a +lamp and leading) we also threaded our way through the narrow mazes of +the pyramid. + +Everywhere the air was full of perfumes, and everywhere the passages +turned and twisted and doubled through the solid stone of the pyramid, +so that strangers might have spent hours--yes, or days--in search before +they came to the chamber they desired. There was a fine cunningness +about those forgotten builders who set up this royal pyramid. They had +no mind that kings should fall by the hand of vulgar assassins who might +come in suddenly from outside. And it is said also that the king of the +time, to make doubly sure, killed all that had built the pyramid, or +seen even the lay of its inner stones. + +But the fan-girl led the way with the lamp swinging in her hand, as one +accustomed to the mazes. Here she doubled, there she turned, and here +she stopped in the middle of a blank wall to push a stone, which swung +to let us pass. And once she pressed at the corner of a flagstone on the +floor, which reared up to the thrust of her foot, and showed us a stair +steep and narrow. That we descended, coming to the foot of an inclined +way which led us upward again; and so by degrees we came unto the +chamber which had been given for my use. + +“There is raiment in all these chests which stand by the walls,” + said the girl, “and jewels and gauds in that bronze coffer. They are +Phorenice’s first presents, she bid me say, and but a small earnest of +what is to come. My Lord Deucalion can drop his simplicity now, and fig +himself out in finery to suit the fashion.” + +“Girl,” I said sharply, “be more decorous with your tongue, and spare me +such small advice.” + +“If my Lord Deucalion thinks this a rudeness, he can give a word to +Phorenice, and I shall be whipped. If he asks it, I can be stripped and +scourged before him. The Empress will do much for Deucalion just now.” + +“Girl,” I said, “you are nearer to that whipping than you think for.” + +“I have got a name,” she retorted, looking at me sullenly from under her +black brows. “They call me Ylga. You might have heard that as we rode +here on the mammoth, had you not been so wrapped up in Phorenice.” + +I gazed at her curiously. “You have never seen me before,” I said, “and +the first words you utter are those that might well bring trouble to +yourself. There is some object in all this.” + +She went and pushed to the massive stone that swung in the doorway of +the chamber. Then she put her little jewelled fingers on my garment and +drew me carefully away from the airshaft into the farther corner. “I am +the daughter of Zaemon,” she said, “whom you knew.” + +“You bring me some message from him?” + +“How could I? He lives in the priests’ dwellings on the Mountain you did +obeisance to. I have not put eyes on him these two years. But when I +saw you first step out from that red pavilion they had pitched at the +harbour side, I--I felt a pity for you, Deucalion. I remembered you were +my father’s, Zaemon’s, friend, and I knew what Phorenice had in store. +She has been plotting it all these two months.” + +“I cannot hear words against the Empress.” + +“And yet--” + +“What?” + +She stamped her sandal upon the stone of the floor. “You must be a very +blind man, Deucalion, or a very daring one. But I shall not interfere +further; at least not now. Still, I shall watch, and if at any time you +seem to want a friend I will try and serve you.” + +“I thank you for your friendship.” + +“You seem to take it lightly enough. Why, sir, even now I do not believe +you know my power, any more than you guess my motive. You may be first +man in this kingdom, but let me tell you I rank as second lady. And +remember, women stand high in Atlantis now. Believe me, my friendship is +a commodity that has been sought with frequence and industry.” + +“And as I say, I am grateful for it. You seem to think little enough of +my gratitude, Ylga; but, credit me, I never have bestowed it on a woman +before, and so you should treasure it for its rarity.” + +“Well,” she said, “my lord, there is an education before you.” She left +me then, showing me how to call slaves when I wished for their help, and +for a full minute I stood wondering at the words I had spoken to her. +Who was the daughter of Zaemon that she should induce me to change the +habit of a lifetime? + +The slaves came at my bidding, and showed themselves anxious to deck +me with a thousand foolishnesses in the matter of robes and gauds, and +(what seemed to be the modern fashion of their class) holding out the +virtues of a score of perfumes and unguents. Their manner irritated +me. Clean I was already, and shaved; my hair was trim, and my robe was +unsoiled; and, considering these pressing attentions of theirs something +of an impertinence, I set them to beat one another as a punishment, +promising that if they did not do it with thoroughness, I would hand +them on to the brander to be marked with stripes which would endure. +It is strange, but a common menial can often surpass even a rebellious +general in power of ruffling one. + +I had seen many strange sights that day, and undergone many new +sensations; but of all the things which came to my notice, Phorenice’s +manner of summoning the guests to her feast surprised me most. Nay, it +did more; it shocked me profoundly; and I cannot say whether amazement +at her profanity, or wonder at her power, was for the moment strongest +in my breast. I sat in my chamber awaiting the summons, when gradually, +growing out of nothing, a sound fell upon my ear which increased in +volume with infinitely small graduations, till at last it became a +clanging din which hurt the ear with its fierceness; and then (I guessed +what was coming) the whole massive fabric of the pyramid trembled and +groaned and shook, as though it had been merely a child’s wooden toy +brushed about by a strong man’s sandal. + +It was the portent served out yearly by the chiefs of the Priests’ Clan +on the Sacred Mountain, when they bade all the world take count of their +sins. It was the sacred reminder that from roaring, raging fire, and +from the agony of monstrous earth-tremors, man had been born, and that +by these same agencies he would eventually be swallowed up--he and +the sins within his breast. And here the Empress was prostituting its +solemnities into a mere call to gluttony, and sign for ribald laughter +and sensuous display. + +But how had she acquired the authority to do this thing? Who was she +that she should tamper with those dimly understood powers, the forces +that dwell within the liquid heart of our mother earth? Had there been +treachery? Had some member of the Priests’ Clan forgotten his sacred +vows, and babbled to this woman matters concerning the holy mysteries? +Or had Phorenice discovered a key to these mysteries with her own agile +brain? + +If that last was the case, I could continue to serve her with silent +conscience. Though she might be none of my making, at least she was +Empress, and it was my duty to give her obedience. But if she had +suborned some weaker member of the Clan on the Sacred Mount, that would +be a different matter. For be it remembered that it was one of the +elements of our constitution to preserve our secrets and mysteries +inviolate, and to pursue with undying hatred both the man who had dared +to betray them, and the unhappy recipient of his confidence. + +It was with very undecided feelings, then, that I obeyed the summons of +the earth-shaking, and bade the slaves lead me through the windings of +the pyramid to the great banqueting-hall. The scene there was dazzling. +The majestic chamber with its marvellous carvings was filled with a +company decked out with all the gauds and colours that fancy could +conceive. Little recked they of the solemn portent which had summoned +them to the meal, of the death and misery that stalked openly through +the city wards without, of the rebels which lay in leaguer beyond the +walls, of the neglected Gods and their clan of priests on the Sacred +Mountain. They were all gluttonous for the passions of the moment; it +was their fashion and conceit to look at nothing beyond. + +Flaming jets of earth-breath lit the great hall to the brightness of +midday; and when I stepped out upon the pavement, trumpets blared, so +that all might know of my coming. But there was no roar of welcome. +“Deucalion,” they lisped with mincing voices, bowing themselves +ridiculously to the ground so that all their ornaments and silks might +jangle and swish. Indeed, when Phorenice herself appeared, and all +sent up their cries and made lawful obeisance, there was the same +artificiality in the welcome. They meant well enough, it is true; +but this was the new fashion. Heartiness had come to be accounted a +barbarism by this new culture. + +A pair of posturing, smirking chamberlains took me in charge, and +ushered me with their flimsy golden wands to the dais at the farther +end. It appeared that I was to sit on Phorenice’s divan, and eat my meat +out of her dish. + +“There is no stint to the honour the Empress puts upon me,” I said, as I +knelt down and took my seat. + +She gave me one of her queer, sidelong looks. “Deucalion may have more +beside, if he asks for it prettily. He may have what all the other men +in the known world have sighed for, and what none of them will ever +get. But I have given enough of my own accord; he must ask me warmly for +those further favours.” + +“I ask,” I said, “first, that I may sweep the boundaries clear of this +rabble which is clamouring against the city walls.” + +“Pah,” she said, and frowned. “Have you appetite only for the sterner +pleasures of life? My good Deucalion, they must have been rustic folk +in that colony of yours. Well, you shall give me news now of the +toothsomeness of this feast.” + +Dishes and goblets were placed before us, and we began to eat, though I +had little enough appetite for victual so broken and so highly spiced. +But if this finicking cookery and these luscious wines did not appeal +to me, the other diners in that gorgeous hall appreciated it all to the +full. They sat about in groups on the pavement beneath the light-jets +like a tangle of rainbows for colour, and according to the new custom +they went into raptures and ecstasies over their enjoyment. Women and +men both, they lingered over each titillation of the palate as though it +were a caress of the Gods. + +Phorenice, with her quick, bright eyes, looked on, and occasionally +flung one or another a few words between her talk with me, and now and +again called some favoured creature up to receive a scrap of viand +from the royal dish. This the honoured one would eat with extravagant +gesture, or (as happened twice) would put it away in the folds of his +clothes as a treasure too dear to be profaned by human lips. + +To me, this flattery appeared gross and disgustful, but Phorenice, +through use, perhaps, seemed to take it as merely her due. There was, +one had to suppose, a weakness in her somewhere, though truly to the +outward seeing none was apparent. Her face was strong enough, and it was +subtle also, and, moreover, it was wondrous comely. All the courtiers in +the banqueting-hall raved about Phorenice’s face and the other beauties +of her body and limbs, and though not given to appreciation in these +matters, I could not but see that here at least they had a groundwork +for their admiration, for surely the Gods have never favoured mortal +woman more highly. Yet lovely though she might be, for myself I +preferred to look upon Ylga, the girl, who, because of her rank, was +privileged to sit on the divan behind us as immediate attendant. There +was an honesty in Ylga’s face which Phorenice’s lacked. + +They did not eat to nutrify their bodies, these feasters in the +banqueting-hall of the royal pyramid, but they all ate to cloy +themselves, and they strutted forth new usages with every platter and +bowl that the slaves brought. To me some of their manners were +closely touching on disrespect. At the halfway of the meal, a gorgeous +popinjay--he was a governor of an out-province driven into the capital +by a rebellion in his own lands--this gorgeous fop, I say, walked up +between the groups of feasters with flushed face and unsteady gait, and +did obeisance before the divan. “Most astounding Empress,” cried he, +“fairest among the Goddesses, Queen regnant of my adoring heart, hail!” + +Phorenice with a smile stretched him out her cup. I looked to see him +pour respectful libation, but no such thing. He set the drink to his +lips and drained it to the final drop. “May all your troubles,” he +cried, “pass from you as easily, and leave as pleasant a flavour.” + +The Empress turned to me with one of her quick looks. “You do not like +this new habit?” + +To which I replied bluntly enough that to pour out liquor at a person’s +feet had grown through custom to be a mark of respect, but that drinking +it seemed to me mere self-indulgence, which might be practised anywhere. + +“You still keep to the old austere teachings,” she said. “Our newer code +bids us enjoy life first, and order other things so as not to meddle +with our more immediate pleasure.” + +And so the feast went on, the guests practising their gluttonies and +their absurdities, and the guards standing to their arms round the +circuit of the walls as motionless and as stern as the statues carven +in the white stone beyond them. But a term was put to the orgy with +something of suddenness. There was a stir at the farther doorway of the +banqueting-hall, and a clash, as two of the guards joined their spears +across the entrance. But the man they tried to stop--or perhaps it was +to pin--passed them unharmed, and walked up over the pavement between +the lights, and the groups of feasters. All looked round at him; a few +threw him ribald words; but none ventured to stop his progress. A few, +women chiefly, I could see, shuddered as he passed them by, as though a +wintry chill had come over them; and in the end he walked up and stood +in front of Phorenice’s divan, and gazed fixedly on her, but without +making obeisance. + +He was a frail old man, with white hair tumbling on his shoulders, and +ragged white beard. The mud of wayfaring hung in clots on his feet and +legs. His wizened body was bare save for a single cloth wound about +his shoulders and his loins, and he carried in his hand a wand with the +symbol of our Lord the Sun glowing at its tip. That wand went to show +his caste, but in no other way could I recognize him. + +I took him for one of those ascetics of the Priests’ Clan, who had +forsworn the steady nurtured life of the Sacred Mountain, and who lived +out in the dangerous lands amongst the burning hills, where there is +daily peril from falling rocks, from fire streams, from evil vapours, +from sudden fissuring of the ground, and from other movements of those +unstable territories, and from the greater lizards and other monstrous +beasts which haunt them. These keep constant in the memory the might of +the Holy Gods, and the insecurity of this frail earth on which we have +our resting-place, and so the sojourners there become chastened in the +spirit, and gain power over mysteries which even the most studious and +learned of other men can never hope to attain. + +A silence filled the room when the old man came to his halt, and +Phorenice was the first to break it. “Those two guards,” she said, in +her clear, carrying voice, “who held the door, are not equal to their +work. I cannot have imperfect servants; remove them.” + +The soldiers next in the rank lifted their spears and drove them home, +and the two fellows who had admitted the old man fell to the ground. One +shrieked once, the other gave no sound: they were clever thrusts both. + +The old man found his voice, thin, and high, and broken. “Another crime +added to your tally, Phorenice. Not half your army could have hindered +my entrance had I wished to come, and let me tell you that I am here to +bring you your last warning. The Gods have shown you much favour; they +gave you merit by which you could rise above your fellows, till at last +only the throne stood above you. It was seen good by those on the Sacred +Mountain to let you have this last ambition, and sit on this throne +that has as long and honourably been filled by the ancient kings of +Atlantis.” + +The Empress sat back on the divan smiling. “I seemed to get these things +as I chose, and in spite of your friends’ teeth. I may owe to you, old +man, a small parcel of thanks, though that I offered to repay; but for +my lords the priests, their permission was of small enough value when +it came. I would have you remember that I was as firm on the throne of +Atlantis as this pyramid stands upon its base when your worn-out priests +came up to give their tottering benediction.” + +The old man waved aside her interruption. “Hear me out,” he said. “I am +here with no trivial message. There is nothing paltry about the threat +I can throw at you, Phorenice. With your fire-tubes, your handling of +troops, and your other fiendish clevernesses, you may not be easy to +overthrow by mere human means, though, forsooth, these poor rebels who +yap against your city walls have contrived to hold their ground for long +enough now. It may be that you are becoming enervated; I do not know. +It may be that you are too wrapped up in your feastings, your dressings, +your pomps, and your debaucheries, to find leisure to turn to the art +of war. It may be that the man’s spirit has gone out from your arm and +brain, and you are a woman once more--weak, and pleasure-loving; again I +do not know. + +“But this must happen: You must undo the evil you have done; you must +give bread to the people who are starving, even if you take it from +these gluttons in this hall; you must restore Atlantis to the state in +which it was entrusted to you: or else you must be removed. It cannot +be permitted that the country should sink back into the lawlessness +and barbarism from which its ancient kings have digged it. You hear, +Phorenice. Now give me true answer.” + +“Speak him fair. Oh! For the sake of your fortune, speak him fair,” came +Ylga’s voice in a hurried whisper from behind us. But the Empress took +no notice of it. She leaned forward on the cushions of the divan with a +knit brow. + +“Do you dare to threaten me, old man, knowing what I am?” + +“I know your origin,” he said gravely, “as well as you know it yourself. +As for my daring, that is a small matter. He need be but a timid man who +dares to say words that the High Gods put on his lips.” + +“I shall rule this kingdom as I choose. I shall brook interference from +no creature on this earth, or beneath it, or in the sky above. The Gods +have chosen me to be Their regent in Atlantis, and They do not depose me +through such creatures as you. Go away, old man, and play the fanatic in +another court. It is well that I have an ancient kindliness for you, or +you would not leave this place unharmed.” + +“Now, indeed, you are lost,” I heard Ylga murmur from behind, and the +old man in front of us did not move a step. Instead, he lifted up the +Symbol of our Lord the Sun, and launched his curse. “Your blasphemy +gives the reply I asked for. Hear me now make declaration of war on +behalf of Those against whom you have thrown your insults. You shall be +overthrown and sent to the nether Gods. At whatever cost the land shall +be purged of you and yours, and all the evil that has been done to it +whilst you have sullied the throne of its ancient kings. You will not +amend, neither will you yield tamely. You vaunt that you sit as firm on +your throne as this pyramid reposes on its base. See how little you +know of what the future carries. I say to you that, whilst you are yet +Empress, you shall see this royal pyramid which you have polluted +with your debaucheries torn tier from tier, and stone from stone, and +scattered as feathers spread before a wind.” + +“You may wreck the pyramid,” said Phorenice contemptuously. “I myself +have some knowledge of the earth forces, as I have shown this night. But +though you crumble every stone above us now and grind it into grit and +dust, I shall still be Empress. What force can you crazy priests bring +against me that I cannot throw back and destroy?” + +“We have a weapon that was forged in no mortal smithy,” shrilled the +old man, “whereof the key is now lodged in the Ark of the Mysteries. But +that weapon can be used only as a last resource. The nature of it even +is too awful to be told in words. Our other powers will be launched +against you first, and for this poor country’s sake I pray that they may +cause you to wince. Yet rest assured, Phorenice, that we shall not step +aside once we have put a hand to this matter. We shall carry it through, +even though the cost be a universal burning and destruction. For know +this, daughter of the swineherd, it is agreed amongst the most High Gods +that you are too full of sin to continue unchecked.” + +“Speak him fairly,” Ylga urged from behind. “He has a power at which you +cannot even guess.” + +The Empress made to rise, but Ylga clung to her skirt. “For the sake of +your fame,” she urged, “for the sake of your life, do not defy him.” But +Phorenice struck her fiercely aside, and faced the old man in a tumult +of passion. “You dare call me a blasphemer, who blaspheme yourself? You +dare cast slurs upon my birth, who am come direct from the most high +Heaven? Old man, your craziness protects you in part, but not in all. +You shall be whipped. Do you hear me? I say, whipped. The lean flesh +shall be scourged from your scraggy bones, and you shall totter away +from this place as a red and bleeding example for those who would dare +traduce their Empress. Here, some of you, I say, take that man, and let +him be whipped where he stands.” + +Her cry went out clearly enough. But not a soul amongst those glittering +feasters stirred in his place. Not a soldier amongst the guards stepped +from his rank. The place was hung in a terrible silence. It seemed as +though no one within the hall dared so much as to draw a breath. All +felt that the very air was big with fate. + +Phorenice, with her head crouched forward, looked from one group to +another. Her face was working. “Have I no true servants,” she asked, +“amongst all you pretty lip-servers?” + +Still no one moved. They stood, or sat, or crouched like people +fascinated. For myself, with the first words he had uttered, I had +recognized the old man by his voice. It was Zaemon, the weak governor +who had given the Empress her first step towards power; that earnest +searcher into the mysteries, who knew more of their powers, and more +about the hidden forces, than any other dweller on the Sacred Mountain, +even at that time when I left for my colony. And now, during his strange +hermit life, how much more might he not have learned? I was torn by +warring duties. I owed much to the Priests’ Clan, by reason of my oath +and membership; it seemed I owed no less to Phorenice. And, again, was +Zaemon the truly accredited envoy of the high council of the priests of +the Sacred Mountain? And was the Empress of a truth deposed by the High +Gods above, or was she still Empress, and still the commander of my +duty? I could not tell, and so I sat in my seat awaiting what the event +would sow. + +Phorenice’s fury was growing. “Do I stand alone here?” she cried. “Have +I pampered you creatures out of all touch with gratitude? It seems that +at last I want a new chief to my guards. Ho! Who will be chief of the +guards of the Empress?” + +There was a shifting of eyes, a hesitation. Then a great burly form +strode up from the farther end of the hall, and a perceptible shudder +went up from all the others as they watched him. + +“So, Tarca, you prefer to take the risks, and remain chief of the guard +yourself?” she said with an angry scoff. “Truly there did not seem to be +many thrusting forward to strip you of the office. I shall have a fine +sorting up of places in payment for this night’s work. But for the +present, Tarca, do your duty.” + +The man came up, obviously timorous. He was a solidly made fellow, but +not altogether unmartial, and though but little of his cheek showed +above his decorated beard, I could see that he paled as he came near +to the priest. “My lord,” he said quietly, “I must ask you to come with +me.” + +“Stand aside,” said the old man, thrusting out the Symbol in front of +him. I could see his eyes gather on the soldier and his brows knit with +a strain of will. + +Tarca saw this too, and I thought he would have fallen, but with an +effort he kept his manhood, and doggedly repeated his summons. “I must +obey the command of my mistress, and I would have you remember, my lord, +that I am but a servant. You must come with me to the whip.” + +“I warn you!” cried the old man. “Stand from out of my path, you!” + +It must have been with the courage of desperation that the soldier dared +to use force. But the hand he stretched out dropped limply back to his +side the moment it touched the old man’s bare shoulder, as though it had +been struck by some shock. He seemed almost to have expected some such +repulse; yet when he picked up that hand with the other, and looked +at it, and saw its whiteness, he let out of him a yell like a wounded +beast. “Oh, Gods!” he cried. “Not that. Spare me!” + +But Zaemon was glowering at him still. A twitching seized the man’s +face, and he put up his sound hand to it and plucked at his beard, +which was curled and plaited after the new fashion of the day. A woman +standing near screamed as the half of the beard came off in his fingers. +Beneath was silver whiteness over half his face. Zaemon had smitten him +with a sudden leprosy that was past cure. + +Yet the punishment was not ended even then. Other twitchings took him +on other parts of the body, and he tore off his armour and his foppish +clothes, and always where the bare flesh showed, there had the horrid +plague written its white mark; and in the end, being able to endure no +more, the man fell to the pavement and lay there writhing. + +Zaemon said no further word. He lifted the Symbol before him, set +his eyes on the farther door of the banqueting-hall and walked for +it directly, all those in his path shrinking away from him with open +shudders. And through the valves of the door he passed out of our sight, +still wordless, still unchecked. + +I glanced up at Phorenice. The loveliness of her face was drawn and +haggard. It was the first great reverse, this, she had met with in +all her life, and the shock of it, and the vision of what might follow +after, dazed her. Alas, if she could only have guessed at a tenth of the +terrors which the future had in its womb, Atlantis might have been saved +even then. + + + + +6. THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS + + +Here then was the manner of my reception back in the capital of +Atlantis, and some first glimpse at her new policies. I freely confess +to my own inaction and limpness; but it was all deliberate. The old ties +of duty seemed lost, or at least merged in one another. Beforetime, to +serve the king was to serve the Clan of the Priests, from which he had +been chosen, and whose head he constituted. But Phorenice was self-made, +and appeared to be a rule unto herself; if Zaemon was to be trusted, +he was the mouthpiece of the Priests, and their Clan had set her at +defiance; and how was a mere honest man to choose on the instant between +the two? + +But cold argument told me that governments were set up for the good +of the country at large, and I said to myself that there would be my +choice. I must find out which rule promised best of Atlantis, and do my +poor best to prop it into full power. And here at once there opened up +another path in the maze: I had heard some considerable talk of rebels; +of another faction of Atlanteans who, whatever their faults might be, +were at any rate strong enough to beleaguer the capital; and before +coming to any final decision, it would be as well to take their claims +in balance with the rest. So on the night of that very same day on which +I had just re-planted my foot on the old country’s shores, I set out to +glean for myself tidings on the matter. + +No one inside the royal pyramid gainsaid me. The banquet had ended +abruptly with the terrible scene that I have set down above on these +tablets, for with Tarca writhing on the floor, and thrusting out the +gruesome scars of his leprosy, even the most gluttonous had little +enough appetite for further gorging. Phorenice glowered on the feasters +for a while longer in silent fury, but saying no further word; and then +her eyes turned on me, though softened somewhat. + +“You may be an honest man, Deucalion,” she said, at length, “but you are +a monstrous cold one. I wonder when you will thaw?” And here she smiled. +“I think it will be soon. But for now I bid you farewell. In the morning +we will take this country by the shoulders, and see it in some new +order.” + +She left the banqueting-hall then, Ylga following; and taking +precedence of my rank, I went out next, whilst all others stood and made +salutation. But I halted by Tarca first, and put my hand on his unclean +flesh. “You are an unfortunate man,” I said, “but I can admire a brave +soldier. If relief can be gained for your plague, I will use interest to +procure it for you.” + +The man’s thanks came in a mumble from his wrecked mouth, and some of +those near shuddered in affected disgust. I turned on them with a +black brow: “Your charity, my lords, seems of as small account as +your courage. You affected a fine disbelief of Zaemon’s sayings, and +a simpering contempt for his priesthood, but when it comes to laying +a hand on him, you show a discretion which, in the old days, we should +have called by an ugly name. I had rather be Tarca, with all his +uncleanness, than any of you now as you stand.” + +With which leave-taking I waited coldly till they gave me my due +salutation, and then walked out of the banqueting-hall without offering +a soul another glance. I took my way to the grand gate of the pyramid, +called for the officer of the guard, and demanded exit. The man was +obsequious enough, but he opened with some demur. + +“My lord’s attendants have not yet come up?” + +“I have none.” + +“My lord knows the state of the streets?” + +“I did twenty years back. I shall be able to pick my way.” + +“My lord must remember that the city is beleaguered,” the fellow +persisted. “The people are hungry. They prowl in bands after nightfall, +and--I make no question that my lord would conquer in a fight against +whatever odds, but--” + +“Quite right. I covet no street scuffle to-night. Lend me, I pray you, +a sufficiency of men. You will know best what are needed. For me, I am +accustomed to a city with quiet streets.” + +A score of sturdy fellows were detailed off for my escort, and with them +in a double file on either hand, I marched out from the close perfumed +air of the pyramid into the cool moonlight of the city. It was my +purpose to make a tour of the walls and to find out somewhat of the +disposition of these rebels. + +But the Gods saw fit to give me another education first. The city, as I +saw it during that night walk, was no longer the old capital that I had +known, the just accretion of the ages, the due admixture of comfort and +splendour. The splendour was there, vastly increased. Whole wards had +been swept away to make space for new palaces, and new pyramids of the +wealthy, and I could not but have an admiration for the skill and the +brain which made possible such splendid monuments. + +And, indeed, gazing at them there under the silver of the moonlight, +I could almost understand the emotions of the Europeans and other +barbarous savages which cause them to worship all such great buildings +as Gods, since they deem them too wonderful and majestic to be set up by +human hands unaided. + +Still, if it was easy to admire, it was simple also to see plain +advertisement of the cost at which these great works had been reared. +From each grant of ground, where one of these stately piles earned +silver under the moon, a hundred families had been evicted and left to +harbour as they pleased in the open; and, as a consequence, now every +niche had its quota of sleepers, and every shadow its squad of fierce +wild creatures, ready to rush out and rob or slay all wayfarers of less +force than their own. + +Myself, I am no pamperer of the common people. I say that, if a man be +left to hunger and shiver, he will work to gain him food and raiment; +and if not, why then he can die, and the State is well rid of a +worthless fellow. But here beside us, as we marched through many wards, +were marks of blind oppression; starved dead bodies, with the bones +starting through the lean skin, sprawled in the gutter; and indeed +it was plain that, save for the favoured few, the people of the great +capital were under a most heavy oppression. + +But at this, though I might regret it abominably, I could make no strong +complaint. By the ancient law of the land all the people, great and +small, were the servants of the king, to be put without question to what +purposes he chose; and Phorenice stood in the place of the king. So I +tried to think no treason, but with a sigh passed on, keeping my eyes +above the miseries and the squalors of the roadway, and sending out my +thoughts to the stars which hung in the purple night above, and to +the High Gods which dwelt amongst them, seeking, if it might be, for +guidance for my future policies. And so in time the windings of the +streets brought us to the walls, and, coursing beside these and giving +fitting answer to the sentries who beat their drums as we passed, we +came in time to that great gate which was a charge to the captain of the +garrison. + +Here it was plain there was some special commotion. A noise of laughter +went up into the still night air, and with it now and again the snarl +and roar of a great beast, and now and again the shriek of a hurt man. +But whatever might be afoot, it was not a scene to come upon suddenly. +The entrance gates of our great capital were designed by their ancient +builders to be no less strong than the walls themselves. Four pairs +of valves were there, each a monstrous block of stone two man-heights +square, and a man-height thick, and the wall was doubled to receive +them, enclosing an open circus between its two parts. The four gates +themselves were set one at the inner, one at the outer side of each of +these walls, and a hidden machinery so connected them, that of each set +one could not open till the other was closed; and as for forcing them +without war engines, one might as foolishly try to push down the royal +pyramid with the bare hand. + +My escort made outcry with the horn which hung from the wall inviting +such a summons, and a warder came to an arrow-slit, and did inspection +of our persons and business. His survey was according to the ancient +form of words, which is long, and this was made still more tedious by +the noise from within, which ever and again drowned all speech between +us entirely. + +But at last the formalities had been duly complied with, and he shot +back the massive bars and bolts of stone, and threw ajar one monstrous +stone valve of the door. Into the chamber within--a chamber made from +the thickness of the wall between the two doors--I and my fellows +crowded, and then the warder with his machines pulled to the valve which +had been opened, and came to me again through the press of my escort, +bowing low to the ground. + +“I have no vail to give you,” I said abruptly. “Get on with your duty. +Open me that other door.” + +“With respect, my lord, it would be better that I should first announce +my lord’s presence. There is a baiting going forward in the circus, and +the tigers are as yet mere savages, and no respecters of persons.” + +“The what?” + +“The tigers, if my lord will permit them the name. They are baiting a +batch of prisoners with the two great beasts which the Empress (whose +name be adored) has sent here to aid us keep the gate. But if my +lord will, there are the ward rooms leading off this passage, and the +galleries which run out from them commanding the circus, and from there +my lord can see the sport undisturbed.” + +Now, the mere lust for killing excites only disgust in me, but I +suspected the orders of the Empress in this matter, and had a curiosity +to see her scheme. So I stepped into the warder’s lodge, and on into +the galleries which commanded the circus with their arrow-slits. The old +builders of the place had intended these for a second line of defence, +for, supposing the outer doors all forced, an enemy could be speedily +shot down in the circus, without being able to give a blow in return, +and so would only march into a death-trap. But as a gazing-place on a +spectacle they were no less useful. + +The circus was bright lit by the moonlight, and the air which came in to +me from it was acrid with the reek of blood. There was no sport in +what was going forward: as I said, it was mere killing, and the sight +disgusted me. I am no prude about this matter. Give a prisoner his +weapons, put him in a pit with beasts of reasonable strength, and let +him fight to a finish if you choose, and I can look on there and applaud +the strokes. The war prisoner, being a prisoner, has earned death by +natural law, and prefers to get his last stroke in hot blood than to +be knocked down by the headsman’s axe. And it is any brave man’s luxury +either to help or watch a lusty fight. But this baiting in the circus +between the gates was no fair battle like that. + +To begin with, the beasts were no fair antagonists for single men. In +fact, twenty men armed might well have fled from them. When the warder +said tigers, I supposed he meant the great cats of the woods. But here, +in the circus, I saw a pair of the most terrific of all the fur-bearing +land beasts, the great tigers of the caves--huge monsters, of such +ponderous strength that in hunger they will oftentimes drag down a +mammoth, if they can find him away from his herd. + +How they had been brought captive I could not tell. Hunter of beasts +though I had been for all my days, I take no shame in saying that +I always approached the slaying of a cave-tiger with stratagem and +infinite caution. To entrap it alive and bring it to a city on a chain +was beyond my most daring schemes, and I have been accredited with more +new things than one. But here it was in fact, and I saw in these captive +beasts a new certificate for Phorenice’s genius. + +The purpose of these two cave-tigers was plain: whilst they were in +the circus, and loose, no living being could cross from one gate to +the other. They were a new and sturdy addition to the defences of the +capital. A collar of bronze was round the throat of each, and on the +collar was a massive chain which led to the wall, where it could be +payed out or hauled in by means of a windlass in one of the hidden +galleries. So that at ordinary moments the two huge beasts could be +tethered, one close to either end of the circus, as the litter of bones +and other messes showed, leaving free passage-way between the two sets +of doors. + +But when I stood there by the arrow-slit, looking down into the +moonlight of the circus, these chains were slackened (though men stood +by the windlass of each), and the great striped brutes were prowling +about the circus with the links clanking and chinking in their wake. +Lying stark on the pavement were the bodies of some eight men, dead +and uneaten; and though the cave-tigers stopped their prowlings now and +again to nuzzle these, and beat them about with playful paw-blows, they +made no pretence at commencing a meal. It was clear that this cruel +sport had grown common to them, and they knew there were other victims +yet to be added to the tally. + +Presently, sure enough, as I watched, a valve of the farther gate swung +back an arm’s length, and a prisoner, furiously resisting, was thrust +out into the circus. He fell on his face, and after one look around him +he lay resolutely still, with eyes on the ground passively awaiting +his fate. The ponderous stone of the gate clapped to in its place; the +cave-tigers turned in their prowlings; and a chatter of wagers ran to +and fro amongst the watchers behind the arrow-slits. + +It seemed there were niceties of cruelty in this wretched game. There +was a sharp clank as the windlasses were manned, and the tethering +chains were drawn in by perhaps a score of links. One of the cave-tigers +crouched, lashed its tail, and launched forth on a terrific spring. +The chain tautened, the massive links sang to the strain, and the great +beast gave a roar which shook the walls. It had missed the prone man by +a hand’s breadth, and the watchers behind the arrow-slits shrieked forth +their delight. The other tiger sprang also and missed, and again there +were shouts of pleasure, which mingled with the bellowing voices of the +beasts. The man lay motionless in his form. One more cowardly, or +one more brave, might have run from death, or faced it; but this poor +prisoner chose the middle course--he permitted death to come to him, and +had enough of doggedness to wait for it without stir. + +The great cave-tigers were used, it appeared, to this disgusting sport. +There were no more wild springs, no more stubbings at the end of the +massive chains. They lay down on the pavement, and presently began to +purr, rolling on to their sides and rubbing themselves luxuriously. The +prisoner still lay motionless in his form. + +By slow degrees the monstrous brutes each drew to the end of its chain +and began to reach at the man with out-stretched forepaw. The male could +not touch him; the female could just reach him with the far tip of a +claw; and I saw a red scratch start up in the bare skin of his side at +every stroke. But still the prisoner would not stir. It seemed to me +that they must slack out more links of one of the tigers’ chains, or let +the vile play linger into mere tediousness. + +But I had more to learn yet. The male tiger, either taught by his +own devilishness, or by those brutes that were his keepers, had still +another ruse in store. He rose to his feet and turned round, backing +against the chain. A yell of applause from the hidden men behind +the arrow-slits told that they knew what was in store; and then the +monstrous beast, stretched to the utmost of its vast length, kicked +sharply with one hind paw. + +I heard the crunch of the prisoner’s ribs as the pads struck him, and at +that same moment the poor wretch’s body was spurned away by the blow, as +one might throw a fruit with the hand. But it did not travel far. It was +clear that the she-tiger knew this manoeuvre of her mate’s. She caught +the man on his bound, nuzzling over him for a minute, and then tossing +him high into the air, and leaping up to the full of her splendid height +after him. + +Those other onlookers thought it magnificent; their gleeful shouts said +as much. But for me, my gorge rose at the sight. Once the tigers +had reached him, the man had been killed, it is true, without any +unnecessary lingering. Even a light blow from those terrific paws would +slay the strongest man living. But to see the two cave-tigers toying +with the poor body was an insult to the pride of our race. + +However, I was not there to preach the superiority of man to the +beasts, and the indecency and degradation of permitting man to be unduly +insulted. I had come to learn for myself the new balance of things +in the kingdom of Atlantis, and so I stood at my place behind the +arrow-slit with a still face. And presently another scene in this +ghastly play was enacted. + +The cave-tigers tired of their sport, and first one and then the other +fell once more to prowling over the littered pavements, with the heavy +chains scraping and chinking in their wake. They made no beginning to +feast on the bodies provided for them. That would be for afterwards. In +the present, the fascination of slaughter was big in them, and they +had thought that it would be indulged further. It seemed that they knew +their entertainers. + +Again the windlass clanked, and the tethering chains drew the great +beasts clear of the doorway; and again a valve of the farther door swung +ajar, and another prisoner was thrust struggling into the circus. A +sickness seized me when I saw that this was a woman, but still, in view +of the object I had in hand, I made no interruption. + +It was not that I had never seen women sent to death before. A general, +who has done his fighting, must in his day have killed women equally +with men; yes, and seen them earn their death-blow by lusty battling. +Yet there seemed something so wanton in this cruel helpless sacrifice +of a woman prisoner, that I had a struggle with myself to avoid +interference. Still it is ever the case that the individual must be +sacrificed to a policy, and so as I say, I watched on, outwardly cold +and impassive. + +I watched too (I confess it freely) with a quickening heart. Here was no +sullen submissive victim like the last. She may have been more cowardly +(as some women are), she may have been braver (as many women have shown +themselves); but, at any rate, it was clear that she was going to make a +struggle for her life, and to do vicious damage, it might be, before +she yielded it up. The watchers behind the arrow-slits recognized this. +Their wagers, and the hum of their appreciation, swept loudly round the +ring of the circus. + +They stripped their prisoners, before they thrust them out to this +death, of all the clothes they might carry, for clothes have a value; +and so the woman stood there bare-limbed in the moonlight. + +She clapped her back to the great stone door by which she had entered, +and faced fate with glowing eye. Gods! there have been times in early +years when I could have plucked out sword and jumped down, and fought +for her there for the sheer delight of such a battle. But now policy +restrained me. The individual might want a helping hand, but it was +becoming more and more clear that Atlantis wanted a minister also; and +before these great needs, the lesser ones perforce must perish. Still, +be it noted that, if I did not jump down, no other man there that night +had sufficient manhood remaining to venture the opportunity. + +My heart glowed as I watched her. She picked a bone from the litter on +the pavement and beat off its head by blows against the wall. Then with +her teeth she fashioned the point to still further sharpness. I could +see her teeth glisten white in the moonrays as she bit with them. + +The huge cave-tigers, which stood as high as her head as they walked, +came nearer to her in their prowlings, yet obviously neglected her. This +was part of their accustomed scheme of torment, and the woman knew it +well. There was something intolerable in their noiseless, ceaseless +paddings over the pavement. I could see the prisoner’s breast heave as +she watched them. A terror such as that would have made many a victim +sick and helpless. + +But this one was bolder than I had thought. She did not wait for a +spring: she made the first attack herself. When the she-tiger made its +stroll towards her, and was in the act of turning, she flung herself +into a sudden leap, striking viciously at its eye with her sharpened +bone. A roar from the onlookers acknowledged the stroke. The +cave-tiger’s eye remained undarkened, but the puny weapon had dealt it +a smart flesh wound, and with a great bellow of surprise and pain it +scampered away to gain space for a rush and a spring. + +But the woman did not await its charge. With a shrill scream she sped +forward, running at the full of her speed across the moonlight directly +towards that shadowed part of the encircling wall within whose thickness +I had my gazing place; and then, throwing every tendon of her body into +the spring, made the greatest leap that surely any human being +ever accomplished, even when spurred on by the utmost of terror and +desperation. In an after day I measured it, and though of a certainty +she must have added much to the tally by the sheer force of her run, +which drove her clinging up the rough surface of the wall, it is a sure +thing that in that splendid leap her feet must have dangled a man-height +and a half above the pavement. + +I say it was prodigious, but then the spur was more than the ordinary, +and the woman herself was far out of the common both in thews and +intelligence; and the end of the leap left her with five fingers lodged +in the sill of the arrow-slit from which I watched. Even then she must +have slipped back if she had been left to herself, for the sill sloped, +and the stone was finely smooth; but I shot out my hand and gripped +hers by the wrist, and instantly she clambered up with both knees on the +sills, and her fingers twined round to grip my wrist in her turn. + +And now you will suppose she gushed out prayers and promises, thinking +only of safety and enlargement. There was nothing of this. With savage +panting wordlessness she took fresh grip on the sharpened bone with her +spare hand, and lunged with it desperately through the arrow-slit. With +the hand that clutched mine she drew me towards her, so as to give the +blows the surer chance, and so unprepared was I for such an attack, and +with such fierce suddenness did she deliver it, that the first blow was +near giving me my quietus. But I grappled with the poor frantic creature +as gently as might be--the stone of the wall separating us always--and +stripped her of her weapon, and held her firmly captive till she might +calm herself. + +“That was an ungrateful blow,” I said. “But for my hand you’d have +slipped and be the sport of a tiger’s paw this minute.” + +“Oh, I must kill some one,” she panted, “before I am killed myself.” + +“There will be time enough to think upon that some other day; but for +now you are far enough off meeting further harm.” + +“You are lying to me. You will throw me to the beasts as soon as I loose +my grip. I know your kind: you will not be robbed of your sport.” + +“I will go so far as to prove myself to you,” said I, and called out for +the warder who had tended the doors below. “Bid those tigers be tethered +on a shorter chain,” I ordered, “and then go yourself outside into the +circus, and help this lady delicately to the ground.” + +The word was passed and these things were done; and I too came out into +the circus and joined the woman, who stood waiting under the moonlight. +But the others who had seen these doings were by no means suited at the +change of plan. One of the great stone valves of the farther door opened +hurriedly, and a man strode out, armed and flushed. “By all the Gods!” + he shouted. “Who comes between me and my pastime?” + +I stepped quietly to the advance. “I fear, sir,” I said, “that you must +launch your anger against me. By accident I gave that woman sanctuary, +and I had not heart to toss her back to your beasts.” + +His fingers began to snap against his hilt. + +“You have come to the wrong market here with your qualms. I am captain +here, and my word carries, subject only to Phorenice’s nod. Do you +hear that? Do you know too that I can have you tossed to those striped +gate-keepers of mine for meddling in here without an invitation?” He +looked at me sharp enough, but saw plainly that I was a stranger. “But +perhaps you carry a name, my man, which warrants your impertinence?” + +“Deucalion is my poor name,” I said, “but I cannot expect you will know +it. I am but newly landed here, sir, and when I left Atlantis some score +of years back, a very different man to you held guard over these gates.” + He had his forehead on my feet by this time. “I had it from the Empress +this night that she will to-morrow make a new sorting of this kingdom’s +dignities. Perhaps there is some recommendation you would wish me to lay +before her in return for your courtesies?” + +“My lord,” said the man, “if you wish it, I can have a turn with those +cave-tigers myself now, and you can look on from behind the walls and +see them tear me.” + +“Why tell me what is no news?” + +“I wish to remind my lord of his power; I wish to beg of his clemency.” + +“You showed your power to these poor prisoners; but from what remains +here to be seen, few of them have tasted much of your clemency.” + +“The orders were,” said the captain of the gate, as though he thought a +word might be said here for his defence, “the orders were, my lord, that +the tigers should be kept fierce and accustomed to killing.” + +“Then, if you have obeyed orders, let me be the last to chide you. +But it is my pleasure that this woman be respited, and I wish now to +question her.” + +The man got to his feet again with obvious relief, though still bowing +low. + +“Then if my lord will honour me by sitting in my room that overlooks the +outer gate, the favour will never be forgotten.” + +“Show the way,” I said, and took the woman by the fingers, leading her +gently. At the two ends of the circus the tigers prowled about on short +chains, growling and muttering. + +We passed through the door into the thickness of the outer wall, and the +captain of the gate led us into his private chamber, a snug enough box +overlooking the plain beyond the city. He lit a torch from his lamp +and thrust it into a bracket on the wall, and bowing deeply and walking +backwards, left us alone, closing the door in place behind him. He was +an industrious fellow, this captain, to judge from the spoil with +which his chamber was packed. There could have come very few traders in +through that gate below without his levying a private tribute; and so, +judging that most of his goods had been unlawfully come by, I had little +qualm at making a selection. It was not decent that the woman, being +an Atlantean, should go bereft of the dignity of clothes, as though +she were a mere savage from Europe; and so I sought about amongst the +captain’s spoil for garments that would be befitting. + +But, as I busied myself in this search for raiment, rummaging amongst +the heaps and bales, with a hand and eye little skilled in such +business, I heard a sound behind which caused me to turn my head, and +there was the woman with a dagger she had picked from the floor, in the +act of drawing it from the sheath. + +She caught my eye and drew the weapon clear, but seeing that I made no +advance towards her, or move to protect myself, waited where she was, +and presently was took with a shuddering. + +“Your designs seem somewhat of a riddle,” I said. “At first you +wished to kill me from motives which you explained, and which I quite +understood. It lay in my power next to confer some small benefit +upon you, in consequence of which you are here, and not--shall we +say?--yonder in the circus. Why you should desire now to kill the only +man here who can set you completely free, and beyond these walls, is a +thing it would gratify me much to learn. I say nothing of the trifle of +ingratitude. Gratitude and ingratitude are of little weight here. There +is some far greater in your mind.” + +She pressed a hand hard against her breasts. “You are Deucalion,” she +gasped; “I heard you say it.” + +“I am Deucalion. So far, I have known no reason to feel shame for my +name.” + +“And I come of those,” she cried, with a rising voice, “who bite against +this city, because they have found their fate too intolerable with the +land as it is ordered now. We heard of your coming from Yucatan. It was +we who sent the fleet to take you at the entrance to the Gulf.” + +“Your fleet gave us a pretty fight.” + +“Oh, I know, I know. We had our watchers on the high land who brought us +the tidings. We had an omen even before that. Where we lay with our army +before the walls here, we saw great birds carrying off the slain to the +mountains. But where the fleet failed, I saw a chance where I, a woman, +might--” + +“Where you might succeed?” I sat me down on a pile of the captain’s +stuffs. It seemed as if here at last that I should find a solution for +many things. “You carry a name?” I asked. + +“They call me Nais.” + +“Ah,” I said, and signed to her to take the clothes that I had sought +out. She was curiously like, so both my eyes and hearing said, to Ylga, +the fan-girl of Phorenice, but as she had told me of no parentage I +asked for none then. Still her talk alone let me know that she was bred +of none of the common people, and I made up my mind towards definite +understanding. “Nais,” I said, “you wish to kill me. At the same time I +have no doubt you wish to live on yourself, if only to get credit from +your people for what you have done. So here I will make a contract with +you. Prove to me that my death is for Atlantis’ good, and I swear by our +Lord the Sun to go out with you beyond the walls, where you can stab me +and then get you gone. Or the--” + +“I will not be your slave.” + +“I do not ask you for service. Or else, I wished to say, I shall live +so long as the High Gods wish, and do my poor best for this country. And +for you--I shall set you free to do your best also. So now, I pray you, +speak.” + + + + +7. THE BITERS OF THE WALLS (FURTHER ACCOUNT) + + +“You will set me free,” she said, regarding me from under her brows, +“without any further exactions or treaty?” + +“I will set you free exactly on those terms,” I answered, “unless indeed +we here decide that it is better for Atlantis that I should die, in +which case the freedom will be of your own taking.” + +“My lord plays a bold game.” + +“Tut, tut,” I said. + +“But I shall not hesitate to take the full of my bond, unless my +theories are most clearly disproved to me.” + +“Tut,” I said, “you women, how you can play out the time needlessly. +Show me sufficient cause, and you shall kill me where and how you +please. Come, begin the accusation.” + +“You are a tyrant.” + +“At least I have not paraded my tyrannies in Atlantis these twenty +years. Why, Nais, I did but land yesterday.” + +“You will not deny you came back from Yucatan for a purpose.” + +“I came back because I was sent for. The Empress gives no reasons for +her recalls. She states her will; and we who serve her obey without +question.” + +“Pah, I know that old dogma.” + +“If you discredit my poor honesty at the outset like this, I fear we +shall not get far with our unravelling.” + +“My lord must be indeed simple,” said this strange woman scornfully, “if +he is ignorant of what all Atlantis knows.” + +“Then simple you must write me down. Over yonder in Yucatan we were too +well wrapped up in our own parochial needs and policies to have +leisure to ponder much over the slim news which drifted out to us from +Atlantis--and, in truth, little enough came. By example, Phorenice +(whose office be adored) is a great personage here at home; but over +there in the colony we barely knew so much as her name. Here, since I +have been ashore, I have seen many new wonders; I have been carried by a +riding mammoth; I have sat at a banquet; but in what new policies there +are afoot, I have yet to be schooled.” + +“Then, if truly you do not know it, let me repeat to you the common +tale. Phorenice has tired of her unmated life.” + +“Stay there. I will hear no word against the Empress.” + +“Pah, my lord, your scruples are most decorous. But I did no more than +repeat what the Empress had made public by proclamation. She is minded +to take to herself a husband, and nothing short of the best is good +enough for Phorenice. One after another has been put up in turn as +favourite--and been found wanting. Oh, I tell you, we here in Atlantis +have watched her courtship with jumping hearts. First it was this one +here, then it was that one there; now it was this general just returned +from a victory, and a day later he had been packed back to his camp, to +give place to some dashing governor who had squeezed increased revenues +from his province. But every ship that came from the West said that +there was a stronger man than any of these in Yucatan, and at last the +Empress changed the wording of her vow. ‘I’ll have Deucalion for my +husband,’ said she, ‘and then we will see who can stand against my +wishes.’” + +“The Empress (whose name be adored) can do as she pleases in such +matters,” I said guardedly; “but that is beside the argument. I am here +to know how it would be better for Atlantis that I should die?” + +“You know you are the strongest man in the kingdom.” + +“It pleases you to say so.” + +“And Phorenice is the strongest woman.” + +“That is beyond doubt.” + +“Why, then, if the Empress takes you in marriage, we shall be under a +double tyranny. And her rule alone is more cruelly heavy than we can +bear already.” + +“I pass no criticism on Phorenice’s rule. I have not seen it. But I +crave your mercy, Nais, on the newcomer into this kingdom. I am strong, +say you, and therefore I am a tyrant, say you. Now to me this sequence +is faulty.” + +“Who should a strong man use strength for, if not for himself? And if +for himself, why that spells tyranny. You will get all your heart’s +desires, my lord, and you will forget that many a thousand of the common +people will have to pay for them.” + +“And this is all your accusation?” + +“It seems to be black enough. I am one that has a compassion for my +fellow-men, my lord, and because of that compassion you see me what I am +to-day. There was a time, not long passed, when I slept as soft and ate +as dainty as any in Atlantis.” + +I smiled. “Your speech told me that much from the first.” + +“Then I would I had cast the speech off, too, if that is also a livery +of the tyrant’s class. But I tell you I saw all the oppression myself +from the oppressor’s side. I was high in Phorenice’s favour then.” + +“That, too, is easy of credence. Ylga is the fan-girl to the Empress +now, and second lady in the kingdom, and those who have seen Ylga could +make an easy guess at the parentage of Nais.” + +“We were the daughters of one birth; but I do not count with either +Zaemon or Ylga now. Ylga is the creature of Phorenice, and Phorenice +would have all the people of Atlantis slaves and in chains, so that +she might crush them the easier. And as for Zaemon, he is no friend of +Phorenice’s; he fights with brain and soul to drag the old authority +to those on the Sacred Mountain; and that, if it come down on us again, +would only be the exchange of one form of slavery for another.” + +“It seems to me you bite at all authority.” + +“In fact,” she said simply, “I do. I have seen too much of it.” + +“And so you think a rule of no-rule would be best for the country?” + +“You have put it plainly in words for me. That is my creed to-day. That +is the creed of all those yonder, who sit in the camp and besiege this +city. And we number on our side, now, all in Atlantis save those in the +city and a handful on the priests’ Mountain.” + +I shook my head. “A creed of desperation, if you like, Nais, but, +believe me, a silly creed. Since man was born out of the quakings and +the fevers of this earth, and picked his way amongst the cooler-places, +he has been dependent always on his fellow-men. And where two are +congregated together, one must be chief, and order how matters are to be +governed--at least, I speak of men who have a wish to be higher than the +beasts. Have you ever set foot in Europe?” + +“No.” + +“I have. Years back I sailed there, gathering slaves. What did I see? A +country without rule or order. Tyrants they were, to be sure, but they +were the beasts. The men and the women were the rudest savages, knowing +nothing of the arts, dressing in skins and uncleanness, harbouring in +caves and the tree-tops. The beasts roamed about where they would, and +hunted them unchecked.” + +“Still, they fought you for their liberty?” + +“Never once. They knew how disastrous was their masterless freedom. Even +to their dull, savage brains it was a sure thing that no slavery could +be worse; and to that state you, and your friends, and your theories, +will reduce Atlantis, if you get the upper hand. But, then, to argue +in a circle, you will never get it. For to conquer, you must set up +leaders, and once you have set them up, you will never pull them down +again.” + +“Aye,” she said with a sigh, “there is truth in that last.” + +The torch had filled the captain’s room with a resinous smoke, but the +flame was growing pale. Dawn was coming in greyly through a slender +arrow-slit, and with it ever and again the glow from some mountain out +of sight, which was shooting forth spasmodic bursts of fire. With it +also were mutterings of distant falling rocks, and sullen tremblings, +which had endured all the night through, and I judged that earth was in +one of her quaking moods, and would probably during the forthcoming day +offer us some chastening discomforts. + +On this account, perhaps, my senses were stilled to certain evidences +which would otherwise have given me a suspicion; and also, there is no +denying that my general wakefulness was sapped by another matter. This +woman, Nais, interested me vastly out of the common; the mere presence +of her seemed to warm the organs of my interior; and whilst she was +there, all my thoughts and senses were present in the room of the +captain of the gate in which we sat. + +But of a sudden the floor of the chamber rocked and fell away beneath +me, and in a tumult of dust, and litter, and bales of the captain’s +plunder, I fell down (still seated on the flagstone) into a pit which +had been digged beneath it. With the violence of the descent, and the +flutter of all these articles about my head, I was in no condition for +immediate action; and whilst I was still half-stunned by the shock, and +long before I could get my eyes into service again, I had been seized, +and bound, and half-strangled with a noose of hide. Voices were raised +that I should be despatched at once out of the way; but one in authority +cried out that, killing me at leisure, and as a prisoner, promised more +genteel sport; and so I was thrust down on the floor, whilst a whole +army of men trod in over me to the attack. + +What had happened was clear to me now, though I was powerless to do +anything in hindrance. The rebels with more craft than any one had +credited to them, had driven a galley from their camp under the ground, +intending so to make an entrance into the heart of the city. In their +clumsy ignorance, and having no one of sufficient talent in mensuration, +they had bungled sadly both in direction and length, and so had ended +their burrow under this chamber of the captain of the gate. The great +flagstone in its fall had, it appeared, crushed four of them to death, +but these were little noticed or lamented. Life was to them a bauble of +the slenderest price, and a horde of others pressed through the opening, +lusting for the fight, and recking nothing of their risks and perils. + +Half-choked by the foul air of the galley, and trodden on by this great +procession of feet, it was little enough I could do to help my immediate +self much less the more distant city. But when the chief mass of the +attackers had passed through, and there came only here and there one +eager to take his share at storming the gate, a couple of fellows +plucked me up out of the mud on the floor, and began dragging me down +through the stinking darkness of the galley towards the pit that gave it +entrance. + +Twenty times we were jostled by others hastening to the attack, either +from hunger for fight, or from appetite for what they could steal. +But we came to the open at last, and half-suffocated though I was, I +contrived to do obeisance, and say aloud the prescribed prayer to the +most High Gods in gratitude for the fresh, sweet air which They had +provided. + +Our Lord the Sun was on the verge of rising for His day, and all things +were plainly shown. Before me were the monstrous walls of the capital, +with the heads of its pyramids and higher buildings showing above them. +And on the walls, the sentries walked calmly their appointed paces, or +took shelter against arrows in the casemates provided for them. + +The din of fighting within the gate rose high into the air, and the +heavy roaring of the cave-tigers told that they too were taking their +share of the melee. But the massive stonework of the walls hid all the +actual engagement from our view, and which party was getting the upper +hand we could not even guess. But the sounds told how tight a fight was +being hammered out in those narrow boundaries, and my veins tingled to +be once more back at the old trade, and to be doing my share. + +But there was no chivalry about the fellows who held me by my bonds. +They thrust me into a small temple near by, which once had been a fane +in much favour with travellers, who wished to show gratitude for the +safe journey to the capital, but which now was robbed and ruined, and +they swung to the stone entrance gate and barred it, leaving me to +commune with myself. Presently, they told me, I should be put to death +by torments. Well, this seemed to be the new custom of Atlantis, and I +should have to endure it as best I could. The High Gods, it appeared, +had no further use for my services in Atlantis, and I was not in the +mood then to bite very much at their decision. What I had seen of the +country since my return had not enamoured me very much with its new +conditions. + +The little temple in which I was gaoled had been robbed and despoiled of +all its furnishments. But the light-slits, where at certain hours of the +day the rays of our Lord the Sun had fallen upon the image of the God, +before this had been taken away, gave me vantage places from which I +could see over the camp of these rebel besiegers, and a dreary prospect +it was. The people seemed to have shucked off the culture of centuries +in as many months, and to have gone back for the most part to sheer +brutishness. The majority harboured on the bare ground. Few owned +shelter, and these were merely bowers of mud and branches. + +They fought and quarrelled amongst themselves for food, eating their +meat raw, and their grain (when they had it) unground. Many who passed +my vision I saw were even gnawing the soft inside of tree bark. + +The dead lay where they fell. The sick and the wounded found no hand +to tend them. Great man-eating birds hovered about the camp or skulked +about, heavy with gorging, amongst the hovels, and no one had public +spirit enough to give them battle. The stink of the place rose up to +heaven as a foul incense inviting a pestilence. There was no order, no +trace of strong command anywhere. With three hundred well-disciplined +troops it seemed to me that I could have sent those poor desperate +hordes flying in panic to the forest. + +However, there was no very lengthy space of time granted me for thinking +out the policy of this matter to any great depth. The attack on the gate +had been delivered with suddenness; the repulse was not slow. Of what +desperate fighting took place in the galleries, and in the circus +between the two sets of gates, the detail will never be told in full. + +At the first alarm the great cave-tigers were set loose, and these raged +impartially against keeper and foe. Of those that went in through the +tunnel, not one in ten returned, and there were few of these but what +carried a bloody wound. Some, with the ruling passion still strong in +them, bore back plunder; one trailed along with him the head of the +captain of the gate; and amongst them they dragged out two of the +warders who were wounded, and whom revenge had urged them to take as +prisoners. + +Over these two last a hubbub now arose, that seemed likely to boil over +into blows. Every voice shouted out for them what he thought the most +repulsive fate. Some were for burning, some for skinning, some for +impaling, some for other things: my flesh crept as I heard their +ravenous yells. Those that had been to the trouble of making them +captive were still breathless from the fight, and were readily thrust +aside; and it seemed to me that the poor wretches would be hustled into +death before any definite fate was agreed upon, which all would pass as +sufficiently terrific. Never had I seen such a disorderly tumult, never +such a leaderless mob. But, as always has happened, and always will, the +stronger men by dint of louder voices and more vigorous shoulders got +their plans agreed to at last, and the others perforce had to give way. + +A band of them set off running, and presently returned at snails’ pace, +dragging with them (with many squeals from ungreased wheels) one of +those huge war engines with which besiegers are wont to throw great +stones and other missiles into the cities they sit down against. They +ran it up just beyond bowshot of the walls, and clamped it firmly down +with stakes and ropes to the earth. Then setting their lean arms to the +windlasses, they drew back the great tree which formed the spring till +its tethering place reached the ground, and in the cradle at its head +they placed one of the prisoners, bound helplessly, so that he could not +throw himself over the side. + +Then the rude, savage, skin-clad mob stood back, and one who had +appointed himself engineer knocked back the catch that held the great +spring in place. + +With a whir and a twang the elastic wood flung upwards, and the bound +man was shot away from its tip with the speed of a lightning flash. +He sang through the air, spinning over and over with inconceivable +rapidity, and the great crowd of rebels held their breath in silence as +they watched. He passed high above the city wall, a tiny mannikin in the +distance now, and then the trajectory of his flight began to lower. The +spike of a new-built pyramid lay in the path of his terrific flight, and +he struck it with a thud whose sound floated out to us afterwards, +and then he toppled down out of our sight, leaving a red stain on the +whiteness of the stone as he fell. + +With a roar the crowd acknowledged the success of their device, and +bellowed out insults to Phorenice, and insults to the Gods: a poor +frantic crowd they showed themselves. And then with ravening shouts, +they fell upon the other captive warder, binding him also into a compact +helpless missile, and meanwhile getting the engine in gear again for +another shot. + +But for my part I saw nothing of this disgusting scene. I heard the bolt +grate stealthily against the door of the little temple in which I was +imprisoned, and was minded to give these brutish rebels somewhat of a +surprise. I had rid myself of my bonds handily enough; I had rubbed +my limbs to that perfect suppleness which is always desirable before a +fight; and I had planned to rush out so soon as the door was swung, and +kill those that came first with fist blows on the brow and chin. + +They had not suspected my name, it was clear, for my stature and garb +were nothing out of the ordinary; but if my bodily strength and fighting +power had been sufficient to raise me to a vice-royalty like that of +Yucatan, and let me endure alive in that government throughout twenty +hard-battling years, why, it was likely that this rabble of savages +would see something that was new and admirable in the practice of arms +before the crude weight of their numbers could drag me down. Nay, I did +not even despair of winning free altogether. I must find me a weapon +from those that came up to battle, with which I could write worthy +signatures, and I must attempt no standing fights. Gods! but what a glow +the prospect did send through me as I stood there waiting. + +A vainer man, writing history, might have said that always, before +everything else, he held in mind the greater interests before the less. +But for me--I prefer to be honest, and own myself human. In my glee +at that forthcoming fight--which promised to be the greatest and most +furious I had known in all a long life of battling--I will confess that +Atlantis and her differing policies were clean forgot. I should go out +an unknown man from the little cell of a temple, I should do my work, +and then, whether I took freedom with me, or whether I came down at last +myself on a pile of slain, these people would guess without being told +the name, that here was Deucalion. Gods! what a fight we would have +made! + +But the door did not open wide to give me space for my first rush. It +creaked gratingly outwards on its pivots, and a slim hand and a white +arm slipped inside, beckoning me to quietude. Here was some woman. The +door creaked wider, and she came inside. + +“Nais,” I said. + +“Silence, or they will hear you, and remember. At present those who +brought you here are killed, and unless by chance some one blunders into +this robbed shrine, you will not be found.” + +“Then, if that is so, let me go out and walk amongst these people as one +of themselves.” + +She shook her head. + +“But, Nais, I am not known here. I am merely a man in very plain and +mud-stained robe. I should be in no ways remarkable.” + +A smile twitched her face. “My lord,” she said, “wears no beard; and his +is the only clean chin in the camp.” + +I joined in her laugh. “A pest on my want of foppishness then. But I am +forgetting somewhat. It comes to my mind that we still have unfinished +that small discussion of ours concerning the length of my poor life. +Have you decided to cut it off from risk of further mischief, or do you +propose to give me further span?” + +She turned to me with a look of sharp distress. “My lord,” she said, +“I would have you forget that silly talk of mine. This last two hours I +thought you were dead in real truth.” + +“And you were not relieved?” + +“I felt that the only man was gone out of the world--I mean, my lord, +the only man who can save Atlantis.” + +“Your words give me a confidence. Then you would have me go back and +become husband to Phorenice?” + +“If there is no other way.” + +“I warn you I shall do that, if she still so desires it, and if it seems +to me that that course will be best. This is no hour for private likings +or dislikings.” + +“I know it,” she said, “I feel it. I have no heart now, save only for +Atlantis. I have schooled myself once more to that.” + +“And at present I am in this lone little box of a temple. A minute +ago, before you came, I had promised myself a pretty enough fight to +signalise my changing of abode.” + +“There must be nothing of that. I will not have these poor people +slaughtered unnecessarily. Nor do I wish to see my lord exposed to a +hopeless risk. This poor place, such as it is, has been given to me +as an abode, and, if my lord can remain decorously till nightfall in a +maiden’s chamber, he may at least be sure of quietude. I am a person,” + she added simply, “that in this camp has some respect. When darkness +comes, I will take my lord down to the sea and a boat, and so he may +come with ease to the harbour and the watergate.” + + + + +8. THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS + + +It was long enough since I had found leisure for a parcel of sleep, +and so during the larger part of that day I am free to confess that I +slumbered soundly, Nais watching me. Night fell, and still we remained +within the privacy of the temple. It was our plan that I should stay +there till the camp slept, and so I should have more chance of reaching +the sea without disturbance. + +The night came down wet, with a drizzle of rain, and through the slits +in the temple walls we could see the many fires in the camp well cared +for, the men and women in skins and rags toasting before them, with +steam rising as the heat fought with their wetness. Folk seated in +discomfort like this are proverbially alert and cruel in the temper, and +Nais frowned as she looked on the inclemency of the weather. + +“A fine night,” she said, “and I would have sent my lord back to the +city without a soul here being the wiser; but in this chill, people +sleep sourly. We must wait till the hour drugs them sounder.” + +And so we waited, sitting there together on that pavement so long +unkissed by worshippers, and it was little enough we said aloud. But +there can be good companionship without sentences of talk. + +But as the hours drew on, the night began to grow less quiet. From the +distance some one began to blow on a horn or a shell, sending forth a +harsh raucous note incessantly. The sound came nearer, as we could tell +from its growing loudness, and the voices of those by the fires made +themselves heard, railing at the blower for his disturbance. And +presently it became stationary, and standing up we could see through the +slits in the walls the people of the camp rousing up from their uneasy +rest, and clustering together round one who stood and talked to them +from the pedestal of a war engine. + +What he was declaiming upon we could not hear, and our curiosity on +the matter was not keen. Given that all who did not sleep went to weary +themselves with this fellow, as Nais whispered, it would be simple for +me to make an exit in the opposite direction. + +But here we were reckoning without the inevitable busybody. A dozen +pairs of feet splashing through the wet came up to the side of the +little temple, and cried loudly that Nais should join the audience. She +had eloquence of tongue, it appeared, and they feared lest this speaker +who had taken his stand on the war engine should make schisms amongst +their ranks unless some skilled person stood up also to refute his +arguments. + +Here, then, it seemed to me that I must be elbowed into my skirmish by +the most unexpected of chances, but Nais was firmly minded that there +should be no fight, if courage on her part could turn it. “Come out with +me,” she whispered, “and keep distant from the light of the fires.” + +“But how explain my being here?” + +“There is no reason to explain anything,” she said bitterly. “They will +take you for my lover. There is nothing remarkable in that: it is the +mode here. But oh, why did not the Gods make you wear a beard, and curl +it, even as other men? Then you could have been gone and safe these two +hours.” + +“A smooth chin pleases me better.” + +“So it does me,” I heard her murmur as she leaned her weight on the +stone which hung in the doorway, and pushed it ajar; “your chin.” The +ragged men outside--there were women with them also--did not wait to +watch me very closely. A coarse jest or two flew (which I could have +found good heart to have repaid with a sword-thrust) and they stepped +off into the darkness, just turning from time to time to make sure we +followed. On all sides others were pressing in the same direction--black +shadows against the night; the rain spat noisily on the camp fires as we +passed them; and from behind us came up others. There were no sleepers +in the camp now; all were pressing on to hear this preacher who stood on +the pedestal of the war engine; and if we had tried to swerve from the +straight course, we should have been marked at once. + +So we held on through the darkness, and presently came within earshot. + +Still it was little enough of the preacher’s words we could make out at +first. “Who are your chiefs?” came the question at the end of a fervid +harangue, and immediately all further rational talk was drowned in +uproar. “We have no chiefs,” the people shouted, “we are done with +chiefs; we are all equal here. Take away your silly magic. You may kill +us with magic if you choose, but rule us you shall not. Nor shall +the other priests rule. Nor Phorenice. Nor anybody. We are done with +rulers.” + +The press had brought us closer and closer to the man who stood on the +war engine. We saw him to be old, with white hair that tumbled on his +shoulders, and a long white beard, untrimmed and uncurled. Save for a +wisp of rag about the loins, his body was unclothed, and glistened in +the wet. + +But in his hand he held that which marked his caste. With it he pointed +his sentences, and at times he whirled it about bathing his wet, +naked body in a halo of light. It was a wand whose tip burned with an +unconsuming fire, which glowed and twinkled and blazed like some star +sent down by the Gods from their own place in the high heaven. It was +the Symbol of our Lord the Sun, a credential no one could forge, and one +on which no civilised man would cast a doubt. + +Indeed, the ragged frantic crew did not question for one moment that +he was a member of the Clan of Priests, the Clan which from time out +of numbering had given rulers for the land, and even in their loudest +clamours they freely acknowledged his powers. “You may kill us with your +magic, if you choose,” they screamed at him. But stubbornly they refused +to come back to their old allegiance. “We have suffered too many +things these later years,” they cried. “We are done with rulers now for +always.” + +But for myself I saw the old man with a different emotion. Here was +Zaemon that was father to Nais, Zaemon that had seen me yesterday seated +on the divan at Phorenice’s elbow, and who to-day could denounce me as +Deucalion if so he chose. These rebels had expended a navy in their +wish to kill me four days earlier, and if they knew of my nearness, even +though Nais were my advocate, her cold reasoning would have had little +chance of an audience now. The High Gods who keep the tether of our +lives hide Their secrets well, but I did not think it impious to be sure +that mine was very near the cutting then. + +The beautiful woman saw this too. She even went so far as to twine her +fingers in mine and press them as a farewell, and I pressed hers in +return, for I was sorry enough not to see her more. Still I could not +help letting my thoughts travel with a grim gloating over the fine mound +of dead I should build before these ragged, unskilled rebels pulled me +down. And it was inevitable this should be so. For of all the emotions +that can ferment in the human heart, the joy of strife is keenest, and +none but an old fighter, face to face with what must necessarily be his +final battle, can tell how deep this lust is embroidered into the very +foundations of his being. + +But for the time Zaemon did not see me, being too much wrapped in his +outcry, and so I was free to listen to the burning words which he spread +around him, and to determine their effect on the hearers. + +The theme he preached was no new one. He told that ever since the +beginning of history, the Gods had set apart one Clan of the people +to rule over the rest and be their Priests, and until the coming of +Phorenice these had done their duties with exactitude and justice. +They had fought invaders, carried war against the beasts, and studied +earth-movements so that they were able to foretell earthquakes and +eruptions, and could spread warnings that the people might be able +to escape their devastations. They are no self-seekers; their aim was +always to further the interest of Atlantis, and so do honour to the +kingdom on which the High Gods had set their special favour. Under the +Priestly Clan, Atlantis had reached the pinnacle of human prosperity and +happiness. + +“But,” cried the old man, waving the Symbol till his wet body glistened +in a halo of light, “the people grew fat and careless with their easy +life. They began to have a conceit that their good fortune was earned +by their own puny brains and thews, and was no gift from the Gods above; +and presently the cult of these Gods became neglected, and Their temples +were barren of gifts and worshippers. Followed a punishment. The Gods +in Their inscrutable way decreed that a wife of one of the Priests (that +was a governor of no inconsiderable province) should see a woman child +by the wayside, and take it for adoption. That child the Gods in their +infinite wisdom fashioned into a scourge for Atlantis, and you who have +felt the weight of Phorenice’s hand, know with what completeness the +High Gods can fashion their instruments. + +“Yet, even as they set up, so can they throw down, and those that +shall debase Phorenice are even now appointed. The old rule is to +be re-established; but not till you who have sinned are sufficiently +chastened to cry to it for relief.” He waved the mysterious glowing +Symbol before him. “See,” he cried in his high old quavering voice, “you +know the unspeakable Power of which that is the sign, and for which I +am the mouthpiece. It is for you to make decision now. Are the Gods to +throw down this woman who has scorned Them and so cruelly trodden on +you? Or are you to be still further purged of your pride before you are +ripe for deliverance?” + +The old priest broke off with a gesture, and his ragged white beard +sank on to his chest. Promptly a young man, skin clad and carrying his +weapon, elbowed up through the press of listeners, and jumped on to the +platform beside him. “Hear me, brethren!” he bellowed, in his strong +young voice. “We are done with tyrants. Death may come, and we all of us +here have shown how little we fear it. But own rulers again we will not, +and that is our final say. My lord,” he said, turning to the old man +with a brave face, “I know it is in your power to kill me by magic if +you choose, but I have said my say, and can stand the cost if needs be.” + +“I can kill you, but I will not,” said Zaemon. “You have said your +silliness. Now go you to the ground again.” + +“We have free speech here. I will not go till I choose.” + +“Aye, but you will,” said the old man, and turned on him with a sudden +tightening of the brows. There was no blow passed; even the Symbol, +which glowed like a star against the night, was not so much as lifted in +warning; but the young man tried to retort, and, finding himself smitten +with a sudden dumbness, turned with a spasm of fear, and jumped back +whence he had come. The crowd of them thrilled expectantly, and when no +further portent was given, they began to shout that a miracle should be +shown them, and then perchance they would be persuaded back to the old +allegiance. + +The old man stooped and glowered at them in fury. “You dogs,” he cried, +“you empty-witted dogs! Do you ask that I should degrade the powers of +the Higher Mysteries by dancing them out before you as though they were +a mummers’ show? Do you tickle yourselves that you are to be tempted +back to your allegiance? It is for you to woo the Gods who are so +offended. Come in humility, and I take it upon myself to declare that +you will receive fitting pardon and relief. Remain stubborn, and the +scourge, Phorenice, may torment you into annihilation before she in turn +is made to answer for the evil she has put upon the land. There is the +choice for you to pick at.” + +The turmoil of voices rose again into the wetness of the night, and +weapons were upraised menacingly. It was clear that the party for +independence had by far the greater weight, both in numbers and +lustiness; and those who might, from sheer weariness of strife, have +been willing for surrender, withheld their word through terror of the +consequence. It was a fine comment on the freedom of speech, about which +these unruly fools had made their boast, and, with a sly malice, I could +not help whispering a word on this to Nais as she stood at my elbow. But +Nais clutched at my hand, and implored me for caution. “Oh, be silent, +my lord,” she whispered back, “or they will tear you in pieces. They are +on fire for mischief now.” + +“Yet a few hours back you were for killing me yourself,” I could not +help reminding her. + +She turned on me with a hot look. “A woman can change her mind, my lord. +But it becomes you little to remind her of her fickleness.” + +A man in the press beside me wrenched round with an effort, and stared +at me searchingly through the darkness. “Oh!” he said. “A shaved chin. +Who are you, friend, that you should cut a beard instead of curling it? +I can see no wound on your face.” + +I answered him civilly enough that, with “freedom” for a watchword, the +fashion of my chin was a matter of mere private concern. But as that did +not satisfy him, and as he seemed to be one of those quarrelsome fellows +that are the bane of every community, I took him suddenly by the throat +and the shoulder, and bent his neck with the old, quick turn till I +heard it crack, and had unhanded him before any of his neighbours had +seen what had befallen. The fierce press of the crowd held him from +slipping to the ground, and so he stood on there where he was, with his +head nodded forward, as though he had fallen asleep through heaviness, +or had fainted through the crushing of his fellows. I had no desire to +begin that last fight of mine in a place like this, where there was no +room to swing a weapon, nor chance to clear a battle ring. + +But all this time the lean preacher from the mountains was sending forth +his angry anathemas, and still holding the strained attention of the +people. And next he set forth before them the cult of the Gods in the +ancient form as is prescribed, and they (with old habit coming back to +them) made response in the words and in the places where the old ritual +enjoins. It was weird enough sight, that time-honoured service of +adoration, forced upon these wild people after so long a period of +irreligion. + +They warmed to the old words as the high shrill voice of the priest +cried them forth, and as they listened, and as they realised how +intimate was the care of the Gods for the travails and sorrows of their +daily lives, so much warmer grew their responses. + +“... WHO STILLED THE BURNING OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND MADE COOL PLACES ON +THE EARTH FOR US TO LIVE!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS. + +“WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF TEN TIMES TO +PREVAIL!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS....” + +“WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF TEN TIMES TO +PREVAIL!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS....” + +It thrilled one to hear their earnestness; it sorrowed one to know that +they would yet be obdurate and not return to their old allegiance. +For this is the way with these common people; they will work up an +enthusiasm one minute, and an hour later it will have fled away and left +them cold and empty. + +But Zaemon made no further calls upon their loyalty. He finished the +prescribed form of sentences, and stepped down off the platform of the +war engine with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun thrust out resolutely +before him. To all ordinary seeming the crowd had been packed so that no +further compression was possible, but before the advance of the Symbol +the people crushed back, leaving a wide lane for his passage. + +And here came the turning point of my life. At first, like, I take +it, every one else in that crowd, I imagined that the old man, having +finished his mission, was making a way to return to the place from which +he had come. But he held steadily to one direction, and as that was +towards myself, it naturally came to my mind that, having dealt with +greater things, he would now settle with the less; or, in plainer words, +that having put his policy before the swarming people, he would now +smite down the man he had seen but yesterday seated as Phorenice’s +minister. Well, I should lose that final fight I had promised myself, +and that mound of slain for my funeral bed. It was clear that Zaemon was +the mouthpiece of the Priests’ Clan, duly appointed; and I also was a +priest. If the word had been given on the Sacred Mountain to those who +sat before the Ark of the Mysteries that Atlantis would prosper more +with Deucalion sent to the Gods, I was ready to bow to the sentence with +submissiveness. That I had regret for this mode of cutting off, I will +not deny. No man who has practised the game of arms could abandon the +promise of such a gorgeous final battle without a qualm of longing. + +But I had been trained enough to show none of these emotions on my face, +and when the old man came up to me, I stood my ground and gave him the +salutation prescribed between our ranks, which he returned to me with +circumstance and accuracy. The crowd fell back, being driven away by the +ineffable force of the Symbol, leaving us alone in the middle of a +ring. Even Nais, though she was a priest’s daughter, was ignorant of the +Mysteries, and could not withstand its force. And so we two men stood +there alone together, with the glow of the Symbol bathing us, and +lighting up the sea of ravenous faces that watched. + +The people were quick to put their natural explanation on the scene. “A +spy!” they began to roar out. “A spy! Zaemon salutes him as a Priest!” + +Zaemon faced round on them with a queer look on his grim old face. +“Aye,” he said, “this is a Priest. If I give you his name, you might +have further interest. This is the Lord Deucalion.” + +The word was picked up and yelled amongst them with a thousand emotions. +But at least they were loyal to their policy; they had decided that +Deucalion was their enemy; they had already expended a navy for his +destruction; and now that he was ringed in by their masses, they lusted +to tear him into rags with their fingers. But rave and rave though they +might against me, the glare from the Symbol drove them shuddering back +as though it had been a lava-stream; and Zaemon was not the man to hand +me over to their fury until he had delivered formal sentence as the +emissary of our Clan on the Sacred Mount. So the end was not to be yet. + +The old man faced me and spoke in the sacred tongue, which the common +people do not know. “My brother,” he said, “which have you come to +serve, Deucalion or Atlantis?” + +“Words are a poor thing to answer a question like that. You will know +all of my record. According to the Law of the Priests, each ship from +Yucatan will have carried home its sworn report to lay at the feet of +their council, and before I went to that vice-royalty, what I did was +written plain here on the face of Atlantis.” + +“We know your doings in the past, brother, and they have found approval. +You have governed well, and you have lived austerely. You set up +Atlantis for a mistress, and served her well; but then, you have had no +Phorenice to tempt you into change and fickleness.” + +“You can send me where I shall see her no more, if you think me frail.” + +“Yes, and lose your usefulness. No, brother, you are the last hope which +this poor land has remaining. All other human means that have been tried +against Phorenice have failed. You have returned from overseas for the +final duel. You are the strongest man we have, and you are our final +champion. If you fail, then only those terrible Powers which are locked +within the Ark of the Mysteries remains to us, and though it is not +lawful to speak even in this hidden tongue of their scope, you at least +have full assurance of their potency.” + +I shrugged my shoulders. “It seems that you would save time and pains +if you threw me to these wolves of rebels, and let them end me here and +now.” + +The old man frowned on me angrily. “I am bidding you do your duty. What +reason have you for wishing to evade it?” + +“I have in my memory the words you spoke in the pyramid, when you came +in amongst the banqueters. ‘PHORENICE,’ was your cry, ‘WHILST YOU ARE +YET EMPRESS, YOU SHALL SEE THIS ROYAL PYRAMID, WHICH YOU HAVE POLLUTED +WITH YOUR DEBAUCHERIES, TORN TIER FROM TIER, AND STONE FROM STONE, +AND SCATTERED AS FEATHERS BEFORE A WIND.’ It seems that you foresee my +defeat.” + +The old man shuddered. “I cannot tell what she may force us to do. I +spoke then only what it was revealed to me must happen. Perhaps when +matters have reached that pass, she will repent and submit. But in the +meanwhile, before we use the more desperate weapons of the Gods, it is +fitting that we should expend all human power remaining to us. And so +you must go, my brother, and play your part to the utmost.” + +“It is an order. So I obey.” + +“You shall be at Phorenice’s side again by the next dawn. She has sent +for you from Yucatan as a husband, and as one who (so she thinks, +poor human conqueror) has the weight of arm necessary to prolong her +tyrannies. You are a Priest, brother, and you are a man of convincing +tongue. It will be your part to make her stubborn mind see the +invincible power that can be loosed against her, to point out to her the +utter hopelessness of prevailing against it.” + +“If it is ordered, I will do these things. But there is little enough +chance of success. I have seen Phorenice, and can gauge her will. There +will be no turning her once she has made a decision. Others have tried; +you have tried yourself; all have failed.” + +“Words that were wasted on a maiden may go home to a wife. You have been +brought here to be her husband. Well, take your place.” + +The order came to me with a pang. I had given little enough heed to +women through all of a busy life, though when I landed, the taking of +Phorenice to wife would not have been very repugnant to me if policy had +demanded it. But the matters of the last two days had put things in a +different shape. I had seen two other women who had strangely attracted +me, and one of these had stirred within me a tumult such as I had never +felt before amongst my economies. + +To lead Phorenice in marriage would mean a severance from this other +woman eternally, and I ached as I thought of it. But though these +thoughts floated through my system and gave me harsh wrenches of pain, I +did not thrust my puny likings before the command of the council of the +Priests. I bowed before Zaemon, and put his hand to my forehead. “It is +an order,” I said. “If our Lord the Sun gives me life, I will obey.” + +“Then let us begone from this place,” said Zaemon, and took me by the +arm and waved a way for us with the Symbol. No further word did I have +with Nais, fearing to embroil her with these rebels who clustered round, +but I caught one hot glance from her eyes, and that had to suffice +for farewell. The dense ranks of the crowd opened, and we walked +away between them scathless. Fiercely though they lusted for my life, +brimming with hate though they made their cries, no man dared to rush +in and raise a hand against me. Neither did they follow. When we reached +the outskirts of the crowd, and the ranks thinned, they had a mind, many +of them, to surge along in our wake; but Zaemon whirled the Symbol back +before their faces with a blaze of lurid light, and they fell to their +knees, grovelling, and pressed on us no more. + +The rain still fell, and in the light of the camp fires as we passed +them, the wet gleamed on the old man’s wasted body. And far before us +through the darkness loomed the vast bulk of the Sacred Mountain, with +the ring of eternal fires encincturing its crest. I sighed as I thought +of the old peaceful days I had spent in its temple and groves. + +But there was to be no more of that studious leisure now. There was work +to be done, work for Atlantis which did not brook delay. And so when we +had progressed far out into the waste, and there was none near to view +(save only the most High Gods), we found the place where the passage +was, whose entrance is known only to the Seven amongst the Priests; and +there we parted, Zaemon to his hermitage in the dangerous lands, and I +by this secret way back into the capital. + + + + +9. PHORENICE, GODDESS + + +Now the passage, though its entrance had been cunningly hidden by man’s +artifice, was one of those veins in which the fiery blood of our mother, +the Earth, had aforetime coursed. Long years had passed since it carried +lava streams, but the air in it was still warm and sulphurous, and there +was no inducement to linger in transit. I lit me a lamp which I found +in an appointed niche, and walked briskly along my ways, coughing, and +wishing heartily I had some of those simples which ease a throat that +has a tendency to catarrh. But, alas! all that packet of drugs which +were my sole spoil from the vice-royalty of Yucatan were lost in the +sea-fight with Dason’s navy, and since landing in Atlantis there had +been little enough time to think for the refinements of medicine. + +The network of earth-veins branched prodigiously, and if any but one of +us Seven Priests had found a way into its recesses by chance, he would +have perished hopelessly in the windings, or have fallen into one of +those pits which lead to the boil below. But I carried the chart of the +true course clearly in my head, remembering it from that old initiation +of twenty years back, when, as an appointed viceroy, I was raised to the +highest degree but one known to our Clan, and was given its secrets and +working implements. + +The way was long, the floor was monstrous uneven, and the air, as I have +said, bad; and I knew that day would be far advanced before the signs +told me that I had passed beneath the walls, and was well within +the precincts of the city. And here the vow of the Seven hampered my +progress; for it is ordained that under no circumstances, whatever the +stress, shall egress be made from this passage before mortal eye. One +branch after another did I try, but always found loiterers near the +exits. I had hoped to make my emergence by that path which came inside +the royal pyramid. But there was no chance of coming up unobserved here; +the place was humming like a hive. And so, too, with each of the +five next outlets that I visited. The city was agog with some strange +excitement. + +But I came at last to a temple of one of the lesser Gods, and stood +behind the image for a while making observation. The place was empty; +nay, from the dust which robed all the floors and the seats of the +worshippers, it had been empty long enough; so I moved all that was +needful, stepped out, and closed all entry behind me. A broom lay +unnoticed on one of the pews, and with this I soon disguised all route +of footmark, and took my way to the temple door. It was shut, and priest +though I was, the secret of its opening was beyond me. + +Here was a pretty pass. No one but the attendant priests of the temple +could move the mechanism which closed and opened the massive stone which +filled the doorway; and if all had gone out to attend this spectacle, +whatever it might be, that was stirring the city, why there I should be +no nearer enlargement than before. + +There was no sound of life within the temple precincts; there were +evidences of decay and disuse spread broadcast on every hand; but +according to the ancient law there should be eternally one at least on +watch in the priests’ dwellings, so down the passages which led to them +I made my way. It would have surprised me little to have found even +these deserted. That the old order was changed I knew, but I was only +then beginning to realise the ruthlessness with which it had been swept +away, and how much it had given place to the new. + +However, there can be some faithful men remaining even in an age of +general apostasy, and on making my way to the door of the dwelling +(which lay in the roof of the temple) I gave the call, and presently it +was opened to me. The man who stood before me, peering dully through +the gloom, had at least remained constant to his vows, and I made the +salutation before him with a feeling of respect. + +His name was Ro, and I remembered him well. We had passed through the +sacred college together, and always he had been known as the dullard. +He had capacity for learning little of the cult of the Gods, less of +the arts of ruling, less still of the handling of arms; and he had been +appointed to some lowly office in this obscure temple, and had risen to +being its second priest and one of its two custodians merely through the +desertion of all his colleagues. But it was not pleasant to think that a +fool should remain true where cleverer men abandoned the old beliefs. + +Ro did before me the greater obeisance. He wore his beard curled in the +prevailing fashion, but it was badly done. His clothing was ill-fitting +and unbrushed. He always had been a slovenly fellow. “The temple door +is shut,” he said, “and I only have the secret of its opening. My lord +comes here, therefore, by the secret way, and as one of the Seven. I am +my lord’s servant.” + +“Then I ask this small service of you. Tell me, what stirs the city?” + +“That impious Phorenice has declared herself Goddess, and declares that +she will light the sacrifice with her own divine fire. She will do it, +too. She does everything. But I wish the flames may burn her when she +calls them down. This new Empress is the bane of our Clan, Deucalion, +these latter days. The people neglect us; they bring no offerings; and +now, since these rebels have been hammering at the walls, I might have +gone hungry if I had not some small store of my own. Oh, I tell you, the +cult of the true Gods is well-nigh oozed quite out of the land.” + +“My brother, it comes to my mind that the Priests of our Clan have been +limp in their service to let these things come to pass.” + +“I suppose we have done our best. At least, we did as we were taught. +But if the people will not come to hear your exhortations, and neglect +to adore the God, what hold have you over their religion? But I tell +you, Deucalion, that the High Gods try our own faith hard. Come into the +dwelling here. Look there on my bed.” + +I saw the shape of a man, untidily swathed in reddened bandages. + +“This is all that is left of the poor priest that was my immediate +superior in this cure. It was his turn yesterday to celebrate the weekly +sacrifice to our Lord the Sun with the circle of His great stones. +Faugh! Deucalion, you should have seen how he was mangled when they +brought him back to me here.” + +“Did the people rise on him? Has it come to that?” + +“The people stayed passive,” said Ro bitterly, “what few of them had +interest to attend; but our Lord the Sun saw fit to try His minister +somewhat harshly. The wood was laid; the sacrifice was disposed upon it +according to the prescribed rites; the procession had been formed round +the altar, and the drums and the trumpets were speaking forth, to let +all men know that presently the smoke of their prayer would be wafted +up towards Those that sit in the great places in the heavens. But then, +above the noise of the ceremonial, there came the rushing sound of +wings, and from out of the sky there flew one of those great featherless +man-eating birds, of a bigness such as seldom before has been seen.” + +“An arrow shot in the eye, or a long-shafted spear receives them best.” + +“Oh, all men know what they were taught as children, Deucalion; but +these priests were unarmed, according to the rubric, which ordains that +they shall intrust themselves completely to the guardianship of the +High Gods during the hours of sacrifice. The great bird swooped down, +settling on the wood pyre, and attacked the sacrifice with beak and +talon. My poor superior here, still strong in his faith, called loudly +on our Lord the Sun to lend power to his arm, and sprang up on the altar +with naught but his teeth and his bare arms for weapons. It may be +that he expected a miracle--he has not spoke since, poor soul, in +explanation--but all he met were blows from leathery wings, and rakings +from talons which went near to disembowelling him. The bird brushed him +away as easily as we could sweep aside a fly, and there he lay bleeding +on the pavement beside the altar, whilst the sacrifice was torn and +eaten in the presence of all the people. And then, when the bird was +glutted, it flew away again to the mountains.” + +“And the people gave no help?” + +“They cried out that the thing was a portent, that our Lord the Sun +was a God no longer if He had not power or thought to guard His own +sacrifice; and some cried that there was no God remaining now, and +others would have it that there was a new God come to weigh on the +country, which had chosen to take the form of a common man-eating bird. +But a few began to shout that Phorenice stood for all the Gods now in +Atlantis, and that cry was taken up till the stones of the great +circle rang with it. Some may have made proclamations because they were +convinced; many because the cry was new, and pleased them; but I am sure +there were not a few who joined in because it was dangerous to leave +such an outburst unwelcomed. The Empress can be hard enough to those who +neglect to give her adulation.” + +“The Empress is Empress,” I said formally, “and her name carries +respect. It is not for us to question her doings.” + +“I am a priest,” said Ro, “and I speak as I have been taught, and defend +the Faith as I have been commanded. Whether there is a Faith any longer, +I am beginning to doubt. But, anyway, it yields a poor enough livelihood +nowadays. There have been no offerings at this temple this five months +past, and if I had not a few jars of corn put by, I might have starved +for anything the pious of this city cared. And I do not think that the +affair of that sacrifice is likely to put new enthusiasm into our cold +votaries.” + +“When did it happen?” + +“Twenty hours ago. To-day Phorenice conducts the sacrifice herself. +That has caused the stir you spoke about. The city is in the throes of +getting ready one of her pageants.” + +“Then I must ask you to open the temple doors and give me passage. I +must go and see this thing for myself.” + +“It is not for me to offer advice to one of the Seven,” said Ro +doubtfully. + +“It is not.” + +“But they say that the Empress is not overpleased at your absence,” he +mumbled. “I should not like harm to come in your way, Deucalion,” he +said aloud. + +“The future is in the hands of the most High Gods, Ro, and I at least +believe that They will deal out our fates to each of us as They in Their +infinite wisdom see best, though you seem to have lost your faith. And +now I must be your debtor for a passage out through the doors. Plagues! +man, it is no use your holding out your hand to me. I do not own a coin +in all the world.” + +He mumbled something about “force of habit” as he led the way down +towards the door, and I responded tartly enough about the unpleasantness +of his begging customs. “If it were not for your sort and your customs, +the Priests’ Clan would not be facing this crisis to-day.” + +“One must live,” he grumbled, as he pressed his levers, and the massive +stone in the doorway swung ajar. + +“If you had been a more capable man, I might have seen the necessity,” + said I, and passed into the open and left him. I could never bring +myself to like Ro. + +A motley crowd filled the street which ran past the front of this +obscure temple, and all were hurrying one way. With what I had been +told, it did not take much art to guess that the great stone circle of +our Lord the Sun was their mark, and it grieved me to think of how many +venerable centuries that great fane had upreared before the weather and +the earth tremors, without such profanation as it would witness to-day. +And also the thought occurred to me, “Was our Great Lord above drawing +this woman on to her destruction? Would He take some vast and final act +of vengeance when she consummated her final sacrilege?” + +But the crowd pressed on, thrilled and excited, and thinking little +(as is a crowd’s wont) on the deeper matters which lay beneath the bare +spectacle. From one quarter of the city walls the din of an attack from +the besiegers made itself clearly heard from over the house, and the +temples and the palaces intervening, but no one heeded it. They had +grown callous, these townsfolk, to the battering of rams, and the flight +of fire-darts, and the other emotions of a bombardment. Their nerves, +their hunger, their desperation, were strung to such a pitch that little +short of an actual storm could stir them into new excitement over the +siege. + +All were weaponed. The naked carried arms in the hopes of meeting some +one whom they could overcome and rob; those that had a possession walked +ready to do a battle for its ownership. There was no security, no trust; +the lesson of civilisation had dropped away from these common people as +mud is washed from the feet by rain, and in their new habits and their +thoughts they had gone back to the grade from which savages like those +of Europe have never yet emerged. It was a grim commentary on the +success of Phorenice’s rule. + +The crowd merged me into their ranks without question, and with them I +pressed forward down the winding streets, once so clean and trim, now so +foul and mud-strewn. Men and women had died of hunger in these streets +these latter years, and rotted where they lay, and we trod their bones +underfoot as we walked. Yet rising out of this squalor and this misery +were great pyramids and palaces, the like of which for splendour and +magnificence had never been seen before. It was a jarring admixture. + +In time we came to the open space in the centre of the city, which even +Phorenice had not dared to encroach upon with her ambitious building +schemes, and stood on the secular ground which surrounds the most +ancient, the most grand, and the breast of all this world’s temples. + +Since the beginning of time, when man first emerged amongst the beasts, +our Lord the Sun has always been his chiefest God, and legend says that +He raised this circle of stones Himself to be a place where votaries +should offer Him worship. It is the fashion amongst us moderns not to +take these old tales in a too literal sense, but for myself, this one +satisfies me. By our wits we can lift blocks weighing six hundred men, +and set them as the capstones of our pyramids. But to uprear the stones +of that great circle would be beyond all our art, and much more would +it be impossible to-day, to transport them from their distant quarries +across the rugged mountains. + +There were nine-and-forty of the stones, alternating with spaces, and +set in an accurate circle, and across the tops of them other stones were +set, equally huge. The stones were undressed and rugged; but the huge +massiveness of them impressed the eye more than all the temples and +daintily tooled pyramids of our wondrous city. And in the centre of the +circle was that still greater stone which formed the altar, and round +which was carved, in the rude chiselling of the ancients, the snake and +the outstretched hand. + +The crowd which bore me on came to a standstill before the circle of +stones. To trespass beyond this is death for the common people; and for +myself, although I had the right of entrance, I chose to stay where I +was for the present, unnoticed amongst the mob, and wait upon events. + +For long enough we stood there, our Lord the Sun burning high and +fiercely from the clear blue sky above our heads. The din of the rebels’ +attack upon the walls came to us clearly, even above the gabble of the +multitude, but no one gave attention to it. Excitement about what was to +befall in the circle mastered every other emotion. + +I learned afterways that so pressing was the rebels’ attack, and so +destructive the battering of their new war engines, that Phorenice had +gone off to the walls first to lend awhile her brilliant skill for its +repulse, and to put heart into the defenders. But as it was, the day had +burned out to its middle and scorched us intolerably, before the noise +of the drums and horns gave advertisement that the pageant had formed in +procession; and of those who waited in the crowd, many had fainted with +exhaustion and the heat, and not a few had died. But life was cheap in +the city of Atlantis now, and no one heeded the fallen. + +Nearer and nearer drew the drums and the braying of the other music, +and presently the head of a glittering procession began to arrive and +dispose itself in the space which had been set apart. Many a thousand +poor starving wretches sighed when they saw the wanton splendour of it. +But these lords and these courtiers of this new Atlantis had no concern +beyond their own bellies and their own backs, except for their one alien +regard--their simpering affection for Phorenice. + +I think, though, their loyalty for the Empress was real enough, and +it was not to be wondered at, since everything they had came from her +lavish hands. Indeed, the woman had a charm that cannot be denied, for +when she appeared, riding in the golden castle (where I also had ridden) +on the back of her monstrous shaggy mammoth, the starved sullen faces +of the crowd brightened as though a meal and sudden prosperity had been +bestowed upon them; and without a word of command, without a trace of +compulsion, they burst into spontaneous shouts of welcome. + +She acknowledged it with a smile of thanks. Her cheeks were a little +flushed, her movements quick, her manner high-strung, as all well +might be, seeing the horrible sacrilege she had in mind. But she was +undeniably lovely; yes, more adorably beautiful than ever with her +present thrill of excitement; and when the stair was brought, and she +walked down from the mammoth’s back to the ground, those near fell +to their knees and gave her worship, out of sheer fascination for her +beauty and charm. + +Ylga, the fan-girl, alone of all that vast multitude round the Sun +temple contained herself with her formal paces and duties. She looked +pained and troubled. It was plain to see, even from the distance where +I stood, that she carried a heavy heart under the jewels of her robe. +It was fitting, too, that this should be so. Though she had been long +enough divorced from his care and fostered by the Empress, Ylga was +a daughter of Zaemon, and he was the chiefest of our Lord the Sun’s +ministers here on earth. She could not forget her upbringing now at +this supreme moment when the highest of the old Gods was to be formally +defied. And perhaps also (having a kindness for Phorenice) she was not a +little dreadful of the consequences. + +But the Empress had no eye for one sad look amongst all that sea of +glowing faces. Boldly and proudly she strode out into the circle, as +though she had been the duly appointed priest for the sacrifice. And +after her came a knot of men, dressed as priests, and bearing the +victim. Some of these were creatures of her own, and it was easy to +forgive mere ignorant laymen, won over by the glamour of Phorenice’s +presence. But some, to their shame, were men born in the Priests’ Clan, +and brought up in the groves and colleges of the Sacred Mountain, and +for their apostasy there could be no palliation. + +The wood had already been stacked on the altar-stone in the due form +required by the ancient symbolism, and the Empress stood aside whilst +those who followed did what was needful. As they opened out, I saw that +the victim was one of the small, cloven-hoofed horses that roam the +plains--a most acceptable sacrifice. They bound its feet with metal +gyves, and put it on the pyre, where, for a while, it lay neighing. Then +they stepped aside, and left it living. Here was an innovation. + +The false priests went back to the farther side of the circle, and +Phorenice stood alone before the altar. She lifted up her voice, sweet, +tuneful, and carrying, and though the din of the siege still came from +over the city, no ear there lost a word of what was spoken. + +She raised her glance aloft, and all other eyes followed it. The heaven +was clear as the deep sea, a gorgeous blue. But as the words came from +her, so a small mist was born in the sky, wheeling and circling like a +ball, although the day was windless, and rapidly growing darker and more +compact. So dense had it become, that presently it threw a shadow on +part of the sacred circle and soothed it into twilight, though all +without where the people stood was still garish day. And in the ball of +mist were little quick stabs and splashes of noiseless flame. + +She spoke, not in the priests’ sacred tongue--though such was her wicked +cleverness, that she may very well have learned it--but in the common +speech of the people, so that all who heard might understand; and she +told of her wondrous birth (as she chose to name it), and of the +direct aid of the most High Gods, which had enabled her to work so many +marvels. And in the end she lifted both of her fair white arms towards +the blackness above, and with her lovely face set with the strain of +will, she uttered her final cry: + +“O my high Father, the Sun, I pray You now to acknowledge me as Your +very daughter. Give this people a sign that I am indeed a child of the +Gods and no frail mortal. Here is sacrifice unlit, where mortal priests +with their puny fires had weekly, since the foundation of this land, +sent savoury smoke towards the sky. I pray You send down the heavenly +fire to burn this beast here offered, in token that though You still +rule on high, You have given me Atlantis to be my kingdom, and the +people of the Earth to be my worshippers.” + +She broke off and strained towards the sky. Her face was contorted. Her +limbs shook. “O mighty Father,” she cried, “who hast made me a God and +an equal, hear me! Hear me!” + +Out of the black cloud overhead there came a blinding flash of light, +which spat downwards on to the altar. The cloven-hoofed horse gave one +shrill neigh, and one convulsion, and fell back dead. Flames crackled +out from the wood pile, and the air became rich with the smell of +burning flesh. And lo! in another moment the cloud above had melted into +nothingness, and the flames burnt pale, and the smoke went up in a thin +blue spiral towards the deeper blueness of the sky. + +Phorenice, the Empress, stood there before the great stone, and before +the snake and the outstretched hand of life which were inscribed upon +it, flushed, exultant, and once more radiantly lovely; and the knot of +priests within the circle, and the great mob of people without, fell to +the ground adoring. + +“Phorenice, Goddess!” they cried. “Phorenice, Goddess of all Atlantis!” + +But for myself I did not kneel. I would have no part in this apostasy, +so I stood there awaiting fate. + + + + +10. A WOOING + + +A murmur quickly sprang up round me, which grew into shouts. “Kneel,” + one whispered, “kneel, sir, or you will be seen.” And another cried: +“Kneel, you without beard, and do obeisance to the only Goddess, or by +the old Gods I will make myself her priest and butcher you!” And so the +shouts arose into a roar. + +But presently the word “Deucalion” began to be bandied about, and there +came a moderation in the zeal of these enthusiasts. Deucalion, the man +who had left Atlantis twenty years before to rule Yucatan, they might +know little enough about, but Deucalion, who rode not many days back +beside the Empress in the golden castle beneath the canopy of snakes, +was a person they remembered; and when they weighed up his possible +ability for vengeance, the shouts died away from them limply. + +So when the silence had grown again, and Phorenice turned and saw me +standing alone amongst all the prostrate worshippers, I stepped out from +the crowd and passed between two of the great stones, and went across +the circle to where she stood beside the altar. I did not prostrate +myself. At the prescribed distance I made the salutation which she +herself had ordered when she made me her chief minister, and then hailed +her with formal decorum as Empress. + +“Deucalion, man of ice,” she retorted. + +“I still adhere to the old Gods!” + +“I was not referring to that,” said she, and looked at me with a +sidelong smile. + +But here Ylga came up to us with a face that was white, and a hand that +shook, and made supplication for my life. “If he will not leave the old +Gods yet,” she pleaded, “surely you will pardon him? He is a strong +man, and does not become a convert easily. You may change him later. But +think, Phorenice, he is Deucalion; and if you slay him here for this +one thing, there is no other man within all the marches of Atlantis who +would so worthily serve--” + +The Empress took the words from her. “You slut,” she cried out. “I have +you near me to appoint my wardrobe, and carry my fan, and do you dare +to put a meddling finger on my policies? Back with you, outside this +circle, or I’ll have you whipped. Ay, and I’ll do more. I’ll serve you +as Zaemon served my captain, Tarca. Shall I point a finger at you, and +smite your pretty skin with a sudden leprosy?” + +The girl bowed her shoulders, and went away cowed, and Phorenice turned +to me. “My lord,” she said, “I am like a young bird in the nest that has +suddenly found its wings. Wings have so many uses that I am curious to +try them all.” + +“May each new flight they take be for the good of Atlantis.” + +“Oh,” she said, with an eye-flash, “I know what you have most at heart. +But we will go back to the pyramid, and talk this out at more leisure. I +pray you now, my lord, conduct me back to my riding beast.” + +It appeared then that I was to be condoned for not offering her worship, +and so putting public question on her deification. It appeared also that +Ylga’s interference was looked upon as untimely, and, though I could not +understand the exact reasons for either of these things, I accepted +them as they were, seeing that they forwarded the scheme that Zaemon had +bidden me carry out. + +So when the Empress lent me her fingers--warm, delicate fingers they +were, though so skilful to grasp the weapons of war--I took them +gravely, and led her out of the great circle, which she had polluted +with her trickeries. I had expected to see our Lord the Sun take +vengeance on the profanation whilst it was still in act; but none had +come: and I knew that He would choose his own good time for retribution, +and appoint what instrument He thought best, without my raising a puny +arm to guard His mighty honour. + +So I led this lovely sinful woman back to the huge red mammoth which +stood there tamely in waiting, and the smell of the sacrifice came +after us as we walked. She mounted the stair to the golden castle on the +shaggy beast’s back, and bade me mount also and take seat beside her. +But the place of the fan-girl behind was empty, and what we said as we +rode back through the streets there was none to overhear. + +She was eager to know what had befallen me after the attack on the gate, +and I told her the tale, laying stress on the worthiness of Nais, +and uttering an opinion that with care the girl might be won back to +allegiance again. Only the commands that Zaemon laid upon me when he +and I spoke together in the sacred tongue, did I withhold, as it is +not lawful to repeat these matters save only in the High Council of the +Priests itself as they sit before the Ark of the Mysteries. + +“You seem to have an unusual kindliness for this rebel Nais,” said +Phorenice. + +“She showed herself to me as more clever and thoughtful than the common +herd.” + +“Ay,” she answered, with a sigh that I think was real enough in its way, +“an Empress loses much that meaner woman gets as her common due.” + +“In what particular?” + +“She misses the honest wooing of her equals.” + +“If you set up for a Goddess--” I said. + +“Pah! I wish to be no Goddess to you, Deucalion. That was for the common +people; it gives me more power with them; it helps my schemes. All you +Seven higher priests know that trick of calling down the fire, and it +pleased me to filch it. Can you not be generous, and admit that a woman +may be as clever in finding out these natural laws as your musty elder +priests?” + +“Remains that you are Empress.” + +“Nor Empress either. Just think that there is a woman seated beside you +on this cushion, Deucalion, and look upon her, and say what words +come first to your lips. Have done with ceremonies, and have done with +statecraft. Do you wish to wait on as you are till all your manhood +withers? It is well not to hurry unduly in these matters: I am with you +there. Yet, who but a fool watches a fruit grow ripe, and then leaves it +till it is past its prime?” + +I looked on her glorious beauty, but as I live it left me cold. But I +remembered the command that had been laid upon me, and forced a smile. +“I may have been fastidious,” I said, “but I do not regret waiting this +long.” + +“Nor I. But I have played my life as a maid, time enough. I am a woman, +ripe, and full-blooded, and the day has come when I should be more than +what I have been.” + +I let my hand clench on hers. “Take me to husband then, and I will be a +good man to you. But, as I am bidden speak to Phorenice the woman now, +and not to the Empress, I offer fair warning that I will be no puppet.” + +She looked at me sidelong. “I have been master so long that I think +it will come as enjoyment to be mastered sometimes. No, Deucalion, I +promise that--you shall be no puppet. Indeed, it would take a lusty lung +to do the piping if you were to dance against your will.” + +“Then, as man and wife we will live together in the royal pyramid, and +we will rule this country with all the wit that it has pleased the High +Gods to bestow on us. These miserable differences shall be swept aside; +the rebels shall go back to their homes, and hunt, and fight the beasts +in the provinces, and the Priests’ Clan shall be pacified. Phorenice, +you and I will throw ourselves brain and soul into the government, and +we will make Atlantis rise as a nation that shall once more surpass all +the world for peace and prosperity.” + +Petulantly she drew her hand away from mine. “Oh, your conditions, and +your Atlantis! You carry a crudeness in these colonial manners of yours, +Deucalion, that palls on one after the first blunt flavour has worn +away. Am I to do all the wooing? Is there no thrill of love under all +your ice?” + +“In truth, I do not know what love may be. I have had little enough +speech with women all these busy years.” + +“We were a pair, then, when you landed, though I have heard sighs and +protestations from every man that carries a beard in all Atlantis. Some +of them tickled my fancy for the day, but none of them have moved me +deeper. No, I also have not learned what this love may be from my own +personal feelings. But, sir, I think that you will teach me soon, if you +go on with your coldness.” + +“From what I have seen, love is for the poor, and the weak, and for +those of flighty emotions.” + +“Then I would that another woman were Empress, and that I were some +ill-dressed creature of the gutter that a strong man could pick up by +force, and carry away to his home for sheer passion. Ah! How I could +revel in it! How I could respond if he caught my whim!” She laughed. +“But I should lead him a sad life of it if my liking were not so strong +as his.” + +“We are as we are made, and we cannot change our inwards which move us.” + +She looked at me with a sullen glance. “If I do not change yours, my +Deucalion, there will be more trouble brewed for this poor Atlantis +that you set such store upon. There will be ill doings in this coming +household of ours if my love grows for you, and yours remains still +unborn.” + +I believe she would have had me fondle her there in the golden castle on +the mammoth’s shabby back, before the city streets packed with curious +people. She had little enough appetite for privacy at any time. But for +the life of me I could not do it. The Gods know I was earnest enough +about my task, and They know also how it repelled me. But I was a true +priest that day, and I had put away all personal liking to carry out the +commands which the Council had laid upon me. If I had known how to set +about it, I would have fallen in with her mood. But where any of those +shallow bedizened triflers about the court would have been glibly in his +element, I stuck for lack of a dozen words. + +There was no help for it but to leave all, save what I actually felt, +unsaid. Diplomacy I was trained in, and on most matters I had a glib +enough tongue. But to palter with women was a lightness I had always +neglected, and if I had invented would-be pretty speeches out of my +clumsy inexperience, Phorenice would have seen through the fraud on the +instant. She had been nurtured during these years of her rule on a +pap of these silly protestations, and could weigh their value with an +expert’s exactness. + +Nor was it a case where honest confession would have served my purpose +better. If I had put my position to her in plain words, it would have +made relations worse. And so perforce I had to hold my tongue, and +submit to be considered a clown. + +“I had always heard,” she said, “that you colonists in Yucatan were far +ahead of those in Egypt in all the arts and graces. But you, sir, do +small credit to your vice-royalty. Why, I have had gentry from the Nile +come here, and you might almost think they had never left their native +shores.” + +“They must have made great strides this last twenty years, then. When +last I was sent to Egypt to report, the blacks were clearly masters of +the land, and our people lived there only on sufferance. Their pyramids +were puny, and their cities nothing more than forts.” + +“Oh,” she said mockingly, “they are mere exiles still, but they remember +their manners. My poor face seemed to please them, at least they all +went into raptures over it. And for ten pleasant words, one of them cut +off his own right hand. We made the bargain, my Egyptian gallant and +I, and the hand lies dried on some shelf in my apartment to-day as a +pleasant memento.” + +But here, by a lucky chance for me, an incident occurred which saved me +from further baiting. The rebels outside the walls were conducting their +day’s attack with vigour and some intelligence. More than once during +our procession the lighter missiles from their war engines had sung +up through the air, and split against a building, and thrown splinters +which wounded those who thronged the streets. Still there had been +nothing to ruffle the nerves of any one at all used to the haps of +warfare, or in any way to hinder our courtship. But presently, it seems, +they stopped hurling stones from their war engines, and took to loading +them with carcases of wood lined with the throwing fire. + +Now, against stone buildings these did little harm, save only that they +scorched horribly any poor wretch that was within splash of them when +they burst; but when they fell upon the rude wooden booths and rush +shelters of the poorer folk, they set them ablaze instantly. There was +no putting out these fires. + +These things also would have given to either Phorenice or myself little +enough of concern, as they are the trivial and common incidents of +every siege; but the mammoth on which we rode had not been so properly +schooled. When the first blue whiff of smoke came to us down the +windings of the street, the huge red beast hoisted its trunk, and began +to sway its head uneasily. When the smoke drifts grew more dense, and +here and there a tongue of flame showed pale beneath the sunshine, it +stopped abruptly and began to trumpet. + +The guards who led it, tugged manfully at the chains which hung from the +jagged metal collar round its neck, so that the spikes ran deep into its +flesh, and reminded it keenly of its bondage. But the beast’s terror +at the fire, which was native to its constitution, mastered all its +new-bought habits of obedience. From time unknown men have hunted the +mammoth in the savage ground, and the mammoth has hunted men; and the +men have always used fire as a shield, and mammoths have learned to +dread fire as the most dangerous of all enemies. + +Phorenice’s brow began to darken as the great beast grew more restive, +and she shook her red curls viciously. “Some one shall lose a head for +this blundering,” said she. “I ordered to have this beast trained to +stand indifferent to drums, shouting, arrows, stones, and fire, and the +trainers assured me that all was done, and brought examples.” + +I slipped my girdle. “Here,” I said, “quick. Let me lower you to the +ground.” + +She turned on me with a gleam. “Are you afraid for my neck, then, +Deucalion?” + +“I have no mind to be bereaved before I have tasted my wedded life.” + +“Pish! There is little enough of danger. I will stay and ride it out. I +am not one of your nervous women, sir. But go you, if you please.” + +“There is little enough chance of that now.” + +Blood flowed from the mammoth’s neck where the spikes of the collar tore +it, and with each drop, so did the tameness seem to ooze out from it +also. With wild squeals and trumpetings it turned and charged viciously +down the way it had come, scattering like straws the spearmen who +tried to stop it, and mowing a great swath through the crowd with its +monstrous progress. Many must have been trodden under foot, many killed +by its murderous trunk, but only their cries came to us. The golden +castle, with its canopy of royal snakes, was swayed and tossed, so that +we two occupants had much ado not to be shot off like stones from a +catapult. But I took a brace with my feet against the front, and one +arm around a pillar, and clapped the spare arm round Phorenice, so as to +offer myself to her as a cushion. + +She lay there contentedly enough, with her lovely face just beneath my +chin, and the faint scent of her hair coming in to me with every breath +I took; and the mammoth charged madly on through the narrow streets. We +had outstripped the taint of smoke, and the original cause of fear, but +the beast seemed to have forgotten everything in its mad panic. It +held furiously on with enormous strides, carrying its trunk aloft, and +deafening us with its screams and trumpetings. We left behind us quickly +all those who had trod in that glittering pageant, and we were carried +helplessly on through the wards of the city. + +The beast was utterly beyond all control. So great was its pace that +there was no alternative but to try and cling on to the castle. Up there +we were beyond its reach. To have leapt off, even if we had avoided +having brains dashed out or limbs smashed by the fall, would have been +to put ourselves at once at a frightful disadvantage. The mammoth would +have scented us immediately, and turned (as is the custom of these +beasts), and we should have been trampled into a pulp in a dozen +seconds. + +The thought came to me that here was the High God’s answer to +Phorenice’s sacrilege. The mammoth was appointed to carry out Their +vengeance by dashing her to pieces, and I, their priest, was to be human +witness that justice had been done. But no direct revelation had been +given me on this matter, and so I took no initiative, but hung on to the +swaying castle, and held the Empress against bruises in my arms. + +There was no guiding the brute: in its insanity of madness it doubled +many times upon its course, the windings of the streets confusing it. +But by degrees we left the large palaces and pyramids behind, and got +amongst the quarters of artisans, where weavers and smiths gaped at +us from their doors as we thundered past. And then we came upon the +merchants’ quarters where men live over their storehouses that do +traffic with the people over seas, and then down an open space there +glittered before us a mirror of water. + +“Now here,” thought I, “this mad beast will come to sudden stop, and as +like as not will swerve round sharply and charge back again towards the +heart of the city.” And I braced myself to withstand the shock, and took +fresh grip upon the woman who lay against my breast. But with louder +screams and wilder trumpetings the mammoth held straight on, and +presently came to the harbour’s edge, and sent the spray sparkling in +sheets amongst the sunshine as it went with its clumsy gait into the +water. + +But at this point the pace was very quickly slackened. The great sewers, +which science devised for the health of the city in the old King’s +time, vomit their drainings into this part of the harbour, and the solid +matter which they carry is quickly deposited as an impalpable sludge. +Into this the huge beast began to sink deeper and deeper before it could +halt in its rush, and when with frightened bellowings it had come to +a stop, it was bogged irretrievably. Madly it struggled, wildly it +screamed and trumpeted. The harbour-water and the slime were churned +into one stinking compost, and the golden castle in which we clung +lurched so wildly that we were torn from it and shot far away into the +water. + +Still there, of course, we were safe, and I was pleased enough to be rid +of the bumpings. + +Phorenice laughed as she swam. “You handle yourself like a sore man, +Deucalion. I owe you something for lending me the cushion of your body. +By my face! There’s more of the gallant about you when it comes to the +test than one would guess to hear you talk. How did you like the ride, +sir? I warrant it came to you as a new experience.” + +“I’d liefer have walked.” + +“Pish, man! You’ll never be a courtier. You should have sworn that with +me in your arms you could have wished the bumping had gone on for ever. +Ho, the boat there! Hold your arrows. Deucalion, hail me those fools in +that boat. Tell them that, if they hurt so much as a hair of my mammoth, +I’ll kill them all by torture. He’ll exhaust himself directly, and when +his flurry’s done we’ll leave him where he is to consider his evil ways +for a day or so, and then haul him out with windlasses, and tame him +afresh. Pho! I could not feel myself to be Phorenice, if I had no fine, +red, shaggy mammoth to take me out for my rides.” + +The boat was a ten-slave galley which was churning up from the farther +side of the harbour as hard as well-plied whips could make oars drive +her, but at the sound of my shouts the soldiers on her foredeck stopped +their arrowshots, and the steersman swerved her off on a new course to +pick us up. Till then we had been swimming leisurely across an angle of +the harbour, so as to avoid landing where the sewers outpoured; but we +stopped now, treading the water, and were helped over the side by most +respectful hands. + +The galley belonged to the captain of the port, a mincing figure of +a mariner, whose highest appetite in life was to lick the feet of the +great, and he began to fawn and prostrate himself at once, and to wish +that his eyes had been blinded before he saw the Empress in such deadly +peril. + +“The peril may pass,” said she. “It’s nothing mortal that will ever kill +me. But I have spoiled my pretty clothes, and shed a jewel or two, and +that’s annoying enough as you say, good man.” + +The silly fellow repeated a wish that he might be blinded before the +Empress was ever put to such discomfort again. + +But it seemed she could be cloyed with flattery. “If you are tired of +your eyes,” said she, “let me tell you that you have gone the way to +have them plucked out from their sockets. Kill my mammoth, would you, +because he has shown himself a trifle frolicsome? You and your sort want +more education, my man. I shall have to teach you that port-captains and +such small creatures are very easy to come by, and very small value when +got, but that my mammoth is mine--mine, do you understand?--the property +of Goddess Phorenice, and as such is sacred.” + +The port-captain abased himself before her. “I am an ignorant fellow,” + said he, “and heaven was robbed of its brightest ornament when Phorenice +came down to Atlantis. But if reparation is permitted me, I have two +prisoners in the cabin of the boat here who shall be sacrificed to the +mammoth forthwith. Doubtless it would please him to make sport with +them, and spill out the last lees of his rage upon their bodies.” + +“Prisoners you’ve got, have you? How taken?” + +“Under cover of last night they were trying to pass in between the two +forts which guard the harbour mouth. But their boat fouled the chain, +and by the light of the torches the sentries spied them. They were +caught with ropes, and put in a dungeon. There is an order not to abuse +prisoners before they have been brought before a judgment?” + +“It was my order. Did these prisoners offer to buy their lives with +news?” + +“The man has not spoken. Indeed, I think he got his death-wound in being +taken. The woman fought like a cat also, so they said in the fort, but +she was caught without hurt. She says she has got nothing that would be +of use to tell. She says she has tired of living like a savage outside +the city, and moreover that, inside, there is a man for whose nearness +she craves most mightily.” + +“Tut!” said Phorenice. “Is this a romance we have swum to? You see what +affectionate creatures we women are, Deucalion.”--The galley was brought +up against the royal quay and made fast to its golden rings. I handed +the Empress ashore, but she turned again and faced the boat, her +garments still yielding up a slender drip of water.--“Produce your woman +prisoner, master captain, and let us see whether she is a runaway +wife, or a lovesick girl mad after her sweetheart. Then I will deliver +judgment on her, and as like as not will surprise you all with my +clemency. I am in a mood for tender romance to-day.” + +The port-captain went into the little hutch of a cabin with a white +face. It was plain that Phorenice’s pleasantries scared him. “The man +appears to be dead, Your Majesty. I see that his wounds--” + +“Bring out the woman, you fool. I asked for her. Keep your carrion where +it is.” + +I saw the fellow stoop for his knife to cut a lashing, and presently who +should he bring out to the daylight but the girl I had saved from the +cave-tigers in the circus, and who had so strangely drawn me to her +during the hours that we had spent afterwards in companionship. It was +clear, too, that the Empress recognised her also. Indeed, she made no +secret about the matter, addressing her by name, and mockingly making +inquiries about the menage of the rebels, and the success of the +prisoner’s amours. + +“This good port-captain tells me that you made a most valiant attempt to +return, Nais, and for an excuse you told that it was your love for +some man in the city here which drew you. Come, now, we are willing to +overlook much of your faults, if you will give us a reasonable chance. +Point me out your man, and if he is a proper fellow, I will see that he +weds you honestly. Yes, and I will do more for you, Nais, since this day +brings me to a husband. Seeing that all your estate is confiscate as a +penalty for your late rebellion, I will charge myself with your dowry, +and give it back to you. So come, name me the man.” + +The girl looked at her with a sullen brow. “I spoke a lie,” she said; +“there is no man.” + +I tried myself to give her advocacy. “The lady doubtless spoke what came +to her lips. When a woman is in the grip of a rude soldiery, any excuse +which can save her for the moment must serve. For myself, I should think +it like enough that she would confess to having come back to her old +allegiance, if she were asked.” + +“Sir,” said the Empress, “keep your peace. Any interest you may show in +this matter will go far to offend me. You have spoken of Nais in your +narrative before, and although your tongue was shrewd and you did not +say much, I am a woman and I could read between the lines. Now regard, +my rebel, I have no wish to be unduly hard upon you, though once +you were my fan-girl, and so your running away to these ill-kempt +malcontents, who beat their heads against my city walls, is all the +more naughty. But you must meet me halfway. You must give an excuse +for leniency. Point me out the man you would wed, and he shall be your +husband to-morrow.” + +“There is no man.” + +“Then name me one at random. Why, my pretty Nais, not ten months ago +there were a score who would have leaped at the chance of having you for +a wife. Drop your coyness, girl, and name me one of those. I warrant +you that I will be your ambassadress and will put the matter to him with +such delicacy that he will not make you blush by refusal.” + +The prisoner moistened her lips. “I am a maiden, and I have a maiden’s +modesty. I will die as you choose, but I will not do this indecency.” + +“Well, I am a maiden too, and though because I am Empress also, +questions of State have to stand before questions of my private modesty, +I can have a sympathy for yours--although in truth it did not obtrude +unduly when you were my fan-girl, Nais. No, come to think of it, you +liked a tender glance and a pretty phrase as well as any when you were +fan-girl. You have grown wild and shy, amongst these savage rebels, but +I will not punish you for that. + +“Let me call your favourites to memory now. There was Tarca, of course, +but Tarca had a difference with that ill-dressed father of yours, and +wears a leprosy on half his face instead of that beard he used to trim +so finely. And then there is Tatho, but Tatho is away overseas. Eron, +too, you liked once, but he lost an arm in fighting t’other day, and I +would not marry you to less than a whole man. Ah, by my face! I have it, +the dainty exquisite, Rota! He is the husband! How well I remember the +way he used to dress in a change of garb each day to catch your proud +fancy, girl. Well, you shall have Rota. He shall lead you to wife before +this hour to-morrow.” + +Again the prisoner moistened her lips. “I will not have Rota, and spare +me the others. I know why you mock me, Phorenice.” + +“Then there are three of us here who share one knowledge.”--She turned +her eyes upon me. Gods! who ever saw the like of Phorenice’s eyes, and +who ever saw them lit with such fire as burned within them then?--“My +lord, you are marrying me for policy; I am marrying you for policy, and +for another reason which has grown stronger of late, and which you may +guess at. Do you wish still to carry out the match?” + +I looked once at Nais, and then I looked steadily back to Phorenice. The +command given by the mouth of Zaemon from the High Council of the Sacred +Mountain had to outweigh all else, and I answered that such was my +desire. + +“Then,” said she, glowering at me with her eyes, “you shall build me up +the pretty body of Nais beneath a throne of granite as a wedding gift. +And you shall do it too with your own proper hands, my Deucalion, whilst +I watch your devotion.” + +And to Nais she turned with a cruel smile. “You lied to me, my girl, +and you spoke truth to the soldiers in the harbour forts. There is a man +here in the city you came after, and he is the one man you may not have. +Because you know me well, and my methods very thoroughly, your love for +him must be very deep, or you would not have come. And so, being here, +you shall be put beyond mischief’s reach. I am not one of those who see +luxury in fostering rivals. + +“You came for attention at the hands of Deucalion. By my face! you shall +have it. I will watch myself whilst he builds you up living.” + + + + +11. AN AFFAIR WITH THE BARBAROUS FISHERS + + +So this mighty Empress chose to be jealous of a mere woman prisoner! + +Now my mind has been trained to work with a soldierly quickness in these +moments of stress, and I decided on my proper course on the instant the +words had left her lips. I was sacrificing myself for Atlantis by +order of the High Council of the Priests, and, if needful, Nais must +be sacrificed also, although in the same flash a scheme came to me for +saving her. + +So I bowed gravely before the Empress, and said I, “In this, and in all +other things where a mere human hand is potent, I will carry out your +wishes, Phorenice.” And she on her part patted my arm, and fresh waves +of feeling welled up from the depths of her wondrous eyes. Surely the +Gods won for her half her schemes and half her battles when they gave +Phorenice her shape, and her voice, and the matters which lay within the +outlines of her face. + +By this time the merchants, and the other dwellers adjacent to this part +of the harbour, where the royal quay stands, had come down, offering +changes of raiment, and houses to retire into. Phorenice was all +graciousness, and though it was little enough I cared for mere wetness +of my coat, still that part of the harbour into which we had been thrown +by the mammoth was not over savoury, and I was glad enough to follow her +example. For myself, I said no further word to Nais, and refrained even +from giving her a glance of farewell. But a small sop like this was no +meal for Phorenice, and she gave the port-captain strict orders for the +guarding of his prisoner before she left him. + +At the house into which I was ushered they gave me a bath, and I eased +my host of the plainest garment in his store, and he was pleased enough +at getting off so cheaply. But I had an hour to spend outside on the +pavement listening to the distant din of bombardment before Phorenice +came out to me again, and I could not help feeling some grim amusement +at the face of the merchant who followed. The fellow was clearly ruined. +He had a store of jewels and gauds of the most costly kind, which were +only in fraction his own, seeing that he had bought them (as the custom +is) in partnership with other merchants. These had pleased Phorenice’s +eye, and so she had taken all and disposed them on her person. + +“Are they not pretty?” said she, showing them to me. “See how they flash +under the sun. I am quite glad now, Deucalion, that the mammoth gave us +that furious ride and that spill, since it has brought me such a bonny +present. You may tell the fellow here that some day when he has earned +some more, I will come and be his guest again. Ah! They have brought us +litters, I see. Well, send one away and do you share mine with me, sir. +We must play at being lovers to-day, even if love is a matter which will +come to us both with more certainty to-morrow. No; do not order more +bearers. My own slaves will carry us handily enough. I am glad you +are not one of your gross, overfed men, Deucalion. I am small and slim +myself, and I do not want to be husbanded by a man who will overshadow +me.” + +“Back to the royal pyramid?” I asked. + +“No, nor to the walls. I neither wish to fight nor to sit as Empress +to-day, sir. As I have told you before, it is my whim to be Phorenice, +the maiden, for a few hours, and if some one I wot of would woo me now, +as other maidens are wooed, I should esteem it a luxury. Bid the slaves +carry us round the harbour’s rim, and give word to these starers that, +if they follow, I will call down fire upon them as I did upon the +sacrifice.” + +Now, I had seen something of the unruliness of the streets myself, and +I had gathered a hint also from the officer at the gate of the royal +pyramid that night of Phorenice’s welcoming banquet. But as whatever +there was in the matter must be common knowledge to the Empress, I did +not bring it to her memory then. So I dismissed the guard which had +come up, and drove away with a few sharp words the throng of gaping +sightseers who always, silly creatures, must needs come to stare at +their betters; and then I sat in the litter in the place where I was +invited, and the bearers put their heads to the pole. + +They swung away with us along the wide pavement which runs between the +houses of the merchants and the mariner folk and the dimpling waters of +the harbour, and I thought somewhat sadly of the few ships that floated +on that splendid basin now, and of the few evidences of business that +showed themselves on the quays. Time was when the ships were berthed +so close that many had to wait in the estuary outside the walls, and +memorials had been sent to the King that the port should be doubled in +size to hold the glut of trade. And that, too, in the old days of oar +and sail, when machines drawing power from our Lord the Sun were but +rarely used to help a vessel speedily along her course. + +The Egypt voyage and a return was a matter of a year then, as against a +brace of months now, and of three ships that set out, one at least could +be reckoned upon succumbing to the dangers of the wide waters and the +terrible beasts that haunt them. But in those old days trade roared with +lusty life, and was ever growing wider and more heavy. Your merchant +then was a portly man and gave generously to the Gods. But now all +the world seemed to be in arms, and moreover trade was vulgar. Your +merchant, if he was a man of substance, forgot his merchandise, swore +that chaffering was more indelicate than blasphemy and curled his beard +after the new fashion, and became a courtier. Where his father had spent +anxious days with cargo tally and ship-master, the son wasted hours in +directing sewing men as they adorned a coat, and nights in vapouring at +a banquet. + +Of the smaller merchants who had no substance laid by, taxes and the +constant bickerings of war had wellnigh ground them into starvation. +Besides, with the country in constant uproar, there were few markets +left for most merchandise, nor was there aught made now which could be +carried abroad. If your weaver is pressed as a fire-tube man he does not +make cloth, and if your farmer is playing at rebellion, he does not buy +slaves to till his fields. Indeed, they told me that a month before my +return, as fine a cargo of slaves had been brought into harbour as ever +came out of Europe, and there was nothing for it but to set them ashore +across the estuary, and leave them free to starve or live in the wild +ground there as they chose. There was no man in all Atlantis who would +hold so much as one more slave as a gift. + +But though I was grieved at this falling away, all schemes for remedy +would be for afterwards. It would only make ill worse to speak of it as +we rode together in the litter. I was growing to know Phorenice’s moods +enough for that. Still, I think that she too had studied mine, and did +her best to interest me between her bursts of trifling. We went out to +where the westernmost harbour wall joins the land, and there the panting +bearers set us down. She led me into a little house of stone which stood +by itself, built out on a promontory where there is a constant run of +tide, and when we had been given admittance, after much unbarring, she +showed me her new gold collectors. + +In the dry knowledge taught in the colleges and groves of the Sacred +Mountain it had been a common fact to us that the metal gold was present +in a dissolved state in all sea water, but of plans for dragging it +forth into yellow hardness, none had ever been discussed. But here this +field-reared upstart of an Empress had stumbled upon the trick as though +it had been written in a book. + +She patted my arm laughingly as I stared curiously round the place. “I +tell all others in Atlantis that only the Gods have this secret,” said +she, “and that They gave it to me as one of themselves. But I am no +Goddess to you, am I, Deucalion? And, by my face! I have no other +explanation of how this plan was invented. We’ll suppose I must have +dreamed it. Look! The sea-water sluices in through that culvert, and +passes over these rough metal plates set in the floor, and then flows +out again yonder in its natural course. You see the yellow metal caught +in the ridges of the plates? That is gold. And my fellows here melt it +with fire into bars, and take it to my smith’s in the city. The tides +vary constantly, as you priests know well, as the quiet moon draws them, +and it does not take much figuring to know how much of the sea passes +through these culverts in a month and how much gold to a grain should be +caught in the plates. My fellows here at first thought to cheat me, but +I towed two of them in the water once behind a galley till the cannibal +fish ate them, and since then the others have given me credit for--for +what do you think?” + +“More divinity.” + +“I suppose it is that. But I am letting you see how it is done. Just +have the head to work out a little sum, and see what an effect can be +gained. You will be a God yet yourself, Deucalion, with these silly +Atlanteans, if only you will use your wit and cleverness.” + +Was she laughing at me? Was she in earnest? I could not tell. Sometimes +she pointed out that her success and triumphs were merely the reward +of thought and brilliancy, and next moment she gave me some impossible +explanation and left me to deduce that she must be more than mortal or +the thing could never have been found. In good truth, this little woman +with her supple mind and her supple body mystified me more and more the +longer I stayed by her side; and more and more despairing did I grow +that Atlantis could ever be restored by my agency to peace and the +ancient Gods, even after I had carried out the commands of the High +Council, and taken her to wife. + +Only one plan seemed humanly possible, and that was to curb her further +mischievousness by death and then leave the wretched country naturally +to recover. It was just a dagger-stroke, and the thing was done. Yet the +very idea of this revolted me, and when the desperate thought came to my +mind (which it did ever and anon), I hugged to myself the answer that if +it were fitting to do this thing, the High Gods in Their infinite wisdom +would surely have put definite commands upon me for its carrying out. + +Yet, such was the fascination of Phorenice, that when presently we +left her gold collectors, and stumbled into such peril, that a little +withholding of my hand would have gained her a passage to the nether +Gods, I found myself fighting when she called upon me, as seldom I have +fought before. And though, of course, some blame for this must be laid +upon that lust of battle which thrills even the coldest of us when blows +begin to whistle and war-cries start to ring, there is no doubt also +that the pleasure of protecting Phorenice, and the distaste for seeing +her pulled down by those rude, uncouth fishers put special nerve and +vehemence into my blows. + +The cause of the matter was the unrest and the prevalency to street +violence which I have spoken of above, and the desperate poverty of +the common people, which led them to take any risk if it showed them a +chance of winning the wherewithal to purchase a meal. We had once more +mounted the litter, and once more the bearers, with their heads beneath +the pole, bore us on at their accustomed swinging trot. Phorenice was +telling me about her new supplies of gold. She had made fresh sumptuary +laws, it appeared. + +“In the old days,” said she, “when yellow gold was tediously dredged up +grain by grain from river gravels in the dangerous lands, a quill +full would cost a rich man’s savings, and so none but those whose high +station fitted them to be so adorned could wear golden ornaments. But +when the sea-water gave me gold here by the double handful a day, I +found that the price of these river hoards decreased, and one day--could +you credit it?--a common fellow, who was one of my smiths, came to me +wearing a collar of yellow gold on his own common neck. Well, I had +that neck divided, as payment for his presumption; and as I promised +to repeat the division promptly on all other offenders, that special +species of forwardness seems to be checked for the time. There are many +exasperations, Deucalion, in governing these common people.” + +She had other things to say upon the matter, but at this point I saw two +clumsy boats of fishers paddling to us from over the ripples, and at the +same time amongst the narrow lanes which led between the houses on +the other side of us, savage-faced men were beginning to run after the +litter in threatening clusters. + +“With permission,” I said, “I will step out of the conveyance and +scatter this rabble.” + +“Oh, the people always cluster round me. Poor ugly souls, they seem +to take a strange delight in coming to stare at my pretty looks. But +scatter them. I have said I did not wish to be followed. I am taking +holiday now, Deucalion, am I not, whilst you learn to woo me?” + +I stepped to the ground. The rough fishers in the boats were beginning +to shout to those who dodged amongst the houses to see to it that we +did not escape, and the numbers who hemmed us in on the shore side were +increasing every moment. The prospect was unpleasant enough. We had come +out beyond the merchants’ quarters, and were level with those small +huts of mud and grass which the fishing population deem sufficient for +shelter, and which has always been a spot where turbulence might be +expected. Indeed, even in those days of peace and good government in +the old King’s time, this part of the city had rarely been without its +weekly riot. + +The life of the fisherman is the most hard that any human toilers have +to endure. Violence from the wind and waves, and pelting from firestones +out of the sky are their daily portion; the great beasts that dwell in +the seas hunt them with savage persistence, and it is a rare day when +at least some one of the fishers’ guild fails to come home to answer the +tally. + +Moreover, the manner which prevails of catching fish is not without its +risks. + +To each man there is a large sea-fowl taken as a nestling, and +trained to the work. A ring of bronze is round its neck to prevent its +swallowing the spoil for which it dives, and for each fish it takes and +flies back with to the boat, the head and tail and inwards are given to +it for a reward, the ring being removed whilst it makes the meal. + +The birds are faithful, once they have got a training, and are seldom +known to desert their owners; but, although the fishers treat them more +kindly than they do their wives, or children of their own begetting, the +life of the birds is precarious like that of their masters. The larger +beasts and fish of the sea prey on them as they prey on the smaller +fish, and so whatever care may be lavished upon them, they are most +liable to sudden cutting off. + +And here is another thing that makes the life of the fisher most +precarious: if his fishing bird be slain, and the second which he has +in training also come by ill fortune, he is left suddenly bereft of all +utensils of livelihood, and (for aught his guild-fellows care) he may go +starve. For these fishers hold that the Gods of the sea regulate their +craft, and that if one is not pleasing to Them They rob him of his +birds; after which it would be impious to have any truck or dealing +with such a fellow; and accordingly he is left to starve or rob as he +chooses. + +All of which circumstances tend to make the fishers rude, desperate +men, who have been forced into the trade because all other callings have +rejected them. They are fellows, moreover, who will spend the gains of +a month on a night’s debauch, for fear that the morrow will rob them of +life and the chance of spending; and, moreover, it is their one point of +honour to be curbed in no desire by an ordinary fear of consequences. As +will appear. + +I went quickly towards the largest knot of these people, who were +skulking behind the houses, leaving the litter halted in the path behind +me, and I bade them sharply enough to disperse. “For an employment,” + I added, “put your houses in order, and clean the fish offal from the +lanes between them. To-morrow I will come round here to inspect, and put +this quarter into a better order. But for to-day the Empress (whose name +be adored) wishes for a privacy, so cease your staring.” + +“Then give us money,” said a shrill voice from amongst the huts. + +“I will send you a torch in an hour’s time,” I said grimly, “and rig you +a gallows, if you give me more annoyance. To your kennels, you!” + +I think they would have obeyed the voice of authority if they had been +left to themselves. There was a quick stir amongst them. Those that +stood in the sunlight instinctively slipped into the shadow, and many +dodged into the houses and cowered in dark corners out of sight. But the +men in the two hide-covered fisher-boats that were paddling up, called +them back with boisterous cries. + +I signed to the litter-bearers to move on quickly along their road. +There was need of discipline here, and I was minded to deal it out +myself with a firm hand. I judged that I could prevent them following +the Empress, but if she still remained as a glittering bait for them to +rob, and I had to protect her also, it might be that my work would not +be done so effectively. + +But it seems I was presumptuous in giving an order which dealt with the +person of Phorenice. She bade the bearers stand where they were, and +stepped out, and drew her weapons from beneath the cushions. She came +towards me strapping a sword on to her hip, and carrying a well-dinted +target of gold on her left forearm. “An unfair trick,” cries she, +laughing. “If you will keep a fight to yourself now, Deucalion, where +will your greediness carry you when I am your shrinking, wistful little +wife? Are these fools truly going to stand up against us?” + +I was not coveting a fight, but it seemed as if there would be no +avoidance of it now. The robe and the glittering gauds of which +Phorenice had recently despoiled the merchant, drew the eyes of these +people with keen attraction. The fishers in the boats paddled into +the surf which edged the beach, and leaped overside and left the frail +basket-work structures to be spewed up sound or smashed, as chance +ordered. And from the houses, and from the filthy lanes between them, +poured out hordes of others, women mixed with the men, gathering round +us threateningly. + +“Have a care,” shouted one on the outskirts of the crowd. “She called +down fire for the sacrifice once to-day, and she can burn up others here +if she chooses.” + +“So much the more for those that are left,” retorted another. “She +cannot burn all.” + +“Nay, I will not burn any,” said Phorenice, “but you shall look upon my +sword-play till you are tired.” + +I heard her say that with some malicious amusement, knowing (as one of +the Seven) how she had called down the fires of the sky to burn that +cloven-hoofed horse offered in sacrifice, and knowing too, full well, +that she could bring down no fire here. But they gave us little enough +time for wordy courtesies. Their Empress never went far unattended, and, +for aught the wretches knew, an escort might be close behind. So what +pilfering they did, it behoved them to get done quickly. + +They closed in, jostling one another to be first, and the reek of their +filthy bodies made us cough. A grimy hand launched out to seize some of +the jewels which flashed on Phorenice’s breast, and I lopped it off +at the elbow, so that it fell at her feet, and a second later we were +engaged. + +“Your back to mine, comrade,” cried she, with a laugh, and then drew and +laid about her with fine dexterity. Bah! but it was mere slaughter, that +first bout. + +The crowd hustled inwards with such greediness to seize what they could, +that none had space to draw back elbow for a thrust, and we two kept a +circle round us by sheer whirling of steel. It is necessary to do one’s +work cleanly in these bouts, as wounded left on the ground unnoticed +before one are as dangerous as so many snakes. But as we circled round +in our battling I noted that all of Phorenice’s quarry lay peaceful +and still. By the Gods! but she could play a fine sword, this dainty +Empress. She touched life with every thrust. + +Yes, it was plain to see, now an example was given, that the throne of +Atlantis had been won, not by a lovely face and a subtle tongue alone; +and (as a fighter myself) I did not like Phorenice the less for the +knowledge. I could but see her out of the corner of my eye, and that +only now and again, for the fishers, despite their ill-knowledge of +fence, and the clumsiness of their weapons, had heavy numbers, and most +savage ferocity; and as they made so confident of being able to pull +us down, it required more than a little hard battling to keep them from +doing it. Ay, by the Gods! it was at times a fight my heart warmed to, +and if I had not contrived to pluck a shield from one fool who came too +vain-gloriously near me with one, I could not swear they would not have +dragged me down by sheer ravening savageness. + +And always above the burly uproar of the fight came very pleasantly to +my ears Phorenice’s cry of “Deucalion!” which she chose as her battle +shout. I knew her, of course, to be a past-mistress of the art of +compliment, and it was no new thing for me to hear the name roared out +above a battle din, but it was given there under circumstances which +were peculiar, and for the life of me I could not help being tickled by +the flattery. + +Condemn my weakness how you will, but I came very near then to liking +the Empress of Atlantis in the way she wished. And as for that other +woman who should have filled my mind, I will confess that the stress of +the moment, and the fury of the engagement, had driven both her and her +strait completely out beyond the marches of my memory. Of such frail +stuff are we made, even those of us who esteem ourselves the strongest. + +Now it is a temptation few men born to the sword can resist, to throw +themselves heart and soul into a fight for a fight’s sake, and it seems +that women can be bitten with the same fierce infection. The attack +slackened and halted. We stood in the middle of a ring of twisted dead, +and the rest of the fishers and their women who hemmed us in shrank back +out of reach of our weapons. + +It was the moment for a truce, and the moment when a few strong words +would have sent them back cowering to their huts, and given us free +passage to go where we chose. But no, this Phorenice must needs sing a +hymn to her sword and mine, gloating over our feats and invulnerability; +and then she must needs ask payment for the bearers of her litter whom +they had killed, and then speak balefully of the burnings, and the +skinnings, and the sawings asunder with which this fishers’ quarter +would be treated in the near future, till they learned the virtues of +deportment and genteel manners. + +“It makes your backs creep, does it?” said Phorenice. “I do not wonder. +This severity must have its unpleasant side. But why do you not put it +beyond my power to give the order? Either you must think yourselves Gods +or me no Goddess, or you would not have gone on so far. Come now, you +nasty-smelling people, follow out your theory, and if you make a good +fight of it, I swear by my face I will be lenient with those who do not +fall.” + +But there was no pressing up to meet our swords. They still ringed us +in, savage and sullen, beyond the ring of their own dead, and would +neither run back to the houses, nor give us the game of further fight. +There was a certain stubborn bravery about them that one could not but +admire, and for myself I determined that next time it became my duty +to raise troops, I would catch a handful of these men, and teach them +handiness with the utensils of war, and train them to loyalty and +faithfulness. But presently from behind their ranks a stone flew, and +though it whizzed between the Empress and myself, and struck down a +fisher, it showed that they had brought a new method into their attack, +and it behoved us to take thought and meet it. + +I looked round me up and down the beach. There was no sign of a rescue. +“Phorenice,” I said in the court tongue, which these barbarous fishers +would know little enough of, “I take it that a whiff of the sea-breeze +would come very pleasant after all this warm play. As you can show such +pretty sword work, will you cut me a way down to the beach, and I will +do my poor best to keep these creatures from snapping at our heels?” + +“Oh!” cried she. “Then I am to have a courtier for a husband after all. +Why have you kept back your flattering speeches till now? Is that your +trick to make me love you?” + +“I will think out the reason for it another time.” + +“Ah, these stern, commanding husbands,” said she, “how they do press +upon their little wives!” and with that leaped over the ring of dead +before her, and cut and stabbed a way through those that stood between +her and the waters which creamed and crashed upon the beach. Gods! +what a charge she made. It made me tingle with admiration as I followed +sideways behind her, guarding the rear. And I am a man that has spent so +many years in battling, that it takes something far out of the common to +move me to any enthusiasm in this matter. + +There were two boats creaking and washing about in the edge of the surf, +but in one, happily, the wicker-work which made its frame was crushed +by the weight of the waves into a shapeless bundle of sticks, and would +take half a day to replace. So that, let us but get the other craft +afloat, and we should be free from further embroiling. But the fishers +were quick to see the object of this new manoeuvre. “Guard the boat,” + they shouted. “Smash her; slit her skin with your knives! Tear her with +your fingers! Swim her out to sea! Oh, at least take the paddles!” + +But, if these clumsy fishers could run, Phorenice was like a legged +snake for speed. She was down beside the boat before any could reach +it, laughing and shouting out that she could beat them at every point. +Myself, I was slower of foot; and, besides, there was some that offered +me a fight on the road, and I was not wishful to baulk them; and +moreover, the fewer we left clamouring behind, the fewer there would be +to speed our going with their stones. Still I came to the beach in good +order, and laid hands on the flimsy boat and tipped her dry. + +“Fighting is no trade for, me,” I cried, “whilst you are here, +Phorenice. Guard me my back and walk out into the water.” + +I took the boat, thrusting it afloat, and wading with it till two lines +of the surf were past. The fishers swarmed round us, active as fish in +their native element, and strove mightily to get hands on the boat and +slit the hides which covered it with their eager fingers. But I had a +spare hand, and a short stabbing-knife for such close-quarter work, and +here, there, and everywhere was Phorenice the Empress, with her thirsty +dripping sword. By the Gods! I laughed with sheer delight at seeing her +art of fence. + +But the swirl of a great fish into the shallows, and the squeal of +a fisher as he was dragged down and home away into the deep, made me +mindful of foes that no skill can conquer, and no bravery avoid. Without +taking time to give the Empress a word of warning, I stooped, and flung +an arm round her, and threw her up out of the water into the boat, and +then thrust on with all my might, driving the flimsy craft out to +sea, whilst my legs crept under me for fear of the beasts which swam +invisible beneath the muddied waters. + +To the fishers, inured to these horrid perils by daily association, +the seizing of one of their number meant little, and they pressed on, +careless of their dull lives, eager only to snatch the jewels which +still flaunted on Phorenice’s breast. Of the vengeance that might come +after they recked nothing; let them but get the wherewithal for one +night’s good debauch, and they would forget that such a thing as the +morning of a morrow could have existence. + +Two fellows I caught and killed that, diving down beneath, tried to slit +the skin of the boat out of sight under the water; and Phorenice cared +for all those that tried to put a hand on the gunwales. Yes, and she did +more than that. A huge long-necked turtle that was stirred out of the +mud by the turmoil, came up to daylight, and swung its great horn-lipped +mouth to this side and that, seeking for a prey. The fishers near it +dodged and dived. I, thrusting at the stern of the boat, could only hope +it would pass me by and so offered an easy mark. It scurried towards +me, champing its noisy lips, and beating the water into spray with its +flippers. + +But Phorenice was quick with a remedy and a rescue. She passed her sword +through one of the fishers that pressed her, and then thrust the body +towards the turtle. The great neck swooped towards it; the long slimy +feelers which protruded from its head quivered and snuffled; and then +the horny green jaws crunched on it, and drew it down out of sight. + +The boat was in deep water now, and Phorenice called upon me to come in +over the side, she the while balancing nicely so that the flimsy thing +should not be overset. The fishers had given up their pursuit, finding +that they earned nothing but lopped-off arms and split faces by coming +within swing of this terrible sword of their Empress, and so contented +themselves with volleying jagged stones in the hopes of stunning us or +splitting the boat. However, Phorenice crouched in the stern, holding +the two shields--her own golden target, and the rough hide buckler I +had won--and so protected both of us whilst I paddled, and though many +stones clattered against the shields, and hit the hide covering of the +boat, so that it resounded like a drum, none of them did damage, and we +drew quickly out of their range. + + + + +12. THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE MOON + + +Our Lord the Sun was riding towards the end of His day, and the smoke +from a burning mountain fanned black and forbidding before His face. +Phorenice wrung the water from her clothes and shivered. “Work hard with +those paddles, Deucalion, and take me in through the water-gate and let +me be restored to my comforts again. That merchant would rue if he saw +how his pretty garments were spoiled, and I rue, too, being a woman, +and remembering that he at least has no others I can take in place of +these.” She looked at me sidelong, tossing back the short red hair from +her eyes. “What think you of my wisdom in coming where we have come +without an escort?” + +“The Empress can do no wrong,” I quoted the old formula with a smile. + +“At least I have shown you that I can fight. I caught you looking your +approval of me quite pleasantly once or twice. You were a difficult man +to thaw, Deucalion, but you warm perceptibly as you keep on being near +me. La, sir, we shall be a pair of rustic sweethearts yet, if this +goes on. I am glad I thought of the device of going near those smelly +fishers.” + +So she had taken me out in the litter unattended for the plain purpose +of inviting a fight, and showing me her skill at arms, and perhaps, too, +of seeing in person how I also carried myself in a moment of stress. +Well, if we were to live on together as husband and wife, it was good +that each should know to a nicety the other’s powers; and also, I am too +much of an old battler and too much enamoured with the glorious handling +of arms to quarrel very deeply with any one who offers me a tough +upstanding fight. Still for the life of me, I could not help comparing +Phorenice with another woman. With a similar chance open before us, Nais +had robbed me of the struggle through a sheer pity for those squalid +rebels who did not even call her chieftain; whilst here was this Empress +frittering away two score of the hardiest of her subjects merely to +gratify a whim. + +Yet, loyal to my vow as a priest, and to the commands set upon me by the +high council on the Sacred Mountain, I tried to put away these wayward +thoughts and comparisons. As I rowed over the swingings of the waves +towards the forts which guard the harbour’s mouth, I sent prayers to the +High Gods to give my tongue dexterity, and They through Their love for +the country of Atlantis, and the harassed people, whom it was my deep +wish to serve, granted me that power of speech which Phorenice loved. +Her eyes glowed upon me as I talked. + +This beach of the fishers where we had had our passage at arms is safe +from ship attack from without, by reason of a chain of jagged rocks +which spring up from the deep, and run from the harbour side to the end +of the city wall. The fishers know the passes, and can oftentimes get +through to the open water beyond without touching a stone; or if they +do see a danger of hitting on the reef, leap out and carry their light +boats in their hands till the water floats them again. But here I had +neither the knowledge nor the dexterity, and, thought I, now the High +Gods will show finally if They wish this woman who has defiled them to +reign on in Atlantis, and if also They wish me to serve as her husband. + +I cried these things in my heart, and waited to receive the omen. There +was no half-answer. A great wave rose in the lagoon behind us, a wave +such as could have only been caused by an earth tremor, and on its sleek +back we were hurled forward and thrown clear of the reefs with their +seaweeds licking round us, without so much as seeing a stone of the +barrier. I bowed my head as I rowed on towards the harbour forts. It was +plain that not yet would the High Gods take vengeance for the insults +which this lovely woman had offered Them. + +The sentries in the two forts beat drums at one another in their +accustomed rotation, and in the growing dusk were going to pay little +enough attention to the fishingboat which lay against the great chain +clamouring to have it lowered. But luckily a pair of officers were +taking the air of the evening in a stone-dropping turret of the roof +of the nearer fort, and these recognised the tone of our shouts. They +silenced the drums, torches were lowered to make sure of our faces, and +then with a splash the great chain was dropped into the water to give us +passage. + +A galley lay inside, nuzzling the harbour wall, and presently the ladder +of ropes was let down from the top of the nearest fort, and a crew came +down to man the oars. There were the customary changes of raiment too, +given as presents by the officers of the fort, and these we put on in +the cabin of the galley in place of the sodden clothes we wore. There +are fevers to be gained by carrying wet clothes after sunset, and though +from personal experience I have learned that these may be warded off +with drugs, I noticed with some grim amusement that the Empress had +sufficiently little of the Goddess about her to fear very much the +ailments which are due to frail humanity. + +The galley rowed swiftly across the calm waters of the harbour, and made +fast to the rings of gold on the royal quay, and whilst we were waiting +for litters to be brought, I watched a lantern lit in the boat +which stood guard over Phorenice’s mammoth. The huge red beast stood +shoulder-deep in the harbour water, with trunk up-turned. It was tamed +now, and the light of the boat’s lantern fell on the little ripples sent +out by its tremblings. But I did not choose to intercede or ask +mercy for it. If the mammoth sank deeper in the harbour mud, and was +swallowed, I could have borne the loss with equanimity. + +To tell the truth, that ride on the great beast’s back had impressed me +unfavourably. In fact, it put into me a sense of helplessness that +was wellnigh intolerable. Perhaps circumstances have made me unduly +self-reliant: on that others must judge. But I will own to having a +preference for walking on my own proper feet, as the Gods in fashioning +our shapes most certainly intended. On my own feet I am able to guard my +own head and neck, and have done on four continents, throughout a long +and active life, and on many a thousand occasions. But on the back of +that detestable mammoth, pah! I grew as nervous as a child or a dastard. + +However, I had little enough leisure for personal megrims just then. +Whilst we waited, Phorenice asked the port-captain (who must needs come +up officiously to make his salutations) after the disposal of Nais, +and was told that she had been clapped into a dungeon beneath the royal +pyramid, and the officer of the guard there had given his bond for her +safe-keeping. + +“It is to be hoped he understands his work,” said the Empress. “That +pretty Nais knows the pyramid better than most, and it may be he will +be sent to the tormentors for putting her in a cell which had a secret +outlet. You would feel pleasure if the girl escaped, Deucalion?” + +“Assuredly,” said I, knowing how useless it would be to make a secret of +the matter. “I have no enmity against Nais.” + +“But I have,” said she viciously, “and I am still minded to lock your +faith to me by that wedding gift you know of.” + +“The thing shall be done,” I said. “Before all, the Empress of +Atlantis.” + +“Poof! Deucalion, you are too stiff and formal. You ought to be mightily +honoured that I condescend to be jealous of your favours. Your hand, +sir, please, to help me into the litter. And now come in beside me, +and keep me warm against the night air. Ho! you guards there with the +torches! Keep farther back against the street walls. The perfume you are +burning stifles me.” + +Again there was a feast that night in the royal banqueting-hall; again I +sat beside Phorenice on the raised dais which stands beneath the symbols +of the snake and the out-stretched hand. What had been taken for granted +before about our forthcoming relationship was this time proclaimed +openly; the Empress herself acknowledged me as her husband that was to +be; and all that curled and jewelled throng of courtiers hailed me as +greater than themselves, by reason of this woman’s choice. There was +method, too, in their salutation. Some rumour must have got about of my +preference for the older and simpler habits, and there was no drinking +wine to my health after the new and (as I considered) impertinent +manner. Decorously, each lord and lady there came forward, and each in +turn spilt a goblet at my feet; and when I called any up, whether man +or woman, to receive tit-bits from my platter, it was eaten simply and +thankfully, and not kissed or pocketed with any extravagant gesture. + +The flaring jets of earth-breath showed me, too, so I thought, a plainer +habit of dress, and a more sober mien amongst this thoughtless mob +of banqueters. And, indeed, it must have been plain to notice, for +Phorenice, leaning over till the ruddy curls on her shoulder brushed +my face, chided me in a playful whisper as having usurped her high +authority already. + +“Oh, sir,” she pleaded mockingly, “do not make your rule over us too +ascetic. I have given no orders for this change, but to-night there are +no perfumes in the air; the food is so plain and I have half a mind to +burn the cook; and as for the clothes and gauds of these diners, by my +face! they might have come straight from the old King’s reign before I +stepped in here to show how tasteful could be colours on a robe, or how +pretty the glint of a jewel. It’s done by no orders of mine, Deucalion. +They have swung round to this change by sheer courtier instinct. Why, +look at the beards of the men! There is not half the curl about many of +them to-day that they showed with such exquisiteness yesterday. By my +face! I believe they’d reap their chins to-morrow as smooth as yours, +if you go on setting the fashions at this prodigious rate and I do not +interfere.” + +“Why hinder them if they feel more cleanly shaven?” + +“No, sir. There shall be only one clean chin where a beard can grow in +all Atlantis, and that shall be carried by the man who is husband to the +Empress. Why, my Deucalion, would you have no sumptuary laws? Would you +have these good folk here and the common people outside imitate us in +every cut of the hair and every fold of a garment which it pleases us to +discover? Come, sir, if you and I chose to say that our sovereignty was +marked only by our superior strength of arm and wit, they would hate us +at once for our arrogance; whereas, if we keep apart to ourselves a +few mere personal decorations, these become just objects to admire and +pleasantly envy.” + +“You show me that there is more in the office of a ruler than meets the +eye.” + +“And yet they tell me, and indeed show me, that you have ruled with some +success.” + +“I employed the older method. It requires a Phorenice to invent these +nicer flights.” + +“Flatterer!” said she, and smote me playfully with the back of her +little fingers on my arm. “You are becoming as great a courtier as any +of them. You make me blush with your fine pleasantries, Deucalion, and +there is no fan-girl here to-night to cool my cheek. I must choose me +another fan-girl. But it shall not be Ylga. Ylga seems to have more of a +kindness for you than I like, and if she is wise she will go live in her +palace at the other side of the city, and there occupy herself with the +ordering of her slaves, and the makings of embroideries. I shall not +be hard on Ylga unless she forces me, but I will have no woman in this +kingdom treat you with undue civility.” + +“And how am I to act,” said I, falling in with her mood, “when I see and +hear all the men of Atlantis making their protestations before you? By +your own confession they all love you as ardently as they seem to have +loved you hopelessly.” + +“Ah, now,” she said, “you must not ask me to do impossibilities. I am +powerful if you will. But I have no force which will govern the hearts +of these poor fellows on matters such as that. But if you choose, you +make proclamation that I am given now body and inwards to you, and if +they continue to offend your pride in this matter, you may take your +culprits, and give them over to the tormentors. Indeed, Deucalion, I +think it would be a pretty attention to me if you did arrange some such +ceremony. It seems to me a present,” she added with a frown, “that the +jealousy is too much on one side.” + +“You must not expect that a man who has been divorced from love for all +of a busy life can learn all its niceties in an instant. Myself, I was +feeling proud of my progress. With any other schoolmistress than you, +Phorenice, I should not be near so forward. In fact (if one may judge by +my past record), I should not have begun to learn at all.” + +“I suppose you think I should be satisfied with that? Well, I am not. I +can be finely greedy over some matters.” + +The banquet this night did not extend to inordinate length. Phorenice +had gone through much since last she slept, and though she had declared +herself Goddess in the meantime, it seemed that her body remained mortal +as heretofore. The black rings of weariness had grown under her wondrous +eyes, and she lay back amongst the cushions of the divan with her limbs +slackened and listless. When the dancers came and postured before us, +she threw them a jewel and bade them begone before they had given a half +of their performance, and the poet, a silly swelling fellow who came to +sing the deeds of the day, she would not hear at all. + +“To-morrow,” she said wearily, “but for now grant me peace. My Lord +Deucalion has given me much food for thought this day, and presently +I go to my chamber to muse over the future policies of this State +throughout the night. To-morrow come to me again, and if your poetry is +good and short, I will pay you surprisingly. But see to it that you +are not long-winded. If there are superfluous words, I will pay you for +those with the stick.” + +She rose to her feet then, and when the banqueters had made their +salutation to us, I led her away from the banqueting-hall and down the +passages with their secret doors which led to her private chambers. +She clung on my arm, and once when we halted whilst a great stone +block swung slowly ajar to let us pass, she drooped her head against my +shoulder. Her breath came warm against my cheek, and the loveliness of +her face so close at hand surpasses the description of words. I think it +was in her mind that I should kiss the red lips which were held so near +to mine, but willing though I was to play the part appointed, I could +not bring myself to that. So when the stone block had swung, she drew +away with a sigh, and we went on without further speech. + +“May the High Gods treat you tenderly,” I said, when we came to the door +of her bed-chamber. + +“I am my own God,” said she, “in all things but one. By my face! you are +a tardy wooer, Deucalion. Where do you go now?” + +“To my own chamber.” + +“Oh, go then, go.” + +“Is there anything more I could do?” + +“Nothing that your wit or your will would prompt you to. Yes, indeed, +you are finely decorous, Deucalion, in your old-fashioned way, but you +are a mighty poor wooer. Don’t you know, my man, that a woman esteems +some things the more highly if they are taken from her by rude force?” + +“It seems I know little enough about women.” + +“You never said a truer word. Bah! And I believe your coldness brings +you more benefit in a certain matter than any show of passion could +earn. There, get you gone, if the atmosphere of a maiden’s bed-chamber +hurts your rustic modesty, and your Gods keep you, Deucalion, if that’s +the phrase, and if you think They can do it. Get you gone, man, and +leave me solitary.” + +I had taken the plan of the pyramid out of the archives before the +banquet and learned it thoroughly, and so was able to thread my way +through its angular mazes without pause or blunder. I, too, was heavily +wearied with what I had gone through since my last snatch of sleep, but +I dare set apart no time for rest just then. Nais must be sacrificed in +part for the needs of Atlantis; but a plan had come to me by which it +seemed that she need not be sacrificed wholly; and to carry this through +there was need for quick thought and action. + +Help came to me also from a quarter I did not expect. As I passed along +the tortuous way between the ponderous stones of the pyramid, which led +to the apartments that had been given me by Phorenice, a woman glided +up out of the shadows of one of the side passages, and when I lifted my +hand lamp, there was Ylga. + +She regarded me half-sullenly. “I have lost my place,” she said, “and it +seems I need never have spoken. She intended to have you all along, and +it was not a thing like that which could put her off. And you--you just +think me officious, if, indeed, you have ever given me another thought +till now.” + +“I never forget a kindness.” + +“Oh, you will learn that trick soon now. And you are going to marry her, +you! The city is ringing with it. I thought at least you were honest, +but when there is a high place to be got by merely taking a woman with +it, you are like the rest. I thought, too, that you would be one of +those men who have a distrust for ruddy hair. And, besides she is +little.” + +“Ylga,” I said, “you have taught me that these walls are full of +crannies and ears. I will listen to no word against Phorenice. But I +would have further converse with you soon. If you still have a kindness +for me, go to the chamber that is mine and wait for me there. I will +join you shortly.” + +She drooped her eyes. “What do you want of me, Deucalion?” + +“I want to say something to you. You will learn who it concerns later.” + +“But is it--is it fitting for a maiden to come to a man’s room at this +hour?” + +“I know little of your conventions here in this new Atlantis. I am +Deucalion, girl, and if you still have qualms, remembering that, do not +come.” + +She looked up at me with a sneer. “I was foolish,” she said. “My lord’s +coldness has grown into a proverb, and I should have remembered it. Yes; +I will come.” + +“Go now, then,” said I, and waited till she had passed on ahead and was +out of sight and hearing. With Ylga to help me, my tasks were somewhat +lightened, and their sequence changed. In the first instance, now, I +had got to make my way with as little delay and show as possible into a +certain sanctuary which lay within the temple of our Lady the Moon. And +here my knowledge as one of the Seven stood me in high favour. + +All the temples of the city of Atlantis are in immediate and secret +connection with the royal pyramid, but the passages are little used, +seeing that they are known only to the Seven and to the Three above +them, supposing that there are three men living at one time sufficiently +learned in the highest of the highest mysteries to be installed in that +sublime degree of the Three. And, even by these, the secret ways may +only be used on occasions of the greatest stress, so that a generation +well may pass without their being trodden by a human foot. + +It was with some trouble, and after no little experiment that I groped +my way into this secret alley; but once there, the rest was easy. I had +never trodden it before certainly, but the plan of it had been taught +me at my initiation as one of the Seven, and the course of the windings +came back to me now with easy accuracy. I walked quickly, not only +because the air in those deep crannies is always full of lurking evils, +but also because the hours were fleeting, and much must be done before +our Lord the Sun again rose to make another day. + +I came to the spy-place which commands the temple, and found the holy +place empty, and, alas! dust-covered, and showing little trace that +worshippers ever frequented it these latter years. A vast stone of +the wall swung outwards and gave me entrance, and presently (after the +solemn prayer which is needful before attempting these matters), I took +the metal stair from the place where it is kept, and climbed to the +lap of the Goddess, and then, pulling the stair after me, climbed again +upwards till my length lay against her calm mysterious face. + +A shivering seized me as I thought of what was intended, for even a +warrior hardened to horrid sights and deeds may well have qualms when +he is called upon to juggle with life and death, and years and history, +with the welfare of his country in one hand, and the future of a woman +who is as life to him in the other. But again I told myself that +the hours flew, and laid hold of the jewel which is studded into the +forehead of the image with one hand, and then stretching out, thrust at +a corner of the eyebrow with the other. With a faint creak the massive +eyeball below, a stone that I could barely have covered with my back, +swung inwards. I stepped off the stair, and climbed into the gap. Inside +was the chamber which is hollowed from the head of the Goddess. + +It was the first time I had seen this most secret place, but the aspect +of it was familiar to me from my teaching, and I knew where to find the +thing which would fill my need. Yet, occupied though I might be with the +stress of what was to befall, I could not help having a wonder and an +admiration for the cleverness with which it was hidden. + +High as I was in the learning and mysteries of the Priestly Clan, the +structure of what I had come to fetch was hidden from me. Beforetime I +had known only of their power and effect; and now that I came to handle +them, I saw only some roughly rounded balls, like nut kernels, grass +green in colour, and in hardness like the wax of bees. There were three +of these balls in the hidden place, and I took the one that was needful, +concealing the others as I had found them. It may have been a drug, it +may have been something more; what exactly it was I did not know; only +of its power and effect I was sure, as that was set forth plainly in +the teaching I had learned; and so I put it in a pouch of my garment, +returning by the way I had come, and replacing all things in due order +behind me. + +One look I took at the image of the Goddess before I left the temple. +The jet of earth-breath which burns eternally from the central altar +lit her from head to toe, and threw sparkles from the great jewel in +her forehead. Vast she was, and calm and peaceful beyond all human +imaginings, a perfect symbolism of that rest and quietness which many +sigh for so vainly on this rude earth, but which they will never attain +unless by their piety they earn a place in the hereafter, where our Lady +the Moon and the rest of the High Ones reign in Their eternal glorious +majesty. + +It was with tired dragging limbs that I made my way back again to the +royal pyramid, and at last came to my own private chamber. Ylga awaited +me there, though at first I did not see her. The suspicions of these +modern days had taken a deep hold of the girl, and she must needs crouch +in hiding till she made sure it was I who came to the chamber, and, +moreover, that I came alone. + +“Oh, frown at me if you choose,” said she sullenly, “I am past caring +now for your good opinion. I had heard so much of Deucalion, and I +thought I read honesty in you when first you came ashore; but now I know +that you are no better than the rest. Phorenice offers you a high place, +and you marry her blithely to get it. And why, indeed, should you not +marry her? People say she is pretty, and I know she can be warm. I have +seen her warm and languishing to scores of men. She is clever, too, with +her eyes, is our great Empress; I grant her that. And as for you, it +tickles you to be courted.” + +“I think you are a very silly woman,” I said. + +“If you flatter yourself it matters a rap to me whom you marry, you are +letting conceit run away with you.” + +“Listen,” I said. “I did not ask you here to make foolish speeches +which seem largely beyond my comprehension. I asked you to help me do a +service to one of your own blood-kin.” + +She stared at me wonderingly. “I do not understand.” + +“It rests largely with you as to whether Nais dies to-morrow, or whether +she is thrown into a sleep from which she may waken on some later and +more happy day.” + +“Nais!” she gasped. “My twin, Nais? She is not here. She is out in +the camp with those nasty rebels who bite against the city walls, if, +indeed, still she lives.” + +“Nais, your sister is near us in the royal pyramid this minute, and +under guard, though where I do not know.” And with that I told her all +that had passed since the girl was brought up a prisoner in the galley +of that foolish, fawning captain of the port. “The Empress has decreed +that Nais shall be buried alive under a throne of granite which I am to +build for her to-morrow, and buried she will assuredly be. Yet I have a +kindness for Nais, which you may guess at if you choose, and I am minded +to send her into a sleep such as only we higher priests know of, from +which at some future day she may possibly awaken.” + +“So it is Nais; and not Phorenice, and not--not any other?” + +“Yes; it is Nais. I marry the Empress because Zaemon, who is mouthpiece +to the High Council of the Priests, has ordered it, for the good of +Atlantis. But my inwards remain still cold towards her.” + +“Almost I hate poor Nais already.” + +“Your vengeance would be easy. Do not tell me where she is gaoled, and I +shall not dare to ask. Even to give Nais a further span of life I cannot +risk making inquiries for her cell, when there is a chance that those +who tell me might carry news to the Empress, and so cause more trouble +for this poor Atlantis.” + +“And why should I not carry the news, and so bring myself into favour +again? I tell you that being fan-girl to Phorenice and second woman in +the kingdom is a thing that not many would cast lightly aside.” + +I looked her between eyes and smiled. “I have no fear there. You will +not betray me, Ylga. Neither will you sell Nais.” + +“I seem to remember very small love for this same Nais just now,” she +said bitterly. “But you are right about that other matter. I shall not +buy myself back at your expense. Oh, I am a fool, I know, and you can +give me no thanks that I care about, but there is no other way I can +act.” + +“Then let us fritter no more time. Go you out now and find where Nais +is gaoled, and bring me news how I can say ten words to her, and press a +certain matter into her clasp.” + +She bowed her head and left the chamber, and for long enough I was +alone. I sat down on the couch, and rested wearily against the wall. +My bones ached, my eyes ached, and most of all, my inwards ached. I had +thought to myself that a man who makes his life sufficiently busy +will find no leisure for these pains which assault frailer folk; but a +philosophy like this, which carried one well in Yucatan, showed poorly +enough when one tried it here at home. But that there was duty ahead, +and the order of the High Council to be carried into effect, the +bleakness of the prospect would have daunted me, and I would have prayed +the Gods then to spare me further life, and take me unto Themselves. + +Ylga came back at last, and I got up and went quickly after her as +she led down a maze of passages and alleyways. “There has been no care +spared over her guarding,” she whispered, as we halted once to move a +stone. “The officer of the guard is an old lover of mine, and I raised +his hopes to the burning point again by a dozen words. But when I wanted +to see his prisoner, there he was as firm as brass. I told him she was +my sister, but that did not move him. I offered him--oh, Deucalion, it +makes me blush to think of the things I did offer to that man, but there +was no stirring him. He has watched the tormentors so many times, that +there is no tempting him into touch of their instruments.” + +“If you have failed, why bring me out here?” + +“Oh, I am not inveigling you into a lover’s walk with myself, sir. You +tickle yourself when you think your society is so pleasant as that.” + +“Come, girl, tell me then what it is. If my temper is short, credit it +against my weariness.” + +“I have carried out my lord’s commands in part. I know the cell where +Nais lives, and I have had speech with her, though not through the door. +And moreover, I have not seen her or touched her hand.” + +“Your riddles are beyond me, Ylga, but if there is a chance, let us get +on and have this business done.” + +“We are at the place now,” said she, with a hard little laugh, “and if +you kneel on the floor, you will find an airshaft, and Nais will answer +you from the lower end. For myself, I will leave you. I have a delicacy +in hearing what you want to say to my sister, Deucalion.” + +“I thank you,” I said. “I will not forget what you have done for me this +night.” + +“You may keep your thanks,” she said bitterly, and walked away into the +shadows. + +I knelt on the floor of the gallery, and found the air passage with my +hand, and then, putting my lips to it, whispered for Nais. + +The answer came on the instant, muffled and quiet. “I knew my lord would +come for a farewell.” + +“What the Empress said, has to be. You understand, my dear? It is for +Atlantis.” + +“Have I reproached my lord, by word or glance?” + +“I myself am bidden to place you in the hollow between the stones, and I +must do it.” + +“Then my last sleep will be a sweet one. I could not ask to be touched +by pleasanter hands.” + +“But it mayhap that a day will come when she whom you know of will be +suffered by the High Gods to live on this land of Atlantis no longer.” + +“If my lord will cherish my poor memory when he is free again, I shall +be grateful. He might, if he chose, write them on the stones: Here was +buried a maid who died gladly for the good of Atlantis, even though she +knew that the man she so dearly loved was husband to her murderess.” + +“You must not die,” I whispered. “My breast is near broken at the very +thought of it. And for respite, we must trust to the ancient knowledge, +which in its day has been sent out from the Ark of the Mysteries.”--I +took the green waxy ball in my fingers, and stretched them down the +crooked air-shaft to the full of my span.--“I have somewhat for you +here. Reach up and try to catch it from me.” + +I heard the faint rustle of her arm as it swept against the masonry, and +then the ball was taken over into her grasp. Gods! what a thrill went +through me when the fingers of Nais touched mine! I could not see her, +because of the crookedness of the shaft, but that faint touch of her was +exquisite. + +“I have it,” she whispered. “And what now, dear?” + +“You will hide the thing in your garment, and when to-morrow the upper +stone closes down upon you and the light is gone, then you will take it +between your lips and let it dissolve as it will. Sleep will take you, +my darling, then, and the High Gods will watch over you, even though +centuries pass before you are roused.” + +“If Deucalion does not wake me, I shall pray never again to open an eye. +And now go, my lord and my dear. They watch me here constantly, and I +would not have you harmed by being brought to notice.” + +“Yes, I must go, my sweetheart. It will not do to have our scheme +spoiled by a foolish loitering. May the most High Gods attend your rest, +and if the sacrifice we make finds favour, may They grant us meeting +here again on earth before we meet--as we must--when our time is done, +and They take us up to Their own place.” + +“Amen,” she whispered back, and then: “Kiss your fingers, dear, and +thrust them down to me.” + +I did that, and for an instant felt her fondle them down the crook of +the airshaft out of sight, and then heard her withdraw her little hand +and kiss it fondly. Then again she kissed her own fingers and stretched +them up, and I took up the virtue of that parting kiss on my finger-tips +and pressed it sacredly to my lips. + +“Living, sleeping, or dead, always my darling,” she whispered. And then, +before I could answer, she whispered again: “Go, they are coming for +me.” And so I went, knowing that I could do no more to help her then, +and knowing that all our schemes would be spilt if any eye spied upon me +as I lay there beside the air shaft. But my chest was like to have split +with the dull, helpless anguish that was in it, as I made my way back to +my chamber through the mazy alleys of the pyramid. + +“Do not look upon mine eyes, dear, when the time comes,” had been her +last command, “or they will tell a tale which Phorenice, being a woman, +would read. Remember, we make these small denials, not for our own +likings, but for Atlantis, which is mother to us all.” + + + + +13. THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS + + +There is no denying that the wishes of Phorenice were carried into quick +effect in the city of Atlantis. Her modern theory was that the country +and all therein existed only for the good of the Empress, and when she +had a desire, no cost could possibly be too great in its carrying out. + +She had given forth her edict concerning the burying alive of Nais, and +though the words were that I was to build the throne of stone, it was an +understood thing that the manual labour was to be done for me by others. +Heralds made the proclamation in every ward of the city, and masons, +labourers, stonecutters, sculptors, engineers, and architects took hands +from whatever was occupying them for the moment, and hastened to the +rendezvous. The architects chose a chief who gave directions, and the +lesser architects and the engineers saw these carried into effect. Any +material within the walls of the city on which they set their seal, +was taken at once without payment or compensation; and as the blocks of +stone they chose were the most monstrous that could be got, they were +forced to demolish no few buildings to give them passage. + +I have before spoken of the modern rage for erecting new palaces and +pyramids, and even though at the moment an army of rebels was battering +with war engines at the city walls, the building guilds were steadily +at work, and their skill (with Phorenice’s marvellous invention to aid +them) was constantly on the increase. True, they could not move such +massive blocks of stone as those which the early Gods planted for the +sacred circle of our Lord the Sun, but they had got rams and trucks and +cranes which could handle amazing bulks. + +The throne was to be erected in the open square before the royal +pyramid. Seven tiers of stone were there for a groundwork, each a +knee-height deep, and each cut in the front with three steps. In the +uppermost layer was a cavity made to hold the body of Nais, and above +this was poised the vast block which formed the seat of the throne +itself. + +Throughout the night, to the light of torches, relay after relay of the +stonecutters, and the masons, and the sweating labourers had toiled over +bringing up the stone and dressing it into fit shape, and laying it in +due position; and the engineers had built machines for lifting, and the +architects had proved that each stone lay in its just and perfect place. +Whips cracked, and men fainted with the labour, but so soon as one was +incapable another pressed forward into his place. No delay was brooked +when Phorenice had said her wish. + +And finally, as the square began to fill with people come to gape at the +pageant of to-day, the chippings and the scaffolding were cleared away, +and with it the bodies of some half-score of workmen who had died from +accidents or their exertions during the building, and there stood the +throne, splendid in its carvings, and all ready for completion. The +lower part stood more than two man-heights above the ground, and no +stone of its courses weighed less than twenty men; the upper part was +double the weight of any of these, and was carved so that the royal +snake encircled the chair, and the great hooded head overshadowed it. +But at present the upper part was not on its bed, being held up high by +lifting rams, for what purposes all men knew. + +It was to face this scene, then, that I came out from the royal pyramid +at the summons of the chamberlains in the cool of next morning. Each +great man who had come there before me had banner-bearers and trumpeters +to proclaim his presence; the middle classes were in all their bravery +of apparel; and even poor squalid creatures, with ribs of hunger showing +through their dusty skins, had turbans and wisps of colour wrapped about +their heads to mark the gaiety of the day. + +The trumpets proclaimed my coming, and the people shouted welcome, and +with the gorgeous chamberlains walking backwards in advance, I went +across to a scarlet awning that had been prepared, and took my seat upon +the cushions beneath it. + +And then came Phorenice, my bride that was to be that day, fresh from +sleep, and glorious in her splendid beauty. She was borne out from the +pyramid in an open litter of gold and ivory by fantastic savages from +Europe, her own refinement of feature being thrown up into all the +higher relief by contrast with their brutish ugliness. One could hear +the people draw a deep breath of delight as their eyes first fell upon +her; and it is easy to believe there was not a man in that crowd which +thronged the square who did not envy me her choice, nor was there a +soul present (unless Ylga was there somewhere veiled) who could by any +stretch imagine that I was not overjoyed in winning so lovely a wife. + +For myself, I summoned up all the iron of my training to guard the +expression of my face. We were here on ceremonial to-day; a ghastly +enough affair throughout all its acts, if you choose, but still +ceremonial; and I was minded to show Phorenice a grand manner that would +leave her nothing to cavil at. After all that had been gone through and +endured, I did not intend a great scheme to be shattered by letting my +agony and pain show themselves, in either a shaking hand or a twitching +cheek. When it came to the point, I told myself, I would lay the living +body of my love in the hollow beneath the stone as calmly, and with as +little outward emotion, as though I had been a mere priest carrying out +the burial of some dead stranger. And she, on her part, would not, +I knew, betray our secret. With her, too, it was truly “Before all +Atlantis.” + +I think it spared a pang to find that there was to be no mockery or +flippancy in what went forward. All was solemn and impressive; and, +though a certain grandeur and sombreness which bit deep into my breast +was lost to the vulgar crowd, I fancy that the outward shape of the +double sacrifice they witnessed that day would not be forgotten by any +of them, although the inner meaning of it all was completely hidden from +their minds. When it suited her fancy, none could be more strict on the +ritual of a ceremony than this many-mooded Empress, and it appeared +that on this occasion she had given command that all things were to be +carried out with the rigid exactness and pomp of the older manner. + +So she was borne up by her Europeans to the scarlet awning, and I handed +her to the ground. She seated herself on the cushions, and beckoned +me to her side, entwining her fingers with mine as has always been the +custom with rulers of Atlantis and their consorts. And there before us +as we sat, a body of soldiery marched up, and opening out showed Nais +in their midst. She had a collar of metal round her neck, with chains +depending from it firmly held by a brace of guards, so that she should +not run in upon the spears of the escort, and thus get a quick and +easy death, which is often the custom of those condemned to the more +lingering punishments. + +But it was pleasant to see that she still wore her clothing. Raiment, +whether of fabric or skin, has its value, and custom has always given +the garments of the condemned to the soldiers guarding them. So as Nais +was not stripped, I could not but see that some one had given moneys +to the guards as a recompense, and in this I thought I saw the hand of +Ylga, and felt a gratitude towards her. + +The soldiers brought her forward to the edge of the pavilion’s shade, +and she was bidden prostrate herself before the Empress, and this she +wisely did and so avoided rough handling and force. Her face was +pale, but showed neither fear nor defiance, and her eyes were calm +and natural. She was remembering what was due to Atlantis, and I was +thrilled with love and pride as I watched her. + +But outwardly I, too, was impassive as a man of stone, and though I knew +that Phorenice’s eye was on my face, there was never anything on it from +first to last that I would not have had her see. + +“Nais,” said the Empress, “you have eaten from my platter when you were +fan-girl, and drunk from my cup, and what was yours I gave you. You +should have had more than gratitude, you should have had knowledge also +that the arm of the Empress was long and her hand consummately heavy. +But it seems that you have neither of these things. And, moreover, you +have tried to take a certain matter that the Empress has set apart for +herself. You were offered pardon, on terms, and you rejected it. You +were foolish. But it is a day now when I am inclined to clemency. +Presently, seated on that carved throne of granite which he has built me +yonder, I shall take my Lord Deucalion to husband. Give me a plain word +that you are sorry, girl, and name a man whom you would choose, and I +will remember the brightness of the occasion, you shall be pardoned and +wed before we rise from these cushions.” + +“I will not wed,” she said quietly. + +“Think for the last time, Nais, of what is the other choice. You will +be taken, warm, and quick, and beautiful as you stand there this minute, +and laid in the hollow place that is made beneath the throne-stone. +Deucalion, that is to be my husband, will lay you in that awful bed, as +a symbol that so shall perish all Phorenice’s enemies, and then he will +release the rams and lower the upper stone into place, and the world +shall see your face no more. Look at the bright sky, Nais, fill your +chest with the sweet warm air, and then think of what this death will +mean. Believe me, girl, I do not want to make you an example unless you +force me.” + +“I will not wed,” said the prisoner quietly. + +The Empress loosed her fingers from my arm, and lay back against the +cushions. “If the girl presumes on our old familiarity, or thinks that I +jest, show her now, Deucalion, that I do not.” + +“The Empress is far from jesting,” I said. “I will do this thing because +it is the wish of the Empress that it should be done, and because it is +the command of the Empress that a symbol of it shall remain for ever as +an example for others. Lead your prisoner to the place.” + +The soldiers wheeled, and the two guards with the chains of the collar +which was on the neck of Nais prepared to put out force to drag her +up the steps. But she walked with them willingly, and with a colour +unchanged, and I rose from my seat, and made obeisance to the Empress +and followed them. + +Before all those ten thousand eyes, we two made no display of emotion +then, not only for Atlantis’ sake, but also because both Nais and I had +a nicety and a pride in our natures. We were not as Phorenice to flaunt +endearments before others. + +Yet, when I had bidden the guards unhasp the collar which held the +prisoner’s neck, and clapped my arms around her, showing all the +roughness of one who has no mind that his captive shall escape or even +unduly struggle, a thrill gushed through me so potent that I was like +to have fainted, and it was only by supreme strain of will that I held +unbrokenly on with the ceremonial. I, who had never embraced a woman +with aught but the arm of roughness before, now held pressed to me one +whom I loved with an infinite tenderness, and the revelation of how love +can come out and link with love was almost my undoing. Yet, outwardly, +Nais made so sign, but lay half-strangled in my arms, as any woman does +that is being borne away by a spoiler. + +I trod with her to the uppermost step, the vast throne-stone overhanging +us, and then so that all of those who were gazing from the sides of the +pyramids and the roofs of the buildings round might see, though we were +beyond Phorenice’s view, I used a force that was brutal in dragging her +across the level, and putting her down into the hollow. And yet the girl +resisted me with no one effort whatever. + +So that the victim might not struggle out and be crushed, and so gain +an easy death when the stone descended, there were brazen clamps to fit +into grooves of the stones above the hollow where she lay, and these I +fitted in place above her, and fastened one by one, doing this butcher’s +work with one hand, and still fiercely holding her down by the other. +Gods! and the sweat of agony dripped from me on to the thirsty stone as +I worked. I could not keep that in. + +I clamped and locked the last two bars in place, and took my brute’s +hand away from her throat. + +The hateful fingermarks showed as bloodless furrows in the whiteness +of her skin. For the life of me, yes, even for the fate of Atlantis, I +could not help dropping my glance upon her face. But she was stronger +than I. She gave me no last look. She kept her eyes steadfastly fixed on +the cruel stone above, and so I left her, knowing that it was best not +to tarry longer. + +I came out from under the stone, and gave the sign to the engineers who +stood by the rams. The fires were taken away from their sides, and +the metal in them began to contract, and slowly the vast bulk of the +throne-stone began to creep down towards its bed. + +But ah, so slowly! Gods! how my soul was torn as I watched and waited. + +Yet I kept my face impassive, overlooking as any officer might a piece +of work which others were carrying out under his direction, and on which +his credit rested; and I stood gravely in my place till the rams had +let the stone come down on its final resting place, and had been carried +away by the engineers; and then I went round with the master architect +with his plumbline and level, whilst he tested this last piece of the +building and declared it perfect. + +It was a useless form, this last, seeing that by calculation they knew +exactly how the stone must rest; but the guilds have their forms +and customs, and on these occasions of high ceremonial, they are +punctiliously carried out, because these middle-class people wish always +to appear mysterious and impressive to the poor vulgar folk who are +their inferiors. But perhaps I am hard there on them. A man who is +needlessly taken round to plumb and duly level the tomb where his love +lies buried living, may perhaps be excused by the assessors on high a +little spirit of bitterness. + +I had gone up the steps to do my hateful work a man full of grief, +though outwardly unmoved. As I came down again I had a feeling of +incompleteness; it seemed as though half my inwards had been left behind +with Nais in the hollow of the stone, and their place was taken by a +void which ached wearily; but still I carried a passive face, and memory +that before all these private matters stood the command of the High +Council, which sat before the Ark of the Mysteries. + +So I went and stood before Phorenice, and said the words which the +ancient forms prescribed concerning the carrying out of her wish. + +“Then, now,” she said, “I will give myself to you as wife. We are not as +others, you and I, Deucalion. There is a law and a form set down for +the marrying of these other people, but that would be useless for our +purposes. We will have neither priest nor scribe to join us and set down +the union. I am the law here in Atlantis, and you soon will be part of +me. We will not be demeaned by profaner hands. We will make the ceremony +for ourselves, and for witnesses, there are sufficient in waiting. +Afterwards, the record shall be cut deep in the granite throne you have +built for me, and the lettering filled in with gold, so that it shall +endure and remain bright for always.” + +“The Empress can do no wrong,” I said formally, and took the hand she +offered me, and helped her to rise. We walked out from the scarlet +awning into the glare of the sunshine, she leaning on me, flushing, and +so radiantly lovely that the people began to hail her with rapturous +shouts of “A Goddess; our Goddess Phorenice.” But for me they had no +welcoming word. I think the set grimness of my face both scared and +repelled them. + +We went up the steps which led to the throne, the people still shouting, +and I sat her in the royal seat beneath the snake’s outstretched head, +and she drew me down to sit beside her. + +She raised her jewelled hand, and a silence fell on that great throng, +as though the breath had been suddenly cut short for all of them. + +Then Phorenice made proclamation: + +“Hear me, O my people, and hear me, O High Gods from whom I am come. +I take this man Deucalion, to be my husband, to share with me the +prosperity of Atlantis, and join me in guarding our great possession. +May all our enemies perish as she is now perishing above whom we sit.” + And then she put her arms around my neck, and kissed me hotly on the +mouth. + +In turn I also spoke: “Hear me, O most High Gods, whose servant I am, +and hear me also, O ye people. I take this Empress, Phorenice, to +wife, to help with her the prosperity of Atlantis, and join with her in +guarding the welfare of that great possession. May all the enemies of +this country perish as they have perished in the past.” + +And then, I too, who had not been permitted by the fate to touch the +lips of my love, bestowed the first kiss I had ever given woman to +Phorenice, that was now being made my wife. + +But we were not completely linked yet. + +“A woman is one, and man is one,” she proclaimed, following for the +first time the old form of words, “but in marriage they merge, so that +wife and husband are no more separate, but one conjointly. In token of +this we will now make the symbolic joining together, so that all may see +and remember.” She took her dagger, and pricking the brawn on my forearm +till a head of blood appeared, set her red lips to it, and took it into +herself. + +“Ah,” she said, with her eyes sparkling, “now you are part of me indeed, +Deucalion, and I feel you have strengthened me already.” She pulled down +the neck of her robe. “Let me make you my return.” + +I pricked the rounded whiteness of her shoulder. Gods! when I remembered +who was beneath us as we sat on that throne, I could have driven the +blade through to her heart! And then I, too, put down my lips, and took +the drop of her blood that was yielded to me. + +My tongue was dry, my throat was parched, and my face suffused, and I +thought I should have choked. + +But the Empress, who was ordinarily so acute, was misled then. “It +thrills you?” she cried. “It burns within you like living fire? I have +just felt it. By my face! Deucalion, if I had known the pleasure it +gives to be made a wife, I do not think I should have waited this long +for you. Ah, yes; but with another man I should have had no thrill. I +might have gone through the ceremony with another, but it would have +left me cold. Well, they say this feeling comes to a woman but once in +her time, and I would not change it for the glory of all my conquests +and the whirl of all my power.” She leaned in close to me so that the +red curls of her hair swept my cheek, and her breath came hot against my +mouth. “Tasted you ever any sweet so delicious as this knowledge that we +are made one now, Deucalion, past all possible dissolving?” + +I could not lie to her any more just then. The Gods know how honestly I +had striven to play the part commanded me for Atlantis’ good, but there +is a limit to human endurance, and mine was reached. I was not all anger +towards her. I had some pity for this passion of hers, which had grown +of itself certainly, but which I had done nothing to check; and the +indecent frankness with which it was displayed was only part of the +livery of potentates who flaunt what meaner folk would coyly hide. But +always before my eyes was a picture of the girl on whom her jealousy had +taken such a bitter vengeance, and to invent spurious lover’s talk then +was a thing my tongue refused to do. + +“Words are poor things,” I said, “and I am a man unused to women, and +have but a small stock of any phrases except the dryest. Remember, +Phorenice, a week agone, I did not know what love was, and now that I +have learned the lesson, somewhat of the suddenest, the language remains +still to come to me. My inwards speak; indeed they are full of speech; +but I cannot translate into bald cold words what they say.” + +And here, surely the High Gods took pity on my tied tongue and my +misery, and made an opportunity for bringing the ceremony to an end. A +man ran into the square shouting, and showing a wound that dripped, +and presently all that vast crowd which stood on the pavements, and the +sides of the pyramids, and the roofs of the temples, took up the cry, +and began to feel for their weapons. + +“The rebels are in!” “They have burrowed a path into the city!” “They +have killed the cave-tigers and taken a gate!” “They are putting the +whole place to the storm!” “They will presently leave no poor soul of us +here alive!” + +There then was a termination of our marriage cooings. With rebels merely +biting at the walls, it was fine to put strong trust in the defences, +and easy to affect contempt for the besiegers’ powers, and to keep +the business of pageants and state craft and marryings turning on easy +wheels. But with rebel soldiers already inside the city (and hordes of +others doubtless pressing on their heels), the affairs took a different +light. It was no moment for further delay, and Phorenice was the first +to admit it. The glow that had been in her eyes changed to the glare of +the fighter, as the fellow who had run up squalled out his tidings. + +I stood and stretched my chest. I seemed in need of air. “Here,” I said, +“is work that I can understand more clearly. I will go and sweep this +rabble back to their burrows, Phorenice.” + +“But not alone, sir. I come too. It is my city still. Nay, sir, we are +too newly wed to be parted yet.” + +“Have your will,” I said, and together we went down the steps of the +throne to the pavement below. Under my breath I said a farewell to Nais. + +Our armour-bearers met us with weapons, and we stepped into litters, and +the slaves took us off hot foot. The wounded man who had first brought +the news had fallen in a faint, and no more tidings was to be got from +him, but the growing din of the fight gave us the general direction, and +presently we began to meet knots of people who dwelt near the place of +irruption, running away in wild panic, loaded down with their household +goods. + +It was useless to stop these, as fight they could not, and if they had +stayed they would merely have been slaughtered like flies, and would +in all likelihood have impeded our own soldiery. And so we let them run +screaming on their blind way, but forced the litters through them with +but very little regard for their coward convenience. + +Now the advantage of the rebels, when it came to be looked upon by a +soldier’s eye, was a thing of little enough importance. They had driven +a tunnel from behind a covering mound, beneath the walls, and had opened +it cleverly enough through the floor of a middle-class house. They had +come through into this, collecting their numbers under its shelter, and +doubtless hoping that the marriage of the Empress (of which spies had +given them information) would sap the watchfulness of the city guards. +But it seems they were discovered and attacked before they were +thoroughly ready to emerge, and, as a fine body of troops were barracked +near the spot, their extermination would have been merely a matter of +time, even if we had not come up. + +It did not take a trained eye long to decide on this, and Phorenice, +with a laugh, lay back on the cushions of the litter, and returned her +weapons to the armour-bearer who came panting up to receive them. “We +grow nervous with our married life, my Deucalion,” she said. “We are +fearful lest this new-found happiness be taken from us too suddenly.” + +But I was not to be robbed of my breathing-space in this wise. “Let me +crave a wedding gift of you,” I said. + +“It is yours before you name it.” + +“Then give me troops, and set me wide a city gate a mile away from +here.” + +“You can gather five hundred as you go from here to the gate, taking two +hundred of those that are here. If you want more, they must be fetched +from other barracks along the walls. But where is your plan?” + +“Why, my poor strategy teaches me this: these foolish rebels have set +all their hopes on this mine, and all their excitement on its present +success. If they are kept occupied here by a Phorenice, who will give +them some dainty fighting without checking them unduly, they will press +on to the attack and forget all else, and never so much as dream of a +sortie. And meanwhile, a Deucalion with his troop will march out of the +city well away from here, without tuck of drum or blare of trumpet, and +fall most unpleasantly upon their rear. After which, a Phorenice will +burn the house here at the mine’s head, which is of wood, and straw +thatched, to discourage further egress, and either go to the walls to +watch the fight from there, or sally out also and spur on the rout as +her fancy dictates.” + +“Your scheme is so pretty, I would I could rob you of it for my own +credit’s sake, and as it is, I must kiss you for your cleverness. But +you got my word first, you naughty fellow, and you shall have the men +and do as you ask. Eh, sir, this is a sad beginning of our wedded life, +if you begin to rob your little wife of all the sweets of conquest from +the outset.” + +She took back the weapons and target she had given to the armour-bearer, +and stepped over the side of the litter to the ground. “But at least,” + she said, “if you are going to fight, you shall have troops that will do +credit to my drill,” and thereupon proceeded to tell off the companies +of men-at-arms who were to accompany me. She left herself few enough to +stem the influx of rebels who poured ceaselessly in through the +tunnel; but as I had seen, with Phorenice, heavy odds added only to her +enjoyment. + +But for the Empress, I will own at the time to have given little enough +of thought. My own proper griefs were raw within me, and I thirsted for +that forgetfulness of all else which battle gives, so that for awhile I +might have a rest from their gnawings. + +It made my blood run freer to hear once more the tramp of practised +troops behind me, and when all had been collected, we marched out +through a gate of the city, and presently were charging through and +through the straggling rear of the enemy. By the Gods! for the moment +even Nais was blotted from my wearied mind. Never had I loved more to +let my fierceness run madly riot. Never have I gloated more abundantly +over the terrible joy of battle. + +Nais must forgive my weakness in seeking to forget her even for a +breathing-space. Had that opportunity been denied me, I believe the +agony of remembering would have snapped my brain-strings for always. + + + + +14. AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE + + +Now it would be tedious to tell how with a handful of highly trained +fighting men, I charged and recharged, and finally broke up that horde +of rebels which outnumbered us by fifteen times. It must be remembered +that they grew suddenly panic-stricken in finding that of all those +who went in under the city walls by the mine on which they had set such +great store, none came back, and that the sounds of panic which had +first broken out within the city soon gave way to cries of triumph and +joy. And it must be carried in memory also that these wretched rebels +were without training worthy of the name, were for the most part +weaponed very vilely, and, seeing that their silly principles made each +the equal of his neighbour, were practically without heads or leaders +also. + +So when the panic began, it spread like a malignant murrain through all +their ragged ranks, and there were none to rally the flying, none to +direct those of more desperate bravery who stayed and fought. + +My scheme of attack was simple. I hunted them without a halt. I and my +fellows never stopped to play the defensive. We turned one flank, and +charged through a centre, and then we were harrying the other flank, +and once more hacking our passage through the solid mass. And so by +constantly keeping them on the run, and in ignorance of whence would +come the next attack, panic began to grow amongst them and ferment, till +presently those in the outer lines commenced to scurry away towards +the forests and the spoiled corn-lands of the country, and those in the +inner packs were only wishful of a chance to follow them. + +It was no feat of arms this breaking up of the rebel leaguer, and no +practised soldier would wish to claim it as such. It was simply taking +advantage of the chances of the moment, and as such it was successful. +Given an open battle on their own ground, these desperate rebels would +have fought till none could stand, and by sheer ferocious numbers +would have pulled down any trained troops that the city could have sent +against them, whether they had advanced in phalanx or what formation +you will. For it must be remembered they were far removed from cowards, +being Atlantean all, just as were those within the city, and were, +moreover, spurred to extraordinary savageness and desperation by the +oppression under which they had groaned, and the wrongs they had been +forced to endure. + +Still, as I say, the poor creatures were scattered, and the siege was +raised from that moment, and it was plain to see that the rebellion +might be made to end, if no unreasonable harshness was used for its +final suppression. Too great severity, though perhaps it may be justly +their portion, only drives such malcontents to further desperations. + +Now, following up these fugitives, to make sure that there was no halt +in their retreat, and to send the lesson of panic thoroughly home to +them, had led us a long distance from the city walls; and as we had +fought all through the burning heat of the day and my men were heavily +wearied, I decided to halt where we were for the night amongst +some half-ruined houses which would make a temporary fortification. +Fortunately, a drove of little cloven-hoofed horses which had been +scared by some of the rebels in their flight happened to blunder into +our lines, and as we killed five before they were clear again, there was +a soldier’s supper for us, and quickly the fires were lit and cooking +it. + +Sentries paced the outskirts and made their cries to one another, and +the wounded sat by the fires and dressed their hurts, and with the +officers I talked over the engagements of the day, and the methods of +each charge, and the other details of the fighting. It is the special +perquisite of soldiers to dally over these matters with gusto, though +they are entirely without interest for laymen. + +The hour drew on for sleep, and snores went up from every side. It was +clear that all my officers were wearied out, and only continued the +talk through deference to their commander. Yet I had a feverish dread +of being left alone again with my thoughts, and pressed them on with +conversation remorselessly. But in the end they were saved the rudeness +of dropping off into unconsciousness during my talk. A sentry came up +and saluted. “My lord,” he reported, “there is a woman come up from the +city whom we have caught trying to come into the bivouac.” + +“How is she named?” + +“She will not say.” + +“Has she business?’ + +“She will say none. She demands only to see my lord.” + +“Bring her here to the fire,” I ordered, and then on second thoughts +remembering that the woman, whoever she might be, had news likely enough +for my private ear (or otherwise she would not have come to so uncouth +a rendezvous), I said to the sentry: “Stay,” and got up from the ground +beside the fire, and went with him to the outer line. + +“Where is she?” I asked. + +“My comrades are holding her. She might be a wench belonging to these +rebels, with designs to put a knife into my lord’s heart, and then we +sentries would suffer. The Empress,” he added simply, “seems to set +good store upon my lord at present, and we know the cleverness of her +tormentors.” + +“Your thoughtfulness is frank,” I said, and then he showed me the woman. +She was muffled up in hood and cloak, but one who loved Nais as I loved +could not mistake the form of Ylga, her twin sister, because of mere +swathings. So I told the sentries to release her without asking her for +speech, and then led her out from the bivouac beyond earshot of their +lines. + +“It is something of the most pressing that has brought you out here, +Ylga?” + +“You know me, then? There must be something warmer than the ordinary +between us two, Deucalion, if you could guess who walked beneath all +these mufflings.” + +I let that pass. “But what’s your errand, girl?” + +“Aye,” she said bitterly, “there’s my reward. All your concern’s for the +message, none for the carrier. Well, good my lord, you are husband to +the dainty Phorenice no longer.” + +“This is news.” + +“And true enough, too. She will have no more of you, divorces you, +spurns you, thrusts you from her, and, after the first splutter of wrath +is done, then come pains and penalties.” + +“The Empress can do no wrong. I will have you speak respectful words of +the Empress.” + +“Oh, be done with that old fable! It sickens me. The woman was mad for +love of you, and now she’s mad with jealousy. She knows that you gave +Nais some of your priest’s magic, and that she sleeps till you choose to +come and claim her, even though the day be a century from this. And if +you wish to know the method of her enlightenment, it is simple. There +is another airshaft next to the one down which you did your cooing and +billing, and that leads to another cell in which lay another prisoner. +The wretch heard all that passed, and thought to buy enlargement by +telling it. + +“But his news came a trifle stale. It seems that with the pressure of +the morning’s ceremonies, they forgot to bring a ration, and when at +last his gaoler did remember him, it was rather late, seeing that by +then Phorenice had tied herself publicly to a husband, and poor Nais had +doubtless eaten her green drug. However, the fools must needs try and +barter his tale for what it would fetch; and, as was natural, had such +a silly head chopped off for his pains; and after that your Phorenice +behaved as you may guess. And now you may thank me, sir, for coming to +warn you not to go back to Atlantis.” + +“But I shall go back. And if the Empress chooses to cut my head also +from its proper column, that is as the High Gods will.” + +“You are more sick of life than I thought. But I think, sir, our +Phorenice judges your case very accurately. It was permitted me to hear +the outbursting of this lady’s rage. ‘Shall I hew off his head?’ said +she. ‘Pah! Shall I give him over to my tormentors, and stand by whilst +they do their worst? He would not wrinkle his brow at their fiercest +efforts. No; he must have a heavier punishment than any of these, and +one also which will endure. I shall lop off his right hand and his left +foot, so that he may be a fighting man no longer, and then I shall drive +him forth crippled into the dangerous lands, where he may learn Fear. +The beasts shall hunt him, the fires of the ground shall spoil his rest. +He shall know hunger, and he shall breathe bad air. And all the while he +shall remember that I have Nais near me, living and locked in her coffin +of stone, to play with as I choose, and to give over to what insults may +come to my fancy.’ That is what she said, Deucalion. Now I ask you again +will you go back to meet her vengeance?” + +“No,” I said, “it is no part of my plan to be mutilated and left to +live.” + +“So, being a woman of some sense, I judged. And, moreover, having some +small kindness still left for you, I have taken it upon myself to make +a plan for your further movement which may fall in with your whim. Does +the name of Tob come back to your memory?” + +“One who was Captain of Tatho’s navy?” + +“That same Tob. A gruff, rude fellow, and smelling vile of tar, but +seeming to have a sturdy honesty of his own. Tob sails away this night +for parts unknown, presumably to found a kingdom with Tob for king. It +seems he can find little enough to earn at his craft in Atlantis these +latter days, and has scruples at seeing his wife and young ones hungry. +He told me this at the harbour side when I put my neck under the axe by +saying I wanted carriage for you, sir, and so having me under his thumb, +he was perhaps more loose-lipped than usual. You seem to have made +a fine impression on Tob, Deucalion. He said--I repeat his hearty +disrespect--you were just the recruit he wanted, but whether you joined +him or not, he would go to the nether Gods to do you service.” + +“By the fellow’s side, I gained some experience in fighting the greater +sea beasts.” + +“Well, go and do it again. Believe me, sir, it is your only chance. It +would grieve me much to hear the searing-iron hiss on your stumps. I +bargained with Tob to get clear of the harbour forts before the chain +was up for the night, and as he is a very daring fellow, with no fear of +navigating under the darkness, he himself said he would come to a point +of the shore which we agreed upon, and there await you. Come, Deucalion, +let me lead you to the place.” + +“My girl,” I said, “I see I owe you many thanks for what you have done +on my poor behalf.” + +“Oh, your thanks!” she said. “You may keep them. I did not come out here +in the dark and the dangers for mere thanks, though I knew well enough +there would be little else offered.”--She plucked at my sleeve.--“Now +show me your walking pace, sir. They will begin to want your countenance +in the camp directly, and we need hanker after no too narrow inquiries +for what’s along.” + +So thereon we set off, Ylga and I, leaving the lights of the bivouac +behind us, and she showed the way, whilst I carried my weapons ready to +ward off attacks whether from beasts or from men. Few words were passed +between us, except those which had concern with the dangers natural +to the way. Once only did we touch one another, and that was where +a tree-trunk bridged a rivulet of scalding water which flowed from a +boil-spring towards the sea. + +“Are you sure of footing?” I asked, for the night was dark, and the heat +of the water would peel the flesh from the bones if one slipped into it. + +“No,” she said, “I am not,” and reached out and took my hand. I helped +her over and then loosed my grip, and she sighed, and slowly slipped her +hand away. Then on again we went in silence, side by side, hour after +hour, and league after league. + +But at last we topped a rise, and below us through the trees I could see +the gleam of the great estuary on which the city of Atlantis stands. The +ground was soggy and wet beneath us, the trees were full of barbs and +spines, the way was monstrous hard. Ylga’s breath was beginning to come +in laboured pants. But when I offered to take her arm, and help her, +as some return against what she had done for me, she repulsed me rudely +enough. “I am no poor weakling,” said she, “if that is your only reason +for wanting to touch me.” + +Presently, however, we came out through the trees, and the roughest part +of our journey was done. We saw the ship riding to her anchors in +shore a mile away, and a weird enough object she was under the faint +starlight. We made our way to her along the level beaches. + +Tob was keeping a keen watch. We were challenged the moment we came +within stone or arrow shot, and bidden to halt and recite our business; +but he was civil enough when he heard we were those whom he expected. +He called a crew and slacked out his anchor-rope till his ship ground +against the shingle, and then thrust out his two steering oars to help +us clamber aboard. + +I turned to Ylga with words of thanks and farewell. “I will never forget +what you have done for me this night; and should the High Gods see fit +to bring me back to Atlantis and power, you shall taste my gratitude.” + +“I do not want to return. I am sick of this old life here.” + +“But you have your palace in the city, and your servants, and your +wealth, and Phorenice will not disturb you from their possession.” + +“Oh, as for that, I could go back and be fan-girl tomorrow. But I do not +want to go back.” + +“Let me tell you it is no time for a gently nurtured lady like yourself +to go forward. I have been viceroy of Yucatan, Ylga, and know somewhat +of making a foothold in these new countries. And that was nothing +compared with what this will be. I tell you it entails hardships, and +privations, and sufferings which you could not guess at. Few survive +who go to colonise in the beginning, and those only of the hardiest, and +they earn new scars and new batterings every day.” + +“I do not care, and, besides, I can share the work. I can cook, I can +shoot a good arrow, and I can make garments, yes, though they were +cut from the skins of beasts and had to be sewn with backbone sinews. +Because you despise fine clothes, and because you have seen me only +decked out as fan-girl, you think I am useless. Bah, Deucalion! Never +let people prate to me about your perfection. You know less about a +woman than a boy new from school.” + +“I have learned all I care to know about one woman, and because of the +memory of her, I could not presume to ask her sister to come with me +now.” + +“Aye,” she said bitterly, “kick my pride. I knew well enough it was only +second place to Nais I could get all the time I was wanting to come. Yet +no one but a boor would have reminded me of it. Gods! and to think that +half the men in Atlantis have courted me, and now I am arrived at this!” + +“I must go alone. It would have made me happier to take your esteem with +me. But as it is, I suppose I shall carry only your hate.” + +“That is the most humiliating thing of all; I cannot bring myself to +hate you. I ought to, I know, after the brutal way you have scorned me. +But I do not, and there is the truth. I seem to grow the fonder of you, +and if I thought there was a way of keeping you alive, and unmutilated, +here in Atlantis, I do not think I should point out that Tob is tired +of waiting, and will probably be off without you.” She flung her arms +suddenly about my neck, and kissed me hotly on the mouth. “There, that +is for good-bye, dear. You see I am reckless. I care not what I do now, +knowing that you cannot despise me more than you have done all along for +my forwardness.” + +She ran back from me into the edge of the trees. + +“But this is foolishness,” I said. “I must take you through the dangers +that lie between here and some gate of the city, and then come back to +the ship.” + +“You need not fear for me. The unhappy are always safe. And, besides, I +have a way. It is my solace to know that you will remember me now. You +will never forget that kiss.” + +“Fare you well, Ylga,” I cried. “May the High Gods keep you entirely in +their holy care.” + +But no reply came back. She had gone off into the forest. And so I +turned down to the beach, and splashed into the water, and climbed on +board the ship up the steering oars. Tob gave the word to haul-to the +anchor, and get her away from the beach. + +“Greeting, my lord,” said he, “but I’d have been pleased to see you +earlier. We’ve small enough force and slow enough heels in this vessel, +and it’s my idea that the sooner we’re away from here and beyond range +of pursuit, the safer it will be for my woman and brats who are in that +hutch of an after-castle. It’s long enough since I sailed in such a +small old-fashioned ship as this. She’s no machines, and she’s not even +a steering mannikin. Look at the meanness of her furniture and (in your +ear) I’ve suspicions that there’s rottenness in her bottom. But she’s +the best I’d the means to buy, and if she reaches the place at the +farther end I’ve got my eye on, we shall have to make a home there, or +be content to die, for she’ll never have strength to carry us farther +or back. She’s been a ship in the Egypt trade, and you know what that is +for getting worm and rot in the wood.” + +“You’d enough hands for your scheme before I came?” + +“Oh yes. I’ve fifty stout lads and eight women packed in the ship +somehow, and trouble enough I’ve had to get them away from the city. +That thief of a port-captain wellnigh skinned us clean before he could +see it lawful that so many useful fighting men might go out of harbour. +Times are not what they were, I tell you, and the sea trade’s about +done. All sailor men of any skill have taken a woman or two and gone +out in companies to try their fortunes in other lands. Why, I’d trouble +enough to get half a score to help me work this ship. All my balance are +just landsmen raw and simple, and if I land half of them alive at the +other end, we shall be doing well.” + +“Still with luck and a few good winds it should not take long to get +across to Europe.” + +Tob slapped his leg. “No savage Europe for me, my lord. Now, see the +advantage of being a mariner. I found once some islands to the north +of Europe, separated from the main by a strait, which I called the Tin +Islands, seeing that tin ore litters many of the beaches. I was driven +there by storm, and said no word of the find when I got back, and here +you see it comes in useful. There’s no one in all Atlantis but me knows +of those Tin Islands to-day, and we’ll go and fight honestly for our +ground, and build a town and a kingdom on it.” + +“With Tob for king?” + +“Well, I have figured it out as such for many a day, but I know when I +meet my better, and I’m content to serve under Deucalion. My lord would +have done wiser to have brought a wife with him, though, and I thought +it was understood by the good lady that spoke to me down at the harbour, +or I’d have mentioned it earlier. The savages in my Tin Islands go naked +and stain themselves blue with woad, and are very filthy and brutish to +look upon. They are sturdy, and should make good slaves, but one would +have to get blunted in the taste before one could wish to be father to +their children.” + +“I am still husband to Phorenice.” + +Tob grinned. “The Gods give you joy of her. But it is part of a +mariner’s creed--and you will grow to be a mariner here--that wedlock +does not hold across the seas. However, that matter may rest. But, +coming to my Tin Islands again: they’ll delight you. And I tell you, a +kingdom will not be so hard to carve out as it was in Egypt, or as you +found in Yucatan. There are beasts there, of course, and no one who +can hunt need ever go hungry. But the greater beasts are few. There +are cave-bears and cave-tigers in small numbers, to be sure, and some +river-horses and great snakes. But the greater lizards seem to avoid the +land; and as for birds, there is rarely seen one that can hurt a grown +man. Oh, I tell you, it will be a most desirable kingdom.” + +“Tob seems to have imagined himself king of the Tin Islands with much +reality.” + +He sighed a little. “In truth I did, and there is no denying it, and I +tell you plain, there is not another man living that I would have broken +this voyage for but Deucalion. But don’t think I regret it, and don’t +think I want to push myself above my place. This breeze and the ebb are +taking the old ship finely along her ways. See those fire baskets on the +harbour forts? We’re abreast of them now. We’ll have dropped them and +the city out of sight by daylight, and the flood will not begin to run +up till then. But I fear unless the wind hardens down with the dawn +we’ll have to bring up to an anchor when the flood makes. Tides run very +hard in these narrow seas. Aye, and there are some shrewdish tide-rips +round my Tin Islands, as you shall see when we reach them.” + +There were many fearful glances backwards when day came and showed the +waters, and the burning mountains that hemmed them in beyond the shores. +All seemed to expect some navy of Phorenice to come surging up to take +them back to servitude and starvation in the squalid wards of the city; +and I confess ingenuously that I was with them in all truth when they +swore they would fight the ship till she sank beneath them, before they +would obey another of the commands of Phorenice. However, their brave +heroics were displayed to no small purpose. For the full flow of the +tide we hung in our place, barely moving past the land, but yet not +seeing either oar or sail; and then, when the tide turned, away we went +once more with speed, mightily comforted. + +Tob’s woman must needs bring drink on deck, and bid all pour libations +to her as a future queen. But Tob cuffed her back into the after-castle, +slamming to the hatch behind her heels, and bidding the crew send the +liquor down their dusty throats. “We are done with that foolery,” said +he. “My Lord Deucalion will be king of this new kingdom we shall +build in the Tin Islands, and a right proper king he’ll make, as you +untravelled ones would know, if you’d sailed the outer seas with him as +I have done.” Beneath which I read a regret, but said nothing, having +made my plans from the moment of stepping on board, as will appear on a +later sheet. + +So on down the great estuary we made our way, and though it pleasured +the others on board when they saw that the seas were desolate of sails, +it saddened me when I recalled how once the waters had been whitened +with the glut of shipping. + +They had started off on their voyage with a bare two days’ provision +in their equipment, and so, of necessity even after leaving the great +estuary, we were forced to voyage coastwise, putting into every likely +river and sheltered beach to slay fish and meat for future victualling. +“And when the winter comes,” said Tob, “as its gales will be heavier +than this old ship can stomach, I had determined to haul up and make a +permanent camp ashore, and get a crop of grain grown and threshed before +setting sail again. It is the usual custom in these voyages. And I shall +do it still, subject to my lord’s better opinion.” + +So here, having by this time completed a two months’ leisurely journey +from the city, I saw my opportunity to speak what I had always carried +in my mind. “Tob,” I said, “I am a poor, weak, defenceless man, and I am +quite at your mercy, but what if I do not voyage all the way to the Tin +Islands, and oust you of this kingship?” + +He brightened perceptibly. “Aye,” he grunted, “you are very weak, my +lord, and mighty defenceless. We know all about that. But what’s +else? You must tell all your meaning plain. I’m a common mariner, and +understand little of your fancy talk.” + +“Why, this. That it is not my wish to leave the continent of Atlantis. +If you will put me down on any part of this side that faces Europe, I +will commend you strongly to the Gods. I would I could give you +money, or (better still) articles that would be useful to you in your +colonising; but as it is, you see me destitute.” + +“As to that, you owe me nothing, having done vastly more than your share +each time we have put in shore for the hunting. But it will not do, this +plan of yours. I will shamedly confess that the sound of that kingship +in my Tin Islands sounds sweet to me. But no, my lord, it will not do. +You are no mariner yet, and understand little of geography, but I must +tell you that the part of Atlantis there”--he jerked his thumb towards +the line of trees, and the mountains which lay beyond the fringe +of surf--“is called the Dangerous Lands, and a man must needs be a +salamander and be learned in magic (so I am told) before he can live +there.” + +I laughed. “We of the Priests’ Clan have some education, Tob, though +it may not be on the same lines as your own. In fact, I may say I was +taught in the colleges concerning the boundaries and the contents of +our continent with a nicety that would surprise you. And once ashore, my +fate will still be under the control of the most High Gods.” + +He muttered something in his profane seaman’s way about preferring to +keep his own fate under control of his own most strong right arm, but +saying that he would keep the matter in his thoughts, he excused himself +hurriedly to go and see to somewhat concerning the working of the ship, +and there left me. + +But I think the sweets of kingly rule were a strong argument in favour +of letting me have my way (which I should have had otherwise if it had +not been given peacefully), and on the third day after our talk he +put the ship inshore again for re-victualling. We lurched into a +river-mouth, half swamped over a roaring bar, and ran up against the +bank and made fast there to trees, but booming ourselves a safe distance +off with oars and poles, so that no beast could leap on board out of the +thicket. + +Fish-spearing and meat-hunting were set about with promptitude, and +on the second day we were happy enough to slay a yearling river-horse, +which gave provisions in all sufficiency. A space was cleared on the +bank, fires were lit, and the meat hung over the smoke in strips, and +when as much was cured as the ship would carry, the shipmen made a final +gorge on what remained, filled up a great stack of hollow reeds with +drinking water, and were ready to continue the voyage. + +With sturdy generosity did Tob again attempt to make me sail on with +them as their future king, and as steadfastly did I make refusal; and +at last stood alone on the bank amongst the gnawed bones of their feast, +with my weapons to bear me company, and he, and his men, and the women +stood in the little old ship, ready to drop down river with the current. + +“At least,” said Tob, “we’ll carry your memory with us, and make it big +in the Tin Islands for everlasting.” + +“Forget me,” I said, “I am nothing. I am merely an incident that has +come in your way. But if you want to carry some memory with you that +shall endure, preserve the cult of the most High Gods as it was taught +to you when you were children here in Atlantis. And afterwards, when +your colony grows in power, and has come to sufficient magnificence, you +may send to the old country for a priest.” + +“We want no priest, except one we shall make ourselves, and that will +be me. And as for the old Gods--well, I have laid my ideas before the +fellows here, and they agree to this: We are done with those old Gods +for always. They seem worn out, if one may judge from Their present lack +of usefulness in Atlantis, and, anyway, there will be no room for Them +on the Tin Islands.--Let go those warps there aft, and shove her head +out.--We are under weigh now, my lord, and beyond recall, and so I am +free to tell you what we have decided upon for our religious exercises. +We shall set up the memory of a living Hero on earth, and worship that. +And when in years to come the picture of his face grows dim, we shall +doubtless make an image of him, as accurate as our art permits, and +build him a temple for shelter, and bring there our offerings and +prayers. And as I say, my lord, I shall be priest, and when I am dead, +the sons of my body shall be priests after me, and the eldest a king +also.” + +“Let me plead with you,” I said. “This must not be.” + +The ship was drifting rapidly away with the current, and they were +hoisting sail. Tob had to shout to make himself heard. “Aye, but it +shall be. For I, too, am a strong man after my kind, and I have ordered +it so. And if you want the name of our Hero that some day shall be God, +you wear it on yourself. Deucalion shall be God for our children.” + +“This is blasphemy,” I cried. “Have a care, fool, or this impiety will +sink you.” + +“We will risk it,” he bawled back, “and consider the odds against us are +small. Regard! Here is thy last horn of wine in the ship, and my woman +has treasured it against this moment. Regard, all men, together +with Those above and Those below! I pour this wine as a libation to +Deucalion, great lord that is to-day, Hero that shall be to-morrow, God +that will be in time to come!” And then all those on the ship joined +in the acclaim till they were beyond the reach of my voice, and were +battling their way out to sea through the roaring breakers of the bar. + +Solitary I stood at the brink of the forest, looking after them and +musing sadly. Tob, despite his lowly station, was a man I cared for more +than many. Like all seamen, I knew that he paid his devotions to one +of the obscurer Gods, but till then I had supposed him devout in his +worship. His new avowal came to me as a desolating shock. If a man like +Tob could forsake all the older Gods to set up on high some poor mortal +who had momentarily caught his fancy, what could be expected from +the mere thoughtless mob, when swayed by such a brilliant tongue as +Phorenice’s? It seemed I was to begin my exile with a new dreariness +added to all the other adverse prospects of Atlantis. + +But then behind me I heard the rustle of some great beast that had +scented me, and was coming to attack through the thicket, and so I had +other matters to think upon. I had to let Tob and his ship go out over +the rim of the horizon unwatched. + + + + +15. ZAEMON’S SUMMONS + + +Since the days when man was first created upon the earth by Gods who +looked down and did their work from another place, there have always +been areas of the land ill-adapted for his maintenance, but none more so +than that part of Atlantis which lies over against the savage continents +of Europe and Africa. The common people avoid it, because of a +superstition which says that the spirits of the evil dead stalk about +there in broad daylight, and slay all those that the more open dangers +of the place might otherwise spare. And so it has happened often that +the criminals who might have fled there from justice, have returned +of their own free will, and voluntarily given themselves up to the +tormentors, rather than face its fabulous terrors. + +To the educated, many of these legends are known to be mythical; but +withal there are enough disquietudes remaining to make life very arduous +and stocked with peril. Everywhere the mountains keep their contents +on the boil; earth tremors are every day’s experience; gushes of unseen +evil vapours steal upon one with such cunningness and speed, that it is +often hard to flee in time before one is choked and killed; poisons well +up into the rivers, yet leave their colour unchanged; great cracks split +across the ground reaching down to the fires beneath, and the waters +gush into these, and are shot forth again with devastating explosion; +and always may be expected great outpourings of boiling mud or molten +rock. + +Yet with all this, there are great sombre forests in these lands, with +trees whose age is unimaginable, and fires amongst the herbage are rare. +All beneath the trees is water, and the air is full of warm steam and +wetness. For a man to live in that constant hot damp is very mortifying +to the strength. But strength is wanted, and cunning also beyond the +ordinary, for these dangerous lands are the abode of the lizards, which +of all beasts grow to the most enormous size and are the most fearsome +to deal with. + +There are countless families and species of these lizards, and with some +of them a man can contend with prospect of success. But there are others +whose hugeness no human force can battle against. One I saw, as it came +up out of a lake after gaining its day’s food, that made the wet land +shake and pulse as it trod. It could have taken Phorenice’s mammoth into +its belly,* and even a mammoth in full charge could not have harmed it. +Great horny plates covered its head and body, and on the ridge of its +back and tail and limbs were spines that tore great slivers from the +black trees as it passed amongst them. + + +* TRANSLATOR’S NOTE: Professor Reeder of the Wyoming State University +has recently unearthed the skeleton of a Brontosaurus, 130 ft. in +length, which would have weighed 50 tons when alive. It was 35 ft. in +height at the hips, and 25 ft. at the shoulder, and 40 people could be +seated with comfort within its ribs. Its thigh bone was 8 ft. long. The +fossils of a whole series of these colossal lizards have been found. + + +Now and again these monsters would get caught in some vast fissuring +of the ground, but not often. Their speed of foot was great, and their +sagacity keen. They seemed to know when the worst boilings of the +mountains might be expected, and then they found safety in the deeper +lakes, or buried themselves in wallows of the mud. Moreover, they were +more kindly constituted than man to withstand one great danger of these +regions, in that the heat of the water did them no harm. Indeed, they +will lie peacefully in pools where sudden steam-bursts are making the +water leap into boiling fountains, and I have seen one run quickly +across a flow of molten rock which threatened to cut it off, and not be +so much as singed in the transit. + +In the midst of such neighbours, then, was my new life thrown, and +existence became perilous and hard to me from the outset. I came near to +knowing what Fear was, and indeed only a fervent trust in the most High +Gods, and a firm belief that my life was always under Their fostering +care, prevented me from gaining that horrid knowledge. For long enough, +till I learned somewhat of the ways of this steaming, sweltering land, +I was in as miserable a case as even Phorenice could have wished to see +me. My clothes rotted from my back with the constant wetness, till I +went as naked as a savage from Europe; my limbs were racked with agues, +and I could find no herbs to make drugs for their relief; for days +together I could find no better food than tree-grubs and leaves; and +often when I did kill beasts, knowing little of their qualities, I ate +those that gave me pain and sickness. + +But as man is born to make himself adaptable to his surroundings, so +as the months dragged on did I learn the limitation of this new life of +mine, and gather some knowledge of its resources. As example: I found +a great black tree, with a hollow core, and a hole into its middle near +the roots. Here I harboured, till one night some monstrous lizard, whose +sheer weight made the tree rock like a sapling, endeavoured to suck me +forth as a bird picks a worm from a hollow log. I escaped by the will +of the Gods--I could as much have done harm to a mountain as injure that +horny tongue with my weapons--but I gave myself warning that this chance +must not happen again. + +So I cut myself a ladder of footholes on the inside of the trunk till I +had reached a point ten man-heights from the ground, and there cut other +notches, and with tree branches made a floor on which I might rest. +Later, for luxury, I carved me arrow-slit windows in the walls of my +chamber, and even carried up sand for a hearth, so that I might cook my +victual up there instead of lighting a fire in all the dangers of the +open below. + +By degrees, too, I began to find how the large-scaled fish of the rivers +and the lesser turtles might be more readily captured, and so my ribs +threatened less to start through their proper covering of skin as the +days went on. But the lack of salads and gruels I could never overcome. +All the green meat was tainted so powerfully with the taste of tars that +never could I force my palate to accept it. And of course, too, there +remained the peril of the greater lizards and the other dangers native +to the place. + +But as the months began to mount into years, and the brute part of my +nature became more satisfied, there came other longings which it was +less easy to provide for. From the ivory of a river horse’s tooth I had +endeavoured to carve me a representative of Nais as last I had seen her. +But, though my fingers might be loving, and my will good, my art was +of the dullest, and the result--though I tried time and time again--was +always clumsy and pitiful. Still, in my eyes it carried some suggestion +of the original--a curve here, an outline there, and it made my old love +glow anew within me as I sat and ate it with my eyes. Yet it did little +to satisfy my longings for the woman I had lost; rather it whetted my +cravings to be with her again, or at least to have some knowledge of her +fate. + +Other men of the Priests’ Clan have come out and made an abode in these +Dangerous Lands, and by mortifying the flesh, have gained an intimacy +with the Higher Mysteries which has carried them far past what mere +human learning and repetition could teach. Indeed, here and there one, +who from some cause and another has returned to the abodes of men, has +carried with him a knowledge that has brought him the reputation amongst +the vulgar for the workings of magic and miracles, which--since all arts +must be allowed which aid so holy a cause--have added very materially to +the ardour with which these common people pursue the cult of the Gods. +But for myself I could not free my mind to the necessary clearness for +following these abstruse studies. During that voyage home from Yucatan I +had communed with them with growing insight; but now my mind was not my +own. Nais had a lien upon it, and refused to be ousted; and, in truth, +her sweet trespass was my chief solace. + +But at last my longing could no further be denied. Through one of +the arrow-slit windows of my tree-house I could see far away a great +mountain top whitened with perpetual snow, which our Lord the Sun dyed +with blood every night of His setting. Night after night I used to watch +that ruddy light with wide straining eyes. Night after night I used to +remember that in days agone when I was entering upon the priesthood, it +had been my duty to adore our great Lord as He rose for His day behind +the snows of that very mountain. And always the thought followed on +these musings, that from that distant crest I could see across the +continent to the Sacred Mount, which had the city below it where I had +buried my love alive. + +So at last I gave way and set out, and a perilous journey I made of it. +In the heavy mists, which hung always on the lower ground, my way lay +blind before me, and I was constantly losing it. Indeed, to say that +I traversed three times the direct distance is setting a low estimate. +Throughout all those swamps the great lizards hunted, and as the country +was new to me I did not know places of harbour, and a hundred times was +within an ace of being spied and devoured at a mouthful. But the High +Gods still desired me for Their own purposes, and blinded the great +beasts’ eyes when I slunk to cover as they passed. Twice rivers of +scalding water roared boiling across my path, and I had to delay till I +could collect enough black timber from the forests to build rafts that +would give me dry ferriage. + +It will be seen then that my journey was in a way infinitely tedious, +but to me, after all those years of waiting, the time passed on winged +feet. I had been separated from my love till I could bear the strain +no longer; let me but see from a distance the place where she lay, and +feast my eyes upon it for a while, and then I could go back to my abode +in the tree and there remain patiently awaiting the will of the Gods. + +The air grew more chilly as I began to come out above the region of +trees, on to that higher ground which glares down on the rest of the +world, and I made buskins and a coat of woven grasses to protect my body +from the cold, which began to blow upon me keenly. And later on, where +the snow lay eternally, and was blown into gullies, and frozen into +solid banks and bergs of ice, I had hard work to make any progress +amongst its perilous mazes, and was moreover so numbed by the chill, +that my natural strength was vastly weakened. Overhead, too, following +me up with forbidding swoops, and occasionally coming so close that I +had to threaten it with my weapons, was one of those huge man-eating +birds which live by pulling down and carrying off any creature that +their instincts tell them is weakly, and likely soon to die. + +But the lure ahead of me was strong enough to make these difficulties +seem small, and though the air of the mountain agreed with me ill, +causing sickness and panting, I pressed on with what speed I could +muster towards the elusive summit. Time after time I thought the next +spurt would surely bring me out to the view for which my soul yearned, +but always there seemed another bank of snow and ice yet to be climbed. +But at last I reached the crest, and gave thanks to the most High Gods +for Their protection and favour. + +Far, far away I could see the Sacred Mountain with its ring of fires +burning pale under the day, and although the splendid city which nestled +at its foot could not be seen from where I stood, I knew its position +and I knew its plan, and my soul went out to that throne of granite in +the square before the royal pyramid, where once, years before, I had +buried my love. Had Phorenice left the tomb unviolated? + +I stood there leaning on my spear, filling my eye with the prospect, +warming even to the smoke of mountains that I recognised as old +acquaintances. Gods! how my love burned within me for this woman. My +whole being seemed gone out to meet her, and to leave room for nothing +beside. For long enough a voice seemed dimly to be calling me, but +I gave it no regard. I had come out to that hoary mountain top for +communion with Nais alone, and I wanted none others to interrupt. + +But at length the voice calling my name grew too loud to be neglected, +and I pulled myself out of my sweet musing with a start to think that +here, for the first time since parting with Tob and his company, I +should see another human fellow-being. I gripped my weapon and asked who +called. The reply came clearly from up the slopes of mountain, and I saw +a man coming towards me over the snows. He was old and feeble. His body +was bent, and his hair and beard were white as the ground on which he +trod, and presently I recognised him as Zaemon. He was coming towards +me with incredible speed for a man of his years and feebleness, but he +carried in his hand the glowing Symbol of our Lord the Sun, and holy +strength from this would add largely to his powers. + +He came close to me and made the sign of the Seven, which I returned +to him, with its completion, with due form and ceremony. And then he +saluted me in the manner prescribed as messenger appointed by the High +Council of the Priests seated before the Ark of the Mysteries, and I +made humble obeisance before him. + +“In all things I will obey the orders that you put before me,” I said. + +“Such is your duty, my brother. The command is, that you return +immediately to the Sacred Mountain, so that if human means may still +prevail, you, as the most skilful general Atlantis owns within her +borders, may still save the country from final wreck and punishment. The +woman Phorenice persists in her infamies. The poor land groans under +her heel. And now she has laid siege to our Sacred Mountain itself, and +swears that not one soul shall be left alive in all Atlantis who does +not bend humbly to her will.” + +“It is a command and I obey it. But let me ask of another matter that is +intimate to both of us. What of Nais?” + +“Nais rests where you left her, untouched. Phorenice knows by her +arts--she has stolen nearly all the ancient knowledge now--that still +you live, and she keeps Nais unharmed beneath the granite throne in the +hopes that some time she may use her as a weapon against you. Little she +knows the sternness of our Priests’ creed, my brother. Why, even I, that +am the girl’s father, would sacrifice her blithely, if her death or ruin +might do a tittle of good to Atlantis.” + +“You go beyond me with your devotion.” + +The old man leaned forward at me, with glowering brow. “What!” + +“Or my old blind adherence to the ancient dogma has been sapped and +weakened by events. You must buy my full obedience, Zaemon, if you want +it. Promise me Nais--and your arts I know can snatch her--and I will be +true servant to the High Council of the Priest, and will die in the +last ditch if need be for the carrying out of order. But let me see Nais +given over to the fury of that wanton woman, and I shall have no inwards +left, except to take my vengeance, and to see Atlantis piled up in ruins +as her funeral-stone.” + +Zaemon looked at me bitterly. “And you are the man the High Council +thought to trust as they would trust one of themselves? Truly we are in +an age of weak men and faithless now. But, my lord--nay, I must call you +brother still: we cannot be too nice in our choosing to-day--you are the +best there is, and we must have you. We little thought you would ask a +price for your generalship, having once taken oath on the walls of the +Ark of the Mysteries itself that always, come what might, you would be a +servant of the High Council of the Clan without fee and without hope of +advancement. But this is the age of broken vows, and you are going no +more than trim with the fashion. Indeed, brother, perhaps I should thank +you for being no more greedy in your demands.” + +“You may spare me your taunts. You, by self-denial and profound search +into the highest of the higher Mysteries, have made yourself something +wiser than human; I have preserved my humanity, and with it its powers +and frailties; and it seems that each of us has his proper uses, or +you would not be come now here to me. Rather you would have done the +generalling yourself.” + +“You make a warm defence, my brother. But I have no leisure now to stand +before you with argument. Come to the Sacred Mountain, fight me this +wanton, upstart Empress, and by my beard you shall have your Nais as you +left her as a reward.” + +“It is a command of the High Council which shall be obeyed. I will come +with my brother now, as soon as he is rested.” + +“Nay,” said the old man, “I have no tiredness, and as for coming with +me, there you will not be able. But follow at what pace you may.” + +He turned and set off down the snowy slopes of the mountain and I +followed; but gradually he distanced me; and so he kept on, with speed +always increasing, till presently he passed out of my sight round the +spur of an ice-cliff, and I found myself alone on the mountain side. +Yes, truly alone. For his footmarks in the snow from being deep, grew +shallower, and less noticeable, so that I had to stoop to see them. And +presently they vanished entirely, and the great mountain’s flank lay +before me trackless, and untrodden by the foot of man since time began. + +I was not shaken by any great amazement. Though it was beyond my poor +art to compass this thing myself, having occupied my mind in exile more +with memories of Nais than in study of those uppermost recesses of the +Higher Mysteries in which Zaemon was so prodigiously wise, still I had +some inkling of his powers. + +Zaemon I knew would be back again in his dwelling on the Sacred +Mountain, shaken and breathless, even before I had found an end to his +tracks in the snow, and it behoved me to join him there in the quickest +possible time. I had his promise now for my reward, and I knew that he +would carry it into effect. Beforetime I had made an error. I had valued +Atlantis most, and Nais, my private love, as only second. But now it was +in my mind to be honest with others even as with myself. Though all +the world were hanging on my choice, I could but love my Nais most, and +serve her first and foremost of all. + + + + +16. SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + + +Now, my passage across the great continent of Atlantis, if tedious and +haunted by many dangers, need not be recounted in detail here. Only one +halt did I make of any duration, and that was unavoidable. I had killed +a stag one day, bringing it down after a long chase in an open savannah. +I scented the air carefully, to see if there was any other beast which +could do me harm within reach, and thinking that the place was safe, +set about cutting my meat, and making a sufficiency into a bundle for +carriage. + +But underfoot amongst the grasses there was a great legged worm, a +monstrous green thing, very venomous in its bite; and presently as I +moved I brushed it with my heel, and like the dart of light it swooped +with its tiny head and struck me with its fangs in the lower thigh. With +my knife I cut through its neck and it fell to writhing and struggling +and twining its hundred legs into all manner of contortions; and then, +cleaning my blade in the ground, I stabbed with it deep all round the +wound, so that the blood might flow freely and wash the venom from its +lodgement. And then with the blood trickling healthily down from my +heel, I shouldered the meat and strode off, thankful for being so well +quit of what might have made itself a very ugly adventure. + +As I walked, however, my leg began to be filled with a tightness and +throbbing which increased every hour, and presently it began to swell +also, till the skin was stretched like drawn parchment. I was taken, +too, with a sickness, that racked me violently, and if one of the +greater and more dangerous beasts had come upon me then, he would have +eaten me without a fight. With the fall of darkness I managed to haul +myself up into a tree, and there abode in the crutch of a limb, in +wakefulness and pain throughout the night. + +With the dawn, when the night beasts had gone to their lairs, I +clambered down again, and leaning heavily on my spear, limped onwards +through the sombre forests along my way. The moss which grows on the +northern side of each tree was my guide, but gradually I began to note +that I was seeing moss all round the trees, and, in fact, was growing +light-headed with the pain and the swelling of the limb. But still I +pressed onwards with my journey, my last instinct being to obey the +command of the High Council, and so procure the enlargement of Nais as +had been promised. + +My last memory was of being met by someone in the black forest who aided +me, and there my waking senses took wings into forgetfulness. + +But after an interval, wit returned, and I found myself on a bed of +leaves in a cleft between two rocks, which was furnished with some poor +skill, and fortified with stakes and buildings against the entrance of +the larger marauding beasts. My wound was dressed with a poultice of +herbs, and at the other side of the cavern there squatted a woman, +cooking a mess of wood-grubs and honey over a fire of sticks. + +“How came I here?” I asked. + +“I brought you,” said she. + +“And who are you?” + +“A nymph, they call me, and I practise as such, collecting herbs and +curing the diseases of those that come to me, telling fortunes, and +making predictions. In return I receive what each can afford, and if +they do not pay according to their means, I clap on a curse to make them +wither. It’s a lean enough living when wars and the pestilence have left +so few poor folk to live in the land.” + +“Do you visit Atlantis?” + +“Not I. Phorenice would have me boiled in brine, living, if she could +lay easy hands on me. Our dainty Empress tolerates no magic but her own. +They say she is for pulling down the Priests off their Mountain now.” + +“So you do get news of the city?” + +“Assuredly. It is my trade to get good news, or otherwise how could I +tell fortunes to the vulgar? You see, my lord, I detected your quality +by your speech, and knowing you are not one of those that come to me for +spells, and potions, I have no fear in speaking to you plainly.” + +“Tell me then: Phorenice still reigns?” + +“Most vilely.” + +“As a maiden?” + +“As the mother of twin sons. Tatho’s her husband now, and has been these +three years.” + +“Tatho! Who followed him as viceroy of Yucatan?” + +“There is no Yucatan. A vast nation of little hairy men, so the tale +goes, coming from the West overran the country. They had clubs of +wood tipped with stone as their only arm, but numbers made their chief +weapon. They had no desire for plunder, or the taking of slaves, or +the conquering of cities. To eat the flesh of Atlanteans was their only +lust, and they followed it prodigiously. Their numbers were like the +bees in a swarm. + +“They came to each of the cities of Yucatan in turn, and though +the colonists slew them in thousands, the weight of numbers always +prevailed. They ate clean each city they took, and left it to the beasts +of the forest, and went on to the next. And so in time they reached the +coast towns, and Tatho and the few that survived took ship, and +sailed home. They even ate Tatho’s wife for him. They must be curious +persevering things, these little hairy men. The Gods send they do not +get across the seas to Atlantis, or they would be worse plague to the +poor country than Phorenice.” + +Now I had heard of these little hairy creatures before, and though +indeed I had never seen them, I had gathered that they were a little +less than human and a little more than bestial; a link so to speak +between the two orders; and specially held in check by the Gods in +certain forest solitudes. Also I had learned that on occasion, when +punishment was needful, they could be set loose as a devastating army +upon men, devouring all before them. But I said nothing of this to the +nymph, she being but a vulgar woman, and indeed half silly, as is always +the case with these self-styled sorceresses who gull the ignorant, +common folk. But within myself I was bitterly grieved at the fate of +that fine colony of Yucatan, in which I had expended such an infinity of +pains to do my share of the building. + +But it did not suit my purpose to have my name and quality blazoned +abroad till the time was full, and so I said nothing to the nymph about +Yucatan, but let the talk continue upon other matters. “What about +Egypt?” I asked. + +“In its accustomed darkness, so they say. Who cares for Egypt these +latter years? Who cares for anyone or anything for that matter except +for himself and his own proper estate? Time was when the country folk +and the hunters hereabouts brought me offerings to this cave for sheer +piety’s sake. But now they never come near unless they see a way of +getting good value in return for their gifts. And, by result, instead +of living fat and hearty, I make lean meals off honey and grubs. It’s +a poor life, a nymph’s, in these latter years I tell you, my lord. It’s +the fashion for all classes to believe in no kind of mystery now.” + +“What manner of pestilence is this you spoke of?” + +“I have not seen it. Thank the Gods it has not come this way. But they +do say that it has grown from the folk Phorenice has slain, and whose +bodies remain unburied. She is always slaying, and so the bodies lie +thicker than the birds and beasts can eat them. For which of our sins, +I wonder, did the Gods let Phorenice come to reign? I wish that she and +her twins were boiled alive in brine before they came between an honest +nymph of the forest and her living. + +“They say she has put an image of herself in all the temples of the +city now, and has ordered prayers and sacrifices to be made night +and morning. She has decreed all other Gods inferior to herself +and forbidden their worship, and those of the people that are not +sufficiently devout for her taste, have their hamstrings slit by their +tormentors to aid them constantly into a devotional attitude.--Will you +eat of my grubs and honey? There is nothing else. Your back was bloody +with carrying meat when I met you, but you had lost your load. You must +either taste this mess of mine now, or go without.” + +I harboured with that nymph in cave six days, she using her drugs and +charms to cure my leg the while, and when I was recovered, I hunted the +plains and killed her a fat cloven-hoofed horse as payment, and then +went along my ways. + +The country from there onwards had at one time carried a sturdy +population which held its own firmly, and, as its numbers grew, took in +more ground, and built more homesteads farther afield. The houses were +perched in trees for the most part, as there they were out of reach +of cave-bear and cave-tiger and the other more dangerous beasts. But +others, and these were the better ones, were built on the ground, of +logs so ponderous and so firmly clamped and dovetailed that the beasts +could not pull them down, and once inside a house of this fashion +its owners were safe, and could progue at any attackers through the +interstices between the logs, and often wound, sometimes make a kill. + +But not one in ten of these outlying settlers remained. The houses were +silent when I reached them, the fire-hearth before the door weed-grown, +and the patch of vegetables taken back by the greedy fingers of the +forest into mere scrub and jungle. And farther on, when villages began +to appear, strongly-walled as the custom is, to ward off the attacks of +beasts, the logs which aforetime had barred the gateway lay strewn in +a sprouting undergrowth, and naught but the kitchen middens remained to +prove that once they had sheltered human tenants. Phorenice’s influence +seemed to have spread as though it were some horrid blight over the +whole face of what was once a smiling and an easy-living land. + +So far I had met with little enough interference from any men I had come +across. Many had fled with their women into the depths of the forest at +the bare sight of me; some stood their ground with a threatening face, +but made no offer to attack, seeing that I did not offer them insult +first; and a few, a very few, offered me shelter and provision. But as +I neared the city, and began to come upon muddy beaten paths, I passed +through governments that were more thickly populated, and here appeared +strong chance of delay. The watcher in the tower which is set above each +village would spy me and cry: “Here is a masterless man,” and then the +people that were within would rush out with intent to spoil me of my +weapons, and afterwards to appoint me as a labourer. + +I had no desire to slay these wretched folk, being filled with pity at +the state to which they had fallen; and often words served me to make +them stand aside from the path, and stare wonderingly at my fierceness, +and let me go my ways. And when at other times words had no avail, I +strove to strike as lightly as could be, my object being to get forward +with my journey and leave no unnecessary dead behind me. Indeed, having +found the modern way of these villages, it grew to be my custom to turn +off into the forest, and make a circuit whenever I came within smell of +their garbage. + +Similarly, too, when I got farther on, and came amongst greater towns +also, I kept beyond challenge of their walls, having no mind to risk +delay from the whim of any new law which might chance to be set up by +their governors. My progress might be slinking, but my pride did not +upbraid me very loudly; indeed, the fever of haste burned within me so +hot and I had little enough carrying space for other emotions. + +But at last I found myself within a half-day’s journey the city of +Atlantis itself, with the Sacred Mountain and its ring of fires looming +high beside it, and the call for caution became trebly accentuated. +Everywhere evidences showed that the country had been drained of its +fighting men. Everywhere women prayed that the battles might end +with the rout of the Priests or the killing of Phorenice, so that the +wretched land might have peace and time to lick its wounds. + +An army was investing the Sacred Mountain, and its one approach was most +narrowly guarded. Even after having journeyed so far, it seemed as if I +should have to sit hopelessly down without being able to carry out the +orders which had been laid upon me by the High Council, and earn the +reward which had been promised. Force would be useless here. I should +have one good fight--a gorgeous fight--one man against an army, and my +usefulness would be ended.... No; this was the occasion for guile, and +I found covert in the outskirts of a wood, and lay there cudgelling my +brain for a plan. + +Across the plain before me lay the grim great walls of the city, with +the heads of its temples, and its palaces, and its pyramids showing +beyond. The step-sides of the royal pyramid held my eye. Phorenice had +expended some of her new-found store of gold in overlaying their former +whiteness with sheets of shining yellow metal. But it was not that +change that moved me. I was remembering that, in the square before the +pyramid, there stood a throne of granite carved with the snake and the +outstretched hand, and in the hollow beneath the throne was Nais, my +love, asleep these eight years now because of the drug that had been +given to her, but alive still, and waiting for me, if only I on my +part could make a way to the place where Zaemon defied the Empress, and +announce my coming. + +In that covert of the woods I lay a day and a night raging with myself +for not discovering some plan to get within the defences of the Sacred +Mountain, but in the morning which followed, there came a man towards me +running. + +“You need not threaten me with your weapons,” he cried. “I mean no harm. +It seems that you are Deucalion; though I should not have known you +myself in those rags and skins, and behind that tangle of hair and +beard. You will give me your good word I know. Believe me, I have not +loitered unduly.” + +He was a lower priest whom I knew, and held in little esteem; his name +was Ro, a greedy fellow and not overworthy of trust. “From whom do you +come?” I asked. + +“Zaemon laid a command on me. He came to my house, though how he got +there I cannot tell, seeing that Phorenice’s army blocks all possible +passage to and from the Mountain. I told him I wished to be mixed with +none of his schemings. I am a peaceful man, Deucalion, and have taken a +wife who requires nourishment. I still serve in the same temple, though +we have swept out the old Gods by order of the Empress, and put her +image in their place. The people are tidily pious nowadays, those that +are left of them, and the living is consequently easy. Yes, I tell you +there are far more offerings now than there were in the old days. And +so I had no wish to be mixed with matters which might well make me be +deprived of a snug post, and my head to boot.” + +“I can believe it all of you, Ro.” + +“But there was no denying Zaemon. He burst into one of his black furies, +and while he spoke at me, I tell you I felt as good as dead. You know +his powers?” + +“I have seen some of them.” + +“Well, the Gods alone know which are the true Gods, and which are the +others. I serve the one that gives me employment. But those that Zaemon +serves give him power, and that’s beyond denying. You see that right +hand of mine? It is dead and paralysed from the wrist, and that is +a gift of Zaemon. He bestowed it, he said, to make me collect my +attention. Then he said more hard things concerning what he was pleased +to term my apostasy, not letting me put up a word in my own defence of +how the change was forced upon me. And finally, said he, I might +either do his bidding on a certain matter to the letter, or take that +punishment which my falling away from the old Gods had earned. ‘I +shall not kill you,’ said he, ‘but I will cover all your limbs with a +paralysis, such as you have tasted already, and when at length death +reaches you in some gutter, you will welcome it.’” + +“If Zaemon said those words, he meant them. So you accepted the +alternative?” + +“Had I, with a wife depending on me, any other choice? I asked his +pleasure. It was to find you when you came in here from some distant +part of the land, and deliver to you his message. + +“‘Then tell me where is the meeting place,’ said I, ‘and when.’ + +“‘There is none appointed, nor is the day fixed,’ said he. ‘You must +watch and search always for him. But when he comes, you will be guided +to his place.’ Well, Deucalion, I think I was guided, but how, I do +not know. But now I have found you, and if there’s such a thing as +gratitude, I ask you to put in your word with Zaemon that this deadness +be taken away from my hand. It’s an awful thing for a man to be forced +to go through life like this, for no real fault of his own. And Zaemon +could cure it from where he sat, if he was so minded.” + +“You seem still to have a very full faith in some of the old Gods’ +priests,” I said. “But so far, I do not see that your errand is done. I +have had no message yet.” + +“Why, the message is so simple that I do not see why he could not have +got some one else to carry it. You are to make a great blaze. You may +fire the grasses of the plain in front of this wood if you choose. And +on the night which follows, you are to go round to that flank of the +Sacred Mountain away from the city where the rocks run down sheer, and +there they will lower a rope and haul you up to their hands above.” + +“It seems easy, and I thank you for your pains. I will ask Zaemon that +your hand may be restored to you.” + +“You shall have my prayers if it is. And look, Deucalion, it is a small +matter, and it would be less likely to slip your memory if you saw to it +at once on your landing. Later, you may be disturbed. Phorenice is bound +to pull you down off your perch up there now she has made her mind to +it. She never fails, once she has set her hand to a thing. Indeed, +if she was no Goddess at birth, she is making herself into one very +rapidly. She has got all the ancient learning of our Priests, and more +besides. She has discovered the Secret of Life these recent months--” + +“She has found that?” I cried, fairly startled. “How? Tell me how? Only +the Three know that. It is beyond our knowledge even who are members of +the Seven.” + +“I know nothing of her means. But she has the secret, and now she is as +good an immortal (so she says) as any of them. Well, Deucalion, it is +dangerous for me to be missing from my temple overlong, so I will go. +You will carry that matter we spoke of in your mind? It means much +to me.”--His eye wandered over my ragged person--“And if you think my +service is of value to you--” + +“You see me poor, my man, and practically destitute.” + +“Some small coin,” he murmured, “or even a link of bronze? I am at +great expense just now buying nourishment for my wife. Well, if you have +nothing, you cannot give. So I’ll just bid you farewell.” + +He took himself off then, and I was not sorry. I had never liked Ro. But +I wasted no more precious time then. The grass blazed up for a signal +almost before his timorous heels were clear of it, and that night when +the darkness gave me cover, I took the risk of what beasts might be +prowling, and went to the place appointed. There was no rope dangling, +but presently one came down the smooth cliff face like some slender +snake. I made a loop, slipped it over a leg, and pulled hard as a +signal. Those above began to haul, and so I went back to the Sacred +Mountain after an absence of so many toilsome and warring years. There +were none to disturb the ascent. Phorenice’s troops had no thought to +guard that gaunt, bare, seamless precipice. + +The men who hauled me up were old, and panted heavily with their task, +and, until I knew the reason, I wondered why a knot of younger priests +had not been appointed for the duty. But I put no question. With us of +the Priests’ Clan on the Sacred Mountain, it is always taken as granted +that when an order is given, it is given for the best. Besides, these +priests did not offer themselves to question. They took me off at once +to Zaemon, and that is what I could have wished. + +The old man greeted me with the royal sign. “All hail to Deucalion,” he +cried, “King of Atlantis, duly called thereto by the High Council of the +priests.” + +“Is Phorenice dead?” I asked. + +“It remains for you to slay her, and take your kingdom, if, indeed, +when all is done, there remains a man or a rood of land to govern. The +sentence has gone out that she is to die, and it shall be carried into +effect, even though we have to set loose the most dreadful powers that +are stored in the Ark of the Mysteries, and wreck this continent in our +effort. We have borne with her infamies all these years by command sent +down by the most High Gods; but now she has gone beyond endurance, and +They it is who have given the word for her cutting off.” + +“You are one of the highest Three; I am only one of the Seven; you best +know the cost.” + +“There can be no counting the cost now, my brother, and my king. It is +an order.” + +“It is an order,” I repeated formally, “so I obey.” + +“If it were not impious to do so, it would be easy to justify this +decision of the Gods. The woman has usurped the throne; yet she was +forgiven and bidden rule on wisely. She has tampered with our holy +religion; yet she was forgiven. She has killed the peoples of Atlantis +in greedy useless wars, and destroyed the country’s trade; yet she was +forgiven. She has desecrated the old temples, and latterly has set up +in them images of herself to be worshipped as a deity; yet she was +forgiven. But at last her evil cleverness has discovered to her the +tremendous Secret of Life and Death, and there she overstepped the +boundary of the High Gods’ forbearance. + +“I myself went to carry a final warning, and once more faced her in +the great banqueting-hall. Solemnly I recited to her the edict, and she +chose to take it as a challenge. She would live on eternally herself and +she would share her knowledge with those that pleased her. Tatho that +was her husband should also be immortal. Indeed, if she thought fit, she +would cry the secret aloud so that even the common people might know it, +and death from mere age would become a legend. + +“She cared no wit how she might upset the laws of Nature. She was +Phorenice, and was the highest law of all. And finally she defied me +there in that banqueting-hall and defied also the High Gods that stood +behind my mouth. ‘My magic is as strong as yours, you pompous fool,’ +she cried, ‘and presently you shall see the two stand side by side upon +their trial.’ + +“She began to collect an army from that moment, and we on our part made +our preparations. It was discovered by our arts that you still lived, +and King of Atlantis you were made by solemn election. How you were +summoned, you know as nearly as it is lawful that one of your degree +should know; how you came, you understand best yourself; but here you +are, my brother, and being King now, you must order all things as you +see best for the preservation of your high estate, and we others live +only to give you obedience.” + +“Then being King, I can speak without seeming to make use of a threat. +I must have my Queen first, or I am not strong enough to give my whole +mind to this ruling.” + +“She shall be brought here.” + +“So! Then I will be a General now, and see to the defences of this +place, and view the men who are here to stand behind them.” + +I went out of the dwelling then, Zaemon giving place and following me. +It was night still but there is no darkness on the upper part of the +Sacred Mountain. A ring of fires, fed eternally from the earth-breath +which wells up from below, burns round one-half of the crest, lighting +it always as bright as day, and in fact forming no small part of its +fortification. Indeed, it is said that, in the early dawn of history, +men first came to the Mountain as a stronghold because of the natural +defence which the fires offered. + +There is no bridging these flames or smothering them. On either side +of their line for a hundred paces the ground glows with heat, and a man +would be turned to ash who tried to cross it. Round full one-half the +mountain slopes the fires make a rampart unbreakable, and on the other +side the rock runs in one sheer precipice from the crest to the plain +which spreads beyond its foot. But it is on this farther side that there +is the only entrance way which gives passage to the crest of the Sacred +Mountain from below. Running diagonally up the steep face of the cliff +is a gigantic fissure, which succeeding ages (as man has grown more +luxurious) have made more easy to climb. + +Looking at the additions, in the ancient days, I can well imagine that +none but the most daring could have made the ascent. But one generation +has thrown a bridge over a bad gap here, and another has cut into the +living stone and widened a ledge there, till in these latter years there +is a path with cut steps and carved balustrade such as the feeblest or +most giddy might traverse with little effort or exertion. But always +when these improvers made smooth the obstacles, they were careful to +weaken in no possible way the natural defences but rather to add to +them. + +Eight gates of stone there were cutting the pathway, each commanding +a straight, steep piece of the ascent, and overhanging each gate was a +gallery secure from arrow-shot, yet so contrived that great stones could +be hurled through holes in the floor of it, in such a manner that they +must irretrievably smash to a pulp any men advancing against it from +below. And in caves dug out from the rock on either hand was a great +hoard of these stones, so that no enemy through sheer expenditure of +troops could hope to storm a gate by exhausting its ammunition. + +But though there were eight of these granite gates in the series, we had +the whole number to depend on no longer. The lowest gate was held by +a garrison of Phorenice’s troops, who had built a wall above them to +protect their occupation. The gate had been gained by no brilliant feat +of arms--it had been won by threats, bribery, and promises; or, in other +words, it had been given up by the blackest treachery. + +And here lay the keynote of the weakness in our defence. The most +perfect ramparts that brain can invent are useless without men to line +them, and it was men we lacked. Of students entering into the colleges +of the Sacred Mountain, there had been none now for many a year. The +younger generation thought little of the older Gods. Of the men that had +grown up amongst the sacred groves, and filled offices there, many had +become lukewarm in their faith and remained on only through habit, and +because an easy living stayed near them there; and these, when the siege +began, quickly made their way over to the other side. + +Phorenice was no fool to fight against unnecessary strength. Her heralds +made proclamation that peace and a good subsistence would be given to +those who chose to come out to her willingly; and as an alternative she +would kill by torture and mutilation those she caught in the place when +she took it by storm, as she most assuredly would do before she had +finished with it. And so great was the prestige of her name, that quite +one-half of these that remained on the mountain took themselves away +from the defence. + +There was no attempt to hold back these sorry priests, nor was there any +punishing them as they went. Zaemon, indeed, was minded (so he told me +with grim meaning himself) to give them some memento of their apostasy +to carry away which would not wear out, but the others of the High +Council made him stay his vengeful hand. And so when I came to the place +the garrison numbered no more than eighty, counting even feeble old +dotards who could barely walk; and of men not past their prime I could +barely command a score. + +Still, seeing the narrowness of the passages which led to each of the +gates, up which in no place could more than two men advance together, we +were by no means in desperate straits for the defence as yet; and if my +new-given kingdom was so far small, consisting as it did in effect of +the Sacred Mountain and no other part of Atlantis, at any rate there +seemed little danger of its being further contracted. + +Another of the wise precautions of the men of old stood us in good stead +then. In the ancient times, when grain first was grown as food, it came +to be looked upon as the acme of wealth. Tribute was always paid from +the people to their Priests, and presently, so the old histories say, +it was appointed that this should take the form of grain, as this was +a medium both dignified and fitting. And those of the people who had +it not, were forced to barter their other produce for grain before they +could pay this tribute. + +On the Sacred Mountain itself vast storehouses were dug in the rock, and +here the grain was teemed in great yellow heaps, and each generation of +those that were set over it, took a pride in adding to the accumulation. + +In more modern days it had been a custom amongst the younger and more +forward of the Priests to scoff at this ancient provision, and to hold +that a treasure of gold, or weapons, or jewels would have more value and +no less of dignity; and more than once it has been a close thing +lest these innovators should not be out-voted. But as it was, the old +constitution had happily been preserved, and now in these years of trial +the Clan reaped the benefit. And so with these granaries, and a series +of great tanks and cisterns which held the rainfall, there was no chance +of Phorenice reducing our stronghold by mere close investment, even +though she sat down stubbornly before it for a score of years. + +But it was the paucity of men for the defence which oppressed me most. +As I took my way about the head of the Mountain, inspecting all points, +the emptiness of the place smote me like a succession of blows. The +groves, once so trim, were now shaggy and unpruned. Wind had whirled +the leaves in upon the temple floors, and they lay there unswept. The +college of youths held no more now than a musty smell to bear witness +that men had once been grown there. The homely palaces of the higher +Priests, at one time so ardently sought after, lay many of them empty, +because not even one candidate came forward now to canvass for election. + +Evil thoughts surged up within me as I saw these things, that were +direct promptings from the nether Gods. “There must be something +wanting,” these tempters whispered, “in a religion from which so many of +its Priests fled at the first pinch of persecution.” + +I did what I could to thrust these waverings resolutely behind me; but +they refused to be altogether ousted from my brain; and so I made a +compromise with myself: First, I would with the help that might be given +me, destroy this wanton Phorenice, and regain the kingdom which had been +given me to my own proper rule; and afterwards I would call a council +of the Seven and council of the Three, and consider without prejudice +if there was any matter in which our ancient ritual could be amended +to suit the more modern requirements. But this should not be done till +Phorenice was dead and I was firmly planted in her room. I would not be +a party, even to myself, to any plan which smacked at all of surrender. + +And there as I walked through the desolate groves and beside the cold +altars, the High Gods were pleased to show their approval of my scheme, +and to give me opportunity to bind myself to it with a solemn oath and +vow. At that moment from His distant resting-place in the East, our Lord +the Sun leaped up to begin another day. For long enough from where I +stood below the crest of the Mountain, He Himself would be invisible. +But the great light of His glory spread far into the sky, and against it +the Ark of the Mysteries loomed in black outline from the highest crag +where it rested, lonely and terrible. + +For anyone unauthorised to go nearer than a thousand paces to this +storehouse of the Highest Mysteries meant instant death. On that day +when I was initiated as one of the Seven, I had been permitted to go +near and once press my lips against its ample curves; and the rank of +my degree gave me the privilege to repeat that salute again once on each +day when a new year was born. But what lay inside its great interior, +and how it was entered, that was hidden from the Seven, even as it was +from the other Priests and the common people in the city below. Only +those who had been raised to the sublime elevation of the Three had a +knowledge of the dreadful powers which were stored within it. + +I went down on my knees where I was, and Zaemon knelt beside me, and +together we recited the prayers which had been said by the Priests from +the beginning of time, giving thanks to our great Lord that He has +come to brighten another day. And then, with my eyes fixed on the black +outline of the Ark of Mysteries I vowed that, come what might, I at +least would be true servant of the High Gods to my life’s end, and that +my whole strength should be spent in restoring Their worship and glory. + + + + +17. NAIS THE REGAINED + + +Now, from where we stood together just below the crest of the Sacred +Mountain, we could see down into the city, which lay spread out below +us like a map. The harbour and the great estuary gleamed at its +farther side; and the fringe of hills beyond smoked and fumed in their +accustomed fashion; the great stone circle of our Lord the Sun stood +up grim and bare in the middle of the city; and nearer in reared up the +great mass of the royal pyramid, the gold on its sides catching new gold +from the Sun. There, too, in the square before the pyramid stood the +throne of granite, dwarfed by the distance to the size of a mole’s hill, +in which these nine years my love had lain sleeping. + +Old Zaemon followed my gaze. “Ay,” he said with a sigh, “I know where +your chief interest is. Deucalion when he landed here new from Yucatan +was a strong man. The King whom we have chosen--and who is the best we +have to choose--has his weakness.” + +“It can be turned into additional strength. Give me Nais here, living +and warm to fight for, and I am a stronger man by far than the cold +viceroy and soldier that you speak about.” + +“I have passed my word to that already, and you shall have her, but at +the cost of damaging somewhat this new kingdom of yours. Maybe too at +the same time we may rid you of this Phorenice and her brood. But I do +not think it likely. She is too wily, and once we begin our play, she is +likely to guess whence it comes, and how it will end, and so will make +an escape before harm can reach her. The High Gods, who have sent +all these trials for our refinement, have seen fit to give her some +knowledge of how these earth tremors may be set a-moving.” + +“I have seen her juggle with them. But may I hear your scheme?” + +“It will be shown you in good time enough. But for the present I would +bid you sleep. It will be your part to go into the city to-night, and +take your woman (that is my daughter) when she is set free, and bring +her here as best you can. And for that you will need all a strong man’s +strength.”--He stepped back, and looked me up and down.--“There are not +many folk that would take you for the tidy clean-chinned Deucalion now, +my brother. Your appearance will be a fine armour for you down yonder in +the city to-night when we wake it with our earth-shaking and terror. +As you stand now, you are hairy enough, and shaggy enough, and naked +enough, and dirty enough for some wild savage new landed out of Europe. +Have a care that no fine citizen down yonder takes a fancy to your +thews, and seizes upon you as his servant.” + +“I somewhat pity him in his household if he does.” + +Old Zaemon laughed. “Why, come to think of it, so do I.” + +But quickly he got grave again. Laughter and Zaemon were very rare +playmates. “Well, get you to bed, my King, and leave me to go into the +Ark of Mysteries and prepare there with another of the Three the things +that must be done. It is no light business to handle the tremendous +powers which we must put into movement this night. And there is danger +for us as there is for you. So if by chance we do not meet again till we +stand up yonder behind the stars, giving account to the Gods, fare you +well, Deucalion.” + +I slept that day as a soldier sleeps, taking full rest out of the hours, +and letting no harassing thought disturb me. It is only the weak who +permit their sleep to be broken on these occasions. And when the dark +was well set, I roused and fetched those who should attend to the rope. +Our Lady the Moon did not shine at that turn of the month: and the air +was full of a great blackness. So I was out of sight all the while they +lowered me. + +I reached the tumbled rocks that lay at the deep foot of the cliff, +and then commenced to use a nice caution, because Phorenice’s soldiers +squatted uneasily round their camp-fires, as though they had forebodings +of the coming evil. I had no mind to further stir their wakefulness. So +I crept swiftly along in the darkest of the shadows, and at last came to +the spot where that passage ends which before I had used to get beneath +the walls of the city. + +The lamp was in place, and I made my way along the windings swiftly. The +air, so it seemed to me, was even more noxious with vapours than it had +been when I was down there before, and I judged that Zaemon had already +begun to stir those internal activities which were shortly to convulse +the city. But again I had difficulty in finding an exit, and this, not +because there were people moving about at the places where I had to come +out, but because the set of the masonry was entirely changed. In olden +times the Priests’ Clan oversaw all the architects’ plans, and ruled out +anything likely to clash with their secret passages and chambers. But +in this modern day the Priests were of small account, and had no say in +this matter, and the architects often through sheer blundering sealed up +and made useless many of these outlets and hiding-places. + +As it was then, I had to get out of the network of tunnels and galleries +where I could, and not where I would, and in the event found myself at +the farther side of the city, almost up to where the outer wall joins +down to the harbour. I came out without being seen, careful even in this +moment of extremity to preserve the ordinances, and closed all traces of +exit behind me. The earth seemed to spring beneath my feet like the deck +of a ship in smooth water; and though there was no actual movement as +yet to disturb the people, and indeed these slept on in their houses and +shelters without alarm, I could feel myself that the solid deadness +of the ground was gone, and that any moment it might break out into +devastating waves of movement. + +Gods! Should I be too late to see the untombing of my love? Would she be +laid there bare to the public gaze when presently the people swarmed out +into the open spaces through fear at what the great earth tremor might +cause to fall? I could see, in fancy, their rude, cruel hands thrust +upon her as she lay there helpless, and my inwards dried up at the +thought. + +I ran madly down and down the narrow winding streets with the one +thought of coming to the square which lay in front of the royal pyramid +before these things came to pass. With exquisite cruelty I had been +forced with my own hands to place her alive in her burying-place beneath +the granite throne, and if thews and speed could do it, I would not miss +my reward of taking her forth again with the same strong hands. + +Few disturbed that furious hurry. At first here and there some wretch +who harboured in the gutter cried: “A thief! Throw a share or I pursue.” + But if any of these followed, I do not know. At any rate, my speed then +must have out-distanced anyone. Presently, too, as the swing of the +earth underfoot became more keen, and the stonework of the buildings by +the street side began to grate and groan and grit, and sent forth little +showers of dust, people began to run with scared cries from out of their +doors. But none of these had a mind to stop the ragged, shaggy, savage +man who ran so swiftly past, and flung the mud from his naked feet. + +And so in time I came to the great square, and was there none too soon. +The place was filling with people who flocked away from the narrow +streets, and it was full of darkness, and noise, and dust, and sickness. +Beneath us the ground rippled in undulations like a sea, which with +terrifying slowness grew more and more intense. + +Ever and again a house crashed down unseen in the gloom, and added to +the tumult. But the great pyramid had been planned by its old builders +to stand rude shocks. Its stones were dovetailed into one another with a +marvellous cleverness, and were further clamped and joined by ponderous +tongues of metal. It was a boast that one-half the foundations could be +dug from beneath it, and still the pyramid would stand four-square under +heaven, more enduring than the hills. + +Flickering torches showed that its great stone doors lay open, and ever +and again I saw some frightened inmate scurry out and then be lost to +sight in the gloom. But with the royal pyramid and its ultimate fate +I had little concern; I did not even care then whether Phorenice was +trapped, or whether she came out sound and fit for further mischief. +I crouched by the granite throne which stood in the middle of that +splendid square, and heard its stones grate together like the ends of a +broken bone as it rocked to the earth-waves. + +In that night of dust and darkness it was hard to see the outline of +one’s own hand, but I think that the Gods in some requital for the love +which had ached so long within me, gave me special power of sight. As +I watched, I saw the great carved rock which formed the capstone of the +throne move slightly and then move again, and then again; a tiny jerk +for each earth-pulse, but still there was an appreciable shifting; and, +moreover, the stone moved always to one side. + +There was method in Zaemon’s desperate work, and this in my blind panic +of love and haste, I had overlooked. So I went up the steps of the +throne on the side from which the great capstone was moving, and clung +there afire with expectation. + +More and more violent did the earth-swing grow, though the graduations +of its increase could not be perceived, and the din of falling houses +and the shrieks and cries of hurt and frightened people went louder +up into the night. Thicker grew the dust that filled the air, till one +coughed and strangled in the breathing, and more black did the night +become as the dust rose and blotted the rare stars from sight. I clung +to an angle of the granite throne, crouching on the uppermost step but +one below the capstone, and could scarcely keep my place against the +violence of the earth tremors. + +But still the huge capstone that was carved with the snake and the +outstretched hand held my love fast locked in her living tomb, and I +could have bit the cold granite at the impotence which barred me from +her. The people who kept thronging into the square were mad with +terror, but their very numbers made my case more desperate every moment. +“Phorenice, Goddess, aid us now!” some cried, and when the prayer +did not bring them instant relief, they fell to yammering out the old +confessions of the faith which they had learned in childhood, turning +in this hour of their dreadful need to those old Gods, which, through +so many dishonourable years, they had spurned and deserted. It was a +curious criticism on the balance of their real religion, if one had +cared to make it. + +Louder grew the crash of falling masonry; and from the royal pyramid +itself, though indeed I could not even see its outline through the +darkness, there came sounds of grinding stones and cracking bars of +metal which told that even its superb majestic strength had a breaking +strain. There came to my mind the threat that old Zaemon had thundered +forth in that painted, perfumed banqueting-hall: “You shall see,” he had +cried to the Empress, “this royal pyramid which you have polluted +with your debaucheries torn tier from tier, and stone from stone, and +scattered as feathers spread before a wind!” + +Still heavier grew the surging of the earth, and the pavement of the +great square gaped and upheaved, and the people who thronged it screamed +still more shrilly as their feet were crushed by the grinding blocks. +And now too the great pyramid itself was commencing to split, and +gape, and topple. The roofs of its splendid chambers gave way, and the +ponderous masonry above shuttered down and filled them. In part, too, +one could see the destruction now, and not guess at it merely from the +fearful hearings of the darkness. Thunders had begun to roar through +the black night above, and add their bellowings to this devil’s +orchestration of uproar, and vivid lightning splashes lit the flying +dust-clouds. + +It was perhaps natural that she should be there, but it came as a +shock when a flare of the lightning showed me Phorenice safe out in the +square, and indeed standing not far from myself. + +She had taken her place in the middle of a great flagstone, and stood +there swaying her supple body to the shocks. Her face was calm, and its +loveliness was untouched by the years. From time to time she brushed +away the dust as it settled on the short red hair which curled about her +neck. There was no trace of fear written upon her face. There was some +weariness, some contempt, and I think a tinge of amusement. Yes, it took +more than the crumbling of her royal pyramid to impress Phorenice with +the infinite powers of those she warred against. + +Gods! How the sight of her cool indifference maddened me then. I had +it in me to have strangled her with my hands if she had come within +my reach. But as it was, she stood in her place, swaying easily to the +earth-waves as a sailor sways on a ship’s deck, and beside her, crouched +on the same great flagstone, and overcome with nausea was Ylga, who +again was raised to be her fan-girl. It came to my mind that Ylga was +twin sister to Nais, and that I owed her for an ancient kindness, but I +had leisure to do nothing for her then, and indeed it was little enough +I could have done. With each shock the great capstone of the throne to +which I clung jarred farther and farther from its bed place, and my love +was coming nearer to me. It was she who claimed all my service then. + +Once in their blind panic a knot of the people in the square thought +that the granite stone was too solid to be overturned, and saw in it +an oasis of safety. They flocked towards it, many of them dragging +themselves up the steep deep high steps on hands and knees because their +feet had been injured by the billowing flagstones of the square. + +But I was in no mood to have the place profaned by their silly +tremblings and stares: I beat at them with my hands, tearing them away, +and hurling them back down the steepness of the steps. They asked me +what was my title to the place above their own, and I answered them with +blows and gnashing teeth. I was careless as to what they thought me or +who they thought me. Only I wished them gone. And so they went, wailing +and crying that I was a devil of the night, for they had no spirit left +to defend themselves. + +Farther and farther the great stone that made the top of the throne slid +out from its bed, but its slowness of movement maddened me. A life’s +education left me in that moment, and I had no trace of stately patience +left. In my puny fury I thrust at the great block with my shoulder and +head, and clawed at it with my hands till the muscles rose on me +in great ropes and knots, and the High Gods must have laughed at my +helplessness as They looked. All was being ordered by the Three who were +Their trusted servants, in Their good time. The work of the Gods may be +done slowly, but it is done exceeding sure. + +But at last, when all the people of the city were numb with terror, +and incapable of further emotion (save only for Phorenice who still had +nerve enough to show no concern), what had been threatened came to pass. +The capstone of the throne slid out till it reached the balance, and the +next shock threw it with a roar and a clatter to the ground. And then a +strange tremor seized me. + +After all the scheming and effort, what I had so ardently prayed for had +come about; but yet my inwards sank at the thought of mounting on the +stone where I had mounted before, and taking my dear from the hollow +where my hands had laid her. I knew Phorenice’s vengefulness, and had a +high value for her cleverness. Had she left Nais to lie in peace, or had +she stolen her away to suffer indignities elsewhere? Or had she ended +her sleep with death, and (as a grisly jest) left the corpse for my +finding? I could not tell; I dared not guess. Never during a whole +hard-fighting life have my emotions been so wrenched as they were at +that moment. And, for excuse, it must be owned that love for Nais +had sapped my hardihood over a matter in which she was so privately +concerned. + +It began to come to my mind, however, that the infernal uproar of the +earth tremor was beginning to slacken somewhat, as though Zaemon knew +he had done the work that he had promised, and was minded to give the +wretched city a breathing space. So I took my fortitude in hand, and +clambered up on to the flat of the stone. The lightning flashes had +ceased and all was darkness again and stifling dust, but at any moment +the sky might be lit once more, and if I were seen in that place, shaggy +and changed though I might be, Phorenice, if she were standing near, +would not be slow to guess my name and errand. + +So changed was I for the moment, that I will finely confess that the +idea of a fight was loathsome to me then. I wanted to have my business +done and get gone from the place. + +With hands that shook, I fumbled over the face of the stone and found +the clamps and bars of metal still in position where I had clenched +them, and then reverently I let my fingers pass between these, and felt +the curves of my love’s body in its rest beneath. An exultation began +to whirl within me. I did not know if she had been touched since I last +left her; I did not know if the drug would have its due effect, and let +her be awakened to warmth and sight again; but, dead or alive, I had her +there, and she was mine, mine, mine, and I could have yelled aloud in my +joy at her possession. + +Still the earth shook beneath us, and masonry roared and crashed into +ruin. I had to cling to my place with one hand, whilst I unhasped the +clamps of metal that made the top of her prison with the other. But at +last I swung the upper half of them clear, and those which pinned down +her feet I let remain. I stooped and drew her soft body up on to the +flat of the stone beside me, and pressed my lips a hundred times to the +face I could not see. + +Some mad thought took me, I believe, that the mere fierceness and heat +of my kisses would bring her back again to life and wakefulness. Indeed +I will own plainly, that I did but sorry credit to my training in +calmness that night. But she lay in my arms cold and nerveless as a +corpse, and by degrees my sober wits returned to me. + +This was no place for either of us. Let the earth’s tremors cease (as +was plainly threatened), let daylight come, and let a few of these +nerveless people round recover from their panic, and all the great cost +that had been expended might be counted as waste. We should be seen, +and it would not be long before some one put a name to Nais; and then +it would be an easy matter to guess at Deucalion under the beard and the +shaggy hair and the browned nakedness of the savage who attended on her. +Tell of fright? By the Gods! I was scared as the veriest trembler who +blundered amongst the dust-clouds that night when the thought came to +me. + +With all that ruin spread around, it would be hopeless to think that any +of those secret galleries which tunnelled under the ground would be left +unbroken, and so it was useless to try a passage under the walls by the +old means. But I had heard shouts from that frightened mob which came to +me through the din and the darkness, that gave another idea for escape. +“The city is accursed,” they had cried: “if we stay here it will fall +on us. Let us get outside the walls where there are no buildings to bury +us.” + +If they went, I could not see. But one gate lay nearest to the royal +pyramid, and I judged that in their panic they would not go farther than +was needful. So I put the body of Nais over my shoulder (to leave my +right arm free) and blundered off as best I could through the stifling +darkness. + +It was hard to find a direction; it was hard to walk in the inky +darkness over ground that was tossed and tumbled like a frozen sea: +and as the earth still quaked and heaved, it was hard also to keep a +footing. But if I did fall myself a score of times, my dear burden got +no bruise, and presently I got to the skirts of the square, and found +a street I knew. The most venomous part of the shaking was done, and no +more buildings fell, but enough lay sprawled over the roadway to make +walking into a climb, and the sweat rolled from me as I laboured along +my way. + +There was no difficulty about passing the gate. There was no gate. There +was no wall. The Gods had driven their plough through it, and it lay +flat, and proud Atlantis stood as defenceless as the open country. +Though I knew the cause of this ruin, though, in fact, I had myself in +some measure incited it, I was almost sad at the ruthlessness with which +it had been carried out. The royal pyramid might go, houses and palaces +might be levelled, and for these I cared little enough; but when I saw +those stately ramparts also filched away, there the soldier in me woke, +and I grieved at this humbling of the mighty city that once had been my +only mistress. + +But this was only a passing regret, a mere touch of the fighting-man’s +pride. I had a different love now, that had wrapped herself round me far +deeper and more tightly, and my duty was towards her first and foremost. +The night would soon be past, and then dangers would increase. None had +interfered with us so far, though many had jostled us as I clambered +over the ruins; but this forbearance could not be reckoned upon for +long. The earth tremors had almost died away, and after the panic and +the storm, then comes the time for the spoiling. + +All men who were poor would try to seize what lay nearest to their +hands, and those of higher station, and any soldiers who could be +collected and still remained true to command, would ruthlessly stop and +strip any man they saw making off with plunder. I had no mind to clash +with these guardians of law and property, and so I fled on swiftly +through the night with my burden, using the unfrequented ways; and +crying to the few folk who did meet me that the woman had the plague, +and would they lend me the shelter of their house as ours had fallen. +And so in time we came to the place where the rope dangled from the +precipice, and after Nais had been drawn up to the safety of the Sacred +Mountain, I put my leg in the loop of the rope and followed her. + +Now came what was the keenest anxiety of all. We took the girl and laid +her on a bed in one of the houses, and there in the lit room for the +first time I saw her clearly. Her beauty was drawn and pale. Her eyes +were closed, but so thin and transparent had grown the lids that one +could almost see the brown of the pupil beneath them. Her hair had grown +to inordinate thickness and length, and lay as a cushion behind and +beside her head. + +There was no flicker of breath; there was none of that pulsing of +the body which denotes life; but still she had not the appearance of +ordinary death. The Nais I had placed nine long years before to rest in +the hollow of the stone, was a fine grown woman, full bosomed, and well +boned. The Nais that remained for me was half her weight. The old Nais +it would have puzzled me to carry for an hour: this was no burden to +impede a grown man. + +In other ways too she had altered. The nails of her fingers had grown to +such a great length that they were twisted in spirals, and the fingers +themselves and her hands were so waxy and transparent that the bony core +upon which they were built showed itself beneath the flesh in plain dull +outline. Her clay-cold lips were so white, that one sighed to remember +the full beauty of their carmine. Her shoulders and neck had lost their +comely curves, and made bony hollows now in which the dust of entombment +lodged black and thickly. + +Reverently I set about preparing those things which if all went well +should restore her. I heated water and filled a bath, and tinctured +it heavily with those essences of the life of beasts which the Priests +extract and store against times of urgent need and sickness. I laid her +chin-deep in this bath, and sat beside it to watch, maintaining that +bath at a constant blood heat. + +An hour I watched; two hours I watched; three hours--and yet she showed +no flicker of life. The heat of her body given her by the bath, was the +same as the heat of my own. But in the feel of her skin when I stroked +it with my hand, there was something lacking still. Only when our Lord +the Sun rose for His day did I break off my watching, whilst I said the +necessary prayer which is prescribed, and quickly returned again to the +gloom of the house. + +I was torn with anxiety, and as the time went on and still no sign of +life came back, the hope that had once been so high within me began to +sicken and leave me downcast and despondent. From without, came the +din of fighting. Already Phorenice had sent her troops to storm the +passageway, and the Priests who defended it were shattering them with +volleys of rocks. But these sounds of war woke no pulse within me. If +Nais did not wake, then the world for me was ended, and I had no spirit +left to care who remained uppermost. The Gods in Their due time will +doubtless smite me for this impiety. But I make a confession of it here +on these sheets, having no mind to conceal any portion of this history +for the small reason that it does me a personal discredit. + +But as the hours went on, and still no flicker of life came to lessen +the dumb agony that racked me, I grew more venturesome, and added more +essences to the bath, and drugs also such as experience had shown might +wake the disused tissues into life. I watched on with staring eyes, +rubbing her wasted body now and again, and always keeping the heat of +the bath at a constant. From the first I had barred the door against +all who would have come near to help me. With my own hands I had laid +my love to sleep, and I could not bear that others should rouse her, +if indeed roused she should ever be. But after those first offers, no +others came, and the snarl and din of fighting told of what occupied +them. + +It is hard to take note of small changes which occur with infinite +slowness when one is all the while on the tense watch, and high strung +though my senses were, I think there must have been some indication of +returning life shown before I was keen enough to notice it. For of a +sudden, as I gazed, I saw a faint rippling on the surface of the water +of the bath. Gods! Would it come back again to my love at last--this +life, this wakefulness? The ripple died out as it had come, and I +stooped my head nearer to the bath to try if I could see some faint +heaving of her bosom some small twitching of the limbs. No, she lay +there still without even a flutter of movement. But as I watched, surely +it seemed to my aching eyes that some tinge was beginning to warm that +blank whiteness of skin? + +How I filled myself with that sight. The colour was returning to her +again beyond a doubt. Once more the dried blood was becoming fluid and +beginning again to course in its old channels. Her hair floated out in +the liquid of the bath like some brown tangle of the ocean weed, and +ever and again it twitched and eddied to some impulse which in itself +was too small for the eye to see. + +She had slept for nine long years, and I knew that the wakening could +be none of the suddenest. Indeed, it came by its own gradations and +with infinite slowness, and I did not dare do more to hasten it. Further +drugs might very well stop eternally what those which had been used +already had begun. So I sat motionless where I was, and watched the +colour come back, and the waxenness go, and even the fullness of her +curves in some small measure return. And when growing strength gave +her power to endure them, and she was racked with those pains which are +inevitable to being born back again in this fashion to life, I too felt +the reflex of her agony, and writhed in loving sympathy. + +Still further, too, was I wrung by a torment of doubt as to whether life +or these rackings would in the end be conqueror. After each paroxysm +the colour ebbed back from her again, and for a while she would lie +motionless. But strength and power seemed gradually to grow, and at last +these prevailed, and drove death and sleep beneath them. Her eyelids +struggled with their fastenings. Her lips parted, and her bosom heaved. +With shivering gasps her breath began to pant between her reddening +lips. At first it rattled dryly in her throat, but soon it softened and +became more regular. And then with a last effort her eyes, her glorious +loving eyes, slowly opened. + +I leaned over and called her softly by name. + +Her eyes met mine, and a glow arose from their depths that gave me the +greatest joy I have met in all the world. + +“Deucalion, my love,” she whispered. “Oh, my dear, so you have come for +me. How I have dreamed of you! How I have been racked! But it was worth +it all for this.” + + + + +18. STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + + +It was Nais herself who sent me to attend to my sterner duties. The din +of the attack came to us in the house where I was tending her, and she +asked its meaning. As pithily as might be, for she was in no condition +for tedious listening, I gave her the history of her nine years’ sleep. + +The colour flushed more to her face. “My lord is the properest man in +all the world to be King,” she whispered. + +“I refused to touch the trade till they had given me the Queen I +desired, safe and alive, here upon the Mountain.” + +“How we poor women are made the chattels of you men! But, for myself, I +seem to like the traffic well enough. You should not have let me stand +in the way of Atlantis’ good, Deucalion. Still, it is very sweet to know +you were weak there for once, and that I was the cause of your weakness. +What is that bath over yonder? Ah! I remember; my wits seem none of the +clearest just now.” + +“You have made the beginning. Your strength will return to you by quick +degrees. But it will not bear hurrying. You must have a patience.” + +“Your ear, sir, for one moment, and then I will rest in peace. My poor +looks, are they all gone? You seem to have no mirror here. I had visions +that I should wake up wrinkled and old.” + +“You are as you were, dear, that first night I saw you--the most +beautiful woman in all the world.” + +“I am pleased you like me,” she said, and took the cup of broth I +offered her. “My hair seems to have grown; but it needs combing sadly. I +had a fancy, dear, once, that you liked ruddy hair best, and not a plain +brown.” She closed her eyes then, lying back amongst the cushions where +I had placed her, and dropped off into healthy sleep, with the smiles +still playing upon her lips. I put the coverlet over her, and kissed her +lightly, holding back my beard lest it should sweep her cheek. And then +I went out of the chamber. + +That beard had grown vastly disagreeable to me these last hours, and +then I went into a room in the house, and found instruments, and shaved +it down to the bare chin. A change of robe also I found there and took +it instead of my squalid rags. If a man is in truth a king, he owes +these things to the dignity of his office. + +But, if the din of the fighting was any guide, mine was a narrowing +kingdom. Every hour it seemed to grow fiercer and more near, and it was +clear that some of the gates in the passage up the cleft in the +cliff, impregnable though all men had thought them, had yielded to the +vehemence of Phorenice’s attack. And, indeed, it was scarcely to be +marvelled at. With all her genius spurred on to fury by the blow that +had been struck at her by wrecking so fair a part of the city, the +Empress would be no light adversary even for a strong place to resist, +and the Sacred Mountain was no longer strong. + +Defences of stone, cunningly planned and mightily built, it still +possessed, but these will not fight alone. They need men to line them, +and, moreover, abundance of men. For always in a storm of this kind, +some desperate fellows will spit at death and get to hand grips, or +slingers and archers slip in their shot, or the throwing-fire gets home, +or (as here) some newfangled machine like Phorenice’s fire-tubes, make +one in a thousand of their wavering darts find the life; and so, though +the general attacking loses his hundreds, the defenders also are not +without their dead. + +The slaughter, as it turned out, had been prodigious. As fast as the +stormers came up, the Priests who held the lowest gate remaining to us +rained down great rocks upon them till the narrow alley of the stair +was paved with their writhing dead. But Phorenice stood on a spur of the +rock below them urging on the charges, and with an insane valour company +after company marched up to hurl themselves hopelessly against the +defences. They had no machines to batter the massive gates, and their +attack was as pathetically useless as that of a child who hammers +against a wall with an orange; and meanwhile the terrible stones from +above mowed them down remorselessly. + +Company after company of the troops marched into this terrible +death-trap, and not a man of all of them ever came back. Nor was it +Phorenice’s policy that they should do so. In her lust for this final +conquest, she was minded to pour out troops till she had filled up the +passes with the slain, so that at last she might march on to a +level fight over the bridge of their poor bodies. It was no part of +Phorenice’s mood ever to count the cost. She set down the object which +was to be gained, and it was her policy that the people of Atlantis were +there to gain it for her. + +Two gates then had she carried in this dreadful fashion, slaughtering +those Priests that stood behind, them who had not been already shot +down. And here I came down from above to take my share in the fight. +There was no trumpet to announce my coming, no herald to proclaim my +quality, but the Priests as a sheer custom picked up “Deucalion!” as a +battle-cry; and some shouted that, with a King to lead, there would be +no further ground lost. + +It was clear that the name carried to the other side and bore weight +with it. A company of poor, doomed wretches who were hurrying up stopped +in their charge. The word “Deucalion!” was bandied round and handed +back down the line. I thought with some grim satisfaction, that here was +evidence I was not completely forgotten in the land. + +There came shouts to them from behind to carry on their advance; but +they did not budge; and presently a glittering officer panted up, and +commenced to strike right and left amongst them with his sword. From +where I stood on the high rampart above the gate, I could see him +plainly, and recognised him at once. + +“It matters not what they use for their battle-cry,” he was shouting. +“You have the orders of your divine Empress, and that is enough. You +should be proud to die for her wish, you cowards. And if you do not +obey, you will die afterwards under the instruments of the tormentors, +very painfully. As for Deucalion, he is dead any time these nine years.” + +“There it seems you lie, my Lord Tatho,” I shouted down to him. + +He started, and looked up at me. + +“So you are there in real truth, then? Well, old comrade, I am sorry. +But it is too late to make a composition now. You are on the side of +these mangy Priests, and the Empress has made an edict that they are to +be rooted out, and I am her most obedient servant.” + +“You used to be skilful of fence,” I said, and indeed there was little +enough to choose between us. “If it please you to stop this pitiful +killing, make yourself the champion of your side, and I will stand for +mine, and we will fight out this quarrel in some fair place, and bind +our parties to abide by the result.” + +“It would be a grand fight between us two, old friend, and it goes hard +with me to balk you of it. But I cannot pleasure you. I am general here +under Phorenice, and she has given me the strongest orders not to peril +myself. And besides, though you are a great man, Deucalion, you are not +chief. You are not even one of the Three.” + +“I am King.” + +Tatho laughed. “Few but yourself would say so, my lord.” + +“Few truly, but what there are, they are powerful. I was given the name +for the first time yesterday, and as a first blow in the campaign there +was some mischief done in the city. I was there myself, and saw how you +took it.” + +“You were in Atlantis!” + +“I went for Nais. She is on the mountain now, and to-morrow will be my +Queen. Tatho, as a priest to a priest, let me solemnly bring to your +memory the infinite power you bite against on this Sacred Mountain. Your +teaching has warned you of the weapons that are stored in the Ark of +the Mysteries. If you persist in this attack, at the best you can merely +lose; at the worst you can bring about a wreck over which even the High +Gods will shudder as They order it.” + +“You cannot scare us back now by words,” said Tatho doggedly. “And +as for magic, it will be met by magic. Phorenice has found by her own +cleverness as many powers as were ever stored up in the Ark of the +Mysteries.” + +“Yet she looked on helplessly enough last night, when her royal pyramid +was trundled into a rubbish heap. Zaemon had prophesied that this should +be so, and for a witness, why I myself stood closer to her than we two +stand now, and saw her.” + +“I will own you took her by surprise somewhat there. I do not understand +these matters myself; I was never more than one of the Seven in the old +days; and now, quite rightly, Phorenice keeps the knowledge of her magic +to herself: but it seems time is needed when one magic is to be met by +another.” + +“Well,” I said, “I know little about the business either. I leave these +matters now to those who are higher above me in the priesthood. Indeed, +having a liking for Nais, it seems I am debarred from ever being given +understanding about the highest of the higher Mysteries. So I content +myself with being a soldier, and when the appointed day comes, I shall +fall and kiss my mother the Earth for the last time. You, so I am told, +have ambition for longer life.” + +He nodded. “Phorenice has found the Great Secret, and I am to be the +first that will share it with her. We shall be as Gods upon the earth, +seeing that Death will be powerless to touch us. And the twin sons she +has borne me, will be made immortal also.” + +“Phorenice is headstrong. No, my lord, there is no need to shake your +head and try to deny it. I have had some acquaintance with her. But the +order has been made, and her immortality will be snatched from her very +rudely. Now, mark solemnly my words. I, Deucalion, have been appointed +King of Atlantis by the High Council of the Priests who are the +mouthpiece of the most High Gods, and if I do not have my reign, then +there will be no Atlantis left to carry either King or Empress. You know +me, Tatho, for a man that never lies.” + +He nodded. + +“Then save yourself before it is too late. You shall have again your +vice-royalty in Yucatan.” + +“But, man, there is no Yucatan. A great horde of little hairy creatures, +that were something less than human and something more than beasts, +swept down upon our cities and ate them out. Oh, you may sneer if you +choose! Others sneered when I came home, till the Empress stopped them. +But you know what a train of driver ants is, that you meet with in the +forests? You may light fires across their path, and they will march into +them in their blind bravery, and put them out with their bodies, and +those that are left will march on in an unbroken column, and devour +all that stands in their path. I tell you, my lord, those little hairy +creatures were like the ants--aye, for numbers, and wooden bravery, as +well as for appetite. As a result to-day, there is no Yucatan.” + +“You shall have Egypt, then.” + +He burst at me hotly. “I would not take seven Egypts and ten Yucatans. +My lord, you think more poorly of me than is kind, when you ask me to +become a traitor. In your place would you throw your Nais away, if the +doing it would save you from a danger?” + +“That is different.” + +“In no degree. You have a kindness for her. I have all that and more for +Phorenice, who is, besides, my wife and the mother of my children. If I +have qualms--and I freely confess I know you are desperate men up there, +and have dreadful powers at your command--my shiverings are for them and +not for myself. But I think, my lord, this parley is leading to nothing, +and though these common soldiers here will understand little enough of +our talk, they may be picking up a word here and there, and I do not +wish them to go on to their death (as you will see them do shortly) +and carry evil reports about me to whatever Gods they chance to come +before.” + +He saluted me with his sword and drew back, and once more the missiles +began to fly, and the doomed wretches, who had been halting beside +the steep rock walls of the pass began once more to press hopelessly +forward. They had scaling-ladders certainly, but they had no chance of +getting these planted. They could do naught but fill the narrow way with +their bodies, and to that end they had been sent, and to that end +they humbly died. Our Priests with crow and lever wrenched from their +lodging-places the great rocks which had been made ready, and sent them +crashing down, so that once more screams filled the pass, and the horrid +butchery was renewed. + +But ever and again, some arrow or some sling-stone, or some fire-tube’s +dart would find its way up from below and through the defences, and +there we would be with a man the less to carry on the fight. It was well +enough for Phorenice to be lavish with her troops; indeed, if she wished +for success, there were no two ways for it; and when those she had +levied were killed, she could readily press others into the service, +seeing that she had the whole broad face of the country under her rule. +But with us it was different. A man down on our side was a man whose +arm would bitterly be missed, and one which could in no possible way be +replaced. + +I made calculation of the chances, and saw clearly that, if we continued +the fight on the present plan, they would storm the gates one after +another as they came to them, and that by the time the uppermost gate +was reached, there would be no Priest alive to defend it. And so, not +disdaining to fashion myself on Phorenice’s newer plan, which held that +a general should at times in preference plot coldly from a place of some +safety, and not lead the thick of the fighting, I left those who stood +to the gate with some rough soldier’s words of cheer, and withdrew again +up the narrow stair of the pass. + +This one approach to the Sacred Mountain was, as I have said before, +vastly more difficult and dangerous in the olden days when it stood as +a mere bare cleft as the High Gods made it. But a chasm had been bridged +here, a shelf cut through the solid rock there, and in many places the +roadway was built up on piers from distant crags below so as to make all +uniform and easy. It came to my mind now, that if I could destroy this +path, we might gain a breathing space for further effort. + +The idea seemed good, or at least no other occurred to me which would +in any way relieve our desperate situation, and I looked around me for +means to put it into execution. Up and down, from the mountain to the +plains below, I had traversed that narrow stair of a pass some thousands +of times, and so in a manner of speaking knew every stone, and every +turn, and every cut of it by heart. But I had never looked upon it with +an eye to shaving off all roadway to the Sacred Mountain, and so now, +even in this moment of dreadful stress, I had to traverse it no less +than three times afresh before I could decide upon the best site for +demolition. + +But once the point was fixed, there was little delay in getting the +scheme in movement. Already I had sent men to the storehouses amongst +the Priests’ dwellings to fetch me rams, and crows, and acids, and +hammers, and such other material as was needed, and these stood handy +behind one of the upper gates. I put on every pair of hands that could +be spared to the work, no matter what was their age and feebleness; +yes, if Nais could have walked so far I would have pressed her for the +labour; and presently carved balustrade, and wayside statue, together +with the lettered wall-stones and the foot-worn cobbles, roared down +into the gulf below, and added their din to the shrieks and yells and +crashes of the fighting. Gods! But it was a hateful task, smashing down +that splendid handiwork of the men of the past. But it was better that +it should crash down to ruin in the abyss below, than that Phorenice +should profane it with her impious sandals. + +At first I had feared that it would be needful to sacrifice the knot of +brave men who were so valiantly defending the gate then being attacked. +It is disgusting to be forced into a measure of this kind, but in hard +warfare it is often needful to the carrying out of his schemes for a +general to leave a part of his troops to fight to a finish, and without +hope of rescue, as valiantly as they may; and all he can do for their +reward is to recommend them earnestly to the care of the Gods. But when +the work of destroying the pathway was nearly completed, I saw a chance +of retrieving them. + +We had not been content merely with breaking arches, and throwing down +the piers. We had got our rams and levers under the living rock itself +on which all the whole fabric stood; and fire stood ready to heat the +rams for their work; and when the word was given, the whole could be +sent crashing down the face of the cliffs beyond chance of repair. + +All was, I say, finally prepared in this fashion, and then I gave the +word to hold. A narrow ledge still remained undestroyed, and offered +footway, and over this I crossed. The cut we had made was immediately +below the uppermost gate of all, and below it there were three more +massive gates still unviolated, besides the one then being so vehemently +attacked. Already, the garrisons had been retired from these, and I +passed through them all in turn, unchallenged and unchecked, and came to +that busy rampart where the twelve Priests left alive worked, stripped +to the waist, at heaving down the murderous rocks. + +For awhile I busied myself at their side, stopping an occasional +fire-tube dart or arrow on my shield and passing them the tidings. The +attack was growing fiercer every minute now. The enemy had packed the +pass below well-nigh full of their dead, and our battering stones had +less distance to fall and so could do less execution. They pressed +forward more eagerly than ever with their scaling ladders, and it was +plain that soon they would inevitably put the place to the storm. Even +during the short time I was there, their sling-stones and missiles took +life from three more of the twelve who stood with me on the defence. + +So I gave the word for one more furious avalanche of rock to be pelted +down, and whilst the few living were crawling out from those killed +by the discharge, and whilst the next band of reinforcements came +scrambling up over the bodies, I sent my nine remaining men away at a +run up the steep stairway of the path, and then followed them myself. +Each of the gates in turn we passed, shutting them after us, and +breaking the bars and levers with which they were moved, and not till +we were through the last did the roar of shouts from below tell that the +besiegers had found the gate they bit against was deserted. + +One by one we balanced our way across the narrow ledge which was left +where the path had been destroyed, and one poor Priest that carried a +wound grew giddy, and lost his balance here, and toppled down to his +death in the abyss below before a hand could be stretched out to steady +him. And then, when we were all over, heat was put to the rams, and they +expanded with their resistless force, and tore the remaining ledges from +their hold in the rock. I think a pang went through us all then when +we saw for ourselves the last connecting link cut away from between the +poor remaining handful of our Sacred Clan on the Mountain, and the rest +of our great nation, who had grown so bitterly estranged to us, below. + +But here at any rate was a break in the fighting. There were no further +preparations we could make for our defence, and high though I knew +Phorenice’s genius to be, I did not see how she could very well do other +than accept the check and retire. So I set a guard on the ramparts of +the uppermost gate to watch all possible movements, and gave the word to +the others to go and find the rest which so much they needed. + +For myself, dutifully I tried to find Zaemon first, going on the errand +my proper self, for there was little enough of kingly state observed on +the Sacred Mountain, although the name and title had been given me. +But Zaemon was not to be come at. He was engaged inside the Ark of the +Mysteries with another of the Three, and being myself only one of the +Seven, I had not rank enough in the priesthood to break in upon their +workings. And so I was free to turn where my likings would have led me +first, and that was to the house which sheltered Nais. + +She waked as I came in over the threshold, and her eyes filled with a +welcome for me. I went across and knelt where she lay, putting my +face on the pillow beside her. She was full of tender talk and sweet +endearments. Gods! What an infinity of delight I had missed by not +knowing my Nais earlier! But she had a will of her own through it all, +and some quaint conceits which made her all the more adorable. She +rallied me on the new cleanness of my chin, and on the robe which I had +taken as a covering. She professed a pretty awe for my kingship, and +vowed that had she known of my coming dignities she would never have +dared to discover a love for me. But about my marriage with Phorenice +she spoke with less lightness. She put out her thin white hand, and drew +my face to her lips. + +“It is weak of me to have a jealousy,” she murmured, “knowing how +completely my lord is mine alone; but I cannot help it. You have said +you were her husband for awhile. It gives me a pang to think that I +shall not be the first to lie in your arms, Deucalion.” + +“Then you may gaily throw your pang away,” I whispered back. “I was +husband to Phorenice in mere word for how long I do not precisely know. +But in anything beyond, I was never her husband at all. She married +me by a form she prescribed herself, ignoring all the old rites and +ceremonies, and whether it would hold as legal or not, we need not +trouble to inquire. She herself has most nicely and completely annulled +that marriage as I have told you. Tatho is her husband now, and father +to her children, and he seems to have a fondness for her which does him +credit.” + +We said other things too in that chamber, those small repetitions +of endearments which are so precious to lovers, and so beyond the +comprehension of other folk, but they are not to be set down on these +sheets. They are a mere private matter which can have no concern to +any one beyond our two selves, and more weighty subjects are piling +themselves up in deep index for the historian. + +Phorenice, it seemed, had more rage against the Priests’ Clan on the +Mountain and more bright genius to help her to a vengeance than I had +credited. Her troops stormed easily the gates we had left to them, and +swarmed up till they stood where the pathway was broken down. In the +fierceness of their rush, the foremost were thrust over the brink by +those pressing up behind, before the advance could be halted, and these +went screaming to a horrid death in the great gulf below. But it was no +position here that a lavish spending of men could take, and presently +all were drawn off, save for some half-score who stood as outpost +sentries, and dodged out of arrow-shot behind angles of the rock. + +It seems, too, that the Empress herself reconnoitered the place, using +due caution and quickness, and so got for herself a full plan of its +requirements without being obliged to trust the measuring of another +eye. With extraordinary nimbleness she must have planned an engine such +as was necessary to suit her purposes, and given orders for its making; +for even with the vast force and resources at her disposal, the speed +with which it was built was prodigious. + +There was very little noise made to tell of what was afoot. All the +woodwork and metalwork was cut, and tongued, and forged, and fitted +first by skilled craftsmen below, in the plain at the foot of the cleft; +and when each ponderous balk and each crosspiece, and each plank was +dragged up the steep pass through the conquered gates, it was ready +instantly for fitting into its appointed place in the completed machine. + +The cleft was straight where they set about their building, and there +was no curve or spur of the cliff to hide their handiwork from those of +the Priests who watched from the ramparts above our one remaining gate. +But Phorenice had a coyness lest her engine should be seen before it +was completed, and so to screen it she had a vast fire built at the +uppermost point where the causeway was broken off, and fed diligently +with wet sedge and green wood, so that a great smoke poured out, rising +like a curtain that shut out all view. And so though the Priests on the +rampart above the gate picked off now and again some of those who tended +the fire, they could do the besiegers no further injury, and remained up +to the last quite in ignorance of their tactics. + +The passage up the cleft was in shadow during the night hours, for, +though all the crest of the Sacred Mountain was always lit brightly by +the eternal fires which made its defence on the farther side, their glow +threw no gleam down that flank where the cliff ran sheer to the plains +beneath. And so it was under cover of the darkness that Phorenice +brought up her engine into position for attack. + +Planking had been laid down for its wheels, and the wheels themselves +well greased, and it may be that she hoped to march in upon us whilst +all slept. But there was a certain creaking and groaning of timbers, +and laboured panting of men, which gave advertisement that something was +being attempted, and the alarm was spread quietly in the hope that if a +surprise had been planned, the real surprise might be turned the other +way. + +A messenger came to me running, where I sat in the house at the side of +my love, and she, like the soldier’s wife she was made to be, kissed me +and bade me go quickly and care for my honour, and bring back my wounds +for her to mend. + +On the rampart above the gate all was silence, save for the faint rustle +of armed men, and out of the black darkness ahead, and from the other +side of the broken causeway, came the sounds of which the messenger bad +warned me. + +The captain of the gate came to me and whispered: “We have made no light +till the King came, not knowing the King’s will in the matter. Is it +wished I send some of the throwing-fire down yonder, on the chance that +it does some harm, and at the same time lights up the place? Or is it +willed that we wait for their surprise?” + +“Send the fire,” I said, “or we may find that Phorenice’s brain has been +one too many for us.” + +The captain of the gate took one of the balls in his hand, lit the fuse, +and hurled it. The horrid thing burst amongst a mass of men who were +labouring with a huge engine, sputtering them with its deadly fire, and +lighting their garments. The plan of the engine showed itself plainly. +They had built them a vast great tower, resting on wheels at its base, +so that it might by pushed forward from behind, and slanting at its foot +to allow for the steepness of the path and leave it always upright. + +It was storeyed inside, with ladders joining each floor, and through +slits in the side which faced us bowmen could cover an attack. From its +top a great bridge reared high above it, being carried vertically till +the tower was brought near enough for its use. The bridge was hinged at +the third storey of the tower, and fastened with ropes to its extreme +top; but, once the ropes were cut, the bridge would fall, and light upon +whatever came within its swing, and be held there by the spikes with +which it was studded beneath. + +I saw, and inwardly felt myself conquered. The cleverness of Phorenice +had been too strong for my defence. No war-engine of which we had +command could overset the tower. The whole of its massive timbers +were hung with the wet new-stripped skins of beasts, so that even the +throwing-fire could not destroy it. What puny means we had to impede +those who pushed it forward would have little effect. Presently it would +come to the place appointed, and the ropes would be cut, and the bridge +would thunder down on the rampart above our last gate, and the stormers +would pour out to their final success. + +Well, life had loomed very pleasant for me these few days with a warm +and loving Nais once more in touch of my arms, but the High Gods in +Their infinite wisdom knew best always, and I was no rebel to stay +stiff-necked against their decision. But it is ever a soldier’s +privilege, come what may, to warm over a fight, and the most exquisitely +fierce joy of all is that final fight of a man who knows that he must +die, and who lusts only to make his bed of slain high enough to carry a +due memory of his powers with those who afterwards come to gaze upon it. +I gripped my axe, and the muscles of my arms stood out in knots at the +thought of it. Would Tatho come to give me sport? I feared not. They +would send only the common soldiers first to the storm, and I must be +content to do my killing on those. + +And Nais, what of her? I had a quiet mind there. When any spoilers came +to the house where she lay, she would know that Deucalion had been taken +up to the Gods, and she would not be long in following him. She had her +dagger. No, I had no fears of being parted long from Nais now. + + + + +19. DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS + + +A tottering old Priest came up and touched me on the shoulder. + +“Well?” I said sharply, having small taste for interruption just now. + +“News has been carried to the Three, my King, of what is threatened.” + +“Then they will know that I stand here now, brother, to enjoy the finest +fight of my life. When it is finished I shall go to the Gods, and be +there standing behind the stars to welcome them when presently they also +arrive. They have my regrets that they are too old and too feeble to die +and look upon a fine killing themselves.” + +“I have commands from them, my King, to lay upon you, which I fear you +will like but slenderly. You are forbidden to find your death here in +the fighting. They have a further use for you yet.” + +I turned on the old man angrily enough. “I shall take no such order, +my brother. I am not going to believe it was ever given. You must have +misunderstood. If I am a man, if I am a Priest, if I am a soldier, if +I am a King, then it stands to my honour that no enemy should pass this +gate whilst yet I live. And you may go back and throw that message at +their teeth.” + +The old man smiled enviously. He, too, had been a keen soldier in his +day. “I told them you would not easily believe such a message, and asked +them for a sign, and they bore with me, and gave me one. I was to give +you this jewel, my King.” + +“How came they by that? It is a bracelet from the elbow of Nais.” + +“They must have stripped her of it. I did not know it came from Nais. +The word I was to bring you said that the owner of the jewel was inside +the Ark of the Mysteries, and waited you there. The use which the Three +have for you further concerns her also.” + +Even when I heard that, I will freely confess that my obedience was +sorely tried, and I have the less shame in setting it down on these +sheets, because I know that all true soldiers will feel a sympathy for +my plight. Indeed, the promise of the battle was very tempting. But in +the end my love for Nais prevailed, and I gave the salutation that was +needful in token that I heard the order and obeyed it. + +To the knot of Priests who were left for the defence, I turned and made +my farewells. “You will have what I shall miss, my brothers,” I said. “I +envy you that fight. But, though I am King of Atlantis, still I am only +one of the Seven, and so am the servant of the Three and must obey their +order. They speak in words the will of the most High Gods, and we must +do as they command. You will stand behind the stars before I come, and +I ask of you that you will commend me to Those you meet there. It is not +my own will that I shall not appear there by your side.” + +They heard my words with smiles, and very courteously saluted me with +their weapons, and there we parted. I did not see the fight, but I know +it was good, from the time which passed before Phorenice’s hordes broke +out on to the crest of the Mountain. They died hard, that last remnant +of the lesser Priests of Atlantis. + +With a sour enough feeling I went up to the head of the pass, and then +through the groves, and between the temples and colleges and houses +which stood on the upper slopes of the Sacred Mountain, till I reached +that boundary, beyond which in milder days it was death for any but the +privileged few to pass. But the time, it appeared to me, was past for +conventions, and, moreover, my own temper was hot; and it is likely +that I should have strode on with little scruple if I had not been +interrupted. But in the temple which marked the boundary, there was old +Zaemon waiting; and he, with due solemnity of words, and with the whole +of some ancient ritual ordained for that purpose, sought dispensation +from the High Gods for my trespass, and would not give me way till he +was through with his ceremony. + +Already Phorenice’s tower and bridge were in position, for the clash and +yelling of a fight told that the small handful of Priests on the rampart +of the last gate were bartering their lives for the highest return in +dead that they could earn. They were trained fighting men all, but old +and feeble, and the odds against them were too enormous to be stemmed +for over long. In a very short time the place would be put to the storm, +and the roof of the Sacred Mountain would be at the open mercy of the +invader. If there was any further thing to be done, it was well that it +should be set about quickly whilst peace remained. It seemed to me +that the moment for prompt action, and the time for lengthy pompous +ceremonial was done for good. + +But Zaemon was minded otherwise. He led me up to the Ark of the +Mysteries, and chided my impatience, and waited till I had given it my +reverential kiss, and then he called aloud, and another old man came +out of the opening which is in the top of the Ark, and climbed painfully +down by the battens which are fixed on its sides. He was a man I had +never seen before, hoary, frail, and emaciated, and he and Zaemon were +then the only two remaining Priests who had been raised to the highest +degree known to our Clan, and who alone had knowledge of the highest +secrets and powers and mysteries. + +“Look!” cried Zaemon, in his shrill old voice, and swept a trembling +finger over the shattered city, and the great spread of sea and country +which lay in view of us below. I followed his pointing and looked, and a +chill began to crawl through me. All was plainly shown. Our Lord the Sun +burned high overhead in a sky of cloudless blue, and day shimmered in +His heat. All below seemed from that distance peaceful and warm and +still, save only that the mountains smoked more than ordinary, and some +spouted fires, and that the sea boiled with some strange disorder. + +But it was the significance of the sea that troubled me most. Far out on +the distant coast it surged against the rocks in enormous rolls of surf; +and up the great estuary, at the head of which the city of Atlantis +stands, it gushed in successive waves of enormous height which never +returned. Already the lower lands on either side were blotted out +beneath tumultuous waters, the harbour walls were drowned out of sight, +and the flood was creeping up into the lower wards of the great city +itself. + +“You have seen?” asked Zaemon. + +“I have seen.” + +“You understand?” + +“In part.” + +“Then let me tell you all. This is the beginning, and the end will +follow swiftly. The most High Gods, that sit behind the stars, have a +limit to even Their sublime patience; and that has been passed. The city +of Atlantis, the great continent that is beyond, and all that are in +them are doomed to unutterable destruction. Of old it was foreseen that +this great wiping-out would happen through the sins of men, and to this +end the Ark of the Mysteries was built under the direction of the Gods. +No mortal implements can so much as scratch its surface, no waves or +rocks wreck it. Inside is stored on sheets of the ancient writing all +that is known in the world of learning that is not shared by the +common people, also there is grain in a store, and sweet water in tanks +sufficient for two persons for the space of four years, together with +seeds, weapons, and all such other matters as were deemed fit. + +“Out of all this vast country it has been decreed by the High Gods that +two shall not perish. Two shall be chosen, a man and a woman, who are +fit and proper persons to carry away with them the ancient learning to +dispose of it as they see best, and afterwards to rear up a race who +shall in time build another kingdom and do honour to our Lord the +Sun and the other Gods in another place. The woman is within the Ark +already, and seated in the place appointed for her, and though she is a +daughter of mine, the burden of her choosing is with you. For the man, +the choice has fallen upon yourself.” + +I was half numb with the shock of what was befalling. “I do not know +that I care to be a survivor.” + +“You are not asked for your wishes,” said the old man. “You are given an +order from the High Gods, who know you to be Their faithful servant.” + +Habit rode strong upon me. I made salutation in the required form, and +said that I heard and would obey. + +“Then it remains to raise you to the sublime degree of the Three, and if +your learning is so small that you will not understand the keys to many +of the Powers, and the highest of the Mysteries, when they are handed to +you, that fault cannot be remedied now.” + +Certainly the time remaining was short enough. The fight still raged +down at the gate in the pass, though it was a wonder how the handful of +Priests had held their ground so long. But the ocean rolled in upon the +land in an ever-increasing flood, and the mountains smoked and belched +forth more volleys of rock as the weight increased on their lower parts, +and presently those that besieged the Mountain could not fail to see +the fate that threatened them. Then there would be no withholding their +rush. In their mad fury and panic they would sweep all obstruction +resistlessly before them, and those who stood in their path might look +to themselves. + +But there was no hurrying Zaemon and his fellow sage. They were without +temple for the ceremony, without sacrifice or incense to decorate it. +They had but the sky for a roof to make their echoes, and the Gods +themselves for witnesses. But they went through the work of raising +me to their own degree, with all the grand and majestic form which has +gathered dignity from the ages, and by no one sentence did they curtail +it. A burning mountain burst with a bellowing roar as the incoming +waters met its fires, but gravely they went on, in turn reciting their +sentences. Phorenice’s troops broke down the last resistance, and poured +in a frenzied stream amongst the groves and temples, but still they +quavered never in the ritual. + +It had been said that this ceremony is the grandest and the most +impressive of all those connected with our holy religion; and certainly +I found it so; and I speak as one intimate with all the others. Even the +tremendous circumstances which hemmed them in could do nothing to make +these frail old men forget the deference which was due to the highest +order of the Clan. + +For myself, I will freely own I was less rapt. I stood there bareheaded +in the heat, a man trying to concentrate himself, and yet torn the while +by a thousand foreign emotions. The awful thing that was happening all +around compelled some of my attention. A continent was in the very act +and article of meeting with complete destruction, and if Zaemon and +the other Priest were strong enough to give their minds wholly up to a +matter parochial to the priesthood, I was not so stoical. And moreover, +I was filled with other anxieties and thoughts concerning Nais. Yet I +managed to preserve a decent show of attention to the ceremony; making +all those responses which were required of me; and trying as well as +might be to preserve in my mind those sentences which were the keys to +power and learning, and not mere phrasings of grandeur and devotion. + +But it became clear that if the ceremony of my raising did not soon +arrive at its natural end, it would be cut short presently with +something of suddenness. Phorenice’s conquering legions swarmed out +on to the crest of the Mountain, and now carried full knowledge of the +dreadful thing that was come upon the country. They were out of all +control, and ran about like men distracted; but knowing full well that +the Priests would have brought this terrible wreck to pass by virtue of +the powers which were stored within the Ark of the Mysteries, it would +be their natural impulse to pour out a final vengeance upon any of these +same Priests they could come across before it was too late. + +It began to come to my mind that if the ceremony did not very shortly +terminate, the further part of the plan would stand very small chance +of completion, and I should come by my death after all by fighting to a +finish, as I had pictured to myself before. My flickering attention saw +the soldiers coming always nearer in their frantic wanderings, and saw +also the sea below rolling deeper and deeper in upon the land. + +The fires, too, which ringed in half the mountain, spurted up to +double their old height, and burned with an unceasing roar. But for all +distraction these things gave to the two old Priests who were raising +me, we might have been in the quietness of some ancient temple, with no +so much as a fly to buzz an interruption. + +But at last an end came to the ceremony. “Kneel,” cried Zaemon, “and +make obeisance to your mother the Earth, and swear by the High Gods that +you will never make improper use of the powers over Her which this day +you have been granted.” + +When I had done that, he bade me rise as a fully installed and duly +initiated member of the Three. “You will have no opportunity to practise +the workings of this degree with either of us, my brother,” said he, +“for presently our other brother and I go to stand before the Gods to +deliver to Them an account of our trust, and of how we have carried it +out. But what items you remember here and there may turn of use to you +hereafter. And now we two give you our farewells, and promise to commend +you highly to the Gods when soon we meet Them in Their place behind +the stars. Climb now into the Ark, and be ready to shut the door which +guards it, if there is any attempt by these raging people to invade that +also. Remember, my brother, it is the Gods’ direct will that you and the +woman Nais go from this place living and sound, and you are expressly +forbidden to accept challenge or provocation to fight on any pretext +whatever. But as long as may be done in safety, you may look out upon +Atlantis in her death-throes. It is very fitting that one of the only +two who are sent hence alive, should carry the full tale of what has +befallen.” + +I went to the top of the Ark of Mysteries then, climbing there by the +battens which are fastened to the sides, and then descended by the stair +which is inside and found Nais in a little chamber waiting for me. + +“I was bidden stay here by Zaemon,” she said, “who forced me to this +place by threats and also by promises that my lord would follow. He is +very ungentle, that father of mine, but I think he has a kindness for us +both, and any way he is my father and I cannot help loving him. Is there +no chance to save him from what is going to happen?” + +“He will not come into this Ark, for I asked him. It has been ordained +from the ancient time when first the Ark was built, that when the day +for its purpose came, one woman and one man should be its only tenants, +and they are here already. Zaemon’s will in the matter is not to be +twisted by you or by me. He has a message to be delivered to the Gods, +and (if I know him at all), he grudges every minute that is lost in +carrying it to them.” + +I left her then, and went out again up the stair, and stood once more on +the roof of the Ark. On the Mountain top men still ran about distracted, +but gradually they were coming to where the Ark rested on the highest +point. For the moment, however, I passed them lightly. The drowning of +the great continent that had been spread out below filled the eye. Ocean +roared in upon it with still more furious waves. The plains and the +level lands were foaming lakes. The great city of Atlantis had vanished +eternally. The mountains alone kept their heads above the flood, and +spewed out rocks, and steam, and boiling stone, or burst when the waters +reached them and created great whirlpools of surging sea, and twisted +trees, and bubbling mud. + +In the space of a few breaths every living creature that dwelt in the +lower grounds had been smothered by the waters, save for a few who +huddled in a pair of galleys that were driven oarless inland, over what +had once been black forest and hunting land for the beasts. And even as +I watched, these also were swallowed up by the horrid turmoil of sea, +and nothing but the sea beasts, and those of the greater lizards which +can live in such outrageous waters, could have survived even that +state of the destruction. Indeed, none but those men who had now found +standing-ground on the upper slopes of the Sacred Mountain survived, +and it was plain that their span was short, for the great mass of the +continent sank deeper and more deep every minute before our aching eyes, +beneath the boiling inrush of the seas. + +But though the great mass of the soldiery were dazed and maddened at the +prospect of the overwhelming which threatened them, there were some with +a strength of mind too valiant to give any outward show of discomposure. +Presently a compact little body of people came from out the houses and +the temples, and headed directly across the open ground towards the Ark. +On the outside marched Phorenice’s personal guards with their weapons +new blooded. They had been forced to fight a way through their own +fellow soldiers. The poor demented creatures had thought it was every +one for himself now, till these guards (by their mistress’s order) +proved to them that Phorenice still came first. + +And in the middle of them, borne in a litter of gold and ivory by her +grotesque European slaves, rode the Empress, still calm, still lovely, +and seemingly divided in her sentiments between contempt and amusement. +Her two children lay in the litter at her feet. On her right hand +marched Tatho gorgeously apparelled, and with a beard curled and plaited +into a thousand ringlets. On the other side, plying her industry with +unruffled defence, walked Ylga, once again fan-girl, and so still second +lady in this dwindling kingdom. + +The party of them halted half a score of paces from the Ark by +Phorenice’s order. “Do not go nearer to those unclean old men. They +carry a rank odour with them, and for the moment we are short of +essences to sweeten the air of their neighbourhood.” She lifted her +eyebrows and looked up at me. “Truly a quiet little gathering of old +acquaintances. Why, there is Deucalion, that once I took the flavour of +and threw aside when he cloyed me.” + +“I have Nais here,” I said, “and presently we two will be all that are +left alive of this nation.” + +“Nais is quite welcome to my leavings,” she laughed. “I will look down +upon your country cooings when presently I go back to the Place behind +the stars from which I came. You are a very rustic person, Deucalion. +They tell me too that three or four of these smelling old men up +here have named you King. Did you swell much with dignity? Or did +you remember that there was a pretty Empress left that would still be +Empress so long as there was an Atlantis to govern? Come, sir, find your +tongue. By my face! you must have hungered for me very madly these years +we have been parted, if new-grown ruggedness of feature is an evidence.” + +“Have your gibe. I do not gibe back at a woman who presently will die.” + +“Bah! Deucalion, you will live behind the times. Have they not told you +that I know the Great Secret and am indeed a Goddess now? My arts can +make life run on eternally.” + +“Then the waters will presently test them hard,” I said, but there the +talk was taken into other lips. Zaemon went forward to the front of +the litter with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun glowing in his hand, and +burst into a flow of cursing. It was hard for me to hear his words. The +roar of the waters which poured up over the land, and beat in vast waves +against the Sacred Mountain itself, grew nearer and more loud. But the +old man had his say. + +Phorenice gave orders to her guards for his killing; yes, tried even to +rise from the litter and do the work herself; but Zaemon held the Symbol +to his front, and its power in that supreme moment mastered all the arts +that could be brought against it. The majesty of the most High Gods +was vindicated, and that splendid Empress knew it and lay back sullenly +amongst the cushions of her litter, a beaten woman. + +Only one person in that rigid knot of people found power to leave the +rest, and that was Ylga. She came out to the side of the Ark, and leaned +up, and cried me a farewell through the gathering roar of the flood. + +“I would I might save you and take you with us,” I said. + +“As for that,” she said, with a gesture, “I would not come if you asked +me. I am not a woman that will take anything less than all. But I shall +meet what comes presently with the memory that you will have me always +somewhere in your recollection. I know somewhat of men, even men of your +stamp, Deucalion, and you will never forget that you came very near to +loving me once.” + +I think, too, she said something further, concerning Nais, but the +bellowing rush of the waters drowned all other words. A great mist made +from the stream sent up by the swamped burning mountains stopped all +accurate view, though the blaze from the fires lit it like gold. But +I had a last sight of a horde of soldiery rushing up the slopes of the +Mountain, with a scum of surge billowing at their heels, and licking +many of them back in its clutch. And then my eye fell on old Zaemon +waving to me with the Symbol to shut down the door in the roof of the +Ark. + +I obeyed his last command, and went down the stair, and closed all +ingress behind me. There were bolts placed ready, and I shot these into +their sockets, and there were Nais and I alone, and cut off from all the +rest of our world that remained. + +I went to the place where she lay, and put my arms tightly around her. +Without, we heard men beating desperately on the Ark with their weapons, +and some even climbed by the battens to the top and wrenched to try and +move the door from its fastenings. The end was coming very nearly to +them now, and the great crowd of them were mad with terror. + +I would have given much to have known how Phorenice fared in that final +tumult, and how she faced it. I could see her, with her lovely face, and +her wondrous eyes, and her ruddy hair curling about her neck, and by +all the Gods! I thought more of her at that last moment than of the +poor land she had conquered, and misgoverned, and brought to this horrid +destruction. There is no denying the fascination which Phorenice carried +with her. + +But the end did not dally long with its coming. There was a little surge +that lifted the Ark a hand’s breadth or so in its cradle, and set it +back again with a jar and a quiver. The blows from axes and weapons +ceased on its lower part, but redoubled into frenzied batterings on its +rounded roof. There were some screams and cries also which came to +us but dully through the thickness of its ponderous sheathing, though +likely enough they were sent forth at the full pitch of human lungs +outside. And when another surge came, roaring and thundering, which +picked up the great vessel as though it had been a feather, and spun it +giddily; and after that we touched earth or rock no more. + +We tossed about on the crest and troughs of delirious seas, a sport for +the greedy Gods of the ocean. The lamp had fallen, and we crouched there +in darkness, dully weighed with the burden of knowledge that we alone +were saved out of what was yesterday a mighty nation. + + + + +20. ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP + + +The Ark was rudderless, oarless, and machineless, and could travel only +where the High Gods chose. The inside was dark, and full of an ancient +smell, and crowded with groanings and noise. I could not find the +fire-box to relight the fallen lamp, and so we had to endure blindly +what was dealt out to us. The waves tossed us in merciless sport, and I +clung on by the side of Nais, holding her to the bed. We did not speak +much, but there was full companionship in our bereavement and our +silence. + +When Atlantis sank to form new ocean bed, she left great whirlpools and +spoutings from her drowned fires as a fleeting legacy to the Gods of the +Sea. And then, I think (though in the black belly of the Ark we could +not see these things), a vast hurricane of wind must have come on next +so as to leave no piece of the desolation incomplete. For seven nights +and seven days did this dreadful turmoil continue, as counted for us +afterwards by the reckoner of hours which hung within the Ark, and then +the howling of the wind departed, and only the roll of a long still +swell remained. It was regular and it was oily, as I could tell by the +difference of the motion, and then for the first time I dared to go up +the stair, and open the door which stood in the roof of the Ark. + +The sweet air came gushing down to freshen the foulness within, and as +the Ark rode dryly over the seas, I went below and brought up Nais to +gain refreshment from the curing rays of our Lord the Sun. Duly the pair +of us adored Him, and gave thanks for His great mercy in coming to light +another day, and then we laid ourselves down where we were to doze, and +take that easy rest which we so urgently needed. + +Yet, though I was tired beyond words, for long enough sleep would not +visit me. Wearily I stared out over the oily sunlit waters. No blur +of land met the eye. The ring of ocean was unbroken on every side, and +overhead the vault of heaven remained unchanged. The bosom of the deep +was littered with the poor wreckage of Atlantis, to remind one, if there +had been a need, that what had come about was fact, and not some horrid +dream. Trees, squared timber, a smashed and upturned boat of hides, and +here and there the rounded corpse of a man or beast shouldered over the +swells, and kept convoy with our Ark as she drifted on in charge of the +Gods and the current. + +But sleep came to me at last, and I dropped off into unconsciousness, +holding the hand of Nais in mine, and when next I woke, I found her +open-eyed also and watching me tenderly. We were finely rested, both of +us, and rest and strength bring one complacency. We were more ready +now to accept the station which the High Gods had made for us without +repining, and so we went below again into the belly of the Ark to eat +and drink and maintain strength for the new life which lay before us. + +A wonderful vessel was this Ark, now we were able to see it at leisure +and intimately. Although for the first time now in all its centuries +of life it swam upon the waters, it showed no leak or suncrack. Inside, +even its floor was bone dry. That it was built from some wood, one could +see by the grainings, but nowhere could one find suture or joint. The +living timbers had been put in place and then grown together by an +art which we have lost to-day, but which the Ancients knew with much +perfection; and afterwards some treatment, which is also a secret +of those forgotten builders, had made the wood as hard as metal and +impervious to all attacks of the weather. + +In the gloomy cave of its belly were stored many matters. At one end, in +great tanks on either side of central alley, was a prodigious store of +grain. Sweet water was in other tanks at the other end. In another place +were drugs and samples, and essences of the life of beasts; all these +things being for use whilst the Ark roamed under the guidance of the +Gods on the bosom of the deep. On all the walls of the Ark, and on all +the partitions of the tanks and the other woodwork, there were carved +in the rude art of bygone time representations of all the beasts which +lived in Atlantis; and on these I looked with a hunter’s interest, as +some of them were strange to me, and had died out with the men who had +perpetuated them in these sculptures. There was a good store of weapons +too and the tools for handicrafts. + +Now, for many weeks, our life endured in this Ark as the Gods drove it +about here and there across the face of the waters. We had no government +over direction; we could not by so much as a hair’s breadth a day +increase her speed. The High Gods that had chosen the two of us to be +the only ones saved out of all Atlantis, had sole control of our fate, +and into Their hands we cheerfully resigned our future direction. + +Of that land which we reached in due time, and where we made our abiding +place, and where our children were born, I shall tell of in its place; +but since this chronicle has proceeded so far in an exact order of the +events as they came to pass, it is necessary first to narrate how we +came by the sheets on which it is written. + +In a great coffer, in the centre of the Ark’s floor, the whole of the +Mysteries learned during the study of ages were set down in accurate +writing. I read through some of them during the days which passed, and +the awfulness of the Powers over which they gave control appalled me. I +had seen some of these Powers set loose in Atlantis, and was a witness +of her destruction. But here were Powers far higher than those; here was +the great Secret of Life and Death which Phorenice also had found, and +for which she had been destroyed; and there were other things also of +which I cannot even bring my stylo to scribe. + +The thought of being custodian of these writings was more than I could +endure, and the more the matter rested in my mind, the more intolerable +became the burden. And at last I took hot irons, and with them seared +the wax on the sheets till every letter of the old writings was +obliterated. If I did wrong, the High Gods in Their infinite justice +will give me punishment; if it is well that these great secrets should +endure on earth, They in their infinite power will dictate them afresh +to some fitting scribes; but I destroyed them there as the Ark swayed +with us over the waves; and later, when we came to land, I rewrote upon +the sheets the matters which led to great Atlantis being dragged to her +death-throes. + +Nais, that I love so tenderly-- + +[TRANSLATOR’S NOTE: The remaining sheets are too broken to be legible.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s The Lost Continent, by C. J. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/285-0.zip b/285-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b17f7b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/285-0.zip diff --git a/285-h.zip b/285-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dcf51d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/285-h.zip diff --git a/285-h/285-h.htm b/285-h/285-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1237b1f --- /dev/null +++ b/285-h/285-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11403 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Lost Continent, by C. J. Cutliffe Hyne + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lost Continent, by C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lost Continent + +Author: C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne + +Release Date: July 6, 2008 [EBook #285] +Last Updated: November 8, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST CONTINENT *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE LOST CONTINENT + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By C. J. Cutliffe Hyne + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> PREFATORY: </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> 1. MY RECALL </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> 2. BACK TO ATLANTIS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> 3. A RIVAL NAVY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> 4. THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> 5. ZAEMON’S CURSE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> 6. THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> 7. THE BITERS OF THE WALLS (FURTHER + ACCOUNT) </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> 8. THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> 9. PHORENICE, GODDESS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> 10. A WOOING </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> 11. AN AFFAIR WITH THE BARBAROUS FISHERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> 12. THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE MOON </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> 13. THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> 14. AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> 15. ZAEMON’S SUMMONS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> 16. SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> 17. NAIS THE REGAINED </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> 18. STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> 19. DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> 20. ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + PREFATORY: + </h2> + <h3> + THE LEGATEES OF DEUCALION + </h3> + <p> + We were both of us not a little stiff as the result of sleeping out in the + open all that night, for even in Grand Canary the dew-fall and the + comparative chill of darkness are not to be trifled with. For myself on + these occasions I like a bit of a run as an early refresher. But here on + this rough ground in the middle of the island there were not three yards + of level to be found, and so as Coppinger proceeded to go through some + sort of dumb-bell exercises with a couple of lumps of bristly lava, I + followed his example. Coppinger has done a good deal of roughing it in his + time, but being a doctor of medicine amongst other things—he takes + out a new degree of some sort on an average every other year—he is + great on health theories, and practises them like a religion. + </p> + <p> + There had been rain two days before, and as there was still a bit of + stream trickling along at the bottom of the barranca, we went down there + and had a wash, and brushed our teeth. Greatest luxury imaginable, a + toothbrush, on this sort of expedition. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Coppinger when we had emptied our pockets, “there’s precious + little grub left, and it’s none the better for being carried in a local + Spanish newspaper.” + </p> + <p> + “Yours is mostly tobacco ashes.” + </p> + <p> + “It’ll get worse if we leave it. We’ve a lot more bad scrambling ahead of + us.” + </p> + <p> + That was obvious. So we sat down beside the stream there at the bottom of + the barranca, and ate up all of what was left. It was a ten-mile tramp to + the fonda at Santa Brigida, where we had set down our traps; and as + Coppinger wanted to take a lot more photographs and measurements before we + left this particular group of caves, it was likely we should be pretty + sharp set before we got our next meal, and our next taste of the PATRON’S + splendid old country wine. My faith! If only they knew down in the English + hotels in Las Palmas what magnificent wines one could get—with + diplomacy—up in some of the mountain villages, the old vintage would + become a thing of the past in a week. + </p> + <p> + Now to tell the truth, the two mummies he had gathered already quite + satisfied my small ambition. The goatskins in which they were sewn up were + as brittle as paper, and the poor old things themselves gave out dust like + a puffball whenever they were touched. But you know what Coppinger is. He + thought he’d come upon traces of an old Guanche university, or sacred + college, or something of that kind, like the one there is on the other + side of the island, and he wouldn’t be satisfied till he’d ransacked every + cave in the whole face of the cliff. He’d plenty of stuff left for the + flashlight thing, and twenty-eight more films in his kodak, and said we + might as well get through with the job then as make a return journey all + on purpose. So he took the crowbar, and I shouldered the rope, and away we + went up to the ridge of the cliff, where we had got such a baking from the + sun the day before. + </p> + <p> + Of course these caves were not easy to come at, or else they would have + been raided years before. Coppinger, who on principle makes out he knows + all about these things, says that in the old Guanche days they had ladders + of goatskin rope which they could pull up when they were at home, and so + keep out undesirable callers; and as no other plan occurs to me, perhaps + he may be right. Anyway the mouths of the caves were in a more or less + level row thirty feet below the ridge of the cliff, and fifty feet above + the bottom; and Spanish curiosity doesn’t go in much where it cannot walk. + </p> + <p> + Now laddering such caves from below would have been cumbersome, but a + light knotted rope is easily carried, and though it would have been hard + to climb up this, our plan was to descend on each cave mouth from above, + and then slip down to the foot of the cliffs, and start again AB INITIO + for the next. + </p> + <p> + Coppinger is plucky enough, and he has a good head on a height, but there + is no getting over the fact that he is portly and nearer fifty than + forty-five. So you can see he must have been pretty keen. Of course I went + first each time, and got into the cave mouth, and did what I could to help + him in; but when you have to walk down a vertical cliff face fly-fashion, + with only a thin bootlace of a rope for support, it is not much real help + the man below can give, except offer you his best wishes. + </p> + <p> + I wanted to save him as much as I could, and as the first three caves I + climbed to were small and empty, seeming to be merely store-places, I + asked him to take them for granted, and save himself the rest. But he + insisted on clambering down to each one in person, and as he decided that + one of my granaries was a prison, and another a pot-making factory, and + another a schoolroom for young priests, he naturally said he hadn’t much + reliance on my judgment, and would have to go through the whole lot + himself. You know what these thorough-going archaeologists are for + imagination. + </p> + <p> + But as the day went on, and the sun rose higher, Coppinger began clearly + to have had enough of it, though he was very game, and insisted on going + on much longer than was safe. I must say I didn’t like it. You see the + drop was seldom less than eighty feet from the top of the cliffs. However, + at last he was forced to give it up. I suggested marching off to Santa + Brigida forthwith, but he wouldn’t do that. There were three more + cave-openings to be looked into, and if I wouldn’t do them for him, he + would have to make another effort to get there himself. He tried to make + out he was conferring a very great favour on me by offering to take a + report solely from my untrained observation, but I flatly refused to look + at it in that light. I was pretty tired also; I was soaked with + perspiration from the heat; my head ached from the violence of the sun; + and my hands were cut raw with the rope. + </p> + <p> + Coppinger might be tired, but he was still enthusiastic. He tried to make + me enthusiastic also. “Look here,” he said, “there’s no knowing what you + may find up there, and if you do lay hands on anything, remember it’s your + own. I shall have no claim whatever.” + </p> + <p> + “Very kind of you, but I’ve got no use for any more mummies done up in + goatskin bags.” + </p> + <p> + “Bah! That’s not a burial cave up there. Don’t you know the difference yet + in the openings? Now, be a good fellow. It doesn’t follow that because we + have drawn all the rest blank, you won’t stumble across a good find for + yourself up there.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, very well,” I said, as he seemed so set on it; and away I stumbled + over the fallen rocks, and along the ledge, and then scrambled up by that + fissure in the cliff which saved us the two-mile round which we had had to + take at first. I wrenched out the crowbar, and jammed it down in a new + place, and then away I went over the side, with hands smarting worse at + every new grip of the rope. It was an awkward job swinging into the cave + mouth because the rock above overhung, or else (what came to the same + thing) it had broken away below; but I managed it somehow, although I + landed with an awkward thump on my back, and at the same time I didn’t let + go the rope. It wouldn’t do to have lost the rope then: Coppinger couldn’t + have flicked it into me from where he was below. + </p> + <p> + Now from the first glance I could see that this cave was of different + structure to the others. They were for the most part mere dens, rounded + out anyhow; this had been faced up with cutting tools, so that all the + angles were clean, and the sides smooth and flat. The walls inclined + inwards to the roof, reminding me of an architecture I had seen before but + could not recollect where, and moreover there were several rooms connected + up with passages. I was pleased to find that the other cave-openings which + Coppinger wanted me to explore were merely the windows or the doorways of + two of these other rooms. + </p> + <p> + Of inscriptions or markings on the walls there was not a trace, though I + looked carefully, and except for bats the place was entirely bare. I lit a + cigarette and smoked it through—Coppinger always thinks one is + slurring over work if it is got through too quickly—and then I went + to the entrance where the rope was, and leaned out, and shouted down my + news. + </p> + <p> + He turned up a very anxious face. “Have you searched it thoroughly?” he + bawled back. + </p> + <p> + “Of course I have. What do you think I’ve been doing all this time?” + </p> + <p> + “No, don’t come down yet. Wait a minute. I say, old man, do wait a minute. + I’m making fast the kodak and the flashlight apparatus on the end of the + rope. Pull them up, and just make me half a dozen exposures, there’s a + good fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, all right,” I said, and hauled the things up, and got them inside. + The photographs would be absolutely dull and uninteresting, but that + wouldn’t matter to Coppinger. He rather preferred them that way. One has + to be careful about halation in photographing these dark interiors, but + there was a sort of ledge like a seat by the side of each doorway, and so + I lodged the camera on that to get a steady stand, and snapped off the + flashlight from behind and above. + </p> + <p> + I got pictures of four of the chambers this way, and then came to one + where the ledge was higher and wider. I put down the camera, wedged it + level with scraps of stone, and then sat down myself to recharge the + flashlight machine. But the moment my weight got on that ledge, there was + a sharp crackle, and down I went half a dozen inches. + </p> + <p> + Of course I was up again pretty sharply, and snapped up the kodak just as + it was going to slide off to the ground. I will confess, too, I was + feeling pleased. Here at any rate was a Guanche cupboard of sorts, and as + they had taken the trouble to hermetically seal it with cement, the odds + were that it had something inside worth hiding. At first there was nothing + to be seen but a lot of dust and rubble, so I lit a bit of candle and + cleared this away. Presently, however, I began to find that I was shelling + out something that was not cement. It chipped away, in regular layers, and + when I took it to the daylight I found that each layer was made up of two + parts. One side was shiny stuff that looked like talc, and on this was + smeared a coating of dark toffee-coloured material, that might have been + wax. The toffee-coloured surface was worked over with some kind of + pattern. + </p> + <p> + Now I do not profess to any knowledge on these matters, and as a + consequence took what Coppinger had told me about Guanche habits and + acquirements as more or less true. For instance, he had repeatedly + impressed upon me that this old people could not write, and having this in + my memory, I did not guess that the patterns scribed through the wax were + letters in some obsolete character, which, if left to myself, probably I + should have done. But still at the same time I came to the conclusion that + the stuff was worth looting, and so set to work quarrying it out with the + heel of my boot and a pocket-knife. + </p> + <p> + The sheets were all more or less stuck together, and so I did not go in + for separating them farther. They fitted exactly to the cavity in which + they were stored, but by smashing down its front I was able to get at the + foot of them, and then I hacked away through the bottom layers with the + knife till I got the bulk out in one solid piece. It measured some twenty + inches by fifteen, by fifteen, but it was not so heavy as it looked, and + when I had taken the remaining photographs, I lowered it down to Coppinger + on the end of the rope. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing more to do in the caves then, so I went down myself + next. The lump of sheets was on the ground, and Coppinger was on all fours + beside it. He was pretty nearly mad with excitement. + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” I asked him. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know yet. But it is the most valuable find ever made in the + Canary Islands, and it’s yours, you unappreciative beggar; at least what + there is left of it. Oh, man, man, you’ve smashed up the beginning, and + you’ve smashed up the end of some history that is probably priceless. It’s + my own fault. I ought to have known better than set an untrained man to do + important exploring work.” + </p> + <p> + “I should say it’s your fault if anything’s gone wrong. You said there was + no such thing as writing known to these ancient Canarios, and I took your + word for it. For anything I knew the stuff might have been something to + eat.” + </p> + <p> + “It isn’t Guanche work at all,” said he testily. “You ought to have known + that from the talc. Great heavens, man, have you no eyes? Haven’t you seen + the general formation of the island? Don’t you know there’s no talc here?” + </p> + <p> + “I’m no geologist. Is this imported literature then?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course. It’s Egyptian: that’s obvious at a glance. Though how it’s got + here I can’t tell yet. It isn’t stuff you can read off like a newspaper. + The character’s a variant on any of those that have been discovered so + far. And as for this waxy stuff spread over the talc, it’s unique. It’s + some sort of a mineral, I think: perhaps asphalt. It doesn’t scratch up + like animal wax. I’ll analyse that later. Why they once invented it, and + then let such a splendid notion drop out of use, is just a marvel. I could + stay gloating over this all day.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” I said, “if it’s all the same for you, I’d rather gloat over a + meal. It’s a good ten miles hard going to the fonda, and I’m as hungry as + a hawk already. Look here, do you know it is four o’clock already? It + takes longer than you think climbing down to each of these caves, and then + getting up again for the next.” + </p> + <p> + Coppinger spread his coat on the ground, and wrapped the lump of sheets + with tender care, but would not allow it to be tied with a rope for fear + of breaking more of the edges. He insisted on carrying it himself too, and + did so for the larger part of the way to Santa Brigida, and it was only + when he was within an ace of dropping himself with sheer tiredness that he + condescended to let me take my turn. He was tolerably ungracious about it + too. “I suppose you may as well carry the stuff,” he snapped, “seeing that + after all it’s your own.” + </p> + <p> + Personally, when we got to the fonda, I had as good a dinner as was + procurable, and a bottle of that old Canary wine, and turned into bed + after a final pipe. Coppinger dined also, but I have reason to believe he + did not sleep much. At any rate I found him still poring over the find + next morning, and looking very heavy-eyed, but brimming with enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + “Do you know,” he said, “that you’ve blundered upon the most valuable + historical manuscript that the modern world has ever yet seen? Of course, + with your clumsy way of getting it out, you’ve done an infinity of damage. + For instance, those top sheets you shelled away and spoiled, contained + probably an absolutely unique account of the ancient civilisation of + Yucatan.” + </p> + <p> + “Where’s that, anyway?” + </p> + <p> + “In the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s all ruins to-day, but once it + was a very prosperous colony of the Atlanteans.” + </p> + <p> + “Never heard of them. Oh yes, I have though. They were the people + Herodotus wrote about, didn’t he? But I thought they were mythical.” + </p> + <p> + “They were very real, and so was Atlantis, the continent where they lived, + which lay just north of the Canaries here.” + </p> + <p> + “What’s that crocodile sort of thing with wings drawn in the margin?” + </p> + <p> + “Some sort of beast that lived in those bygone days. The pages are full of + them. That’s a cave-tiger. And that’s some sort of colossal bat. Thank + goodness he had the sense to illustrate fully, the man who wrote this, or + we should never have been able to reconstruct the tale, or at any rate we + could not have understood half of it. Whole species have died out since + this was written, just as a whole continent has been swept away and three + civilisations quenched. The worst of it is, it was written by a + highly-educated man who somewhat naturally writes a very bad fist. I’ve + hammered at it all the night through, and have only managed to make out a + few sentences here and there”—he rubbed his hands appreciatively. + “It will take me a year’s hard work to translate this properly.” + </p> + <p> + “Every man to his taste. I’m afraid my interest in the thing wouldn’t last + as long as that. But how did it get there? Did your ancient Egyptian come + to Grand Canary for the good of his lungs, and write it because he felt + dull up in that cave?” + </p> + <p> + “I made a mistake there. The author was not an Egyptian. It was the + similarity of the inscribed character which misled me. The book was + written by one Deucalion, who seems to have been a priest or general—or + perhaps both—and he was an Atlantean. How it got there, I don’t know + yet. Probably that was told in the last few pages, which a certain vandal + smashed up with his pocketknife, in getting them away from the place where + they were stowed.” + </p> + <p> + “That’s right, abuse me. Deucalion you say? There was a Deucalion in the + Greek mythology. He was one of the two who escaped from the Flood: their + Noah, in fact.” + </p> + <p> + “The swamping of the continent of Atlantis might very well correspond to + the Flood.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there a Pyrrha then? She was Deucalion’s wife.” + </p> + <p> + “I haven’t come across her yet. But there’s a Phorenice, who may be the + same. She seems to have been the reigning Empress, as far as I can make + out at present.” + </p> + <p> + I looked with interest at illustrations in the margin. They were quite + understandable, although the perspective was all wrong. “Weird beasts they + seem to have had knocking about the country in those days. Whacking big + size too, if one may judge. By Jove, that’ll be a cave-tiger trying to + puff down a mammoth. I shouldn’t care to have lived in those days.” + </p> + <p> + “Probably they had some way of fighting the creatures. However, that will + show itself as I get along with the translation.” He looked at his watch—“I + suppose I ought to be ashamed of myself, but I haven’t been to bed. Are + you going out?” + </p> + <p> + “I shall drive back to Las Palmas. I promised a man to have a round at + golf this afternoon.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, see you at dinner. I hope they’ve sent back my dress shirts + from the wash. O, lord! I am sleepy.” + </p> + <p> + I left him going up to bed, and went outside and ordered a carriage to + take me down, and there I may say we parted for a considerable time. A + cable was waiting for me in the hotel at Las Palmas to go home for + business forthwith, and there was a Liverpool boat in the harbour which I + just managed to catch as she was steaming out. It was a close thing, and + the boatmen made a small fortune out of my hurry. + </p> + <p> + Now Coppinger was only an hotel acquaintance, and as I was up to the eyes + in work when I got back to England, I’m afraid I didn’t think very much + more about him at the time. One doesn’t with people one just meets + casually abroad like that. And it must have been at least a year later + that I saw by a paragraph in one of the papers, that he had given the lump + of sheets to the British Museum, and that the estimated worth of them was + ten thousand pounds at the lowest valuation. + </p> + <p> + Well, this was a bit of revelation, and as he had so repeatedly impressed + on me that the things were mine by right of discovery, I wrote rather a + pointed note to him mentioning that he seemed to have been making rather + free with my property. Promptly came back a stilted letter beginning, + “Doctor Coppinger regrets” and so on, and with it the English translation + of the wax-upon-talc MSS. He “quite admitted” my claim, and “trusted that + the profits of publication would be a sufficient reimbursement for any + damage received.” + </p> + <p> + Now I had no idea that he would take me unpleasantly like this, and wrote + back a pretty warm reply to that effect; but the only answer I got to this + was through a firm of solicitors, who stated that all further + communications with Dr. Coppinger must be made through them. + </p> + <p> + I will say here publicly that I regret the line he has taken over the + matter; but as the affair has gone so far, I am disposed to follow out his + proposition. Accordingly the old history is here printed; the credit (and + the responsibility) of the translation rests with Dr. Coppinger; and + whatever revenue accrues from readers, goes to the finder of the original + talc-upon-wax sheets, myself. + </p> + <p> + If there is a further alteration in this arrangement, it will be announced + publicly at a later date. But at present this appears to be most unlikely. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 1. MY RECALL + </h2> + <p> + The public official reception was over. The sentence had been read, the + name of Phorenice, the Empress, adored, and the new Viceroy installed with + all that vast and ponderous ceremonial which had gained its pomp and + majesty from the ages. Formally, I had delivered up the reins of my + government; formally, Tatho had seated himself on the snake-throne, and + had put over his neck the chain of gems which symbolised the supreme + office; and then, whilst the drums and the trumpets made their + proclamation of clamour, he had risen to his feet, for his first state + progress round that gilded council chamber as Viceroy of the Province of + Yucatan. + </p> + <p> + With folded arms and bended head, I followed him between the glittering + lines of soldiers, and the brilliant throng of courtiers, and chiefs, and + statesmen. The roof-beams quivered to the cries of “Long Live Tatho!” + “Flourish the Empress!” which came forth as in duty bound, and the new + ruler acknowledged the welcome with stately inclinations of the head. In + turn he went to the three lesser thrones of the lesser governors—in + the East, the North, and the South, and received homage from each as the + ritual was; and I, the man whom his coming had deposed, followed with the + prescribed meekness in his train. + </p> + <p> + It was a hard task, but we who hold the higher offices learn to carry + before the people a passionless face. Once, twenty years before, these + same fine obeisances had been made to me; now the Gods had seen fit to + make fortune change. But as I walked bent and humbly on behind the heels + of Tatho, though etiquette forbade noisy salutations to myself, it could + not inhibit kindly glances, and these came from every soldier, every + courtier, and every chief who stood there in that gilded hall, and they + fell upon me very gratefully. It is not often the fallen meet such tender + looks. + </p> + <p> + The form goes, handed down from immemorial custom, that on these great + ceremonial days of changing a ruler, those of the people being present may + bring forward petitions and requests; may make accusations against their + retiring head with sure immunity from his vengeance; or may state their + own private theories for the better government of the State in the future. + I think it may be pardoned to my vanity if I record that not a voice was + raised against me, or against any of the items of my twenty years of rule. + Nor did any speak out for alterations in the future. Yes, even though we + made the circuit for the three prescribed times, all present showed their + approval in generous silence. + </p> + <p> + Then, one behind the other, the new Viceroy and the old, we marched with + formal step over golden tiles of that council hall beneath the pyramid, + and the great officers of state left their stations and joined in our + train; and at the farther wall we came to the door of those private + chambers which an hour ago had been mine own. + </p> + <p> + Ah, well! I had no home now in any of those wondrous cities of Yucatan, + and I could not help feeling a bitterness, though in sooth I should have + been thankful enough to return to the Continent of Atlantis with my head + still in its proper station. + </p> + <p> + Tatho gave his formal summons of “Open ye to the Viceroy,” which the + ritual commands, and the slaves within sent the massive stone valves of + the door gaping wide. Tatho entered, I at his heels; the others halted, + sending valedictions from the threshold; and the valves of the door + clanged on the lock behind us. We passed on to the chamber beyond, and + then, when for the first time we were alone together, and the forced + etiquette of courts was behind us, the new Viceroy turned with meekly + folded arms, and bowed low before me. + </p> + <p> + “Deucalion,” he said, “believe me that I have not sought this office. It + was thrust upon me. Had I not accepted, my head would have paid forfeit, + and another man—your enemy—would have been sent out as viceroy + in your place. The Empress does not permit that her will shall ever be + questioned.” + </p> + <p> + “My friend,” I made answer, “my brother in all but blood, there is no man + living in all Atlantis or her territories to whom I had liefer hand over + my government. For twenty years now have I ruled this country of Yucatan, + and Mexico beyond, first under the old King, and then as minister to this + new Empress. I know my colony like a book. I am intimate with all her + wonderful cities, with their palaces, their pyramids, and their people. I + have hunted the beasts and the savages in the forests. I have built roads, + and made the rivers so that they will carry shipping. I have fostered the + arts and crafts like a merchant; I have discoursed, three times each day, + the cult of the Gods with mine own lips. Through evil years and through + good have I ruled here, striving only for the prosperity of the land and + the strengthening of Atlantis, and I have grown to love the peoples like a + father. To you I bequeath them, Tatho, with tender supplications for their + interests.” + </p> + <p> + “It is not I that can carry on Deucalion’s work with Deucalion’s power, + but rest content, my friend, that I shall do my humble best to follow + exactly on in your footsteps. Believe me, I came out to this government + with a thousand regrets, but I would have died sooner than take your place + had I known how vigorously the supplanting would trouble you.” + </p> + <p> + “We are alone here,” I said, “away from the formalities of formal + assemblies, and a man may give vent to his natural self without fear of + tarnishing a ceremony. Your coming was something of the suddenest. Till an + hour ago, when you demanded audience, I had thought to rule on longer; and + even now I do not know for what cause I am deposed.” + </p> + <p> + “The proclamation said: ‘We relieve our well-beloved Deucalion of his + present service, because we have great need of his powers at home in our + kingdom of Atlantis.’” + </p> + <p> + “A mere formality.” + </p> + <p> + Tatho looked uneasily round the hangings of the chamber, and drew me with + him to its centre, and lowered his voice. + </p> + <p> + “I do not think so,” he whispered. “I believe she has need of you. There + are troublous times on hand, and Phorenice wants the ablest men in the + kingdom ready to her call.” + </p> + <p> + “You may speak openly,” I said, “and without fear of eavesdroppers. We are + in the heart of the pyramid here, built in every way by a man’s length of + solid stone. Myself, I oversaw the laying of every course. And besides, + here in Yucatan, we have not the niceties of your old world diplomacy, and + do not listen, because we count it shame to do so.” + </p> + <p> + Tatho shrugged his shoulders. “I acted only according to mine education. + At home, a loose tongue makes a loose head, and there are those whose + trade it is to carry tales. Still, what I say is this: The throne shakes, + and Phorenice sees the need of sturdy props. So she has sent this + proclamation.” + </p> + <p> + “But why come to me? It is twenty years since I sailed to this colony, and + from that day I have not returned to Atlantis once. I know little of the + old country’s politics. What small parcel of news drifts out to us across + the ocean, reads with slender interest here. Yucatan is another world, my + dear Tatho, as you in the course of your government will learn, with new + interests, new people, new everything. To us here, Atlantis is only a + figment, a shadow, far away across the waters. It is for this new world of + Yucatan that I have striven through all these years.” + </p> + <p> + “If Deucalion has small time to spare from his government for brooding + over his fatherland, Atlantis, at least, has found leisure to admire the + deeds of her brilliant son. Why, sir, over yonder at home, your name + carries magic with it. When you and I were lads together, it was the + custom in the colleges to teach that the men of the past were the greatest + this world has ever seen; but to-day this teaching is changed. It is + Deucalion who is held up as the model and example. Mothers name their sons + Deucalion, as the most valuable birth-gift they can make. Deucalion is a + household word. Indeed, there is only one name that is near to it in + familiarity.” + </p> + <p> + “You trouble me,” I said, frowning. “I have tried to do my duty for its + own sake, and for the country’s sake, not for the pattings and fondlings + of the vulgar. And besides, if there are names to be in every one’s mouth, + they should be the names of the Gods.” + </p> + <p> + Tatho shrugged his shoulders. “The Gods? They occupy us very little these + latter years. With our modern science, we have grown past the tether of + the older Gods, and no new one has appeared. No, my Lord Deucalion, if it + were merely the Gods who were your competitors on men’s lips, your name + would be a thousand times the better known.” + </p> + <p> + “Of mere human names,” I said, “the name of this new Empress should come + first in Atlantis, our lord the old King being now dead.” + </p> + <p> + “She certainly would have it so,” replied Tatho, and there was something + in his tone which made me see that more was meant behind the words. I drew + him to one of the marble seats, and bent myself familiarly towards him. “I + am speaking,” I said, “not to the new Viceroy of Yucatan, but to my old + friend Tatho, a member of the Priests’ Clan, like myself, with whom I + worked side by side in a score of the smaller home governments, in + hamlets, in villages, in smaller towns, in greater towns, as we gained + experience in war and knowledge in the art of ruling people, and so + tediously won our promotion. I am speaking in Tatho’s private abode, that + was mine own not two hours since, and I would have an answer with that + plainness which we always then used to one another.” + </p> + <p> + The new Viceroy sighed whimsically. “I almost forget how to speak in plain + words now,” he said. “We have grown so polished in these latter days, that + mere bald truth would be hissed as indelicate. But for the memory of those + early years, when we expended as much law and thought over the ownership + of a hay-byre as we should now over the fate of a rebellious city, I will + try and speak plain to you even now, Deucalion. Tell me, old friend, what + is it?” + </p> + <p> + “What of this new Empress?” + </p> + <p> + He frowned. “I might have guessed your subject,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Then speak upon it. Tell me of all the changes that have been made. What + has this Phorenice done to make her throne unstable in Atlantis?” + </p> + <p> + Tatho frowned still. “If I did not know you to be as honest as our Lord + the Sun, your questions would carry mischief with them. Phorenice has a + short way with those who are daring enough to discuss her policies for + other purpose than politely to praise them.” + </p> + <p> + “You can leave me ignorant if you wish,” I said with a touch of chill. + This Tatho seemed to be different from the Tatho I had known at home, + Tatho my workmate, Tatho who had read with me in the College of Priests, + who had run with me in many a furious charge, who had laboured with me so + heavily that the peoples under us might prosper. But he was quick enough + to see my change of tone. + </p> + <p> + “You force me back to my old self,” he said with a half smile, “though it + is hard enough to forget the caution one has learned during the last + twenty years, even when speaking with you. Still, whatever may have + happened to the rest of us, it is clear to see that you at least have not + changed, and, old friend, I am ready to trust you with my life if you ask + it. In fact, you do ask me that very thing when you tell me to speak all I + know of Phorenice.” + </p> + <p> + I nodded. This was more like the old times, when there was full confidence + between us. “The Gods will it now that I return to Atlantis,” I said, “and + what happens after that the Gods alone know. But it would be of service to + me if I could land on her shores with some knowledge of this Phorenice, + for at present I am as ignorant concerning her as some savage from Europe + or mid-Africa.” + </p> + <p> + “What would you have me tell?” + </p> + <p> + “Tell all. I know only that she, a woman, reigns, whereby the ancient law + of the land, a man should rule; that she is not even of the Priestly Clan + from which the law says all rulers must be drawn; and that, from what you + say, she has caused the throne to totter. The throne was as firm as the + everlasting hills in the old King’s day, Tatho.” + </p> + <p> + “History has moved with pace since then, and Phorenice has spurred it. You + know her origin?” + </p> + <p> + “I know only the exact little I have told you.” + </p> + <p> + “She was a swineherd’s daughter from the mountains, though this is never + even whispered now, as she has declared herself to be a daughter of the + Gods, with a miraculous birth and upbringing. As she has decreed it a + sacrilege to question this parentage, and has ordered to be burnt all + those that seem to recollect her more earthly origin, the fable passes + current for truth. You see the faith I put in you, Deucalion, by telling + you what you wish to learn.” + </p> + <p> + “There has always been trust between us.” + </p> + <p> + “I know; but this habit of suspicion is hard to cast off, even with you. + However, let me put your good faith between me and the torture further. + Zaemon, you remember, was governor of the swineherd’s province, and + Zaemon’s wife saw Phorenice and took her away to adopt and bring up as her + own. It is said that the swineherd and his woman objected; perhaps they + did; anyway, I know they died; and Phorenice was taught the arts and + graces, and brought up as a daughter of the Priestly Clan.” + </p> + <p> + “But still she was an adopted daughter only,” I objected. + </p> + <p> + “The omission of the ‘adopted’ was her will at an early age,” said Tatho + dryly, “and she learnt early to have her wishes carried into fact. It was + notorious that before she had grown to fifteen years she ruled not only + the women of the household, but Zaemon also, and the province that was + beyond Zaemon.” + </p> + <p> + “Zaemon was learned,” I said, “and a devout follower of the Gods, and + searcher into the higher mysteries; but, as a ruler, he was always a + flabby fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not say that opportunities have not come usefully in Phorenice’s + way, but she has genius as well. For her to have raised herself at all + from what she was, was remarkable. Not one woman out of a thousand, placed + as she was, would have grown to be aught higher than a mere wife of some + sturdy countryman, who was sufficiently simple to care nothing for + pedigree. But look at Phorenice: it was her whim to take exercise as a + man-at-arms and practise with all the utensils of war; and then, before + any one quite knows how or why it happened, a rebellion had broken out in + the province, and here was she, a slip of a girl, leading Zaemon’s + troops.” + </p> + <p> + “Zaemon, when I knew him, was a mere derision in the field.” + </p> + <p> + “Hear me on. Phorenice put down the rebellion in masterly fashion, and + gave the conquered a choice between sword and service. They fell into her + ranks at once, and were faithful to her from that moment. I tell you, + Deucalion, there is a marvellous fascination about the woman.” + </p> + <p> + “Her present historian seems to have felt it.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I have. Every one who sees her comes under her spell. And + frankly, I am in love with her also, and look upon my coming here as + detestable exile. Every one near to Phorenice, high and low, loves her + just the same, even though they know it may be her whim to send them to + execution next minute.” + </p> + <p> + Perhaps I let my scorn of this appear. + </p> + <p> + “You feel contempt for our weakness? You were always a strong man, + Deucalion.” + </p> + <p> + “At any rate you see me still unmarried. I have found no time to palter + with the fripperies of women.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but these colonists here are crude and unfascinating. Wait till you + see the ladies of the court, my ascetic.” + </p> + <p> + “It comes to my mind,” I said dryly, “that I lived in Atlantis before I + came out here, and at that time I used to see as much of court life as + most men. Yet then, also, I felt no inducement to marry.” + </p> + <p> + Tatho chuckled. “Atlantis has changed so that you would hardly know the + country to-day. A new era has come over everything, especially over the + other sex. Well do I remember the women of the old King’s time, how + monstrous uncomely they were, how little they knew how to walk or carry + themselves, how painfully barbaric was their notion of dress. I dare swear + that your ladies here in Yucatan are not so provincial to-day as ours were + then. But you should see them now at home. They are delicious. And above + all in charm is the Empress. Oh, Deucalion, you shall see Phorenice in all + her glorious beauty and her magnificence one of these fine days soon, and + believe me you will go down on your knees and repent.” + </p> + <p> + “I may see, and (because you say so) I may alter my life’s ways. The Gods + make all things possible. But for the present I remain as I am, celibate, + and not wishful to be otherwise; and so in the meantime I would hear the + continuance of your history.” + </p> + <p> + “It is one long story of success. She deposed Zaemon from his government + in name as well as in fact, and the news was spread, and the Priestly Clan + rose in its wrath. The two neighbouring governors were bidden join forces, + take her captive, and bring her for execution. Poor men! They tried to + obey their orders; they attacked her surely enough, but in battle she + could laugh at them. She killed both, and made some slaughter amongst + their troops; and to those that remained alive and became her prisoners, + she made her usual offer—the sword or service. Naturally they were + not long over making their choice: to these common people one ruler is + much the same as another: and so again her army was reinforced. + </p> + <p> + “Three times were bodies of soldiery sent against her, and three times was + she victorious. The last was a final effort. Before, it had been customary + to despise this adventuress who had sprung up so suddenly. But then the + priests began to realise their peril; to see that the throne itself was in + danger; and to know that if she were to be crushed, they would have to put + forth their utmost. Every man who could carry arms was pressed into the + service. Every known art of war was ordered to be put into employment. It + was the largest army, and the best equipped army that Atlantis then had + ever raised, and the Priestly Clan saw fit to put in supreme command their + general, Tatho.” + </p> + <p> + “You!” I cried. + </p> + <p> + “Even myself, Deucalion. And mark you, I fought my utmost. I was not her + creature then; and when I set out (because they wanted to spur me to the + uttermost) the High Council of the priests pointed out my prospects. The + King we had known so long, was ailing and wearily old; he was so wrapped + up in the study of the mysteries, and the joy of closely knowing them, + that earthly matters had grown nauseous to him; and at any time he might + decide to die. The Priestly Clan uses its own discretion in the election + of a new king, but it takes note of popular sentiment; and a general who + at the critical time could come home victorious from a great campaign, + which moreover would release a harassed people from the constant + application of arms, would be the idol of the moment. These things were + pointed out to me solemnly and in the full council.” + </p> + <p> + “What! They promised you the throne?” + </p> + <p> + “Even that. So you see I set out with a high stake before me. Phorenice I + had never seen, and I swore to take her alive, and give her to be the + sport of my soldiery. I had a fine confidence in my own strategy then, + Deucalion. But the old Gods, in whom I trusted then, remained old, taught + me no new thing. I drilled and exercised my army according to the forms + you and I learnt together, old comrade, and in many a tough fight found to + serve well; I armed them with the choicest weapons we knew of then, with + sling and mace, with bow and spear, with axe and knife, with sword and the + throwing fire; their bodies I covered with metal plates; even their + bellies I cared for, with droves of cattle driven in the rear of the + fighting troops. + </p> + <p> + “But when the encounter came, they might have been men of straw for all + the harm they did. Out of her own brain Phorenice had made fire-tubes that + cast a dart which would kill beyond two bowshots, and the fashion in which + she handled her troops dazzled me. They threatened us on one flank, they + harassed us on the other. It was not war as we had been accustomed to. It + was a newer and more deadly game, and I had to watch my splendid army + eaten away as waves eat a sandhill. Never once did I get a chance of + forcing close action. These new tactics that had come from Phorenice’s + invention, were beyond my art to meet or understand. We were eight to her + one, and our close-packed numbers only made us so much the more easy for + slaughter. A panic came, and those who could fled. Myself, I had no wish + to go back and earn the axe that waits for the unsuccessful general. I + tried to die there fighting where I stood. But death would not come. It + was a fine melee, Deucalion, that last one.” + </p> + <p> + “And so she took you?” + </p> + <p> + “I stood with three others back to back, with a ring of dead round us, and + a ring of the enemy hemming us in. We taunted them to come on. But at + hand-to-hand courtesies we had shown we could hold our own, and so they + were calling for fire-tubes with which they could strike us down in safety + from a distance. Then up came Phorenice. ‘What is this to-do?’ says she. + ‘We seek to kill Lord Tatho, who led against you,’ say they. ‘So that is + Tatho?’ says she. ‘A fine figure of a man indeed, and a pretty fighter + seemingly, after the old manner. Doubtless he is one who would acquire the + newer method. See now Tatho,’ says she, ‘it is my custom to offer those I + vanquish either the sword (which, believe me, was never nearer your neck + than now) or service under my banner. Will you make a choice?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Woman,’ I said, ‘fairest that ever I saw, finest general the world has + ever borne, you tempt me sorely by your qualities, but there is a + tradition in our Clan, that we should be true to the salt we eat. I am the + King’s man still, and so I can take no service from you.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘The King is dead,’ says she. ‘A runner has just brought the tidings, + meaning them to have fallen into your hands. And I am the Empress.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Who made you Empress?’ I asked. + </p> + <p> + “‘The same most capable hand that has given me this battle,’ says she. ‘It + is a capable hand, as you have seen: it can be a kind hand also, as you + may learn if you choose. With the King dead, Tatho is a masterless man + now. Is Tatho in want of a mistress?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Such a glorious mistress as you,’ I said, ‘Yes.’ And from that moment, + Deucalion, I have been her slave. Oh, you may frown; you may get up from + this seat and walk away if you will. But I ask you this: keep back your + worst judgment of me, old friend, till after you have seen Phorenice + herself in the warm and lovely flesh. Then your own ears and your own + senses will be my advocates, to win me back your old esteem.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 2. BACK TO ATLANTIS + </h2> + <p> + The words of Tatho were no sleeping draught for me that night. I began to + think that I had made somewhat a mistake in wrapping myself up so entirely + in my government of Yucatan, and not contriving to keep more in touch with + events that were passing at home in Atlantis. For many years past it had + been easy to see that the mariner folk who did traffic across the seas + spoke with restraint, and that only what news the Empress pleased was + allowed to ooze out beyond her borders. But, as I say, I was fully + occupied with my work in the colony, and had no curiosity to pull away a + veil intentionally placed. Besides, it has always been against my + principles to put to the torture men who had received orders for silence + from their superiors, merely that they shall break these orders for my + private convenience. + </p> + <p> + However, the iron discipline of our Priestly Clan left me no choice of + procedure. As was customary, I had been deprived of my office at a + moment’s notice. From that time on, all papers and authority belonged to + my successor, and, although by courtesy I might be permitted to remain as + a guest in the pyramid that had so recently been mine, to see another + sunrise, it was clearly enjoined that I must leave the territory then at + the topmost of my speed and hasten to report in Atlantis. + </p> + <p> + Tatho, to give him credit, was anxious to further my interests to the + utmost in his power. He was by my side again before the dawn, putting all + his resources at my disposal. + </p> + <p> + I had little enough to ask him. “A ship to take me home,” I said, “and I + shall be your debtor.” + </p> + <p> + The request seemed to surprise him. “That you may certainly have if you + wish it. But my ships are foul with the long passage, and are in need of a + careen. If you take them, you will make a slow voyage of it to Atlantis. + Why do you not take your own navy? The ships are in harbour now, for I saw + them there when we came in. Brave ships they are too.” + </p> + <p> + “But not mine. That navy belongs to Yucatan.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Deucalion, you are Yucatan; or, rather, you were yesterday, and + have been these twenty years.” + </p> + <p> + I saw what he meant, and the idea did not please me. I answered stiffly + enough that the ships were owned by private merchants, or belonged to the + State, and I could not claim so much as a ten-slave galley. + </p> + <p> + Tatho shrugged his shoulders. “I suppose you know your own policies best,” + he said, “though to me it seems but risky for a man who has attained to a + position like yours and mine not to have provided himself with a stout + navy of his own. One never knows when a recall may be sent, and, through + lack of these precautions, a life’s earnings may very well be lost in a + dozen hours.” + </p> + <p> + “I have no fear for mine,” I said coldly. + </p> + <p> + “Of course not, because you know me to be your friend. But had another man + been appointed to this vice-royalty, you might have been sadly shorn, + Deucalion. It is not many fellows who can resist a snug hoard ready and + waiting in the very coffers they have come to line.” + </p> + <p> + “My Lord Tatho,” I said, “it is clear to me that you and I have grown to + be of different tastes. All of the hoard that I have made for myself in + this colony, few men would covet. I have the poor clothes you see me in + this moment, and a box of drugs such as I have found useful to the + stomach. I possess also three slaves, two of them scribes and the third a + sturdy savage from Europe, who cooks my victual and fills for me the bath. + For my maintenance during my years of service, here, I have bled the State + of a soldier’s ration and nothing beyond; and if in my name any man has + mulcted a creature in Yucatan of so much as an ounce of bronze, I request + you as a last service to have that man hanged for me as a liar and a + thief.” + </p> + <p> + Tatho looked at me curiously. “I do not know whether I admire you most or + whether I pity. I do not know whether to be astonished or to despise. We + had heard of much of your uprightness over yonder in Atlantis, of your + sternness and your justice, but I swear by the old Gods that no soul + guessed you carried your fancy so far as this. Why, man, money is power. + With money and the resources money can buy, nothing could stop a fellow + like you; whilst without it you may be tripped up and trodden down + irrevocably at the first puny reverse.” + </p> + <p> + “The Gods will choose my fate.” + </p> + <p> + “Possibly; but for mine, I prefer to nourish it myself. I tell you with + frankness that I have not come here to follow in the pattern you have made + for a vice-royalty. I shall govern Yucatan wisely and well to the best of + my ability; but I shall govern it also for the good of Tatho, the viceroy. + I have brought with me here my navy of eight ships and a personal + bodyguard. There is my wife also, and her women and her slaves. All these + must be provided for. And why indeed should it be otherwise? If a people + is to be governed, it should be their privilege to pay handsomely for + their prince.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall not agree on this. You have the power now, and can employ it as + you choose. If I thought it would be of any use, I should like to + supplicate you most humbly to deal with lenience when you come to tax + these people who are under you. They have grown very dear to me.” + </p> + <p> + “I have disgusted you with me, and I am grieved for it. But even to retain + your good opinion, Deucalion—which I value more than that of any man + living—I cannot do here as you have done. It would be impossible, + even if I wished it. You must not judge all other men by your own strong + standard: a Tatho is by no means a colossus like a Deucalion. And besides, + I have a wife and children, and they must be provided for, even if I + neglect myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, there,” I said, “it does seem that I possess the advantage. I have no + wife, to clog me.” + </p> + <p> + He caught up my word quickly. “It seems to me you have nothing that makes + life worth living. You have neither wife, children, riches, cooks, + retinue, dresses, nor anything else in proportion to your station. You + will pardon my saying it, old comrade, but you are plaguey ignorant about + some matters. For example, you do not know how to dine. During every day + of a very weary voyage, I have promised myself when sitting before the + meagre sea victual, that presently the abstinence would be more than + repaid by Deucalion’s welcoming feast. Oh, I tell you that feast was one + of the vividest things that ever came before my eyes. And then when we get + to the actuality, what was it? Why, a country farmer every day sits down + to more delicate fare. You told me how it was prepared. Well, your savage + from Europe may be lusty, and perchance is faithful, but he is a + devil-possessed cook. Gods! I have lived better on a campaign. + </p> + <p> + “I know this is a colony here, without any of the home refinements; but if + in the days to come, the deer of the forest, the fish of the stream, and + the other resources of the place are not put to better use than + heretofore, I shall see it my duty as ruler to fry some of the kitchen + staff alive in grease so as to encourage better cookery. Gods! Deucalion, + have you forgotten what it is to have a palate? And have you no esteem for + your own dignity? Man, look at your clothes. You are garbed like a + herdsman, and you have not a gaud or a jewel to brighten you.” + </p> + <p> + “I eat,” I said coldly, “when my hunger bids me, and I carry this one robe + upon my person till it is worn out and needs replacement. The grossness of + excessive banqueting, and the effeminacy of many clothes are attainments + that never met my fancy. But I think we have talked here over long, and + there seems little chance of our finding agreement. You have changed, + Tatho, with the years, and perhaps I have changed also. These alterations + creep imperceptibly into one’s being as time advances. Let us part now, + and, forgetting these present differences, remember only our friendship of + twenty years agone. That for me, at any rate, has always had a pleasant + savour when called up into the memory.” + </p> + <p> + Tatho bowed his head. “So be it,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “And I would still charge myself upon your bounty for that ship. Dawn + cannot be far off now, and it is not decent that the man who has ruled + here so long, should walk in daylight through the streets on the morning + after his dismissal.” + </p> + <p> + “So be it,” said Tatho. “You shall have my poor navy. I could have wished + that you had asked me something greater.” + </p> + <p> + “Not the navy, Tatho; one small ship. Believe me, more is wasted.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, there,” said Tatho, “I shall act the tyrant. I am viceroy here now, + and will have my way in this. You may go naked of all possessions: that I + cannot help. But depart for Atlantis unattended, that you shall not.” + </p> + <p> + And so, in fine, as the choice was set beyond me, it was in the “Bear,” + Tatho’s own private ship, with all the rest of his navy sailing in escort, + that I did finally make my transit. + </p> + <p> + But the start was not immediate. The vessels lay moored against the stone + quays of the inner harbour, gutted of their stores, and with crews + exhausted, and it would have been suicide to have forced them out then and + there to again take the seas. + </p> + <p> + So the courtesies were fulfilled by the craft whereon I abode hauling out + into the entrance basin, and anchoring there in the swells of the fairway; + and forthwith she and her consorts took in wood and water, cured meat and + fish ashore, and refitted in all needful ways, with all speed attainable. + </p> + <p> + For myself there came then, as the first time during twenty busy years, a + breathing space from work. I had no further connection with the country of + my labours; indeed, officially, I had left it already. Into the working of + the ship it was contrary to rule that I should make any inspection or + interest, since all sea matters were the exclusive property of the + Mariners’ Guild, secured to them by royal patent, and most jealously + guarded. + </p> + <p> + So there remained to me in my day, hours to gaze (if I would) upon the + quays, the harbours, the palaces, and the pyramids of the splendid city + before me which I had seen grow stone by stone from its foundations; or to + roam my eye over the pastures and the grain lands beyond the walls, and to + look longingly at the dense forests behind, from which field by field we + had so tediously ripped our territory. + </p> + <p> + Would Tatho continue the work so healthily begun? I trusted so, even in + spite of his selfish words. And at all hours, during the radiance of our + Lord the Sun, or under the stars of night, I was free to pursue that study + of the higher mysteries, on which we of the Priests’ Clan are trained to + set our minds, without aid of book or instrument, of image or temple. + </p> + <p> + The refitting of the navy was gone about with speed. Never, it is said, + had ships been reprovisioned and caulked, and remanned with greater speed + for the over-ocean voyage. Indeed, it was barely over a month from the day + that they brought up in the harbour, they put out beyond the walls, and + began their voyage eastward over the hills and dale of the ocean. + </p> + <p> + Rowing-slaves from Europe for this long passage of sea are not taken now, + owing to the difficulty in provisioning them, for modern humanity forbids + the practice of letting them eat one another according to the home custom + of their continent; sails alone are but an indifferent stand by; but + modern science has shown how to extract force from the Sun, when He is + free from cloud, and this (in a manner kept secret by mariners) is made to + draw sea-water at the forepart of the vessel, and eject it with such force + at the stern that she is appreciably driven forward, even with the wind + adverse. + </p> + <p> + In another matter also has navigation vastly improved. It is not necessary + now, as formerly, to trust wholly to a starry night (when beyond sight of + land) to find direction. A little image has been made, and is stood + balanced in the forepart of every vessel, with an arm outstretched, + pointing constantly to the direction where the Southern Cross lies in the + Heavens. So, by setting an angle, can a just course be correctly steered. + Other instruments have they also for finding a true position on the ocean + wastes, for the newer mariner, when he is at sea, puts little trust in the + Gods, and confides mightily in his own thews and wits. + </p> + <p> + Still, it is amusing to see these tarry fellows, even in this modern day, + take their last farewell of the harbour town. The ship is stowed, and all + ready for sea, and they wash and put on all their bravery of attire. + Ashore they go, their faces long with piety, and seek some obscure temple + whose God has little flavour with shore folk, and here they make sacrifice + with clamour and lavish outlay. And, finally, there follows a feast in + honour of the God, and they arrive back on board, and put to sea for the + most part drunken, and all heavy and evil-humoured with gluttony and their + other excesses. + </p> + <p> + The voyage was very different to my previous sea-going. There was no + creeping timorously along in touch with the coasts. We stood straight + across the open gulf in the direction of home, came up with the band of + the Carib Islands, and worked confidently through them, as though they had + been signposts to mark the sea highway; and stopped only twice to + replenish with wood, water, and fruit. These commodities, too, the savages + brought us freely, so great was their subjection, and in neither place did + we have even the semblance of a fight. It was a great certificate of the + growing power of Atlantis and her finest over-sea colony. + </p> + <p> + Then boldly on we went across the vast ocean beyond, with never a + sacrifice to implore the Gods that they should help our direction. One + might feel censure towards these rugged mariners for their impiety, but + one could not help an admiration for their lusty skill and confidence. + </p> + <p> + The dangers of the desolate sea are dealt out as the Gods will, and man + can only take them as they come. Storms we encountered, and the mariners + fought them with stubborn endurance; twice a blazing stone from Heaven + hissed into the sea beside us, though without injuring any of our ships; + and, as was unavoidable, the great beasts of the sea hunted us with their + accustomed savagery. But only once did we suffer material loss from these + last, and that was when three of the greater sea lizards attacked the + “Bear,” the ship whereon I travelled, at one and the same time. + </p> + <p> + The hour of their onset was during the blazing midday heat, and the Sun + being at the full of His power, our machines were getting full force from + Him. The vessel was travelling forward faster than a man on dry land could + walk. But for the power escape she might as well have been standing still + when the beasts sighted her. There were three of them, as I have said, and + we saw them come up over the curve of the horizon, beating the sea into + foam with their flappers, and waving their great necks like masts as they + swam. Our navy was spread out in a long line of ships, and in olden days + each of the beasts would have selected a separate prey, and proceeded for + it; but, like man, these beasts have learned the necessities of warfare, + and they hunt in pack now and do not separate their forces. + </p> + <p> + It was plain they were making for our ship, and Tob, the captain, would + have had me go into the after-castle, and there be secure from their + marauding. He was responsible to the Lord Tatho, he said, for my safe + conduct; it was certain that the beasts would contrive to seize some of + the ship’s company before they were satiated; and if the hap came to the + Lord Deucalion, he (the captain) would have to give himself voluntarily to + the beasts then, to escape a very painful death at Tatho’s hands later on. + </p> + <p> + However, my mind was set. A man can never have too much experience in + fighting enemies, whether human or bestial, and the attack of these + creatures was new to me, and I was fain to learn its method. So I gave the + captain a letter to Tatho, saying how the matter lay (and for which, it + may be mentioned, the rude fellow seemed little enough grateful), and + stayed in my chair under the awning. + </p> + <p> + The beasts surged up to us with champing jaws, and all the shipmen stood + armed on their defence. They came up alongside, two females (the smaller) + on the flank of the ship, the giant male by himself on the other. Their + great heads swooped about, as high as the yards that held the sails, and + the reek from them gave one physical sickness. + </p> + <p> + The shipmen faced the monsters with a sturdy courage. Arrows were useless + against the smooth, bull-like hides. Even the throwing fire could not so + much as singe them; nothing but twenty axe blows delivered on an attacking + head together could beat it back, and even these succeeded only through + sheer weight of metal, and did not make so much as the scratch of a wound. + </p> + <p> + During all time beasts have disputed with man the mastery of the earth, + and it is only in Atlantis and Egypt and Yucatan that man has dared to + hold his own, and fight them with a mind made strong by many previous + victories. In Europe and mid-Africa the greater beasts hold full dominion, + and man admits his puny number and force, and lives in earth crannies and + the higher tree-tops, as a fugitive confessed. And upon the great oceans, + the beasts are lords, unchecked. + </p> + <p> + Still here, upon this desolate sea, although the giant lizards were new to + me, it was a pleasure to pit my knowledge of war against their brute + strength and courage. Ever since the first men did their business upon the + great waters, they fulfilled their instincts in fighting the beasts with + desperation. Hiding coward-like in a hold was useless, for if this enemy + could not find men above decks to glut them, they would break a ship with + their paddles, and so all would be slain. And so it was recognised that + the fight should go forward as desperately as might be, and that it could + only end when the beasts had got their prey and had gone away satisfied. + </p> + <p> + It was in a one-sided conflict after this fashion then, that I found + myself, and felt the joy once more to have my thews in action. But after + my axe had got in some dozen lusty blows, which, for all the harm they + did, might have been delivered against some city wall, or, indeed, against + the ark of the Mysteries itself, I sought about me till I found a lance, + and with that made very different play. + </p> + <p> + The eyes of these lizards are small, and set deep in a bony socket, but I + judged them to be vulnerable, and it was upon the eyes of the beast that I + made my attack. The decks were slippery with the horrid slime of them. The + crew surged about in their battling, and, moreover, constantly offered + themselves as a rampart before me by reason of Tob, the captain’s threats. + But I gave a few shrewd progues with the lance to show that I did not + choose my will to be overridden, and presently was given room for + manoeuvre. + </p> + <p> + Deliberately I placed myself in the sight of one of the lizards, and + offered my body to its attack. The challenge was accepted. It swooped like + a dropping stone, and I swerved and drove in the lance at its oozy eye. + </p> + <p> + I thanked the Gods then that I had been trained with the lance till + certain aim was a matter of instinct with me. The blade went true to its + mark and stuck there, and the shaft broke in my hand. The beast drew off, + blinded and bellowing, and beating the sea with its paddles. In a great + cataract of foam I saw it bend its great long neck, and rub its head (with + the spear still fixed) against its back, thereby enduring new agonies, but + without dislodging the weapon. And then presently, finding this of no + avail, it set off for the place from which it came with extraordinary + quickness, and rapidly grew smaller against the horizon. + </p> + <p> + The male and the other female lizard had also left us, but not in similar + plight. Tob, the captain, seeing my resolve to take hazards, deliberately + thrust a shipman into the jaws of each of the others, so that they might + be sated and get them gone. It was clear that Tob dreaded very much for + his own skin if I came by harm, and I thought with a warming heart of the + threats that Tatho must have used in his kind anxiety for my safety. It is + pleasant when one’s old friends do not omit to pay these little + attentions. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 3. A RIVAL NAVY + </h2> + <p> + Now, when we came up with the coasts of Atlantis, though Tob, with the aid + of his modern instruments, had made his landfall with most marvellous + skill and nearness, there still remained some ten days’ more journey in + which we had to retrace our course, till we came to that arm of the sea up + which lies the great city of Atlantis, the capital. + </p> + <p> + The sight of the land, and the breath of earth and herbage which came off + from it with the breezes, were, I believe, under the Gods, the means of + saving the lives of all of us. For, as is necessary with long cross-ocean + voyages, many of our ships’ companies had died, and still more were sick + with scurvy through the unnatural tossing, or (as some have it) through + the salt, unnatural food inseparable from shipboard. But these last, the + sight and the smells of land heartened up in extraordinary fashion, and + from being helpless logs, unable to move even under blows of the scourge, + they became active again, able to help in the shipwork, and lusty (when + the time came) to fight for their lives and their vessels. + </p> + <p> + From the moment that I was deposed in Yucatan, despite Tatho’s assurances, + there had been doubts in my mind as to what nature would be my reception + in Atlantis. But I had faced this event of the future without concern: it + was in the hands of the Gods. The Empress Phorenice might be supreme on + earth; she might cause my head to be lopped from its proper shoulders the + moment I set foot ashore; but my Lord the Sun was above Phorenice, and if + my head fell, it would be because He saw best that it should be so. On + which account, therefore, I had not troubled myself about the matter + during the voyage, but had followed out my calm study of the higher + mysteries with an unloaded mind. + </p> + <p> + But when our navy had retraced sufficiently the course that had been + overrun, and came up with the two vast headlands which marked the entrance + to the inland waters, there, a bare two days from the Atlantis capital, we + met with another navy which was, beyond doubt, waiting to give us a + reception. The ships were riding at anchor in a bay which lent them + shelter, but they had scouts on the high land above, who cried the alarm + of our approach, and when we rounded the headland, they were standing out + to dispute our passage. + </p> + <p> + Of us there were now but five ships, the rest having been lost in storms, + or fallen behind because all their crews were dead from the scurvy; and of + the strangers there were three fine ships, and three galleys of many oars + apiece. They were clean and bright and black; our ships were storm-ragged + and weather-worn, and had bottoms that were foul with trailing ocean weed. + Our ships hung out the colours and signs of Tatho and Deucalion openly and + without shame, so that all who looked might know their origin and errand; + but the other navy came on without banner or antient, as though they were + some low creatures feeling shame for their birth. + </p> + <p> + Clear it seemed also that they would not let us pass without a fight, and + in this there was nothing uncommon; for no law carries out over the seas, + and a brother in one ship feels quite free to harry his brother in another + vessel if he meets him out of earshot of the beach—more especially + if that other brother be coming home laden from foray or trading tour. So + Tob, with system and method, got our vessel into fighting trim, and the + other four captains did the like with theirs, and drew close in to us to + form a compact squadron. They had no wish to smell slavery, now that the + voyage had come so near to its end. + </p> + <p> + Our Lord the Sun shone brilliantly, giving full speed to the machines, as + though He was fully willing for the affair to proceed, and the two navies + approached one another with quickness, the three galleys holding back to + stay in line with their consorts. But when some bare hundred ship-lengths + separated us, the other navy halted, and one of the galleys, drawing + ahead, flew green branches from her masts, seeking for a parley. + </p> + <p> + The course was unusual, but we, in our sea-battered state, were no navy to + invite a fight unnecessarily. So in hoarse sea-bawls word was passed, and + we too halted, and Tob hoisted a withered stick (which had to do duty for + greenery), to show that we were ready for talk, and would respect the + person of an ambassador. + </p> + <p> + The galley drew on, swung round, and backed till its stern rasped on our + shield rail, and one of her people clambered up and jumped down upon our + decks. He was a dandily rigged-out fellow, young and lusty, and all + healthy from the land and land victual, and he looked round him with a + sneer at our sea-tatteredness, and with a fine self-confidence. Then, + seeing Tob, he nodded as one meets an acquaintance. “Old pot-mate,” he + said, “your woman waits for you up by the quay-side in Atlantis yonder, + with four youngsters at her heels. I saw her not half a month ago.” + </p> + <p> + “You didn’t come out here to tell me home news,” said Tob; “that I’ll be + sworn. I’ve drunk enough pots with you, Dason, to know your pleasantries + thoroughly.” + </p> + <p> + “I wanted to point out to you that your home is still there, with your + wife and children ready to welcome you.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not a man that ever forgets it,” said Tob grimly; “and because I’ve + got them always at the back of my mind, I’ve sailed this ship over the top + of more than one pirate, when, if I’d been a single man, I might have been + e’en content to take the hap of slavery.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I know you’re a desperate enough fellow,” said Dason, “and I’m free + to confess that if it does come to blows we are like to lose a few men + before we get you and your cripples here, and your crazy ships comfortably + sunk. Our navy has its orders to carry out, and the cause of my embassage + is this: we wish to see if you will act the sensible part and give us what + we want, and so be permitted to go on your way home, with a skin that is + unslit and dry?” + </p> + <p> + “You have come to the wrong bird here for a plucking,” said Tob with a + heavy laugh. “We took no treasure or merchandise on board in Yucatan. We + stayed in harbour long enough to cure our sea victual and fill with food + and water, and no longer. We sail back as we sailed out, barren ships. You + will not believe me, of course; I would not have believed you had our + places been changed; but you may go into the holds and search if you + choose. You will find there nothing but a few poor sailormen half in + pieces with the scurvy. No, you can steal nothing here but blows, Dason, + and we will give you those with but little asking.” + </p> + <p> + “I am glad to see that you state your cargo at such slender value,” said + the envoy, “for it is the cargo I must take back with me on the galley, if + you are to earn your safe conduct to home.” + </p> + <p> + Tob knit his brows. “You had better speak more plain,” he said. “I am a + common sailor, and do not understand fancy talk.” + </p> + <p> + “It is clear to see,” said Dason, “that you have been set to bring + Deucalion back to Atlantis as a prop for Phorenice. Well, we others find + Phorenice hard enough to fight against without further reinforcements, and + so we want Deucalion in our own custody to deal with after our own + fashion.” + </p> + <p> + “And if I do the miser, and deny you this piece of my freight?” + </p> + <p> + The spruce envoy looked round at the splintered ship, and the battered + navy beside her. “Why, then, Tob, we shall send you all to the fishes in + very short time, and instead of Deucalion standing before the Gods alone, + he will go down with a fine ragged company limping at his heels.” + </p> + <p> + “I doubt it,” said Tob, “but we shall see. As for letting you have my Lord + Deucalion, that is out of the question. For see here, pot-mate Dason; in + the first place, if I went to Atlantis without Deucalion, my other lord, + Tatho, would come back one of these days, and in his hands I should die by + the slowest of slow inches; in the second, I have seen my Lord Deucalion + kill a great sea lizard, and he showed himself such a proper man that day + that I would not give him up against his will, even to Tatho himself; and + in the third place, you owe me for your share in our last wine-bout + ashore, and I’ll see you with the nether Gods before I give you aught till + you’ve settled that score.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Tob, I hope you’ll drown easy. As for that wife of yours, I’ve + always had a fancy for her myself, and I shall know how to find a use for + the woman.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ll draw your neck for that, you son of a European,” said Tob; “and if + you do not clear off this deck I’ll draw it here. Go,” he cried, “you + father of monkey children! Get away, and let me fight you fairly, or by my + honour I’ll stamp the inwards out of you, and make your silly crew wear + them as necklaces.” + </p> + <p> + Upon which Dason went to his galley. + </p> + <p> + Promptly Tob set going the machine on our own “Bear,” and bawled his + orders right and left to the other ships. The crew might be weak with + scurvy, but they were quick to obey. Instantly the five vessels were all + started, and because our Lord the Sun was shining brightly, got soon to + the full of their pace. The whole of our small navy converged, singling + out one ship of their opponents, and she, not being ready for so swift an + attack, got flurried, and endeavoured to turn and run for room, instead of + trying to meet us bows on. As a consequence, the whole of our five ships + hit her together on the broadside, tearing her planking with their + underwater beaks, and sinking her before we had backed clear from the + engage. + </p> + <p> + But if we thus brought the enemy’s number down to five, and so equal to + our own, the advantage did not remain with us for long. The three nimble + galleys formed into line: their boatswains’ whips cracked as the slaves + bent to their oars, and presently one of our own ships was gored and sunk, + the men on her being killed in the water without hope of rescue. + </p> + <p> + And then commenced a tight-locked melee that would have warmed the heart + of the greatest warrior alive. The ships and the galleys were forced + together and lay savagely grinding one another upon the swells, as though + they had been sentient animals. The men on board them shot their arrows, + slashed with axes, thrust and hacked with swords, and hurled the throwing + fire. But in every way the fight converged upon the “Bear.” It was on her + that the enemy spent the fiercest of their spite; it was to the “Bear,” + that the other crews of Tatho’s navy rallied as their own vessels caught + fire, or were sunk or taken. + </p> + <p> + Battle is an old acquaintance with us of the Priestly Clan, and for those + of us who have had to carve out territories for the new colonies, it comes + with enough frequency to cloy even the most chivalrous appetite. So I can + speak here as a man of experience. Up till that time, for half a + life-span, I had heard men shout “Deucalion” as a battlecry, and in my day + had seen some lusty encounters. But this sea-fight surprised even me in + its savage fierceness. The bleak, unstable element which surrounded us; + the swaying decks on which we fought; the throwing fire, which burnt flesh + and wood alike with its horrid flame; the great gluttonous man-eating + birds that hovered in the sky overhead; the man-eating fish that swarmed + up from the seas around, gnawing and quarrelling over those that fell into + the waters, all went to make up a circumstance fit to daunt the bravest + men-at-arms ever gathered for an army. + </p> + <p> + But these tarry shipmen faced it all with an indomitable courage, and + never a cry of quailing. Life on the seas is so hard, and (from the beasts + that haunt the great waters) so full of savage dangers, that Death has + lost half his terrors to them through sheer familiarity. They were fellows + who from pure lust for a fray would fight to a finish amongst themselves + in the taverns ashore; and so here, in this desperate sea-battle, the + passion for killing burned in them, as a fire stone from Heaven rages in a + forest; and they took even their death-wounds laughing. + </p> + <p> + On our side the battle-cry was “Tob!” and the name of this obscure + ship-captain seemed to carry a confidence with it for our own crews that + many a well-known commander might have envied. The enemy had a dozen + rallying cries, and these confused them. But as their other + ship-commanders one by one were killed, and Dason remained, active with + mischief, “Dason!” became the shout which was thrown back at us in + response to our “Tob!” + </p> + <p> + However, I will not load my page with farther long account of this obscure + sea-fight, whose only glory was its ferocity. One by one all the ships of + either side were sunk or lay with all their people killed, till finally + only Dason’s galley and our own “Bear” were left. For the moment we were + being mastered. We had a score of men remaining out of all those that + manned the navy when it sailed from Yucatan, and the enemy had boarded us + and made the decks of the “Bear” the field of battle. But they had been + over busy with the throwing fire, and presently, as we raged at one + another, the smoke and the flame from the sturdy vessel herself let us + very plainly know that she was past salvation. + </p> + <p> + But Tob was nothing daunted. “They may stay here and fry if they choose,” + he shouted with his great boisterous laugh, “but for ourselves the galley + is good enough now. Keep a guard on Deucalion, and come with me, + shipmates!” + </p> + <p> + “Tob!” our fellows shouted in their ecstasy of fighting madness, and I too + could not forbear sending out a “Tob!” for my battle-cry. It was a change + for me not to be leader, but it was a luxury for once to fight in the wake + of this Tob, despite his uncouthness of mien and plan. There was no + stopping this new rush, though progress still was slow. Tob with his + bloody axe cut the road in front, and we others, with the lust of battle + filling us to the chin, raged like furies in his wake. Gods! but it was a + fight. + </p> + <p> + Ten of us won to the galley, with the flames and the smoke from the poor + “Bear” spurting at our heels. We turned and stabbed madly at all who tried + to follow, and hacked through the grapples that held the vessels to their + embrace. The sea-swells spurned the “Bear” away. + </p> + <p> + The slaves chained to the rowing-galley’s benches had interest neither one + way nor the other, and looked on the contest with dull concern, save when + some stray missile found a billet amongst them. But a handful of the + fighting men had scrambled desperately on board the galley after us, + preferring any fate to a fiery death on the “Bear,” and these had to be + dealt with promptly. Three, with their fighting fury still red-hot in + them, had most wastefully to be killed out of mischief’s way; five, who + had pitched their weapons into the sea, were chained to oar looms, in + place of slaves who were dead; and there remained only Dason to have a + fate apportioned. + </p> + <p> + The fight had cooled out of him, and he had thrown his arms to the sea, + and stood sullenly ready for what might befall; and to him Tob went up + with an exulting face. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, pot-mate Dason,” cried he, “you made a lot of talk an hour ago about + that woman of mine, who lives with her brats on the quay-side in Atlantis + yonder. Now, I’ll give you a pleasant choice; either I’ll take you along + home, and tell her what you said before the whole ship’s company (that are + for the most part dead now, poor souls!), and I’ll leave her to perform on + your carcase as she sees fit by way of payment; or, as the other choice, + I’ll deal with you here now myself.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you for the chance,” said Dason, and knelt and offered his neck + to the axe. So Tob cut off his head, sticking it on the galley’s beak as + an advertisement of what had been done. The body he threw over the side, + and one of the great man-eating birds that hovered near, picked it up and + flew away with it to its nest amongst the crags. And so we were free to + get a meal of the fruits and the fresh meats which the galley offered, + whilst the oar-slaves sent the galley rushing onwards towards the capital. + </p> + <p> + There was a wine-skin in the after-castle, and I filled a horn and poured + some out at Tob’s feet in salutation. “My man,” I said, “you have shown me + a fight.” + </p> + <p> + “Thanks,” said he, “and I know you are a judge. ‘Twas pretty whilst it + lasted; and, seeing that my lads were, for the most, scurvy-rotten, I will + say they fought with credit. I have lost my Lord Tatho’s navy, but I think + Phorenice will see me righted there. If those that are against her took so + much trouble to kill my Lord Deucalion before he could come to her aid, I + can fancy she will not be niggard in her joy when I put Deucalion safe, if + somewhat dented and blood-bespattered, on the quay.” + </p> + <p> + “The Gods know,” I said, for it is never my custom to discuss policies + with my inferiors, even though etiquette be for the moment loosened, as + ours was then by the thrill of battle. “The Gods will decide what is best + for you, Tob, even as they have decided that it is best that I should go + on to Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + The sailor held a horn filled from the wine-skin in his hand, and I think + was minded to pour a libation at my feet, even as I had done at his. But + he changed his mind, and emptied it down his throat instead. “It is + thirsty work, this fighting,” he said, “and that drink comes very useful.” + </p> + <p> + I put my hand on his blood-smeared arm. “Tob,” I said, “whether I step + into power again, or whether I go to the block to-morrow, is another + matter which the Gods alone know, but hear me tell you now, that if a + chance is given me of showing my gratitude, I shall not forget the way you + have served me in this voyage, and the way you have fought this day.” + </p> + <p> + Tob filled another brimming horn from the wine-skin and splashed it at my + feet. “That’s good enough surety for me,” he said, “that my woman and + brats never want from this day onward. The Lord Deucalion for the block, + indeed!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 4. THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE + </h2> + <p> + Now I can say it with all truth that, till the rival navy met us in the + mouth of the gulf, I had thought little enough of my importance as a + recruit for the Empress. But the laying in wait for us of those ships, and + the wild ferocity with which they fought so that I might fall into their + hands, were omens which the blindest could not fail to read. It was clear + that I was expected to play a lusty part in the fortunes of the nation. + </p> + <p> + But if our coming had been watched for by enemies it seemed that Phorenice + also had her scouts; and these saw us from the mountains, and carried news + to the capital. The arm of the sea at the head of which the vast city of + Atlantis stands, varies greatly in width. In places where the mountains + have over-boiled, and sent their liquid contents down to form hard stone + below, the channel has barely a river’s wideness, and then beyond, for the + next half-day’s sail it will widen out into a lake, with the sides barely + visible. Moreover, its course is winding, and so a runner who knows his + way across the flats, and the swamps, and between the smoking hills which + lie along the shore, and did not get overcome by fire-streams, or water, + or wandering beasts, could carry news overland from seacoast to capital + far speedier than even the most shrewdly whipped of galleys could ferry it + along the water. + </p> + <p> + Of course there were heavy risks that a lone traveller would not make a + safe passage by this land route, if he were bidden to sacrifice all + precautions to speed. But Phorenice was no niggard with her couriers. She + sent a corps of twenty to the headland that overlooks the sea-entrance to + the straits; they started with the news, each on his own route; and it + says much for their speed and cleverness, that no fewer than seven of + these agile fellows came through scathless with their tidings, and of the + others it was said that quite three were known to have survived. + </p> + <p> + Still, about this we had no means of knowing at the time, and pushed on in + fancy that our coming was quite unheralded. The slaves on the galley’s + row-banks were for the most part savages from Europe, and the smell of + them was so offensive that the voyage lost all its pleasures; and as, + moreover, the wind carried with it an infinite abundance of small grit + from some erupting fire mountain, we were anxious to linger as little as + possible. Besides, if I may confess to such a thing without being unduly + degraded, although by my priestly training I had been taught stoicism, and + knew that all the future was in the hands of the Gods, I was frailly human + still to have a very vast curiosity as to what would be the form of my own + reception at Atlantis. I could imagine myself taken a formal prisoner on + landing, and set on a formal trial to answer for my cure of the colony of + Yucatan; I could imagine myself stepping ashore unknown and unnoticed, and + after a due lapse, being sent for by the Empress to take up new duties; + but the manner of my real welcome was a thing I did not even guess at. + </p> + <p> + We came in sight of the peak of the sacred mountain, with its glare of + eternal fires which stand behind the city, one morning with the day’s + break, and the whips of the boatswains cracked more vehemently, so that + those offensive slaves should give the galley a final spurt. The wind was + adverse, and no sail could be spread, but under oars alone we made a + pretty pace, and the sides of the sacred mountain grew longer, and + presently the peaks of the pyramids in the city, the towers of the higher + buildings, began to show themselves as though they floated upon the + gleaming water. It was twenty years since I had seen Atlantis last, and my + heart glowed with the thought of treading again upon her paving-stones. + </p> + <p> + The splendid city grew out of the sea as we approached, and to every throb + of the oars, the shores leaped nearer. I saw the temple where I had been + admitted first to manhood; I saw the pyramid in whose heart I had been + initiated to the small mysteries; and then (as the lesser objects became + discernible) I made out the house where a father and a mother had reared + me, and my eyes became dim as the memories rose. + </p> + <p> + We drew up outside the white walls of the harbour, as the law was, and the + slaves panted and sobbed in quietude over the oar-looms. For vessels thus + stationed there is, generally, a sufficiency of waiting, for a + port-captain is apt to be so uncertain of his own dignity, that he must + e’en keep folks waiting to prove it to them. But here for us it might have + been that the port-captain’s boat was waiting. The signal was sounded from + the two castles at the harbour’s entrance, the chain which hung between + them was dropped, and a ten-oared boat shot out from behind the walls as + fast as oars could drive her. She raced up alongside and the questions + were put: + </p> + <p> + “That should be Dason’s galley?” + </p> + <p> + “It was,” said Tob. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I saw Dason’s head on your beak,” said the port-captain. “You were + Tatho’s captain?” + </p> + <p> + “And am still. Tatho’s fleet was sent by Dason and his friends to the + sea-floor, and so we took this stinking galley to finish the voyage in, + seeing that it was the only craft left afloat.” + </p> + <p> + The port-captain was roving his eye over the group of us who stood on the + after-deck. “I fear me, captain, that you’ll have but a dangerous + reception. I do not see my Lord Deucalion. Or does he come with some other + navy? Gods, captain, if you have let him get killed whilst under your + charge, the Empress will have the skin torn slowly off you living.” + </p> + <p> + “What with Phorenice and Tatho both so curious for his welfare,” said Tob, + “my Lord Deucalion seems but a dangerous passenger. But I shall save my + hide this voyage.” He jerked at me with his thumb. “He’s there to put in a + word for me himself.” + </p> + <p> + The port-captain stared for a moment, as if unbelieving, and then, as + though satisfied, made obeisance like a fellow well used to ceremonial. “I + trust my lord, in his infinite strength, will pardon my sin in not knowing + him by his nobleness before. But truth to tell, I had looked to see my + lord more suitably apparelled.” + </p> + <p> + “Pish,” I said; “if I choose to dress simply, I cannot object to being + mistaken for a simple man. It is not my pleasure to advertise my quality + by the gauds on my garb. If you think amends are due to me, I pray of your + charity that this inquisition may end.” + </p> + <p> + The fellow was all bows and obsequiousness. “I am the humblest of my + lord’s servants,” he said. “It will be my exceeding honour to pilot my + lord’s galley into the berth appointed in harbour.” + </p> + <p> + The boat shot ahead, and our galley-slaves swung into stroke again. Tob + watched me with a dry smile as he stood directing the men at the helms. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” I said, humouring his whim, “what is it?” + </p> + <p> + “I’m thinking,” said Tob, “that my Lord Deucalion will remember me only as + a very rude fellow when he steps ashore amongst all this fine gentility.” + </p> + <p> + “You don’t think,” said I, “anything of the kind.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I must prove my refinement,” said Tob, “and not contradict.” He + picked up my hand in his huge, hard fist, and pressed it. “By the Gods, + Deucalion, you may be a great prince, but I’ve only known you as a man. + You’re the finest fighter of beasts and men that walks this world to-day, + and I love you for it. That spear-stroke of yours on the lizard is a thing + the singers in the taverns shall make chaunts about.” + </p> + <p> + We drew rapidly into the harbour, the soldiers in the entrance castle + blowing their trumpets in welcome as we passed between them. The captain + of the port had run up my banner to the masthead of his boat, having been + provided with one apparently for this purpose of announcement, and from + the quays, across the vast basin of the harbour, there presently came to + us the noises of musicians, and the pale glow of welcoming fires, dancing + under the sunlight. I was almost awed to think that an Empress of Atlantis + had come to such straits as to feel an interest like this in any mere + returning subject. + </p> + <p> + It was clear that nothing was to be done by halves. The port-captain’s + boat led, and we had no choice but to follow. Our galley was run up + alongside the royal quay and moored to its posts and rings of gold, all of + which are sacred to the reigning house. + </p> + <p> + “If Dason could only have foreseen this honour,” said Tob, with grisly + jest, “I’m sure he’d have laid in a silken warp to make fast on the + bollards instead of mere plebeian hemp. I’m sure there’d be a frown on + Dason’s head this minute, if the sun hadn’t scorched it stiff. My Lord + Deucalion, will you pick your way with niceness over this common ship and + tread on the genteel carpet they’ve spread for you on the quay yonder?” + </p> + <p> + The port-captain heard Tob’s rude banter and looked up with a face of + horror, and I remembered, with a small sigh, that colonial freedom would + have no place here in Atlantis. Once more I must prepare myself for all + the dignity of rank, and make ready to tread the formalities of vast and + gorgeous ceremonial. + </p> + <p> + But, be these things how they may, a self-respecting man must preserve his + individuality also, and though I consented to enter a pavilion of crimson + cloth, specially erected to shelter me till the Empress should deign to + arrive, there my complaisance ended. Again the matter of clothes was + harped upon. The three gorgeously caparisoned chamberlains, who had + inducted me to the shelter, laid before me changes of raiment bedecked + with every imaginable kind of frippery, and would have me transform myself + into a popinjay in fashion like their own. + </p> + <p> + Curtly enough, I refused to alter my garb, and when one of them + stammeringly referred to the Empress’s tastes I asked him with plainness + if he had got any definite commands on this paltry matter from her + mightiness. + </p> + <p> + Of course, he had to confess that there were none. + </p> + <p> + Upon which I retorted that Phorenice had commanded Deucalion, the man, to + attend before her, and had sent no word of her pleasure as to his outer + casing. + </p> + <p> + “This dress,” I said, “suits my temper well. It shields my poor body from + the heat and the wind, and, moreover, it is clean. It seems to me, sirs,” + I added, “that your interfering savours somewhat of an impertinence.” + </p> + <p> + With one accord the chamberlains drew their swords and pushed the hilts + towards me. + </p> + <p> + “It would be a favour,” said their spokesman, “if the great Lord Deucalion + would take his vengeance now, instead of delivering us to the tormentors + hereafter.” + </p> + <p> + “Poof,” I said, “the matter is forgotten. You make too much of a little.” + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, their action gave me some enlightenment. They were perfectly + in earnest in offering me the swords, and I recognised that this was a + different Atlantis that I had come home to, where a man had dread of the + torture for a mere difference concerning the cut of a coat. + </p> + <p> + There was a bath in the pavilion, and in that I regaled myself gladly, + though there was some paltry scent added to the water that took away half + its refreshing power; and then I set myself to wait with all outward + composure and placidity. The chamberlains were too well-bred to break into + my calm, and I did not condescend to small talk. So there we remained, the + four of us, I sitting, they standing, with our Lord the Sun smiting + heavily on the scarlet roof of the pavilion, whilst the music blared, and + the welcoming fires dispersed their odours from the great paved square + without, which faced upon the quay. + </p> + <p> + It has been said that the great should always collect dignity by keeping + those of lesser degree waiting their pleasure, though for myself I must + say I have always thought the stratagem paltry and beneath me. Phorenice + also seemed of this opinion, for (as she herself told me later) at the + moment that Tob’s galley was reported as having its flank against the + marble of the royal quay, at that precise moment did she start out from + the palace. The gorgeous procession was already marshalled, bedecked, and + waiting only for its chiefest ornament, and as soon as she had mounted to + her steed, trumpets gave the order, and the advance began. + </p> + <p> + Sitting in the doorway of the pavilion, I saw the soldiery who formed the + head of this vast concourse emerge from the great broad street where it + left the houses. They marched straight across to give me the salute, and + then ranged themselves on the farther side of the square. Then came the + Mariners’ Guild, then more soldiers, all making obeisance in their turn, + and passing on to make room for others. Following were the merchants, the + tanners, the spear-makers and all the other acknowledged Guilds, + deliberately attired (so it seemed to me) that they might make a pageant; + and whilst most walked on foot, there were some who proudly rode on beasts + which they had tamed into rendering them this menial service. + </p> + <p> + But presently came the two wonders of all that dazzling spectacle. From + out of the eclipse of the houses there swung into the open no less a beast + than a huge bull mammoth. The sight had sufficient surprise in it almost + to make me start. Many a time during my life had I led hunts to kill the + mammoth, when a herd of them had raided some village or cornland under my + charge. I had seen the huge brutes in the wild ground, shaggy, horrid, + monstrous; more fierce than even the cave-tiger or the cave-bear; most + dangerous beast of all that fight with man for dominion of the earth, save + only for a few of the greater lizards. And here was this creature, a giant + even amongst mammoths, yet tame as any well-whipped slave, and bearing + upon its back a great half-castle of gold, stamped with the outstretched + hand, and bedecked with silver snakes. Its murderous tusks were gilded, + its hairy neck was garlanded with flowers, and it trod on in the + procession as though assisting at such pageantry was the beginning and end + of its existence. Its tameness seemed a fitting symbol of the masterful + strength of this new ruler of Atlantis. + </p> + <p> + Simultaneously with the mammoth, there came into sight that other and + greater wonder, the mammoth’s mistress, the Empress Phorenice. The beast + took my eye at the first, from its very uncouth hugeness, from its show of + savage power restrained; but the lady who sat in the golden half-castle on + its lofty back quickly drew away my gaze, and held it immovable from then + onwards with an infinite attraction. + </p> + <p> + I stood to my feet when the people first shouted at Phorenice’s approach, + and remained in the porchway of my scarlet pavilion till her vast steed + had halted in the centre of the square, and then I advanced across the + pavement towards her. + </p> + <p> + “On your knees, my lord,” said one of the chamberlains behind me, in a + scared whisper. + </p> + <p> + “At least with bent head,” urged another. + </p> + <p> + But I had my own notions of what is due to one’s own self-respect in these + matters, and I marched across the bare open space with head erect, giving + the Empress gaze for gaze. She was clearly summing me up. I was frankly + doing the like by her. Gods! but those few short seconds made me see a + woman such as I never imagined could have lived. + </p> + <p> + I know I have placed it on record earlier in this writing that, during all + the days of a long official life, women have had no influence over me. But + I have been quick to see that they often had a strong swaying power over + the policies of others, and as a consequence I have made it my business to + study them even as I have studied men. But this woman who sat under the + sacred snakes in her golden half-castle on the mammoth’s back, fairly + baffled me. Of her thoughts I could read no single syllable. I could see a + body slight, supple, and beautifully moulded; in figure rather small. Her + face was a most perfect book of cleverness, yet she was fair, too, beyond + belief, with hair of a lovely ruddiness, cut short in the new fashion, and + bunching on her shoulders. And eyes! Gods! who could plumb the depths of + Phorenice’s eyes, or find in mere tint a trace of their heaven-made + colour? + </p> + <p> + It was plain, also, that she in her turn was searching me down to my very + soul, and it seemed that her scrutiny was not without its satisfaction. + She moved her head in little nods as I drew near, and when I did the + requisite obeisance permitted to my rank, she bade me in a voice loud and + clear enough for all at hand to hear, never to put forehead on the ground + again on her behalf so long as she ruled in Atlantis. + </p> + <p> + “For others,” she said, “it is fitting that they should do so, once, + twice, or several times, according to their rank and station, for I am + Empress, and they are all so far beneath me; but you are Deucalion, my + lord, and though till to-day I knew you only from pictures drawn with + tongues, I have seen you now, and have judged for myself. And so I make + this decree: Deucalion is above all other men in Atlantis, and if there is + one who does not render him obedience, that man is enemy also of + Phorenice, and shall feel her anger.” + </p> + <p> + She made a sign, and a stair was brought, and then she called to me, and I + mounted and sat beside her in the golden half-castle under the canopy of + royal snakes. The girl who stood behind in attendance fanned us both with + perfumed feathers, and at a word from Phorenice the mammoth was turned, + bearing us back towards the royal pyramid by the way through which it had + come. At the same time also all the other machinery of splendour was put + in motion. The soldiers and the gaudily bedecked civil traders fell into + procession before and behind, and I noted that a body of troops, heavily + armed, marched on each of the mammoth’s flanks. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice turned to me with a smile. “You piqued me,” she said, “at + first.” + </p> + <p> + “Your Majesty overwhelms me with so much notice.” + </p> + <p> + “You looked at my steed before you looked at me. A woman finds it hard to + forgive a slight like that.” + </p> + <p> + “I envied you the greatest of your conquests, and do still. I have fought + mammoths myself, and at times have killed, but I never dared even to think + of taking one alive and bringing it into tameness.” + </p> + <p> + “You speak boldly,” she said, still smiling, “and yet you can turn a + pretty compliment. Faugh! Deucalion, the way these people fawn on me gives + me a nausea. I am not of the same clay as they are, I know; but just + because I am the daughter of Gods they must needs feed me on the pap of + insincerity.” + </p> + <p> + So Tatho was right, and the swineherd was forgotten. Well, if she chose to + keep up the fiction she had made, it was not my part to contradict her. + Rightly or wrongly I was her servant. + </p> + <p> + “I have been pining this long enough for a stronger meat than they can + give,” she went on, “and at last I have sent for you. I have been at some + pains to procure my tongue-pictures of you, Deucalion, and though you do + not know me yet, I may say I knew you with all thoroughness even before we + met. I can admire a man with a mind great enough to forego the silly gauds + of clothes, or the excesses of feasts, or the pamperings of women.” She + looked down at her own silks and her glittering jewels. “We women like to + carry colours upon our persons, but that is a different matter. And so I + sent for you here to be my minister, and bear with me the burden of + ruling.” + </p> + <p> + “There should be better men in broad Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “There are not, my lord, and I who know them all by heart tell you so. + They are all enamoured of my poor person; they weary me with their empty + phrases and their importunities; and, though they are always brimming with + their cries of service, their own advancement and the filling of their own + treasuries ever comes first with them. So I have sent for you, Deucalion, + the one strong man in all the world. You at least will not sigh to be my + lover?” + </p> + <p> + I saw her watching for my answer from the corner of her eyes. “The + Empress,” I said, “is my mistress, and I will be an honest minister to + her. With Phorenice, the woman, it is likely that I shall have little + enough to do. Besides, I am not the sort that sports with this toy they + call love.” + </p> + <p> + “And yet you are a personable man enough,” she said rather thoughtfully. + “But that still further proves your strength, Deucalion. You at least will + not lose your head through weak infatuation for my poor looks and graces.”—She + turned to the girl who stood behind us.—“Ylga, fan not so + violently.” + </p> + <p> + Our talk broke off then for the moment, and I had time to look about me. + We were passing through the chief street in the fairest, the most + wonderful city this world has ever seen. I had left it a score of years + before, and was curious to note its increase. + </p> + <p> + In public buildings the city had certainly made growth; there were new + temples, new pyramids, new palaces, and statuary everywhere. Its greatness + and magnificence impressed me more strongly even than usual, returning to + it as I did from such a distance of time and space, for, though the many + cities of Yucatan might each of them be princely, this great capital was a + place not to be compared with any of them. It was imperial and gorgeous + beyond descriptive words. + </p> + <p> + Yet most of all was I struck by the poverty and squalor which stood in + such close touch with all this magnificence. In the throngs that lined the + streets there were gaunt bodies and hungry faces everywhere. Here and + there stood one, a man or a woman, as naked as a savage in Europe, and yet + dull to shame. Even the trader, with trumpery gauds on his coat, aping the + prevailing fashion for display, had a scared, uneasy look to his face, as + though he had forgotten the mere name of safety, and hid a frantic heart + with his tawdry outward vauntings of prosperity. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice read the direction of my looks. + </p> + <p> + “The season,” she said, “has been unhealthy of recent months. These lower + people will not build fine houses to adorn my city, and because they + choose to live on in their squalid, unsightly kennels, there have been + calentures and other sicknesses amongst them, which make them disinclined + for work. And then, too, for the moment, earning is not easy. Indeed, you + may say trade is nearly stopped this last half-year, since the rebels have + been hammering so lustily at my city gates.” + </p> + <p> + I was fairly startled out of my decorum. + </p> + <p> + “Rebels!” I cried. “Who are hammering at the gates of Atlantis? Is the + city in a state of siege?” + </p> + <p> + “Of their condescension,” said Phorenice lightly, “they are giving us + holiday to-day, and so, happily, my welcome to you comes undisturbed. If + they were fighting, your ears would have told you of it. To give them + their due, they are noisy enough in all their efforts. My spies say they + are making ready new engines for use against the walls, which you may + sally out to-morrow and break if it gives you amusement. But for to-day, + Deucalion, I have you, and you have me, and there is peace round us, and + some prettiness of display. If you ask for more I will give it you.” + </p> + <p> + “I did not know of this rebellion,” I said, “but as Your Majesty has made + me your minister, it is well that I should know all about its scope at + once. This is a matter we should be serious upon.” + </p> + <p> + “And do you think I cannot take it seriously also?” she retorted. “Ylga,” + she said to the girl that stood behind, “set loose my dress at the + shoulder.” + </p> + <p> + And when the attendant had unlinked the jewelled clasp (as it seemed to me + with a very ill grace), she herself stripped down the fabric, baring the + pure skin beneath, and showing me just below the curve of the left breast + a bandage of bloodstained linen. + </p> + <p> + “There is a guarantee of my seriousness yesterday, at any rate,” she said, + looking at me sidelong. “The arrow struck on a rib and that saved me. If + it had struck between, Deucalion would have been standing beside my + funeral pyre to-day instead of riding on this pretty steed of mine which + he admires so much. Your eye seems to feast itself most on the mammoth, + Deucalion. Ah, poor me. I am not one of your shaggy creatures, and so it + seems I shall never be able to catch your regard. Ylga,” she said to the + girl behind, “you may link my dress up again with its clasp. My Lord + Deucalion has seen wounds before, and there is nothing else here to + interest him.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 5. ZAEMON’S CURSE + </h2> + <p> + It appeared that for the present at any rate I was to have my residence in + the royal pyramid. The glittering cavalcade drew up in the great paved + square which lies before the building, and massed itself in groups. The + mammoth was halted before the doorway, and when a stair had been brought, + the trumpets sounded, and we three who had ridden in the golden + half-castle under the canopy of snakes, descended to the ground. + </p> + <p> + It was plain that we were going from beneath the open sky to the + apartments which lay inside the vast stone mazes of the pyramid, and + without thinking, the instinct of custom and reverence that had become + part of my nature caused me to turn to where the towering rocks of the + Sacred Mountain frowned above the city, and make the usual obeisance, and + offer up in silence the prescribed prayer. I say I did this thing + unthinking, and as a matter of common custom, but when I rose to my feet, + I could have sworn I heard a titter of laughter from somewhere in that + fancifully bedecked crowd of onlookers. + </p> + <p> + I glanced in the direction of the scoffers, frowningly enough, and then I + turned to Phorenice to demand their prompt punishment for the disrespect. + But here was a strange thing. I had looked to see her in the act and + article of rising from an obeisance; but there she was, standing erect, + and had clearly never touched her forehead to the ground. Moreover, she + was regarding me with a queer look which I could not fathom. + </p> + <p> + But whatever was in her mind, she had no plan to bawl about it then before + the people collected in the square. She said to me, “Come,” and, turning + to the doorway, cried for entrance, giving the secret word appointed for + the day. The ponderous stone blocks, which barred the porch, swung back on + their hinges, and with stately tread she passed out of the hot sunshine + into the cool gloom beyond, with the fan-girl following decorously at her + heels. With a heaviness beginning to grow at my heart, I too went inside + the pyramid, and the stone doors, with a sullen thud, closed behind us. + </p> + <p> + We did not go far just then. Phorenice halted in the hall of waiting. How + well I remembered the place, with the pictures of kings on its red walls, + and the burning fountain of earth-breath which blazed from a jet of bronze + in the middle of the flooring and gave it light. The old King that was + gone had come this far of his complaisance when he bade me farewell as I + set out twenty years before for my vice-royalty in Yucatan. But the air of + the hall was different to what it had been in those old days. Then it was + pure and sweet. Now it was heavy with some scent, and I found it languid + and oppressive. + </p> + <p> + “My minister,” said the Empress, “I acquit you of intentional insult; but + I think the colonial air has made you a very simple man. Such an obeisance + as you showed to that mountain not a minute since has not been made since + I was sent to reign over this kingdom.” + </p> + <p> + “Your Majesty,” I said, “I am a member of the Priests’ Clan and was + brought up in their tenets. I have been taught, before entering a house, + to thank the Gods, and more especially our Lord the Sun, for the good air + that He and They have provided. It has been my fate more than once to be + chased by streams of fire and stinking air amongst the mountains during + one of their sudden boils, and so I can say the prescribed prayer upon + this matter straight from my heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Circumstances have changed since you left Atlantis,” said Phorenice, “and + when thanks are given now, they are not thrown at those old Gods.” + </p> + <p> + I saw her meaning, and almost started at the impiety of it. If this was to + be the new rule of things, I would have no hand in it. Fate might deal + with me as it chose. To serve truly a reigning monarch, that I was + prepared for; but to palter with sacrilege, and accept a swineherd’s + daughter as a God, who should receive prayers and obeisances, revolted my + manhood. So I invited a crisis. + </p> + <p> + “Phorenice,” I said, “I have been a priest from my childhood up, revering + the Gods, and growing intimate with their mysteries. Till I find for + myself that those old things are false, I must stand by that allegiance, + and if there is a cost for this faithfulness I must pay it.” + </p> + <p> + She looked at me with a slow smile. “You are a strong man, Deucalion,” she + said. + </p> + <p> + I bowed. + </p> + <p> + “I have heard others as stubborn,” she said, “but they were converted.” + She shook out the ruddy bunches of her hair, and stood so that the light + of the burning earth-breath might fall on the loveliness of her face and + form. “I have found it as easy to convert the stubborn as to burn them. + Indeed, there has been little talk of burning. They have all rushed to + conversion, whether I would or no. But it seems that my poor looks and + tongue are wanting in charm to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “Phorenice is Empress,” I said stolidly, “and I am her servant. To-morrow, + if she gives me leave, I will clear away this rabble which clamours + outside the walls. I must begin to prove my uses.” + </p> + <p> + “I am told you are a pretty fighter,” said she. “Well, I hold some small + skill in arms myself, and have a conceit that I am something of a judge. + To-morrow we will take a taste of battle together. But to-day I must carry + through the honourable reception I have planned for you, Deucalion. The + feast will be set ready soon, and you will wish to make ready for the + feast. There are chambers here selected for your use, and stored with what + is needful. Ylga will show you their places.” + </p> + <p> + We waited, the fan-girl and I, till Phorenice had passed out of the glow + of the light-jet, and had left the hall of waiting through a doorway + amongst the shadows of its farther angle, and then (the girl taking a lamp + and leading) we also threaded our way through the narrow mazes of the + pyramid. + </p> + <p> + Everywhere the air was full of perfumes, and everywhere the passages + turned and twisted and doubled through the solid stone of the pyramid, so + that strangers might have spent hours—yes, or days—in search + before they came to the chamber they desired. There was a fine cunningness + about those forgotten builders who set up this royal pyramid. They had no + mind that kings should fall by the hand of vulgar assassins who might come + in suddenly from outside. And it is said also that the king of the time, + to make doubly sure, killed all that had built the pyramid, or seen even + the lay of its inner stones. + </p> + <p> + But the fan-girl led the way with the lamp swinging in her hand, as one + accustomed to the mazes. Here she doubled, there she turned, and here she + stopped in the middle of a blank wall to push a stone, which swung to let + us pass. And once she pressed at the corner of a flagstone on the floor, + which reared up to the thrust of her foot, and showed us a stair steep and + narrow. That we descended, coming to the foot of an inclined way which led + us upward again; and so by degrees we came unto the chamber which had been + given for my use. + </p> + <p> + “There is raiment in all these chests which stand by the walls,” said the + girl, “and jewels and gauds in that bronze coffer. They are Phorenice’s + first presents, she bid me say, and but a small earnest of what is to + come. My Lord Deucalion can drop his simplicity now, and fig himself out + in finery to suit the fashion.” + </p> + <p> + “Girl,” I said sharply, “be more decorous with your tongue, and spare me + such small advice.” + </p> + <p> + “If my Lord Deucalion thinks this a rudeness, he can give a word to + Phorenice, and I shall be whipped. If he asks it, I can be stripped and + scourged before him. The Empress will do much for Deucalion just now.” + </p> + <p> + “Girl,” I said, “you are nearer to that whipping than you think for.” + </p> + <p> + “I have got a name,” she retorted, looking at me sullenly from under her + black brows. “They call me Ylga. You might have heard that as we rode here + on the mammoth, had you not been so wrapped up in Phorenice.” + </p> + <p> + I gazed at her curiously. “You have never seen me before,” I said, “and + the first words you utter are those that might well bring trouble to + yourself. There is some object in all this.” + </p> + <p> + She went and pushed to the massive stone that swung in the doorway of the + chamber. Then she put her little jewelled fingers on my garment and drew + me carefully away from the airshaft into the farther corner. “I am the + daughter of Zaemon,” she said, “whom you knew.” + </p> + <p> + “You bring me some message from him?” + </p> + <p> + “How could I? He lives in the priests’ dwellings on the Mountain you did + obeisance to. I have not put eyes on him these two years. But when I saw + you first step out from that red pavilion they had pitched at the harbour + side, I—I felt a pity for you, Deucalion. I remembered you were my + father’s, Zaemon’s, friend, and I knew what Phorenice had in store. She + has been plotting it all these two months.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot hear words against the Empress.” + </p> + <p> + “And yet—” + </p> + <p> + “What?” + </p> + <p> + She stamped her sandal upon the stone of the floor. “You must be a very + blind man, Deucalion, or a very daring one. But I shall not interfere + further; at least not now. Still, I shall watch, and if at any time you + seem to want a friend I will try and serve you.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you for your friendship.” + </p> + <p> + “You seem to take it lightly enough. Why, sir, even now I do not believe + you know my power, any more than you guess my motive. You may be first man + in this kingdom, but let me tell you I rank as second lady. And remember, + women stand high in Atlantis now. Believe me, my friendship is a commodity + that has been sought with frequence and industry.” + </p> + <p> + “And as I say, I am grateful for it. You seem to think little enough of my + gratitude, Ylga; but, credit me, I never have bestowed it on a woman + before, and so you should treasure it for its rarity.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” she said, “my lord, there is an education before you.” She left me + then, showing me how to call slaves when I wished for their help, and for + a full minute I stood wondering at the words I had spoken to her. Who was + the daughter of Zaemon that she should induce me to change the habit of a + lifetime? + </p> + <p> + The slaves came at my bidding, and showed themselves anxious to deck me + with a thousand foolishnesses in the matter of robes and gauds, and (what + seemed to be the modern fashion of their class) holding out the virtues of + a score of perfumes and unguents. Their manner irritated me. Clean I was + already, and shaved; my hair was trim, and my robe was unsoiled; and, + considering these pressing attentions of theirs something of an + impertinence, I set them to beat one another as a punishment, promising + that if they did not do it with thoroughness, I would hand them on to the + brander to be marked with stripes which would endure. It is strange, but a + common menial can often surpass even a rebellious general in power of + ruffling one. + </p> + <p> + I had seen many strange sights that day, and undergone many new + sensations; but of all the things which came to my notice, Phorenice’s + manner of summoning the guests to her feast surprised me most. Nay, it did + more; it shocked me profoundly; and I cannot say whether amazement at her + profanity, or wonder at her power, was for the moment strongest in my + breast. I sat in my chamber awaiting the summons, when gradually, growing + out of nothing, a sound fell upon my ear which increased in volume with + infinitely small graduations, till at last it became a clanging din which + hurt the ear with its fierceness; and then (I guessed what was coming) the + whole massive fabric of the pyramid trembled and groaned and shook, as + though it had been merely a child’s wooden toy brushed about by a strong + man’s sandal. + </p> + <p> + It was the portent served out yearly by the chiefs of the Priests’ Clan on + the Sacred Mountain, when they bade all the world take count of their + sins. It was the sacred reminder that from roaring, raging fire, and from + the agony of monstrous earth-tremors, man had been born, and that by these + same agencies he would eventually be swallowed up—he and the sins + within his breast. And here the Empress was prostituting its solemnities + into a mere call to gluttony, and sign for ribald laughter and sensuous + display. + </p> + <p> + But how had she acquired the authority to do this thing? Who was she that + she should tamper with those dimly understood powers, the forces that + dwell within the liquid heart of our mother earth? Had there been + treachery? Had some member of the Priests’ Clan forgotten his sacred vows, + and babbled to this woman matters concerning the holy mysteries? Or had + Phorenice discovered a key to these mysteries with her own agile brain? + </p> + <p> + If that last was the case, I could continue to serve her with silent + conscience. Though she might be none of my making, at least she was + Empress, and it was my duty to give her obedience. But if she had suborned + some weaker member of the Clan on the Sacred Mount, that would be a + different matter. For be it remembered that it was one of the elements of + our constitution to preserve our secrets and mysteries inviolate, and to + pursue with undying hatred both the man who had dared to betray them, and + the unhappy recipient of his confidence. + </p> + <p> + It was with very undecided feelings, then, that I obeyed the summons of + the earth-shaking, and bade the slaves lead me through the windings of the + pyramid to the great banqueting-hall. The scene there was dazzling. The + majestic chamber with its marvellous carvings was filled with a company + decked out with all the gauds and colours that fancy could conceive. + Little recked they of the solemn portent which had summoned them to the + meal, of the death and misery that stalked openly through the city wards + without, of the rebels which lay in leaguer beyond the walls, of the + neglected Gods and their clan of priests on the Sacred Mountain. They were + all gluttonous for the passions of the moment; it was their fashion and + conceit to look at nothing beyond. + </p> + <p> + Flaming jets of earth-breath lit the great hall to the brightness of + midday; and when I stepped out upon the pavement, trumpets blared, so that + all might know of my coming. But there was no roar of welcome. + “Deucalion,” they lisped with mincing voices, bowing themselves + ridiculously to the ground so that all their ornaments and silks might + jangle and swish. Indeed, when Phorenice herself appeared, and all sent up + their cries and made lawful obeisance, there was the same artificiality in + the welcome. They meant well enough, it is true; but this was the new + fashion. Heartiness had come to be accounted a barbarism by this new + culture. + </p> + <p> + A pair of posturing, smirking chamberlains took me in charge, and ushered + me with their flimsy golden wands to the dais at the farther end. It + appeared that I was to sit on Phorenice’s divan, and eat my meat out of + her dish. + </p> + <p> + “There is no stint to the honour the Empress puts upon me,” I said, as I + knelt down and took my seat. + </p> + <p> + She gave me one of her queer, sidelong looks. “Deucalion may have more + beside, if he asks for it prettily. He may have what all the other men in + the known world have sighed for, and what none of them will ever get. But + I have given enough of my own accord; he must ask me warmly for those + further favours.” + </p> + <p> + “I ask,” I said, “first, that I may sweep the boundaries clear of this + rabble which is clamouring against the city walls.” + </p> + <p> + “Pah,” she said, and frowned. “Have you appetite only for the sterner + pleasures of life? My good Deucalion, they must have been rustic folk in + that colony of yours. Well, you shall give me news now of the + toothsomeness of this feast.” + </p> + <p> + Dishes and goblets were placed before us, and we began to eat, though I + had little enough appetite for victual so broken and so highly spiced. But + if this finicking cookery and these luscious wines did not appeal to me, + the other diners in that gorgeous hall appreciated it all to the full. + They sat about in groups on the pavement beneath the light-jets like a + tangle of rainbows for colour, and according to the new custom they went + into raptures and ecstasies over their enjoyment. Women and men both, they + lingered over each titillation of the palate as though it were a caress of + the Gods. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice, with her quick, bright eyes, looked on, and occasionally flung + one or another a few words between her talk with me, and now and again + called some favoured creature up to receive a scrap of viand from the + royal dish. This the honoured one would eat with extravagant gesture, or + (as happened twice) would put it away in the folds of his clothes as a + treasure too dear to be profaned by human lips. + </p> + <p> + To me, this flattery appeared gross and disgustful, but Phorenice, through + use, perhaps, seemed to take it as merely her due. There was, one had to + suppose, a weakness in her somewhere, though truly to the outward seeing + none was apparent. Her face was strong enough, and it was subtle also, + and, moreover, it was wondrous comely. All the courtiers in the + banqueting-hall raved about Phorenice’s face and the other beauties of her + body and limbs, and though not given to appreciation in these matters, I + could not but see that here at least they had a groundwork for their + admiration, for surely the Gods have never favoured mortal woman more + highly. Yet lovely though she might be, for myself I preferred to look + upon Ylga, the girl, who, because of her rank, was privileged to sit on + the divan behind us as immediate attendant. There was an honesty in Ylga’s + face which Phorenice’s lacked. + </p> + <p> + They did not eat to nutrify their bodies, these feasters in the + banqueting-hall of the royal pyramid, but they all ate to cloy themselves, + and they strutted forth new usages with every platter and bowl that the + slaves brought. To me some of their manners were closely touching on + disrespect. At the halfway of the meal, a gorgeous popinjay—he was a + governor of an out-province driven into the capital by a rebellion in his + own lands—this gorgeous fop, I say, walked up between the groups of + feasters with flushed face and unsteady gait, and did obeisance before the + divan. “Most astounding Empress,” cried he, “fairest among the Goddesses, + Queen regnant of my adoring heart, hail!” + </p> + <p> + Phorenice with a smile stretched him out her cup. I looked to see him pour + respectful libation, but no such thing. He set the drink to his lips and + drained it to the final drop. “May all your troubles,” he cried, “pass + from you as easily, and leave as pleasant a flavour.” + </p> + <p> + The Empress turned to me with one of her quick looks. “You do not like + this new habit?” + </p> + <p> + To which I replied bluntly enough that to pour out liquor at a person’s + feet had grown through custom to be a mark of respect, but that drinking + it seemed to me mere self-indulgence, which might be practised anywhere. + </p> + <p> + “You still keep to the old austere teachings,” she said. “Our newer code + bids us enjoy life first, and order other things so as not to meddle with + our more immediate pleasure.” + </p> + <p> + And so the feast went on, the guests practising their gluttonies and their + absurdities, and the guards standing to their arms round the circuit of + the walls as motionless and as stern as the statues carven in the white + stone beyond them. But a term was put to the orgy with something of + suddenness. There was a stir at the farther doorway of the + banqueting-hall, and a clash, as two of the guards joined their spears + across the entrance. But the man they tried to stop—or perhaps it + was to pin—passed them unharmed, and walked up over the pavement + between the lights, and the groups of feasters. All looked round at him; a + few threw him ribald words; but none ventured to stop his progress. A few, + women chiefly, I could see, shuddered as he passed them by, as though a + wintry chill had come over them; and in the end he walked up and stood in + front of Phorenice’s divan, and gazed fixedly on her, but without making + obeisance. + </p> + <p> + He was a frail old man, with white hair tumbling on his shoulders, and + ragged white beard. The mud of wayfaring hung in clots on his feet and + legs. His wizened body was bare save for a single cloth wound about his + shoulders and his loins, and he carried in his hand a wand with the symbol + of our Lord the Sun glowing at its tip. That wand went to show his caste, + but in no other way could I recognize him. + </p> + <p> + I took him for one of those ascetics of the Priests’ Clan, who had + forsworn the steady nurtured life of the Sacred Mountain, and who lived + out in the dangerous lands amongst the burning hills, where there is daily + peril from falling rocks, from fire streams, from evil vapours, from + sudden fissuring of the ground, and from other movements of those unstable + territories, and from the greater lizards and other monstrous beasts which + haunt them. These keep constant in the memory the might of the Holy Gods, + and the insecurity of this frail earth on which we have our resting-place, + and so the sojourners there become chastened in the spirit, and gain power + over mysteries which even the most studious and learned of other men can + never hope to attain. + </p> + <p> + A silence filled the room when the old man came to his halt, and Phorenice + was the first to break it. “Those two guards,” she said, in her clear, + carrying voice, “who held the door, are not equal to their work. I cannot + have imperfect servants; remove them.” + </p> + <p> + The soldiers next in the rank lifted their spears and drove them home, and + the two fellows who had admitted the old man fell to the ground. One + shrieked once, the other gave no sound: they were clever thrusts both. + </p> + <p> + The old man found his voice, thin, and high, and broken. “Another crime + added to your tally, Phorenice. Not half your army could have hindered my + entrance had I wished to come, and let me tell you that I am here to bring + you your last warning. The Gods have shown you much favour; they gave you + merit by which you could rise above your fellows, till at last only the + throne stood above you. It was seen good by those on the Sacred Mountain + to let you have this last ambition, and sit on this throne that has as + long and honourably been filled by the ancient kings of Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + The Empress sat back on the divan smiling. “I seemed to get these things + as I chose, and in spite of your friends’ teeth. I may owe to you, old + man, a small parcel of thanks, though that I offered to repay; but for my + lords the priests, their permission was of small enough value when it + came. I would have you remember that I was as firm on the throne of + Atlantis as this pyramid stands upon its base when your worn-out priests + came up to give their tottering benediction.” + </p> + <p> + The old man waved aside her interruption. “Hear me out,” he said. “I am + here with no trivial message. There is nothing paltry about the threat I + can throw at you, Phorenice. With your fire-tubes, your handling of + troops, and your other fiendish clevernesses, you may not be easy to + overthrow by mere human means, though, forsooth, these poor rebels who yap + against your city walls have contrived to hold their ground for long + enough now. It may be that you are becoming enervated; I do not know. It + may be that you are too wrapped up in your feastings, your dressings, your + pomps, and your debaucheries, to find leisure to turn to the art of war. + It may be that the man’s spirit has gone out from your arm and brain, and + you are a woman once more—weak, and pleasure-loving; again I do not + know. + </p> + <p> + “But this must happen: You must undo the evil you have done; you must give + bread to the people who are starving, even if you take it from these + gluttons in this hall; you must restore Atlantis to the state in which it + was entrusted to you: or else you must be removed. It cannot be permitted + that the country should sink back into the lawlessness and barbarism from + which its ancient kings have digged it. You hear, Phorenice. Now give me + true answer.” + </p> + <p> + “Speak him fair. Oh! For the sake of your fortune, speak him fair,” came + Ylga’s voice in a hurried whisper from behind us. But the Empress took no + notice of it. She leaned forward on the cushions of the divan with a knit + brow. + </p> + <p> + “Do you dare to threaten me, old man, knowing what I am?” + </p> + <p> + “I know your origin,” he said gravely, “as well as you know it yourself. + As for my daring, that is a small matter. He need be but a timid man who + dares to say words that the High Gods put on his lips.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall rule this kingdom as I choose. I shall brook interference from no + creature on this earth, or beneath it, or in the sky above. The Gods have + chosen me to be Their regent in Atlantis, and They do not depose me + through such creatures as you. Go away, old man, and play the fanatic in + another court. It is well that I have an ancient kindliness for you, or + you would not leave this place unharmed.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, indeed, you are lost,” I heard Ylga murmur from behind, and the old + man in front of us did not move a step. Instead, he lifted up the Symbol + of our Lord the Sun, and launched his curse. “Your blasphemy gives the + reply I asked for. Hear me now make declaration of war on behalf of Those + against whom you have thrown your insults. You shall be overthrown and + sent to the nether Gods. At whatever cost the land shall be purged of you + and yours, and all the evil that has been done to it whilst you have + sullied the throne of its ancient kings. You will not amend, neither will + you yield tamely. You vaunt that you sit as firm on your throne as this + pyramid reposes on its base. See how little you know of what the future + carries. I say to you that, whilst you are yet Empress, you shall see this + royal pyramid which you have polluted with your debaucheries torn tier + from tier, and stone from stone, and scattered as feathers spread before a + wind.” + </p> + <p> + “You may wreck the pyramid,” said Phorenice contemptuously. “I myself have + some knowledge of the earth forces, as I have shown this night. But though + you crumble every stone above us now and grind it into grit and dust, I + shall still be Empress. What force can you crazy priests bring against me + that I cannot throw back and destroy?” + </p> + <p> + “We have a weapon that was forged in no mortal smithy,” shrilled the old + man, “whereof the key is now lodged in the Ark of the Mysteries. But that + weapon can be used only as a last resource. The nature of it even is too + awful to be told in words. Our other powers will be launched against you + first, and for this poor country’s sake I pray that they may cause you to + wince. Yet rest assured, Phorenice, that we shall not step aside once we + have put a hand to this matter. We shall carry it through, even though the + cost be a universal burning and destruction. For know this, daughter of + the swineherd, it is agreed amongst the most High Gods that you are too + full of sin to continue unchecked.” + </p> + <p> + “Speak him fairly,” Ylga urged from behind. “He has a power at which you + cannot even guess.” + </p> + <p> + The Empress made to rise, but Ylga clung to her skirt. “For the sake of + your fame,” she urged, “for the sake of your life, do not defy him.” But + Phorenice struck her fiercely aside, and faced the old man in a tumult of + passion. “You dare call me a blasphemer, who blaspheme yourself? You dare + cast slurs upon my birth, who am come direct from the most high Heaven? + Old man, your craziness protects you in part, but not in all. You shall be + whipped. Do you hear me? I say, whipped. The lean flesh shall be scourged + from your scraggy bones, and you shall totter away from this place as a + red and bleeding example for those who would dare traduce their Empress. + Here, some of you, I say, take that man, and let him be whipped where he + stands.” + </p> + <p> + Her cry went out clearly enough. But not a soul amongst those glittering + feasters stirred in his place. Not a soldier amongst the guards stepped + from his rank. The place was hung in a terrible silence. It seemed as + though no one within the hall dared so much as to draw a breath. All felt + that the very air was big with fate. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice, with her head crouched forward, looked from one group to + another. Her face was working. “Have I no true servants,” she asked, + “amongst all you pretty lip-servers?” + </p> + <p> + Still no one moved. They stood, or sat, or crouched like people + fascinated. For myself, with the first words he had uttered, I had + recognized the old man by his voice. It was Zaemon, the weak governor who + had given the Empress her first step towards power; that earnest searcher + into the mysteries, who knew more of their powers, and more about the + hidden forces, than any other dweller on the Sacred Mountain, even at that + time when I left for my colony. And now, during his strange hermit life, + how much more might he not have learned? I was torn by warring duties. I + owed much to the Priests’ Clan, by reason of my oath and membership; it + seemed I owed no less to Phorenice. And, again, was Zaemon the truly + accredited envoy of the high council of the priests of the Sacred + Mountain? And was the Empress of a truth deposed by the High Gods above, + or was she still Empress, and still the commander of my duty? I could not + tell, and so I sat in my seat awaiting what the event would sow. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice’s fury was growing. “Do I stand alone here?” she cried. “Have I + pampered you creatures out of all touch with gratitude? It seems that at + last I want a new chief to my guards. Ho! Who will be chief of the guards + of the Empress?” + </p> + <p> + There was a shifting of eyes, a hesitation. Then a great burly form strode + up from the farther end of the hall, and a perceptible shudder went up + from all the others as they watched him. + </p> + <p> + “So, Tarca, you prefer to take the risks, and remain chief of the guard + yourself?” she said with an angry scoff. “Truly there did not seem to be + many thrusting forward to strip you of the office. I shall have a fine + sorting up of places in payment for this night’s work. But for the + present, Tarca, do your duty.” + </p> + <p> + The man came up, obviously timorous. He was a solidly made fellow, but not + altogether unmartial, and though but little of his cheek showed above his + decorated beard, I could see that he paled as he came near to the priest. + “My lord,” he said quietly, “I must ask you to come with me.” + </p> + <p> + “Stand aside,” said the old man, thrusting out the Symbol in front of him. + I could see his eyes gather on the soldier and his brows knit with a + strain of will. + </p> + <p> + Tarca saw this too, and I thought he would have fallen, but with an effort + he kept his manhood, and doggedly repeated his summons. “I must obey the + command of my mistress, and I would have you remember, my lord, that I am + but a servant. You must come with me to the whip.” + </p> + <p> + “I warn you!” cried the old man. “Stand from out of my path, you!” + </p> + <p> + It must have been with the courage of desperation that the soldier dared + to use force. But the hand he stretched out dropped limply back to his + side the moment it touched the old man’s bare shoulder, as though it had + been struck by some shock. He seemed almost to have expected some such + repulse; yet when he picked up that hand with the other, and looked at it, + and saw its whiteness, he let out of him a yell like a wounded beast. “Oh, + Gods!” he cried. “Not that. Spare me!” + </p> + <p> + But Zaemon was glowering at him still. A twitching seized the man’s face, + and he put up his sound hand to it and plucked at his beard, which was + curled and plaited after the new fashion of the day. A woman standing near + screamed as the half of the beard came off in his fingers. Beneath was + silver whiteness over half his face. Zaemon had smitten him with a sudden + leprosy that was past cure. + </p> + <p> + Yet the punishment was not ended even then. Other twitchings took him on + other parts of the body, and he tore off his armour and his foppish + clothes, and always where the bare flesh showed, there had the horrid + plague written its white mark; and in the end, being able to endure no + more, the man fell to the pavement and lay there writhing. + </p> + <p> + Zaemon said no further word. He lifted the Symbol before him, set his eyes + on the farther door of the banqueting-hall and walked for it directly, all + those in his path shrinking away from him with open shudders. And through + the valves of the door he passed out of our sight, still wordless, still + unchecked. + </p> + <p> + I glanced up at Phorenice. The loveliness of her face was drawn and + haggard. It was the first great reverse, this, she had met with in all her + life, and the shock of it, and the vision of what might follow after, + dazed her. Alas, if she could only have guessed at a tenth of the terrors + which the future had in its womb, Atlantis might have been saved even + then. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 6. THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS + </h2> + <p> + Here then was the manner of my reception back in the capital of Atlantis, + and some first glimpse at her new policies. I freely confess to my own + inaction and limpness; but it was all deliberate. The old ties of duty + seemed lost, or at least merged in one another. Beforetime, to serve the + king was to serve the Clan of the Priests, from which he had been chosen, + and whose head he constituted. But Phorenice was self-made, and appeared + to be a rule unto herself; if Zaemon was to be trusted, he was the + mouthpiece of the Priests, and their Clan had set her at defiance; and how + was a mere honest man to choose on the instant between the two? + </p> + <p> + But cold argument told me that governments were set up for the good of the + country at large, and I said to myself that there would be my choice. I + must find out which rule promised best of Atlantis, and do my poor best to + prop it into full power. And here at once there opened up another path in + the maze: I had heard some considerable talk of rebels; of another faction + of Atlanteans who, whatever their faults might be, were at any rate strong + enough to beleaguer the capital; and before coming to any final decision, + it would be as well to take their claims in balance with the rest. So on + the night of that very same day on which I had just re-planted my foot on + the old country’s shores, I set out to glean for myself tidings on the + matter. + </p> + <p> + No one inside the royal pyramid gainsaid me. The banquet had ended + abruptly with the terrible scene that I have set down above on these + tablets, for with Tarca writhing on the floor, and thrusting out the + gruesome scars of his leprosy, even the most gluttonous had little enough + appetite for further gorging. Phorenice glowered on the feasters for a + while longer in silent fury, but saying no further word; and then her eyes + turned on me, though softened somewhat. + </p> + <p> + “You may be an honest man, Deucalion,” she said, at length, “but you are a + monstrous cold one. I wonder when you will thaw?” And here she smiled. “I + think it will be soon. But for now I bid you farewell. In the morning we + will take this country by the shoulders, and see it in some new order.” + </p> + <p> + She left the banqueting-hall then, Ylga following; and taking precedence + of my rank, I went out next, whilst all others stood and made salutation. + But I halted by Tarca first, and put my hand on his unclean flesh. “You + are an unfortunate man,” I said, “but I can admire a brave soldier. If + relief can be gained for your plague, I will use interest to procure it + for you.” + </p> + <p> + The man’s thanks came in a mumble from his wrecked mouth, and some of + those near shuddered in affected disgust. I turned on them with a black + brow: “Your charity, my lords, seems of as small account as your courage. + You affected a fine disbelief of Zaemon’s sayings, and a simpering + contempt for his priesthood, but when it comes to laying a hand on him, + you show a discretion which, in the old days, we should have called by an + ugly name. I had rather be Tarca, with all his uncleanness, than any of + you now as you stand.” + </p> + <p> + With which leave-taking I waited coldly till they gave me my due + salutation, and then walked out of the banqueting-hall without offering a + soul another glance. I took my way to the grand gate of the pyramid, + called for the officer of the guard, and demanded exit. The man was + obsequious enough, but he opened with some demur. + </p> + <p> + “My lord’s attendants have not yet come up?” + </p> + <p> + “I have none.” + </p> + <p> + “My lord knows the state of the streets?” + </p> + <p> + “I did twenty years back. I shall be able to pick my way.” + </p> + <p> + “My lord must remember that the city is beleaguered,” the fellow + persisted. “The people are hungry. They prowl in bands after nightfall, + and—I make no question that my lord would conquer in a fight against + whatever odds, but—” + </p> + <p> + “Quite right. I covet no street scuffle to-night. Lend me, I pray you, a + sufficiency of men. You will know best what are needed. For me, I am + accustomed to a city with quiet streets.” + </p> + <p> + A score of sturdy fellows were detailed off for my escort, and with them + in a double file on either hand, I marched out from the close perfumed air + of the pyramid into the cool moonlight of the city. It was my purpose to + make a tour of the walls and to find out somewhat of the disposition of + these rebels. + </p> + <p> + But the Gods saw fit to give me another education first. The city, as I + saw it during that night walk, was no longer the old capital that I had + known, the just accretion of the ages, the due admixture of comfort and + splendour. The splendour was there, vastly increased. Whole wards had been + swept away to make space for new palaces, and new pyramids of the wealthy, + and I could not but have an admiration for the skill and the brain which + made possible such splendid monuments. + </p> + <p> + And, indeed, gazing at them there under the silver of the moonlight, I + could almost understand the emotions of the Europeans and other barbarous + savages which cause them to worship all such great buildings as Gods, + since they deem them too wonderful and majestic to be set up by human + hands unaided. + </p> + <p> + Still, if it was easy to admire, it was simple also to see plain + advertisement of the cost at which these great works had been reared. From + each grant of ground, where one of these stately piles earned silver under + the moon, a hundred families had been evicted and left to harbour as they + pleased in the open; and, as a consequence, now every niche had its quota + of sleepers, and every shadow its squad of fierce wild creatures, ready to + rush out and rob or slay all wayfarers of less force than their own. + </p> + <p> + Myself, I am no pamperer of the common people. I say that, if a man be + left to hunger and shiver, he will work to gain him food and raiment; and + if not, why then he can die, and the State is well rid of a worthless + fellow. But here beside us, as we marched through many wards, were marks + of blind oppression; starved dead bodies, with the bones starting through + the lean skin, sprawled in the gutter; and indeed it was plain that, save + for the favoured few, the people of the great capital were under a most + heavy oppression. + </p> + <p> + But at this, though I might regret it abominably, I could make no strong + complaint. By the ancient law of the land all the people, great and small, + were the servants of the king, to be put without question to what purposes + he chose; and Phorenice stood in the place of the king. So I tried to + think no treason, but with a sigh passed on, keeping my eyes above the + miseries and the squalors of the roadway, and sending out my thoughts to + the stars which hung in the purple night above, and to the High Gods which + dwelt amongst them, seeking, if it might be, for guidance for my future + policies. And so in time the windings of the streets brought us to the + walls, and, coursing beside these and giving fitting answer to the + sentries who beat their drums as we passed, we came in time to that great + gate which was a charge to the captain of the garrison. + </p> + <p> + Here it was plain there was some special commotion. A noise of laughter + went up into the still night air, and with it now and again the snarl and + roar of a great beast, and now and again the shriek of a hurt man. But + whatever might be afoot, it was not a scene to come upon suddenly. The + entrance gates of our great capital were designed by their ancient + builders to be no less strong than the walls themselves. Four pairs of + valves were there, each a monstrous block of stone two man-heights square, + and a man-height thick, and the wall was doubled to receive them, + enclosing an open circus between its two parts. The four gates themselves + were set one at the inner, one at the outer side of each of these walls, + and a hidden machinery so connected them, that of each set one could not + open till the other was closed; and as for forcing them without war + engines, one might as foolishly try to push down the royal pyramid with + the bare hand. + </p> + <p> + My escort made outcry with the horn which hung from the wall inviting such + a summons, and a warder came to an arrow-slit, and did inspection of our + persons and business. His survey was according to the ancient form of + words, which is long, and this was made still more tedious by the noise + from within, which ever and again drowned all speech between us entirely. + </p> + <p> + But at last the formalities had been duly complied with, and he shot back + the massive bars and bolts of stone, and threw ajar one monstrous stone + valve of the door. Into the chamber within—a chamber made from the + thickness of the wall between the two doors—I and my fellows + crowded, and then the warder with his machines pulled to the valve which + had been opened, and came to me again through the press of my escort, + bowing low to the ground. + </p> + <p> + “I have no vail to give you,” I said abruptly. “Get on with your duty. + Open me that other door.” + </p> + <p> + “With respect, my lord, it would be better that I should first announce my + lord’s presence. There is a baiting going forward in the circus, and the + tigers are as yet mere savages, and no respecters of persons.” + </p> + <p> + “The what?” + </p> + <p> + “The tigers, if my lord will permit them the name. They are baiting a + batch of prisoners with the two great beasts which the Empress (whose name + be adored) has sent here to aid us keep the gate. But if my lord will, + there are the ward rooms leading off this passage, and the galleries which + run out from them commanding the circus, and from there my lord can see + the sport undisturbed.” + </p> + <p> + Now, the mere lust for killing excites only disgust in me, but I suspected + the orders of the Empress in this matter, and had a curiosity to see her + scheme. So I stepped into the warder’s lodge, and on into the galleries + which commanded the circus with their arrow-slits. The old builders of the + place had intended these for a second line of defence, for, supposing the + outer doors all forced, an enemy could be speedily shot down in the + circus, without being able to give a blow in return, and so would only + march into a death-trap. But as a gazing-place on a spectacle they were no + less useful. + </p> + <p> + The circus was bright lit by the moonlight, and the air which came in to + me from it was acrid with the reek of blood. There was no sport in what + was going forward: as I said, it was mere killing, and the sight disgusted + me. I am no prude about this matter. Give a prisoner his weapons, put him + in a pit with beasts of reasonable strength, and let him fight to a finish + if you choose, and I can look on there and applaud the strokes. The war + prisoner, being a prisoner, has earned death by natural law, and prefers + to get his last stroke in hot blood than to be knocked down by the + headsman’s axe. And it is any brave man’s luxury either to help or watch a + lusty fight. But this baiting in the circus between the gates was no fair + battle like that. + </p> + <p> + To begin with, the beasts were no fair antagonists for single men. In + fact, twenty men armed might well have fled from them. When the warder + said tigers, I supposed he meant the great cats of the woods. But here, in + the circus, I saw a pair of the most terrific of all the fur-bearing land + beasts, the great tigers of the caves—huge monsters, of such + ponderous strength that in hunger they will oftentimes drag down a + mammoth, if they can find him away from his herd. + </p> + <p> + How they had been brought captive I could not tell. Hunter of beasts + though I had been for all my days, I take no shame in saying that I always + approached the slaying of a cave-tiger with stratagem and infinite + caution. To entrap it alive and bring it to a city on a chain was beyond + my most daring schemes, and I have been accredited with more new things + than one. But here it was in fact, and I saw in these captive beasts a new + certificate for Phorenice’s genius. + </p> + <p> + The purpose of these two cave-tigers was plain: whilst they were in the + circus, and loose, no living being could cross from one gate to the other. + They were a new and sturdy addition to the defences of the capital. A + collar of bronze was round the throat of each, and on the collar was a + massive chain which led to the wall, where it could be payed out or hauled + in by means of a windlass in one of the hidden galleries. So that at + ordinary moments the two huge beasts could be tethered, one close to + either end of the circus, as the litter of bones and other messes showed, + leaving free passage-way between the two sets of doors. + </p> + <p> + But when I stood there by the arrow-slit, looking down into the moonlight + of the circus, these chains were slackened (though men stood by the + windlass of each), and the great striped brutes were prowling about the + circus with the links clanking and chinking in their wake. Lying stark on + the pavement were the bodies of some eight men, dead and uneaten; and + though the cave-tigers stopped their prowlings now and again to nuzzle + these, and beat them about with playful paw-blows, they made no pretence + at commencing a meal. It was clear that this cruel sport had grown common + to them, and they knew there were other victims yet to be added to the + tally. + </p> + <p> + Presently, sure enough, as I watched, a valve of the farther gate swung + back an arm’s length, and a prisoner, furiously resisting, was thrust out + into the circus. He fell on his face, and after one look around him he lay + resolutely still, with eyes on the ground passively awaiting his fate. The + ponderous stone of the gate clapped to in its place; the cave-tigers + turned in their prowlings; and a chatter of wagers ran to and fro amongst + the watchers behind the arrow-slits. + </p> + <p> + It seemed there were niceties of cruelty in this wretched game. There was + a sharp clank as the windlasses were manned, and the tethering chains were + drawn in by perhaps a score of links. One of the cave-tigers crouched, + lashed its tail, and launched forth on a terrific spring. The chain + tautened, the massive links sang to the strain, and the great beast gave a + roar which shook the walls. It had missed the prone man by a hand’s + breadth, and the watchers behind the arrow-slits shrieked forth their + delight. The other tiger sprang also and missed, and again there were + shouts of pleasure, which mingled with the bellowing voices of the beasts. + The man lay motionless in his form. One more cowardly, or one more brave, + might have run from death, or faced it; but this poor prisoner chose the + middle course—he permitted death to come to him, and had enough of + doggedness to wait for it without stir. + </p> + <p> + The great cave-tigers were used, it appeared, to this disgusting sport. + There were no more wild springs, no more stubbings at the end of the + massive chains. They lay down on the pavement, and presently began to + purr, rolling on to their sides and rubbing themselves luxuriously. The + prisoner still lay motionless in his form. + </p> + <p> + By slow degrees the monstrous brutes each drew to the end of its chain and + began to reach at the man with out-stretched forepaw. The male could not + touch him; the female could just reach him with the far tip of a claw; and + I saw a red scratch start up in the bare skin of his side at every stroke. + But still the prisoner would not stir. It seemed to me that they must + slack out more links of one of the tigers’ chains, or let the vile play + linger into mere tediousness. + </p> + <p> + But I had more to learn yet. The male tiger, either taught by his own + devilishness, or by those brutes that were his keepers, had still another + ruse in store. He rose to his feet and turned round, backing against the + chain. A yell of applause from the hidden men behind the arrow-slits told + that they knew what was in store; and then the monstrous beast, stretched + to the utmost of its vast length, kicked sharply with one hind paw. + </p> + <p> + I heard the crunch of the prisoner’s ribs as the pads struck him, and at + that same moment the poor wretch’s body was spurned away by the blow, as + one might throw a fruit with the hand. But it did not travel far. It was + clear that the she-tiger knew this manoeuvre of her mate’s. She caught the + man on his bound, nuzzling over him for a minute, and then tossing him + high into the air, and leaping up to the full of her splendid height after + him. + </p> + <p> + Those other onlookers thought it magnificent; their gleeful shouts said as + much. But for me, my gorge rose at the sight. Once the tigers had reached + him, the man had been killed, it is true, without any unnecessary + lingering. Even a light blow from those terrific paws would slay the + strongest man living. But to see the two cave-tigers toying with the poor + body was an insult to the pride of our race. + </p> + <p> + However, I was not there to preach the superiority of man to the beasts, + and the indecency and degradation of permitting man to be unduly insulted. + I had come to learn for myself the new balance of things in the kingdom of + Atlantis, and so I stood at my place behind the arrow-slit with a still + face. And presently another scene in this ghastly play was enacted. + </p> + <p> + The cave-tigers tired of their sport, and first one and then the other + fell once more to prowling over the littered pavements, with the heavy + chains scraping and chinking in their wake. They made no beginning to + feast on the bodies provided for them. That would be for afterwards. In + the present, the fascination of slaughter was big in them, and they had + thought that it would be indulged further. It seemed that they knew their + entertainers. + </p> + <p> + Again the windlass clanked, and the tethering chains drew the great beasts + clear of the doorway; and again a valve of the farther door swung ajar, + and another prisoner was thrust struggling into the circus. A sickness + seized me when I saw that this was a woman, but still, in view of the + object I had in hand, I made no interruption. + </p> + <p> + It was not that I had never seen women sent to death before. A general, + who has done his fighting, must in his day have killed women equally with + men; yes, and seen them earn their death-blow by lusty battling. Yet there + seemed something so wanton in this cruel helpless sacrifice of a woman + prisoner, that I had a struggle with myself to avoid interference. Still + it is ever the case that the individual must be sacrificed to a policy, + and so as I say, I watched on, outwardly cold and impassive. + </p> + <p> + I watched too (I confess it freely) with a quickening heart. Here was no + sullen submissive victim like the last. She may have been more cowardly + (as some women are), she may have been braver (as many women have shown + themselves); but, at any rate, it was clear that she was going to make a + struggle for her life, and to do vicious damage, it might be, before she + yielded it up. The watchers behind the arrow-slits recognized this. Their + wagers, and the hum of their appreciation, swept loudly round the ring of + the circus. + </p> + <p> + They stripped their prisoners, before they thrust them out to this death, + of all the clothes they might carry, for clothes have a value; and so the + woman stood there bare-limbed in the moonlight. + </p> + <p> + She clapped her back to the great stone door by which she had entered, and + faced fate with glowing eye. Gods! there have been times in early years + when I could have plucked out sword and jumped down, and fought for her + there for the sheer delight of such a battle. But now policy restrained + me. The individual might want a helping hand, but it was becoming more and + more clear that Atlantis wanted a minister also; and before these great + needs, the lesser ones perforce must perish. Still, be it noted that, if I + did not jump down, no other man there that night had sufficient manhood + remaining to venture the opportunity. + </p> + <p> + My heart glowed as I watched her. She picked a bone from the litter on the + pavement and beat off its head by blows against the wall. Then with her + teeth she fashioned the point to still further sharpness. I could see her + teeth glisten white in the moonrays as she bit with them. + </p> + <p> + The huge cave-tigers, which stood as high as her head as they walked, came + nearer to her in their prowlings, yet obviously neglected her. This was + part of their accustomed scheme of torment, and the woman knew it well. + There was something intolerable in their noiseless, ceaseless paddings + over the pavement. I could see the prisoner’s breast heave as she watched + them. A terror such as that would have made many a victim sick and + helpless. + </p> + <p> + But this one was bolder than I had thought. She did not wait for a spring: + she made the first attack herself. When the she-tiger made its stroll + towards her, and was in the act of turning, she flung herself into a + sudden leap, striking viciously at its eye with her sharpened bone. A roar + from the onlookers acknowledged the stroke. The cave-tiger’s eye remained + undarkened, but the puny weapon had dealt it a smart flesh wound, and with + a great bellow of surprise and pain it scampered away to gain space for a + rush and a spring. + </p> + <p> + But the woman did not await its charge. With a shrill scream she sped + forward, running at the full of her speed across the moonlight directly + towards that shadowed part of the encircling wall within whose thickness I + had my gazing place; and then, throwing every tendon of her body into the + spring, made the greatest leap that surely any human being ever + accomplished, even when spurred on by the utmost of terror and + desperation. In an after day I measured it, and though of a certainty she + must have added much to the tally by the sheer force of her run, which + drove her clinging up the rough surface of the wall, it is a sure thing + that in that splendid leap her feet must have dangled a man-height and a + half above the pavement. + </p> + <p> + I say it was prodigious, but then the spur was more than the ordinary, and + the woman herself was far out of the common both in thews and + intelligence; and the end of the leap left her with five fingers lodged in + the sill of the arrow-slit from which I watched. Even then she must have + slipped back if she had been left to herself, for the sill sloped, and the + stone was finely smooth; but I shot out my hand and gripped hers by the + wrist, and instantly she clambered up with both knees on the sills, and + her fingers twined round to grip my wrist in her turn. + </p> + <p> + And now you will suppose she gushed out prayers and promises, thinking + only of safety and enlargement. There was nothing of this. With savage + panting wordlessness she took fresh grip on the sharpened bone with her + spare hand, and lunged with it desperately through the arrow-slit. With + the hand that clutched mine she drew me towards her, so as to give the + blows the surer chance, and so unprepared was I for such an attack, and + with such fierce suddenness did she deliver it, that the first blow was + near giving me my quietus. But I grappled with the poor frantic creature + as gently as might be—the stone of the wall separating us always—and + stripped her of her weapon, and held her firmly captive till she might + calm herself. + </p> + <p> + “That was an ungrateful blow,” I said. “But for my hand you’d have slipped + and be the sport of a tiger’s paw this minute.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I must kill some one,” she panted, “before I am killed myself.” + </p> + <p> + “There will be time enough to think upon that some other day; but for now + you are far enough off meeting further harm.” + </p> + <p> + “You are lying to me. You will throw me to the beasts as soon as I loose + my grip. I know your kind: you will not be robbed of your sport.” + </p> + <p> + “I will go so far as to prove myself to you,” said I, and called out for + the warder who had tended the doors below. “Bid those tigers be tethered + on a shorter chain,” I ordered, “and then go yourself outside into the + circus, and help this lady delicately to the ground.” + </p> + <p> + The word was passed and these things were done; and I too came out into + the circus and joined the woman, who stood waiting under the moonlight. + But the others who had seen these doings were by no means suited at the + change of plan. One of the great stone valves of the farther door opened + hurriedly, and a man strode out, armed and flushed. “By all the Gods!” he + shouted. “Who comes between me and my pastime?” + </p> + <p> + I stepped quietly to the advance. “I fear, sir,” I said, “that you must + launch your anger against me. By accident I gave that woman sanctuary, and + I had not heart to toss her back to your beasts.” + </p> + <p> + His fingers began to snap against his hilt. + </p> + <p> + “You have come to the wrong market here with your qualms. I am captain + here, and my word carries, subject only to Phorenice’s nod. Do you hear + that? Do you know too that I can have you tossed to those striped + gate-keepers of mine for meddling in here without an invitation?” He + looked at me sharp enough, but saw plainly that I was a stranger. “But + perhaps you carry a name, my man, which warrants your impertinence?” + </p> + <p> + “Deucalion is my poor name,” I said, “but I cannot expect you will know + it. I am but newly landed here, sir, and when I left Atlantis some score + of years back, a very different man to you held guard over these gates.” + He had his forehead on my feet by this time. “I had it from the Empress + this night that she will to-morrow make a new sorting of this kingdom’s + dignities. Perhaps there is some recommendation you would wish me to lay + before her in return for your courtesies?” + </p> + <p> + “My lord,” said the man, “if you wish it, I can have a turn with those + cave-tigers myself now, and you can look on from behind the walls and see + them tear me.” + </p> + <p> + “Why tell me what is no news?” + </p> + <p> + “I wish to remind my lord of his power; I wish to beg of his clemency.” + </p> + <p> + “You showed your power to these poor prisoners; but from what remains here + to be seen, few of them have tasted much of your clemency.” + </p> + <p> + “The orders were,” said the captain of the gate, as though he thought a + word might be said here for his defence, “the orders were, my lord, that + the tigers should be kept fierce and accustomed to killing.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, if you have obeyed orders, let me be the last to chide you. But it + is my pleasure that this woman be respited, and I wish now to question + her.” + </p> + <p> + The man got to his feet again with obvious relief, though still bowing + low. + </p> + <p> + “Then if my lord will honour me by sitting in my room that overlooks the + outer gate, the favour will never be forgotten.” + </p> + <p> + “Show the way,” I said, and took the woman by the fingers, leading her + gently. At the two ends of the circus the tigers prowled about on short + chains, growling and muttering. + </p> + <p> + We passed through the door into the thickness of the outer wall, and the + captain of the gate led us into his private chamber, a snug enough box + overlooking the plain beyond the city. He lit a torch from his lamp and + thrust it into a bracket on the wall, and bowing deeply and walking + backwards, left us alone, closing the door in place behind him. He was an + industrious fellow, this captain, to judge from the spoil with which his + chamber was packed. There could have come very few traders in through that + gate below without his levying a private tribute; and so, judging that + most of his goods had been unlawfully come by, I had little qualm at + making a selection. It was not decent that the woman, being an Atlantean, + should go bereft of the dignity of clothes, as though she were a mere + savage from Europe; and so I sought about amongst the captain’s spoil for + garments that would be befitting. + </p> + <p> + But, as I busied myself in this search for raiment, rummaging amongst the + heaps and bales, with a hand and eye little skilled in such business, I + heard a sound behind which caused me to turn my head, and there was the + woman with a dagger she had picked from the floor, in the act of drawing + it from the sheath. + </p> + <p> + She caught my eye and drew the weapon clear, but seeing that I made no + advance towards her, or move to protect myself, waited where she was, and + presently was took with a shuddering. + </p> + <p> + “Your designs seem somewhat of a riddle,” I said. “At first you wished to + kill me from motives which you explained, and which I quite understood. It + lay in my power next to confer some small benefit upon you, in consequence + of which you are here, and not—shall we say?—yonder in the + circus. Why you should desire now to kill the only man here who can set + you completely free, and beyond these walls, is a thing it would gratify + me much to learn. I say nothing of the trifle of ingratitude. Gratitude + and ingratitude are of little weight here. There is some far greater in + your mind.” + </p> + <p> + She pressed a hand hard against her breasts. “You are Deucalion,” she + gasped; “I heard you say it.” + </p> + <p> + “I am Deucalion. So far, I have known no reason to feel shame for my + name.” + </p> + <p> + “And I come of those,” she cried, with a rising voice, “who bite against + this city, because they have found their fate too intolerable with the + land as it is ordered now. We heard of your coming from Yucatan. It was we + who sent the fleet to take you at the entrance to the Gulf.” + </p> + <p> + “Your fleet gave us a pretty fight.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I know, I know. We had our watchers on the high land who brought us + the tidings. We had an omen even before that. Where we lay with our army + before the walls here, we saw great birds carrying off the slain to the + mountains. But where the fleet failed, I saw a chance where I, a woman, + might—” + </p> + <p> + “Where you might succeed?” I sat me down on a pile of the captain’s + stuffs. It seemed as if here at last that I should find a solution for + many things. “You carry a name?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “They call me Nais.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” I said, and signed to her to take the clothes that I had sought out. + She was curiously like, so both my eyes and hearing said, to Ylga, the + fan-girl of Phorenice, but as she had told me of no parentage I asked for + none then. Still her talk alone let me know that she was bred of none of + the common people, and I made up my mind towards definite understanding. + “Nais,” I said, “you wish to kill me. At the same time I have no doubt you + wish to live on yourself, if only to get credit from your people for what + you have done. So here I will make a contract with you. Prove to me that + my death is for Atlantis’ good, and I swear by our Lord the Sun to go out + with you beyond the walls, where you can stab me and then get you gone. Or + the—” + </p> + <p> + “I will not be your slave.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not ask you for service. Or else, I wished to say, I shall live so + long as the High Gods wish, and do my poor best for this country. And for + you—I shall set you free to do your best also. So now, I pray you, + speak.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 7. THE BITERS OF THE WALLS (FURTHER ACCOUNT) + </h2> + <p> + “You will set me free,” she said, regarding me from under her brows, + “without any further exactions or treaty?” + </p> + <p> + “I will set you free exactly on those terms,” I answered, “unless indeed + we here decide that it is better for Atlantis that I should die, in which + case the freedom will be of your own taking.” + </p> + <p> + “My lord plays a bold game.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut, tut,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “But I shall not hesitate to take the full of my bond, unless my theories + are most clearly disproved to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut,” I said, “you women, how you can play out the time needlessly. Show + me sufficient cause, and you shall kill me where and how you please. Come, + begin the accusation.” + </p> + <p> + “You are a tyrant.” + </p> + <p> + “At least I have not paraded my tyrannies in Atlantis these twenty years. + Why, Nais, I did but land yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + “You will not deny you came back from Yucatan for a purpose.” + </p> + <p> + “I came back because I was sent for. The Empress gives no reasons for her + recalls. She states her will; and we who serve her obey without question.” + </p> + <p> + “Pah, I know that old dogma.” + </p> + <p> + “If you discredit my poor honesty at the outset like this, I fear we shall + not get far with our unravelling.” + </p> + <p> + “My lord must be indeed simple,” said this strange woman scornfully, “if + he is ignorant of what all Atlantis knows.” + </p> + <p> + “Then simple you must write me down. Over yonder in Yucatan we were too + well wrapped up in our own parochial needs and policies to have leisure to + ponder much over the slim news which drifted out to us from Atlantis—and, + in truth, little enough came. By example, Phorenice (whose office be + adored) is a great personage here at home; but over there in the colony we + barely knew so much as her name. Here, since I have been ashore, I have + seen many new wonders; I have been carried by a riding mammoth; I have sat + at a banquet; but in what new policies there are afoot, I have yet to be + schooled.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, if truly you do not know it, let me repeat to you the common tale. + Phorenice has tired of her unmated life.” + </p> + <p> + “Stay there. I will hear no word against the Empress.” + </p> + <p> + “Pah, my lord, your scruples are most decorous. But I did no more than + repeat what the Empress had made public by proclamation. She is minded to + take to herself a husband, and nothing short of the best is good enough + for Phorenice. One after another has been put up in turn as favourite—and + been found wanting. Oh, I tell you, we here in Atlantis have watched her + courtship with jumping hearts. First it was this one here, then it was + that one there; now it was this general just returned from a victory, and + a day later he had been packed back to his camp, to give place to some + dashing governor who had squeezed increased revenues from his province. + But every ship that came from the West said that there was a stronger man + than any of these in Yucatan, and at last the Empress changed the wording + of her vow. ‘I’ll have Deucalion for my husband,’ said she, ‘and then we + will see who can stand against my wishes.’” + </p> + <p> + “The Empress (whose name be adored) can do as she pleases in such + matters,” I said guardedly; “but that is beside the argument. I am here to + know how it would be better for Atlantis that I should die?” + </p> + <p> + “You know you are the strongest man in the kingdom.” + </p> + <p> + “It pleases you to say so.” + </p> + <p> + “And Phorenice is the strongest woman.” + </p> + <p> + “That is beyond doubt.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, if the Empress takes you in marriage, we shall be under a + double tyranny. And her rule alone is more cruelly heavy than we can bear + already.” + </p> + <p> + “I pass no criticism on Phorenice’s rule. I have not seen it. But I crave + your mercy, Nais, on the newcomer into this kingdom. I am strong, say you, + and therefore I am a tyrant, say you. Now to me this sequence is faulty.” + </p> + <p> + “Who should a strong man use strength for, if not for himself? And if for + himself, why that spells tyranny. You will get all your heart’s desires, + my lord, and you will forget that many a thousand of the common people + will have to pay for them.” + </p> + <p> + “And this is all your accusation?” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to be black enough. I am one that has a compassion for my + fellow-men, my lord, and because of that compassion you see me what I am + to-day. There was a time, not long passed, when I slept as soft and ate as + dainty as any in Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + I smiled. “Your speech told me that much from the first.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I would I had cast the speech off, too, if that is also a livery of + the tyrant’s class. But I tell you I saw all the oppression myself from + the oppressor’s side. I was high in Phorenice’s favour then.” + </p> + <p> + “That, too, is easy of credence. Ylga is the fan-girl to the Empress now, + and second lady in the kingdom, and those who have seen Ylga could make an + easy guess at the parentage of Nais.” + </p> + <p> + “We were the daughters of one birth; but I do not count with either Zaemon + or Ylga now. Ylga is the creature of Phorenice, and Phorenice would have + all the people of Atlantis slaves and in chains, so that she might crush + them the easier. And as for Zaemon, he is no friend of Phorenice’s; he + fights with brain and soul to drag the old authority to those on the + Sacred Mountain; and that, if it come down on us again, would only be the + exchange of one form of slavery for another.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to me you bite at all authority.” + </p> + <p> + “In fact,” she said simply, “I do. I have seen too much of it.” + </p> + <p> + “And so you think a rule of no-rule would be best for the country?” + </p> + <p> + “You have put it plainly in words for me. That is my creed to-day. That is + the creed of all those yonder, who sit in the camp and besiege this city. + And we number on our side, now, all in Atlantis save those in the city and + a handful on the priests’ Mountain.” + </p> + <p> + I shook my head. “A creed of desperation, if you like, Nais, but, believe + me, a silly creed. Since man was born out of the quakings and the fevers + of this earth, and picked his way amongst the cooler-places, he has been + dependent always on his fellow-men. And where two are congregated + together, one must be chief, and order how matters are to be governed—at + least, I speak of men who have a wish to be higher than the beasts. Have + you ever set foot in Europe?” + </p> + <p> + “No.” + </p> + <p> + “I have. Years back I sailed there, gathering slaves. What did I see? A + country without rule or order. Tyrants they were, to be sure, but they + were the beasts. The men and the women were the rudest savages, knowing + nothing of the arts, dressing in skins and uncleanness, harbouring in + caves and the tree-tops. The beasts roamed about where they would, and + hunted them unchecked.” + </p> + <p> + “Still, they fought you for their liberty?” + </p> + <p> + “Never once. They knew how disastrous was their masterless freedom. Even + to their dull, savage brains it was a sure thing that no slavery could be + worse; and to that state you, and your friends, and your theories, will + reduce Atlantis, if you get the upper hand. But, then, to argue in a + circle, you will never get it. For to conquer, you must set up leaders, + and once you have set them up, you will never pull them down again.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” she said with a sigh, “there is truth in that last.” + </p> + <p> + The torch had filled the captain’s room with a resinous smoke, but the + flame was growing pale. Dawn was coming in greyly through a slender + arrow-slit, and with it ever and again the glow from some mountain out of + sight, which was shooting forth spasmodic bursts of fire. With it also + were mutterings of distant falling rocks, and sullen tremblings, which had + endured all the night through, and I judged that earth was in one of her + quaking moods, and would probably during the forthcoming day offer us some + chastening discomforts. + </p> + <p> + On this account, perhaps, my senses were stilled to certain evidences + which would otherwise have given me a suspicion; and also, there is no + denying that my general wakefulness was sapped by another matter. This + woman, Nais, interested me vastly out of the common; the mere presence of + her seemed to warm the organs of my interior; and whilst she was there, + all my thoughts and senses were present in the room of the captain of the + gate in which we sat. + </p> + <p> + But of a sudden the floor of the chamber rocked and fell away beneath me, + and in a tumult of dust, and litter, and bales of the captain’s plunder, I + fell down (still seated on the flagstone) into a pit which had been digged + beneath it. With the violence of the descent, and the flutter of all these + articles about my head, I was in no condition for immediate action; and + whilst I was still half-stunned by the shock, and long before I could get + my eyes into service again, I had been seized, and bound, and + half-strangled with a noose of hide. Voices were raised that I should be + despatched at once out of the way; but one in authority cried out that, + killing me at leisure, and as a prisoner, promised more genteel sport; and + so I was thrust down on the floor, whilst a whole army of men trod in over + me to the attack. + </p> + <p> + What had happened was clear to me now, though I was powerless to do + anything in hindrance. The rebels with more craft than any one had + credited to them, had driven a galley from their camp under the ground, + intending so to make an entrance into the heart of the city. In their + clumsy ignorance, and having no one of sufficient talent in mensuration, + they had bungled sadly both in direction and length, and so had ended + their burrow under this chamber of the captain of the gate. The great + flagstone in its fall had, it appeared, crushed four of them to death, but + these were little noticed or lamented. Life was to them a bauble of the + slenderest price, and a horde of others pressed through the opening, + lusting for the fight, and recking nothing of their risks and perils. + </p> + <p> + Half-choked by the foul air of the galley, and trodden on by this great + procession of feet, it was little enough I could do to help my immediate + self much less the more distant city. But when the chief mass of the + attackers had passed through, and there came only here and there one eager + to take his share at storming the gate, a couple of fellows plucked me up + out of the mud on the floor, and began dragging me down through the + stinking darkness of the galley towards the pit that gave it entrance. + </p> + <p> + Twenty times we were jostled by others hastening to the attack, either + from hunger for fight, or from appetite for what they could steal. But we + came to the open at last, and half-suffocated though I was, I contrived to + do obeisance, and say aloud the prescribed prayer to the most High Gods in + gratitude for the fresh, sweet air which They had provided. + </p> + <p> + Our Lord the Sun was on the verge of rising for His day, and all things + were plainly shown. Before me were the monstrous walls of the capital, + with the heads of its pyramids and higher buildings showing above them. + And on the walls, the sentries walked calmly their appointed paces, or + took shelter against arrows in the casemates provided for them. + </p> + <p> + The din of fighting within the gate rose high into the air, and the heavy + roaring of the cave-tigers told that they too were taking their share of + the melee. But the massive stonework of the walls hid all the actual + engagement from our view, and which party was getting the upper hand we + could not even guess. But the sounds told how tight a fight was being + hammered out in those narrow boundaries, and my veins tingled to be once + more back at the old trade, and to be doing my share. + </p> + <p> + But there was no chivalry about the fellows who held me by my bonds. They + thrust me into a small temple near by, which once had been a fane in much + favour with travellers, who wished to show gratitude for the safe journey + to the capital, but which now was robbed and ruined, and they swung to the + stone entrance gate and barred it, leaving me to commune with myself. + Presently, they told me, I should be put to death by torments. Well, this + seemed to be the new custom of Atlantis, and I should have to endure it as + best I could. The High Gods, it appeared, had no further use for my + services in Atlantis, and I was not in the mood then to bite very much at + their decision. What I had seen of the country since my return had not + enamoured me very much with its new conditions. + </p> + <p> + The little temple in which I was gaoled had been robbed and despoiled of + all its furnishments. But the light-slits, where at certain hours of the + day the rays of our Lord the Sun had fallen upon the image of the God, + before this had been taken away, gave me vantage places from which I could + see over the camp of these rebel besiegers, and a dreary prospect it was. + The people seemed to have shucked off the culture of centuries in as many + months, and to have gone back for the most part to sheer brutishness. The + majority harboured on the bare ground. Few owned shelter, and these were + merely bowers of mud and branches. + </p> + <p> + They fought and quarrelled amongst themselves for food, eating their meat + raw, and their grain (when they had it) unground. Many who passed my + vision I saw were even gnawing the soft inside of tree bark. + </p> + <p> + The dead lay where they fell. The sick and the wounded found no hand to + tend them. Great man-eating birds hovered about the camp or skulked about, + heavy with gorging, amongst the hovels, and no one had public spirit + enough to give them battle. The stink of the place rose up to heaven as a + foul incense inviting a pestilence. There was no order, no trace of strong + command anywhere. With three hundred well-disciplined troops it seemed to + me that I could have sent those poor desperate hordes flying in panic to + the forest. + </p> + <p> + However, there was no very lengthy space of time granted me for thinking + out the policy of this matter to any great depth. The attack on the gate + had been delivered with suddenness; the repulse was not slow. Of what + desperate fighting took place in the galleries, and in the circus between + the two sets of gates, the detail will never be told in full. + </p> + <p> + At the first alarm the great cave-tigers were set loose, and these raged + impartially against keeper and foe. Of those that went in through the + tunnel, not one in ten returned, and there were few of these but what + carried a bloody wound. Some, with the ruling passion still strong in + them, bore back plunder; one trailed along with him the head of the + captain of the gate; and amongst them they dragged out two of the warders + who were wounded, and whom revenge had urged them to take as prisoners. + </p> + <p> + Over these two last a hubbub now arose, that seemed likely to boil over + into blows. Every voice shouted out for them what he thought the most + repulsive fate. Some were for burning, some for skinning, some for + impaling, some for other things: my flesh crept as I heard their ravenous + yells. Those that had been to the trouble of making them captive were + still breathless from the fight, and were readily thrust aside; and it + seemed to me that the poor wretches would be hustled into death before any + definite fate was agreed upon, which all would pass as sufficiently + terrific. Never had I seen such a disorderly tumult, never such a + leaderless mob. But, as always has happened, and always will, the stronger + men by dint of louder voices and more vigorous shoulders got their plans + agreed to at last, and the others perforce had to give way. + </p> + <p> + A band of them set off running, and presently returned at snails’ pace, + dragging with them (with many squeals from ungreased wheels) one of those + huge war engines with which besiegers are wont to throw great stones and + other missiles into the cities they sit down against. They ran it up just + beyond bowshot of the walls, and clamped it firmly down with stakes and + ropes to the earth. Then setting their lean arms to the windlasses, they + drew back the great tree which formed the spring till its tethering place + reached the ground, and in the cradle at its head they placed one of the + prisoners, bound helplessly, so that he could not throw himself over the + side. + </p> + <p> + Then the rude, savage, skin-clad mob stood back, and one who had appointed + himself engineer knocked back the catch that held the great spring in + place. + </p> + <p> + With a whir and a twang the elastic wood flung upwards, and the bound man + was shot away from its tip with the speed of a lightning flash. He sang + through the air, spinning over and over with inconceivable rapidity, and + the great crowd of rebels held their breath in silence as they watched. He + passed high above the city wall, a tiny mannikin in the distance now, and + then the trajectory of his flight began to lower. The spike of a new-built + pyramid lay in the path of his terrific flight, and he struck it with a + thud whose sound floated out to us afterwards, and then he toppled down + out of our sight, leaving a red stain on the whiteness of the stone as he + fell. + </p> + <p> + With a roar the crowd acknowledged the success of their device, and + bellowed out insults to Phorenice, and insults to the Gods: a poor frantic + crowd they showed themselves. And then with ravening shouts, they fell + upon the other captive warder, binding him also into a compact helpless + missile, and meanwhile getting the engine in gear again for another shot. + </p> + <p> + But for my part I saw nothing of this disgusting scene. I heard the bolt + grate stealthily against the door of the little temple in which I was + imprisoned, and was minded to give these brutish rebels somewhat of a + surprise. I had rid myself of my bonds handily enough; I had rubbed my + limbs to that perfect suppleness which is always desirable before a fight; + and I had planned to rush out so soon as the door was swung, and kill + those that came first with fist blows on the brow and chin. + </p> + <p> + They had not suspected my name, it was clear, for my stature and garb were + nothing out of the ordinary; but if my bodily strength and fighting power + had been sufficient to raise me to a vice-royalty like that of Yucatan, + and let me endure alive in that government throughout twenty hard-battling + years, why, it was likely that this rabble of savages would see something + that was new and admirable in the practice of arms before the crude weight + of their numbers could drag me down. Nay, I did not even despair of + winning free altogether. I must find me a weapon from those that came up + to battle, with which I could write worthy signatures, and I must attempt + no standing fights. Gods! but what a glow the prospect did send through me + as I stood there waiting. + </p> + <p> + A vainer man, writing history, might have said that always, before + everything else, he held in mind the greater interests before the less. + But for me—I prefer to be honest, and own myself human. In my glee + at that forthcoming fight—which promised to be the greatest and most + furious I had known in all a long life of battling—I will confess + that Atlantis and her differing policies were clean forgot. I should go + out an unknown man from the little cell of a temple, I should do my work, + and then, whether I took freedom with me, or whether I came down at last + myself on a pile of slain, these people would guess without being told the + name, that here was Deucalion. Gods! what a fight we would have made! + </p> + <p> + But the door did not open wide to give me space for my first rush. It + creaked gratingly outwards on its pivots, and a slim hand and a white arm + slipped inside, beckoning me to quietude. Here was some woman. The door + creaked wider, and she came inside. + </p> + <p> + “Nais,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “Silence, or they will hear you, and remember. At present those who + brought you here are killed, and unless by chance some one blunders into + this robbed shrine, you will not be found.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, if that is so, let me go out and walk amongst these people as one + of themselves.” + </p> + <p> + She shook her head. + </p> + <p> + “But, Nais, I am not known here. I am merely a man in very plain and + mud-stained robe. I should be in no ways remarkable.” + </p> + <p> + A smile twitched her face. “My lord,” she said, “wears no beard; and his + is the only clean chin in the camp.” + </p> + <p> + I joined in her laugh. “A pest on my want of foppishness then. But I am + forgetting somewhat. It comes to my mind that we still have unfinished + that small discussion of ours concerning the length of my poor life. Have + you decided to cut it off from risk of further mischief, or do you propose + to give me further span?” + </p> + <p> + She turned to me with a look of sharp distress. “My lord,” she said, “I + would have you forget that silly talk of mine. This last two hours I + thought you were dead in real truth.” + </p> + <p> + “And you were not relieved?” + </p> + <p> + “I felt that the only man was gone out of the world—I mean, my lord, + the only man who can save Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “Your words give me a confidence. Then you would have me go back and + become husband to Phorenice?” + </p> + <p> + “If there is no other way.” + </p> + <p> + “I warn you I shall do that, if she still so desires it, and if it seems + to me that that course will be best. This is no hour for private likings + or dislikings.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” she said, “I feel it. I have no heart now, save only for + Atlantis. I have schooled myself once more to that.” + </p> + <p> + “And at present I am in this lone little box of a temple. A minute ago, + before you came, I had promised myself a pretty enough fight to signalise + my changing of abode.” + </p> + <p> + “There must be nothing of that. I will not have these poor people + slaughtered unnecessarily. Nor do I wish to see my lord exposed to a + hopeless risk. This poor place, such as it is, has been given to me as an + abode, and, if my lord can remain decorously till nightfall in a maiden’s + chamber, he may at least be sure of quietude. I am a person,” she added + simply, “that in this camp has some respect. When darkness comes, I will + take my lord down to the sea and a boat, and so he may come with ease to + the harbour and the watergate.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 8. THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS + </h2> + <p> + It was long enough since I had found leisure for a parcel of sleep, and so + during the larger part of that day I am free to confess that I slumbered + soundly, Nais watching me. Night fell, and still we remained within the + privacy of the temple. It was our plan that I should stay there till the + camp slept, and so I should have more chance of reaching the sea without + disturbance. + </p> + <p> + The night came down wet, with a drizzle of rain, and through the slits in + the temple walls we could see the many fires in the camp well cared for, + the men and women in skins and rags toasting before them, with steam + rising as the heat fought with their wetness. Folk seated in discomfort + like this are proverbially alert and cruel in the temper, and Nais frowned + as she looked on the inclemency of the weather. + </p> + <p> + “A fine night,” she said, “and I would have sent my lord back to the city + without a soul here being the wiser; but in this chill, people sleep + sourly. We must wait till the hour drugs them sounder.” + </p> + <p> + And so we waited, sitting there together on that pavement so long unkissed + by worshippers, and it was little enough we said aloud. But there can be + good companionship without sentences of talk. + </p> + <p> + But as the hours drew on, the night began to grow less quiet. From the + distance some one began to blow on a horn or a shell, sending forth a + harsh raucous note incessantly. The sound came nearer, as we could tell + from its growing loudness, and the voices of those by the fires made + themselves heard, railing at the blower for his disturbance. And presently + it became stationary, and standing up we could see through the slits in + the walls the people of the camp rousing up from their uneasy rest, and + clustering together round one who stood and talked to them from the + pedestal of a war engine. + </p> + <p> + What he was declaiming upon we could not hear, and our curiosity on the + matter was not keen. Given that all who did not sleep went to weary + themselves with this fellow, as Nais whispered, it would be simple for me + to make an exit in the opposite direction. + </p> + <p> + But here we were reckoning without the inevitable busybody. A dozen pairs + of feet splashing through the wet came up to the side of the little + temple, and cried loudly that Nais should join the audience. She had + eloquence of tongue, it appeared, and they feared lest this speaker who + had taken his stand on the war engine should make schisms amongst their + ranks unless some skilled person stood up also to refute his arguments. + </p> + <p> + Here, then, it seemed to me that I must be elbowed into my skirmish by the + most unexpected of chances, but Nais was firmly minded that there should + be no fight, if courage on her part could turn it. “Come out with me,” she + whispered, “and keep distant from the light of the fires.” + </p> + <p> + “But how explain my being here?” + </p> + <p> + “There is no reason to explain anything,” she said bitterly. “They will + take you for my lover. There is nothing remarkable in that: it is the mode + here. But oh, why did not the Gods make you wear a beard, and curl it, + even as other men? Then you could have been gone and safe these two + hours.” + </p> + <p> + “A smooth chin pleases me better.” + </p> + <p> + “So it does me,” I heard her murmur as she leaned her weight on the stone + which hung in the doorway, and pushed it ajar; “your chin.” The ragged men + outside—there were women with them also—did not wait to watch + me very closely. A coarse jest or two flew (which I could have found good + heart to have repaid with a sword-thrust) and they stepped off into the + darkness, just turning from time to time to make sure we followed. On all + sides others were pressing in the same direction—black shadows + against the night; the rain spat noisily on the camp fires as we passed + them; and from behind us came up others. There were no sleepers in the + camp now; all were pressing on to hear this preacher who stood on the + pedestal of the war engine; and if we had tried to swerve from the + straight course, we should have been marked at once. + </p> + <p> + So we held on through the darkness, and presently came within earshot. + </p> + <p> + Still it was little enough of the preacher’s words we could make out at + first. “Who are your chiefs?” came the question at the end of a fervid + harangue, and immediately all further rational talk was drowned in uproar. + “We have no chiefs,” the people shouted, “we are done with chiefs; we are + all equal here. Take away your silly magic. You may kill us with magic if + you choose, but rule us you shall not. Nor shall the other priests rule. + Nor Phorenice. Nor anybody. We are done with rulers.” + </p> + <p> + The press had brought us closer and closer to the man who stood on the war + engine. We saw him to be old, with white hair that tumbled on his + shoulders, and a long white beard, untrimmed and uncurled. Save for a wisp + of rag about the loins, his body was unclothed, and glistened in the wet. + </p> + <p> + But in his hand he held that which marked his caste. With it he pointed + his sentences, and at times he whirled it about bathing his wet, naked + body in a halo of light. It was a wand whose tip burned with an + unconsuming fire, which glowed and twinkled and blazed like some star sent + down by the Gods from their own place in the high heaven. It was the + Symbol of our Lord the Sun, a credential no one could forge, and one on + which no civilised man would cast a doubt. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, the ragged frantic crew did not question for one moment that he + was a member of the Clan of Priests, the Clan which from time out of + numbering had given rulers for the land, and even in their loudest + clamours they freely acknowledged his powers. “You may kill us with your + magic, if you choose,” they screamed at him. But stubbornly they refused + to come back to their old allegiance. “We have suffered too many things + these later years,” they cried. “We are done with rulers now for always.” + </p> + <p> + But for myself I saw the old man with a different emotion. Here was Zaemon + that was father to Nais, Zaemon that had seen me yesterday seated on the + divan at Phorenice’s elbow, and who to-day could denounce me as Deucalion + if so he chose. These rebels had expended a navy in their wish to kill me + four days earlier, and if they knew of my nearness, even though Nais were + my advocate, her cold reasoning would have had little chance of an + audience now. The High Gods who keep the tether of our lives hide Their + secrets well, but I did not think it impious to be sure that mine was very + near the cutting then. + </p> + <p> + The beautiful woman saw this too. She even went so far as to twine her + fingers in mine and press them as a farewell, and I pressed hers in + return, for I was sorry enough not to see her more. Still I could not help + letting my thoughts travel with a grim gloating over the fine mound of + dead I should build before these ragged, unskilled rebels pulled me down. + And it was inevitable this should be so. For of all the emotions that can + ferment in the human heart, the joy of strife is keenest, and none but an + old fighter, face to face with what must necessarily be his final battle, + can tell how deep this lust is embroidered into the very foundations of + his being. + </p> + <p> + But for the time Zaemon did not see me, being too much wrapped in his + outcry, and so I was free to listen to the burning words which he spread + around him, and to determine their effect on the hearers. + </p> + <p> + The theme he preached was no new one. He told that ever since the + beginning of history, the Gods had set apart one Clan of the people to + rule over the rest and be their Priests, and until the coming of Phorenice + these had done their duties with exactitude and justice. They had fought + invaders, carried war against the beasts, and studied earth-movements so + that they were able to foretell earthquakes and eruptions, and could + spread warnings that the people might be able to escape their + devastations. They are no self-seekers; their aim was always to further + the interest of Atlantis, and so do honour to the kingdom on which the + High Gods had set their special favour. Under the Priestly Clan, Atlantis + had reached the pinnacle of human prosperity and happiness. + </p> + <p> + “But,” cried the old man, waving the Symbol till his wet body glistened in + a halo of light, “the people grew fat and careless with their easy life. + They began to have a conceit that their good fortune was earned by their + own puny brains and thews, and was no gift from the Gods above; and + presently the cult of these Gods became neglected, and Their temples were + barren of gifts and worshippers. Followed a punishment. The Gods in Their + inscrutable way decreed that a wife of one of the Priests (that was a + governor of no inconsiderable province) should see a woman child by the + wayside, and take it for adoption. That child the Gods in their infinite + wisdom fashioned into a scourge for Atlantis, and you who have felt the + weight of Phorenice’s hand, know with what completeness the High Gods can + fashion their instruments. + </p> + <p> + “Yet, even as they set up, so can they throw down, and those that shall + debase Phorenice are even now appointed. The old rule is to be + re-established; but not till you who have sinned are sufficiently + chastened to cry to it for relief.” He waved the mysterious glowing Symbol + before him. “See,” he cried in his high old quavering voice, “you know the + unspeakable Power of which that is the sign, and for which I am the + mouthpiece. It is for you to make decision now. Are the Gods to throw down + this woman who has scorned Them and so cruelly trodden on you? Or are you + to be still further purged of your pride before you are ripe for + deliverance?” + </p> + <p> + The old priest broke off with a gesture, and his ragged white beard sank + on to his chest. Promptly a young man, skin clad and carrying his weapon, + elbowed up through the press of listeners, and jumped on to the platform + beside him. “Hear me, brethren!” he bellowed, in his strong young voice. + “We are done with tyrants. Death may come, and we all of us here have + shown how little we fear it. But own rulers again we will not, and that is + our final say. My lord,” he said, turning to the old man with a brave + face, “I know it is in your power to kill me by magic if you choose, but I + have said my say, and can stand the cost if needs be.” + </p> + <p> + “I can kill you, but I will not,” said Zaemon. “You have said your + silliness. Now go you to the ground again.” + </p> + <p> + “We have free speech here. I will not go till I choose.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye, but you will,” said the old man, and turned on him with a sudden + tightening of the brows. There was no blow passed; even the Symbol, which + glowed like a star against the night, was not so much as lifted in + warning; but the young man tried to retort, and, finding himself smitten + with a sudden dumbness, turned with a spasm of fear, and jumped back + whence he had come. The crowd of them thrilled expectantly, and when no + further portent was given, they began to shout that a miracle should be + shown them, and then perchance they would be persuaded back to the old + allegiance. + </p> + <p> + The old man stooped and glowered at them in fury. “You dogs,” he cried, + “you empty-witted dogs! Do you ask that I should degrade the powers of the + Higher Mysteries by dancing them out before you as though they were a + mummers’ show? Do you tickle yourselves that you are to be tempted back to + your allegiance? It is for you to woo the Gods who are so offended. Come + in humility, and I take it upon myself to declare that you will receive + fitting pardon and relief. Remain stubborn, and the scourge, Phorenice, + may torment you into annihilation before she in turn is made to answer for + the evil she has put upon the land. There is the choice for you to pick + at.” + </p> + <p> + The turmoil of voices rose again into the wetness of the night, and + weapons were upraised menacingly. It was clear that the party for + independence had by far the greater weight, both in numbers and lustiness; + and those who might, from sheer weariness of strife, have been willing for + surrender, withheld their word through terror of the consequence. It was a + fine comment on the freedom of speech, about which these unruly fools had + made their boast, and, with a sly malice, I could not help whispering a + word on this to Nais as she stood at my elbow. But Nais clutched at my + hand, and implored me for caution. “Oh, be silent, my lord,” she whispered + back, “or they will tear you in pieces. They are on fire for mischief + now.” + </p> + <p> + “Yet a few hours back you were for killing me yourself,” I could not help + reminding her. + </p> + <p> + She turned on me with a hot look. “A woman can change her mind, my lord. + But it becomes you little to remind her of her fickleness.” + </p> + <p> + A man in the press beside me wrenched round with an effort, and stared at + me searchingly through the darkness. “Oh!” he said. “A shaved chin. Who + are you, friend, that you should cut a beard instead of curling it? I can + see no wound on your face.” + </p> + <p> + I answered him civilly enough that, with “freedom” for a watchword, the + fashion of my chin was a matter of mere private concern. But as that did + not satisfy him, and as he seemed to be one of those quarrelsome fellows + that are the bane of every community, I took him suddenly by the throat + and the shoulder, and bent his neck with the old, quick turn till I heard + it crack, and had unhanded him before any of his neighbours had seen what + had befallen. The fierce press of the crowd held him from slipping to the + ground, and so he stood on there where he was, with his head nodded + forward, as though he had fallen asleep through heaviness, or had fainted + through the crushing of his fellows. I had no desire to begin that last + fight of mine in a place like this, where there was no room to swing a + weapon, nor chance to clear a battle ring. + </p> + <p> + But all this time the lean preacher from the mountains was sending forth + his angry anathemas, and still holding the strained attention of the + people. And next he set forth before them the cult of the Gods in the + ancient form as is prescribed, and they (with old habit coming back to + them) made response in the words and in the places where the old ritual + enjoins. It was weird enough sight, that time-honoured service of + adoration, forced upon these wild people after so long a period of + irreligion. + </p> + <p> + They warmed to the old words as the high shrill voice of the priest cried + them forth, and as they listened, and as they realised how intimate was + the care of the Gods for the travails and sorrows of their daily lives, so + much warmer grew their responses. + </p> + <p> + “... WHO STILLED THE BURNING OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND MADE COOL PLACES ON THE + EARTH FOR US TO LIVE!—PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS. + </p> + <p> + “WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF TEN TIMES TO + PREVAIL!—PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS....” + </p> + <p> + “WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF TEN TIMES TO + PREVAIL!—PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS....” + </p> + <p> + It thrilled one to hear their earnestness; it sorrowed one to know that + they would yet be obdurate and not return to their old allegiance. For + this is the way with these common people; they will work up an enthusiasm + one minute, and an hour later it will have fled away and left them cold + and empty. + </p> + <p> + But Zaemon made no further calls upon their loyalty. He finished the + prescribed form of sentences, and stepped down off the platform of the war + engine with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun thrust out resolutely before + him. To all ordinary seeming the crowd had been packed so that no further + compression was possible, but before the advance of the Symbol the people + crushed back, leaving a wide lane for his passage. + </p> + <p> + And here came the turning point of my life. At first, like, I take it, + every one else in that crowd, I imagined that the old man, having finished + his mission, was making a way to return to the place from which he had + come. But he held steadily to one direction, and as that was towards + myself, it naturally came to my mind that, having dealt with greater + things, he would now settle with the less; or, in plainer words, that + having put his policy before the swarming people, he would now smite down + the man he had seen but yesterday seated as Phorenice’s minister. Well, I + should lose that final fight I had promised myself, and that mound of + slain for my funeral bed. It was clear that Zaemon was the mouthpiece of + the Priests’ Clan, duly appointed; and I also was a priest. If the word + had been given on the Sacred Mountain to those who sat before the Ark of + the Mysteries that Atlantis would prosper more with Deucalion sent to the + Gods, I was ready to bow to the sentence with submissiveness. That I had + regret for this mode of cutting off, I will not deny. No man who has + practised the game of arms could abandon the promise of such a gorgeous + final battle without a qualm of longing. + </p> + <p> + But I had been trained enough to show none of these emotions on my face, + and when the old man came up to me, I stood my ground and gave him the + salutation prescribed between our ranks, which he returned to me with + circumstance and accuracy. The crowd fell back, being driven away by the + ineffable force of the Symbol, leaving us alone in the middle of a ring. + Even Nais, though she was a priest’s daughter, was ignorant of the + Mysteries, and could not withstand its force. And so we two men stood + there alone together, with the glow of the Symbol bathing us, and lighting + up the sea of ravenous faces that watched. + </p> + <p> + The people were quick to put their natural explanation on the scene. “A + spy!” they began to roar out. “A spy! Zaemon salutes him as a Priest!” + </p> + <p> + Zaemon faced round on them with a queer look on his grim old face. “Aye,” + he said, “this is a Priest. If I give you his name, you might have further + interest. This is the Lord Deucalion.” + </p> + <p> + The word was picked up and yelled amongst them with a thousand emotions. + But at least they were loyal to their policy; they had decided that + Deucalion was their enemy; they had already expended a navy for his + destruction; and now that he was ringed in by their masses, they lusted to + tear him into rags with their fingers. But rave and rave though they might + against me, the glare from the Symbol drove them shuddering back as though + it had been a lava-stream; and Zaemon was not the man to hand me over to + their fury until he had delivered formal sentence as the emissary of our + Clan on the Sacred Mount. So the end was not to be yet. + </p> + <p> + The old man faced me and spoke in the sacred tongue, which the common + people do not know. “My brother,” he said, “which have you come to serve, + Deucalion or Atlantis?” + </p> + <p> + “Words are a poor thing to answer a question like that. You will know all + of my record. According to the Law of the Priests, each ship from Yucatan + will have carried home its sworn report to lay at the feet of their + council, and before I went to that vice-royalty, what I did was written + plain here on the face of Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “We know your doings in the past, brother, and they have found approval. + You have governed well, and you have lived austerely. You set up Atlantis + for a mistress, and served her well; but then, you have had no Phorenice + to tempt you into change and fickleness.” + </p> + <p> + “You can send me where I shall see her no more, if you think me frail.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and lose your usefulness. No, brother, you are the last hope which + this poor land has remaining. All other human means that have been tried + against Phorenice have failed. You have returned from overseas for the + final duel. You are the strongest man we have, and you are our final + champion. If you fail, then only those terrible Powers which are locked + within the Ark of the Mysteries remains to us, and though it is not lawful + to speak even in this hidden tongue of their scope, you at least have full + assurance of their potency.” + </p> + <p> + I shrugged my shoulders. “It seems that you would save time and pains if + you threw me to these wolves of rebels, and let them end me here and now.” + </p> + <p> + The old man frowned on me angrily. “I am bidding you do your duty. What + reason have you for wishing to evade it?” + </p> + <p> + “I have in my memory the words you spoke in the pyramid, when you came in + amongst the banqueters. ‘PHORENICE,’ was your cry, ‘WHILST YOU ARE YET + EMPRESS, YOU SHALL SEE THIS ROYAL PYRAMID, WHICH YOU HAVE POLLUTED WITH + YOUR DEBAUCHERIES, TORN TIER FROM TIER, AND STONE FROM STONE, AND + SCATTERED AS FEATHERS BEFORE A WIND.’ It seems that you foresee my + defeat.” + </p> + <p> + The old man shuddered. “I cannot tell what she may force us to do. I spoke + then only what it was revealed to me must happen. Perhaps when matters + have reached that pass, she will repent and submit. But in the meanwhile, + before we use the more desperate weapons of the Gods, it is fitting that + we should expend all human power remaining to us. And so you must go, my + brother, and play your part to the utmost.” + </p> + <p> + “It is an order. So I obey.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall be at Phorenice’s side again by the next dawn. She has sent for + you from Yucatan as a husband, and as one who (so she thinks, poor human + conqueror) has the weight of arm necessary to prolong her tyrannies. You + are a Priest, brother, and you are a man of convincing tongue. It will be + your part to make her stubborn mind see the invincible power that can be + loosed against her, to point out to her the utter hopelessness of + prevailing against it.” + </p> + <p> + “If it is ordered, I will do these things. But there is little enough + chance of success. I have seen Phorenice, and can gauge her will. There + will be no turning her once she has made a decision. Others have tried; + you have tried yourself; all have failed.” + </p> + <p> + “Words that were wasted on a maiden may go home to a wife. You have been + brought here to be her husband. Well, take your place.” + </p> + <p> + The order came to me with a pang. I had given little enough heed to women + through all of a busy life, though when I landed, the taking of Phorenice + to wife would not have been very repugnant to me if policy had demanded + it. But the matters of the last two days had put things in a different + shape. I had seen two other women who had strangely attracted me, and one + of these had stirred within me a tumult such as I had never felt before + amongst my economies. + </p> + <p> + To lead Phorenice in marriage would mean a severance from this other woman + eternally, and I ached as I thought of it. But though these thoughts + floated through my system and gave me harsh wrenches of pain, I did not + thrust my puny likings before the command of the council of the Priests. I + bowed before Zaemon, and put his hand to my forehead. “It is an order,” I + said. “If our Lord the Sun gives me life, I will obey.” + </p> + <p> + “Then let us begone from this place,” said Zaemon, and took me by the arm + and waved a way for us with the Symbol. No further word did I have with + Nais, fearing to embroil her with these rebels who clustered round, but I + caught one hot glance from her eyes, and that had to suffice for farewell. + The dense ranks of the crowd opened, and we walked away between them + scathless. Fiercely though they lusted for my life, brimming with hate + though they made their cries, no man dared to rush in and raise a hand + against me. Neither did they follow. When we reached the outskirts of the + crowd, and the ranks thinned, they had a mind, many of them, to surge + along in our wake; but Zaemon whirled the Symbol back before their faces + with a blaze of lurid light, and they fell to their knees, grovelling, and + pressed on us no more. + </p> + <p> + The rain still fell, and in the light of the camp fires as we passed them, + the wet gleamed on the old man’s wasted body. And far before us through + the darkness loomed the vast bulk of the Sacred Mountain, with the ring of + eternal fires encincturing its crest. I sighed as I thought of the old + peaceful days I had spent in its temple and groves. + </p> + <p> + But there was to be no more of that studious leisure now. There was work + to be done, work for Atlantis which did not brook delay. And so when we + had progressed far out into the waste, and there was none near to view + (save only the most High Gods), we found the place where the passage was, + whose entrance is known only to the Seven amongst the Priests; and there + we parted, Zaemon to his hermitage in the dangerous lands, and I by this + secret way back into the capital. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 9. PHORENICE, GODDESS + </h2> + <p> + Now the passage, though its entrance had been cunningly hidden by man’s + artifice, was one of those veins in which the fiery blood of our mother, + the Earth, had aforetime coursed. Long years had passed since it carried + lava streams, but the air in it was still warm and sulphurous, and there + was no inducement to linger in transit. I lit me a lamp which I found in + an appointed niche, and walked briskly along my ways, coughing, and + wishing heartily I had some of those simples which ease a throat that has + a tendency to catarrh. But, alas! all that packet of drugs which were my + sole spoil from the vice-royalty of Yucatan were lost in the sea-fight + with Dason’s navy, and since landing in Atlantis there had been little + enough time to think for the refinements of medicine. + </p> + <p> + The network of earth-veins branched prodigiously, and if any but one of us + Seven Priests had found a way into its recesses by chance, he would have + perished hopelessly in the windings, or have fallen into one of those pits + which lead to the boil below. But I carried the chart of the true course + clearly in my head, remembering it from that old initiation of twenty + years back, when, as an appointed viceroy, I was raised to the highest + degree but one known to our Clan, and was given its secrets and working + implements. + </p> + <p> + The way was long, the floor was monstrous uneven, and the air, as I have + said, bad; and I knew that day would be far advanced before the signs told + me that I had passed beneath the walls, and was well within the precincts + of the city. And here the vow of the Seven hampered my progress; for it is + ordained that under no circumstances, whatever the stress, shall egress be + made from this passage before mortal eye. One branch after another did I + try, but always found loiterers near the exits. I had hoped to make my + emergence by that path which came inside the royal pyramid. But there was + no chance of coming up unobserved here; the place was humming like a hive. + And so, too, with each of the five next outlets that I visited. The city + was agog with some strange excitement. + </p> + <p> + But I came at last to a temple of one of the lesser Gods, and stood behind + the image for a while making observation. The place was empty; nay, from + the dust which robed all the floors and the seats of the worshippers, it + had been empty long enough; so I moved all that was needful, stepped out, + and closed all entry behind me. A broom lay unnoticed on one of the pews, + and with this I soon disguised all route of footmark, and took my way to + the temple door. It was shut, and priest though I was, the secret of its + opening was beyond me. + </p> + <p> + Here was a pretty pass. No one but the attendant priests of the temple + could move the mechanism which closed and opened the massive stone which + filled the doorway; and if all had gone out to attend this spectacle, + whatever it might be, that was stirring the city, why there I should be no + nearer enlargement than before. + </p> + <p> + There was no sound of life within the temple precincts; there were + evidences of decay and disuse spread broadcast on every hand; but + according to the ancient law there should be eternally one at least on + watch in the priests’ dwellings, so down the passages which led to them I + made my way. It would have surprised me little to have found even these + deserted. That the old order was changed I knew, but I was only then + beginning to realise the ruthlessness with which it had been swept away, + and how much it had given place to the new. + </p> + <p> + However, there can be some faithful men remaining even in an age of + general apostasy, and on making my way to the door of the dwelling (which + lay in the roof of the temple) I gave the call, and presently it was + opened to me. The man who stood before me, peering dully through the + gloom, had at least remained constant to his vows, and I made the + salutation before him with a feeling of respect. + </p> + <p> + His name was Ro, and I remembered him well. We had passed through the + sacred college together, and always he had been known as the dullard. He + had capacity for learning little of the cult of the Gods, less of the arts + of ruling, less still of the handling of arms; and he had been appointed + to some lowly office in this obscure temple, and had risen to being its + second priest and one of its two custodians merely through the desertion + of all his colleagues. But it was not pleasant to think that a fool should + remain true where cleverer men abandoned the old beliefs. + </p> + <p> + Ro did before me the greater obeisance. He wore his beard curled in the + prevailing fashion, but it was badly done. His clothing was ill-fitting + and unbrushed. He always had been a slovenly fellow. “The temple door is + shut,” he said, “and I only have the secret of its opening. My lord comes + here, therefore, by the secret way, and as one of the Seven. I am my + lord’s servant.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I ask this small service of you. Tell me, what stirs the city?” + </p> + <p> + “That impious Phorenice has declared herself Goddess, and declares that + she will light the sacrifice with her own divine fire. She will do it, + too. She does everything. But I wish the flames may burn her when she + calls them down. This new Empress is the bane of our Clan, Deucalion, + these latter days. The people neglect us; they bring no offerings; and + now, since these rebels have been hammering at the walls, I might have + gone hungry if I had not some small store of my own. Oh, I tell you, the + cult of the true Gods is well-nigh oozed quite out of the land.” + </p> + <p> + “My brother, it comes to my mind that the Priests of our Clan have been + limp in their service to let these things come to pass.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose we have done our best. At least, we did as we were taught. But + if the people will not come to hear your exhortations, and neglect to + adore the God, what hold have you over their religion? But I tell you, + Deucalion, that the High Gods try our own faith hard. Come into the + dwelling here. Look there on my bed.” + </p> + <p> + I saw the shape of a man, untidily swathed in reddened bandages. + </p> + <p> + “This is all that is left of the poor priest that was my immediate + superior in this cure. It was his turn yesterday to celebrate the weekly + sacrifice to our Lord the Sun with the circle of His great stones. Faugh! + Deucalion, you should have seen how he was mangled when they brought him + back to me here.” + </p> + <p> + “Did the people rise on him? Has it come to that?” + </p> + <p> + “The people stayed passive,” said Ro bitterly, “what few of them had + interest to attend; but our Lord the Sun saw fit to try His minister + somewhat harshly. The wood was laid; the sacrifice was disposed upon it + according to the prescribed rites; the procession had been formed round + the altar, and the drums and the trumpets were speaking forth, to let all + men know that presently the smoke of their prayer would be wafted up + towards Those that sit in the great places in the heavens. But then, above + the noise of the ceremonial, there came the rushing sound of wings, and + from out of the sky there flew one of those great featherless man-eating + birds, of a bigness such as seldom before has been seen.” + </p> + <p> + “An arrow shot in the eye, or a long-shafted spear receives them best.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, all men know what they were taught as children, Deucalion; but these + priests were unarmed, according to the rubric, which ordains that they + shall intrust themselves completely to the guardianship of the High Gods + during the hours of sacrifice. The great bird swooped down, settling on + the wood pyre, and attacked the sacrifice with beak and talon. My poor + superior here, still strong in his faith, called loudly on our Lord the + Sun to lend power to his arm, and sprang up on the altar with naught but + his teeth and his bare arms for weapons. It may be that he expected a + miracle—he has not spoke since, poor soul, in explanation—but + all he met were blows from leathery wings, and rakings from talons which + went near to disembowelling him. The bird brushed him away as easily as we + could sweep aside a fly, and there he lay bleeding on the pavement beside + the altar, whilst the sacrifice was torn and eaten in the presence of all + the people. And then, when the bird was glutted, it flew away again to the + mountains.” + </p> + <p> + “And the people gave no help?” + </p> + <p> + “They cried out that the thing was a portent, that our Lord the Sun was a + God no longer if He had not power or thought to guard His own sacrifice; + and some cried that there was no God remaining now, and others would have + it that there was a new God come to weigh on the country, which had chosen + to take the form of a common man-eating bird. But a few began to shout + that Phorenice stood for all the Gods now in Atlantis, and that cry was + taken up till the stones of the great circle rang with it. Some may have + made proclamations because they were convinced; many because the cry was + new, and pleased them; but I am sure there were not a few who joined in + because it was dangerous to leave such an outburst unwelcomed. The Empress + can be hard enough to those who neglect to give her adulation.” + </p> + <p> + “The Empress is Empress,” I said formally, “and her name carries respect. + It is not for us to question her doings.” + </p> + <p> + “I am a priest,” said Ro, “and I speak as I have been taught, and defend + the Faith as I have been commanded. Whether there is a Faith any longer, I + am beginning to doubt. But, anyway, it yields a poor enough livelihood + nowadays. There have been no offerings at this temple this five months + past, and if I had not a few jars of corn put by, I might have starved for + anything the pious of this city cared. And I do not think that the affair + of that sacrifice is likely to put new enthusiasm into our cold votaries.” + </p> + <p> + “When did it happen?” + </p> + <p> + “Twenty hours ago. To-day Phorenice conducts the sacrifice herself. That + has caused the stir you spoke about. The city is in the throes of getting + ready one of her pageants.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I must ask you to open the temple doors and give me passage. I must + go and see this thing for myself.” + </p> + <p> + “It is not for me to offer advice to one of the Seven,” said Ro + doubtfully. + </p> + <p> + “It is not.” + </p> + <p> + “But they say that the Empress is not overpleased at your absence,” he + mumbled. “I should not like harm to come in your way, Deucalion,” he said + aloud. + </p> + <p> + “The future is in the hands of the most High Gods, Ro, and I at least + believe that They will deal out our fates to each of us as They in Their + infinite wisdom see best, though you seem to have lost your faith. And now + I must be your debtor for a passage out through the doors. Plagues! man, + it is no use your holding out your hand to me. I do not own a coin in all + the world.” + </p> + <p> + He mumbled something about “force of habit” as he led the way down towards + the door, and I responded tartly enough about the unpleasantness of his + begging customs. “If it were not for your sort and your customs, the + Priests’ Clan would not be facing this crisis to-day.” + </p> + <p> + “One must live,” he grumbled, as he pressed his levers, and the massive + stone in the doorway swung ajar. + </p> + <p> + “If you had been a more capable man, I might have seen the necessity,” + said I, and passed into the open and left him. I could never bring myself + to like Ro. + </p> + <p> + A motley crowd filled the street which ran past the front of this obscure + temple, and all were hurrying one way. With what I had been told, it did + not take much art to guess that the great stone circle of our Lord the Sun + was their mark, and it grieved me to think of how many venerable centuries + that great fane had upreared before the weather and the earth tremors, + without such profanation as it would witness to-day. And also the thought + occurred to me, “Was our Great Lord above drawing this woman on to her + destruction? Would He take some vast and final act of vengeance when she + consummated her final sacrilege?” + </p> + <p> + But the crowd pressed on, thrilled and excited, and thinking little (as is + a crowd’s wont) on the deeper matters which lay beneath the bare + spectacle. From one quarter of the city walls the din of an attack from + the besiegers made itself clearly heard from over the house, and the + temples and the palaces intervening, but no one heeded it. They had grown + callous, these townsfolk, to the battering of rams, and the flight of + fire-darts, and the other emotions of a bombardment. Their nerves, their + hunger, their desperation, were strung to such a pitch that little short + of an actual storm could stir them into new excitement over the siege. + </p> + <p> + All were weaponed. The naked carried arms in the hopes of meeting some one + whom they could overcome and rob; those that had a possession walked ready + to do a battle for its ownership. There was no security, no trust; the + lesson of civilisation had dropped away from these common people as mud is + washed from the feet by rain, and in their new habits and their thoughts + they had gone back to the grade from which savages like those of Europe + have never yet emerged. It was a grim commentary on the success of + Phorenice’s rule. + </p> + <p> + The crowd merged me into their ranks without question, and with them I + pressed forward down the winding streets, once so clean and trim, now so + foul and mud-strewn. Men and women had died of hunger in these streets + these latter years, and rotted where they lay, and we trod their bones + underfoot as we walked. Yet rising out of this squalor and this misery + were great pyramids and palaces, the like of which for splendour and + magnificence had never been seen before. It was a jarring admixture. + </p> + <p> + In time we came to the open space in the centre of the city, which even + Phorenice had not dared to encroach upon with her ambitious building + schemes, and stood on the secular ground which surrounds the most ancient, + the most grand, and the breast of all this world’s temples. + </p> + <p> + Since the beginning of time, when man first emerged amongst the beasts, + our Lord the Sun has always been his chiefest God, and legend says that He + raised this circle of stones Himself to be a place where votaries should + offer Him worship. It is the fashion amongst us moderns not to take these + old tales in a too literal sense, but for myself, this one satisfies me. + By our wits we can lift blocks weighing six hundred men, and set them as + the capstones of our pyramids. But to uprear the stones of that great + circle would be beyond all our art, and much more would it be impossible + to-day, to transport them from their distant quarries across the rugged + mountains. + </p> + <p> + There were nine-and-forty of the stones, alternating with spaces, and set + in an accurate circle, and across the tops of them other stones were set, + equally huge. The stones were undressed and rugged; but the huge + massiveness of them impressed the eye more than all the temples and + daintily tooled pyramids of our wondrous city. And in the centre of the + circle was that still greater stone which formed the altar, and round + which was carved, in the rude chiselling of the ancients, the snake and + the outstretched hand. + </p> + <p> + The crowd which bore me on came to a standstill before the circle of + stones. To trespass beyond this is death for the common people; and for + myself, although I had the right of entrance, I chose to stay where I was + for the present, unnoticed amongst the mob, and wait upon events. + </p> + <p> + For long enough we stood there, our Lord the Sun burning high and fiercely + from the clear blue sky above our heads. The din of the rebels’ attack + upon the walls came to us clearly, even above the gabble of the multitude, + but no one gave attention to it. Excitement about what was to befall in + the circle mastered every other emotion. + </p> + <p> + I learned afterways that so pressing was the rebels’ attack, and so + destructive the battering of their new war engines, that Phorenice had + gone off to the walls first to lend awhile her brilliant skill for its + repulse, and to put heart into the defenders. But as it was, the day had + burned out to its middle and scorched us intolerably, before the noise of + the drums and horns gave advertisement that the pageant had formed in + procession; and of those who waited in the crowd, many had fainted with + exhaustion and the heat, and not a few had died. But life was cheap in the + city of Atlantis now, and no one heeded the fallen. + </p> + <p> + Nearer and nearer drew the drums and the braying of the other music, and + presently the head of a glittering procession began to arrive and dispose + itself in the space which had been set apart. Many a thousand poor + starving wretches sighed when they saw the wanton splendour of it. But + these lords and these courtiers of this new Atlantis had no concern beyond + their own bellies and their own backs, except for their one alien regard—their + simpering affection for Phorenice. + </p> + <p> + I think, though, their loyalty for the Empress was real enough, and it was + not to be wondered at, since everything they had came from her lavish + hands. Indeed, the woman had a charm that cannot be denied, for when she + appeared, riding in the golden castle (where I also had ridden) on the + back of her monstrous shaggy mammoth, the starved sullen faces of the + crowd brightened as though a meal and sudden prosperity had been bestowed + upon them; and without a word of command, without a trace of compulsion, + they burst into spontaneous shouts of welcome. + </p> + <p> + She acknowledged it with a smile of thanks. Her cheeks were a little + flushed, her movements quick, her manner high-strung, as all well might + be, seeing the horrible sacrilege she had in mind. But she was undeniably + lovely; yes, more adorably beautiful than ever with her present thrill of + excitement; and when the stair was brought, and she walked down from the + mammoth’s back to the ground, those near fell to their knees and gave her + worship, out of sheer fascination for her beauty and charm. + </p> + <p> + Ylga, the fan-girl, alone of all that vast multitude round the Sun temple + contained herself with her formal paces and duties. She looked pained and + troubled. It was plain to see, even from the distance where I stood, that + she carried a heavy heart under the jewels of her robe. It was fitting, + too, that this should be so. Though she had been long enough divorced from + his care and fostered by the Empress, Ylga was a daughter of Zaemon, and + he was the chiefest of our Lord the Sun’s ministers here on earth. She + could not forget her upbringing now at this supreme moment when the + highest of the old Gods was to be formally defied. And perhaps also + (having a kindness for Phorenice) she was not a little dreadful of the + consequences. + </p> + <p> + But the Empress had no eye for one sad look amongst all that sea of + glowing faces. Boldly and proudly she strode out into the circle, as + though she had been the duly appointed priest for the sacrifice. And after + her came a knot of men, dressed as priests, and bearing the victim. Some + of these were creatures of her own, and it was easy to forgive mere + ignorant laymen, won over by the glamour of Phorenice’s presence. But + some, to their shame, were men born in the Priests’ Clan, and brought up + in the groves and colleges of the Sacred Mountain, and for their apostasy + there could be no palliation. + </p> + <p> + The wood had already been stacked on the altar-stone in the due form + required by the ancient symbolism, and the Empress stood aside whilst + those who followed did what was needful. As they opened out, I saw that + the victim was one of the small, cloven-hoofed horses that roam the plains—a + most acceptable sacrifice. They bound its feet with metal gyves, and put + it on the pyre, where, for a while, it lay neighing. Then they stepped + aside, and left it living. Here was an innovation. + </p> + <p> + The false priests went back to the farther side of the circle, and + Phorenice stood alone before the altar. She lifted up her voice, sweet, + tuneful, and carrying, and though the din of the siege still came from + over the city, no ear there lost a word of what was spoken. + </p> + <p> + She raised her glance aloft, and all other eyes followed it. The heaven + was clear as the deep sea, a gorgeous blue. But as the words came from + her, so a small mist was born in the sky, wheeling and circling like a + ball, although the day was windless, and rapidly growing darker and more + compact. So dense had it become, that presently it threw a shadow on part + of the sacred circle and soothed it into twilight, though all without + where the people stood was still garish day. And in the ball of mist were + little quick stabs and splashes of noiseless flame. + </p> + <p> + She spoke, not in the priests’ sacred tongue—though such was her + wicked cleverness, that she may very well have learned it—but in the + common speech of the people, so that all who heard might understand; and + she told of her wondrous birth (as she chose to name it), and of the + direct aid of the most High Gods, which had enabled her to work so many + marvels. And in the end she lifted both of her fair white arms towards the + blackness above, and with her lovely face set with the strain of will, she + uttered her final cry: + </p> + <p> + “O my high Father, the Sun, I pray You now to acknowledge me as Your very + daughter. Give this people a sign that I am indeed a child of the Gods and + no frail mortal. Here is sacrifice unlit, where mortal priests with their + puny fires had weekly, since the foundation of this land, sent savoury + smoke towards the sky. I pray You send down the heavenly fire to burn this + beast here offered, in token that though You still rule on high, You have + given me Atlantis to be my kingdom, and the people of the Earth to be my + worshippers.” + </p> + <p> + She broke off and strained towards the sky. Her face was contorted. Her + limbs shook. “O mighty Father,” she cried, “who hast made me a God and an + equal, hear me! Hear me!” + </p> + <p> + Out of the black cloud overhead there came a blinding flash of light, + which spat downwards on to the altar. The cloven-hoofed horse gave one + shrill neigh, and one convulsion, and fell back dead. Flames crackled out + from the wood pile, and the air became rich with the smell of burning + flesh. And lo! in another moment the cloud above had melted into + nothingness, and the flames burnt pale, and the smoke went up in a thin + blue spiral towards the deeper blueness of the sky. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice, the Empress, stood there before the great stone, and before the + snake and the outstretched hand of life which were inscribed upon it, + flushed, exultant, and once more radiantly lovely; and the knot of priests + within the circle, and the great mob of people without, fell to the ground + adoring. + </p> + <p> + “Phorenice, Goddess!” they cried. “Phorenice, Goddess of all Atlantis!” + </p> + <p> + But for myself I did not kneel. I would have no part in this apostasy, so + I stood there awaiting fate. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 10. A WOOING + </h2> + <p> + A murmur quickly sprang up round me, which grew into shouts. “Kneel,” one + whispered, “kneel, sir, or you will be seen.” And another cried: “Kneel, + you without beard, and do obeisance to the only Goddess, or by the old + Gods I will make myself her priest and butcher you!” And so the shouts + arose into a roar. + </p> + <p> + But presently the word “Deucalion” began to be bandied about, and there + came a moderation in the zeal of these enthusiasts. Deucalion, the man who + had left Atlantis twenty years before to rule Yucatan, they might know + little enough about, but Deucalion, who rode not many days back beside the + Empress in the golden castle beneath the canopy of snakes, was a person + they remembered; and when they weighed up his possible ability for + vengeance, the shouts died away from them limply. + </p> + <p> + So when the silence had grown again, and Phorenice turned and saw me + standing alone amongst all the prostrate worshippers, I stepped out from + the crowd and passed between two of the great stones, and went across the + circle to where she stood beside the altar. I did not prostrate myself. At + the prescribed distance I made the salutation which she herself had + ordered when she made me her chief minister, and then hailed her with + formal decorum as Empress. + </p> + <p> + “Deucalion, man of ice,” she retorted. + </p> + <p> + “I still adhere to the old Gods!” + </p> + <p> + “I was not referring to that,” said she, and looked at me with a sidelong + smile. + </p> + <p> + But here Ylga came up to us with a face that was white, and a hand that + shook, and made supplication for my life. “If he will not leave the old + Gods yet,” she pleaded, “surely you will pardon him? He is a strong man, + and does not become a convert easily. You may change him later. But think, + Phorenice, he is Deucalion; and if you slay him here for this one thing, + there is no other man within all the marches of Atlantis who would so + worthily serve—” + </p> + <p> + The Empress took the words from her. “You slut,” she cried out. “I have + you near me to appoint my wardrobe, and carry my fan, and do you dare to + put a meddling finger on my policies? Back with you, outside this circle, + or I’ll have you whipped. Ay, and I’ll do more. I’ll serve you as Zaemon + served my captain, Tarca. Shall I point a finger at you, and smite your + pretty skin with a sudden leprosy?” + </p> + <p> + The girl bowed her shoulders, and went away cowed, and Phorenice turned to + me. “My lord,” she said, “I am like a young bird in the nest that has + suddenly found its wings. Wings have so many uses that I am curious to try + them all.” + </p> + <p> + “May each new flight they take be for the good of Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” she said, with an eye-flash, “I know what you have most at heart. + But we will go back to the pyramid, and talk this out at more leisure. I + pray you now, my lord, conduct me back to my riding beast.” + </p> + <p> + It appeared then that I was to be condoned for not offering her worship, + and so putting public question on her deification. It appeared also that + Ylga’s interference was looked upon as untimely, and, though I could not + understand the exact reasons for either of these things, I accepted them + as they were, seeing that they forwarded the scheme that Zaemon had bidden + me carry out. + </p> + <p> + So when the Empress lent me her fingers—warm, delicate fingers they + were, though so skilful to grasp the weapons of war—I took them + gravely, and led her out of the great circle, which she had polluted with + her trickeries. I had expected to see our Lord the Sun take vengeance on + the profanation whilst it was still in act; but none had come: and I knew + that He would choose his own good time for retribution, and appoint what + instrument He thought best, without my raising a puny arm to guard His + mighty honour. + </p> + <p> + So I led this lovely sinful woman back to the huge red mammoth which stood + there tamely in waiting, and the smell of the sacrifice came after us as + we walked. She mounted the stair to the golden castle on the shaggy + beast’s back, and bade me mount also and take seat beside her. But the + place of the fan-girl behind was empty, and what we said as we rode back + through the streets there was none to overhear. + </p> + <p> + She was eager to know what had befallen me after the attack on the gate, + and I told her the tale, laying stress on the worthiness of Nais, and + uttering an opinion that with care the girl might be won back to + allegiance again. Only the commands that Zaemon laid upon me when he and I + spoke together in the sacred tongue, did I withhold, as it is not lawful + to repeat these matters save only in the High Council of the Priests + itself as they sit before the Ark of the Mysteries. + </p> + <p> + “You seem to have an unusual kindliness for this rebel Nais,” said + Phorenice. + </p> + <p> + “She showed herself to me as more clever and thoughtful than the common + herd.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay,” she answered, with a sigh that I think was real enough in its way, + “an Empress loses much that meaner woman gets as her common due.” + </p> + <p> + “In what particular?” + </p> + <p> + “She misses the honest wooing of her equals.” + </p> + <p> + “If you set up for a Goddess—” I said. + </p> + <p> + “Pah! I wish to be no Goddess to you, Deucalion. That was for the common + people; it gives me more power with them; it helps my schemes. All you + Seven higher priests know that trick of calling down the fire, and it + pleased me to filch it. Can you not be generous, and admit that a woman + may be as clever in finding out these natural laws as your musty elder + priests?” + </p> + <p> + “Remains that you are Empress.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor Empress either. Just think that there is a woman seated beside you on + this cushion, Deucalion, and look upon her, and say what words come first + to your lips. Have done with ceremonies, and have done with statecraft. Do + you wish to wait on as you are till all your manhood withers? It is well + not to hurry unduly in these matters: I am with you there. Yet, who but a + fool watches a fruit grow ripe, and then leaves it till it is past its + prime?” + </p> + <p> + I looked on her glorious beauty, but as I live it left me cold. But I + remembered the command that had been laid upon me, and forced a smile. “I + may have been fastidious,” I said, “but I do not regret waiting this + long.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor I. But I have played my life as a maid, time enough. I am a woman, + ripe, and full-blooded, and the day has come when I should be more than + what I have been.” + </p> + <p> + I let my hand clench on hers. “Take me to husband then, and I will be a + good man to you. But, as I am bidden speak to Phorenice the woman now, and + not to the Empress, I offer fair warning that I will be no puppet.” + </p> + <p> + She looked at me sidelong. “I have been master so long that I think it + will come as enjoyment to be mastered sometimes. No, Deucalion, I promise + that—you shall be no puppet. Indeed, it would take a lusty lung to + do the piping if you were to dance against your will.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, as man and wife we will live together in the royal pyramid, and we + will rule this country with all the wit that it has pleased the High Gods + to bestow on us. These miserable differences shall be swept aside; the + rebels shall go back to their homes, and hunt, and fight the beasts in the + provinces, and the Priests’ Clan shall be pacified. Phorenice, you and I + will throw ourselves brain and soul into the government, and we will make + Atlantis rise as a nation that shall once more surpass all the world for + peace and prosperity.” + </p> + <p> + Petulantly she drew her hand away from mine. “Oh, your conditions, and + your Atlantis! You carry a crudeness in these colonial manners of yours, + Deucalion, that palls on one after the first blunt flavour has worn away. + Am I to do all the wooing? Is there no thrill of love under all your ice?” + </p> + <p> + “In truth, I do not know what love may be. I have had little enough speech + with women all these busy years.” + </p> + <p> + “We were a pair, then, when you landed, though I have heard sighs and + protestations from every man that carries a beard in all Atlantis. Some of + them tickled my fancy for the day, but none of them have moved me deeper. + No, I also have not learned what this love may be from my own personal + feelings. But, sir, I think that you will teach me soon, if you go on with + your coldness.” + </p> + <p> + “From what I have seen, love is for the poor, and the weak, and for those + of flighty emotions.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I would that another woman were Empress, and that I were some + ill-dressed creature of the gutter that a strong man could pick up by + force, and carry away to his home for sheer passion. Ah! How I could revel + in it! How I could respond if he caught my whim!” She laughed. “But I + should lead him a sad life of it if my liking were not so strong as his.” + </p> + <p> + “We are as we are made, and we cannot change our inwards which move us.” + </p> + <p> + She looked at me with a sullen glance. “If I do not change yours, my + Deucalion, there will be more trouble brewed for this poor Atlantis that + you set such store upon. There will be ill doings in this coming household + of ours if my love grows for you, and yours remains still unborn.” + </p> + <p> + I believe she would have had me fondle her there in the golden castle on + the mammoth’s shabby back, before the city streets packed with curious + people. She had little enough appetite for privacy at any time. But for + the life of me I could not do it. The Gods know I was earnest enough about + my task, and They know also how it repelled me. But I was a true priest + that day, and I had put away all personal liking to carry out the commands + which the Council had laid upon me. If I had known how to set about it, I + would have fallen in with her mood. But where any of those shallow + bedizened triflers about the court would have been glibly in his element, + I stuck for lack of a dozen words. + </p> + <p> + There was no help for it but to leave all, save what I actually felt, + unsaid. Diplomacy I was trained in, and on most matters I had a glib + enough tongue. But to palter with women was a lightness I had always + neglected, and if I had invented would-be pretty speeches out of my clumsy + inexperience, Phorenice would have seen through the fraud on the instant. + She had been nurtured during these years of her rule on a pap of these + silly protestations, and could weigh their value with an expert’s + exactness. + </p> + <p> + Nor was it a case where honest confession would have served my purpose + better. If I had put my position to her in plain words, it would have made + relations worse. And so perforce I had to hold my tongue, and submit to be + considered a clown. + </p> + <p> + “I had always heard,” she said, “that you colonists in Yucatan were far + ahead of those in Egypt in all the arts and graces. But you, sir, do small + credit to your vice-royalty. Why, I have had gentry from the Nile come + here, and you might almost think they had never left their native shores.” + </p> + <p> + “They must have made great strides this last twenty years, then. When last + I was sent to Egypt to report, the blacks were clearly masters of the + land, and our people lived there only on sufferance. Their pyramids were + puny, and their cities nothing more than forts.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” she said mockingly, “they are mere exiles still, but they remember + their manners. My poor face seemed to please them, at least they all went + into raptures over it. And for ten pleasant words, one of them cut off his + own right hand. We made the bargain, my Egyptian gallant and I, and the + hand lies dried on some shelf in my apartment to-day as a pleasant + memento.” + </p> + <p> + But here, by a lucky chance for me, an incident occurred which saved me + from further baiting. The rebels outside the walls were conducting their + day’s attack with vigour and some intelligence. More than once during our + procession the lighter missiles from their war engines had sung up through + the air, and split against a building, and thrown splinters which wounded + those who thronged the streets. Still there had been nothing to ruffle the + nerves of any one at all used to the haps of warfare, or in any way to + hinder our courtship. But presently, it seems, they stopped hurling stones + from their war engines, and took to loading them with carcases of wood + lined with the throwing fire. + </p> + <p> + Now, against stone buildings these did little harm, save only that they + scorched horribly any poor wretch that was within splash of them when they + burst; but when they fell upon the rude wooden booths and rush shelters of + the poorer folk, they set them ablaze instantly. There was no putting out + these fires. + </p> + <p> + These things also would have given to either Phorenice or myself little + enough of concern, as they are the trivial and common incidents of every + siege; but the mammoth on which we rode had not been so properly schooled. + When the first blue whiff of smoke came to us down the windings of the + street, the huge red beast hoisted its trunk, and began to sway its head + uneasily. When the smoke drifts grew more dense, and here and there a + tongue of flame showed pale beneath the sunshine, it stopped abruptly and + began to trumpet. + </p> + <p> + The guards who led it, tugged manfully at the chains which hung from the + jagged metal collar round its neck, so that the spikes ran deep into its + flesh, and reminded it keenly of its bondage. But the beast’s terror at + the fire, which was native to its constitution, mastered all its + new-bought habits of obedience. From time unknown men have hunted the + mammoth in the savage ground, and the mammoth has hunted men; and the men + have always used fire as a shield, and mammoths have learned to dread fire + as the most dangerous of all enemies. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice’s brow began to darken as the great beast grew more restive, and + she shook her red curls viciously. “Some one shall lose a head for this + blundering,” said she. “I ordered to have this beast trained to stand + indifferent to drums, shouting, arrows, stones, and fire, and the trainers + assured me that all was done, and brought examples.” + </p> + <p> + I slipped my girdle. “Here,” I said, “quick. Let me lower you to the + ground.” + </p> + <p> + She turned on me with a gleam. “Are you afraid for my neck, then, + Deucalion?” + </p> + <p> + “I have no mind to be bereaved before I have tasted my wedded life.” + </p> + <p> + “Pish! There is little enough of danger. I will stay and ride it out. I am + not one of your nervous women, sir. But go you, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “There is little enough chance of that now.” + </p> + <p> + Blood flowed from the mammoth’s neck where the spikes of the collar tore + it, and with each drop, so did the tameness seem to ooze out from it also. + With wild squeals and trumpetings it turned and charged viciously down the + way it had come, scattering like straws the spearmen who tried to stop it, + and mowing a great swath through the crowd with its monstrous progress. + Many must have been trodden under foot, many killed by its murderous + trunk, but only their cries came to us. The golden castle, with its canopy + of royal snakes, was swayed and tossed, so that we two occupants had much + ado not to be shot off like stones from a catapult. But I took a brace + with my feet against the front, and one arm around a pillar, and clapped + the spare arm round Phorenice, so as to offer myself to her as a cushion. + </p> + <p> + She lay there contentedly enough, with her lovely face just beneath my + chin, and the faint scent of her hair coming in to me with every breath I + took; and the mammoth charged madly on through the narrow streets. We had + outstripped the taint of smoke, and the original cause of fear, but the + beast seemed to have forgotten everything in its mad panic. It held + furiously on with enormous strides, carrying its trunk aloft, and + deafening us with its screams and trumpetings. We left behind us quickly + all those who had trod in that glittering pageant, and we were carried + helplessly on through the wards of the city. + </p> + <p> + The beast was utterly beyond all control. So great was its pace that there + was no alternative but to try and cling on to the castle. Up there we were + beyond its reach. To have leapt off, even if we had avoided having brains + dashed out or limbs smashed by the fall, would have been to put ourselves + at once at a frightful disadvantage. The mammoth would have scented us + immediately, and turned (as is the custom of these beasts), and we should + have been trampled into a pulp in a dozen seconds. + </p> + <p> + The thought came to me that here was the High God’s answer to Phorenice’s + sacrilege. The mammoth was appointed to carry out Their vengeance by + dashing her to pieces, and I, their priest, was to be human witness that + justice had been done. But no direct revelation had been given me on this + matter, and so I took no initiative, but hung on to the swaying castle, + and held the Empress against bruises in my arms. + </p> + <p> + There was no guiding the brute: in its insanity of madness it doubled many + times upon its course, the windings of the streets confusing it. But by + degrees we left the large palaces and pyramids behind, and got amongst the + quarters of artisans, where weavers and smiths gaped at us from their + doors as we thundered past. And then we came upon the merchants’ quarters + where men live over their storehouses that do traffic with the people over + seas, and then down an open space there glittered before us a mirror of + water. + </p> + <p> + “Now here,” thought I, “this mad beast will come to sudden stop, and as + like as not will swerve round sharply and charge back again towards the + heart of the city.” And I braced myself to withstand the shock, and took + fresh grip upon the woman who lay against my breast. But with louder + screams and wilder trumpetings the mammoth held straight on, and presently + came to the harbour’s edge, and sent the spray sparkling in sheets amongst + the sunshine as it went with its clumsy gait into the water. + </p> + <p> + But at this point the pace was very quickly slackened. The great sewers, + which science devised for the health of the city in the old King’s time, + vomit their drainings into this part of the harbour, and the solid matter + which they carry is quickly deposited as an impalpable sludge. Into this + the huge beast began to sink deeper and deeper before it could halt in its + rush, and when with frightened bellowings it had come to a stop, it was + bogged irretrievably. Madly it struggled, wildly it screamed and + trumpeted. The harbour-water and the slime were churned into one stinking + compost, and the golden castle in which we clung lurched so wildly that we + were torn from it and shot far away into the water. + </p> + <p> + Still there, of course, we were safe, and I was pleased enough to be rid + of the bumpings. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice laughed as she swam. “You handle yourself like a sore man, + Deucalion. I owe you something for lending me the cushion of your body. By + my face! There’s more of the gallant about you when it comes to the test + than one would guess to hear you talk. How did you like the ride, sir? I + warrant it came to you as a new experience.” + </p> + <p> + “I’d liefer have walked.” + </p> + <p> + “Pish, man! You’ll never be a courtier. You should have sworn that with me + in your arms you could have wished the bumping had gone on for ever. Ho, + the boat there! Hold your arrows. Deucalion, hail me those fools in that + boat. Tell them that, if they hurt so much as a hair of my mammoth, I’ll + kill them all by torture. He’ll exhaust himself directly, and when his + flurry’s done we’ll leave him where he is to consider his evil ways for a + day or so, and then haul him out with windlasses, and tame him afresh. + Pho! I could not feel myself to be Phorenice, if I had no fine, red, + shaggy mammoth to take me out for my rides.” + </p> + <p> + The boat was a ten-slave galley which was churning up from the farther + side of the harbour as hard as well-plied whips could make oars drive her, + but at the sound of my shouts the soldiers on her foredeck stopped their + arrowshots, and the steersman swerved her off on a new course to pick us + up. Till then we had been swimming leisurely across an angle of the + harbour, so as to avoid landing where the sewers outpoured; but we stopped + now, treading the water, and were helped over the side by most respectful + hands. + </p> + <p> + The galley belonged to the captain of the port, a mincing figure of a + mariner, whose highest appetite in life was to lick the feet of the great, + and he began to fawn and prostrate himself at once, and to wish that his + eyes had been blinded before he saw the Empress in such deadly peril. + </p> + <p> + “The peril may pass,” said she. “It’s nothing mortal that will ever kill + me. But I have spoiled my pretty clothes, and shed a jewel or two, and + that’s annoying enough as you say, good man.” + </p> + <p> + The silly fellow repeated a wish that he might be blinded before the + Empress was ever put to such discomfort again. + </p> + <p> + But it seemed she could be cloyed with flattery. “If you are tired of your + eyes,” said she, “let me tell you that you have gone the way to have them + plucked out from their sockets. Kill my mammoth, would you, because he has + shown himself a trifle frolicsome? You and your sort want more education, + my man. I shall have to teach you that port-captains and such small + creatures are very easy to come by, and very small value when got, but + that my mammoth is mine—mine, do you understand?—the property + of Goddess Phorenice, and as such is sacred.” + </p> + <p> + The port-captain abased himself before her. “I am an ignorant fellow,” + said he, “and heaven was robbed of its brightest ornament when Phorenice + came down to Atlantis. But if reparation is permitted me, I have two + prisoners in the cabin of the boat here who shall be sacrificed to the + mammoth forthwith. Doubtless it would please him to make sport with them, + and spill out the last lees of his rage upon their bodies.” + </p> + <p> + “Prisoners you’ve got, have you? How taken?” + </p> + <p> + “Under cover of last night they were trying to pass in between the two + forts which guard the harbour mouth. But their boat fouled the chain, and + by the light of the torches the sentries spied them. They were caught with + ropes, and put in a dungeon. There is an order not to abuse prisoners + before they have been brought before a judgment?” + </p> + <p> + “It was my order. Did these prisoners offer to buy their lives with news?” + </p> + <p> + “The man has not spoken. Indeed, I think he got his death-wound in being + taken. The woman fought like a cat also, so they said in the fort, but she + was caught without hurt. She says she has got nothing that would be of use + to tell. She says she has tired of living like a savage outside the city, + and moreover that, inside, there is a man for whose nearness she craves + most mightily.” + </p> + <p> + “Tut!” said Phorenice. “Is this a romance we have swum to? You see what + affectionate creatures we women are, Deucalion.”—The galley was + brought up against the royal quay and made fast to its golden rings. I + handed the Empress ashore, but she turned again and faced the boat, her + garments still yielding up a slender drip of water.—“Produce your + woman prisoner, master captain, and let us see whether she is a runaway + wife, or a lovesick girl mad after her sweetheart. Then I will deliver + judgment on her, and as like as not will surprise you all with my + clemency. I am in a mood for tender romance to-day.” + </p> + <p> + The port-captain went into the little hutch of a cabin with a white face. + It was plain that Phorenice’s pleasantries scared him. “The man appears to + be dead, Your Majesty. I see that his wounds—” + </p> + <p> + “Bring out the woman, you fool. I asked for her. Keep your carrion where + it is.” + </p> + <p> + I saw the fellow stoop for his knife to cut a lashing, and presently who + should he bring out to the daylight but the girl I had saved from the + cave-tigers in the circus, and who had so strangely drawn me to her during + the hours that we had spent afterwards in companionship. It was clear, + too, that the Empress recognised her also. Indeed, she made no secret + about the matter, addressing her by name, and mockingly making inquiries + about the menage of the rebels, and the success of the prisoner’s amours. + </p> + <p> + “This good port-captain tells me that you made a most valiant attempt to + return, Nais, and for an excuse you told that it was your love for some + man in the city here which drew you. Come, now, we are willing to overlook + much of your faults, if you will give us a reasonable chance. Point me out + your man, and if he is a proper fellow, I will see that he weds you + honestly. Yes, and I will do more for you, Nais, since this day brings me + to a husband. Seeing that all your estate is confiscate as a penalty for + your late rebellion, I will charge myself with your dowry, and give it + back to you. So come, name me the man.” + </p> + <p> + The girl looked at her with a sullen brow. “I spoke a lie,” she said; + “there is no man.” + </p> + <p> + I tried myself to give her advocacy. “The lady doubtless spoke what came + to her lips. When a woman is in the grip of a rude soldiery, any excuse + which can save her for the moment must serve. For myself, I should think + it like enough that she would confess to having come back to her old + allegiance, if she were asked.” + </p> + <p> + “Sir,” said the Empress, “keep your peace. Any interest you may show in + this matter will go far to offend me. You have spoken of Nais in your + narrative before, and although your tongue was shrewd and you did not say + much, I am a woman and I could read between the lines. Now regard, my + rebel, I have no wish to be unduly hard upon you, though once you were my + fan-girl, and so your running away to these ill-kempt malcontents, who + beat their heads against my city walls, is all the more naughty. But you + must meet me halfway. You must give an excuse for leniency. Point me out + the man you would wed, and he shall be your husband to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “There is no man.” + </p> + <p> + “Then name me one at random. Why, my pretty Nais, not ten months ago there + were a score who would have leaped at the chance of having you for a wife. + Drop your coyness, girl, and name me one of those. I warrant you that I + will be your ambassadress and will put the matter to him with such + delicacy that he will not make you blush by refusal.” + </p> + <p> + The prisoner moistened her lips. “I am a maiden, and I have a maiden’s + modesty. I will die as you choose, but I will not do this indecency.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I am a maiden too, and though because I am Empress also, questions + of State have to stand before questions of my private modesty, I can have + a sympathy for yours—although in truth it did not obtrude unduly + when you were my fan-girl, Nais. No, come to think of it, you liked a + tender glance and a pretty phrase as well as any when you were fan-girl. + You have grown wild and shy, amongst these savage rebels, but I will not + punish you for that. + </p> + <p> + “Let me call your favourites to memory now. There was Tarca, of course, + but Tarca had a difference with that ill-dressed father of yours, and + wears a leprosy on half his face instead of that beard he used to trim so + finely. And then there is Tatho, but Tatho is away overseas. Eron, too, + you liked once, but he lost an arm in fighting t’other day, and I would + not marry you to less than a whole man. Ah, by my face! I have it, the + dainty exquisite, Rota! He is the husband! How well I remember the way he + used to dress in a change of garb each day to catch your proud fancy, + girl. Well, you shall have Rota. He shall lead you to wife before this + hour to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + Again the prisoner moistened her lips. “I will not have Rota, and spare me + the others. I know why you mock me, Phorenice.” + </p> + <p> + “Then there are three of us here who share one knowledge.”—She + turned her eyes upon me. Gods! who ever saw the like of Phorenice’s eyes, + and who ever saw them lit with such fire as burned within them then?—“My + lord, you are marrying me for policy; I am marrying you for policy, and + for another reason which has grown stronger of late, and which you may + guess at. Do you wish still to carry out the match?” + </p> + <p> + I looked once at Nais, and then I looked steadily back to Phorenice. The + command given by the mouth of Zaemon from the High Council of the Sacred + Mountain had to outweigh all else, and I answered that such was my desire. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said she, glowering at me with her eyes, “you shall build me up + the pretty body of Nais beneath a throne of granite as a wedding gift. And + you shall do it too with your own proper hands, my Deucalion, whilst I + watch your devotion.” + </p> + <p> + And to Nais she turned with a cruel smile. “You lied to me, my girl, and + you spoke truth to the soldiers in the harbour forts. There is a man here + in the city you came after, and he is the one man you may not have. + Because you know me well, and my methods very thoroughly, your love for + him must be very deep, or you would not have come. And so, being here, you + shall be put beyond mischief’s reach. I am not one of those who see luxury + in fostering rivals. + </p> + <p> + “You came for attention at the hands of Deucalion. By my face! you shall + have it. I will watch myself whilst he builds you up living.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 11. AN AFFAIR WITH THE BARBAROUS FISHERS + </h2> + <p> + So this mighty Empress chose to be jealous of a mere woman prisoner! + </p> + <p> + Now my mind has been trained to work with a soldierly quickness in these + moments of stress, and I decided on my proper course on the instant the + words had left her lips. I was sacrificing myself for Atlantis by order of + the High Council of the Priests, and, if needful, Nais must be sacrificed + also, although in the same flash a scheme came to me for saving her. + </p> + <p> + So I bowed gravely before the Empress, and said I, “In this, and in all + other things where a mere human hand is potent, I will carry out your + wishes, Phorenice.” And she on her part patted my arm, and fresh waves of + feeling welled up from the depths of her wondrous eyes. Surely the Gods + won for her half her schemes and half her battles when they gave Phorenice + her shape, and her voice, and the matters which lay within the outlines of + her face. + </p> + <p> + By this time the merchants, and the other dwellers adjacent to this part + of the harbour, where the royal quay stands, had come down, offering + changes of raiment, and houses to retire into. Phorenice was all + graciousness, and though it was little enough I cared for mere wetness of + my coat, still that part of the harbour into which we had been thrown by + the mammoth was not over savoury, and I was glad enough to follow her + example. For myself, I said no further word to Nais, and refrained even + from giving her a glance of farewell. But a small sop like this was no + meal for Phorenice, and she gave the port-captain strict orders for the + guarding of his prisoner before she left him. + </p> + <p> + At the house into which I was ushered they gave me a bath, and I eased my + host of the plainest garment in his store, and he was pleased enough at + getting off so cheaply. But I had an hour to spend outside on the pavement + listening to the distant din of bombardment before Phorenice came out to + me again, and I could not help feeling some grim amusement at the face of + the merchant who followed. The fellow was clearly ruined. He had a store + of jewels and gauds of the most costly kind, which were only in fraction + his own, seeing that he had bought them (as the custom is) in partnership + with other merchants. These had pleased Phorenice’s eye, and so she had + taken all and disposed them on her person. + </p> + <p> + “Are they not pretty?” said she, showing them to me. “See how they flash + under the sun. I am quite glad now, Deucalion, that the mammoth gave us + that furious ride and that spill, since it has brought me such a bonny + present. You may tell the fellow here that some day when he has earned + some more, I will come and be his guest again. Ah! They have brought us + litters, I see. Well, send one away and do you share mine with me, sir. We + must play at being lovers to-day, even if love is a matter which will come + to us both with more certainty to-morrow. No; do not order more bearers. + My own slaves will carry us handily enough. I am glad you are not one of + your gross, overfed men, Deucalion. I am small and slim myself, and I do + not want to be husbanded by a man who will overshadow me.” + </p> + <p> + “Back to the royal pyramid?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “No, nor to the walls. I neither wish to fight nor to sit as Empress + to-day, sir. As I have told you before, it is my whim to be Phorenice, the + maiden, for a few hours, and if some one I wot of would woo me now, as + other maidens are wooed, I should esteem it a luxury. Bid the slaves carry + us round the harbour’s rim, and give word to these starers that, if they + follow, I will call down fire upon them as I did upon the sacrifice.” + </p> + <p> + Now, I had seen something of the unruliness of the streets myself, and I + had gathered a hint also from the officer at the gate of the royal pyramid + that night of Phorenice’s welcoming banquet. But as whatever there was in + the matter must be common knowledge to the Empress, I did not bring it to + her memory then. So I dismissed the guard which had come up, and drove + away with a few sharp words the throng of gaping sightseers who always, + silly creatures, must needs come to stare at their betters; and then I sat + in the litter in the place where I was invited, and the bearers put their + heads to the pole. + </p> + <p> + They swung away with us along the wide pavement which runs between the + houses of the merchants and the mariner folk and the dimpling waters of + the harbour, and I thought somewhat sadly of the few ships that floated on + that splendid basin now, and of the few evidences of business that showed + themselves on the quays. Time was when the ships were berthed so close + that many had to wait in the estuary outside the walls, and memorials had + been sent to the King that the port should be doubled in size to hold the + glut of trade. And that, too, in the old days of oar and sail, when + machines drawing power from our Lord the Sun were but rarely used to help + a vessel speedily along her course. + </p> + <p> + The Egypt voyage and a return was a matter of a year then, as against a + brace of months now, and of three ships that set out, one at least could + be reckoned upon succumbing to the dangers of the wide waters and the + terrible beasts that haunt them. But in those old days trade roared with + lusty life, and was ever growing wider and more heavy. Your merchant then + was a portly man and gave generously to the Gods. But now all the world + seemed to be in arms, and moreover trade was vulgar. Your merchant, if he + was a man of substance, forgot his merchandise, swore that chaffering was + more indelicate than blasphemy and curled his beard after the new fashion, + and became a courtier. Where his father had spent anxious days with cargo + tally and ship-master, the son wasted hours in directing sewing men as + they adorned a coat, and nights in vapouring at a banquet. + </p> + <p> + Of the smaller merchants who had no substance laid by, taxes and the + constant bickerings of war had wellnigh ground them into starvation. + Besides, with the country in constant uproar, there were few markets left + for most merchandise, nor was there aught made now which could be carried + abroad. If your weaver is pressed as a fire-tube man he does not make + cloth, and if your farmer is playing at rebellion, he does not buy slaves + to till his fields. Indeed, they told me that a month before my return, as + fine a cargo of slaves had been brought into harbour as ever came out of + Europe, and there was nothing for it but to set them ashore across the + estuary, and leave them free to starve or live in the wild ground there as + they chose. There was no man in all Atlantis who would hold so much as one + more slave as a gift. + </p> + <p> + But though I was grieved at this falling away, all schemes for remedy + would be for afterwards. It would only make ill worse to speak of it as we + rode together in the litter. I was growing to know Phorenice’s moods + enough for that. Still, I think that she too had studied mine, and did her + best to interest me between her bursts of trifling. We went out to where + the westernmost harbour wall joins the land, and there the panting bearers + set us down. She led me into a little house of stone which stood by + itself, built out on a promontory where there is a constant run of tide, + and when we had been given admittance, after much unbarring, she showed me + her new gold collectors. + </p> + <p> + In the dry knowledge taught in the colleges and groves of the Sacred + Mountain it had been a common fact to us that the metal gold was present + in a dissolved state in all sea water, but of plans for dragging it forth + into yellow hardness, none had ever been discussed. But here this + field-reared upstart of an Empress had stumbled upon the trick as though + it had been written in a book. + </p> + <p> + She patted my arm laughingly as I stared curiously round the place. “I + tell all others in Atlantis that only the Gods have this secret,” said + she, “and that They gave it to me as one of themselves. But I am no + Goddess to you, am I, Deucalion? And, by my face! I have no other + explanation of how this plan was invented. We’ll suppose I must have + dreamed it. Look! The sea-water sluices in through that culvert, and + passes over these rough metal plates set in the floor, and then flows out + again yonder in its natural course. You see the yellow metal caught in the + ridges of the plates? That is gold. And my fellows here melt it with fire + into bars, and take it to my smith’s in the city. The tides vary + constantly, as you priests know well, as the quiet moon draws them, and it + does not take much figuring to know how much of the sea passes through + these culverts in a month and how much gold to a grain should be caught in + the plates. My fellows here at first thought to cheat me, but I towed two + of them in the water once behind a galley till the cannibal fish ate them, + and since then the others have given me credit for—for what do you + think?” + </p> + <p> + “More divinity.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose it is that. But I am letting you see how it is done. Just have + the head to work out a little sum, and see what an effect can be gained. + You will be a God yet yourself, Deucalion, with these silly Atlanteans, if + only you will use your wit and cleverness.” + </p> + <p> + Was she laughing at me? Was she in earnest? I could not tell. Sometimes + she pointed out that her success and triumphs were merely the reward of + thought and brilliancy, and next moment she gave me some impossible + explanation and left me to deduce that she must be more than mortal or the + thing could never have been found. In good truth, this little woman with + her supple mind and her supple body mystified me more and more the longer + I stayed by her side; and more and more despairing did I grow that + Atlantis could ever be restored by my agency to peace and the ancient + Gods, even after I had carried out the commands of the High Council, and + taken her to wife. + </p> + <p> + Only one plan seemed humanly possible, and that was to curb her further + mischievousness by death and then leave the wretched country naturally to + recover. It was just a dagger-stroke, and the thing was done. Yet the very + idea of this revolted me, and when the desperate thought came to my mind + (which it did ever and anon), I hugged to myself the answer that if it + were fitting to do this thing, the High Gods in Their infinite wisdom + would surely have put definite commands upon me for its carrying out. + </p> + <p> + Yet, such was the fascination of Phorenice, that when presently we left + her gold collectors, and stumbled into such peril, that a little + withholding of my hand would have gained her a passage to the nether Gods, + I found myself fighting when she called upon me, as seldom I have fought + before. And though, of course, some blame for this must be laid upon that + lust of battle which thrills even the coldest of us when blows begin to + whistle and war-cries start to ring, there is no doubt also that the + pleasure of protecting Phorenice, and the distaste for seeing her pulled + down by those rude, uncouth fishers put special nerve and vehemence into + my blows. + </p> + <p> + The cause of the matter was the unrest and the prevalency to street + violence which I have spoken of above, and the desperate poverty of the + common people, which led them to take any risk if it showed them a chance + of winning the wherewithal to purchase a meal. We had once more mounted + the litter, and once more the bearers, with their heads beneath the pole, + bore us on at their accustomed swinging trot. Phorenice was telling me + about her new supplies of gold. She had made fresh sumptuary laws, it + appeared. + </p> + <p> + “In the old days,” said she, “when yellow gold was tediously dredged up + grain by grain from river gravels in the dangerous lands, a quill full + would cost a rich man’s savings, and so none but those whose high station + fitted them to be so adorned could wear golden ornaments. But when the + sea-water gave me gold here by the double handful a day, I found that the + price of these river hoards decreased, and one day—could you credit + it?—a common fellow, who was one of my smiths, came to me wearing a + collar of yellow gold on his own common neck. Well, I had that neck + divided, as payment for his presumption; and as I promised to repeat the + division promptly on all other offenders, that special species of + forwardness seems to be checked for the time. There are many + exasperations, Deucalion, in governing these common people.” + </p> + <p> + She had other things to say upon the matter, but at this point I saw two + clumsy boats of fishers paddling to us from over the ripples, and at the + same time amongst the narrow lanes which led between the houses on the + other side of us, savage-faced men were beginning to run after the litter + in threatening clusters. + </p> + <p> + “With permission,” I said, “I will step out of the conveyance and scatter + this rabble.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, the people always cluster round me. Poor ugly souls, they seem to + take a strange delight in coming to stare at my pretty looks. But scatter + them. I have said I did not wish to be followed. I am taking holiday now, + Deucalion, am I not, whilst you learn to woo me?” + </p> + <p> + I stepped to the ground. The rough fishers in the boats were beginning to + shout to those who dodged amongst the houses to see to it that we did not + escape, and the numbers who hemmed us in on the shore side were increasing + every moment. The prospect was unpleasant enough. We had come out beyond + the merchants’ quarters, and were level with those small huts of mud and + grass which the fishing population deem sufficient for shelter, and which + has always been a spot where turbulence might be expected. Indeed, even in + those days of peace and good government in the old King’s time, this part + of the city had rarely been without its weekly riot. + </p> + <p> + The life of the fisherman is the most hard that any human toilers have to + endure. Violence from the wind and waves, and pelting from firestones out + of the sky are their daily portion; the great beasts that dwell in the + seas hunt them with savage persistence, and it is a rare day when at least + some one of the fishers’ guild fails to come home to answer the tally. + </p> + <p> + Moreover, the manner which prevails of catching fish is not without its + risks. + </p> + <p> + To each man there is a large sea-fowl taken as a nestling, and trained to + the work. A ring of bronze is round its neck to prevent its swallowing the + spoil for which it dives, and for each fish it takes and flies back with + to the boat, the head and tail and inwards are given to it for a reward, + the ring being removed whilst it makes the meal. + </p> + <p> + The birds are faithful, once they have got a training, and are seldom + known to desert their owners; but, although the fishers treat them more + kindly than they do their wives, or children of their own begetting, the + life of the birds is precarious like that of their masters. The larger + beasts and fish of the sea prey on them as they prey on the smaller fish, + and so whatever care may be lavished upon them, they are most liable to + sudden cutting off. + </p> + <p> + And here is another thing that makes the life of the fisher most + precarious: if his fishing bird be slain, and the second which he has in + training also come by ill fortune, he is left suddenly bereft of all + utensils of livelihood, and (for aught his guild-fellows care) he may go + starve. For these fishers hold that the Gods of the sea regulate their + craft, and that if one is not pleasing to Them They rob him of his birds; + after which it would be impious to have any truck or dealing with such a + fellow; and accordingly he is left to starve or rob as he chooses. + </p> + <p> + All of which circumstances tend to make the fishers rude, desperate men, + who have been forced into the trade because all other callings have + rejected them. They are fellows, moreover, who will spend the gains of a + month on a night’s debauch, for fear that the morrow will rob them of life + and the chance of spending; and, moreover, it is their one point of honour + to be curbed in no desire by an ordinary fear of consequences. As will + appear. + </p> + <p> + I went quickly towards the largest knot of these people, who were skulking + behind the houses, leaving the litter halted in the path behind me, and I + bade them sharply enough to disperse. “For an employment,” I added, “put + your houses in order, and clean the fish offal from the lanes between + them. To-morrow I will come round here to inspect, and put this quarter + into a better order. But for to-day the Empress (whose name be adored) + wishes for a privacy, so cease your staring.” + </p> + <p> + “Then give us money,” said a shrill voice from amongst the huts. + </p> + <p> + “I will send you a torch in an hour’s time,” I said grimly, “and rig you a + gallows, if you give me more annoyance. To your kennels, you!” + </p> + <p> + I think they would have obeyed the voice of authority if they had been + left to themselves. There was a quick stir amongst them. Those that stood + in the sunlight instinctively slipped into the shadow, and many dodged + into the houses and cowered in dark corners out of sight. But the men in + the two hide-covered fisher-boats that were paddling up, called them back + with boisterous cries. + </p> + <p> + I signed to the litter-bearers to move on quickly along their road. There + was need of discipline here, and I was minded to deal it out myself with a + firm hand. I judged that I could prevent them following the Empress, but + if she still remained as a glittering bait for them to rob, and I had to + protect her also, it might be that my work would not be done so + effectively. + </p> + <p> + But it seems I was presumptuous in giving an order which dealt with the + person of Phorenice. She bade the bearers stand where they were, and + stepped out, and drew her weapons from beneath the cushions. She came + towards me strapping a sword on to her hip, and carrying a well-dinted + target of gold on her left forearm. “An unfair trick,” cries she, + laughing. “If you will keep a fight to yourself now, Deucalion, where will + your greediness carry you when I am your shrinking, wistful little wife? + Are these fools truly going to stand up against us?” + </p> + <p> + I was not coveting a fight, but it seemed as if there would be no + avoidance of it now. The robe and the glittering gauds of which Phorenice + had recently despoiled the merchant, drew the eyes of these people with + keen attraction. The fishers in the boats paddled into the surf which + edged the beach, and leaped overside and left the frail basket-work + structures to be spewed up sound or smashed, as chance ordered. And from + the houses, and from the filthy lanes between them, poured out hordes of + others, women mixed with the men, gathering round us threateningly. + </p> + <p> + “Have a care,” shouted one on the outskirts of the crowd. “She called down + fire for the sacrifice once to-day, and she can burn up others here if she + chooses.” + </p> + <p> + “So much the more for those that are left,” retorted another. “She cannot + burn all.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I will not burn any,” said Phorenice, “but you shall look upon my + sword-play till you are tired.” + </p> + <p> + I heard her say that with some malicious amusement, knowing (as one of the + Seven) how she had called down the fires of the sky to burn that + cloven-hoofed horse offered in sacrifice, and knowing too, full well, that + she could bring down no fire here. But they gave us little enough time for + wordy courtesies. Their Empress never went far unattended, and, for aught + the wretches knew, an escort might be close behind. So what pilfering they + did, it behoved them to get done quickly. + </p> + <p> + They closed in, jostling one another to be first, and the reek of their + filthy bodies made us cough. A grimy hand launched out to seize some of + the jewels which flashed on Phorenice’s breast, and I lopped it off at the + elbow, so that it fell at her feet, and a second later we were engaged. + </p> + <p> + “Your back to mine, comrade,” cried she, with a laugh, and then drew and + laid about her with fine dexterity. Bah! but it was mere slaughter, that + first bout. + </p> + <p> + The crowd hustled inwards with such greediness to seize what they could, + that none had space to draw back elbow for a thrust, and we two kept a + circle round us by sheer whirling of steel. It is necessary to do one’s + work cleanly in these bouts, as wounded left on the ground unnoticed + before one are as dangerous as so many snakes. But as we circled round in + our battling I noted that all of Phorenice’s quarry lay peaceful and + still. By the Gods! but she could play a fine sword, this dainty Empress. + She touched life with every thrust. + </p> + <p> + Yes, it was plain to see, now an example was given, that the throne of + Atlantis had been won, not by a lovely face and a subtle tongue alone; and + (as a fighter myself) I did not like Phorenice the less for the knowledge. + I could but see her out of the corner of my eye, and that only now and + again, for the fishers, despite their ill-knowledge of fence, and the + clumsiness of their weapons, had heavy numbers, and most savage ferocity; + and as they made so confident of being able to pull us down, it required + more than a little hard battling to keep them from doing it. Ay, by the + Gods! it was at times a fight my heart warmed to, and if I had not + contrived to pluck a shield from one fool who came too vain-gloriously + near me with one, I could not swear they would not have dragged me down by + sheer ravening savageness. + </p> + <p> + And always above the burly uproar of the fight came very pleasantly to my + ears Phorenice’s cry of “Deucalion!” which she chose as her battle shout. + I knew her, of course, to be a past-mistress of the art of compliment, and + it was no new thing for me to hear the name roared out above a battle din, + but it was given there under circumstances which were peculiar, and for + the life of me I could not help being tickled by the flattery. + </p> + <p> + Condemn my weakness how you will, but I came very near then to liking the + Empress of Atlantis in the way she wished. And as for that other woman who + should have filled my mind, I will confess that the stress of the moment, + and the fury of the engagement, had driven both her and her strait + completely out beyond the marches of my memory. Of such frail stuff are we + made, even those of us who esteem ourselves the strongest. + </p> + <p> + Now it is a temptation few men born to the sword can resist, to throw + themselves heart and soul into a fight for a fight’s sake, and it seems + that women can be bitten with the same fierce infection. The attack + slackened and halted. We stood in the middle of a ring of twisted dead, + and the rest of the fishers and their women who hemmed us in shrank back + out of reach of our weapons. + </p> + <p> + It was the moment for a truce, and the moment when a few strong words + would have sent them back cowering to their huts, and given us free + passage to go where we chose. But no, this Phorenice must needs sing a + hymn to her sword and mine, gloating over our feats and invulnerability; + and then she must needs ask payment for the bearers of her litter whom + they had killed, and then speak balefully of the burnings, and the + skinnings, and the sawings asunder with which this fishers’ quarter would + be treated in the near future, till they learned the virtues of deportment + and genteel manners. + </p> + <p> + “It makes your backs creep, does it?” said Phorenice. “I do not wonder. + This severity must have its unpleasant side. But why do you not put it + beyond my power to give the order? Either you must think yourselves Gods + or me no Goddess, or you would not have gone on so far. Come now, you + nasty-smelling people, follow out your theory, and if you make a good + fight of it, I swear by my face I will be lenient with those who do not + fall.” + </p> + <p> + But there was no pressing up to meet our swords. They still ringed us in, + savage and sullen, beyond the ring of their own dead, and would neither + run back to the houses, nor give us the game of further fight. There was a + certain stubborn bravery about them that one could not but admire, and for + myself I determined that next time it became my duty to raise troops, I + would catch a handful of these men, and teach them handiness with the + utensils of war, and train them to loyalty and faithfulness. But presently + from behind their ranks a stone flew, and though it whizzed between the + Empress and myself, and struck down a fisher, it showed that they had + brought a new method into their attack, and it behoved us to take thought + and meet it. + </p> + <p> + I looked round me up and down the beach. There was no sign of a rescue. + “Phorenice,” I said in the court tongue, which these barbarous fishers + would know little enough of, “I take it that a whiff of the sea-breeze + would come very pleasant after all this warm play. As you can show such + pretty sword work, will you cut me a way down to the beach, and I will do + my poor best to keep these creatures from snapping at our heels?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” cried she. “Then I am to have a courtier for a husband after all. + Why have you kept back your flattering speeches till now? Is that your + trick to make me love you?” + </p> + <p> + “I will think out the reason for it another time.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, these stern, commanding husbands,” said she, “how they do press upon + their little wives!” and with that leaped over the ring of dead before + her, and cut and stabbed a way through those that stood between her and + the waters which creamed and crashed upon the beach. Gods! what a charge + she made. It made me tingle with admiration as I followed sideways behind + her, guarding the rear. And I am a man that has spent so many years in + battling, that it takes something far out of the common to move me to any + enthusiasm in this matter. + </p> + <p> + There were two boats creaking and washing about in the edge of the surf, + but in one, happily, the wicker-work which made its frame was crushed by + the weight of the waves into a shapeless bundle of sticks, and would take + half a day to replace. So that, let us but get the other craft afloat, and + we should be free from further embroiling. But the fishers were quick to + see the object of this new manoeuvre. “Guard the boat,” they shouted. + “Smash her; slit her skin with your knives! Tear her with your fingers! + Swim her out to sea! Oh, at least take the paddles!” + </p> + <p> + But, if these clumsy fishers could run, Phorenice was like a legged snake + for speed. She was down beside the boat before any could reach it, + laughing and shouting out that she could beat them at every point. Myself, + I was slower of foot; and, besides, there was some that offered me a fight + on the road, and I was not wishful to baulk them; and moreover, the fewer + we left clamouring behind, the fewer there would be to speed our going + with their stones. Still I came to the beach in good order, and laid hands + on the flimsy boat and tipped her dry. + </p> + <p> + “Fighting is no trade for, me,” I cried, “whilst you are here, Phorenice. + Guard me my back and walk out into the water.” + </p> + <p> + I took the boat, thrusting it afloat, and wading with it till two lines of + the surf were past. The fishers swarmed round us, active as fish in their + native element, and strove mightily to get hands on the boat and slit the + hides which covered it with their eager fingers. But I had a spare hand, + and a short stabbing-knife for such close-quarter work, and here, there, + and everywhere was Phorenice the Empress, with her thirsty dripping sword. + By the Gods! I laughed with sheer delight at seeing her art of fence. + </p> + <p> + But the swirl of a great fish into the shallows, and the squeal of a + fisher as he was dragged down and home away into the deep, made me mindful + of foes that no skill can conquer, and no bravery avoid. Without taking + time to give the Empress a word of warning, I stooped, and flung an arm + round her, and threw her up out of the water into the boat, and then + thrust on with all my might, driving the flimsy craft out to sea, whilst + my legs crept under me for fear of the beasts which swam invisible beneath + the muddied waters. + </p> + <p> + To the fishers, inured to these horrid perils by daily association, the + seizing of one of their number meant little, and they pressed on, careless + of their dull lives, eager only to snatch the jewels which still flaunted + on Phorenice’s breast. Of the vengeance that might come after they recked + nothing; let them but get the wherewithal for one night’s good debauch, + and they would forget that such a thing as the morning of a morrow could + have existence. + </p> + <p> + Two fellows I caught and killed that, diving down beneath, tried to slit + the skin of the boat out of sight under the water; and Phorenice cared for + all those that tried to put a hand on the gunwales. Yes, and she did more + than that. A huge long-necked turtle that was stirred out of the mud by + the turmoil, came up to daylight, and swung its great horn-lipped mouth to + this side and that, seeking for a prey. The fishers near it dodged and + dived. I, thrusting at the stern of the boat, could only hope it would + pass me by and so offered an easy mark. It scurried towards me, champing + its noisy lips, and beating the water into spray with its flippers. + </p> + <p> + But Phorenice was quick with a remedy and a rescue. She passed her sword + through one of the fishers that pressed her, and then thrust the body + towards the turtle. The great neck swooped towards it; the long slimy + feelers which protruded from its head quivered and snuffled; and then the + horny green jaws crunched on it, and drew it down out of sight. + </p> + <p> + The boat was in deep water now, and Phorenice called upon me to come in + over the side, she the while balancing nicely so that the flimsy thing + should not be overset. The fishers had given up their pursuit, finding + that they earned nothing but lopped-off arms and split faces by coming + within swing of this terrible sword of their Empress, and so contented + themselves with volleying jagged stones in the hopes of stunning us or + splitting the boat. However, Phorenice crouched in the stern, holding the + two shields—her own golden target, and the rough hide buckler I had + won—and so protected both of us whilst I paddled, and though many + stones clattered against the shields, and hit the hide covering of the + boat, so that it resounded like a drum, none of them did damage, and we + drew quickly out of their range. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 12. THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE MOON + </h2> + <p> + Our Lord the Sun was riding towards the end of His day, and the smoke from + a burning mountain fanned black and forbidding before His face. Phorenice + wrung the water from her clothes and shivered. “Work hard with those + paddles, Deucalion, and take me in through the water-gate and let me be + restored to my comforts again. That merchant would rue if he saw how his + pretty garments were spoiled, and I rue, too, being a woman, and + remembering that he at least has no others I can take in place of these.” + She looked at me sidelong, tossing back the short red hair from her eyes. + “What think you of my wisdom in coming where we have come without an + escort?” + </p> + <p> + “The Empress can do no wrong,” I quoted the old formula with a smile. + </p> + <p> + “At least I have shown you that I can fight. I caught you looking your + approval of me quite pleasantly once or twice. You were a difficult man to + thaw, Deucalion, but you warm perceptibly as you keep on being near me. + La, sir, we shall be a pair of rustic sweethearts yet, if this goes on. I + am glad I thought of the device of going near those smelly fishers.” + </p> + <p> + So she had taken me out in the litter unattended for the plain purpose of + inviting a fight, and showing me her skill at arms, and perhaps, too, of + seeing in person how I also carried myself in a moment of stress. Well, if + we were to live on together as husband and wife, it was good that each + should know to a nicety the other’s powers; and also, I am too much of an + old battler and too much enamoured with the glorious handling of arms to + quarrel very deeply with any one who offers me a tough upstanding fight. + Still for the life of me, I could not help comparing Phorenice with + another woman. With a similar chance open before us, Nais had robbed me of + the struggle through a sheer pity for those squalid rebels who did not + even call her chieftain; whilst here was this Empress frittering away two + score of the hardiest of her subjects merely to gratify a whim. + </p> + <p> + Yet, loyal to my vow as a priest, and to the commands set upon me by the + high council on the Sacred Mountain, I tried to put away these wayward + thoughts and comparisons. As I rowed over the swingings of the waves + towards the forts which guard the harbour’s mouth, I sent prayers to the + High Gods to give my tongue dexterity, and They through Their love for the + country of Atlantis, and the harassed people, whom it was my deep wish to + serve, granted me that power of speech which Phorenice loved. Her eyes + glowed upon me as I talked. + </p> + <p> + This beach of the fishers where we had had our passage at arms is safe + from ship attack from without, by reason of a chain of jagged rocks which + spring up from the deep, and run from the harbour side to the end of the + city wall. The fishers know the passes, and can oftentimes get through to + the open water beyond without touching a stone; or if they do see a danger + of hitting on the reef, leap out and carry their light boats in their + hands till the water floats them again. But here I had neither the + knowledge nor the dexterity, and, thought I, now the High Gods will show + finally if They wish this woman who has defiled them to reign on in + Atlantis, and if also They wish me to serve as her husband. + </p> + <p> + I cried these things in my heart, and waited to receive the omen. There + was no half-answer. A great wave rose in the lagoon behind us, a wave such + as could have only been caused by an earth tremor, and on its sleek back + we were hurled forward and thrown clear of the reefs with their seaweeds + licking round us, without so much as seeing a stone of the barrier. I + bowed my head as I rowed on towards the harbour forts. It was plain that + not yet would the High Gods take vengeance for the insults which this + lovely woman had offered Them. + </p> + <p> + The sentries in the two forts beat drums at one another in their + accustomed rotation, and in the growing dusk were going to pay little + enough attention to the fishingboat which lay against the great chain + clamouring to have it lowered. But luckily a pair of officers were taking + the air of the evening in a stone-dropping turret of the roof of the + nearer fort, and these recognised the tone of our shouts. They silenced + the drums, torches were lowered to make sure of our faces, and then with a + splash the great chain was dropped into the water to give us passage. + </p> + <p> + A galley lay inside, nuzzling the harbour wall, and presently the ladder + of ropes was let down from the top of the nearest fort, and a crew came + down to man the oars. There were the customary changes of raiment too, + given as presents by the officers of the fort, and these we put on in the + cabin of the galley in place of the sodden clothes we wore. There are + fevers to be gained by carrying wet clothes after sunset, and though from + personal experience I have learned that these may be warded off with + drugs, I noticed with some grim amusement that the Empress had + sufficiently little of the Goddess about her to fear very much the + ailments which are due to frail humanity. + </p> + <p> + The galley rowed swiftly across the calm waters of the harbour, and made + fast to the rings of gold on the royal quay, and whilst we were waiting + for litters to be brought, I watched a lantern lit in the boat which stood + guard over Phorenice’s mammoth. The huge red beast stood shoulder-deep in + the harbour water, with trunk up-turned. It was tamed now, and the light + of the boat’s lantern fell on the little ripples sent out by its + tremblings. But I did not choose to intercede or ask mercy for it. If the + mammoth sank deeper in the harbour mud, and was swallowed, I could have + borne the loss with equanimity. + </p> + <p> + To tell the truth, that ride on the great beast’s back had impressed me + unfavourably. In fact, it put into me a sense of helplessness that was + wellnigh intolerable. Perhaps circumstances have made me unduly + self-reliant: on that others must judge. But I will own to having a + preference for walking on my own proper feet, as the Gods in fashioning + our shapes most certainly intended. On my own feet I am able to guard my + own head and neck, and have done on four continents, throughout a long and + active life, and on many a thousand occasions. But on the back of that + detestable mammoth, pah! I grew as nervous as a child or a dastard. + </p> + <p> + However, I had little enough leisure for personal megrims just then. + Whilst we waited, Phorenice asked the port-captain (who must needs come up + officiously to make his salutations) after the disposal of Nais, and was + told that she had been clapped into a dungeon beneath the royal pyramid, + and the officer of the guard there had given his bond for her + safe-keeping. + </p> + <p> + “It is to be hoped he understands his work,” said the Empress. “That + pretty Nais knows the pyramid better than most, and it may be he will be + sent to the tormentors for putting her in a cell which had a secret + outlet. You would feel pleasure if the girl escaped, Deucalion?” + </p> + <p> + “Assuredly,” said I, knowing how useless it would be to make a secret of + the matter. “I have no enmity against Nais.” + </p> + <p> + “But I have,” said she viciously, “and I am still minded to lock your + faith to me by that wedding gift you know of.” + </p> + <p> + “The thing shall be done,” I said. “Before all, the Empress of Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “Poof! Deucalion, you are too stiff and formal. You ought to be mightily + honoured that I condescend to be jealous of your favours. Your hand, sir, + please, to help me into the litter. And now come in beside me, and keep me + warm against the night air. Ho! you guards there with the torches! Keep + farther back against the street walls. The perfume you are burning stifles + me.” + </p> + <p> + Again there was a feast that night in the royal banqueting-hall; again I + sat beside Phorenice on the raised dais which stands beneath the symbols + of the snake and the out-stretched hand. What had been taken for granted + before about our forthcoming relationship was this time proclaimed openly; + the Empress herself acknowledged me as her husband that was to be; and all + that curled and jewelled throng of courtiers hailed me as greater than + themselves, by reason of this woman’s choice. There was method, too, in + their salutation. Some rumour must have got about of my preference for the + older and simpler habits, and there was no drinking wine to my health + after the new and (as I considered) impertinent manner. Decorously, each + lord and lady there came forward, and each in turn spilt a goblet at my + feet; and when I called any up, whether man or woman, to receive tit-bits + from my platter, it was eaten simply and thankfully, and not kissed or + pocketed with any extravagant gesture. + </p> + <p> + The flaring jets of earth-breath showed me, too, so I thought, a plainer + habit of dress, and a more sober mien amongst this thoughtless mob of + banqueters. And, indeed, it must have been plain to notice, for Phorenice, + leaning over till the ruddy curls on her shoulder brushed my face, chided + me in a playful whisper as having usurped her high authority already. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir,” she pleaded mockingly, “do not make your rule over us too + ascetic. I have given no orders for this change, but to-night there are no + perfumes in the air; the food is so plain and I have half a mind to burn + the cook; and as for the clothes and gauds of these diners, by my face! + they might have come straight from the old King’s reign before I stepped + in here to show how tasteful could be colours on a robe, or how pretty the + glint of a jewel. It’s done by no orders of mine, Deucalion. They have + swung round to this change by sheer courtier instinct. Why, look at the + beards of the men! There is not half the curl about many of them to-day + that they showed with such exquisiteness yesterday. By my face! I believe + they’d reap their chins to-morrow as smooth as yours, if you go on setting + the fashions at this prodigious rate and I do not interfere.” + </p> + <p> + “Why hinder them if they feel more cleanly shaven?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir. There shall be only one clean chin where a beard can grow in all + Atlantis, and that shall be carried by the man who is husband to the + Empress. Why, my Deucalion, would you have no sumptuary laws? Would you + have these good folk here and the common people outside imitate us in + every cut of the hair and every fold of a garment which it pleases us to + discover? Come, sir, if you and I chose to say that our sovereignty was + marked only by our superior strength of arm and wit, they would hate us at + once for our arrogance; whereas, if we keep apart to ourselves a few mere + personal decorations, these become just objects to admire and pleasantly + envy.” + </p> + <p> + “You show me that there is more in the office of a ruler than meets the + eye.” + </p> + <p> + “And yet they tell me, and indeed show me, that you have ruled with some + success.” + </p> + <p> + “I employed the older method. It requires a Phorenice to invent these + nicer flights.” + </p> + <p> + “Flatterer!” said she, and smote me playfully with the back of her little + fingers on my arm. “You are becoming as great a courtier as any of them. + You make me blush with your fine pleasantries, Deucalion, and there is no + fan-girl here to-night to cool my cheek. I must choose me another + fan-girl. But it shall not be Ylga. Ylga seems to have more of a kindness + for you than I like, and if she is wise she will go live in her palace at + the other side of the city, and there occupy herself with the ordering of + her slaves, and the makings of embroideries. I shall not be hard on Ylga + unless she forces me, but I will have no woman in this kingdom treat you + with undue civility.” + </p> + <p> + “And how am I to act,” said I, falling in with her mood, “when I see and + hear all the men of Atlantis making their protestations before you? By + your own confession they all love you as ardently as they seem to have + loved you hopelessly.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, now,” she said, “you must not ask me to do impossibilities. I am + powerful if you will. But I have no force which will govern the hearts of + these poor fellows on matters such as that. But if you choose, you make + proclamation that I am given now body and inwards to you, and if they + continue to offend your pride in this matter, you may take your culprits, + and give them over to the tormentors. Indeed, Deucalion, I think it would + be a pretty attention to me if you did arrange some such ceremony. It + seems to me a present,” she added with a frown, “that the jealousy is too + much on one side.” + </p> + <p> + “You must not expect that a man who has been divorced from love for all of + a busy life can learn all its niceties in an instant. Myself, I was + feeling proud of my progress. With any other schoolmistress than you, + Phorenice, I should not be near so forward. In fact (if one may judge by + my past record), I should not have begun to learn at all.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you think I should be satisfied with that? Well, I am not. I + can be finely greedy over some matters.” + </p> + <p> + The banquet this night did not extend to inordinate length. Phorenice had + gone through much since last she slept, and though she had declared + herself Goddess in the meantime, it seemed that her body remained mortal + as heretofore. The black rings of weariness had grown under her wondrous + eyes, and she lay back amongst the cushions of the divan with her limbs + slackened and listless. When the dancers came and postured before us, she + threw them a jewel and bade them begone before they had given a half of + their performance, and the poet, a silly swelling fellow who came to sing + the deeds of the day, she would not hear at all. + </p> + <p> + “To-morrow,” she said wearily, “but for now grant me peace. My Lord + Deucalion has given me much food for thought this day, and presently I go + to my chamber to muse over the future policies of this State throughout + the night. To-morrow come to me again, and if your poetry is good and + short, I will pay you surprisingly. But see to it that you are not + long-winded. If there are superfluous words, I will pay you for those with + the stick.” + </p> + <p> + She rose to her feet then, and when the banqueters had made their + salutation to us, I led her away from the banqueting-hall and down the + passages with their secret doors which led to her private chambers. She + clung on my arm, and once when we halted whilst a great stone block swung + slowly ajar to let us pass, she drooped her head against my shoulder. Her + breath came warm against my cheek, and the loveliness of her face so close + at hand surpasses the description of words. I think it was in her mind + that I should kiss the red lips which were held so near to mine, but + willing though I was to play the part appointed, I could not bring myself + to that. So when the stone block had swung, she drew away with a sigh, and + we went on without further speech. + </p> + <p> + “May the High Gods treat you tenderly,” I said, when we came to the door + of her bed-chamber. + </p> + <p> + “I am my own God,” said she, “in all things but one. By my face! you are a + tardy wooer, Deucalion. Where do you go now?” + </p> + <p> + “To my own chamber.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, go then, go.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there anything more I could do?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing that your wit or your will would prompt you to. Yes, indeed, you + are finely decorous, Deucalion, in your old-fashioned way, but you are a + mighty poor wooer. Don’t you know, my man, that a woman esteems some + things the more highly if they are taken from her by rude force?” + </p> + <p> + “It seems I know little enough about women.” + </p> + <p> + “You never said a truer word. Bah! And I believe your coldness brings you + more benefit in a certain matter than any show of passion could earn. + There, get you gone, if the atmosphere of a maiden’s bed-chamber hurts + your rustic modesty, and your Gods keep you, Deucalion, if that’s the + phrase, and if you think They can do it. Get you gone, man, and leave me + solitary.” + </p> + <p> + I had taken the plan of the pyramid out of the archives before the banquet + and learned it thoroughly, and so was able to thread my way through its + angular mazes without pause or blunder. I, too, was heavily wearied with + what I had gone through since my last snatch of sleep, but I dare set + apart no time for rest just then. Nais must be sacrificed in part for the + needs of Atlantis; but a plan had come to me by which it seemed that she + need not be sacrificed wholly; and to carry this through there was need + for quick thought and action. + </p> + <p> + Help came to me also from a quarter I did not expect. As I passed along + the tortuous way between the ponderous stones of the pyramid, which led to + the apartments that had been given me by Phorenice, a woman glided up out + of the shadows of one of the side passages, and when I lifted my hand + lamp, there was Ylga. + </p> + <p> + She regarded me half-sullenly. “I have lost my place,” she said, “and it + seems I need never have spoken. She intended to have you all along, and it + was not a thing like that which could put her off. And you—you just + think me officious, if, indeed, you have ever given me another thought + till now.” + </p> + <p> + “I never forget a kindness.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you will learn that trick soon now. And you are going to marry her, + you! The city is ringing with it. I thought at least you were honest, but + when there is a high place to be got by merely taking a woman with it, you + are like the rest. I thought, too, that you would be one of those men who + have a distrust for ruddy hair. And, besides she is little.” + </p> + <p> + “Ylga,” I said, “you have taught me that these walls are full of crannies + and ears. I will listen to no word against Phorenice. But I would have + further converse with you soon. If you still have a kindness for me, go to + the chamber that is mine and wait for me there. I will join you shortly.” + </p> + <p> + She drooped her eyes. “What do you want of me, Deucalion?” + </p> + <p> + “I want to say something to you. You will learn who it concerns later.” + </p> + <p> + “But is it—is it fitting for a maiden to come to a man’s room at + this hour?” + </p> + <p> + “I know little of your conventions here in this new Atlantis. I am + Deucalion, girl, and if you still have qualms, remembering that, do not + come.” + </p> + <p> + She looked up at me with a sneer. “I was foolish,” she said. “My lord’s + coldness has grown into a proverb, and I should have remembered it. Yes; I + will come.” + </p> + <p> + “Go now, then,” said I, and waited till she had passed on ahead and was + out of sight and hearing. With Ylga to help me, my tasks were somewhat + lightened, and their sequence changed. In the first instance, now, I had + got to make my way with as little delay and show as possible into a + certain sanctuary which lay within the temple of our Lady the Moon. And + here my knowledge as one of the Seven stood me in high favour. + </p> + <p> + All the temples of the city of Atlantis are in immediate and secret + connection with the royal pyramid, but the passages are little used, + seeing that they are known only to the Seven and to the Three above them, + supposing that there are three men living at one time sufficiently learned + in the highest of the highest mysteries to be installed in that sublime + degree of the Three. And, even by these, the secret ways may only be used + on occasions of the greatest stress, so that a generation well may pass + without their being trodden by a human foot. + </p> + <p> + It was with some trouble, and after no little experiment that I groped my + way into this secret alley; but once there, the rest was easy. I had never + trodden it before certainly, but the plan of it had been taught me at my + initiation as one of the Seven, and the course of the windings came back + to me now with easy accuracy. I walked quickly, not only because the air + in those deep crannies is always full of lurking evils, but also because + the hours were fleeting, and much must be done before our Lord the Sun + again rose to make another day. + </p> + <p> + I came to the spy-place which commands the temple, and found the holy + place empty, and, alas! dust-covered, and showing little trace that + worshippers ever frequented it these latter years. A vast stone of the + wall swung outwards and gave me entrance, and presently (after the solemn + prayer which is needful before attempting these matters), I took the metal + stair from the place where it is kept, and climbed to the lap of the + Goddess, and then, pulling the stair after me, climbed again upwards till + my length lay against her calm mysterious face. + </p> + <p> + A shivering seized me as I thought of what was intended, for even a + warrior hardened to horrid sights and deeds may well have qualms when he + is called upon to juggle with life and death, and years and history, with + the welfare of his country in one hand, and the future of a woman who is + as life to him in the other. But again I told myself that the hours flew, + and laid hold of the jewel which is studded into the forehead of the image + with one hand, and then stretching out, thrust at a corner of the eyebrow + with the other. With a faint creak the massive eyeball below, a stone that + I could barely have covered with my back, swung inwards. I stepped off the + stair, and climbed into the gap. Inside was the chamber which is hollowed + from the head of the Goddess. + </p> + <p> + It was the first time I had seen this most secret place, but the aspect of + it was familiar to me from my teaching, and I knew where to find the thing + which would fill my need. Yet, occupied though I might be with the stress + of what was to befall, I could not help having a wonder and an admiration + for the cleverness with which it was hidden. + </p> + <p> + High as I was in the learning and mysteries of the Priestly Clan, the + structure of what I had come to fetch was hidden from me. Beforetime I had + known only of their power and effect; and now that I came to handle them, + I saw only some roughly rounded balls, like nut kernels, grass green in + colour, and in hardness like the wax of bees. There were three of these + balls in the hidden place, and I took the one that was needful, concealing + the others as I had found them. It may have been a drug, it may have been + something more; what exactly it was I did not know; only of its power and + effect I was sure, as that was set forth plainly in the teaching I had + learned; and so I put it in a pouch of my garment, returning by the way I + had come, and replacing all things in due order behind me. + </p> + <p> + One look I took at the image of the Goddess before I left the temple. The + jet of earth-breath which burns eternally from the central altar lit her + from head to toe, and threw sparkles from the great jewel in her forehead. + Vast she was, and calm and peaceful beyond all human imaginings, a perfect + symbolism of that rest and quietness which many sigh for so vainly on this + rude earth, but which they will never attain unless by their piety they + earn a place in the hereafter, where our Lady the Moon and the rest of the + High Ones reign in Their eternal glorious majesty. + </p> + <p> + It was with tired dragging limbs that I made my way back again to the + royal pyramid, and at last came to my own private chamber. Ylga awaited me + there, though at first I did not see her. The suspicions of these modern + days had taken a deep hold of the girl, and she must needs crouch in + hiding till she made sure it was I who came to the chamber, and, moreover, + that I came alone. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, frown at me if you choose,” said she sullenly, “I am past caring now + for your good opinion. I had heard so much of Deucalion, and I thought I + read honesty in you when first you came ashore; but now I know that you + are no better than the rest. Phorenice offers you a high place, and you + marry her blithely to get it. And why, indeed, should you not marry her? + People say she is pretty, and I know she can be warm. I have seen her warm + and languishing to scores of men. She is clever, too, with her eyes, is + our great Empress; I grant her that. And as for you, it tickles you to be + courted.” + </p> + <p> + “I think you are a very silly woman,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “If you flatter yourself it matters a rap to me whom you marry, you are + letting conceit run away with you.” + </p> + <p> + “Listen,” I said. “I did not ask you here to make foolish speeches which + seem largely beyond my comprehension. I asked you to help me do a service + to one of your own blood-kin.” + </p> + <p> + She stared at me wonderingly. “I do not understand.” + </p> + <p> + “It rests largely with you as to whether Nais dies to-morrow, or whether + she is thrown into a sleep from which she may waken on some later and more + happy day.” + </p> + <p> + “Nais!” she gasped. “My twin, Nais? She is not here. She is out in the + camp with those nasty rebels who bite against the city walls, if, indeed, + still she lives.” + </p> + <p> + “Nais, your sister is near us in the royal pyramid this minute, and under + guard, though where I do not know.” And with that I told her all that had + passed since the girl was brought up a prisoner in the galley of that + foolish, fawning captain of the port. “The Empress has decreed that Nais + shall be buried alive under a throne of granite which I am to build for + her to-morrow, and buried she will assuredly be. Yet I have a kindness for + Nais, which you may guess at if you choose, and I am minded to send her + into a sleep such as only we higher priests know of, from which at some + future day she may possibly awaken.” + </p> + <p> + “So it is Nais; and not Phorenice, and not—not any other?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; it is Nais. I marry the Empress because Zaemon, who is mouthpiece to + the High Council of the Priests, has ordered it, for the good of Atlantis. + But my inwards remain still cold towards her.” + </p> + <p> + “Almost I hate poor Nais already.” + </p> + <p> + “Your vengeance would be easy. Do not tell me where she is gaoled, and I + shall not dare to ask. Even to give Nais a further span of life I cannot + risk making inquiries for her cell, when there is a chance that those who + tell me might carry news to the Empress, and so cause more trouble for + this poor Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “And why should I not carry the news, and so bring myself into favour + again? I tell you that being fan-girl to Phorenice and second woman in the + kingdom is a thing that not many would cast lightly aside.” + </p> + <p> + I looked her between eyes and smiled. “I have no fear there. You will not + betray me, Ylga. Neither will you sell Nais.” + </p> + <p> + “I seem to remember very small love for this same Nais just now,” she said + bitterly. “But you are right about that other matter. I shall not buy + myself back at your expense. Oh, I am a fool, I know, and you can give me + no thanks that I care about, but there is no other way I can act.” + </p> + <p> + “Then let us fritter no more time. Go you out now and find where Nais is + gaoled, and bring me news how I can say ten words to her, and press a + certain matter into her clasp.” + </p> + <p> + She bowed her head and left the chamber, and for long enough I was alone. + I sat down on the couch, and rested wearily against the wall. My bones + ached, my eyes ached, and most of all, my inwards ached. I had thought to + myself that a man who makes his life sufficiently busy will find no + leisure for these pains which assault frailer folk; but a philosophy like + this, which carried one well in Yucatan, showed poorly enough when one + tried it here at home. But that there was duty ahead, and the order of the + High Council to be carried into effect, the bleakness of the prospect + would have daunted me, and I would have prayed the Gods then to spare me + further life, and take me unto Themselves. + </p> + <p> + Ylga came back at last, and I got up and went quickly after her as she led + down a maze of passages and alleyways. “There has been no care spared over + her guarding,” she whispered, as we halted once to move a stone. “The + officer of the guard is an old lover of mine, and I raised his hopes to + the burning point again by a dozen words. But when I wanted to see his + prisoner, there he was as firm as brass. I told him she was my sister, but + that did not move him. I offered him—oh, Deucalion, it makes me + blush to think of the things I did offer to that man, but there was no + stirring him. He has watched the tormentors so many times, that there is + no tempting him into touch of their instruments.” + </p> + <p> + “If you have failed, why bring me out here?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I am not inveigling you into a lover’s walk with myself, sir. You + tickle yourself when you think your society is so pleasant as that.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, girl, tell me then what it is. If my temper is short, credit it + against my weariness.” + </p> + <p> + “I have carried out my lord’s commands in part. I know the cell where Nais + lives, and I have had speech with her, though not through the door. And + moreover, I have not seen her or touched her hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Your riddles are beyond me, Ylga, but if there is a chance, let us get on + and have this business done.” + </p> + <p> + “We are at the place now,” said she, with a hard little laugh, “and if you + kneel on the floor, you will find an airshaft, and Nais will answer you + from the lower end. For myself, I will leave you. I have a delicacy in + hearing what you want to say to my sister, Deucalion.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you,” I said. “I will not forget what you have done for me this + night.” + </p> + <p> + “You may keep your thanks,” she said bitterly, and walked away into the + shadows. + </p> + <p> + I knelt on the floor of the gallery, and found the air passage with my + hand, and then, putting my lips to it, whispered for Nais. + </p> + <p> + The answer came on the instant, muffled and quiet. “I knew my lord would + come for a farewell.” + </p> + <p> + “What the Empress said, has to be. You understand, my dear? It is for + Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “Have I reproached my lord, by word or glance?” + </p> + <p> + “I myself am bidden to place you in the hollow between the stones, and I + must do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Then my last sleep will be a sweet one. I could not ask to be touched by + pleasanter hands.” + </p> + <p> + “But it mayhap that a day will come when she whom you know of will be + suffered by the High Gods to live on this land of Atlantis no longer.” + </p> + <p> + “If my lord will cherish my poor memory when he is free again, I shall be + grateful. He might, if he chose, write them on the stones: Here was buried + a maid who died gladly for the good of Atlantis, even though she knew that + the man she so dearly loved was husband to her murderess.” + </p> + <p> + “You must not die,” I whispered. “My breast is near broken at the very + thought of it. And for respite, we must trust to the ancient knowledge, + which in its day has been sent out from the Ark of the Mysteries.”—I + took the green waxy ball in my fingers, and stretched them down the + crooked air-shaft to the full of my span.—“I have somewhat for you + here. Reach up and try to catch it from me.” + </p> + <p> + I heard the faint rustle of her arm as it swept against the masonry, and + then the ball was taken over into her grasp. Gods! what a thrill went + through me when the fingers of Nais touched mine! I could not see her, + because of the crookedness of the shaft, but that faint touch of her was + exquisite. + </p> + <p> + “I have it,” she whispered. “And what now, dear?” + </p> + <p> + “You will hide the thing in your garment, and when to-morrow the upper + stone closes down upon you and the light is gone, then you will take it + between your lips and let it dissolve as it will. Sleep will take you, my + darling, then, and the High Gods will watch over you, even though + centuries pass before you are roused.” + </p> + <p> + “If Deucalion does not wake me, I shall pray never again to open an eye. + And now go, my lord and my dear. They watch me here constantly, and I + would not have you harmed by being brought to notice.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I must go, my sweetheart. It will not do to have our scheme spoiled + by a foolish loitering. May the most High Gods attend your rest, and if + the sacrifice we make finds favour, may They grant us meeting here again + on earth before we meet—as we must—when our time is done, and + They take us up to Their own place.” + </p> + <p> + “Amen,” she whispered back, and then: “Kiss your fingers, dear, and thrust + them down to me.” + </p> + <p> + I did that, and for an instant felt her fondle them down the crook of the + airshaft out of sight, and then heard her withdraw her little hand and + kiss it fondly. Then again she kissed her own fingers and stretched them + up, and I took up the virtue of that parting kiss on my finger-tips and + pressed it sacredly to my lips. + </p> + <p> + “Living, sleeping, or dead, always my darling,” she whispered. And then, + before I could answer, she whispered again: “Go, they are coming for me.” + And so I went, knowing that I could do no more to help her then, and + knowing that all our schemes would be spilt if any eye spied upon me as I + lay there beside the air shaft. But my chest was like to have split with + the dull, helpless anguish that was in it, as I made my way back to my + chamber through the mazy alleys of the pyramid. + </p> + <p> + “Do not look upon mine eyes, dear, when the time comes,” had been her last + command, “or they will tell a tale which Phorenice, being a woman, would + read. Remember, we make these small denials, not for our own likings, but + for Atlantis, which is mother to us all.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 13. THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS + </h2> + <p> + There is no denying that the wishes of Phorenice were carried into quick + effect in the city of Atlantis. Her modern theory was that the country and + all therein existed only for the good of the Empress, and when she had a + desire, no cost could possibly be too great in its carrying out. + </p> + <p> + She had given forth her edict concerning the burying alive of Nais, and + though the words were that I was to build the throne of stone, it was an + understood thing that the manual labour was to be done for me by others. + Heralds made the proclamation in every ward of the city, and masons, + labourers, stonecutters, sculptors, engineers, and architects took hands + from whatever was occupying them for the moment, and hastened to the + rendezvous. The architects chose a chief who gave directions, and the + lesser architects and the engineers saw these carried into effect. Any + material within the walls of the city on which they set their seal, was + taken at once without payment or compensation; and as the blocks of stone + they chose were the most monstrous that could be got, they were forced to + demolish no few buildings to give them passage. + </p> + <p> + I have before spoken of the modern rage for erecting new palaces and + pyramids, and even though at the moment an army of rebels was battering + with war engines at the city walls, the building guilds were steadily at + work, and their skill (with Phorenice’s marvellous invention to aid them) + was constantly on the increase. True, they could not move such massive + blocks of stone as those which the early Gods planted for the sacred + circle of our Lord the Sun, but they had got rams and trucks and cranes + which could handle amazing bulks. + </p> + <p> + The throne was to be erected in the open square before the royal pyramid. + Seven tiers of stone were there for a groundwork, each a knee-height deep, + and each cut in the front with three steps. In the uppermost layer was a + cavity made to hold the body of Nais, and above this was poised the vast + block which formed the seat of the throne itself. + </p> + <p> + Throughout the night, to the light of torches, relay after relay of the + stonecutters, and the masons, and the sweating labourers had toiled over + bringing up the stone and dressing it into fit shape, and laying it in due + position; and the engineers had built machines for lifting, and the + architects had proved that each stone lay in its just and perfect place. + Whips cracked, and men fainted with the labour, but so soon as one was + incapable another pressed forward into his place. No delay was brooked + when Phorenice had said her wish. + </p> + <p> + And finally, as the square began to fill with people come to gape at the + pageant of to-day, the chippings and the scaffolding were cleared away, + and with it the bodies of some half-score of workmen who had died from + accidents or their exertions during the building, and there stood the + throne, splendid in its carvings, and all ready for completion. The lower + part stood more than two man-heights above the ground, and no stone of its + courses weighed less than twenty men; the upper part was double the weight + of any of these, and was carved so that the royal snake encircled the + chair, and the great hooded head overshadowed it. But at present the upper + part was not on its bed, being held up high by lifting rams, for what + purposes all men knew. + </p> + <p> + It was to face this scene, then, that I came out from the royal pyramid at + the summons of the chamberlains in the cool of next morning. Each great + man who had come there before me had banner-bearers and trumpeters to + proclaim his presence; the middle classes were in all their bravery of + apparel; and even poor squalid creatures, with ribs of hunger showing + through their dusty skins, had turbans and wisps of colour wrapped about + their heads to mark the gaiety of the day. + </p> + <p> + The trumpets proclaimed my coming, and the people shouted welcome, and + with the gorgeous chamberlains walking backwards in advance, I went across + to a scarlet awning that had been prepared, and took my seat upon the + cushions beneath it. + </p> + <p> + And then came Phorenice, my bride that was to be that day, fresh from + sleep, and glorious in her splendid beauty. She was borne out from the + pyramid in an open litter of gold and ivory by fantastic savages from + Europe, her own refinement of feature being thrown up into all the higher + relief by contrast with their brutish ugliness. One could hear the people + draw a deep breath of delight as their eyes first fell upon her; and it is + easy to believe there was not a man in that crowd which thronged the + square who did not envy me her choice, nor was there a soul present + (unless Ylga was there somewhere veiled) who could by any stretch imagine + that I was not overjoyed in winning so lovely a wife. + </p> + <p> + For myself, I summoned up all the iron of my training to guard the + expression of my face. We were here on ceremonial to-day; a ghastly enough + affair throughout all its acts, if you choose, but still ceremonial; and I + was minded to show Phorenice a grand manner that would leave her nothing + to cavil at. After all that had been gone through and endured, I did not + intend a great scheme to be shattered by letting my agony and pain show + themselves, in either a shaking hand or a twitching cheek. When it came to + the point, I told myself, I would lay the living body of my love in the + hollow beneath the stone as calmly, and with as little outward emotion, as + though I had been a mere priest carrying out the burial of some dead + stranger. And she, on her part, would not, I knew, betray our secret. With + her, too, it was truly “Before all Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + I think it spared a pang to find that there was to be no mockery or + flippancy in what went forward. All was solemn and impressive; and, though + a certain grandeur and sombreness which bit deep into my breast was lost + to the vulgar crowd, I fancy that the outward shape of the double + sacrifice they witnessed that day would not be forgotten by any of them, + although the inner meaning of it all was completely hidden from their + minds. When it suited her fancy, none could be more strict on the ritual + of a ceremony than this many-mooded Empress, and it appeared that on this + occasion she had given command that all things were to be carried out with + the rigid exactness and pomp of the older manner. + </p> + <p> + So she was borne up by her Europeans to the scarlet awning, and I handed + her to the ground. She seated herself on the cushions, and beckoned me to + her side, entwining her fingers with mine as has always been the custom + with rulers of Atlantis and their consorts. And there before us as we sat, + a body of soldiery marched up, and opening out showed Nais in their midst. + She had a collar of metal round her neck, with chains depending from it + firmly held by a brace of guards, so that she should not run in upon the + spears of the escort, and thus get a quick and easy death, which is often + the custom of those condemned to the more lingering punishments. + </p> + <p> + But it was pleasant to see that she still wore her clothing. Raiment, + whether of fabric or skin, has its value, and custom has always given the + garments of the condemned to the soldiers guarding them. So as Nais was + not stripped, I could not but see that some one had given moneys to the + guards as a recompense, and in this I thought I saw the hand of Ylga, and + felt a gratitude towards her. + </p> + <p> + The soldiers brought her forward to the edge of the pavilion’s shade, and + she was bidden prostrate herself before the Empress, and this she wisely + did and so avoided rough handling and force. Her face was pale, but showed + neither fear nor defiance, and her eyes were calm and natural. She was + remembering what was due to Atlantis, and I was thrilled with love and + pride as I watched her. + </p> + <p> + But outwardly I, too, was impassive as a man of stone, and though I knew + that Phorenice’s eye was on my face, there was never anything on it from + first to last that I would not have had her see. + </p> + <p> + “Nais,” said the Empress, “you have eaten from my platter when you were + fan-girl, and drunk from my cup, and what was yours I gave you. You should + have had more than gratitude, you should have had knowledge also that the + arm of the Empress was long and her hand consummately heavy. But it seems + that you have neither of these things. And, moreover, you have tried to + take a certain matter that the Empress has set apart for herself. You were + offered pardon, on terms, and you rejected it. You were foolish. But it is + a day now when I am inclined to clemency. Presently, seated on that carved + throne of granite which he has built me yonder, I shall take my Lord + Deucalion to husband. Give me a plain word that you are sorry, girl, and + name a man whom you would choose, and I will remember the brightness of + the occasion, you shall be pardoned and wed before we rise from these + cushions.” + </p> + <p> + “I will not wed,” she said quietly. + </p> + <p> + “Think for the last time, Nais, of what is the other choice. You will be + taken, warm, and quick, and beautiful as you stand there this minute, and + laid in the hollow place that is made beneath the throne-stone. Deucalion, + that is to be my husband, will lay you in that awful bed, as a symbol that + so shall perish all Phorenice’s enemies, and then he will release the rams + and lower the upper stone into place, and the world shall see your face no + more. Look at the bright sky, Nais, fill your chest with the sweet warm + air, and then think of what this death will mean. Believe me, girl, I do + not want to make you an example unless you force me.” + </p> + <p> + “I will not wed,” said the prisoner quietly. + </p> + <p> + The Empress loosed her fingers from my arm, and lay back against the + cushions. “If the girl presumes on our old familiarity, or thinks that I + jest, show her now, Deucalion, that I do not.” + </p> + <p> + “The Empress is far from jesting,” I said. “I will do this thing because + it is the wish of the Empress that it should be done, and because it is + the command of the Empress that a symbol of it shall remain for ever as an + example for others. Lead your prisoner to the place.” + </p> + <p> + The soldiers wheeled, and the two guards with the chains of the collar + which was on the neck of Nais prepared to put out force to drag her up the + steps. But she walked with them willingly, and with a colour unchanged, + and I rose from my seat, and made obeisance to the Empress and followed + them. + </p> + <p> + Before all those ten thousand eyes, we two made no display of emotion + then, not only for Atlantis’ sake, but also because both Nais and I had a + nicety and a pride in our natures. We were not as Phorenice to flaunt + endearments before others. + </p> + <p> + Yet, when I had bidden the guards unhasp the collar which held the + prisoner’s neck, and clapped my arms around her, showing all the roughness + of one who has no mind that his captive shall escape or even unduly + struggle, a thrill gushed through me so potent that I was like to have + fainted, and it was only by supreme strain of will that I held unbrokenly + on with the ceremonial. I, who had never embraced a woman with aught but + the arm of roughness before, now held pressed to me one whom I loved with + an infinite tenderness, and the revelation of how love can come out and + link with love was almost my undoing. Yet, outwardly, Nais made so sign, + but lay half-strangled in my arms, as any woman does that is being borne + away by a spoiler. + </p> + <p> + I trod with her to the uppermost step, the vast throne-stone overhanging + us, and then so that all of those who were gazing from the sides of the + pyramids and the roofs of the buildings round might see, though we were + beyond Phorenice’s view, I used a force that was brutal in dragging her + across the level, and putting her down into the hollow. And yet the girl + resisted me with no one effort whatever. + </p> + <p> + So that the victim might not struggle out and be crushed, and so gain an + easy death when the stone descended, there were brazen clamps to fit into + grooves of the stones above the hollow where she lay, and these I fitted + in place above her, and fastened one by one, doing this butcher’s work + with one hand, and still fiercely holding her down by the other. Gods! and + the sweat of agony dripped from me on to the thirsty stone as I worked. I + could not keep that in. + </p> + <p> + I clamped and locked the last two bars in place, and took my brute’s hand + away from her throat. + </p> + <p> + The hateful fingermarks showed as bloodless furrows in the whiteness of + her skin. For the life of me, yes, even for the fate of Atlantis, I could + not help dropping my glance upon her face. But she was stronger than I. + She gave me no last look. She kept her eyes steadfastly fixed on the cruel + stone above, and so I left her, knowing that it was best not to tarry + longer. + </p> + <p> + I came out from under the stone, and gave the sign to the engineers who + stood by the rams. The fires were taken away from their sides, and the + metal in them began to contract, and slowly the vast bulk of the + throne-stone began to creep down towards its bed. + </p> + <p> + But ah, so slowly! Gods! how my soul was torn as I watched and waited. + </p> + <p> + Yet I kept my face impassive, overlooking as any officer might a piece of + work which others were carrying out under his direction, and on which his + credit rested; and I stood gravely in my place till the rams had let the + stone come down on its final resting place, and had been carried away by + the engineers; and then I went round with the master architect with his + plumbline and level, whilst he tested this last piece of the building and + declared it perfect. + </p> + <p> + It was a useless form, this last, seeing that by calculation they knew + exactly how the stone must rest; but the guilds have their forms and + customs, and on these occasions of high ceremonial, they are punctiliously + carried out, because these middle-class people wish always to appear + mysterious and impressive to the poor vulgar folk who are their inferiors. + But perhaps I am hard there on them. A man who is needlessly taken round + to plumb and duly level the tomb where his love lies buried living, may + perhaps be excused by the assessors on high a little spirit of bitterness. + </p> + <p> + I had gone up the steps to do my hateful work a man full of grief, though + outwardly unmoved. As I came down again I had a feeling of incompleteness; + it seemed as though half my inwards had been left behind with Nais in the + hollow of the stone, and their place was taken by a void which ached + wearily; but still I carried a passive face, and memory that before all + these private matters stood the command of the High Council, which sat + before the Ark of the Mysteries. + </p> + <p> + So I went and stood before Phorenice, and said the words which the ancient + forms prescribed concerning the carrying out of her wish. + </p> + <p> + “Then, now,” she said, “I will give myself to you as wife. We are not as + others, you and I, Deucalion. There is a law and a form set down for the + marrying of these other people, but that would be useless for our + purposes. We will have neither priest nor scribe to join us and set down + the union. I am the law here in Atlantis, and you soon will be part of me. + We will not be demeaned by profaner hands. We will make the ceremony for + ourselves, and for witnesses, there are sufficient in waiting. Afterwards, + the record shall be cut deep in the granite throne you have built for me, + and the lettering filled in with gold, so that it shall endure and remain + bright for always.” + </p> + <p> + “The Empress can do no wrong,” I said formally, and took the hand she + offered me, and helped her to rise. We walked out from the scarlet awning + into the glare of the sunshine, she leaning on me, flushing, and so + radiantly lovely that the people began to hail her with rapturous shouts + of “A Goddess; our Goddess Phorenice.” But for me they had no welcoming + word. I think the set grimness of my face both scared and repelled them. + </p> + <p> + We went up the steps which led to the throne, the people still shouting, + and I sat her in the royal seat beneath the snake’s outstretched head, and + she drew me down to sit beside her. + </p> + <p> + She raised her jewelled hand, and a silence fell on that great throng, as + though the breath had been suddenly cut short for all of them. + </p> + <p> + Then Phorenice made proclamation: + </p> + <p> + “Hear me, O my people, and hear me, O High Gods from whom I am come. I + take this man Deucalion, to be my husband, to share with me the prosperity + of Atlantis, and join me in guarding our great possession. May all our + enemies perish as she is now perishing above whom we sit.” And then she + put her arms around my neck, and kissed me hotly on the mouth. + </p> + <p> + In turn I also spoke: “Hear me, O most High Gods, whose servant I am, and + hear me also, O ye people. I take this Empress, Phorenice, to wife, to + help with her the prosperity of Atlantis, and join with her in guarding + the welfare of that great possession. May all the enemies of this country + perish as they have perished in the past.” + </p> + <p> + And then, I too, who had not been permitted by the fate to touch the lips + of my love, bestowed the first kiss I had ever given woman to Phorenice, + that was now being made my wife. + </p> + <p> + But we were not completely linked yet. + </p> + <p> + “A woman is one, and man is one,” she proclaimed, following for the first + time the old form of words, “but in marriage they merge, so that wife and + husband are no more separate, but one conjointly. In token of this we will + now make the symbolic joining together, so that all may see and remember.” + She took her dagger, and pricking the brawn on my forearm till a head of + blood appeared, set her red lips to it, and took it into herself. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” she said, with her eyes sparkling, “now you are part of me indeed, + Deucalion, and I feel you have strengthened me already.” She pulled down + the neck of her robe. “Let me make you my return.” + </p> + <p> + I pricked the rounded whiteness of her shoulder. Gods! when I remembered + who was beneath us as we sat on that throne, I could have driven the blade + through to her heart! And then I, too, put down my lips, and took the drop + of her blood that was yielded to me. + </p> + <p> + My tongue was dry, my throat was parched, and my face suffused, and I + thought I should have choked. + </p> + <p> + But the Empress, who was ordinarily so acute, was misled then. “It thrills + you?” she cried. “It burns within you like living fire? I have just felt + it. By my face! Deucalion, if I had known the pleasure it gives to be made + a wife, I do not think I should have waited this long for you. Ah, yes; + but with another man I should have had no thrill. I might have gone + through the ceremony with another, but it would have left me cold. Well, + they say this feeling comes to a woman but once in her time, and I would + not change it for the glory of all my conquests and the whirl of all my + power.” She leaned in close to me so that the red curls of her hair swept + my cheek, and her breath came hot against my mouth. “Tasted you ever any + sweet so delicious as this knowledge that we are made one now, Deucalion, + past all possible dissolving?” + </p> + <p> + I could not lie to her any more just then. The Gods know how honestly I + had striven to play the part commanded me for Atlantis’ good, but there is + a limit to human endurance, and mine was reached. I was not all anger + towards her. I had some pity for this passion of hers, which had grown of + itself certainly, but which I had done nothing to check; and the indecent + frankness with which it was displayed was only part of the livery of + potentates who flaunt what meaner folk would coyly hide. But always before + my eyes was a picture of the girl on whom her jealousy had taken such a + bitter vengeance, and to invent spurious lover’s talk then was a thing my + tongue refused to do. + </p> + <p> + “Words are poor things,” I said, “and I am a man unused to women, and have + but a small stock of any phrases except the dryest. Remember, Phorenice, a + week agone, I did not know what love was, and now that I have learned the + lesson, somewhat of the suddenest, the language remains still to come to + me. My inwards speak; indeed they are full of speech; but I cannot + translate into bald cold words what they say.” + </p> + <p> + And here, surely the High Gods took pity on my tied tongue and my misery, + and made an opportunity for bringing the ceremony to an end. A man ran + into the square shouting, and showing a wound that dripped, and presently + all that vast crowd which stood on the pavements, and the sides of the + pyramids, and the roofs of the temples, took up the cry, and began to feel + for their weapons. + </p> + <p> + “The rebels are in!” “They have burrowed a path into the city!” “They have + killed the cave-tigers and taken a gate!” “They are putting the whole + place to the storm!” “They will presently leave no poor soul of us here + alive!” + </p> + <p> + There then was a termination of our marriage cooings. With rebels merely + biting at the walls, it was fine to put strong trust in the defences, and + easy to affect contempt for the besiegers’ powers, and to keep the + business of pageants and state craft and marryings turning on easy wheels. + But with rebel soldiers already inside the city (and hordes of others + doubtless pressing on their heels), the affairs took a different light. It + was no moment for further delay, and Phorenice was the first to admit it. + The glow that had been in her eyes changed to the glare of the fighter, as + the fellow who had run up squalled out his tidings. + </p> + <p> + I stood and stretched my chest. I seemed in need of air. “Here,” I said, + “is work that I can understand more clearly. I will go and sweep this + rabble back to their burrows, Phorenice.” + </p> + <p> + “But not alone, sir. I come too. It is my city still. Nay, sir, we are too + newly wed to be parted yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Have your will,” I said, and together we went down the steps of the + throne to the pavement below. Under my breath I said a farewell to Nais. + </p> + <p> + Our armour-bearers met us with weapons, and we stepped into litters, and + the slaves took us off hot foot. The wounded man who had first brought the + news had fallen in a faint, and no more tidings was to be got from him, + but the growing din of the fight gave us the general direction, and + presently we began to meet knots of people who dwelt near the place of + irruption, running away in wild panic, loaded down with their household + goods. + </p> + <p> + It was useless to stop these, as fight they could not, and if they had + stayed they would merely have been slaughtered like flies, and would in + all likelihood have impeded our own soldiery. And so we let them run + screaming on their blind way, but forced the litters through them with but + very little regard for their coward convenience. + </p> + <p> + Now the advantage of the rebels, when it came to be looked upon by a + soldier’s eye, was a thing of little enough importance. They had driven a + tunnel from behind a covering mound, beneath the walls, and had opened it + cleverly enough through the floor of a middle-class house. They had come + through into this, collecting their numbers under its shelter, and + doubtless hoping that the marriage of the Empress (of which spies had + given them information) would sap the watchfulness of the city guards. But + it seems they were discovered and attacked before they were thoroughly + ready to emerge, and, as a fine body of troops were barracked near the + spot, their extermination would have been merely a matter of time, even if + we had not come up. + </p> + <p> + It did not take a trained eye long to decide on this, and Phorenice, with + a laugh, lay back on the cushions of the litter, and returned her weapons + to the armour-bearer who came panting up to receive them. “We grow nervous + with our married life, my Deucalion,” she said. “We are fearful lest this + new-found happiness be taken from us too suddenly.” + </p> + <p> + But I was not to be robbed of my breathing-space in this wise. “Let me + crave a wedding gift of you,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “It is yours before you name it.” + </p> + <p> + “Then give me troops, and set me wide a city gate a mile away from here.” + </p> + <p> + “You can gather five hundred as you go from here to the gate, taking two + hundred of those that are here. If you want more, they must be fetched + from other barracks along the walls. But where is your plan?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, my poor strategy teaches me this: these foolish rebels have set all + their hopes on this mine, and all their excitement on its present success. + If they are kept occupied here by a Phorenice, who will give them some + dainty fighting without checking them unduly, they will press on to the + attack and forget all else, and never so much as dream of a sortie. And + meanwhile, a Deucalion with his troop will march out of the city well away + from here, without tuck of drum or blare of trumpet, and fall most + unpleasantly upon their rear. After which, a Phorenice will burn the house + here at the mine’s head, which is of wood, and straw thatched, to + discourage further egress, and either go to the walls to watch the fight + from there, or sally out also and spur on the rout as her fancy dictates.” + </p> + <p> + “Your scheme is so pretty, I would I could rob you of it for my own + credit’s sake, and as it is, I must kiss you for your cleverness. But you + got my word first, you naughty fellow, and you shall have the men and do + as you ask. Eh, sir, this is a sad beginning of our wedded life, if you + begin to rob your little wife of all the sweets of conquest from the + outset.” + </p> + <p> + She took back the weapons and target she had given to the armour-bearer, + and stepped over the side of the litter to the ground. “But at least,” she + said, “if you are going to fight, you shall have troops that will do + credit to my drill,” and thereupon proceeded to tell off the companies of + men-at-arms who were to accompany me. She left herself few enough to stem + the influx of rebels who poured ceaselessly in through the tunnel; but as + I had seen, with Phorenice, heavy odds added only to her enjoyment. + </p> + <p> + But for the Empress, I will own at the time to have given little enough of + thought. My own proper griefs were raw within me, and I thirsted for that + forgetfulness of all else which battle gives, so that for awhile I might + have a rest from their gnawings. + </p> + <p> + It made my blood run freer to hear once more the tramp of practised troops + behind me, and when all had been collected, we marched out through a gate + of the city, and presently were charging through and through the + straggling rear of the enemy. By the Gods! for the moment even Nais was + blotted from my wearied mind. Never had I loved more to let my fierceness + run madly riot. Never have I gloated more abundantly over the terrible joy + of battle. + </p> + <p> + Nais must forgive my weakness in seeking to forget her even for a + breathing-space. Had that opportunity been denied me, I believe the agony + of remembering would have snapped my brain-strings for always. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 14. AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE + </h2> + <p> + Now it would be tedious to tell how with a handful of highly trained + fighting men, I charged and recharged, and finally broke up that horde of + rebels which outnumbered us by fifteen times. It must be remembered that + they grew suddenly panic-stricken in finding that of all those who went in + under the city walls by the mine on which they had set such great store, + none came back, and that the sounds of panic which had first broken out + within the city soon gave way to cries of triumph and joy. And it must be + carried in memory also that these wretched rebels were without training + worthy of the name, were for the most part weaponed very vilely, and, + seeing that their silly principles made each the equal of his neighbour, + were practically without heads or leaders also. + </p> + <p> + So when the panic began, it spread like a malignant murrain through all + their ragged ranks, and there were none to rally the flying, none to + direct those of more desperate bravery who stayed and fought. + </p> + <p> + My scheme of attack was simple. I hunted them without a halt. I and my + fellows never stopped to play the defensive. We turned one flank, and + charged through a centre, and then we were harrying the other flank, and + once more hacking our passage through the solid mass. And so by constantly + keeping them on the run, and in ignorance of whence would come the next + attack, panic began to grow amongst them and ferment, till presently those + in the outer lines commenced to scurry away towards the forests and the + spoiled corn-lands of the country, and those in the inner packs were only + wishful of a chance to follow them. + </p> + <p> + It was no feat of arms this breaking up of the rebel leaguer, and no + practised soldier would wish to claim it as such. It was simply taking + advantage of the chances of the moment, and as such it was successful. + Given an open battle on their own ground, these desperate rebels would + have fought till none could stand, and by sheer ferocious numbers would + have pulled down any trained troops that the city could have sent against + them, whether they had advanced in phalanx or what formation you will. For + it must be remembered they were far removed from cowards, being Atlantean + all, just as were those within the city, and were, moreover, spurred to + extraordinary savageness and desperation by the oppression under which + they had groaned, and the wrongs they had been forced to endure. + </p> + <p> + Still, as I say, the poor creatures were scattered, and the siege was + raised from that moment, and it was plain to see that the rebellion might + be made to end, if no unreasonable harshness was used for its final + suppression. Too great severity, though perhaps it may be justly their + portion, only drives such malcontents to further desperations. + </p> + <p> + Now, following up these fugitives, to make sure that there was no halt in + their retreat, and to send the lesson of panic thoroughly home to them, + had led us a long distance from the city walls; and as we had fought all + through the burning heat of the day and my men were heavily wearied, I + decided to halt where we were for the night amongst some half-ruined + houses which would make a temporary fortification. Fortunately, a drove of + little cloven-hoofed horses which had been scared by some of the rebels in + their flight happened to blunder into our lines, and as we killed five + before they were clear again, there was a soldier’s supper for us, and + quickly the fires were lit and cooking it. + </p> + <p> + Sentries paced the outskirts and made their cries to one another, and the + wounded sat by the fires and dressed their hurts, and with the officers I + talked over the engagements of the day, and the methods of each charge, + and the other details of the fighting. It is the special perquisite of + soldiers to dally over these matters with gusto, though they are entirely + without interest for laymen. + </p> + <p> + The hour drew on for sleep, and snores went up from every side. It was + clear that all my officers were wearied out, and only continued the talk + through deference to their commander. Yet I had a feverish dread of being + left alone again with my thoughts, and pressed them on with conversation + remorselessly. But in the end they were saved the rudeness of dropping off + into unconsciousness during my talk. A sentry came up and saluted. “My + lord,” he reported, “there is a woman come up from the city whom we have + caught trying to come into the bivouac.” + </p> + <p> + “How is she named?” + </p> + <p> + “She will not say.” + </p> + <p> + “Has she business?’ + </p> + <p> + “She will say none. She demands only to see my lord.” + </p> + <p> + “Bring her here to the fire,” I ordered, and then on second thoughts + remembering that the woman, whoever she might be, had news likely enough + for my private ear (or otherwise she would not have come to so uncouth a + rendezvous), I said to the sentry: “Stay,” and got up from the ground + beside the fire, and went with him to the outer line. + </p> + <p> + “Where is she?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “My comrades are holding her. She might be a wench belonging to these + rebels, with designs to put a knife into my lord’s heart, and then we + sentries would suffer. The Empress,” he added simply, “seems to set good + store upon my lord at present, and we know the cleverness of her + tormentors.” + </p> + <p> + “Your thoughtfulness is frank,” I said, and then he showed me the woman. + She was muffled up in hood and cloak, but one who loved Nais as I loved + could not mistake the form of Ylga, her twin sister, because of mere + swathings. So I told the sentries to release her without asking her for + speech, and then led her out from the bivouac beyond earshot of their + lines. + </p> + <p> + “It is something of the most pressing that has brought you out here, + Ylga?” + </p> + <p> + “You know me, then? There must be something warmer than the ordinary + between us two, Deucalion, if you could guess who walked beneath all these + mufflings.” + </p> + <p> + I let that pass. “But what’s your errand, girl?” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” she said bitterly, “there’s my reward. All your concern’s for the + message, none for the carrier. Well, good my lord, you are husband to the + dainty Phorenice no longer.” + </p> + <p> + “This is news.” + </p> + <p> + “And true enough, too. She will have no more of you, divorces you, spurns + you, thrusts you from her, and, after the first splutter of wrath is done, + then come pains and penalties.” + </p> + <p> + “The Empress can do no wrong. I will have you speak respectful words of + the Empress.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, be done with that old fable! It sickens me. The woman was mad for + love of you, and now she’s mad with jealousy. She knows that you gave Nais + some of your priest’s magic, and that she sleeps till you choose to come + and claim her, even though the day be a century from this. And if you wish + to know the method of her enlightenment, it is simple. There is another + airshaft next to the one down which you did your cooing and billing, and + that leads to another cell in which lay another prisoner. The wretch heard + all that passed, and thought to buy enlargement by telling it. + </p> + <p> + “But his news came a trifle stale. It seems that with the pressure of the + morning’s ceremonies, they forgot to bring a ration, and when at last his + gaoler did remember him, it was rather late, seeing that by then Phorenice + had tied herself publicly to a husband, and poor Nais had doubtless eaten + her green drug. However, the fools must needs try and barter his tale for + what it would fetch; and, as was natural, had such a silly head chopped + off for his pains; and after that your Phorenice behaved as you may guess. + And now you may thank me, sir, for coming to warn you not to go back to + Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “But I shall go back. And if the Empress chooses to cut my head also from + its proper column, that is as the High Gods will.” + </p> + <p> + “You are more sick of life than I thought. But I think, sir, our Phorenice + judges your case very accurately. It was permitted me to hear the + outbursting of this lady’s rage. ‘Shall I hew off his head?’ said she. + ‘Pah! Shall I give him over to my tormentors, and stand by whilst they do + their worst? He would not wrinkle his brow at their fiercest efforts. No; + he must have a heavier punishment than any of these, and one also which + will endure. I shall lop off his right hand and his left foot, so that he + may be a fighting man no longer, and then I shall drive him forth crippled + into the dangerous lands, where he may learn Fear. The beasts shall hunt + him, the fires of the ground shall spoil his rest. He shall know hunger, + and he shall breathe bad air. And all the while he shall remember that I + have Nais near me, living and locked in her coffin of stone, to play with + as I choose, and to give over to what insults may come to my fancy.’ That + is what she said, Deucalion. Now I ask you again will you go back to meet + her vengeance?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” I said, “it is no part of my plan to be mutilated and left to live.” + </p> + <p> + “So, being a woman of some sense, I judged. And, moreover, having some + small kindness still left for you, I have taken it upon myself to make a + plan for your further movement which may fall in with your whim. Does the + name of Tob come back to your memory?” + </p> + <p> + “One who was Captain of Tatho’s navy?” + </p> + <p> + “That same Tob. A gruff, rude fellow, and smelling vile of tar, but + seeming to have a sturdy honesty of his own. Tob sails away this night for + parts unknown, presumably to found a kingdom with Tob for king. It seems + he can find little enough to earn at his craft in Atlantis these latter + days, and has scruples at seeing his wife and young ones hungry. He told + me this at the harbour side when I put my neck under the axe by saying I + wanted carriage for you, sir, and so having me under his thumb, he was + perhaps more loose-lipped than usual. You seem to have made a fine + impression on Tob, Deucalion. He said—I repeat his hearty disrespect—you + were just the recruit he wanted, but whether you joined him or not, he + would go to the nether Gods to do you service.” + </p> + <p> + “By the fellow’s side, I gained some experience in fighting the greater + sea beasts.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, go and do it again. Believe me, sir, it is your only chance. It + would grieve me much to hear the searing-iron hiss on your stumps. I + bargained with Tob to get clear of the harbour forts before the chain was + up for the night, and as he is a very daring fellow, with no fear of + navigating under the darkness, he himself said he would come to a point of + the shore which we agreed upon, and there await you. Come, Deucalion, let + me lead you to the place.” + </p> + <p> + “My girl,” I said, “I see I owe you many thanks for what you have done on + my poor behalf.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, your thanks!” she said. “You may keep them. I did not come out here + in the dark and the dangers for mere thanks, though I knew well enough + there would be little else offered.”—She plucked at my sleeve.—“Now + show me your walking pace, sir. They will begin to want your countenance + in the camp directly, and we need hanker after no too narrow inquiries for + what’s along.” + </p> + <p> + So thereon we set off, Ylga and I, leaving the lights of the bivouac + behind us, and she showed the way, whilst I carried my weapons ready to + ward off attacks whether from beasts or from men. Few words were passed + between us, except those which had concern with the dangers natural to the + way. Once only did we touch one another, and that was where a tree-trunk + bridged a rivulet of scalding water which flowed from a boil-spring + towards the sea. + </p> + <p> + “Are you sure of footing?” I asked, for the night was dark, and the heat + of the water would peel the flesh from the bones if one slipped into it. + </p> + <p> + “No,” she said, “I am not,” and reached out and took my hand. I helped her + over and then loosed my grip, and she sighed, and slowly slipped her hand + away. Then on again we went in silence, side by side, hour after hour, and + league after league. + </p> + <p> + But at last we topped a rise, and below us through the trees I could see + the gleam of the great estuary on which the city of Atlantis stands. The + ground was soggy and wet beneath us, the trees were full of barbs and + spines, the way was monstrous hard. Ylga’s breath was beginning to come in + laboured pants. But when I offered to take her arm, and help her, as some + return against what she had done for me, she repulsed me rudely enough. “I + am no poor weakling,” said she, “if that is your only reason for wanting + to touch me.” + </p> + <p> + Presently, however, we came out through the trees, and the roughest part + of our journey was done. We saw the ship riding to her anchors in shore a + mile away, and a weird enough object she was under the faint starlight. We + made our way to her along the level beaches. + </p> + <p> + Tob was keeping a keen watch. We were challenged the moment we came within + stone or arrow shot, and bidden to halt and recite our business; but he + was civil enough when he heard we were those whom he expected. He called a + crew and slacked out his anchor-rope till his ship ground against the + shingle, and then thrust out his two steering oars to help us clamber + aboard. + </p> + <p> + I turned to Ylga with words of thanks and farewell. “I will never forget + what you have done for me this night; and should the High Gods see fit to + bring me back to Atlantis and power, you shall taste my gratitude.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not want to return. I am sick of this old life here.” + </p> + <p> + “But you have your palace in the city, and your servants, and your wealth, + and Phorenice will not disturb you from their possession.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, as for that, I could go back and be fan-girl tomorrow. But I do not + want to go back.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me tell you it is no time for a gently nurtured lady like yourself to + go forward. I have been viceroy of Yucatan, Ylga, and know somewhat of + making a foothold in these new countries. And that was nothing compared + with what this will be. I tell you it entails hardships, and privations, + and sufferings which you could not guess at. Few survive who go to + colonise in the beginning, and those only of the hardiest, and they earn + new scars and new batterings every day.” + </p> + <p> + “I do not care, and, besides, I can share the work. I can cook, I can + shoot a good arrow, and I can make garments, yes, though they were cut + from the skins of beasts and had to be sewn with backbone sinews. Because + you despise fine clothes, and because you have seen me only decked out as + fan-girl, you think I am useless. Bah, Deucalion! Never let people prate + to me about your perfection. You know less about a woman than a boy new + from school.” + </p> + <p> + “I have learned all I care to know about one woman, and because of the + memory of her, I could not presume to ask her sister to come with me now.” + </p> + <p> + “Aye,” she said bitterly, “kick my pride. I knew well enough it was only + second place to Nais I could get all the time I was wanting to come. Yet + no one but a boor would have reminded me of it. Gods! and to think that + half the men in Atlantis have courted me, and now I am arrived at this!” + </p> + <p> + “I must go alone. It would have made me happier to take your esteem with + me. But as it is, I suppose I shall carry only your hate.” + </p> + <p> + “That is the most humiliating thing of all; I cannot bring myself to hate + you. I ought to, I know, after the brutal way you have scorned me. But I + do not, and there is the truth. I seem to grow the fonder of you, and if I + thought there was a way of keeping you alive, and unmutilated, here in + Atlantis, I do not think I should point out that Tob is tired of waiting, + and will probably be off without you.” She flung her arms suddenly about + my neck, and kissed me hotly on the mouth. “There, that is for good-bye, + dear. You see I am reckless. I care not what I do now, knowing that you + cannot despise me more than you have done all along for my forwardness.” + </p> + <p> + She ran back from me into the edge of the trees. + </p> + <p> + “But this is foolishness,” I said. “I must take you through the dangers + that lie between here and some gate of the city, and then come back to the + ship.” + </p> + <p> + “You need not fear for me. The unhappy are always safe. And, besides, I + have a way. It is my solace to know that you will remember me now. You + will never forget that kiss.” + </p> + <p> + “Fare you well, Ylga,” I cried. “May the High Gods keep you entirely in + their holy care.” + </p> + <p> + But no reply came back. She had gone off into the forest. And so I turned + down to the beach, and splashed into the water, and climbed on board the + ship up the steering oars. Tob gave the word to haul-to the anchor, and + get her away from the beach. + </p> + <p> + “Greeting, my lord,” said he, “but I’d have been pleased to see you + earlier. We’ve small enough force and slow enough heels in this vessel, + and it’s my idea that the sooner we’re away from here and beyond range of + pursuit, the safer it will be for my woman and brats who are in that hutch + of an after-castle. It’s long enough since I sailed in such a small + old-fashioned ship as this. She’s no machines, and she’s not even a + steering mannikin. Look at the meanness of her furniture and (in your ear) + I’ve suspicions that there’s rottenness in her bottom. But she’s the best + I’d the means to buy, and if she reaches the place at the farther end I’ve + got my eye on, we shall have to make a home there, or be content to die, + for she’ll never have strength to carry us farther or back. She’s been a + ship in the Egypt trade, and you know what that is for getting worm and + rot in the wood.” + </p> + <p> + “You’d enough hands for your scheme before I came?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes. I’ve fifty stout lads and eight women packed in the ship somehow, + and trouble enough I’ve had to get them away from the city. That thief of + a port-captain wellnigh skinned us clean before he could see it lawful + that so many useful fighting men might go out of harbour. Times are not + what they were, I tell you, and the sea trade’s about done. All sailor men + of any skill have taken a woman or two and gone out in companies to try + their fortunes in other lands. Why, I’d trouble enough to get half a score + to help me work this ship. All my balance are just landsmen raw and + simple, and if I land half of them alive at the other end, we shall be + doing well.” + </p> + <p> + “Still with luck and a few good winds it should not take long to get + across to Europe.” + </p> + <p> + Tob slapped his leg. “No savage Europe for me, my lord. Now, see the + advantage of being a mariner. I found once some islands to the north of + Europe, separated from the main by a strait, which I called the Tin + Islands, seeing that tin ore litters many of the beaches. I was driven + there by storm, and said no word of the find when I got back, and here you + see it comes in useful. There’s no one in all Atlantis but me knows of + those Tin Islands to-day, and we’ll go and fight honestly for our ground, + and build a town and a kingdom on it.” + </p> + <p> + “With Tob for king?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I have figured it out as such for many a day, but I know when I + meet my better, and I’m content to serve under Deucalion. My lord would + have done wiser to have brought a wife with him, though, and I thought it + was understood by the good lady that spoke to me down at the harbour, or + I’d have mentioned it earlier. The savages in my Tin Islands go naked and + stain themselves blue with woad, and are very filthy and brutish to look + upon. They are sturdy, and should make good slaves, but one would have to + get blunted in the taste before one could wish to be father to their + children.” + </p> + <p> + “I am still husband to Phorenice.” + </p> + <p> + Tob grinned. “The Gods give you joy of her. But it is part of a mariner’s + creed—and you will grow to be a mariner here—that wedlock does + not hold across the seas. However, that matter may rest. But, coming to my + Tin Islands again: they’ll delight you. And I tell you, a kingdom will not + be so hard to carve out as it was in Egypt, or as you found in Yucatan. + There are beasts there, of course, and no one who can hunt need ever go + hungry. But the greater beasts are few. There are cave-bears and + cave-tigers in small numbers, to be sure, and some river-horses and great + snakes. But the greater lizards seem to avoid the land; and as for birds, + there is rarely seen one that can hurt a grown man. Oh, I tell you, it + will be a most desirable kingdom.” + </p> + <p> + “Tob seems to have imagined himself king of the Tin Islands with much + reality.” + </p> + <p> + He sighed a little. “In truth I did, and there is no denying it, and I + tell you plain, there is not another man living that I would have broken + this voyage for but Deucalion. But don’t think I regret it, and don’t + think I want to push myself above my place. This breeze and the ebb are + taking the old ship finely along her ways. See those fire baskets on the + harbour forts? We’re abreast of them now. We’ll have dropped them and the + city out of sight by daylight, and the flood will not begin to run up till + then. But I fear unless the wind hardens down with the dawn we’ll have to + bring up to an anchor when the flood makes. Tides run very hard in these + narrow seas. Aye, and there are some shrewdish tide-rips round my Tin + Islands, as you shall see when we reach them.” + </p> + <p> + There were many fearful glances backwards when day came and showed the + waters, and the burning mountains that hemmed them in beyond the shores. + All seemed to expect some navy of Phorenice to come surging up to take + them back to servitude and starvation in the squalid wards of the city; + and I confess ingenuously that I was with them in all truth when they + swore they would fight the ship till she sank beneath them, before they + would obey another of the commands of Phorenice. However, their brave + heroics were displayed to no small purpose. For the full flow of the tide + we hung in our place, barely moving past the land, but yet not seeing + either oar or sail; and then, when the tide turned, away we went once more + with speed, mightily comforted. + </p> + <p> + Tob’s woman must needs bring drink on deck, and bid all pour libations to + her as a future queen. But Tob cuffed her back into the after-castle, + slamming to the hatch behind her heels, and bidding the crew send the + liquor down their dusty throats. “We are done with that foolery,” said he. + “My Lord Deucalion will be king of this new kingdom we shall build in the + Tin Islands, and a right proper king he’ll make, as you untravelled ones + would know, if you’d sailed the outer seas with him as I have done.” + Beneath which I read a regret, but said nothing, having made my plans from + the moment of stepping on board, as will appear on a later sheet. + </p> + <p> + So on down the great estuary we made our way, and though it pleasured the + others on board when they saw that the seas were desolate of sails, it + saddened me when I recalled how once the waters had been whitened with the + glut of shipping. + </p> + <p> + They had started off on their voyage with a bare two days’ provision in + their equipment, and so, of necessity even after leaving the great + estuary, we were forced to voyage coastwise, putting into every likely + river and sheltered beach to slay fish and meat for future victualling. + “And when the winter comes,” said Tob, “as its gales will be heavier than + this old ship can stomach, I had determined to haul up and make a + permanent camp ashore, and get a crop of grain grown and threshed before + setting sail again. It is the usual custom in these voyages. And I shall + do it still, subject to my lord’s better opinion.” + </p> + <p> + So here, having by this time completed a two months’ leisurely journey + from the city, I saw my opportunity to speak what I had always carried in + my mind. “Tob,” I said, “I am a poor, weak, defenceless man, and I am + quite at your mercy, but what if I do not voyage all the way to the Tin + Islands, and oust you of this kingship?” + </p> + <p> + He brightened perceptibly. “Aye,” he grunted, “you are very weak, my lord, + and mighty defenceless. We know all about that. But what’s else? You must + tell all your meaning plain. I’m a common mariner, and understand little + of your fancy talk.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, this. That it is not my wish to leave the continent of Atlantis. If + you will put me down on any part of this side that faces Europe, I will + commend you strongly to the Gods. I would I could give you money, or + (better still) articles that would be useful to you in your colonising; + but as it is, you see me destitute.” + </p> + <p> + “As to that, you owe me nothing, having done vastly more than your share + each time we have put in shore for the hunting. But it will not do, this + plan of yours. I will shamedly confess that the sound of that kingship in + my Tin Islands sounds sweet to me. But no, my lord, it will not do. You + are no mariner yet, and understand little of geography, but I must tell + you that the part of Atlantis there”—he jerked his thumb towards the + line of trees, and the mountains which lay beyond the fringe of surf—“is + called the Dangerous Lands, and a man must needs be a salamander and be + learned in magic (so I am told) before he can live there.” + </p> + <p> + I laughed. “We of the Priests’ Clan have some education, Tob, though it + may not be on the same lines as your own. In fact, I may say I was taught + in the colleges concerning the boundaries and the contents of our + continent with a nicety that would surprise you. And once ashore, my fate + will still be under the control of the most High Gods.” + </p> + <p> + He muttered something in his profane seaman’s way about preferring to keep + his own fate under control of his own most strong right arm, but saying + that he would keep the matter in his thoughts, he excused himself + hurriedly to go and see to somewhat concerning the working of the ship, + and there left me. + </p> + <p> + But I think the sweets of kingly rule were a strong argument in favour of + letting me have my way (which I should have had otherwise if it had not + been given peacefully), and on the third day after our talk he put the + ship inshore again for re-victualling. We lurched into a river-mouth, half + swamped over a roaring bar, and ran up against the bank and made fast + there to trees, but booming ourselves a safe distance off with oars and + poles, so that no beast could leap on board out of the thicket. + </p> + <p> + Fish-spearing and meat-hunting were set about with promptitude, and on the + second day we were happy enough to slay a yearling river-horse, which gave + provisions in all sufficiency. A space was cleared on the bank, fires were + lit, and the meat hung over the smoke in strips, and when as much was + cured as the ship would carry, the shipmen made a final gorge on what + remained, filled up a great stack of hollow reeds with drinking water, and + were ready to continue the voyage. + </p> + <p> + With sturdy generosity did Tob again attempt to make me sail on with them + as their future king, and as steadfastly did I make refusal; and at last + stood alone on the bank amongst the gnawed bones of their feast, with my + weapons to bear me company, and he, and his men, and the women stood in + the little old ship, ready to drop down river with the current. + </p> + <p> + “At least,” said Tob, “we’ll carry your memory with us, and make it big in + the Tin Islands for everlasting.” + </p> + <p> + “Forget me,” I said, “I am nothing. I am merely an incident that has come + in your way. But if you want to carry some memory with you that shall + endure, preserve the cult of the most High Gods as it was taught to you + when you were children here in Atlantis. And afterwards, when your colony + grows in power, and has come to sufficient magnificence, you may send to + the old country for a priest.” + </p> + <p> + “We want no priest, except one we shall make ourselves, and that will be + me. And as for the old Gods—well, I have laid my ideas before the + fellows here, and they agree to this: We are done with those old Gods for + always. They seem worn out, if one may judge from Their present lack of + usefulness in Atlantis, and, anyway, there will be no room for Them on the + Tin Islands.—Let go those warps there aft, and shove her head out.—We + are under weigh now, my lord, and beyond recall, and so I am free to tell + you what we have decided upon for our religious exercises. We shall set up + the memory of a living Hero on earth, and worship that. And when in years + to come the picture of his face grows dim, we shall doubtless make an + image of him, as accurate as our art permits, and build him a temple for + shelter, and bring there our offerings and prayers. And as I say, my lord, + I shall be priest, and when I am dead, the sons of my body shall be + priests after me, and the eldest a king also.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me plead with you,” I said. “This must not be.” + </p> + <p> + The ship was drifting rapidly away with the current, and they were + hoisting sail. Tob had to shout to make himself heard. “Aye, but it shall + be. For I, too, am a strong man after my kind, and I have ordered it so. + And if you want the name of our Hero that some day shall be God, you wear + it on yourself. Deucalion shall be God for our children.” + </p> + <p> + “This is blasphemy,” I cried. “Have a care, fool, or this impiety will + sink you.” + </p> + <p> + “We will risk it,” he bawled back, “and consider the odds against us are + small. Regard! Here is thy last horn of wine in the ship, and my woman has + treasured it against this moment. Regard, all men, together with Those + above and Those below! I pour this wine as a libation to Deucalion, great + lord that is to-day, Hero that shall be to-morrow, God that will be in + time to come!” And then all those on the ship joined in the acclaim till + they were beyond the reach of my voice, and were battling their way out to + sea through the roaring breakers of the bar. + </p> + <p> + Solitary I stood at the brink of the forest, looking after them and musing + sadly. Tob, despite his lowly station, was a man I cared for more than + many. Like all seamen, I knew that he paid his devotions to one of the + obscurer Gods, but till then I had supposed him devout in his worship. His + new avowal came to me as a desolating shock. If a man like Tob could + forsake all the older Gods to set up on high some poor mortal who had + momentarily caught his fancy, what could be expected from the mere + thoughtless mob, when swayed by such a brilliant tongue as Phorenice’s? It + seemed I was to begin my exile with a new dreariness added to all the + other adverse prospects of Atlantis. + </p> + <p> + But then behind me I heard the rustle of some great beast that had scented + me, and was coming to attack through the thicket, and so I had other + matters to think upon. I had to let Tob and his ship go out over the rim + of the horizon unwatched. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 15. ZAEMON’S SUMMONS + </h2> + <p> + Since the days when man was first created upon the earth by Gods who + looked down and did their work from another place, there have always been + areas of the land ill-adapted for his maintenance, but none more so than + that part of Atlantis which lies over against the savage continents of + Europe and Africa. The common people avoid it, because of a superstition + which says that the spirits of the evil dead stalk about there in broad + daylight, and slay all those that the more open dangers of the place might + otherwise spare. And so it has happened often that the criminals who might + have fled there from justice, have returned of their own free will, and + voluntarily given themselves up to the tormentors, rather than face its + fabulous terrors. + </p> + <p> + To the educated, many of these legends are known to be mythical; but + withal there are enough disquietudes remaining to make life very arduous + and stocked with peril. Everywhere the mountains keep their contents on + the boil; earth tremors are every day’s experience; gushes of unseen evil + vapours steal upon one with such cunningness and speed, that it is often + hard to flee in time before one is choked and killed; poisons well up into + the rivers, yet leave their colour unchanged; great cracks split across + the ground reaching down to the fires beneath, and the waters gush into + these, and are shot forth again with devastating explosion; and always may + be expected great outpourings of boiling mud or molten rock. + </p> + <p> + Yet with all this, there are great sombre forests in these lands, with + trees whose age is unimaginable, and fires amongst the herbage are rare. + All beneath the trees is water, and the air is full of warm steam and + wetness. For a man to live in that constant hot damp is very mortifying to + the strength. But strength is wanted, and cunning also beyond the + ordinary, for these dangerous lands are the abode of the lizards, which of + all beasts grow to the most enormous size and are the most fearsome to + deal with. + </p> + <p> + There are countless families and species of these lizards, and with some + of them a man can contend with prospect of success. But there are others + whose hugeness no human force can battle against. One I saw, as it came up + out of a lake after gaining its day’s food, that made the wet land shake + and pulse as it trod. It could have taken Phorenice’s mammoth into its + belly,* and even a mammoth in full charge could not have harmed it. Great + horny plates covered its head and body, and on the ridge of its back and + tail and limbs were spines that tore great slivers from the black trees as + it passed amongst them. + </p> + <p> + * TRANSLATOR’S NOTE: Professor Reeder of the Wyoming State University has + recently unearthed the skeleton of a Brontosaurus, 130 ft. in length, + which would have weighed 50 tons when alive. It was 35 ft. in height at + the hips, and 25 ft. at the shoulder, and 40 people could be seated with + comfort within its ribs. Its thigh bone was 8 ft. long. The fossils of a + whole series of these colossal lizards have been found. + </p> + <p> + Now and again these monsters would get caught in some vast fissuring of + the ground, but not often. Their speed of foot was great, and their + sagacity keen. They seemed to know when the worst boilings of the + mountains might be expected, and then they found safety in the deeper + lakes, or buried themselves in wallows of the mud. Moreover, they were + more kindly constituted than man to withstand one great danger of these + regions, in that the heat of the water did them no harm. Indeed, they will + lie peacefully in pools where sudden steam-bursts are making the water + leap into boiling fountains, and I have seen one run quickly across a flow + of molten rock which threatened to cut it off, and not be so much as + singed in the transit. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of such neighbours, then, was my new life thrown, and + existence became perilous and hard to me from the outset. I came near to + knowing what Fear was, and indeed only a fervent trust in the most High + Gods, and a firm belief that my life was always under Their fostering + care, prevented me from gaining that horrid knowledge. For long enough, + till I learned somewhat of the ways of this steaming, sweltering land, I + was in as miserable a case as even Phorenice could have wished to see me. + My clothes rotted from my back with the constant wetness, till I went as + naked as a savage from Europe; my limbs were racked with agues, and I + could find no herbs to make drugs for their relief; for days together I + could find no better food than tree-grubs and leaves; and often when I did + kill beasts, knowing little of their qualities, I ate those that gave me + pain and sickness. + </p> + <p> + But as man is born to make himself adaptable to his surroundings, so as + the months dragged on did I learn the limitation of this new life of mine, + and gather some knowledge of its resources. As example: I found a great + black tree, with a hollow core, and a hole into its middle near the roots. + Here I harboured, till one night some monstrous lizard, whose sheer weight + made the tree rock like a sapling, endeavoured to suck me forth as a bird + picks a worm from a hollow log. I escaped by the will of the Gods—I + could as much have done harm to a mountain as injure that horny tongue + with my weapons—but I gave myself warning that this chance must not + happen again. + </p> + <p> + So I cut myself a ladder of footholes on the inside of the trunk till I + had reached a point ten man-heights from the ground, and there cut other + notches, and with tree branches made a floor on which I might rest. Later, + for luxury, I carved me arrow-slit windows in the walls of my chamber, and + even carried up sand for a hearth, so that I might cook my victual up + there instead of lighting a fire in all the dangers of the open below. + </p> + <p> + By degrees, too, I began to find how the large-scaled fish of the rivers + and the lesser turtles might be more readily captured, and so my ribs + threatened less to start through their proper covering of skin as the days + went on. But the lack of salads and gruels I could never overcome. All the + green meat was tainted so powerfully with the taste of tars that never + could I force my palate to accept it. And of course, too, there remained + the peril of the greater lizards and the other dangers native to the + place. + </p> + <p> + But as the months began to mount into years, and the brute part of my + nature became more satisfied, there came other longings which it was less + easy to provide for. From the ivory of a river horse’s tooth I had + endeavoured to carve me a representative of Nais as last I had seen her. + But, though my fingers might be loving, and my will good, my art was of + the dullest, and the result—though I tried time and time again—was + always clumsy and pitiful. Still, in my eyes it carried some suggestion of + the original—a curve here, an outline there, and it made my old love + glow anew within me as I sat and ate it with my eyes. Yet it did little to + satisfy my longings for the woman I had lost; rather it whetted my + cravings to be with her again, or at least to have some knowledge of her + fate. + </p> + <p> + Other men of the Priests’ Clan have come out and made an abode in these + Dangerous Lands, and by mortifying the flesh, have gained an intimacy with + the Higher Mysteries which has carried them far past what mere human + learning and repetition could teach. Indeed, here and there one, who from + some cause and another has returned to the abodes of men, has carried with + him a knowledge that has brought him the reputation amongst the vulgar for + the workings of magic and miracles, which—since all arts must be + allowed which aid so holy a cause—have added very materially to the + ardour with which these common people pursue the cult of the Gods. But for + myself I could not free my mind to the necessary clearness for following + these abstruse studies. During that voyage home from Yucatan I had + communed with them with growing insight; but now my mind was not my own. + Nais had a lien upon it, and refused to be ousted; and, in truth, her + sweet trespass was my chief solace. + </p> + <p> + But at last my longing could no further be denied. Through one of the + arrow-slit windows of my tree-house I could see far away a great mountain + top whitened with perpetual snow, which our Lord the Sun dyed with blood + every night of His setting. Night after night I used to watch that ruddy + light with wide straining eyes. Night after night I used to remember that + in days agone when I was entering upon the priesthood, it had been my duty + to adore our great Lord as He rose for His day behind the snows of that + very mountain. And always the thought followed on these musings, that from + that distant crest I could see across the continent to the Sacred Mount, + which had the city below it where I had buried my love alive. + </p> + <p> + So at last I gave way and set out, and a perilous journey I made of it. In + the heavy mists, which hung always on the lower ground, my way lay blind + before me, and I was constantly losing it. Indeed, to say that I traversed + three times the direct distance is setting a low estimate. Throughout all + those swamps the great lizards hunted, and as the country was new to me I + did not know places of harbour, and a hundred times was within an ace of + being spied and devoured at a mouthful. But the High Gods still desired me + for Their own purposes, and blinded the great beasts’ eyes when I slunk to + cover as they passed. Twice rivers of scalding water roared boiling across + my path, and I had to delay till I could collect enough black timber from + the forests to build rafts that would give me dry ferriage. + </p> + <p> + It will be seen then that my journey was in a way infinitely tedious, but + to me, after all those years of waiting, the time passed on winged feet. I + had been separated from my love till I could bear the strain no longer; + let me but see from a distance the place where she lay, and feast my eyes + upon it for a while, and then I could go back to my abode in the tree and + there remain patiently awaiting the will of the Gods. + </p> + <p> + The air grew more chilly as I began to come out above the region of trees, + on to that higher ground which glares down on the rest of the world, and I + made buskins and a coat of woven grasses to protect my body from the cold, + which began to blow upon me keenly. And later on, where the snow lay + eternally, and was blown into gullies, and frozen into solid banks and + bergs of ice, I had hard work to make any progress amongst its perilous + mazes, and was moreover so numbed by the chill, that my natural strength + was vastly weakened. Overhead, too, following me up with forbidding + swoops, and occasionally coming so close that I had to threaten it with my + weapons, was one of those huge man-eating birds which live by pulling down + and carrying off any creature that their instincts tell them is weakly, + and likely soon to die. + </p> + <p> + But the lure ahead of me was strong enough to make these difficulties seem + small, and though the air of the mountain agreed with me ill, causing + sickness and panting, I pressed on with what speed I could muster towards + the elusive summit. Time after time I thought the next spurt would surely + bring me out to the view for which my soul yearned, but always there + seemed another bank of snow and ice yet to be climbed. But at last I + reached the crest, and gave thanks to the most High Gods for Their + protection and favour. + </p> + <p> + Far, far away I could see the Sacred Mountain with its ring of fires + burning pale under the day, and although the splendid city which nestled + at its foot could not be seen from where I stood, I knew its position and + I knew its plan, and my soul went out to that throne of granite in the + square before the royal pyramid, where once, years before, I had buried my + love. Had Phorenice left the tomb unviolated? + </p> + <p> + I stood there leaning on my spear, filling my eye with the prospect, + warming even to the smoke of mountains that I recognised as old + acquaintances. Gods! how my love burned within me for this woman. My whole + being seemed gone out to meet her, and to leave room for nothing beside. + For long enough a voice seemed dimly to be calling me, but I gave it no + regard. I had come out to that hoary mountain top for communion with Nais + alone, and I wanted none others to interrupt. + </p> + <p> + But at length the voice calling my name grew too loud to be neglected, and + I pulled myself out of my sweet musing with a start to think that here, + for the first time since parting with Tob and his company, I should see + another human fellow-being. I gripped my weapon and asked who called. The + reply came clearly from up the slopes of mountain, and I saw a man coming + towards me over the snows. He was old and feeble. His body was bent, and + his hair and beard were white as the ground on which he trod, and + presently I recognised him as Zaemon. He was coming towards me with + incredible speed for a man of his years and feebleness, but he carried in + his hand the glowing Symbol of our Lord the Sun, and holy strength from + this would add largely to his powers. + </p> + <p> + He came close to me and made the sign of the Seven, which I returned to + him, with its completion, with due form and ceremony. And then he saluted + me in the manner prescribed as messenger appointed by the High Council of + the Priests seated before the Ark of the Mysteries, and I made humble + obeisance before him. + </p> + <p> + “In all things I will obey the orders that you put before me,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “Such is your duty, my brother. The command is, that you return + immediately to the Sacred Mountain, so that if human means may still + prevail, you, as the most skilful general Atlantis owns within her + borders, may still save the country from final wreck and punishment. The + woman Phorenice persists in her infamies. The poor land groans under her + heel. And now she has laid siege to our Sacred Mountain itself, and swears + that not one soul shall be left alive in all Atlantis who does not bend + humbly to her will.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a command and I obey it. But let me ask of another matter that is + intimate to both of us. What of Nais?” + </p> + <p> + “Nais rests where you left her, untouched. Phorenice knows by her arts—she + has stolen nearly all the ancient knowledge now—that still you live, + and she keeps Nais unharmed beneath the granite throne in the hopes that + some time she may use her as a weapon against you. Little she knows the + sternness of our Priests’ creed, my brother. Why, even I, that am the + girl’s father, would sacrifice her blithely, if her death or ruin might do + a tittle of good to Atlantis.” + </p> + <p> + “You go beyond me with your devotion.” + </p> + <p> + The old man leaned forward at me, with glowering brow. “What!” + </p> + <p> + “Or my old blind adherence to the ancient dogma has been sapped and + weakened by events. You must buy my full obedience, Zaemon, if you want + it. Promise me Nais—and your arts I know can snatch her—and I + will be true servant to the High Council of the Priest, and will die in + the last ditch if need be for the carrying out of order. But let me see + Nais given over to the fury of that wanton woman, and I shall have no + inwards left, except to take my vengeance, and to see Atlantis piled up in + ruins as her funeral-stone.” + </p> + <p> + Zaemon looked at me bitterly. “And you are the man the High Council + thought to trust as they would trust one of themselves? Truly we are in an + age of weak men and faithless now. But, my lord—nay, I must call you + brother still: we cannot be too nice in our choosing to-day—you are + the best there is, and we must have you. We little thought you would ask a + price for your generalship, having once taken oath on the walls of the Ark + of the Mysteries itself that always, come what might, you would be a + servant of the High Council of the Clan without fee and without hope of + advancement. But this is the age of broken vows, and you are going no more + than trim with the fashion. Indeed, brother, perhaps I should thank you + for being no more greedy in your demands.” + </p> + <p> + “You may spare me your taunts. You, by self-denial and profound search + into the highest of the higher Mysteries, have made yourself something + wiser than human; I have preserved my humanity, and with it its powers and + frailties; and it seems that each of us has his proper uses, or you would + not be come now here to me. Rather you would have done the generalling + yourself.” + </p> + <p> + “You make a warm defence, my brother. But I have no leisure now to stand + before you with argument. Come to the Sacred Mountain, fight me this + wanton, upstart Empress, and by my beard you shall have your Nais as you + left her as a reward.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a command of the High Council which shall be obeyed. I will come + with my brother now, as soon as he is rested.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said the old man, “I have no tiredness, and as for coming with me, + there you will not be able. But follow at what pace you may.” + </p> + <p> + He turned and set off down the snowy slopes of the mountain and I + followed; but gradually he distanced me; and so he kept on, with speed + always increasing, till presently he passed out of my sight round the spur + of an ice-cliff, and I found myself alone on the mountain side. Yes, truly + alone. For his footmarks in the snow from being deep, grew shallower, and + less noticeable, so that I had to stoop to see them. And presently they + vanished entirely, and the great mountain’s flank lay before me trackless, + and untrodden by the foot of man since time began. + </p> + <p> + I was not shaken by any great amazement. Though it was beyond my poor art + to compass this thing myself, having occupied my mind in exile more with + memories of Nais than in study of those uppermost recesses of the Higher + Mysteries in which Zaemon was so prodigiously wise, still I had some + inkling of his powers. + </p> + <p> + Zaemon I knew would be back again in his dwelling on the Sacred Mountain, + shaken and breathless, even before I had found an end to his tracks in the + snow, and it behoved me to join him there in the quickest possible time. I + had his promise now for my reward, and I knew that he would carry it into + effect. Beforetime I had made an error. I had valued Atlantis most, and + Nais, my private love, as only second. But now it was in my mind to be + honest with others even as with myself. Though all the world were hanging + on my choice, I could but love my Nais most, and serve her first and + foremost of all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 16. SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + </h2> + <p> + Now, my passage across the great continent of Atlantis, if tedious and + haunted by many dangers, need not be recounted in detail here. Only one + halt did I make of any duration, and that was unavoidable. I had killed a + stag one day, bringing it down after a long chase in an open savannah. I + scented the air carefully, to see if there was any other beast which could + do me harm within reach, and thinking that the place was safe, set about + cutting my meat, and making a sufficiency into a bundle for carriage. + </p> + <p> + But underfoot amongst the grasses there was a great legged worm, a + monstrous green thing, very venomous in its bite; and presently as I moved + I brushed it with my heel, and like the dart of light it swooped with its + tiny head and struck me with its fangs in the lower thigh. With my knife I + cut through its neck and it fell to writhing and struggling and twining + its hundred legs into all manner of contortions; and then, cleaning my + blade in the ground, I stabbed with it deep all round the wound, so that + the blood might flow freely and wash the venom from its lodgement. And + then with the blood trickling healthily down from my heel, I shouldered + the meat and strode off, thankful for being so well quit of what might + have made itself a very ugly adventure. + </p> + <p> + As I walked, however, my leg began to be filled with a tightness and + throbbing which increased every hour, and presently it began to swell + also, till the skin was stretched like drawn parchment. I was taken, too, + with a sickness, that racked me violently, and if one of the greater and + more dangerous beasts had come upon me then, he would have eaten me + without a fight. With the fall of darkness I managed to haul myself up + into a tree, and there abode in the crutch of a limb, in wakefulness and + pain throughout the night. + </p> + <p> + With the dawn, when the night beasts had gone to their lairs, I clambered + down again, and leaning heavily on my spear, limped onwards through the + sombre forests along my way. The moss which grows on the northern side of + each tree was my guide, but gradually I began to note that I was seeing + moss all round the trees, and, in fact, was growing light-headed with the + pain and the swelling of the limb. But still I pressed onwards with my + journey, my last instinct being to obey the command of the High Council, + and so procure the enlargement of Nais as had been promised. + </p> + <p> + My last memory was of being met by someone in the black forest who aided + me, and there my waking senses took wings into forgetfulness. + </p> + <p> + But after an interval, wit returned, and I found myself on a bed of leaves + in a cleft between two rocks, which was furnished with some poor skill, + and fortified with stakes and buildings against the entrance of the larger + marauding beasts. My wound was dressed with a poultice of herbs, and at + the other side of the cavern there squatted a woman, cooking a mess of + wood-grubs and honey over a fire of sticks. + </p> + <p> + “How came I here?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “I brought you,” said she. + </p> + <p> + “And who are you?” + </p> + <p> + “A nymph, they call me, and I practise as such, collecting herbs and + curing the diseases of those that come to me, telling fortunes, and making + predictions. In return I receive what each can afford, and if they do not + pay according to their means, I clap on a curse to make them wither. It’s + a lean enough living when wars and the pestilence have left so few poor + folk to live in the land.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you visit Atlantis?” + </p> + <p> + “Not I. Phorenice would have me boiled in brine, living, if she could lay + easy hands on me. Our dainty Empress tolerates no magic but her own. They + say she is for pulling down the Priests off their Mountain now.” + </p> + <p> + “So you do get news of the city?” + </p> + <p> + “Assuredly. It is my trade to get good news, or otherwise how could I tell + fortunes to the vulgar? You see, my lord, I detected your quality by your + speech, and knowing you are not one of those that come to me for spells, + and potions, I have no fear in speaking to you plainly.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me then: Phorenice still reigns?” + </p> + <p> + “Most vilely.” + </p> + <p> + “As a maiden?” + </p> + <p> + “As the mother of twin sons. Tatho’s her husband now, and has been these + three years.” + </p> + <p> + “Tatho! Who followed him as viceroy of Yucatan?” + </p> + <p> + “There is no Yucatan. A vast nation of little hairy men, so the tale goes, + coming from the West overran the country. They had clubs of wood tipped + with stone as their only arm, but numbers made their chief weapon. They + had no desire for plunder, or the taking of slaves, or the conquering of + cities. To eat the flesh of Atlanteans was their only lust, and they + followed it prodigiously. Their numbers were like the bees in a swarm. + </p> + <p> + “They came to each of the cities of Yucatan in turn, and though the + colonists slew them in thousands, the weight of numbers always prevailed. + They ate clean each city they took, and left it to the beasts of the + forest, and went on to the next. And so in time they reached the coast + towns, and Tatho and the few that survived took ship, and sailed home. + They even ate Tatho’s wife for him. They must be curious persevering + things, these little hairy men. The Gods send they do not get across the + seas to Atlantis, or they would be worse plague to the poor country than + Phorenice.” + </p> + <p> + Now I had heard of these little hairy creatures before, and though indeed + I had never seen them, I had gathered that they were a little less than + human and a little more than bestial; a link so to speak between the two + orders; and specially held in check by the Gods in certain forest + solitudes. Also I had learned that on occasion, when punishment was + needful, they could be set loose as a devastating army upon men, devouring + all before them. But I said nothing of this to the nymph, she being but a + vulgar woman, and indeed half silly, as is always the case with these + self-styled sorceresses who gull the ignorant, common folk. But within + myself I was bitterly grieved at the fate of that fine colony of Yucatan, + in which I had expended such an infinity of pains to do my share of the + building. + </p> + <p> + But it did not suit my purpose to have my name and quality blazoned abroad + till the time was full, and so I said nothing to the nymph about Yucatan, + but let the talk continue upon other matters. “What about Egypt?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “In its accustomed darkness, so they say. Who cares for Egypt these latter + years? Who cares for anyone or anything for that matter except for himself + and his own proper estate? Time was when the country folk and the hunters + hereabouts brought me offerings to this cave for sheer piety’s sake. But + now they never come near unless they see a way of getting good value in + return for their gifts. And, by result, instead of living fat and hearty, + I make lean meals off honey and grubs. It’s a poor life, a nymph’s, in + these latter years I tell you, my lord. It’s the fashion for all classes + to believe in no kind of mystery now.” + </p> + <p> + “What manner of pestilence is this you spoke of?” + </p> + <p> + “I have not seen it. Thank the Gods it has not come this way. But they do + say that it has grown from the folk Phorenice has slain, and whose bodies + remain unburied. She is always slaying, and so the bodies lie thicker than + the birds and beasts can eat them. For which of our sins, I wonder, did + the Gods let Phorenice come to reign? I wish that she and her twins were + boiled alive in brine before they came between an honest nymph of the + forest and her living. + </p> + <p> + “They say she has put an image of herself in all the temples of the city + now, and has ordered prayers and sacrifices to be made night and morning. + She has decreed all other Gods inferior to herself and forbidden their + worship, and those of the people that are not sufficiently devout for her + taste, have their hamstrings slit by their tormentors to aid them + constantly into a devotional attitude.—Will you eat of my grubs and + honey? There is nothing else. Your back was bloody with carrying meat when + I met you, but you had lost your load. You must either taste this mess of + mine now, or go without.” + </p> + <p> + I harboured with that nymph in cave six days, she using her drugs and + charms to cure my leg the while, and when I was recovered, I hunted the + plains and killed her a fat cloven-hoofed horse as payment, and then went + along my ways. + </p> + <p> + The country from there onwards had at one time carried a sturdy population + which held its own firmly, and, as its numbers grew, took in more ground, + and built more homesteads farther afield. The houses were perched in trees + for the most part, as there they were out of reach of cave-bear and + cave-tiger and the other more dangerous beasts. But others, and these were + the better ones, were built on the ground, of logs so ponderous and so + firmly clamped and dovetailed that the beasts could not pull them down, + and once inside a house of this fashion its owners were safe, and could + progue at any attackers through the interstices between the logs, and + often wound, sometimes make a kill. + </p> + <p> + But not one in ten of these outlying settlers remained. The houses were + silent when I reached them, the fire-hearth before the door weed-grown, + and the patch of vegetables taken back by the greedy fingers of the forest + into mere scrub and jungle. And farther on, when villages began to appear, + strongly-walled as the custom is, to ward off the attacks of beasts, the + logs which aforetime had barred the gateway lay strewn in a sprouting + undergrowth, and naught but the kitchen middens remained to prove that + once they had sheltered human tenants. Phorenice’s influence seemed to + have spread as though it were some horrid blight over the whole face of + what was once a smiling and an easy-living land. + </p> + <p> + So far I had met with little enough interference from any men I had come + across. Many had fled with their women into the depths of the forest at + the bare sight of me; some stood their ground with a threatening face, but + made no offer to attack, seeing that I did not offer them insult first; + and a few, a very few, offered me shelter and provision. But as I neared + the city, and began to come upon muddy beaten paths, I passed through + governments that were more thickly populated, and here appeared strong + chance of delay. The watcher in the tower which is set above each village + would spy me and cry: “Here is a masterless man,” and then the people that + were within would rush out with intent to spoil me of my weapons, and + afterwards to appoint me as a labourer. + </p> + <p> + I had no desire to slay these wretched folk, being filled with pity at the + state to which they had fallen; and often words served me to make them + stand aside from the path, and stare wonderingly at my fierceness, and let + me go my ways. And when at other times words had no avail, I strove to + strike as lightly as could be, my object being to get forward with my + journey and leave no unnecessary dead behind me. Indeed, having found the + modern way of these villages, it grew to be my custom to turn off into the + forest, and make a circuit whenever I came within smell of their garbage. + </p> + <p> + Similarly, too, when I got farther on, and came amongst greater towns + also, I kept beyond challenge of their walls, having no mind to risk delay + from the whim of any new law which might chance to be set up by their + governors. My progress might be slinking, but my pride did not upbraid me + very loudly; indeed, the fever of haste burned within me so hot and I had + little enough carrying space for other emotions. + </p> + <p> + But at last I found myself within a half-day’s journey the city of + Atlantis itself, with the Sacred Mountain and its ring of fires looming + high beside it, and the call for caution became trebly accentuated. + Everywhere evidences showed that the country had been drained of its + fighting men. Everywhere women prayed that the battles might end with the + rout of the Priests or the killing of Phorenice, so that the wretched land + might have peace and time to lick its wounds. + </p> + <p> + An army was investing the Sacred Mountain, and its one approach was most + narrowly guarded. Even after having journeyed so far, it seemed as if I + should have to sit hopelessly down without being able to carry out the + orders which had been laid upon me by the High Council, and earn the + reward which had been promised. Force would be useless here. I should have + one good fight—a gorgeous fight—one man against an army, and + my usefulness would be ended.... No; this was the occasion for guile, and + I found covert in the outskirts of a wood, and lay there cudgelling my + brain for a plan. + </p> + <p> + Across the plain before me lay the grim great walls of the city, with the + heads of its temples, and its palaces, and its pyramids showing beyond. + The step-sides of the royal pyramid held my eye. Phorenice had expended + some of her new-found store of gold in overlaying their former whiteness + with sheets of shining yellow metal. But it was not that change that moved + me. I was remembering that, in the square before the pyramid, there stood + a throne of granite carved with the snake and the outstretched hand, and + in the hollow beneath the throne was Nais, my love, asleep these eight + years now because of the drug that had been given to her, but alive still, + and waiting for me, if only I on my part could make a way to the place + where Zaemon defied the Empress, and announce my coming. + </p> + <p> + In that covert of the woods I lay a day and a night raging with myself for + not discovering some plan to get within the defences of the Sacred + Mountain, but in the morning which followed, there came a man towards me + running. + </p> + <p> + “You need not threaten me with your weapons,” he cried. “I mean no harm. + It seems that you are Deucalion; though I should not have known you myself + in those rags and skins, and behind that tangle of hair and beard. You + will give me your good word I know. Believe me, I have not loitered + unduly.” + </p> + <p> + He was a lower priest whom I knew, and held in little esteem; his name was + Ro, a greedy fellow and not overworthy of trust. “From whom do you come?” + I asked. + </p> + <p> + “Zaemon laid a command on me. He came to my house, though how he got there + I cannot tell, seeing that Phorenice’s army blocks all possible passage to + and from the Mountain. I told him I wished to be mixed with none of his + schemings. I am a peaceful man, Deucalion, and have taken a wife who + requires nourishment. I still serve in the same temple, though we have + swept out the old Gods by order of the Empress, and put her image in their + place. The people are tidily pious nowadays, those that are left of them, + and the living is consequently easy. Yes, I tell you there are far more + offerings now than there were in the old days. And so I had no wish to be + mixed with matters which might well make me be deprived of a snug post, + and my head to boot.” + </p> + <p> + “I can believe it all of you, Ro.” + </p> + <p> + “But there was no denying Zaemon. He burst into one of his black furies, + and while he spoke at me, I tell you I felt as good as dead. You know his + powers?” + </p> + <p> + “I have seen some of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, the Gods alone know which are the true Gods, and which are the + others. I serve the one that gives me employment. But those that Zaemon + serves give him power, and that’s beyond denying. You see that right hand + of mine? It is dead and paralysed from the wrist, and that is a gift of + Zaemon. He bestowed it, he said, to make me collect my attention. Then he + said more hard things concerning what he was pleased to term my apostasy, + not letting me put up a word in my own defence of how the change was + forced upon me. And finally, said he, I might either do his bidding on a + certain matter to the letter, or take that punishment which my falling + away from the old Gods had earned. ‘I shall not kill you,’ said he, ‘but I + will cover all your limbs with a paralysis, such as you have tasted + already, and when at length death reaches you in some gutter, you will + welcome it.’” + </p> + <p> + “If Zaemon said those words, he meant them. So you accepted the + alternative?” + </p> + <p> + “Had I, with a wife depending on me, any other choice? I asked his + pleasure. It was to find you when you came in here from some distant part + of the land, and deliver to you his message. + </p> + <p> + “‘Then tell me where is the meeting place,’ said I, ‘and when.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘There is none appointed, nor is the day fixed,’ said he. ‘You must watch + and search always for him. But when he comes, you will be guided to his + place.’ Well, Deucalion, I think I was guided, but how, I do not know. But + now I have found you, and if there’s such a thing as gratitude, I ask you + to put in your word with Zaemon that this deadness be taken away from my + hand. It’s an awful thing for a man to be forced to go through life like + this, for no real fault of his own. And Zaemon could cure it from where he + sat, if he was so minded.” + </p> + <p> + “You seem still to have a very full faith in some of the old Gods’ + priests,” I said. “But so far, I do not see that your errand is done. I + have had no message yet.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, the message is so simple that I do not see why he could not have got + some one else to carry it. You are to make a great blaze. You may fire the + grasses of the plain in front of this wood if you choose. And on the night + which follows, you are to go round to that flank of the Sacred Mountain + away from the city where the rocks run down sheer, and there they will + lower a rope and haul you up to their hands above.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems easy, and I thank you for your pains. I will ask Zaemon that + your hand may be restored to you.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have my prayers if it is. And look, Deucalion, it is a small + matter, and it would be less likely to slip your memory if you saw to it + at once on your landing. Later, you may be disturbed. Phorenice is bound + to pull you down off your perch up there now she has made her mind to it. + She never fails, once she has set her hand to a thing. Indeed, if she was + no Goddess at birth, she is making herself into one very rapidly. She has + got all the ancient learning of our Priests, and more besides. She has + discovered the Secret of Life these recent months—” + </p> + <p> + “She has found that?” I cried, fairly startled. “How? Tell me how? Only + the Three know that. It is beyond our knowledge even who are members of + the Seven.” + </p> + <p> + “I know nothing of her means. But she has the secret, and now she is as + good an immortal (so she says) as any of them. Well, Deucalion, it is + dangerous for me to be missing from my temple overlong, so I will go. You + will carry that matter we spoke of in your mind? It means much to me.”—His + eye wandered over my ragged person—“And if you think my service is + of value to you—” + </p> + <p> + “You see me poor, my man, and practically destitute.” + </p> + <p> + “Some small coin,” he murmured, “or even a link of bronze? I am at great + expense just now buying nourishment for my wife. Well, if you have + nothing, you cannot give. So I’ll just bid you farewell.” + </p> + <p> + He took himself off then, and I was not sorry. I had never liked Ro. But I + wasted no more precious time then. The grass blazed up for a signal almost + before his timorous heels were clear of it, and that night when the + darkness gave me cover, I took the risk of what beasts might be prowling, + and went to the place appointed. There was no rope dangling, but presently + one came down the smooth cliff face like some slender snake. I made a + loop, slipped it over a leg, and pulled hard as a signal. Those above + began to haul, and so I went back to the Sacred Mountain after an absence + of so many toilsome and warring years. There were none to disturb the + ascent. Phorenice’s troops had no thought to guard that gaunt, bare, + seamless precipice. + </p> + <p> + The men who hauled me up were old, and panted heavily with their task, + and, until I knew the reason, I wondered why a knot of younger priests had + not been appointed for the duty. But I put no question. With us of the + Priests’ Clan on the Sacred Mountain, it is always taken as granted that + when an order is given, it is given for the best. Besides, these priests + did not offer themselves to question. They took me off at once to Zaemon, + and that is what I could have wished. + </p> + <p> + The old man greeted me with the royal sign. “All hail to Deucalion,” he + cried, “King of Atlantis, duly called thereto by the High Council of the + priests.” + </p> + <p> + “Is Phorenice dead?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “It remains for you to slay her, and take your kingdom, if, indeed, when + all is done, there remains a man or a rood of land to govern. The sentence + has gone out that she is to die, and it shall be carried into effect, even + though we have to set loose the most dreadful powers that are stored in + the Ark of the Mysteries, and wreck this continent in our effort. We have + borne with her infamies all these years by command sent down by the most + High Gods; but now she has gone beyond endurance, and They it is who have + given the word for her cutting off.” + </p> + <p> + “You are one of the highest Three; I am only one of the Seven; you best + know the cost.” + </p> + <p> + “There can be no counting the cost now, my brother, and my king. It is an + order.” + </p> + <p> + “It is an order,” I repeated formally, “so I obey.” + </p> + <p> + “If it were not impious to do so, it would be easy to justify this + decision of the Gods. The woman has usurped the throne; yet she was + forgiven and bidden rule on wisely. She has tampered with our holy + religion; yet she was forgiven. She has killed the peoples of Atlantis in + greedy useless wars, and destroyed the country’s trade; yet she was + forgiven. She has desecrated the old temples, and latterly has set up in + them images of herself to be worshipped as a deity; yet she was forgiven. + But at last her evil cleverness has discovered to her the tremendous + Secret of Life and Death, and there she overstepped the boundary of the + High Gods’ forbearance. + </p> + <p> + “I myself went to carry a final warning, and once more faced her in the + great banqueting-hall. Solemnly I recited to her the edict, and she chose + to take it as a challenge. She would live on eternally herself and she + would share her knowledge with those that pleased her. Tatho that was her + husband should also be immortal. Indeed, if she thought fit, she would cry + the secret aloud so that even the common people might know it, and death + from mere age would become a legend. + </p> + <p> + “She cared no wit how she might upset the laws of Nature. She was + Phorenice, and was the highest law of all. And finally she defied me there + in that banqueting-hall and defied also the High Gods that stood behind my + mouth. ‘My magic is as strong as yours, you pompous fool,’ she cried, ‘and + presently you shall see the two stand side by side upon their trial.’ + </p> + <p> + “She began to collect an army from that moment, and we on our part made + our preparations. It was discovered by our arts that you still lived, and + King of Atlantis you were made by solemn election. How you were summoned, + you know as nearly as it is lawful that one of your degree should know; + how you came, you understand best yourself; but here you are, my brother, + and being King now, you must order all things as you see best for the + preservation of your high estate, and we others live only to give you + obedience.” + </p> + <p> + “Then being King, I can speak without seeming to make use of a threat. I + must have my Queen first, or I am not strong enough to give my whole mind + to this ruling.” + </p> + <p> + “She shall be brought here.” + </p> + <p> + “So! Then I will be a General now, and see to the defences of this place, + and view the men who are here to stand behind them.” + </p> + <p> + I went out of the dwelling then, Zaemon giving place and following me. It + was night still but there is no darkness on the upper part of the Sacred + Mountain. A ring of fires, fed eternally from the earth-breath which wells + up from below, burns round one-half of the crest, lighting it always as + bright as day, and in fact forming no small part of its fortification. + Indeed, it is said that, in the early dawn of history, men first came to + the Mountain as a stronghold because of the natural defence which the + fires offered. + </p> + <p> + There is no bridging these flames or smothering them. On either side of + their line for a hundred paces the ground glows with heat, and a man would + be turned to ash who tried to cross it. Round full one-half the mountain + slopes the fires make a rampart unbreakable, and on the other side the + rock runs in one sheer precipice from the crest to the plain which spreads + beyond its foot. But it is on this farther side that there is the only + entrance way which gives passage to the crest of the Sacred Mountain from + below. Running diagonally up the steep face of the cliff is a gigantic + fissure, which succeeding ages (as man has grown more luxurious) have made + more easy to climb. + </p> + <p> + Looking at the additions, in the ancient days, I can well imagine that + none but the most daring could have made the ascent. But one generation + has thrown a bridge over a bad gap here, and another has cut into the + living stone and widened a ledge there, till in these latter years there + is a path with cut steps and carved balustrade such as the feeblest or + most giddy might traverse with little effort or exertion. But always when + these improvers made smooth the obstacles, they were careful to weaken in + no possible way the natural defences but rather to add to them. + </p> + <p> + Eight gates of stone there were cutting the pathway, each commanding a + straight, steep piece of the ascent, and overhanging each gate was a + gallery secure from arrow-shot, yet so contrived that great stones could + be hurled through holes in the floor of it, in such a manner that they + must irretrievably smash to a pulp any men advancing against it from + below. And in caves dug out from the rock on either hand was a great hoard + of these stones, so that no enemy through sheer expenditure of troops + could hope to storm a gate by exhausting its ammunition. + </p> + <p> + But though there were eight of these granite gates in the series, we had + the whole number to depend on no longer. The lowest gate was held by a + garrison of Phorenice’s troops, who had built a wall above them to protect + their occupation. The gate had been gained by no brilliant feat of arms—it + had been won by threats, bribery, and promises; or, in other words, it had + been given up by the blackest treachery. + </p> + <p> + And here lay the keynote of the weakness in our defence. The most perfect + ramparts that brain can invent are useless without men to line them, and + it was men we lacked. Of students entering into the colleges of the Sacred + Mountain, there had been none now for many a year. The younger generation + thought little of the older Gods. Of the men that had grown up amongst the + sacred groves, and filled offices there, many had become lukewarm in their + faith and remained on only through habit, and because an easy living + stayed near them there; and these, when the siege began, quickly made + their way over to the other side. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice was no fool to fight against unnecessary strength. Her heralds + made proclamation that peace and a good subsistence would be given to + those who chose to come out to her willingly; and as an alternative she + would kill by torture and mutilation those she caught in the place when + she took it by storm, as she most assuredly would do before she had + finished with it. And so great was the prestige of her name, that quite + one-half of these that remained on the mountain took themselves away from + the defence. + </p> + <p> + There was no attempt to hold back these sorry priests, nor was there any + punishing them as they went. Zaemon, indeed, was minded (so he told me + with grim meaning himself) to give them some memento of their apostasy to + carry away which would not wear out, but the others of the High Council + made him stay his vengeful hand. And so when I came to the place the + garrison numbered no more than eighty, counting even feeble old dotards + who could barely walk; and of men not past their prime I could barely + command a score. + </p> + <p> + Still, seeing the narrowness of the passages which led to each of the + gates, up which in no place could more than two men advance together, we + were by no means in desperate straits for the defence as yet; and if my + new-given kingdom was so far small, consisting as it did in effect of the + Sacred Mountain and no other part of Atlantis, at any rate there seemed + little danger of its being further contracted. + </p> + <p> + Another of the wise precautions of the men of old stood us in good stead + then. In the ancient times, when grain first was grown as food, it came to + be looked upon as the acme of wealth. Tribute was always paid from the + people to their Priests, and presently, so the old histories say, it was + appointed that this should take the form of grain, as this was a medium + both dignified and fitting. And those of the people who had it not, were + forced to barter their other produce for grain before they could pay this + tribute. + </p> + <p> + On the Sacred Mountain itself vast storehouses were dug in the rock, and + here the grain was teemed in great yellow heaps, and each generation of + those that were set over it, took a pride in adding to the accumulation. + </p> + <p> + In more modern days it had been a custom amongst the younger and more + forward of the Priests to scoff at this ancient provision, and to hold + that a treasure of gold, or weapons, or jewels would have more value and + no less of dignity; and more than once it has been a close thing lest + these innovators should not be out-voted. But as it was, the old + constitution had happily been preserved, and now in these years of trial + the Clan reaped the benefit. And so with these granaries, and a series of + great tanks and cisterns which held the rainfall, there was no chance of + Phorenice reducing our stronghold by mere close investment, even though + she sat down stubbornly before it for a score of years. + </p> + <p> + But it was the paucity of men for the defence which oppressed me most. As + I took my way about the head of the Mountain, inspecting all points, the + emptiness of the place smote me like a succession of blows. The groves, + once so trim, were now shaggy and unpruned. Wind had whirled the leaves in + upon the temple floors, and they lay there unswept. The college of youths + held no more now than a musty smell to bear witness that men had once been + grown there. The homely palaces of the higher Priests, at one time so + ardently sought after, lay many of them empty, because not even one + candidate came forward now to canvass for election. + </p> + <p> + Evil thoughts surged up within me as I saw these things, that were direct + promptings from the nether Gods. “There must be something wanting,” these + tempters whispered, “in a religion from which so many of its Priests fled + at the first pinch of persecution.” + </p> + <p> + I did what I could to thrust these waverings resolutely behind me; but + they refused to be altogether ousted from my brain; and so I made a + compromise with myself: First, I would with the help that might be given + me, destroy this wanton Phorenice, and regain the kingdom which had been + given me to my own proper rule; and afterwards I would call a council of + the Seven and council of the Three, and consider without prejudice if + there was any matter in which our ancient ritual could be amended to suit + the more modern requirements. But this should not be done till Phorenice + was dead and I was firmly planted in her room. I would not be a party, + even to myself, to any plan which smacked at all of surrender. + </p> + <p> + And there as I walked through the desolate groves and beside the cold + altars, the High Gods were pleased to show their approval of my scheme, + and to give me opportunity to bind myself to it with a solemn oath and + vow. At that moment from His distant resting-place in the East, our Lord + the Sun leaped up to begin another day. For long enough from where I stood + below the crest of the Mountain, He Himself would be invisible. But the + great light of His glory spread far into the sky, and against it the Ark + of the Mysteries loomed in black outline from the highest crag where it + rested, lonely and terrible. + </p> + <p> + For anyone unauthorised to go nearer than a thousand paces to this + storehouse of the Highest Mysteries meant instant death. On that day when + I was initiated as one of the Seven, I had been permitted to go near and + once press my lips against its ample curves; and the rank of my degree + gave me the privilege to repeat that salute again once on each day when a + new year was born. But what lay inside its great interior, and how it was + entered, that was hidden from the Seven, even as it was from the other + Priests and the common people in the city below. Only those who had been + raised to the sublime elevation of the Three had a knowledge of the + dreadful powers which were stored within it. + </p> + <p> + I went down on my knees where I was, and Zaemon knelt beside me, and + together we recited the prayers which had been said by the Priests from + the beginning of time, giving thanks to our great Lord that He has come to + brighten another day. And then, with my eyes fixed on the black outline of + the Ark of Mysteries I vowed that, come what might, I at least would be + true servant of the High Gods to my life’s end, and that my whole strength + should be spent in restoring Their worship and glory. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 17. NAIS THE REGAINED + </h2> + <p> + Now, from where we stood together just below the crest of the Sacred + Mountain, we could see down into the city, which lay spread out below us + like a map. The harbour and the great estuary gleamed at its farther side; + and the fringe of hills beyond smoked and fumed in their accustomed + fashion; the great stone circle of our Lord the Sun stood up grim and bare + in the middle of the city; and nearer in reared up the great mass of the + royal pyramid, the gold on its sides catching new gold from the Sun. + There, too, in the square before the pyramid stood the throne of granite, + dwarfed by the distance to the size of a mole’s hill, in which these nine + years my love had lain sleeping. + </p> + <p> + Old Zaemon followed my gaze. “Ay,” he said with a sigh, “I know where your + chief interest is. Deucalion when he landed here new from Yucatan was a + strong man. The King whom we have chosen—and who is the best we have + to choose—has his weakness.” + </p> + <p> + “It can be turned into additional strength. Give me Nais here, living and + warm to fight for, and I am a stronger man by far than the cold viceroy + and soldier that you speak about.” + </p> + <p> + “I have passed my word to that already, and you shall have her, but at the + cost of damaging somewhat this new kingdom of yours. Maybe too at the same + time we may rid you of this Phorenice and her brood. But I do not think it + likely. She is too wily, and once we begin our play, she is likely to + guess whence it comes, and how it will end, and so will make an escape + before harm can reach her. The High Gods, who have sent all these trials + for our refinement, have seen fit to give her some knowledge of how these + earth tremors may be set a-moving.” + </p> + <p> + “I have seen her juggle with them. But may I hear your scheme?” + </p> + <p> + “It will be shown you in good time enough. But for the present I would bid + you sleep. It will be your part to go into the city to-night, and take + your woman (that is my daughter) when she is set free, and bring her here + as best you can. And for that you will need all a strong man’s strength.”—He + stepped back, and looked me up and down.—“There are not many folk + that would take you for the tidy clean-chinned Deucalion now, my brother. + Your appearance will be a fine armour for you down yonder in the city + to-night when we wake it with our earth-shaking and terror. As you stand + now, you are hairy enough, and shaggy enough, and naked enough, and dirty + enough for some wild savage new landed out of Europe. Have a care that no + fine citizen down yonder takes a fancy to your thews, and seizes upon you + as his servant.” + </p> + <p> + “I somewhat pity him in his household if he does.” + </p> + <p> + Old Zaemon laughed. “Why, come to think of it, so do I.” + </p> + <p> + But quickly he got grave again. Laughter and Zaemon were very rare + playmates. “Well, get you to bed, my King, and leave me to go into the Ark + of Mysteries and prepare there with another of the Three the things that + must be done. It is no light business to handle the tremendous powers + which we must put into movement this night. And there is danger for us as + there is for you. So if by chance we do not meet again till we stand up + yonder behind the stars, giving account to the Gods, fare you well, + Deucalion.” + </p> + <p> + I slept that day as a soldier sleeps, taking full rest out of the hours, + and letting no harassing thought disturb me. It is only the weak who + permit their sleep to be broken on these occasions. And when the dark was + well set, I roused and fetched those who should attend to the rope. Our + Lady the Moon did not shine at that turn of the month: and the air was + full of a great blackness. So I was out of sight all the while they + lowered me. + </p> + <p> + I reached the tumbled rocks that lay at the deep foot of the cliff, and + then commenced to use a nice caution, because Phorenice’s soldiers + squatted uneasily round their camp-fires, as though they had forebodings + of the coming evil. I had no mind to further stir their wakefulness. So I + crept swiftly along in the darkest of the shadows, and at last came to the + spot where that passage ends which before I had used to get beneath the + walls of the city. + </p> + <p> + The lamp was in place, and I made my way along the windings swiftly. The + air, so it seemed to me, was even more noxious with vapours than it had + been when I was down there before, and I judged that Zaemon had already + begun to stir those internal activities which were shortly to convulse the + city. But again I had difficulty in finding an exit, and this, not because + there were people moving about at the places where I had to come out, but + because the set of the masonry was entirely changed. In olden times the + Priests’ Clan oversaw all the architects’ plans, and ruled out anything + likely to clash with their secret passages and chambers. But in this + modern day the Priests were of small account, and had no say in this + matter, and the architects often through sheer blundering sealed up and + made useless many of these outlets and hiding-places. + </p> + <p> + As it was then, I had to get out of the network of tunnels and galleries + where I could, and not where I would, and in the event found myself at the + farther side of the city, almost up to where the outer wall joins down to + the harbour. I came out without being seen, careful even in this moment of + extremity to preserve the ordinances, and closed all traces of exit behind + me. The earth seemed to spring beneath my feet like the deck of a ship in + smooth water; and though there was no actual movement as yet to disturb + the people, and indeed these slept on in their houses and shelters without + alarm, I could feel myself that the solid deadness of the ground was gone, + and that any moment it might break out into devastating waves of movement. + </p> + <p> + Gods! Should I be too late to see the untombing of my love? Would she be + laid there bare to the public gaze when presently the people swarmed out + into the open spaces through fear at what the great earth tremor might + cause to fall? I could see, in fancy, their rude, cruel hands thrust upon + her as she lay there helpless, and my inwards dried up at the thought. + </p> + <p> + I ran madly down and down the narrow winding streets with the one thought + of coming to the square which lay in front of the royal pyramid before + these things came to pass. With exquisite cruelty I had been forced with + my own hands to place her alive in her burying-place beneath the granite + throne, and if thews and speed could do it, I would not miss my reward of + taking her forth again with the same strong hands. + </p> + <p> + Few disturbed that furious hurry. At first here and there some wretch who + harboured in the gutter cried: “A thief! Throw a share or I pursue.” But + if any of these followed, I do not know. At any rate, my speed then must + have out-distanced anyone. Presently, too, as the swing of the earth + underfoot became more keen, and the stonework of the buildings by the + street side began to grate and groan and grit, and sent forth little + showers of dust, people began to run with scared cries from out of their + doors. But none of these had a mind to stop the ragged, shaggy, savage man + who ran so swiftly past, and flung the mud from his naked feet. + </p> + <p> + And so in time I came to the great square, and was there none too soon. + The place was filling with people who flocked away from the narrow + streets, and it was full of darkness, and noise, and dust, and sickness. + Beneath us the ground rippled in undulations like a sea, which with + terrifying slowness grew more and more intense. + </p> + <p> + Ever and again a house crashed down unseen in the gloom, and added to the + tumult. But the great pyramid had been planned by its old builders to + stand rude shocks. Its stones were dovetailed into one another with a + marvellous cleverness, and were further clamped and joined by ponderous + tongues of metal. It was a boast that one-half the foundations could be + dug from beneath it, and still the pyramid would stand four-square under + heaven, more enduring than the hills. + </p> + <p> + Flickering torches showed that its great stone doors lay open, and ever + and again I saw some frightened inmate scurry out and then be lost to + sight in the gloom. But with the royal pyramid and its ultimate fate I had + little concern; I did not even care then whether Phorenice was trapped, or + whether she came out sound and fit for further mischief. I crouched by the + granite throne which stood in the middle of that splendid square, and + heard its stones grate together like the ends of a broken bone as it + rocked to the earth-waves. + </p> + <p> + In that night of dust and darkness it was hard to see the outline of one’s + own hand, but I think that the Gods in some requital for the love which + had ached so long within me, gave me special power of sight. As I watched, + I saw the great carved rock which formed the capstone of the throne move + slightly and then move again, and then again; a tiny jerk for each + earth-pulse, but still there was an appreciable shifting; and, moreover, + the stone moved always to one side. + </p> + <p> + There was method in Zaemon’s desperate work, and this in my blind panic of + love and haste, I had overlooked. So I went up the steps of the throne on + the side from which the great capstone was moving, and clung there afire + with expectation. + </p> + <p> + More and more violent did the earth-swing grow, though the graduations of + its increase could not be perceived, and the din of falling houses and the + shrieks and cries of hurt and frightened people went louder up into the + night. Thicker grew the dust that filled the air, till one coughed and + strangled in the breathing, and more black did the night become as the + dust rose and blotted the rare stars from sight. I clung to an angle of + the granite throne, crouching on the uppermost step but one below the + capstone, and could scarcely keep my place against the violence of the + earth tremors. + </p> + <p> + But still the huge capstone that was carved with the snake and the + outstretched hand held my love fast locked in her living tomb, and I could + have bit the cold granite at the impotence which barred me from her. The + people who kept thronging into the square were mad with terror, but their + very numbers made my case more desperate every moment. “Phorenice, + Goddess, aid us now!” some cried, and when the prayer did not bring them + instant relief, they fell to yammering out the old confessions of the + faith which they had learned in childhood, turning in this hour of their + dreadful need to those old Gods, which, through so many dishonourable + years, they had spurned and deserted. It was a curious criticism on the + balance of their real religion, if one had cared to make it. + </p> + <p> + Louder grew the crash of falling masonry; and from the royal pyramid + itself, though indeed I could not even see its outline through the + darkness, there came sounds of grinding stones and cracking bars of metal + which told that even its superb majestic strength had a breaking strain. + There came to my mind the threat that old Zaemon had thundered forth in + that painted, perfumed banqueting-hall: “You shall see,” he had cried to + the Empress, “this royal pyramid which you have polluted with your + debaucheries torn tier from tier, and stone from stone, and scattered as + feathers spread before a wind!” + </p> + <p> + Still heavier grew the surging of the earth, and the pavement of the great + square gaped and upheaved, and the people who thronged it screamed still + more shrilly as their feet were crushed by the grinding blocks. And now + too the great pyramid itself was commencing to split, and gape, and + topple. The roofs of its splendid chambers gave way, and the ponderous + masonry above shuttered down and filled them. In part, too, one could see + the destruction now, and not guess at it merely from the fearful hearings + of the darkness. Thunders had begun to roar through the black night above, + and add their bellowings to this devil’s orchestration of uproar, and + vivid lightning splashes lit the flying dust-clouds. + </p> + <p> + It was perhaps natural that she should be there, but it came as a shock + when a flare of the lightning showed me Phorenice safe out in the square, + and indeed standing not far from myself. + </p> + <p> + She had taken her place in the middle of a great flagstone, and stood + there swaying her supple body to the shocks. Her face was calm, and its + loveliness was untouched by the years. From time to time she brushed away + the dust as it settled on the short red hair which curled about her neck. + There was no trace of fear written upon her face. There was some + weariness, some contempt, and I think a tinge of amusement. Yes, it took + more than the crumbling of her royal pyramid to impress Phorenice with the + infinite powers of those she warred against. + </p> + <p> + Gods! How the sight of her cool indifference maddened me then. I had it in + me to have strangled her with my hands if she had come within my reach. + But as it was, she stood in her place, swaying easily to the earth-waves + as a sailor sways on a ship’s deck, and beside her, crouched on the same + great flagstone, and overcome with nausea was Ylga, who again was raised + to be her fan-girl. It came to my mind that Ylga was twin sister to Nais, + and that I owed her for an ancient kindness, but I had leisure to do + nothing for her then, and indeed it was little enough I could have done. + With each shock the great capstone of the throne to which I clung jarred + farther and farther from its bed place, and my love was coming nearer to + me. It was she who claimed all my service then. + </p> + <p> + Once in their blind panic a knot of the people in the square thought that + the granite stone was too solid to be overturned, and saw in it an oasis + of safety. They flocked towards it, many of them dragging themselves up + the steep deep high steps on hands and knees because their feet had been + injured by the billowing flagstones of the square. + </p> + <p> + But I was in no mood to have the place profaned by their silly tremblings + and stares: I beat at them with my hands, tearing them away, and hurling + them back down the steepness of the steps. They asked me what was my title + to the place above their own, and I answered them with blows and gnashing + teeth. I was careless as to what they thought me or who they thought me. + Only I wished them gone. And so they went, wailing and crying that I was a + devil of the night, for they had no spirit left to defend themselves. + </p> + <p> + Farther and farther the great stone that made the top of the throne slid + out from its bed, but its slowness of movement maddened me. A life’s + education left me in that moment, and I had no trace of stately patience + left. In my puny fury I thrust at the great block with my shoulder and + head, and clawed at it with my hands till the muscles rose on me in great + ropes and knots, and the High Gods must have laughed at my helplessness as + They looked. All was being ordered by the Three who were Their trusted + servants, in Their good time. The work of the Gods may be done slowly, but + it is done exceeding sure. + </p> + <p> + But at last, when all the people of the city were numb with terror, and + incapable of further emotion (save only for Phorenice who still had nerve + enough to show no concern), what had been threatened came to pass. The + capstone of the throne slid out till it reached the balance, and the next + shock threw it with a roar and a clatter to the ground. And then a strange + tremor seized me. + </p> + <p> + After all the scheming and effort, what I had so ardently prayed for had + come about; but yet my inwards sank at the thought of mounting on the + stone where I had mounted before, and taking my dear from the hollow where + my hands had laid her. I knew Phorenice’s vengefulness, and had a high + value for her cleverness. Had she left Nais to lie in peace, or had she + stolen her away to suffer indignities elsewhere? Or had she ended her + sleep with death, and (as a grisly jest) left the corpse for my finding? I + could not tell; I dared not guess. Never during a whole hard-fighting life + have my emotions been so wrenched as they were at that moment. And, for + excuse, it must be owned that love for Nais had sapped my hardihood over a + matter in which she was so privately concerned. + </p> + <p> + It began to come to my mind, however, that the infernal uproar of the + earth tremor was beginning to slacken somewhat, as though Zaemon knew he + had done the work that he had promised, and was minded to give the + wretched city a breathing space. So I took my fortitude in hand, and + clambered up on to the flat of the stone. The lightning flashes had ceased + and all was darkness again and stifling dust, but at any moment the sky + might be lit once more, and if I were seen in that place, shaggy and + changed though I might be, Phorenice, if she were standing near, would not + be slow to guess my name and errand. + </p> + <p> + So changed was I for the moment, that I will finely confess that the idea + of a fight was loathsome to me then. I wanted to have my business done and + get gone from the place. + </p> + <p> + With hands that shook, I fumbled over the face of the stone and found the + clamps and bars of metal still in position where I had clenched them, and + then reverently I let my fingers pass between these, and felt the curves + of my love’s body in its rest beneath. An exultation began to whirl within + me. I did not know if she had been touched since I last left her; I did + not know if the drug would have its due effect, and let her be awakened to + warmth and sight again; but, dead or alive, I had her there, and she was + mine, mine, mine, and I could have yelled aloud in my joy at her + possession. + </p> + <p> + Still the earth shook beneath us, and masonry roared and crashed into + ruin. I had to cling to my place with one hand, whilst I unhasped the + clamps of metal that made the top of her prison with the other. But at + last I swung the upper half of them clear, and those which pinned down her + feet I let remain. I stooped and drew her soft body up on to the flat of + the stone beside me, and pressed my lips a hundred times to the face I + could not see. + </p> + <p> + Some mad thought took me, I believe, that the mere fierceness and heat of + my kisses would bring her back again to life and wakefulness. Indeed I + will own plainly, that I did but sorry credit to my training in calmness + that night. But she lay in my arms cold and nerveless as a corpse, and by + degrees my sober wits returned to me. + </p> + <p> + This was no place for either of us. Let the earth’s tremors cease (as was + plainly threatened), let daylight come, and let a few of these nerveless + people round recover from their panic, and all the great cost that had + been expended might be counted as waste. We should be seen, and it would + not be long before some one put a name to Nais; and then it would be an + easy matter to guess at Deucalion under the beard and the shaggy hair and + the browned nakedness of the savage who attended on her. Tell of fright? + By the Gods! I was scared as the veriest trembler who blundered amongst + the dust-clouds that night when the thought came to me. + </p> + <p> + With all that ruin spread around, it would be hopeless to think that any + of those secret galleries which tunnelled under the ground would be left + unbroken, and so it was useless to try a passage under the walls by the + old means. But I had heard shouts from that frightened mob which came to + me through the din and the darkness, that gave another idea for escape. + “The city is accursed,” they had cried: “if we stay here it will fall on + us. Let us get outside the walls where there are no buildings to bury us.” + </p> + <p> + If they went, I could not see. But one gate lay nearest to the royal + pyramid, and I judged that in their panic they would not go farther than + was needful. So I put the body of Nais over my shoulder (to leave my right + arm free) and blundered off as best I could through the stifling darkness. + </p> + <p> + It was hard to find a direction; it was hard to walk in the inky darkness + over ground that was tossed and tumbled like a frozen sea: and as the + earth still quaked and heaved, it was hard also to keep a footing. But if + I did fall myself a score of times, my dear burden got no bruise, and + presently I got to the skirts of the square, and found a street I knew. + The most venomous part of the shaking was done, and no more buildings + fell, but enough lay sprawled over the roadway to make walking into a + climb, and the sweat rolled from me as I laboured along my way. + </p> + <p> + There was no difficulty about passing the gate. There was no gate. There + was no wall. The Gods had driven their plough through it, and it lay flat, + and proud Atlantis stood as defenceless as the open country. Though I knew + the cause of this ruin, though, in fact, I had myself in some measure + incited it, I was almost sad at the ruthlessness with which it had been + carried out. The royal pyramid might go, houses and palaces might be + levelled, and for these I cared little enough; but when I saw those + stately ramparts also filched away, there the soldier in me woke, and I + grieved at this humbling of the mighty city that once had been my only + mistress. + </p> + <p> + But this was only a passing regret, a mere touch of the fighting-man’s + pride. I had a different love now, that had wrapped herself round me far + deeper and more tightly, and my duty was towards her first and foremost. + The night would soon be past, and then dangers would increase. None had + interfered with us so far, though many had jostled us as I clambered over + the ruins; but this forbearance could not be reckoned upon for long. The + earth tremors had almost died away, and after the panic and the storm, + then comes the time for the spoiling. + </p> + <p> + All men who were poor would try to seize what lay nearest to their hands, + and those of higher station, and any soldiers who could be collected and + still remained true to command, would ruthlessly stop and strip any man + they saw making off with plunder. I had no mind to clash with these + guardians of law and property, and so I fled on swiftly through the night + with my burden, using the unfrequented ways; and crying to the few folk + who did meet me that the woman had the plague, and would they lend me the + shelter of their house as ours had fallen. And so in time we came to the + place where the rope dangled from the precipice, and after Nais had been + drawn up to the safety of the Sacred Mountain, I put my leg in the loop of + the rope and followed her. + </p> + <p> + Now came what was the keenest anxiety of all. We took the girl and laid + her on a bed in one of the houses, and there in the lit room for the first + time I saw her clearly. Her beauty was drawn and pale. Her eyes were + closed, but so thin and transparent had grown the lids that one could + almost see the brown of the pupil beneath them. Her hair had grown to + inordinate thickness and length, and lay as a cushion behind and beside + her head. + </p> + <p> + There was no flicker of breath; there was none of that pulsing of the body + which denotes life; but still she had not the appearance of ordinary + death. The Nais I had placed nine long years before to rest in the hollow + of the stone, was a fine grown woman, full bosomed, and well boned. The + Nais that remained for me was half her weight. The old Nais it would have + puzzled me to carry for an hour: this was no burden to impede a grown man. + </p> + <p> + In other ways too she had altered. The nails of her fingers had grown to + such a great length that they were twisted in spirals, and the fingers + themselves and her hands were so waxy and transparent that the bony core + upon which they were built showed itself beneath the flesh in plain dull + outline. Her clay-cold lips were so white, that one sighed to remember the + full beauty of their carmine. Her shoulders and neck had lost their comely + curves, and made bony hollows now in which the dust of entombment lodged + black and thickly. + </p> + <p> + Reverently I set about preparing those things which if all went well + should restore her. I heated water and filled a bath, and tinctured it + heavily with those essences of the life of beasts which the Priests + extract and store against times of urgent need and sickness. I laid her + chin-deep in this bath, and sat beside it to watch, maintaining that bath + at a constant blood heat. + </p> + <p> + An hour I watched; two hours I watched; three hours—and yet she + showed no flicker of life. The heat of her body given her by the bath, was + the same as the heat of my own. But in the feel of her skin when I stroked + it with my hand, there was something lacking still. Only when our Lord the + Sun rose for His day did I break off my watching, whilst I said the + necessary prayer which is prescribed, and quickly returned again to the + gloom of the house. + </p> + <p> + I was torn with anxiety, and as the time went on and still no sign of life + came back, the hope that had once been so high within me began to sicken + and leave me downcast and despondent. From without, came the din of + fighting. Already Phorenice had sent her troops to storm the passageway, + and the Priests who defended it were shattering them with volleys of + rocks. But these sounds of war woke no pulse within me. If Nais did not + wake, then the world for me was ended, and I had no spirit left to care + who remained uppermost. The Gods in Their due time will doubtless smite me + for this impiety. But I make a confession of it here on these sheets, + having no mind to conceal any portion of this history for the small reason + that it does me a personal discredit. + </p> + <p> + But as the hours went on, and still no flicker of life came to lessen the + dumb agony that racked me, I grew more venturesome, and added more + essences to the bath, and drugs also such as experience had shown might + wake the disused tissues into life. I watched on with staring eyes, + rubbing her wasted body now and again, and always keeping the heat of the + bath at a constant. From the first I had barred the door against all who + would have come near to help me. With my own hands I had laid my love to + sleep, and I could not bear that others should rouse her, if indeed roused + she should ever be. But after those first offers, no others came, and the + snarl and din of fighting told of what occupied them. + </p> + <p> + It is hard to take note of small changes which occur with infinite + slowness when one is all the while on the tense watch, and high strung + though my senses were, I think there must have been some indication of + returning life shown before I was keen enough to notice it. For of a + sudden, as I gazed, I saw a faint rippling on the surface of the water of + the bath. Gods! Would it come back again to my love at last—this + life, this wakefulness? The ripple died out as it had come, and I stooped + my head nearer to the bath to try if I could see some faint heaving of her + bosom some small twitching of the limbs. No, she lay there still without + even a flutter of movement. But as I watched, surely it seemed to my + aching eyes that some tinge was beginning to warm that blank whiteness of + skin? + </p> + <p> + How I filled myself with that sight. The colour was returning to her again + beyond a doubt. Once more the dried blood was becoming fluid and beginning + again to course in its old channels. Her hair floated out in the liquid of + the bath like some brown tangle of the ocean weed, and ever and again it + twitched and eddied to some impulse which in itself was too small for the + eye to see. + </p> + <p> + She had slept for nine long years, and I knew that the wakening could be + none of the suddenest. Indeed, it came by its own gradations and with + infinite slowness, and I did not dare do more to hasten it. Further drugs + might very well stop eternally what those which had been used already had + begun. So I sat motionless where I was, and watched the colour come back, + and the waxenness go, and even the fullness of her curves in some small + measure return. And when growing strength gave her power to endure them, + and she was racked with those pains which are inevitable to being born + back again in this fashion to life, I too felt the reflex of her agony, + and writhed in loving sympathy. + </p> + <p> + Still further, too, was I wrung by a torment of doubt as to whether life + or these rackings would in the end be conqueror. After each paroxysm the + colour ebbed back from her again, and for a while she would lie + motionless. But strength and power seemed gradually to grow, and at last + these prevailed, and drove death and sleep beneath them. Her eyelids + struggled with their fastenings. Her lips parted, and her bosom heaved. + With shivering gasps her breath began to pant between her reddening lips. + At first it rattled dryly in her throat, but soon it softened and became + more regular. And then with a last effort her eyes, her glorious loving + eyes, slowly opened. + </p> + <p> + I leaned over and called her softly by name. + </p> + <p> + Her eyes met mine, and a glow arose from their depths that gave me the + greatest joy I have met in all the world. + </p> + <p> + “Deucalion, my love,” she whispered. “Oh, my dear, so you have come for + me. How I have dreamed of you! How I have been racked! But it was worth it + all for this.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 18. STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + </h2> + <p> + It was Nais herself who sent me to attend to my sterner duties. The din of + the attack came to us in the house where I was tending her, and she asked + its meaning. As pithily as might be, for she was in no condition for + tedious listening, I gave her the history of her nine years’ sleep. + </p> + <p> + The colour flushed more to her face. “My lord is the properest man in all + the world to be King,” she whispered. + </p> + <p> + “I refused to touch the trade till they had given me the Queen I desired, + safe and alive, here upon the Mountain.” + </p> + <p> + “How we poor women are made the chattels of you men! But, for myself, I + seem to like the traffic well enough. You should not have let me stand in + the way of Atlantis’ good, Deucalion. Still, it is very sweet to know you + were weak there for once, and that I was the cause of your weakness. What + is that bath over yonder? Ah! I remember; my wits seem none of the + clearest just now.” + </p> + <p> + “You have made the beginning. Your strength will return to you by quick + degrees. But it will not bear hurrying. You must have a patience.” + </p> + <p> + “Your ear, sir, for one moment, and then I will rest in peace. My poor + looks, are they all gone? You seem to have no mirror here. I had visions + that I should wake up wrinkled and old.” + </p> + <p> + “You are as you were, dear, that first night I saw you—the most + beautiful woman in all the world.” + </p> + <p> + “I am pleased you like me,” she said, and took the cup of broth I offered + her. “My hair seems to have grown; but it needs combing sadly. I had a + fancy, dear, once, that you liked ruddy hair best, and not a plain brown.” + She closed her eyes then, lying back amongst the cushions where I had + placed her, and dropped off into healthy sleep, with the smiles still + playing upon her lips. I put the coverlet over her, and kissed her + lightly, holding back my beard lest it should sweep her cheek. And then I + went out of the chamber. + </p> + <p> + That beard had grown vastly disagreeable to me these last hours, and then + I went into a room in the house, and found instruments, and shaved it down + to the bare chin. A change of robe also I found there and took it instead + of my squalid rags. If a man is in truth a king, he owes these things to + the dignity of his office. + </p> + <p> + But, if the din of the fighting was any guide, mine was a narrowing + kingdom. Every hour it seemed to grow fiercer and more near, and it was + clear that some of the gates in the passage up the cleft in the cliff, + impregnable though all men had thought them, had yielded to the vehemence + of Phorenice’s attack. And, indeed, it was scarcely to be marvelled at. + With all her genius spurred on to fury by the blow that had been struck at + her by wrecking so fair a part of the city, the Empress would be no light + adversary even for a strong place to resist, and the Sacred Mountain was + no longer strong. + </p> + <p> + Defences of stone, cunningly planned and mightily built, it still + possessed, but these will not fight alone. They need men to line them, + and, moreover, abundance of men. For always in a storm of this kind, some + desperate fellows will spit at death and get to hand grips, or slingers + and archers slip in their shot, or the throwing-fire gets home, or (as + here) some newfangled machine like Phorenice’s fire-tubes, make one in a + thousand of their wavering darts find the life; and so, though the general + attacking loses his hundreds, the defenders also are not without their + dead. + </p> + <p> + The slaughter, as it turned out, had been prodigious. As fast as the + stormers came up, the Priests who held the lowest gate remaining to us + rained down great rocks upon them till the narrow alley of the stair was + paved with their writhing dead. But Phorenice stood on a spur of the rock + below them urging on the charges, and with an insane valour company after + company marched up to hurl themselves hopelessly against the defences. + They had no machines to batter the massive gates, and their attack was as + pathetically useless as that of a child who hammers against a wall with an + orange; and meanwhile the terrible stones from above mowed them down + remorselessly. + </p> + <p> + Company after company of the troops marched into this terrible death-trap, + and not a man of all of them ever came back. Nor was it Phorenice’s policy + that they should do so. In her lust for this final conquest, she was + minded to pour out troops till she had filled up the passes with the + slain, so that at last she might march on to a level fight over the bridge + of their poor bodies. It was no part of Phorenice’s mood ever to count the + cost. She set down the object which was to be gained, and it was her + policy that the people of Atlantis were there to gain it for her. + </p> + <p> + Two gates then had she carried in this dreadful fashion, slaughtering + those Priests that stood behind, them who had not been already shot down. + And here I came down from above to take my share in the fight. There was + no trumpet to announce my coming, no herald to proclaim my quality, but + the Priests as a sheer custom picked up “Deucalion!” as a battle-cry; and + some shouted that, with a King to lead, there would be no further ground + lost. + </p> + <p> + It was clear that the name carried to the other side and bore weight with + it. A company of poor, doomed wretches who were hurrying up stopped in + their charge. The word “Deucalion!” was bandied round and handed back down + the line. I thought with some grim satisfaction, that here was evidence I + was not completely forgotten in the land. + </p> + <p> + There came shouts to them from behind to carry on their advance; but they + did not budge; and presently a glittering officer panted up, and commenced + to strike right and left amongst them with his sword. From where I stood + on the high rampart above the gate, I could see him plainly, and + recognised him at once. + </p> + <p> + “It matters not what they use for their battle-cry,” he was shouting. “You + have the orders of your divine Empress, and that is enough. You should be + proud to die for her wish, you cowards. And if you do not obey, you will + die afterwards under the instruments of the tormentors, very painfully. As + for Deucalion, he is dead any time these nine years.” + </p> + <p> + “There it seems you lie, my Lord Tatho,” I shouted down to him. + </p> + <p> + He started, and looked up at me. + </p> + <p> + “So you are there in real truth, then? Well, old comrade, I am sorry. But + it is too late to make a composition now. You are on the side of these + mangy Priests, and the Empress has made an edict that they are to be + rooted out, and I am her most obedient servant.” + </p> + <p> + “You used to be skilful of fence,” I said, and indeed there was little + enough to choose between us. “If it please you to stop this pitiful + killing, make yourself the champion of your side, and I will stand for + mine, and we will fight out this quarrel in some fair place, and bind our + parties to abide by the result.” + </p> + <p> + “It would be a grand fight between us two, old friend, and it goes hard + with me to balk you of it. But I cannot pleasure you. I am general here + under Phorenice, and she has given me the strongest orders not to peril + myself. And besides, though you are a great man, Deucalion, you are not + chief. You are not even one of the Three.” + </p> + <p> + “I am King.” + </p> + <p> + Tatho laughed. “Few but yourself would say so, my lord.” + </p> + <p> + “Few truly, but what there are, they are powerful. I was given the name + for the first time yesterday, and as a first blow in the campaign there + was some mischief done in the city. I was there myself, and saw how you + took it.” + </p> + <p> + “You were in Atlantis!” + </p> + <p> + “I went for Nais. She is on the mountain now, and to-morrow will be my + Queen. Tatho, as a priest to a priest, let me solemnly bring to your + memory the infinite power you bite against on this Sacred Mountain. Your + teaching has warned you of the weapons that are stored in the Ark of the + Mysteries. If you persist in this attack, at the best you can merely lose; + at the worst you can bring about a wreck over which even the High Gods + will shudder as They order it.” + </p> + <p> + “You cannot scare us back now by words,” said Tatho doggedly. “And as for + magic, it will be met by magic. Phorenice has found by her own cleverness + as many powers as were ever stored up in the Ark of the Mysteries.” + </p> + <p> + “Yet she looked on helplessly enough last night, when her royal pyramid + was trundled into a rubbish heap. Zaemon had prophesied that this should + be so, and for a witness, why I myself stood closer to her than we two + stand now, and saw her.” + </p> + <p> + “I will own you took her by surprise somewhat there. I do not understand + these matters myself; I was never more than one of the Seven in the old + days; and now, quite rightly, Phorenice keeps the knowledge of her magic + to herself: but it seems time is needed when one magic is to be met by + another.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” I said, “I know little about the business either. I leave these + matters now to those who are higher above me in the priesthood. Indeed, + having a liking for Nais, it seems I am debarred from ever being given + understanding about the highest of the higher Mysteries. So I content + myself with being a soldier, and when the appointed day comes, I shall + fall and kiss my mother the Earth for the last time. You, so I am told, + have ambition for longer life.” + </p> + <p> + He nodded. “Phorenice has found the Great Secret, and I am to be the first + that will share it with her. We shall be as Gods upon the earth, seeing + that Death will be powerless to touch us. And the twin sons she has borne + me, will be made immortal also.” + </p> + <p> + “Phorenice is headstrong. No, my lord, there is no need to shake your head + and try to deny it. I have had some acquaintance with her. But the order + has been made, and her immortality will be snatched from her very rudely. + Now, mark solemnly my words. I, Deucalion, have been appointed King of + Atlantis by the High Council of the Priests who are the mouthpiece of the + most High Gods, and if I do not have my reign, then there will be no + Atlantis left to carry either King or Empress. You know me, Tatho, for a + man that never lies.” + </p> + <p> + He nodded. + </p> + <p> + “Then save yourself before it is too late. You shall have again your + vice-royalty in Yucatan.” + </p> + <p> + “But, man, there is no Yucatan. A great horde of little hairy creatures, + that were something less than human and something more than beasts, swept + down upon our cities and ate them out. Oh, you may sneer if you choose! + Others sneered when I came home, till the Empress stopped them. But you + know what a train of driver ants is, that you meet with in the forests? + You may light fires across their path, and they will march into them in + their blind bravery, and put them out with their bodies, and those that + are left will march on in an unbroken column, and devour all that stands + in their path. I tell you, my lord, those little hairy creatures were like + the ants—aye, for numbers, and wooden bravery, as well as for + appetite. As a result to-day, there is no Yucatan.” + </p> + <p> + “You shall have Egypt, then.” + </p> + <p> + He burst at me hotly. “I would not take seven Egypts and ten Yucatans. My + lord, you think more poorly of me than is kind, when you ask me to become + a traitor. In your place would you throw your Nais away, if the doing it + would save you from a danger?” + </p> + <p> + “That is different.” + </p> + <p> + “In no degree. You have a kindness for her. I have all that and more for + Phorenice, who is, besides, my wife and the mother of my children. If I + have qualms—and I freely confess I know you are desperate men up + there, and have dreadful powers at your command—my shiverings are + for them and not for myself. But I think, my lord, this parley is leading + to nothing, and though these common soldiers here will understand little + enough of our talk, they may be picking up a word here and there, and I do + not wish them to go on to their death (as you will see them do shortly) + and carry evil reports about me to whatever Gods they chance to come + before.” + </p> + <p> + He saluted me with his sword and drew back, and once more the missiles + began to fly, and the doomed wretches, who had been halting beside the + steep rock walls of the pass began once more to press hopelessly forward. + They had scaling-ladders certainly, but they had no chance of getting + these planted. They could do naught but fill the narrow way with their + bodies, and to that end they had been sent, and to that end they humbly + died. Our Priests with crow and lever wrenched from their lodging-places + the great rocks which had been made ready, and sent them crashing down, so + that once more screams filled the pass, and the horrid butchery was + renewed. + </p> + <p> + But ever and again, some arrow or some sling-stone, or some fire-tube’s + dart would find its way up from below and through the defences, and there + we would be with a man the less to carry on the fight. It was well enough + for Phorenice to be lavish with her troops; indeed, if she wished for + success, there were no two ways for it; and when those she had levied were + killed, she could readily press others into the service, seeing that she + had the whole broad face of the country under her rule. But with us it was + different. A man down on our side was a man whose arm would bitterly be + missed, and one which could in no possible way be replaced. + </p> + <p> + I made calculation of the chances, and saw clearly that, if we continued + the fight on the present plan, they would storm the gates one after + another as they came to them, and that by the time the uppermost gate was + reached, there would be no Priest alive to defend it. And so, not + disdaining to fashion myself on Phorenice’s newer plan, which held that a + general should at times in preference plot coldly from a place of some + safety, and not lead the thick of the fighting, I left those who stood to + the gate with some rough soldier’s words of cheer, and withdrew again up + the narrow stair of the pass. + </p> + <p> + This one approach to the Sacred Mountain was, as I have said before, + vastly more difficult and dangerous in the olden days when it stood as a + mere bare cleft as the High Gods made it. But a chasm had been bridged + here, a shelf cut through the solid rock there, and in many places the + roadway was built up on piers from distant crags below so as to make all + uniform and easy. It came to my mind now, that if I could destroy this + path, we might gain a breathing space for further effort. + </p> + <p> + The idea seemed good, or at least no other occurred to me which would in + any way relieve our desperate situation, and I looked around me for means + to put it into execution. Up and down, from the mountain to the plains + below, I had traversed that narrow stair of a pass some thousands of + times, and so in a manner of speaking knew every stone, and every turn, + and every cut of it by heart. But I had never looked upon it with an eye + to shaving off all roadway to the Sacred Mountain, and so now, even in + this moment of dreadful stress, I had to traverse it no less than three + times afresh before I could decide upon the best site for demolition. + </p> + <p> + But once the point was fixed, there was little delay in getting the scheme + in movement. Already I had sent men to the storehouses amongst the + Priests’ dwellings to fetch me rams, and crows, and acids, and hammers, + and such other material as was needed, and these stood handy behind one of + the upper gates. I put on every pair of hands that could be spared to the + work, no matter what was their age and feebleness; yes, if Nais could have + walked so far I would have pressed her for the labour; and presently + carved balustrade, and wayside statue, together with the lettered + wall-stones and the foot-worn cobbles, roared down into the gulf below, + and added their din to the shrieks and yells and crashes of the fighting. + Gods! But it was a hateful task, smashing down that splendid handiwork of + the men of the past. But it was better that it should crash down to ruin + in the abyss below, than that Phorenice should profane it with her impious + sandals. + </p> + <p> + At first I had feared that it would be needful to sacrifice the knot of + brave men who were so valiantly defending the gate then being attacked. It + is disgusting to be forced into a measure of this kind, but in hard + warfare it is often needful to the carrying out of his schemes for a + general to leave a part of his troops to fight to a finish, and without + hope of rescue, as valiantly as they may; and all he can do for their + reward is to recommend them earnestly to the care of the Gods. But when + the work of destroying the pathway was nearly completed, I saw a chance of + retrieving them. + </p> + <p> + We had not been content merely with breaking arches, and throwing down the + piers. We had got our rams and levers under the living rock itself on + which all the whole fabric stood; and fire stood ready to heat the rams + for their work; and when the word was given, the whole could be sent + crashing down the face of the cliffs beyond chance of repair. + </p> + <p> + All was, I say, finally prepared in this fashion, and then I gave the word + to hold. A narrow ledge still remained undestroyed, and offered footway, + and over this I crossed. The cut we had made was immediately below the + uppermost gate of all, and below it there were three more massive gates + still unviolated, besides the one then being so vehemently attacked. + Already, the garrisons had been retired from these, and I passed through + them all in turn, unchallenged and unchecked, and came to that busy + rampart where the twelve Priests left alive worked, stripped to the waist, + at heaving down the murderous rocks. + </p> + <p> + For awhile I busied myself at their side, stopping an occasional fire-tube + dart or arrow on my shield and passing them the tidings. The attack was + growing fiercer every minute now. The enemy had packed the pass below + well-nigh full of their dead, and our battering stones had less distance + to fall and so could do less execution. They pressed forward more eagerly + than ever with their scaling ladders, and it was plain that soon they + would inevitably put the place to the storm. Even during the short time I + was there, their sling-stones and missiles took life from three more of + the twelve who stood with me on the defence. + </p> + <p> + So I gave the word for one more furious avalanche of rock to be pelted + down, and whilst the few living were crawling out from those killed by the + discharge, and whilst the next band of reinforcements came scrambling up + over the bodies, I sent my nine remaining men away at a run up the steep + stairway of the path, and then followed them myself. Each of the gates in + turn we passed, shutting them after us, and breaking the bars and levers + with which they were moved, and not till we were through the last did the + roar of shouts from below tell that the besiegers had found the gate they + bit against was deserted. + </p> + <p> + One by one we balanced our way across the narrow ledge which was left + where the path had been destroyed, and one poor Priest that carried a + wound grew giddy, and lost his balance here, and toppled down to his death + in the abyss below before a hand could be stretched out to steady him. And + then, when we were all over, heat was put to the rams, and they expanded + with their resistless force, and tore the remaining ledges from their hold + in the rock. I think a pang went through us all then when we saw for + ourselves the last connecting link cut away from between the poor + remaining handful of our Sacred Clan on the Mountain, and the rest of our + great nation, who had grown so bitterly estranged to us, below. + </p> + <p> + But here at any rate was a break in the fighting. There were no further + preparations we could make for our defence, and high though I knew + Phorenice’s genius to be, I did not see how she could very well do other + than accept the check and retire. So I set a guard on the ramparts of the + uppermost gate to watch all possible movements, and gave the word to the + others to go and find the rest which so much they needed. + </p> + <p> + For myself, dutifully I tried to find Zaemon first, going on the errand my + proper self, for there was little enough of kingly state observed on the + Sacred Mountain, although the name and title had been given me. But Zaemon + was not to be come at. He was engaged inside the Ark of the Mysteries with + another of the Three, and being myself only one of the Seven, I had not + rank enough in the priesthood to break in upon their workings. And so I + was free to turn where my likings would have led me first, and that was to + the house which sheltered Nais. + </p> + <p> + She waked as I came in over the threshold, and her eyes filled with a + welcome for me. I went across and knelt where she lay, putting my face on + the pillow beside her. She was full of tender talk and sweet endearments. + Gods! What an infinity of delight I had missed by not knowing my Nais + earlier! But she had a will of her own through it all, and some quaint + conceits which made her all the more adorable. She rallied me on the new + cleanness of my chin, and on the robe which I had taken as a covering. She + professed a pretty awe for my kingship, and vowed that had she known of my + coming dignities she would never have dared to discover a love for me. But + about my marriage with Phorenice she spoke with less lightness. She put + out her thin white hand, and drew my face to her lips. + </p> + <p> + “It is weak of me to have a jealousy,” she murmured, “knowing how + completely my lord is mine alone; but I cannot help it. You have said you + were her husband for awhile. It gives me a pang to think that I shall not + be the first to lie in your arms, Deucalion.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you may gaily throw your pang away,” I whispered back. “I was + husband to Phorenice in mere word for how long I do not precisely know. + But in anything beyond, I was never her husband at all. She married me by + a form she prescribed herself, ignoring all the old rites and ceremonies, + and whether it would hold as legal or not, we need not trouble to inquire. + She herself has most nicely and completely annulled that marriage as I + have told you. Tatho is her husband now, and father to her children, and + he seems to have a fondness for her which does him credit.” + </p> + <p> + We said other things too in that chamber, those small repetitions of + endearments which are so precious to lovers, and so beyond the + comprehension of other folk, but they are not to be set down on these + sheets. They are a mere private matter which can have no concern to any + one beyond our two selves, and more weighty subjects are piling themselves + up in deep index for the historian. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice, it seemed, had more rage against the Priests’ Clan on the + Mountain and more bright genius to help her to a vengeance than I had + credited. Her troops stormed easily the gates we had left to them, and + swarmed up till they stood where the pathway was broken down. In the + fierceness of their rush, the foremost were thrust over the brink by those + pressing up behind, before the advance could be halted, and these went + screaming to a horrid death in the great gulf below. But it was no + position here that a lavish spending of men could take, and presently all + were drawn off, save for some half-score who stood as outpost sentries, + and dodged out of arrow-shot behind angles of the rock. + </p> + <p> + It seems, too, that the Empress herself reconnoitered the place, using due + caution and quickness, and so got for herself a full plan of its + requirements without being obliged to trust the measuring of another eye. + With extraordinary nimbleness she must have planned an engine such as was + necessary to suit her purposes, and given orders for its making; for even + with the vast force and resources at her disposal, the speed with which it + was built was prodigious. + </p> + <p> + There was very little noise made to tell of what was afoot. All the + woodwork and metalwork was cut, and tongued, and forged, and fitted first + by skilled craftsmen below, in the plain at the foot of the cleft; and + when each ponderous balk and each crosspiece, and each plank was dragged + up the steep pass through the conquered gates, it was ready instantly for + fitting into its appointed place in the completed machine. + </p> + <p> + The cleft was straight where they set about their building, and there was + no curve or spur of the cliff to hide their handiwork from those of the + Priests who watched from the ramparts above our one remaining gate. But + Phorenice had a coyness lest her engine should be seen before it was + completed, and so to screen it she had a vast fire built at the uppermost + point where the causeway was broken off, and fed diligently with wet sedge + and green wood, so that a great smoke poured out, rising like a curtain + that shut out all view. And so though the Priests on the rampart above the + gate picked off now and again some of those who tended the fire, they + could do the besiegers no further injury, and remained up to the last + quite in ignorance of their tactics. + </p> + <p> + The passage up the cleft was in shadow during the night hours, for, though + all the crest of the Sacred Mountain was always lit brightly by the + eternal fires which made its defence on the farther side, their glow threw + no gleam down that flank where the cliff ran sheer to the plains beneath. + And so it was under cover of the darkness that Phorenice brought up her + engine into position for attack. + </p> + <p> + Planking had been laid down for its wheels, and the wheels themselves well + greased, and it may be that she hoped to march in upon us whilst all + slept. But there was a certain creaking and groaning of timbers, and + laboured panting of men, which gave advertisement that something was being + attempted, and the alarm was spread quietly in the hope that if a surprise + had been planned, the real surprise might be turned the other way. + </p> + <p> + A messenger came to me running, where I sat in the house at the side of my + love, and she, like the soldier’s wife she was made to be, kissed me and + bade me go quickly and care for my honour, and bring back my wounds for + her to mend. + </p> + <p> + On the rampart above the gate all was silence, save for the faint rustle + of armed men, and out of the black darkness ahead, and from the other side + of the broken causeway, came the sounds of which the messenger bad warned + me. + </p> + <p> + The captain of the gate came to me and whispered: “We have made no light + till the King came, not knowing the King’s will in the matter. Is it + wished I send some of the throwing-fire down yonder, on the chance that it + does some harm, and at the same time lights up the place? Or is it willed + that we wait for their surprise?” + </p> + <p> + “Send the fire,” I said, “or we may find that Phorenice’s brain has been + one too many for us.” + </p> + <p> + The captain of the gate took one of the balls in his hand, lit the fuse, + and hurled it. The horrid thing burst amongst a mass of men who were + labouring with a huge engine, sputtering them with its deadly fire, and + lighting their garments. The plan of the engine showed itself plainly. + They had built them a vast great tower, resting on wheels at its base, so + that it might by pushed forward from behind, and slanting at its foot to + allow for the steepness of the path and leave it always upright. + </p> + <p> + It was storeyed inside, with ladders joining each floor, and through slits + in the side which faced us bowmen could cover an attack. From its top a + great bridge reared high above it, being carried vertically till the tower + was brought near enough for its use. The bridge was hinged at the third + storey of the tower, and fastened with ropes to its extreme top; but, once + the ropes were cut, the bridge would fall, and light upon whatever came + within its swing, and be held there by the spikes with which it was + studded beneath. + </p> + <p> + I saw, and inwardly felt myself conquered. The cleverness of Phorenice had + been too strong for my defence. No war-engine of which we had command + could overset the tower. The whole of its massive timbers were hung with + the wet new-stripped skins of beasts, so that even the throwing-fire could + not destroy it. What puny means we had to impede those who pushed it + forward would have little effect. Presently it would come to the place + appointed, and the ropes would be cut, and the bridge would thunder down + on the rampart above our last gate, and the stormers would pour out to + their final success. + </p> + <p> + Well, life had loomed very pleasant for me these few days with a warm and + loving Nais once more in touch of my arms, but the High Gods in Their + infinite wisdom knew best always, and I was no rebel to stay stiff-necked + against their decision. But it is ever a soldier’s privilege, come what + may, to warm over a fight, and the most exquisitely fierce joy of all is + that final fight of a man who knows that he must die, and who lusts only + to make his bed of slain high enough to carry a due memory of his powers + with those who afterwards come to gaze upon it. I gripped my axe, and the + muscles of my arms stood out in knots at the thought of it. Would Tatho + come to give me sport? I feared not. They would send only the common + soldiers first to the storm, and I must be content to do my killing on + those. + </p> + <p> + And Nais, what of her? I had a quiet mind there. When any spoilers came to + the house where she lay, she would know that Deucalion had been taken up + to the Gods, and she would not be long in following him. She had her + dagger. No, I had no fears of being parted long from Nais now. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 19. DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS + </h2> + <p> + A tottering old Priest came up and touched me on the shoulder. + </p> + <p> + “Well?” I said sharply, having small taste for interruption just now. + </p> + <p> + “News has been carried to the Three, my King, of what is threatened.” + </p> + <p> + “Then they will know that I stand here now, brother, to enjoy the finest + fight of my life. When it is finished I shall go to the Gods, and be there + standing behind the stars to welcome them when presently they also arrive. + They have my regrets that they are too old and too feeble to die and look + upon a fine killing themselves.” + </p> + <p> + “I have commands from them, my King, to lay upon you, which I fear you + will like but slenderly. You are forbidden to find your death here in the + fighting. They have a further use for you yet.” + </p> + <p> + I turned on the old man angrily enough. “I shall take no such order, my + brother. I am not going to believe it was ever given. You must have + misunderstood. If I am a man, if I am a Priest, if I am a soldier, if I am + a King, then it stands to my honour that no enemy should pass this gate + whilst yet I live. And you may go back and throw that message at their + teeth.” + </p> + <p> + The old man smiled enviously. He, too, had been a keen soldier in his day. + “I told them you would not easily believe such a message, and asked them + for a sign, and they bore with me, and gave me one. I was to give you this + jewel, my King.” + </p> + <p> + “How came they by that? It is a bracelet from the elbow of Nais.” + </p> + <p> + “They must have stripped her of it. I did not know it came from Nais. The + word I was to bring you said that the owner of the jewel was inside the + Ark of the Mysteries, and waited you there. The use which the Three have + for you further concerns her also.” + </p> + <p> + Even when I heard that, I will freely confess that my obedience was sorely + tried, and I have the less shame in setting it down on these sheets, + because I know that all true soldiers will feel a sympathy for my plight. + Indeed, the promise of the battle was very tempting. But in the end my + love for Nais prevailed, and I gave the salutation that was needful in + token that I heard the order and obeyed it. + </p> + <p> + To the knot of Priests who were left for the defence, I turned and made my + farewells. “You will have what I shall miss, my brothers,” I said. “I envy + you that fight. But, though I am King of Atlantis, still I am only one of + the Seven, and so am the servant of the Three and must obey their order. + They speak in words the will of the most High Gods, and we must do as they + command. You will stand behind the stars before I come, and I ask of you + that you will commend me to Those you meet there. It is not my own will + that I shall not appear there by your side.” + </p> + <p> + They heard my words with smiles, and very courteously saluted me with + their weapons, and there we parted. I did not see the fight, but I know it + was good, from the time which passed before Phorenice’s hordes broke out + on to the crest of the Mountain. They died hard, that last remnant of the + lesser Priests of Atlantis. + </p> + <p> + With a sour enough feeling I went up to the head of the pass, and then + through the groves, and between the temples and colleges and houses which + stood on the upper slopes of the Sacred Mountain, till I reached that + boundary, beyond which in milder days it was death for any but the + privileged few to pass. But the time, it appeared to me, was past for + conventions, and, moreover, my own temper was hot; and it is likely that I + should have strode on with little scruple if I had not been interrupted. + But in the temple which marked the boundary, there was old Zaemon waiting; + and he, with due solemnity of words, and with the whole of some ancient + ritual ordained for that purpose, sought dispensation from the High Gods + for my trespass, and would not give me way till he was through with his + ceremony. + </p> + <p> + Already Phorenice’s tower and bridge were in position, for the clash and + yelling of a fight told that the small handful of Priests on the rampart + of the last gate were bartering their lives for the highest return in dead + that they could earn. They were trained fighting men all, but old and + feeble, and the odds against them were too enormous to be stemmed for over + long. In a very short time the place would be put to the storm, and the + roof of the Sacred Mountain would be at the open mercy of the invader. If + there was any further thing to be done, it was well that it should be set + about quickly whilst peace remained. It seemed to me that the moment for + prompt action, and the time for lengthy pompous ceremonial was done for + good. + </p> + <p> + But Zaemon was minded otherwise. He led me up to the Ark of the Mysteries, + and chided my impatience, and waited till I had given it my reverential + kiss, and then he called aloud, and another old man came out of the + opening which is in the top of the Ark, and climbed painfully down by the + battens which are fixed on its sides. He was a man I had never seen + before, hoary, frail, and emaciated, and he and Zaemon were then the only + two remaining Priests who had been raised to the highest degree known to + our Clan, and who alone had knowledge of the highest secrets and powers + and mysteries. + </p> + <p> + “Look!” cried Zaemon, in his shrill old voice, and swept a trembling + finger over the shattered city, and the great spread of sea and country + which lay in view of us below. I followed his pointing and looked, and a + chill began to crawl through me. All was plainly shown. Our Lord the Sun + burned high overhead in a sky of cloudless blue, and day shimmered in His + heat. All below seemed from that distance peaceful and warm and still, + save only that the mountains smoked more than ordinary, and some spouted + fires, and that the sea boiled with some strange disorder. + </p> + <p> + But it was the significance of the sea that troubled me most. Far out on + the distant coast it surged against the rocks in enormous rolls of surf; + and up the great estuary, at the head of which the city of Atlantis + stands, it gushed in successive waves of enormous height which never + returned. Already the lower lands on either side were blotted out beneath + tumultuous waters, the harbour walls were drowned out of sight, and the + flood was creeping up into the lower wards of the great city itself. + </p> + <p> + “You have seen?” asked Zaemon. + </p> + <p> + “I have seen.” + </p> + <p> + “You understand?” + </p> + <p> + “In part.” + </p> + <p> + “Then let me tell you all. This is the beginning, and the end will follow + swiftly. The most High Gods, that sit behind the stars, have a limit to + even Their sublime patience; and that has been passed. The city of + Atlantis, the great continent that is beyond, and all that are in them are + doomed to unutterable destruction. Of old it was foreseen that this great + wiping-out would happen through the sins of men, and to this end the Ark + of the Mysteries was built under the direction of the Gods. No mortal + implements can so much as scratch its surface, no waves or rocks wreck it. + Inside is stored on sheets of the ancient writing all that is known in the + world of learning that is not shared by the common people, also there is + grain in a store, and sweet water in tanks sufficient for two persons for + the space of four years, together with seeds, weapons, and all such other + matters as were deemed fit. + </p> + <p> + “Out of all this vast country it has been decreed by the High Gods that + two shall not perish. Two shall be chosen, a man and a woman, who are fit + and proper persons to carry away with them the ancient learning to dispose + of it as they see best, and afterwards to rear up a race who shall in time + build another kingdom and do honour to our Lord the Sun and the other Gods + in another place. The woman is within the Ark already, and seated in the + place appointed for her, and though she is a daughter of mine, the burden + of her choosing is with you. For the man, the choice has fallen upon + yourself.” + </p> + <p> + I was half numb with the shock of what was befalling. “I do not know that + I care to be a survivor.” + </p> + <p> + “You are not asked for your wishes,” said the old man. “You are given an + order from the High Gods, who know you to be Their faithful servant.” + </p> + <p> + Habit rode strong upon me. I made salutation in the required form, and + said that I heard and would obey. + </p> + <p> + “Then it remains to raise you to the sublime degree of the Three, and if + your learning is so small that you will not understand the keys to many of + the Powers, and the highest of the Mysteries, when they are handed to you, + that fault cannot be remedied now.” + </p> + <p> + Certainly the time remaining was short enough. The fight still raged down + at the gate in the pass, though it was a wonder how the handful of Priests + had held their ground so long. But the ocean rolled in upon the land in an + ever-increasing flood, and the mountains smoked and belched forth more + volleys of rock as the weight increased on their lower parts, and + presently those that besieged the Mountain could not fail to see the fate + that threatened them. Then there would be no withholding their rush. In + their mad fury and panic they would sweep all obstruction resistlessly + before them, and those who stood in their path might look to themselves. + </p> + <p> + But there was no hurrying Zaemon and his fellow sage. They were without + temple for the ceremony, without sacrifice or incense to decorate it. They + had but the sky for a roof to make their echoes, and the Gods themselves + for witnesses. But they went through the work of raising me to their own + degree, with all the grand and majestic form which has gathered dignity + from the ages, and by no one sentence did they curtail it. A burning + mountain burst with a bellowing roar as the incoming waters met its fires, + but gravely they went on, in turn reciting their sentences. Phorenice’s + troops broke down the last resistance, and poured in a frenzied stream + amongst the groves and temples, but still they quavered never in the + ritual. + </p> + <p> + It had been said that this ceremony is the grandest and the most + impressive of all those connected with our holy religion; and certainly I + found it so; and I speak as one intimate with all the others. Even the + tremendous circumstances which hemmed them in could do nothing to make + these frail old men forget the deference which was due to the highest + order of the Clan. + </p> + <p> + For myself, I will freely own I was less rapt. I stood there bareheaded in + the heat, a man trying to concentrate himself, and yet torn the while by a + thousand foreign emotions. The awful thing that was happening all around + compelled some of my attention. A continent was in the very act and + article of meeting with complete destruction, and if Zaemon and the other + Priest were strong enough to give their minds wholly up to a matter + parochial to the priesthood, I was not so stoical. And moreover, I was + filled with other anxieties and thoughts concerning Nais. Yet I managed to + preserve a decent show of attention to the ceremony; making all those + responses which were required of me; and trying as well as might be to + preserve in my mind those sentences which were the keys to power and + learning, and not mere phrasings of grandeur and devotion. + </p> + <p> + But it became clear that if the ceremony of my raising did not soon arrive + at its natural end, it would be cut short presently with something of + suddenness. Phorenice’s conquering legions swarmed out on to the crest of + the Mountain, and now carried full knowledge of the dreadful thing that + was come upon the country. They were out of all control, and ran about + like men distracted; but knowing full well that the Priests would have + brought this terrible wreck to pass by virtue of the powers which were + stored within the Ark of the Mysteries, it would be their natural impulse + to pour out a final vengeance upon any of these same Priests they could + come across before it was too late. + </p> + <p> + It began to come to my mind that if the ceremony did not very shortly + terminate, the further part of the plan would stand very small chance of + completion, and I should come by my death after all by fighting to a + finish, as I had pictured to myself before. My flickering attention saw + the soldiers coming always nearer in their frantic wanderings, and saw + also the sea below rolling deeper and deeper in upon the land. + </p> + <p> + The fires, too, which ringed in half the mountain, spurted up to double + their old height, and burned with an unceasing roar. But for all + distraction these things gave to the two old Priests who were raising me, + we might have been in the quietness of some ancient temple, with no so + much as a fly to buzz an interruption. + </p> + <p> + But at last an end came to the ceremony. “Kneel,” cried Zaemon, “and make + obeisance to your mother the Earth, and swear by the High Gods that you + will never make improper use of the powers over Her which this day you + have been granted.” + </p> + <p> + When I had done that, he bade me rise as a fully installed and duly + initiated member of the Three. “You will have no opportunity to practise + the workings of this degree with either of us, my brother,” said he, “for + presently our other brother and I go to stand before the Gods to deliver + to Them an account of our trust, and of how we have carried it out. But + what items you remember here and there may turn of use to you hereafter. + And now we two give you our farewells, and promise to commend you highly + to the Gods when soon we meet Them in Their place behind the stars. Climb + now into the Ark, and be ready to shut the door which guards it, if there + is any attempt by these raging people to invade that also. Remember, my + brother, it is the Gods’ direct will that you and the woman Nais go from + this place living and sound, and you are expressly forbidden to accept + challenge or provocation to fight on any pretext whatever. But as long as + may be done in safety, you may look out upon Atlantis in her death-throes. + It is very fitting that one of the only two who are sent hence alive, + should carry the full tale of what has befallen.” + </p> + <p> + I went to the top of the Ark of Mysteries then, climbing there by the + battens which are fastened to the sides, and then descended by the stair + which is inside and found Nais in a little chamber waiting for me. + </p> + <p> + “I was bidden stay here by Zaemon,” she said, “who forced me to this place + by threats and also by promises that my lord would follow. He is very + ungentle, that father of mine, but I think he has a kindness for us both, + and any way he is my father and I cannot help loving him. Is there no + chance to save him from what is going to happen?” + </p> + <p> + “He will not come into this Ark, for I asked him. It has been ordained + from the ancient time when first the Ark was built, that when the day for + its purpose came, one woman and one man should be its only tenants, and + they are here already. Zaemon’s will in the matter is not to be twisted by + you or by me. He has a message to be delivered to the Gods, and (if I know + him at all), he grudges every minute that is lost in carrying it to them.” + </p> + <p> + I left her then, and went out again up the stair, and stood once more on + the roof of the Ark. On the Mountain top men still ran about distracted, + but gradually they were coming to where the Ark rested on the highest + point. For the moment, however, I passed them lightly. The drowning of the + great continent that had been spread out below filled the eye. Ocean + roared in upon it with still more furious waves. The plains and the level + lands were foaming lakes. The great city of Atlantis had vanished + eternally. The mountains alone kept their heads above the flood, and + spewed out rocks, and steam, and boiling stone, or burst when the waters + reached them and created great whirlpools of surging sea, and twisted + trees, and bubbling mud. + </p> + <p> + In the space of a few breaths every living creature that dwelt in the + lower grounds had been smothered by the waters, save for a few who huddled + in a pair of galleys that were driven oarless inland, over what had once + been black forest and hunting land for the beasts. And even as I watched, + these also were swallowed up by the horrid turmoil of sea, and nothing but + the sea beasts, and those of the greater lizards which can live in such + outrageous waters, could have survived even that state of the destruction. + Indeed, none but those men who had now found standing-ground on the upper + slopes of the Sacred Mountain survived, and it was plain that their span + was short, for the great mass of the continent sank deeper and more deep + every minute before our aching eyes, beneath the boiling inrush of the + seas. + </p> + <p> + But though the great mass of the soldiery were dazed and maddened at the + prospect of the overwhelming which threatened them, there were some with a + strength of mind too valiant to give any outward show of discomposure. + Presently a compact little body of people came from out the houses and the + temples, and headed directly across the open ground towards the Ark. On + the outside marched Phorenice’s personal guards with their weapons new + blooded. They had been forced to fight a way through their own fellow + soldiers. The poor demented creatures had thought it was every one for + himself now, till these guards (by their mistress’s order) proved to them + that Phorenice still came first. + </p> + <p> + And in the middle of them, borne in a litter of gold and ivory by her + grotesque European slaves, rode the Empress, still calm, still lovely, and + seemingly divided in her sentiments between contempt and amusement. Her + two children lay in the litter at her feet. On her right hand marched + Tatho gorgeously apparelled, and with a beard curled and plaited into a + thousand ringlets. On the other side, plying her industry with unruffled + defence, walked Ylga, once again fan-girl, and so still second lady in + this dwindling kingdom. + </p> + <p> + The party of them halted half a score of paces from the Ark by Phorenice’s + order. “Do not go nearer to those unclean old men. They carry a rank odour + with them, and for the moment we are short of essences to sweeten the air + of their neighbourhood.” She lifted her eyebrows and looked up at me. + “Truly a quiet little gathering of old acquaintances. Why, there is + Deucalion, that once I took the flavour of and threw aside when he cloyed + me.” + </p> + <p> + “I have Nais here,” I said, “and presently we two will be all that are + left alive of this nation.” + </p> + <p> + “Nais is quite welcome to my leavings,” she laughed. “I will look down + upon your country cooings when presently I go back to the Place behind the + stars from which I came. You are a very rustic person, Deucalion. They + tell me too that three or four of these smelling old men up here have + named you King. Did you swell much with dignity? Or did you remember that + there was a pretty Empress left that would still be Empress so long as + there was an Atlantis to govern? Come, sir, find your tongue. By my face! + you must have hungered for me very madly these years we have been parted, + if new-grown ruggedness of feature is an evidence.” + </p> + <p> + “Have your gibe. I do not gibe back at a woman who presently will die.” + </p> + <p> + “Bah! Deucalion, you will live behind the times. Have they not told you + that I know the Great Secret and am indeed a Goddess now? My arts can make + life run on eternally.” + </p> + <p> + “Then the waters will presently test them hard,” I said, but there the + talk was taken into other lips. Zaemon went forward to the front of the + litter with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun glowing in his hand, and burst + into a flow of cursing. It was hard for me to hear his words. The roar of + the waters which poured up over the land, and beat in vast waves against + the Sacred Mountain itself, grew nearer and more loud. But the old man had + his say. + </p> + <p> + Phorenice gave orders to her guards for his killing; yes, tried even to + rise from the litter and do the work herself; but Zaemon held the Symbol + to his front, and its power in that supreme moment mastered all the arts + that could be brought against it. The majesty of the most High Gods was + vindicated, and that splendid Empress knew it and lay back sullenly + amongst the cushions of her litter, a beaten woman. + </p> + <p> + Only one person in that rigid knot of people found power to leave the + rest, and that was Ylga. She came out to the side of the Ark, and leaned + up, and cried me a farewell through the gathering roar of the flood. + </p> + <p> + “I would I might save you and take you with us,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “As for that,” she said, with a gesture, “I would not come if you asked + me. I am not a woman that will take anything less than all. But I shall + meet what comes presently with the memory that you will have me always + somewhere in your recollection. I know somewhat of men, even men of your + stamp, Deucalion, and you will never forget that you came very near to + loving me once.” + </p> + <p> + I think, too, she said something further, concerning Nais, but the + bellowing rush of the waters drowned all other words. A great mist made + from the stream sent up by the swamped burning mountains stopped all + accurate view, though the blaze from the fires lit it like gold. But I had + a last sight of a horde of soldiery rushing up the slopes of the Mountain, + with a scum of surge billowing at their heels, and licking many of them + back in its clutch. And then my eye fell on old Zaemon waving to me with + the Symbol to shut down the door in the roof of the Ark. + </p> + <p> + I obeyed his last command, and went down the stair, and closed all ingress + behind me. There were bolts placed ready, and I shot these into their + sockets, and there were Nais and I alone, and cut off from all the rest of + our world that remained. + </p> + <p> + I went to the place where she lay, and put my arms tightly around her. + Without, we heard men beating desperately on the Ark with their weapons, + and some even climbed by the battens to the top and wrenched to try and + move the door from its fastenings. The end was coming very nearly to them + now, and the great crowd of them were mad with terror. + </p> + <p> + I would have given much to have known how Phorenice fared in that final + tumult, and how she faced it. I could see her, with her lovely face, and + her wondrous eyes, and her ruddy hair curling about her neck, and by all + the Gods! I thought more of her at that last moment than of the poor land + she had conquered, and misgoverned, and brought to this horrid + destruction. There is no denying the fascination which Phorenice carried + with her. + </p> + <p> + But the end did not dally long with its coming. There was a little surge + that lifted the Ark a hand’s breadth or so in its cradle, and set it back + again with a jar and a quiver. The blows from axes and weapons ceased on + its lower part, but redoubled into frenzied batterings on its rounded + roof. There were some screams and cries also which came to us but dully + through the thickness of its ponderous sheathing, though likely enough + they were sent forth at the full pitch of human lungs outside. And when + another surge came, roaring and thundering, which picked up the great + vessel as though it had been a feather, and spun it giddily; and after + that we touched earth or rock no more. + </p> + <p> + We tossed about on the crest and troughs of delirious seas, a sport for + the greedy Gods of the ocean. The lamp had fallen, and we crouched there + in darkness, dully weighed with the burden of knowledge that we alone were + saved out of what was yesterday a mighty nation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 20. ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP + </h2> + <p> + The Ark was rudderless, oarless, and machineless, and could travel only + where the High Gods chose. The inside was dark, and full of an ancient + smell, and crowded with groanings and noise. I could not find the fire-box + to relight the fallen lamp, and so we had to endure blindly what was dealt + out to us. The waves tossed us in merciless sport, and I clung on by the + side of Nais, holding her to the bed. We did not speak much, but there was + full companionship in our bereavement and our silence. + </p> + <p> + When Atlantis sank to form new ocean bed, she left great whirlpools and + spoutings from her drowned fires as a fleeting legacy to the Gods of the + Sea. And then, I think (though in the black belly of the Ark we could not + see these things), a vast hurricane of wind must have come on next so as + to leave no piece of the desolation incomplete. For seven nights and seven + days did this dreadful turmoil continue, as counted for us afterwards by + the reckoner of hours which hung within the Ark, and then the howling of + the wind departed, and only the roll of a long still swell remained. It + was regular and it was oily, as I could tell by the difference of the + motion, and then for the first time I dared to go up the stair, and open + the door which stood in the roof of the Ark. + </p> + <p> + The sweet air came gushing down to freshen the foulness within, and as the + Ark rode dryly over the seas, I went below and brought up Nais to gain + refreshment from the curing rays of our Lord the Sun. Duly the pair of us + adored Him, and gave thanks for His great mercy in coming to light another + day, and then we laid ourselves down where we were to doze, and take that + easy rest which we so urgently needed. + </p> + <p> + Yet, though I was tired beyond words, for long enough sleep would not + visit me. Wearily I stared out over the oily sunlit waters. No blur of + land met the eye. The ring of ocean was unbroken on every side, and + overhead the vault of heaven remained unchanged. The bosom of the deep was + littered with the poor wreckage of Atlantis, to remind one, if there had + been a need, that what had come about was fact, and not some horrid dream. + Trees, squared timber, a smashed and upturned boat of hides, and here and + there the rounded corpse of a man or beast shouldered over the swells, and + kept convoy with our Ark as she drifted on in charge of the Gods and the + current. + </p> + <p> + But sleep came to me at last, and I dropped off into unconsciousness, + holding the hand of Nais in mine, and when next I woke, I found her + open-eyed also and watching me tenderly. We were finely rested, both of + us, and rest and strength bring one complacency. We were more ready now to + accept the station which the High Gods had made for us without repining, + and so we went below again into the belly of the Ark to eat and drink and + maintain strength for the new life which lay before us. + </p> + <p> + A wonderful vessel was this Ark, now we were able to see it at leisure and + intimately. Although for the first time now in all its centuries of life + it swam upon the waters, it showed no leak or suncrack. Inside, even its + floor was bone dry. That it was built from some wood, one could see by the + grainings, but nowhere could one find suture or joint. The living timbers + had been put in place and then grown together by an art which we have lost + to-day, but which the Ancients knew with much perfection; and afterwards + some treatment, which is also a secret of those forgotten builders, had + made the wood as hard as metal and impervious to all attacks of the + weather. + </p> + <p> + In the gloomy cave of its belly were stored many matters. At one end, in + great tanks on either side of central alley, was a prodigious store of + grain. Sweet water was in other tanks at the other end. In another place + were drugs and samples, and essences of the life of beasts; all these + things being for use whilst the Ark roamed under the guidance of the Gods + on the bosom of the deep. On all the walls of the Ark, and on all the + partitions of the tanks and the other woodwork, there were carved in the + rude art of bygone time representations of all the beasts which lived in + Atlantis; and on these I looked with a hunter’s interest, as some of them + were strange to me, and had died out with the men who had perpetuated them + in these sculptures. There was a good store of weapons too and the tools + for handicrafts. + </p> + <p> + Now, for many weeks, our life endured in this Ark as the Gods drove it + about here and there across the face of the waters. We had no government + over direction; we could not by so much as a hair’s breadth a day increase + her speed. The High Gods that had chosen the two of us to be the only ones + saved out of all Atlantis, had sole control of our fate, and into Their + hands we cheerfully resigned our future direction. + </p> + <p> + Of that land which we reached in due time, and where we made our abiding + place, and where our children were born, I shall tell of in its place; but + since this chronicle has proceeded so far in an exact order of the events + as they came to pass, it is necessary first to narrate how we came by the + sheets on which it is written. + </p> + <p> + In a great coffer, in the centre of the Ark’s floor, the whole of the + Mysteries learned during the study of ages were set down in accurate + writing. I read through some of them during the days which passed, and the + awfulness of the Powers over which they gave control appalled me. I had + seen some of these Powers set loose in Atlantis, and was a witness of her + destruction. But here were Powers far higher than those; here was the + great Secret of Life and Death which Phorenice also had found, and for + which she had been destroyed; and there were other things also of which I + cannot even bring my stylo to scribe. + </p> + <p> + The thought of being custodian of these writings was more than I could + endure, and the more the matter rested in my mind, the more intolerable + became the burden. And at last I took hot irons, and with them seared the + wax on the sheets till every letter of the old writings was obliterated. + If I did wrong, the High Gods in Their infinite justice will give me + punishment; if it is well that these great secrets should endure on earth, + They in their infinite power will dictate them afresh to some fitting + scribes; but I destroyed them there as the Ark swayed with us over the + waves; and later, when we came to land, I rewrote upon the sheets the + matters which led to great Atlantis being dragged to her death-throes. + </p> + <p> + Nais, that I love so tenderly— + </p> + <p> + [TRANSLATOR’S NOTE: The remaining sheets are too broken to be legible.] + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s The Lost Continent, by C. J. 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Cutcliffe Hyne + +Release Date: July 6, 2008 [EBook #285] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST CONTINENT *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss + + + + + +THE LOST CONTINENT + +C. J. Cutliffe Hyne + + + +CONTENTS + + PREFATORY: THE LEGATEES OF DEUCALION + 1 MY RECALL + 2 BACK TO ATLANTIS + 3 A RIVAL NAVY + 4 THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE + 5 ZAEMON'S CURSE + 6 THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS + 7 THE BITERS OF THE WALLS + (FURTHER ACCOUNT) + 8 THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS + 9 PHORENICE, GODDESS + 10 A WOOING + 11 AN AFFAIR WITH THE BARBAROUS FISHERS + 12 THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE MOON + 13 THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS + 14 AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE + 15 ZAEMON'S SUMMONS + 16 SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + 17 NAIS THE REGAINED + 18 STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + 19 DESTRUCTION OF THE ATLANTIS + 20 ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP + + + + + + +PREFATORY: + +THE LEGATEES OF DEUCALION + + +We were both of us not a little stiff as the result of sleeping out in +the open all that night, for even in Grand Canary the dew-fall and the +comparative chill of darkness are not to be trifled with. For myself on +these occasions I like a bit of a run as an early refresher. But here on +this rough ground in the middle of the island there were not three yards +of level to be found, and so as Coppinger proceeded to go through some +sort of dumb-bell exercises with a couple of lumps of bristly lava, I +followed his example. Coppinger has done a good deal of roughing it in +his time, but being a doctor of medicine amongst other things--he takes +out a new degree of some sort on an average every other year--he is +great on health theories, and practises them like a religion. + +There had been rain two days before, and as there was still a bit of +stream trickling along at the bottom of the barranca, we went down there +and had a wash, and brushed our teeth. Greatest luxury imaginable, a +toothbrush, on this sort of expedition. + +"Now," said Coppinger when we had emptied our pockets, "there's precious +little grub left, and it's none the better for being carried in a local +Spanish newspaper." + +"Yours is mostly tobacco ashes." + +"It'll get worse if we leave it. We've a lot more bad scrambling ahead +of us." + +That was obvious. So we sat down beside the stream there at the bottom +of the barranca, and ate up all of what was left. It was a ten-mile +tramp to the fonda at Santa Brigida, where we had set down our traps; +and as Coppinger wanted to take a lot more photographs and measurements +before we left this particular group of caves, it was likely we should +be pretty sharp set before we got our next meal, and our next taste of +the PATRON'S splendid old country wine. My faith! If only they knew down +in the English hotels in Las Palmas what magnificent wines one could +get--with diplomacy--up in some of the mountain villages, the old +vintage would become a thing of the past in a week. + +Now to tell the truth, the two mummies he had gathered already quite +satisfied my small ambition. The goatskins in which they were sewn up +were as brittle as paper, and the poor old things themselves gave out +dust like a puffball whenever they were touched. But you know what +Coppinger is. He thought he'd come upon traces of an old Guanche +university, or sacred college, or something of that kind, like the one +there is on the other side of the island, and he wouldn't be satisfied +till he'd ransacked every cave in the whole face of the cliff. He'd +plenty of stuff left for the flashlight thing, and twenty-eight more +films in his kodak, and said we might as well get through with the job +then as make a return journey all on purpose. So he took the crowbar, +and I shouldered the rope, and away we went up to the ridge of the +cliff, where we had got such a baking from the sun the day before. + +Of course these caves were not easy to come at, or else they would have +been raided years before. Coppinger, who on principle makes out he +knows all about these things, says that in the old Guanche days they +had ladders of goatskin rope which they could pull up when they were at +home, and so keep out undesirable callers; and as no other plan occurs +to me, perhaps he may be right. Anyway the mouths of the caves were in +a more or less level row thirty feet below the ridge of the cliff, and +fifty feet above the bottom; and Spanish curiosity doesn't go in much +where it cannot walk. + +Now laddering such caves from below would have been cumbersome, but a +light knotted rope is easily carried, and though it would have been hard +to climb up this, our plan was to descend on each cave mouth from above, +and then slip down to the foot of the cliffs, and start again AB INITIO +for the next. + +Coppinger is plucky enough, and he has a good head on a height, but +there is no getting over the fact that he is portly and nearer fifty +than forty-five. So you can see he must have been pretty keen. Of course +I went first each time, and got into the cave mouth, and did what I +could to help him in; but when you have to walk down a vertical cliff +face fly-fashion, with only a thin bootlace of a rope for support, it +is not much real help the man below can give, except offer you his best +wishes. + +I wanted to save him as much as I could, and as the first three caves +I climbed to were small and empty, seeming to be merely store-places, +I asked him to take them for granted, and save himself the rest. But +he insisted on clambering down to each one in person, and as he decided +that one of my granaries was a prison, and another a pot-making factory, +and another a schoolroom for young priests, he naturally said he hadn't +much reliance on my judgment, and would have to go through the whole +lot himself. You know what these thorough-going archaeologists are for +imagination. + +But as the day went on, and the sun rose higher, Coppinger began clearly +to have had enough of it, though he was very game, and insisted on going +on much longer than was safe. I must say I didn't like it. You see +the drop was seldom less than eighty feet from the top of the cliffs. +However, at last he was forced to give it up. I suggested marching off +to Santa Brigida forthwith, but he wouldn't do that. There were three +more cave-openings to be looked into, and if I wouldn't do them for him, +he would have to make another effort to get there himself. He tried to +make out he was conferring a very great favour on me by offering to take +a report solely from my untrained observation, but I flatly refused to +look at it in that light. I was pretty tired also; I was soaked with +perspiration from the heat; my head ached from the violence of the sun; +and my hands were cut raw with the rope. + +Coppinger might be tired, but he was still enthusiastic. He tried to +make me enthusiastic also. "Look here," he said, "there's no knowing +what you may find up there, and if you do lay hands on anything, +remember it's your own. I shall have no claim whatever." + +"Very kind of you, but I've got no use for any more mummies done up in +goatskin bags." + +"Bah! That's not a burial cave up there. Don't you know the difference +yet in the openings? Now, be a good fellow. It doesn't follow that +because we have drawn all the rest blank, you won't stumble across a +good find for yourself up there." + +"Oh, very well," I said, as he seemed so set on it; and away I stumbled +over the fallen rocks, and along the ledge, and then scrambled up by +that fissure in the cliff which saved us the two-mile round which we had +had to take at first. I wrenched out the crowbar, and jammed it down +in a new place, and then away I went over the side, with hands smarting +worse at every new grip of the rope. It was an awkward job swinging into +the cave mouth because the rock above overhung, or else (what came to +the same thing) it had broken away below; but I managed it somehow, +although I landed with an awkward thump on my back, and at the same time +I didn't let go the rope. It wouldn't do to have lost the rope then: +Coppinger couldn't have flicked it into me from where he was below. + +Now from the first glance I could see that this cave was of different +structure to the others. They were for the most part mere dens, rounded +out anyhow; this had been faced up with cutting tools, so that all the +angles were clean, and the sides smooth and flat. The walls inclined +inwards to the roof, reminding me of an architecture I had seen before +but could not recollect where, and moreover there were several rooms +connected up with passages. I was pleased to find that the other +cave-openings which Coppinger wanted me to explore were merely the +windows or the doorways of two of these other rooms. + +Of inscriptions or markings on the walls there was not a trace, though I +looked carefully, and except for bats the place was entirely bare. I +lit a cigarette and smoked it through--Coppinger always thinks one is +slurring over work if it is got through too quickly--and then I went +to the entrance where the rope was, and leaned out, and shouted down my +news. + +He turned up a very anxious face. "Have you searched it thoroughly?" he +bawled back. + +"Of course I have. What do you think I've been doing all this time?" + +"No, don't come down yet. Wait a minute. I say, old man, do wait a +minute. I'm making fast the kodak and the flashlight apparatus on the +end of the rope. Pull them up, and just make me half a dozen exposures, +there's a good fellow." + +"Oh, all right," I said, and hauled the things up, and got them inside. +The photographs would be absolutely dull and uninteresting, but that +wouldn't matter to Coppinger. He rather preferred them that way. One has +to be careful about halation in photographing these dark interiors, but +there was a sort of ledge like a seat by the side of each doorway, and +so I lodged the camera on that to get a steady stand, and snapped off +the flashlight from behind and above. + +I got pictures of four of the chambers this way, and then came to one +where the ledge was higher and wider. I put down the camera, wedged it +level with scraps of stone, and then sat down myself to recharge the +flashlight machine. But the moment my weight got on that ledge, there +was a sharp crackle, and down I went half a dozen inches. + +Of course I was up again pretty sharply, and snapped up the kodak just +as it was going to slide off to the ground. I will confess, too, I was +feeling pleased. Here at any rate was a Guanche cupboard of sorts, and +as they had taken the trouble to hermetically seal it with cement, the +odds were that it had something inside worth hiding. At first there +was nothing to be seen but a lot of dust and rubble, so I lit a bit of +candle and cleared this away. Presently, however, I began to find that +I was shelling out something that was not cement. It chipped away, in +regular layers, and when I took it to the daylight I found that each +layer was made up of two parts. One side was shiny stuff that looked +like talc, and on this was smeared a coating of dark toffee-coloured +material, that might have been wax. The toffee-coloured surface was +worked over with some kind of pattern. + +Now I do not profess to any knowledge on these matters, and as a +consequence took what Coppinger had told me about Guanche habits and +acquirements as more or less true. For instance, he had repeatedly +impressed upon me that this old people could not write, and having this +in my memory, I did not guess that the patterns scribed through the +wax were letters in some obsolete character, which, if left to myself, +probably I should have done. But still at the same time I came to +the conclusion that the stuff was worth looting, and so set to work +quarrying it out with the heel of my boot and a pocket-knife. + +The sheets were all more or less stuck together, and so I did not go in +for separating them farther. They fitted exactly to the cavity in which +they were stored, but by smashing down its front I was able to get at +the foot of them, and then I hacked away through the bottom layers with +the knife till I got the bulk out in one solid piece. It measured some +twenty inches by fifteen, by fifteen, but it was not so heavy as it +looked, and when I had taken the remaining photographs, I lowered it +down to Coppinger on the end of the rope. + +There was nothing more to do in the caves then, so I went down myself +next. The lump of sheets was on the ground, and Coppinger was on all +fours beside it. He was pretty nearly mad with excitement. + + +"What is it?" I asked him. + +"I don't know yet. But it is the most valuable find ever made in the +Canary Islands, and it's yours, you unappreciative beggar; at least what +there is left of it. Oh, man, man, you've smashed up the beginning, and +you've smashed up the end of some history that is probably priceless. +It's my own fault. I ought to have known better than set an untrained +man to do important exploring work." + +"I should say it's your fault if anything's gone wrong. You said there +was no such thing as writing known to these ancient Canarios, and I +took your word for it. For anything I knew the stuff might have been +something to eat." + +"It isn't Guanche work at all," said he testily. "You ought to have +known that from the talc. Great heavens, man, have you no eyes? Haven't +you seen the general formation of the island? Don't you know there's no +talc here?" + +"I'm no geologist. Is this imported literature then?" + +"Of course. It's Egyptian: that's obvious at a glance. Though how +it's got here I can't tell yet. It isn't stuff you can read off like +a newspaper. The character's a variant on any of those that have been +discovered so far. And as for this waxy stuff spread over the talc, +it's unique. It's some sort of a mineral, I think: perhaps asphalt. It +doesn't scratch up like animal wax. I'll analyse that later. Why they +once invented it, and then let such a splendid notion drop out of use, +is just a marvel. I could stay gloating over this all day." + +"Well," I said, "if it's all the same for you, I'd rather gloat over a +meal. It's a good ten miles hard going to the fonda, and I'm as hungry +as a hawk already. Look here, do you know it is four o'clock already? +It takes longer than you think climbing down to each of these caves, and +then getting up again for the next." + +Coppinger spread his coat on the ground, and wrapped the lump of sheets +with tender care, but would not allow it to be tied with a rope for fear +of breaking more of the edges. He insisted on carrying it himself too, +and did so for the larger part of the way to Santa Brigida, and it was +only when he was within an ace of dropping himself with sheer tiredness +that he condescended to let me take my turn. He was tolerably ungracious +about it too. "I suppose you may as well carry the stuff," he snapped, +"seeing that after all it's your own." + +Personally, when we got to the fonda, I had as good a dinner as was +procurable, and a bottle of that old Canary wine, and turned into bed +after a final pipe. Coppinger dined also, but I have reason to believe +he did not sleep much. At any rate I found him still poring over the +find next morning, and looking very heavy-eyed, but brimming with +enthusiasm. + +"Do you know," he said, "that you've blundered upon the most valuable +historical manuscript that the modern world has ever yet seen? Of +course, with your clumsy way of getting it out, you've done an infinity +of damage. For instance, those top sheets you shelled away and +spoiled, contained probably an absolutely unique account of the ancient +civilisation of Yucatan." + +"Where's that, anyway?" + +"In the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. It's all ruins to-day, but once it +was a very prosperous colony of the Atlanteans." + +"Never heard of them. Oh yes, I have though. They were the people +Herodotus wrote about, didn't he? But I thought they were mythical." + +"They were very real, and so was Atlantis, the continent where they +lived, which lay just north of the Canaries here." + +"What's that crocodile sort of thing with wings drawn in the margin?" + +"Some sort of beast that lived in those bygone days. The pages are full +of them. That's a cave-tiger. And that's some sort of colossal bat. +Thank goodness he had the sense to illustrate fully, the man who wrote +this, or we should never have been able to reconstruct the tale, or at +any rate we could not have understood half of it. Whole species have +died out since this was written, just as a whole continent has been +swept away and three civilisations quenched. The worst of it is, it was +written by a highly-educated man who somewhat naturally writes a very +bad fist. I've hammered at it all the night through, and have only +managed to make out a few sentences here and there"--he rubbed his hands +appreciatively. "It will take me a year's hard work to translate this +properly." + +"Every man to his taste. I'm afraid my interest in the thing wouldn't +last as long as that. But how did it get there? Did your ancient +Egyptian come to Grand Canary for the good of his lungs, and write it +because he felt dull up in that cave?" + +"I made a mistake there. The author was not an Egyptian. It was the +similarity of the inscribed character which misled me. The book was +written by one Deucalion, who seems to have been a priest or general--or +perhaps both--and he was an Atlantean. How it got there, I don't know +yet. Probably that was told in the last few pages, which a certain +vandal smashed up with his pocketknife, in getting them away from the +place where they were stowed." + +"That's right, abuse me. Deucalion you say? There was a Deucalion in the +Greek mythology. He was one of the two who escaped from the Flood: their +Noah, in fact." + +"The swamping of the continent of Atlantis might very well correspond to +the Flood." + +"Is there a Pyrrha then? She was Deucalion's wife." + +"I haven't come across her yet. But there's a Phorenice, who may be the +same. She seems to have been the reigning Empress, as far as I can make +out at present." + +I looked with interest at illustrations in the margin. They were quite +understandable, although the perspective was all wrong. "Weird beasts +they seem to have had knocking about the country in those days. Whacking +big size too, if one may judge. By Jove, that'll be a cave-tiger trying +to puff down a mammoth. I shouldn't care to have lived in those days." + +"Probably they had some way of fighting the creatures. However, that +will show itself as I get along with the translation." He looked at his +watch--"I suppose I ought to be ashamed of myself, but I haven't been to +bed. Are you going out?" + +"I shall drive back to Las Palmas. I promised a man to have a round at +golf this afternoon." + +"Very well, see you at dinner. I hope they've sent back my dress shirts +from the wash. O, lord! I am sleepy." + +I left him going up to bed, and went outside and ordered a carriage to +take me down, and there I may say we parted for a considerable time. +A cable was waiting for me in the hotel at Las Palmas to go home for +business forthwith, and there was a Liverpool boat in the harbour which +I just managed to catch as she was steaming out. It was a close thing, +and the boatmen made a small fortune out of my hurry. + +Now Coppinger was only an hotel acquaintance, and as I was up to the +eyes in work when I got back to England, I'm afraid I didn't think very +much more about him at the time. One doesn't with people one just meets +casually abroad like that. And it must have been at least a year later +that I saw by a paragraph in one of the papers, that he had given the +lump of sheets to the British Museum, and that the estimated worth of +them was ten thousand pounds at the lowest valuation. + +Well, this was a bit of revelation, and as he had so repeatedly +impressed on me that the things were mine by right of discovery, I wrote +rather a pointed note to him mentioning that he seemed to have been +making rather free with my property. Promptly came back a stilted letter +beginning, "Doctor Coppinger regrets" and so on, and with it the English +translation of the wax-upon-talc MSS. He "quite admitted" my claim, +and "trusted that the profits of publication would be a sufficient +reimbursement for any damage received." + +Now I had no idea that he would take me unpleasantly like this, and +wrote back a pretty warm reply to that effect; but the only answer I got +to this was through a firm of solicitors, who stated that all further +communications with Dr. Coppinger must be made through them. + +I will say here publicly that I regret the line he has taken over the +matter; but as the affair has gone so far, I am disposed to follow out +his proposition. Accordingly the old history is here printed; the credit +(and the responsibility) of the translation rests with Dr. Coppinger; +and whatever revenue accrues from readers, goes to the finder of the +original talc-upon-wax sheets, myself. + +If there is a further alteration in this arrangement, it will be +announced publicly at a later date. But at present this appears to be +most unlikely. + + + + +1. MY RECALL + + +The public official reception was over. The sentence had been read, the +name of Phorenice, the Empress, adored, and the new Viceroy installed +with all that vast and ponderous ceremonial which had gained its pomp +and majesty from the ages. Formally, I had delivered up the reins of my +government; formally, Tatho had seated himself on the snake-throne, and +had put over his neck the chain of gems which symbolised the supreme +office; and then, whilst the drums and the trumpets made their +proclamation of clamour, he had risen to his feet, for his first state +progress round that gilded council chamber as Viceroy of the Province of +Yucatan. + +With folded arms and bended head, I followed him between the glittering +lines of soldiers, and the brilliant throng of courtiers, and chiefs, +and statesmen. The roof-beams quivered to the cries of "Long Live +Tatho!" "Flourish the Empress!" which came forth as in duty bound, and +the new ruler acknowledged the welcome with stately inclinations of +the head. In turn he went to the three lesser thrones of the lesser +governors--in the East, the North, and the South, and received homage +from each as the ritual was; and I, the man whom his coming had deposed, +followed with the prescribed meekness in his train. + +It was a hard task, but we who hold the higher offices learn to carry +before the people a passionless face. Once, twenty years before, these +same fine obeisances had been made to me; now the Gods had seen fit to +make fortune change. But as I walked bent and humbly on behind the heels +of Tatho, though etiquette forbade noisy salutations to myself, it could +not inhibit kindly glances, and these came from every soldier, every +courtier, and every chief who stood there in that gilded hall, and +they fell upon me very gratefully. It is not often the fallen meet such +tender looks. + +The form goes, handed down from immemorial custom, that on these great +ceremonial days of changing a ruler, those of the people being present +may bring forward petitions and requests; may make accusations against +their retiring head with sure immunity from his vengeance; or may state +their own private theories for the better government of the State in the +future. I think it may be pardoned to my vanity if I record that not a +voice was raised against me, or against any of the items of my twenty +years of rule. Nor did any speak out for alterations in the future. +Yes, even though we made the circuit for the three prescribed times, all +present showed their approval in generous silence. + +Then, one behind the other, the new Viceroy and the old, we marched with +formal step over golden tiles of that council hall beneath the pyramid, +and the great officers of state left their stations and joined in our +train; and at the farther wall we came to the door of those private +chambers which an hour ago had been mine own. + +Ah, well! I had no home now in any of those wondrous cities of Yucatan, +and I could not help feeling a bitterness, though in sooth I should have +been thankful enough to return to the Continent of Atlantis with my head +still in its proper station. + +Tatho gave his formal summons of "Open ye to the Viceroy," which the +ritual commands, and the slaves within sent the massive stone valves of +the door gaping wide. Tatho entered, I at his heels; the others halted, +sending valedictions from the threshold; and the valves of the door +clanged on the lock behind us. We passed on to the chamber beyond, and +then, when for the first time we were alone together, and the forced +etiquette of courts was behind us, the new Viceroy turned with meekly +folded arms, and bowed low before me. + +"Deucalion," he said, "believe me that I have not sought this office. It +was thrust upon me. Had I not accepted, my head would have paid forfeit, +and another man--your enemy--would have been sent out as viceroy in +your place. The Empress does not permit that her will shall ever be +questioned." + +"My friend," I made answer, "my brother in all but blood, there is no +man living in all Atlantis or her territories to whom I had liefer hand +over my government. For twenty years now have I ruled this country +of Yucatan, and Mexico beyond, first under the old King, and then +as minister to this new Empress. I know my colony like a book. I am +intimate with all her wonderful cities, with their palaces, their +pyramids, and their people. I have hunted the beasts and the savages in +the forests. I have built roads, and made the rivers so that they will +carry shipping. I have fostered the arts and crafts like a merchant; I +have discoursed, three times each day, the cult of the Gods with +mine own lips. Through evil years and through good have I ruled here, +striving only for the prosperity of the land and the strengthening of +Atlantis, and I have grown to love the peoples like a father. To you I +bequeath them, Tatho, with tender supplications for their interests." + +"It is not I that can carry on Deucalion's work with Deucalion's power, +but rest content, my friend, that I shall do my humble best to follow +exactly on in your footsteps. Believe me, I came out to this government +with a thousand regrets, but I would have died sooner than take your +place had I known how vigorously the supplanting would trouble you." + +"We are alone here," I said, "away from the formalities of formal +assemblies, and a man may give vent to his natural self without fear of +tarnishing a ceremony. Your coming was something of the suddenest. +Till an hour ago, when you demanded audience, I had thought to rule on +longer; and even now I do not know for what cause I am deposed." + +"The proclamation said: 'We relieve our well-beloved Deucalion of his +present service, because we have great need of his powers at home in our +kingdom of Atlantis.'" + +"A mere formality." + +Tatho looked uneasily round the hangings of the chamber, and drew me +with him to its centre, and lowered his voice. + +"I do not think so," he whispered. "I believe she has need of you. There +are troublous times on hand, and Phorenice wants the ablest men in the +kingdom ready to her call." + +"You may speak openly," I said, "and without fear of eavesdroppers. +We are in the heart of the pyramid here, built in every way by a man's +length of solid stone. Myself, I oversaw the laying of every course. +And besides, here in Yucatan, we have not the niceties of your old world +diplomacy, and do not listen, because we count it shame to do so." + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. "I acted only according to mine education. +At home, a loose tongue makes a loose head, and there are those whose +trade it is to carry tales. Still, what I say is this: The throne +shakes, and Phorenice sees the need of sturdy props. So she has sent +this proclamation." + +"But why come to me? It is twenty years since I sailed to this colony, +and from that day I have not returned to Atlantis once. I know little of +the old country's politics. What small parcel of news drifts out to us +across the ocean, reads with slender interest here. Yucatan is another +world, my dear Tatho, as you in the course of your government will +learn, with new interests, new people, new everything. To us here, +Atlantis is only a figment, a shadow, far away across the waters. It +is for this new world of Yucatan that I have striven through all these +years." + +"If Deucalion has small time to spare from his government for brooding +over his fatherland, Atlantis, at least, has found leisure to admire +the deeds of her brilliant son. Why, sir, over yonder at home, your name +carries magic with it. When you and I were lads together, it was the +custom in the colleges to teach that the men of the past were the +greatest this world has ever seen; but to-day this teaching is changed. +It is Deucalion who is held up as the model and example. Mothers name +their sons Deucalion, as the most valuable birth-gift they can make. +Deucalion is a household word. Indeed, there is only one name that is +near to it in familiarity." + +"You trouble me," I said, frowning. "I have tried to do my duty for its +own sake, and for the country's sake, not for the pattings and fondlings +of the vulgar. And besides, if there are names to be in every one's +mouth, they should be the names of the Gods." + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. "The Gods? They occupy us very little +these latter years. With our modern science, we have grown past the +tether of the older Gods, and no new one has appeared. No, my Lord +Deucalion, if it were merely the Gods who were your competitors on men's +lips, your name would be a thousand times the better known." + +"Of mere human names," I said, "the name of this new Empress should come +first in Atlantis, our lord the old King being now dead." + +"She certainly would have it so," replied Tatho, and there was something +in his tone which made me see that more was meant behind the words. I +drew him to one of the marble seats, and bent myself familiarly towards +him. "I am speaking," I said, "not to the new Viceroy of Yucatan, but +to my old friend Tatho, a member of the Priests' Clan, like myself, with +whom I worked side by side in a score of the smaller home governments, +in hamlets, in villages, in smaller towns, in greater towns, as we +gained experience in war and knowledge in the art of ruling people, and +so tediously won our promotion. I am speaking in Tatho's private abode, +that was mine own not two hours since, and I would have an answer with +that plainness which we always then used to one another." + +The new Viceroy sighed whimsically. "I almost forget how to speak in +plain words now," he said. "We have grown so polished in these latter +days, that mere bald truth would be hissed as indelicate. But for the +memory of those early years, when we expended as much law and thought +over the ownership of a hay-byre as we should now over the fate of a +rebellious city, I will try and speak plain to you even now, Deucalion. +Tell me, old friend, what is it?" + +"What of this new Empress?" + +He frowned. "I might have guessed your subject," he said. + + +"Then speak upon it. Tell me of all the changes that have been made. +What has this Phorenice done to make her throne unstable in Atlantis?" + +Tatho frowned still. "If I did not know you to be as honest as our Lord +the Sun, your questions would carry mischief with them. Phorenice has a +short way with those who are daring enough to discuss her policies for +other purpose than politely to praise them." + +"You can leave me ignorant if you wish," I said with a touch of chill. +This Tatho seemed to be different from the Tatho I had known at home, +Tatho my workmate, Tatho who had read with me in the College of Priests, +who had run with me in many a furious charge, who had laboured with me +so heavily that the peoples under us might prosper. But he was quick +enough to see my change of tone. + +"You force me back to my old self," he said with a half smile, "though +it is hard enough to forget the caution one has learned during the last +twenty years, even when speaking with you. Still, whatever may have +happened to the rest of us, it is clear to see that you at least have +not changed, and, old friend, I am ready to trust you with my life if +you ask it. In fact, you do ask me that very thing when you tell me to +speak all I know of Phorenice." + +I nodded. This was more like the old times, when there was full +confidence between us. "The Gods will it now that I return to Atlantis," +I said, "and what happens after that the Gods alone know. But it would +be of service to me if I could land on her shores with some knowledge of +this Phorenice, for at present I am as ignorant concerning her as some +savage from Europe or mid-Africa." + +"What would you have me tell?" + +"Tell all. I know only that she, a woman, reigns, whereby the ancient +law of the land, a man should rule; that she is not even of the Priestly +Clan from which the law says all rulers must be drawn; and that, from +what you say, she has caused the throne to totter. The throne was as +firm as the everlasting hills in the old King's day, Tatho." + +"History has moved with pace since then, and Phorenice has spurred it. +You know her origin?" + +"I know only the exact little I have told you." + +"She was a swineherd's daughter from the mountains, though this is never +even whispered now, as she has declared herself to be a daughter of the +Gods, with a miraculous birth and upbringing. As she has decreed it a +sacrilege to question this parentage, and has ordered to be burnt all +those that seem to recollect her more earthly origin, the fable passes +current for truth. You see the faith I put in you, Deucalion, by telling +you what you wish to learn." + +"There has always been trust between us." + +"I know; but this habit of suspicion is hard to cast off, even with you. +However, let me put your good faith between me and the torture further. +Zaemon, you remember, was governor of the swineherd's province, and +Zaemon's wife saw Phorenice and took her away to adopt and bring up as +her own. It is said that the swineherd and his woman objected; perhaps +they did; anyway, I know they died; and Phorenice was taught the arts +and graces, and brought up as a daughter of the Priestly Clan." + +"But still she was an adopted daughter only," I objected. + +"The omission of the 'adopted' was her will at an early age," said Tatho +dryly, "and she learnt early to have her wishes carried into fact. It +was notorious that before she had grown to fifteen years she ruled not +only the women of the household, but Zaemon also, and the province that +was beyond Zaemon." + +"Zaemon was learned," I said, "and a devout follower of the Gods, and +searcher into the higher mysteries; but, as a ruler, he was always a +flabby fellow." + +"I do not say that opportunities have not come usefully in Phorenice's +way, but she has genius as well. For her to have raised herself at all +from what she was, was remarkable. Not one woman out of a thousand, +placed as she was, would have grown to be aught higher than a mere wife +of some sturdy countryman, who was sufficiently simple to care nothing +for pedigree. But look at Phorenice: it was her whim to take exercise +as a man-at-arms and practise with all the utensils of war; and then, +before any one quite knows how or why it happened, a rebellion had +broken out in the province, and here was she, a slip of a girl, leading +Zaemon's troops." + +"Zaemon, when I knew him, was a mere derision in the field." + +"Hear me on. Phorenice put down the rebellion in masterly fashion, and +gave the conquered a choice between sword and service. They fell into +her ranks at once, and were faithful to her from that moment. I tell +you, Deucalion, there is a marvellous fascination about the woman." + +"Her present historian seems to have felt it." + +"Of course I have. Every one who sees her comes under her spell. And +frankly, I am in love with her also, and look upon my coming here as +detestable exile. Every one near to Phorenice, high and low, loves her +just the same, even though they know it may be her whim to send them to +execution next minute." + +Perhaps I let my scorn of this appear. + +"You feel contempt for our weakness? You were always a strong man, +Deucalion." + +"At any rate you see me still unmarried. I have found no time to palter +with the fripperies of women." + +"Ah, but these colonists here are crude and unfascinating. Wait till you +see the ladies of the court, my ascetic." + +"It comes to my mind," I said dryly, "that I lived in Atlantis before I +came out here, and at that time I used to see as much of court life as +most men. Yet then, also, I felt no inducement to marry." + +Tatho chuckled. "Atlantis has changed so that you would hardly know the +country to-day. A new era has come over everything, especially over +the other sex. Well do I remember the women of the old King's time, how +monstrous uncomely they were, how little they knew how to walk or carry +themselves, how painfully barbaric was their notion of dress. I dare +swear that your ladies here in Yucatan are not so provincial to-day as +ours were then. But you should see them now at home. They are delicious. +And above all in charm is the Empress. Oh, Deucalion, you shall see +Phorenice in all her glorious beauty and her magnificence one of these +fine days soon, and believe me you will go down on your knees and +repent." + +"I may see, and (because you say so) I may alter my life's ways. The +Gods make all things possible. But for the present I remain as I am, +celibate, and not wishful to be otherwise; and so in the meantime I +would hear the continuance of your history." + +"It is one long story of success. She deposed Zaemon from his government +in name as well as in fact, and the news was spread, and the Priestly +Clan rose in its wrath. The two neighbouring governors were bidden join +forces, take her captive, and bring her for execution. Poor men! They +tried to obey their orders; they attacked her surely enough, but in +battle she could laugh at them. She killed both, and made some slaughter +amongst their troops; and to those that remained alive and became her +prisoners, she made her usual offer--the sword or service. Naturally +they were not long over making their choice: to these common people one +ruler is much the same as another: and so again her army was reinforced. + +"Three times were bodies of soldiery sent against her, and three times +was she victorious. The last was a final effort. Before, it had been +customary to despise this adventuress who had sprung up so suddenly. But +then the priests began to realise their peril; to see that the throne +itself was in danger; and to know that if she were to be crushed, they +would have to put forth their utmost. Every man who could carry arms was +pressed into the service. Every known art of war was ordered to be put +into employment. It was the largest army, and the best equipped army +that Atlantis then had ever raised, and the Priestly Clan saw fit to put +in supreme command their general, Tatho." + +"You!" I cried. + +"Even myself, Deucalion. And mark you, I fought my utmost. I was not her +creature then; and when I set out (because they wanted to spur me to the +uttermost) the High Council of the priests pointed out my prospects. The +King we had known so long, was ailing and wearily old; he was so wrapped +up in the study of the mysteries, and the joy of closely knowing them, +that earthly matters had grown nauseous to him; and at any time he might +decide to die. The Priestly Clan uses its own discretion in the election +of a new king, but it takes note of popular sentiment; and a general who +at the critical time could come home victorious from a great campaign, +which moreover would release a harassed people from the constant +application of arms, would be the idol of the moment. These things were +pointed out to me solemnly and in the full council." + +"What! They promised you the throne?" + +"Even that. So you see I set out with a high stake before me. Phorenice +I had never seen, and I swore to take her alive, and give her to be the +sport of my soldiery. I had a fine confidence in my own strategy then, +Deucalion. But the old Gods, in whom I trusted then, remained old, +taught me no new thing. I drilled and exercised my army according to the +forms you and I learnt together, old comrade, and in many a tough fight +found to serve well; I armed them with the choicest weapons we knew of +then, with sling and mace, with bow and spear, with axe and knife, with +sword and the throwing fire; their bodies I covered with metal plates; +even their bellies I cared for, with droves of cattle driven in the rear +of the fighting troops. + +"But when the encounter came, they might have been men of straw for all +the harm they did. Out of her own brain Phorenice had made fire-tubes +that cast a dart which would kill beyond two bowshots, and the fashion +in which she handled her troops dazzled me. They threatened us on one +flank, they harassed us on the other. It was not war as we had been +accustomed to. It was a newer and more deadly game, and I had to watch +my splendid army eaten away as waves eat a sandhill. Never once did I +get a chance of forcing close action. These new tactics that had come +from Phorenice's invention, were beyond my art to meet or understand. We +were eight to her one, and our close-packed numbers only made us so much +the more easy for slaughter. A panic came, and those who could fled. +Myself, I had no wish to go back and earn the axe that waits for the +unsuccessful general. I tried to die there fighting where I stood. But +death would not come. It was a fine melee, Deucalion, that last one." + +"And so she took you?" + +"I stood with three others back to back, with a ring of dead round us, +and a ring of the enemy hemming us in. We taunted them to come on. But +at hand-to-hand courtesies we had shown we could hold our own, and so +they were calling for fire-tubes with which they could strike us down +in safety from a distance. Then up came Phorenice. 'What is this to-do?' +says she. 'We seek to kill Lord Tatho, who led against you,' say they. +'So that is Tatho?' says she. 'A fine figure of a man indeed, and a +pretty fighter seemingly, after the old manner. Doubtless he is one +who would acquire the newer method. See now Tatho,' says she, 'it is my +custom to offer those I vanquish either the sword (which, believe me, +was never nearer your neck than now) or service under my banner. Will +you make a choice?' + +"'Woman,' I said, 'fairest that ever I saw, finest general the world +has ever borne, you tempt me sorely by your qualities, but there is a +tradition in our Clan, that we should be true to the salt we eat. I am +the King's man still, and so I can take no service from you.' + +"'The King is dead,' says she. 'A runner has just brought the tidings, +meaning them to have fallen into your hands. And I am the Empress.' + +"'Who made you Empress?' I asked. + +"'The same most capable hand that has given me this battle,' says she. +'It is a capable hand, as you have seen: it can be a kind hand also, as +you may learn if you choose. With the King dead, Tatho is a masterless +man now. Is Tatho in want of a mistress?' + +"'Such a glorious mistress as you,' I said, 'Yes.' And from that moment, +Deucalion, I have been her slave. Oh, you may frown; you may get up from +this seat and walk away if you will. But I ask you this: keep back your +worst judgment of me, old friend, till after you have seen Phorenice +herself in the warm and lovely flesh. Then your own ears and your own +senses will be my advocates, to win me back your old esteem." + + + + +2. BACK TO ATLANTIS + + +The words of Tatho were no sleeping draught for me that night. I began +to think that I had made somewhat a mistake in wrapping myself up so +entirely in my government of Yucatan, and not contriving to keep more in +touch with events that were passing at home in Atlantis. For many years +past it had been easy to see that the mariner folk who did traffic +across the seas spoke with restraint, and that only what news the +Empress pleased was allowed to ooze out beyond her borders. But, as +I say, I was fully occupied with my work in the colony, and had no +curiosity to pull away a veil intentionally placed. Besides, it has +always been against my principles to put to the torture men who had +received orders for silence from their superiors, merely that they shall +break these orders for my private convenience. + +However, the iron discipline of our Priestly Clan left me no choice +of procedure. As was customary, I had been deprived of my office at a +moment's notice. From that time on, all papers and authority belonged to +my successor, and, although by courtesy I might be permitted to remain +as a guest in the pyramid that had so recently been mine, to see another +sunrise, it was clearly enjoined that I must leave the territory then at +the topmost of my speed and hasten to report in Atlantis. + +Tatho, to give him credit, was anxious to further my interests to the +utmost in his power. He was by my side again before the dawn, putting +all his resources at my disposal. + +I had little enough to ask him. "A ship to take me home," I said, "and I +shall be your debtor." + +The request seemed to surprise him. "That you may certainly have if you +wish it. But my ships are foul with the long passage, and are in need +of a careen. If you take them, you will make a slow voyage of it to +Atlantis. Why do you not take your own navy? The ships are in harbour +now, for I saw them there when we came in. Brave ships they are too." + +"But not mine. That navy belongs to Yucatan." + +"Well, Deucalion, you are Yucatan; or, rather, you were yesterday, and +have been these twenty years." + +I saw what he meant, and the idea did not please me. I answered stiffly +enough that the ships were owned by private merchants, or belonged to +the State, and I could not claim so much as a ten-slave galley. + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose you know your own policies +best," he said, "though to me it seems but risky for a man who has +attained to a position like yours and mine not to have provided himself +with a stout navy of his own. One never knows when a recall may be sent, +and, through lack of these precautions, a life's earnings may very well +be lost in a dozen hours." + +"I have no fear for mine," I said coldly. + +"Of course not, because you know me to be your friend. But had another +man been appointed to this vice-royalty, you might have been sadly +shorn, Deucalion. It is not many fellows who can resist a snug hoard +ready and waiting in the very coffers they have come to line." + +"My Lord Tatho," I said, "it is clear to me that you and I have grown to +be of different tastes. All of the hoard that I have made for myself in +this colony, few men would covet. I have the poor clothes you see me +in this moment, and a box of drugs such as I have found useful to the +stomach. I possess also three slaves, two of them scribes and the third +a sturdy savage from Europe, who cooks my victual and fills for me the +bath. For my maintenance during my years of service, here, I have bled +the State of a soldier's ration and nothing beyond; and if in my name +any man has mulcted a creature in Yucatan of so much as an ounce of +bronze, I request you as a last service to have that man hanged for me +as a liar and a thief." + +Tatho looked at me curiously. "I do not know whether I admire you most +or whether I pity. I do not know whether to be astonished or to despise. +We had heard of much of your uprightness over yonder in Atlantis, of +your sternness and your justice, but I swear by the old Gods that no +soul guessed you carried your fancy so far as this. Why, man, money is +power. With money and the resources money can buy, nothing could stop +a fellow like you; whilst without it you may be tripped up and trodden +down irrevocably at the first puny reverse." + +"The Gods will choose my fate." + +"Possibly; but for mine, I prefer to nourish it myself. I tell you with +frankness that I have not come here to follow in the pattern you have +made for a vice-royalty. I shall govern Yucatan wisely and well to the +best of my ability; but I shall govern it also for the good of Tatho, +the viceroy. I have brought with me here my navy of eight ships and a +personal bodyguard. There is my wife also, and her women and her slaves. +All these must be provided for. And why indeed should it be otherwise? +If a people is to be governed, it should be their privilege to pay +handsomely for their prince." + +"We shall not agree on this. You have the power now, and can employ it +as you choose. If I thought it would be of any use, I should like to +supplicate you most humbly to deal with lenience when you come to tax +these people who are under you. They have grown very dear to me." + +"I have disgusted you with me, and I am grieved for it. But even to +retain your good opinion, Deucalion--which I value more than that of any +man living--I cannot do here as you have done. It would be impossible, +even if I wished it. You must not judge all other men by your own +strong standard: a Tatho is by no means a colossus like a Deucalion. And +besides, I have a wife and children, and they must be provided for, even +if I neglect myself." + +"Ah, there," I said, "it does seem that I possess the advantage. I have +no wife, to clog me." + +He caught up my word quickly. "It seems to me you have nothing that +makes life worth living. You have neither wife, children, riches, cooks, +retinue, dresses, nor anything else in proportion to your station. You +will pardon my saying it, old comrade, but you are plaguey ignorant +about some matters. For example, you do not know how to dine. During +every day of a very weary voyage, I have promised myself when sitting +before the meagre sea victual, that presently the abstinence would be +more than repaid by Deucalion's welcoming feast. Oh, I tell you that +feast was one of the vividest things that ever came before my eyes. And +then when we get to the actuality, what was it? Why, a country farmer +every day sits down to more delicate fare. You told me how it was +prepared. Well, your savage from Europe may be lusty, and perchance is +faithful, but he is a devil-possessed cook. Gods! I have lived better on +a campaign. + +"I know this is a colony here, without any of the home refinements; but +if in the days to come, the deer of the forest, the fish of the stream, +and the other resources of the place are not put to better use than +heretofore, I shall see it my duty as ruler to fry some of the +kitchen staff alive in grease so as to encourage better cookery. Gods! +Deucalion, have you forgotten what it is to have a palate? And have +you no esteem for your own dignity? Man, look at your clothes. You are +garbed like a herdsman, and you have not a gaud or a jewel to brighten +you." + +"I eat," I said coldly, "when my hunger bids me, and I carry this one +robe upon my person till it is worn out and needs replacement. The +grossness of excessive banqueting, and the effeminacy of many clothes +are attainments that never met my fancy. But I think we have talked here +over long, and there seems little chance of our finding agreement. You +have changed, Tatho, with the years, and perhaps I have changed also. +These alterations creep imperceptibly into one's being as time advances. +Let us part now, and, forgetting these present differences, remember +only our friendship of twenty years agone. That for me, at any rate, has +always had a pleasant savour when called up into the memory." + +Tatho bowed his head. "So be it," he said. + +"And I would still charge myself upon your bounty for that ship. Dawn +cannot be far off now, and it is not decent that the man who has ruled +here so long, should walk in daylight through the streets on the morning +after his dismissal." + +"So be it," said Tatho. "You shall have my poor navy. I could have +wished that you had asked me something greater." + +"Not the navy, Tatho; one small ship. Believe me, more is wasted." + +"Now, there," said Tatho, "I shall act the tyrant. I am viceroy here +now, and will have my way in this. You may go naked of all possessions: +that I cannot help. But depart for Atlantis unattended, that you shall +not." + +And so, in fine, as the choice was set beyond me, it was in the "Bear," +Tatho's own private ship, with all the rest of his navy sailing in +escort, that I did finally make my transit. + +But the start was not immediate. The vessels lay moored against the +stone quays of the inner harbour, gutted of their stores, and with crews +exhausted, and it would have been suicide to have forced them out then +and there to again take the seas. + +So the courtesies were fulfilled by the craft whereon I abode hauling +out into the entrance basin, and anchoring there in the swells of the +fairway; and forthwith she and her consorts took in wood and water, +cured meat and fish ashore, and refitted in all needful ways, with all +speed attainable. + +For myself there came then, as the first time during twenty busy years, +a breathing space from work. I had no further connection with the +country of my labours; indeed, officially, I had left it already. Into +the working of the ship it was contrary to rule that I should make +any inspection or interest, since all sea matters were the exclusive +property of the Mariners' Guild, secured to them by royal patent, and +most jealously guarded. + +So there remained to me in my day, hours to gaze (if I would) upon the +quays, the harbours, the palaces, and the pyramids of the splendid city +before me which I had seen grow stone by stone from its foundations; or +to roam my eye over the pastures and the grain lands beyond the walls, +and to look longingly at the dense forests behind, from which field by +field we had so tediously ripped our territory. + +Would Tatho continue the work so healthily begun? I trusted so, even in +spite of his selfish words. And at all hours, during the radiance of +our Lord the Sun, or under the stars of night, I was free to pursue +that study of the higher mysteries, on which we of the Priests' Clan are +trained to set our minds, without aid of book or instrument, of image or +temple. + +The refitting of the navy was gone about with speed. Never, it is said, +had ships been reprovisioned and caulked, and remanned with greater +speed for the over-ocean voyage. Indeed, it was barely over a month from +the day that they brought up in the harbour, they put out beyond the +walls, and began their voyage eastward over the hills and dale of the +ocean. + +Rowing-slaves from Europe for this long passage of sea are not taken +now, owing to the difficulty in provisioning them, for modern humanity +forbids the practice of letting them eat one another according to the +home custom of their continent; sails alone are but an indifferent stand +by; but modern science has shown how to extract force from the Sun, when +He is free from cloud, and this (in a manner kept secret by mariners) is +made to draw sea-water at the forepart of the vessel, and eject it with +such force at the stern that she is appreciably driven forward, even +with the wind adverse. + +In another matter also has navigation vastly improved. It is not +necessary now, as formerly, to trust wholly to a starry night (when +beyond sight of land) to find direction. A little image has been made, +and is stood balanced in the forepart of every vessel, with an arm +outstretched, pointing constantly to the direction where the Southern +Cross lies in the Heavens. So, by setting an angle, can a just course be +correctly steered. Other instruments have they also for finding a true +position on the ocean wastes, for the newer mariner, when he is at sea, +puts little trust in the Gods, and confides mightily in his own thews +and wits. + +Still, it is amusing to see these tarry fellows, even in this modern +day, take their last farewell of the harbour town. The ship is stowed, +and all ready for sea, and they wash and put on all their bravery of +attire. Ashore they go, their faces long with piety, and seek some +obscure temple whose God has little flavour with shore folk, and here +they make sacrifice with clamour and lavish outlay. And, finally, there +follows a feast in honour of the God, and they arrive back on board, and +put to sea for the most part drunken, and all heavy and evil-humoured +with gluttony and their other excesses. + +The voyage was very different to my previous sea-going. There was no +creeping timorously along in touch with the coasts. We stood straight +across the open gulf in the direction of home, came up with the band of +the Carib Islands, and worked confidently through them, as though they +had been signposts to mark the sea highway; and stopped only twice +to replenish with wood, water, and fruit. These commodities, too, the +savages brought us freely, so great was their subjection, and in +neither place did we have even the semblance of a fight. It was a great +certificate of the growing power of Atlantis and her finest over-sea +colony. + +Then boldly on we went across the vast ocean beyond, with never a +sacrifice to implore the Gods that they should help our direction. One +might feel censure towards these rugged mariners for their impiety, but +one could not help an admiration for their lusty skill and confidence. + +The dangers of the desolate sea are dealt out as the Gods will, and man +can only take them as they come. Storms we encountered, and the mariners +fought them with stubborn endurance; twice a blazing stone from Heaven +hissed into the sea beside us, though without injuring any of our ships; +and, as was unavoidable, the great beasts of the sea hunted us with +their accustomed savagery. But only once did we suffer material loss +from these last, and that was when three of the greater sea lizards +attacked the "Bear," the ship whereon I travelled, at one and the same +time. + +The hour of their onset was during the blazing midday heat, and the Sun +being at the full of His power, our machines were getting full force +from Him. The vessel was travelling forward faster than a man on dry +land could walk. But for the power escape she might as well have been +standing still when the beasts sighted her. There were three of them, +as I have said, and we saw them come up over the curve of the horizon, +beating the sea into foam with their flappers, and waving their great +necks like masts as they swam. Our navy was spread out in a long line +of ships, and in olden days each of the beasts would have selected a +separate prey, and proceeded for it; but, like man, these beasts have +learned the necessities of warfare, and they hunt in pack now and do not +separate their forces. + +It was plain they were making for our ship, and Tob, the captain, would +have had me go into the after-castle, and there be secure from their +marauding. He was responsible to the Lord Tatho, he said, for my safe +conduct; it was certain that the beasts would contrive to seize some of +the ship's company before they were satiated; and if the hap came to the +Lord Deucalion, he (the captain) would have to give himself voluntarily +to the beasts then, to escape a very painful death at Tatho's hands +later on. + +However, my mind was set. A man can never have too much experience in +fighting enemies, whether human or bestial, and the attack of these +creatures was new to me, and I was fain to learn its method. So I gave +the captain a letter to Tatho, saying how the matter lay (and for which, +it may be mentioned, the rude fellow seemed little enough grateful), and +stayed in my chair under the awning. + +The beasts surged up to us with champing jaws, and all the shipmen +stood armed on their defence. They came up alongside, two females (the +smaller) on the flank of the ship, the giant male by himself on the +other. Their great heads swooped about, as high as the yards that held +the sails, and the reek from them gave one physical sickness. + +The shipmen faced the monsters with a sturdy courage. Arrows were +useless against the smooth, bull-like hides. Even the throwing fire +could not so much as singe them; nothing but twenty axe blows delivered +on an attacking head together could beat it back, and even these +succeeded only through sheer weight of metal, and did not make so much +as the scratch of a wound. + +During all time beasts have disputed with man the mastery of the earth, +and it is only in Atlantis and Egypt and Yucatan that man has dared to +hold his own, and fight them with a mind made strong by many previous +victories. In Europe and mid-Africa the greater beasts hold full +dominion, and man admits his puny number and force, and lives in earth +crannies and the higher tree-tops, as a fugitive confessed. And upon the +great oceans, the beasts are lords, unchecked. + +Still here, upon this desolate sea, although the giant lizards were new +to me, it was a pleasure to pit my knowledge of war against their brute +strength and courage. Ever since the first men did their business upon +the great waters, they fulfilled their instincts in fighting the beasts +with desperation. Hiding coward-like in a hold was useless, for if this +enemy could not find men above decks to glut them, they would break +a ship with their paddles, and so all would be slain. And so it was +recognised that the fight should go forward as desperately as might be, +and that it could only end when the beasts had got their prey and had +gone away satisfied. + +It was in a one-sided conflict after this fashion then, that I found +myself, and felt the joy once more to have my thews in action. But after +my axe had got in some dozen lusty blows, which, for all the harm they +did, might have been delivered against some city wall, or, indeed, +against the ark of the Mysteries itself, I sought about me till I found +a lance, and with that made very different play. + +The eyes of these lizards are small, and set deep in a bony socket, but +I judged them to be vulnerable, and it was upon the eyes of the beast +that I made my attack. The decks were slippery with the horrid slime of +them. The crew surged about in their battling, and, moreover, constantly +offered themselves as a rampart before me by reason of Tob, the +captain's threats. But I gave a few shrewd progues with the lance to +show that I did not choose my will to be overridden, and presently was +given room for manoeuvre. + +Deliberately I placed myself in the sight of one of the lizards, and +offered my body to its attack. The challenge was accepted. It swooped +like a dropping stone, and I swerved and drove in the lance at its oozy +eye. + +I thanked the Gods then that I had been trained with the lance till +certain aim was a matter of instinct with me. The blade went true to +its mark and stuck there, and the shaft broke in my hand. The beast drew +off, blinded and bellowing, and beating the sea with its paddles. In a +great cataract of foam I saw it bend its great long neck, and rub its +head (with the spear still fixed) against its back, thereby enduring new +agonies, but without dislodging the weapon. And then presently, finding +this of no avail, it set off for the place from which it came with +extraordinary quickness, and rapidly grew smaller against the horizon. + +The male and the other female lizard had also left us, but not in +similar plight. Tob, the captain, seeing my resolve to take hazards, +deliberately thrust a shipman into the jaws of each of the others, +so that they might be sated and get them gone. It was clear that Tob +dreaded very much for his own skin if I came by harm, and I thought with +a warming heart of the threats that Tatho must have used in his kind +anxiety for my safety. It is pleasant when one's old friends do not omit +to pay these little attentions. + + + + +3. A RIVAL NAVY + + +Now, when we came up with the coasts of Atlantis, though Tob, with +the aid of his modern instruments, had made his landfall with most +marvellous skill and nearness, there still remained some ten days' more +journey in which we had to retrace our course, till we came to that arm +of the sea up which lies the great city of Atlantis, the capital. + +The sight of the land, and the breath of earth and herbage which came +off from it with the breezes, were, I believe, under the Gods, the +means of saving the lives of all of us. For, as is necessary with long +cross-ocean voyages, many of our ships' companies had died, and still +more were sick with scurvy through the unnatural tossing, or (as some +have it) through the salt, unnatural food inseparable from shipboard. +But these last, the sight and the smells of land heartened up in +extraordinary fashion, and from being helpless logs, unable to move even +under blows of the scourge, they became active again, able to help in +the shipwork, and lusty (when the time came) to fight for their lives +and their vessels. + +From the moment that I was deposed in Yucatan, despite Tatho's +assurances, there had been doubts in my mind as to what nature would +be my reception in Atlantis. But I had faced this event of the future +without concern: it was in the hands of the Gods. The Empress Phorenice +might be supreme on earth; she might cause my head to be lopped from its +proper shoulders the moment I set foot ashore; but my Lord the Sun was +above Phorenice, and if my head fell, it would be because He saw best +that it should be so. On which account, therefore, I had not troubled +myself about the matter during the voyage, but had followed out my calm +study of the higher mysteries with an unloaded mind. + +But when our navy had retraced sufficiently the course that had been +overrun, and came up with the two vast headlands which marked the +entrance to the inland waters, there, a bare two days from the Atlantis +capital, we met with another navy which was, beyond doubt, waiting to +give us a reception. The ships were riding at anchor in a bay which lent +them shelter, but they had scouts on the high land above, who cried +the alarm of our approach, and when we rounded the headland, they were +standing out to dispute our passage. + +Of us there were now but five ships, the rest having been lost in +storms, or fallen behind because all their crews were dead from the +scurvy; and of the strangers there were three fine ships, and three +galleys of many oars apiece. They were clean and bright and black; our +ships were storm-ragged and weather-worn, and had bottoms that were foul +with trailing ocean weed. Our ships hung out the colours and signs of +Tatho and Deucalion openly and without shame, so that all who looked +might know their origin and errand; but the other navy came on without +banner or antient, as though they were some low creatures feeling shame +for their birth. + +Clear it seemed also that they would not let us pass without a fight, +and in this there was nothing uncommon; for no law carries out over the +seas, and a brother in one ship feels quite free to harry his brother +in another vessel if he meets him out of earshot of the beach--more +especially if that other brother be coming home laden from foray or +trading tour. So Tob, with system and method, got our vessel into +fighting trim, and the other four captains did the like with theirs, +and drew close in to us to form a compact squadron. They had no wish to +smell slavery, now that the voyage had come so near to its end. + +Our Lord the Sun shone brilliantly, giving full speed to the machines, +as though He was fully willing for the affair to proceed, and the two +navies approached one another with quickness, the three galleys holding +back to stay in line with their consorts. But when some bare hundred +ship-lengths separated us, the other navy halted, and one of the +galleys, drawing ahead, flew green branches from her masts, seeking for +a parley. + +The course was unusual, but we, in our sea-battered state, were no navy +to invite a fight unnecessarily. So in hoarse sea-bawls word was passed, +and we too halted, and Tob hoisted a withered stick (which had to do +duty for greenery), to show that we were ready for talk, and would +respect the person of an ambassador. + +The galley drew on, swung round, and backed till its stern rasped on our +shield rail, and one of her people clambered up and jumped down upon +our decks. He was a dandily rigged-out fellow, young and lusty, and all +healthy from the land and land victual, and he looked round him with a +sneer at our sea-tatteredness, and with a fine self-confidence. Then, +seeing Tob, he nodded as one meets an acquaintance. "Old pot-mate," he +said, "your woman waits for you up by the quay-side in Atlantis yonder, +with four youngsters at her heels. I saw her not half a month ago." + +"You didn't come out here to tell me home news," said Tob; "that I'll be +sworn. I've drunk enough pots with you, Dason, to know your pleasantries +thoroughly." + +"I wanted to point out to you that your home is still there, with your +wife and children ready to welcome you." + +"I am not a man that ever forgets it," said Tob grimly; "and because +I've got them always at the back of my mind, I've sailed this ship over +the top of more than one pirate, when, if I'd been a single man, I might +have been e'en content to take the hap of slavery." + +"Oh, I know you're a desperate enough fellow," said Dason, "and I'm free +to confess that if it does come to blows we are like to lose a few +men before we get you and your cripples here, and your crazy ships +comfortably sunk. Our navy has its orders to carry out, and the cause of +my embassage is this: we wish to see if you will act the sensible part +and give us what we want, and so be permitted to go on your way home, +with a skin that is unslit and dry?" + +"You have come to the wrong bird here for a plucking," said Tob with a +heavy laugh. "We took no treasure or merchandise on board in Yucatan. We +stayed in harbour long enough to cure our sea victual and fill with food +and water, and no longer. We sail back as we sailed out, barren ships. +You will not believe me, of course; I would not have believed you had +our places been changed; but you may go into the holds and search if +you choose. You will find there nothing but a few poor sailormen half in +pieces with the scurvy. No, you can steal nothing here but blows, Dason, +and we will give you those with but little asking." + +"I am glad to see that you state your cargo at such slender value," said +the envoy, "for it is the cargo I must take back with me on the galley, +if you are to earn your safe conduct to home." + +Tob knit his brows. "You had better speak more plain," he said. "I am a +common sailor, and do not understand fancy talk." + +"It is clear to see," said Dason, "that you have been set to bring +Deucalion back to Atlantis as a prop for Phorenice. Well, we others find +Phorenice hard enough to fight against without further reinforcements, +and so we want Deucalion in our own custody to deal with after our own +fashion." + +"And if I do the miser, and deny you this piece of my freight?" + +The spruce envoy looked round at the splintered ship, and the battered +navy beside her. "Why, then, Tob, we shall send you all to the fishes +in very short time, and instead of Deucalion standing before the Gods +alone, he will go down with a fine ragged company limping at his heels." + +"I doubt it," said Tob, "but we shall see. As for letting you have my +Lord Deucalion, that is out of the question. For see here, pot-mate +Dason; in the first place, if I went to Atlantis without Deucalion, my +other lord, Tatho, would come back one of these days, and in his hands I +should die by the slowest of slow inches; in the second, I have seen +my Lord Deucalion kill a great sea lizard, and he showed himself such a +proper man that day that I would not give him up against his will, even +to Tatho himself; and in the third place, you owe me for your share in +our last wine-bout ashore, and I'll see you with the nether Gods before +I give you aught till you've settled that score." + +"Well, Tob, I hope you'll drown easy. As for that wife of yours, I've +always had a fancy for her myself, and I shall know how to find a use +for the woman." + +"I'll draw your neck for that, you son of a European," said Tob; "and +if you do not clear off this deck I'll draw it here. Go," he cried, "you +father of monkey children! Get away, and let me fight you fairly, or by +my honour I'll stamp the inwards out of you, and make your silly crew +wear them as necklaces." + +Upon which Dason went to his galley. + +Promptly Tob set going the machine on our own "Bear," and bawled his +orders right and left to the other ships. The crew might be weak with +scurvy, but they were quick to obey. Instantly the five vessels were all +started, and because our Lord the Sun was shining brightly, got soon to +the full of their pace. The whole of our small navy converged, singling +out one ship of their opponents, and she, not being ready for so swift +an attack, got flurried, and endeavoured to turn and run for room, +instead of trying to meet us bows on. As a consequence, the whole of our +five ships hit her together on the broadside, tearing her planking with +their underwater beaks, and sinking her before we had backed clear from +the engage. + +But if we thus brought the enemy's number down to five, and so equal to +our own, the advantage did not remain with us for long. The three nimble +galleys formed into line: their boatswains' whips cracked as the slaves +bent to their oars, and presently one of our own ships was gored and +sunk, the men on her being killed in the water without hope of rescue. + +And then commenced a tight-locked melee that would have warmed the heart +of the greatest warrior alive. The ships and the galleys were forced +together and lay savagely grinding one another upon the swells, as +though they had been sentient animals. The men on board them shot their +arrows, slashed with axes, thrust and hacked with swords, and hurled the +throwing fire. But in every way the fight converged upon the "Bear." It +was on her that the enemy spent the fiercest of their spite; it was to +the "Bear," that the other crews of Tatho's navy rallied as their own +vessels caught fire, or were sunk or taken. + +Battle is an old acquaintance with us of the Priestly Clan, and for +those of us who have had to carve out territories for the new colonies, +it comes with enough frequency to cloy even the most chivalrous +appetite. So I can speak here as a man of experience. Up till that time, +for half a life-span, I had heard men shout "Deucalion" as a battlecry, +and in my day had seen some lusty encounters. But this sea-fight +surprised even me in its savage fierceness. The bleak, unstable element +which surrounded us; the swaying decks on which we fought; the throwing +fire, which burnt flesh and wood alike with its horrid flame; the +great gluttonous man-eating birds that hovered in the sky overhead; +the man-eating fish that swarmed up from the seas around, gnawing and +quarrelling over those that fell into the waters, all went to make up a +circumstance fit to daunt the bravest men-at-arms ever gathered for an +army. + +But these tarry shipmen faced it all with an indomitable courage, and +never a cry of quailing. Life on the seas is so hard, and (from the +beasts that haunt the great waters) so full of savage dangers, that +Death has lost half his terrors to them through sheer familiarity. +They were fellows who from pure lust for a fray would fight to a finish +amongst themselves in the taverns ashore; and so here, in this desperate +sea-battle, the passion for killing burned in them, as a fire stone +from Heaven rages in a forest; and they took even their death-wounds +laughing. + +On our side the battle-cry was "Tob!" and the name of this obscure +ship-captain seemed to carry a confidence with it for our own crews that +many a well-known commander might have envied. The enemy had a +dozen rallying cries, and these confused them. But as their other +ship-commanders one by one were killed, and Dason remained, active +with mischief, "Dason!" became the shout which was thrown back at us in +response to our "Tob!" + +However, I will not load my page with farther long account of this +obscure sea-fight, whose only glory was its ferocity. One by one all the +ships of either side were sunk or lay with all their people killed, till +finally only Dason's galley and our own "Bear" were left. For the moment +we were being mastered. We had a score of men remaining out of all those +that manned the navy when it sailed from Yucatan, and the enemy had +boarded us and made the decks of the "Bear" the field of battle. But +they had been over busy with the throwing fire, and presently, as we +raged at one another, the smoke and the flame from the sturdy vessel +herself let us very plainly know that she was past salvation. + +But Tob was nothing daunted. "They may stay here and fry if they +choose," he shouted with his great boisterous laugh, "but for ourselves +the galley is good enough now. Keep a guard on Deucalion, and come with +me, shipmates!" + +"Tob!" our fellows shouted in their ecstasy of fighting madness, and I +too could not forbear sending out a "Tob!" for my battle-cry. It was a +change for me not to be leader, but it was a luxury for once to fight +in the wake of this Tob, despite his uncouthness of mien and plan. There +was no stopping this new rush, though progress still was slow. Tob with +his bloody axe cut the road in front, and we others, with the lust of +battle filling us to the chin, raged like furies in his wake. Gods! but +it was a fight. + +Ten of us won to the galley, with the flames and the smoke from the poor +"Bear" spurting at our heels. We turned and stabbed madly at all who +tried to follow, and hacked through the grapples that held the vessels +to their embrace. The sea-swells spurned the "Bear" away. + +The slaves chained to the rowing-galley's benches had interest neither +one way nor the other, and looked on the contest with dull concern, save +when some stray missile found a billet amongst them. But a handful of +the fighting men had scrambled desperately on board the galley after us, +preferring any fate to a fiery death on the "Bear," and these had to be +dealt with promptly. Three, with their fighting fury still red-hot in +them, had most wastefully to be killed out of mischief's way; five, who +had pitched their weapons into the sea, were chained to oar looms, in +place of slaves who were dead; and there remained only Dason to have a +fate apportioned. + +The fight had cooled out of him, and he had thrown his arms to the sea, +and stood sullenly ready for what might befall; and to him Tob went up +with an exulting face. + +"Ho, pot-mate Dason," cried he, "you made a lot of talk an hour ago +about that woman of mine, who lives with her brats on the quay-side in +Atlantis yonder. Now, I'll give you a pleasant choice; either I'll +take you along home, and tell her what you said before the whole ship's +company (that are for the most part dead now, poor souls!), and I'll +leave her to perform on your carcase as she sees fit by way of payment; +or, as the other choice, I'll deal with you here now myself." + +"I thank you for the chance," said Dason, and knelt and offered his neck +to the axe. So Tob cut off his head, sticking it on the galley's beak as +an advertisement of what had been done. The body he threw over the side, +and one of the great man-eating birds that hovered near, picked it up +and flew away with it to its nest amongst the crags. And so we were +free to get a meal of the fruits and the fresh meats which the galley +offered, whilst the oar-slaves sent the galley rushing onwards towards +the capital. + +There was a wine-skin in the after-castle, and I filled a horn and +poured some out at Tob's feet in salutation. "My man," I said, "you have +shown me a fight." + +"Thanks," said he, "and I know you are a judge. 'Twas pretty whilst it +lasted; and, seeing that my lads were, for the most, scurvy-rotten, I +will say they fought with credit. I have lost my Lord Tatho's navy, but +I think Phorenice will see me righted there. If those that are against +her took so much trouble to kill my Lord Deucalion before he could come +to her aid, I can fancy she will not be niggard in her joy when I put +Deucalion safe, if somewhat dented and blood-bespattered, on the quay." + +"The Gods know," I said, for it is never my custom to discuss policies +with my inferiors, even though etiquette be for the moment loosened, +as ours was then by the thrill of battle. "The Gods will decide what +is best for you, Tob, even as they have decided that it is best that I +should go on to Atlantis." + +The sailor held a horn filled from the wine-skin in his hand, and I +think was minded to pour a libation at my feet, even as I had done at +his. But he changed his mind, and emptied it down his throat instead. +"It is thirsty work, this fighting," he said, "and that drink comes very +useful." + +I put my hand on his blood-smeared arm. "Tob," I said, "whether I step +into power again, or whether I go to the block to-morrow, is another +matter which the Gods alone know, but hear me tell you now, that if a +chance is given me of showing my gratitude, I shall not forget the way +you have served me in this voyage, and the way you have fought this +day." + +Tob filled another brimming horn from the wine-skin and splashed it at +my feet. "That's good enough surety for me," he said, "that my woman and +brats never want from this day onward. The Lord Deucalion for the block, +indeed!" + + + + +4. THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE + + +Now I can say it with all truth that, till the rival navy met us in the +mouth of the gulf, I had thought little enough of my importance as a +recruit for the Empress. But the laying in wait for us of those ships, +and the wild ferocity with which they fought so that I might fall into +their hands, were omens which the blindest could not fail to read. It +was clear that I was expected to play a lusty part in the fortunes of +the nation. + +But if our coming had been watched for by enemies it seemed that +Phorenice also had her scouts; and these saw us from the mountains, and +carried news to the capital. The arm of the sea at the head of which the +vast city of Atlantis stands, varies greatly in width. In places where +the mountains have over-boiled, and sent their liquid contents down to +form hard stone below, the channel has barely a river's wideness, and +then beyond, for the next half-day's sail it will widen out into a lake, +with the sides barely visible. Moreover, its course is winding, and so +a runner who knows his way across the flats, and the swamps, and between +the smoking hills which lie along the shore, and did not get overcome by +fire-streams, or water, or wandering beasts, could carry news overland +from seacoast to capital far speedier than even the most shrewdly +whipped of galleys could ferry it along the water. + +Of course there were heavy risks that a lone traveller would not make +a safe passage by this land route, if he were bidden to sacrifice all +precautions to speed. But Phorenice was no niggard with her couriers. +She sent a corps of twenty to the headland that overlooks the +sea-entrance to the straits; they started with the news, each on his own +route; and it says much for their speed and cleverness, that no fewer +than seven of these agile fellows came through scathless with their +tidings, and of the others it was said that quite three were known to +have survived. + +Still, about this we had no means of knowing at the time, and pushed +on in fancy that our coming was quite unheralded. The slaves on the +galley's row-banks were for the most part savages from Europe, and the +smell of them was so offensive that the voyage lost all its pleasures; +and as, moreover, the wind carried with it an infinite abundance of +small grit from some erupting fire mountain, we were anxious to linger +as little as possible. Besides, if I may confess to such a thing without +being unduly degraded, although by my priestly training I had been +taught stoicism, and knew that all the future was in the hands of the +Gods, I was frailly human still to have a very vast curiosity as to +what would be the form of my own reception at Atlantis. I could imagine +myself taken a formal prisoner on landing, and set on a formal trial +to answer for my cure of the colony of Yucatan; I could imagine myself +stepping ashore unknown and unnoticed, and after a due lapse, being +sent for by the Empress to take up new duties; but the manner of my real +welcome was a thing I did not even guess at. + +We came in sight of the peak of the sacred mountain, with its glare of +eternal fires which stand behind the city, one morning with the day's +break, and the whips of the boatswains cracked more vehemently, so that +those offensive slaves should give the galley a final spurt. The wind +was adverse, and no sail could be spread, but under oars alone we made +a pretty pace, and the sides of the sacred mountain grew longer, and +presently the peaks of the pyramids in the city, the towers of the +higher buildings, began to show themselves as though they floated upon +the gleaming water. It was twenty years since I had seen Atlantis +last, and my heart glowed with the thought of treading again upon her +paving-stones. + +The splendid city grew out of the sea as we approached, and to every +throb of the oars, the shores leaped nearer. I saw the temple where I +had been admitted first to manhood; I saw the pyramid in whose heart +I had been initiated to the small mysteries; and then (as the lesser +objects became discernible) I made out the house where a father and a +mother had reared me, and my eyes became dim as the memories rose. + +We drew up outside the white walls of the harbour, as the law was, and +the slaves panted and sobbed in quietude over the oar-looms. For vessels +thus stationed there is, generally, a sufficiency of waiting, for a +port-captain is apt to be so uncertain of his own dignity, that he must +e'en keep folks waiting to prove it to them. But here for us it might +have been that the port-captain's boat was waiting. The signal was +sounded from the two castles at the harbour's entrance, the chain which +hung between them was dropped, and a ten-oared boat shot out from behind +the walls as fast as oars could drive her. She raced up alongside and +the questions were put: + +"That should be Dason's galley?" + +"It was," said Tob. + +"Oh, I saw Dason's head on your beak," said the port-captain. "You were +Tatho's captain?" + +"And am still. Tatho's fleet was sent by Dason and his friends to the +sea-floor, and so we took this stinking galley to finish the voyage in, +seeing that it was the only craft left afloat." + +The port-captain was roving his eye over the group of us who stood on +the after-deck. "I fear me, captain, that you'll have but a dangerous +reception. I do not see my Lord Deucalion. Or does he come with some +other navy? Gods, captain, if you have let him get killed whilst under +your charge, the Empress will have the skin torn slowly off you living." + +"What with Phorenice and Tatho both so curious for his welfare," said +Tob, "my Lord Deucalion seems but a dangerous passenger. But I shall +save my hide this voyage." He jerked at me with his thumb. "He's there +to put in a word for me himself." + +The port-captain stared for a moment, as if unbelieving, and then, as +though satisfied, made obeisance like a fellow well used to ceremonial. +"I trust my lord, in his infinite strength, will pardon my sin in not +knowing him by his nobleness before. But truth to tell, I had looked to +see my lord more suitably apparelled." + +"Pish," I said; "if I choose to dress simply, I cannot object to being +mistaken for a simple man. It is not my pleasure to advertise my quality +by the gauds on my garb. If you think amends are due to me, I pray of +your charity that this inquisition may end." + +The fellow was all bows and obsequiousness. "I am the humblest of my +lord's servants," he said. "It will be my exceeding honour to pilot my +lord's galley into the berth appointed in harbour." + +The boat shot ahead, and our galley-slaves swung into stroke again. Tob +watched me with a dry smile as he stood directing the men at the helms. + +"Well," I said, humouring his whim, "what is it?" + +"I'm thinking," said Tob, "that my Lord Deucalion will remember me +only as a very rude fellow when he steps ashore amongst all this fine +gentility." + +"You don't think," said I, "anything of the kind." + +"Then I must prove my refinement," said Tob, "and not contradict." He +picked up my hand in his huge, hard fist, and pressed it. "By the Gods, +Deucalion, you may be a great prince, but I've only known you as a +man. You're the finest fighter of beasts and men that walks this world +to-day, and I love you for it. That spear-stroke of yours on the lizard +is a thing the singers in the taverns shall make chaunts about." + +We drew rapidly into the harbour, the soldiers in the entrance castle +blowing their trumpets in welcome as we passed between them. The captain +of the port had run up my banner to the masthead of his boat, having +been provided with one apparently for this purpose of announcement, and +from the quays, across the vast basin of the harbour, there presently +came to us the noises of musicians, and the pale glow of welcoming +fires, dancing under the sunlight. I was almost awed to think that an +Empress of Atlantis had come to such straits as to feel an interest like +this in any mere returning subject. + +It was clear that nothing was to be done by halves. The port-captain's +boat led, and we had no choice but to follow. Our galley was run up +alongside the royal quay and moored to its posts and rings of gold, all +of which are sacred to the reigning house. + +"If Dason could only have foreseen this honour," said Tob, with grisly +jest, "I'm sure he'd have laid in a silken warp to make fast on the +bollards instead of mere plebeian hemp. I'm sure there'd be a frown on +Dason's head this minute, if the sun hadn't scorched it stiff. My Lord +Deucalion, will you pick your way with niceness over this common ship +and tread on the genteel carpet they've spread for you on the quay +yonder?" + +The port-captain heard Tob's rude banter and looked up with a face of +horror, and I remembered, with a small sigh, that colonial freedom would +have no place here in Atlantis. Once more I must prepare myself for all +the dignity of rank, and make ready to tread the formalities of vast and +gorgeous ceremonial. + +But, be these things how they may, a self-respecting man must preserve +his individuality also, and though I consented to enter a pavilion of +crimson cloth, specially erected to shelter me till the Empress should +deign to arrive, there my complaisance ended. Again the matter of +clothes was harped upon. The three gorgeously caparisoned chamberlains, +who had inducted me to the shelter, laid before me changes of raiment +bedecked with every imaginable kind of frippery, and would have me +transform myself into a popinjay in fashion like their own. + +Curtly enough, I refused to alter my garb, and when one of them +stammeringly referred to the Empress's tastes I asked him with plainness +if he had got any definite commands on this paltry matter from her +mightiness. + +Of course, he had to confess that there were none. + +Upon which I retorted that Phorenice had commanded Deucalion, the man, +to attend before her, and had sent no word of her pleasure as to his +outer casing. + +"This dress," I said, "suits my temper well. It shields my poor body +from the heat and the wind, and, moreover, it is clean. It seems to +me, sirs," I added, "that your interfering savours somewhat of an +impertinence." + +With one accord the chamberlains drew their swords and pushed the hilts +towards me. + +"It would be a favour," said their spokesman, "if the great Lord +Deucalion would take his vengeance now, instead of delivering us to the +tormentors hereafter." + +"Poof," I said, "the matter is forgotten. You make too much of a +little." + +Nevertheless, their action gave me some enlightenment. They were +perfectly in earnest in offering me the swords, and I recognised that +this was a different Atlantis that I had come home to, where a man had +dread of the torture for a mere difference concerning the cut of a coat. + +There was a bath in the pavilion, and in that I regaled myself gladly, +though there was some paltry scent added to the water that took away +half its refreshing power; and then I set myself to wait with all +outward composure and placidity. The chamberlains were too well-bred to +break into my calm, and I did not condescend to small talk. So there we +remained, the four of us, I sitting, they standing, with our Lord the +Sun smiting heavily on the scarlet roof of the pavilion, whilst the +music blared, and the welcoming fires dispersed their odours from the +great paved square without, which faced upon the quay. + +It has been said that the great should always collect dignity by keeping +those of lesser degree waiting their pleasure, though for myself I must +say I have always thought the stratagem paltry and beneath me. Phorenice +also seemed of this opinion, for (as she herself told me later) at the +moment that Tob's galley was reported as having its flank against the +marble of the royal quay, at that precise moment did she start out from +the palace. The gorgeous procession was already marshalled, bedecked, +and waiting only for its chiefest ornament, and as soon as she had +mounted to her steed, trumpets gave the order, and the advance began. + +Sitting in the doorway of the pavilion, I saw the soldiery who formed +the head of this vast concourse emerge from the great broad street where +it left the houses. They marched straight across to give me the salute, +and then ranged themselves on the farther side of the square. Then came +the Mariners' Guild, then more soldiers, all making obeisance in +their turn, and passing on to make room for others. Following were the +merchants, the tanners, the spear-makers and all the other acknowledged +Guilds, deliberately attired (so it seemed to me) that they might make +a pageant; and whilst most walked on foot, there were some who proudly +rode on beasts which they had tamed into rendering them this menial +service. + +But presently came the two wonders of all that dazzling spectacle. From +out of the eclipse of the houses there swung into the open no less a +beast than a huge bull mammoth. The sight had sufficient surprise in it +almost to make me start. Many a time during my life had I led hunts +to kill the mammoth, when a herd of them had raided some village or +cornland under my charge. I had seen the huge brutes in the wild ground, +shaggy, horrid, monstrous; more fierce than even the cave-tiger or the +cave-bear; most dangerous beast of all that fight with man for dominion +of the earth, save only for a few of the greater lizards. And here +was this creature, a giant even amongst mammoths, yet tame as any +well-whipped slave, and bearing upon its back a great half-castle of +gold, stamped with the outstretched hand, and bedecked with silver +snakes. Its murderous tusks were gilded, its hairy neck was garlanded +with flowers, and it trod on in the procession as though assisting at +such pageantry was the beginning and end of its existence. Its tameness +seemed a fitting symbol of the masterful strength of this new ruler of +Atlantis. + +Simultaneously with the mammoth, there came into sight that other and +greater wonder, the mammoth's mistress, the Empress Phorenice. The beast +took my eye at the first, from its very uncouth hugeness, from its +show of savage power restrained; but the lady who sat in the golden +half-castle on its lofty back quickly drew away my gaze, and held it +immovable from then onwards with an infinite attraction. + +I stood to my feet when the people first shouted at Phorenice's +approach, and remained in the porchway of my scarlet pavilion till her +vast steed had halted in the centre of the square, and then I advanced +across the pavement towards her. + +"On your knees, my lord," said one of the chamberlains behind me, in a +scared whisper. + +"At least with bent head," urged another. + +But I had my own notions of what is due to one's own self-respect in +these matters, and I marched across the bare open space with head erect, +giving the Empress gaze for gaze. She was clearly summing me up. I was +frankly doing the like by her. Gods! but those few short seconds made me +see a woman such as I never imagined could have lived. + +I know I have placed it on record earlier in this writing that, during +all the days of a long official life, women have had no influence over +me. But I have been quick to see that they often had a strong swaying +power over the policies of others, and as a consequence I have made it +my business to study them even as I have studied men. But this woman who +sat under the sacred snakes in her golden half-castle on the mammoth's +back, fairly baffled me. Of her thoughts I could read no single +syllable. I could see a body slight, supple, and beautifully moulded; in +figure rather small. Her face was a most perfect book of cleverness, yet +she was fair, too, beyond belief, with hair of a lovely ruddiness, cut +short in the new fashion, and bunching on her shoulders. And eyes! Gods! +who could plumb the depths of Phorenice's eyes, or find in mere tint a +trace of their heaven-made colour? + +It was plain, also, that she in her turn was searching me down to +my very soul, and it seemed that her scrutiny was not without its +satisfaction. She moved her head in little nods as I drew near, and when +I did the requisite obeisance permitted to my rank, she bade me in +a voice loud and clear enough for all at hand to hear, never to put +forehead on the ground again on her behalf so long as she ruled in +Atlantis. + +"For others," she said, "it is fitting that they should do so, once, +twice, or several times, according to their rank and station, for I am +Empress, and they are all so far beneath me; but you are Deucalion, my +lord, and though till to-day I knew you only from pictures drawn with +tongues, I have seen you now, and have judged for myself. And so I make +this decree: Deucalion is above all other men in Atlantis, and if there +is one who does not render him obedience, that man is enemy also of +Phorenice, and shall feel her anger." + +She made a sign, and a stair was brought, and then she called to me, and +I mounted and sat beside her in the golden half-castle under the canopy +of royal snakes. The girl who stood behind in attendance fanned us both +with perfumed feathers, and at a word from Phorenice the mammoth was +turned, bearing us back towards the royal pyramid by the way through +which it had come. At the same time also all the other machinery of +splendour was put in motion. The soldiers and the gaudily bedecked civil +traders fell into procession before and behind, and I noted that a body +of troops, heavily armed, marched on each of the mammoth's flanks. + +Phorenice turned to me with a smile. "You piqued me," she said, "at +first." + +"Your Majesty overwhelms me with so much notice." + +"You looked at my steed before you looked at me. A woman finds it hard +to forgive a slight like that." + +"I envied you the greatest of your conquests, and do still. I have +fought mammoths myself, and at times have killed, but I never dared even +to think of taking one alive and bringing it into tameness." + +"You speak boldly," she said, still smiling, "and yet you can turn a +pretty compliment. Faugh! Deucalion, the way these people fawn on me +gives me a nausea. I am not of the same clay as they are, I know; but +just because I am the daughter of Gods they must needs feed me on the +pap of insincerity." + +So Tatho was right, and the swineherd was forgotten. Well, if she chose +to keep up the fiction she had made, it was not my part to contradict +her. Rightly or wrongly I was her servant. + +"I have been pining this long enough for a stronger meat than they can +give," she went on, "and at last I have sent for you. I have been at +some pains to procure my tongue-pictures of you, Deucalion, and though +you do not know me yet, I may say I knew you with all thoroughness even +before we met. I can admire a man with a mind great enough to forego the +silly gauds of clothes, or the excesses of feasts, or the pamperings of +women." She looked down at her own silks and her glittering jewels. "We +women like to carry colours upon our persons, but that is a different +matter. And so I sent for you here to be my minister, and bear with me +the burden of ruling." + +"There should be better men in broad Atlantis." + +"There are not, my lord, and I who know them all by heart tell you so. +They are all enamoured of my poor person; they weary me with their empty +phrases and their importunities; and, though they are always brimming +with their cries of service, their own advancement and the filling of +their own treasuries ever comes first with them. So I have sent for you, +Deucalion, the one strong man in all the world. You at least will not +sigh to be my lover?" + +I saw her watching for my answer from the corner of her eyes. "The +Empress," I said, "is my mistress, and I will be an honest minister to +her. With Phorenice, the woman, it is likely that I shall have little +enough to do. Besides, I am not the sort that sports with this toy they +call love." + +"And yet you are a personable man enough," she said rather thoughtfully. +"But that still further proves your strength, Deucalion. You at least +will not lose your head through weak infatuation for my poor looks and +graces."--She turned to the girl who stood behind us.--"Ylga, fan not so +violently." + +Our talk broke off then for the moment, and I had time to look about +me. We were passing through the chief street in the fairest, the most +wonderful city this world has ever seen. I had left it a score of years +before, and was curious to note its increase. + +In public buildings the city had certainly made growth; there were +new temples, new pyramids, new palaces, and statuary everywhere. Its +greatness and magnificence impressed me more strongly even than usual, +returning to it as I did from such a distance of time and space, for, +though the many cities of Yucatan might each of them be princely, this +great capital was a place not to be compared with any of them. It was +imperial and gorgeous beyond descriptive words. + +Yet most of all was I struck by the poverty and squalor which stood in +such close touch with all this magnificence. In the throngs that lined +the streets there were gaunt bodies and hungry faces everywhere. Here +and there stood one, a man or a woman, as naked as a savage in Europe, +and yet dull to shame. Even the trader, with trumpery gauds on his coat, +aping the prevailing fashion for display, had a scared, uneasy look to +his face, as though he had forgotten the mere name of safety, and hid a +frantic heart with his tawdry outward vauntings of prosperity. + +Phorenice read the direction of my looks. + +"The season," she said, "has been unhealthy of recent months. These +lower people will not build fine houses to adorn my city, and because +they choose to live on in their squalid, unsightly kennels, there have +been calentures and other sicknesses amongst them, which make them +disinclined for work. And then, too, for the moment, earning is not +easy. Indeed, you may say trade is nearly stopped this last half-year, +since the rebels have been hammering so lustily at my city gates." + +I was fairly startled out of my decorum. + +"Rebels!" I cried. "Who are hammering at the gates of Atlantis? Is the +city in a state of siege?" + +"Of their condescension," said Phorenice lightly, "they are giving us +holiday to-day, and so, happily, my welcome to you comes undisturbed. +If they were fighting, your ears would have told you of it. To give them +their due, they are noisy enough in all their efforts. My spies say they +are making ready new engines for use against the walls, which you may +sally out to-morrow and break if it gives you amusement. But for to-day, +Deucalion, I have you, and you have me, and there is peace round us, and +some prettiness of display. If you ask for more I will give it you." + +"I did not know of this rebellion," I said, "but as Your Majesty has +made me your minister, it is well that I should know all about its scope +at once. This is a matter we should be serious upon." + +"And do you think I cannot take it seriously also?" she retorted. +"Ylga," she said to the girl that stood behind, "set loose my dress at +the shoulder." + +And when the attendant had unlinked the jewelled clasp (as it seemed to +me with a very ill grace), she herself stripped down the fabric, baring +the pure skin beneath, and showing me just below the curve of the left +breast a bandage of bloodstained linen. + +"There is a guarantee of my seriousness yesterday, at any rate," she +said, looking at me sidelong. "The arrow struck on a rib and that saved +me. If it had struck between, Deucalion would have been standing beside +my funeral pyre to-day instead of riding on this pretty steed of mine +which he admires so much. Your eye seems to feast itself most on the +mammoth, Deucalion. Ah, poor me. I am not one of your shaggy creatures, +and so it seems I shall never be able to catch your regard. Ylga," she +said to the girl behind, "you may link my dress up again with its clasp. +My Lord Deucalion has seen wounds before, and there is nothing else here +to interest him." + + + + +5. ZAEMON'S CURSE + + +It appeared that for the present at any rate I was to have my residence +in the royal pyramid. The glittering cavalcade drew up in the great +paved square which lies before the building, and massed itself in +groups. The mammoth was halted before the doorway, and when a stair had +been brought, the trumpets sounded, and we three who had ridden in the +golden half-castle under the canopy of snakes, descended to the ground. + +It was plain that we were going from beneath the open sky to the +apartments which lay inside the vast stone mazes of the pyramid, and +without thinking, the instinct of custom and reverence that had become +part of my nature caused me to turn to where the towering rocks of the +Sacred Mountain frowned above the city, and make the usual obeisance, +and offer up in silence the prescribed prayer. I say I did this thing +unthinking, and as a matter of common custom, but when I rose to my +feet, I could have sworn I heard a titter of laughter from somewhere in +that fancifully bedecked crowd of onlookers. + +I glanced in the direction of the scoffers, frowningly enough, and +then I turned to Phorenice to demand their prompt punishment for the +disrespect. But here was a strange thing. I had looked to see her in the +act and article of rising from an obeisance; but there she was, standing +erect, and had clearly never touched her forehead to the ground. +Moreover, she was regarding me with a queer look which I could not +fathom. + +But whatever was in her mind, she had no plan to bawl about it then +before the people collected in the square. She said to me, "Come," +and, turning to the doorway, cried for entrance, giving the secret word +appointed for the day. The ponderous stone blocks, which barred the +porch, swung back on their hinges, and with stately tread she passed +out of the hot sunshine into the cool gloom beyond, with the fan-girl +following decorously at her heels. With a heaviness beginning to grow +at my heart, I too went inside the pyramid, and the stone doors, with a +sullen thud, closed behind us. + +We did not go far just then. Phorenice halted in the hall of waiting. +How well I remembered the place, with the pictures of kings on its red +walls, and the burning fountain of earth-breath which blazed from a jet +of bronze in the middle of the flooring and gave it light. The old King +that was gone had come this far of his complaisance when he bade +me farewell as I set out twenty years before for my vice-royalty in +Yucatan. But the air of the hall was different to what it had been in +those old days. Then it was pure and sweet. Now it was heavy with some +scent, and I found it languid and oppressive. + +"My minister," said the Empress, "I acquit you of intentional insult; +but I think the colonial air has made you a very simple man. Such an +obeisance as you showed to that mountain not a minute since has not been +made since I was sent to reign over this kingdom." + +"Your Majesty," I said, "I am a member of the Priests' Clan and was +brought up in their tenets. I have been taught, before entering a house, +to thank the Gods, and more especially our Lord the Sun, for the good +air that He and They have provided. It has been my fate more than once +to be chased by streams of fire and stinking air amongst the mountains +during one of their sudden boils, and so I can say the prescribed prayer +upon this matter straight from my heart." + +"Circumstances have changed since you left Atlantis," said Phorenice, +"and when thanks are given now, they are not thrown at those old Gods." + +I saw her meaning, and almost started at the impiety of it. If this was +to be the new rule of things, I would have no hand in it. Fate might +deal with me as it chose. To serve truly a reigning monarch, that I was +prepared for; but to palter with sacrilege, and accept a swineherd's +daughter as a God, who should receive prayers and obeisances, revolted +my manhood. So I invited a crisis. + +"Phorenice," I said, "I have been a priest from my childhood up, +revering the Gods, and growing intimate with their mysteries. Till I +find for myself that those old things are false, I must stand by that +allegiance, and if there is a cost for this faithfulness I must pay it." + +She looked at me with a slow smile. "You are a strong man, Deucalion," +she said. + +I bowed. + +"I have heard others as stubborn," she said, "but they were converted." +She shook out the ruddy bunches of her hair, and stood so that the light +of the burning earth-breath might fall on the loveliness of her face and +form. "I have found it as easy to convert the stubborn as to burn them. +Indeed, there has been little talk of burning. They have all rushed to +conversion, whether I would or no. But it seems that my poor looks and +tongue are wanting in charm to-day." + +"Phorenice is Empress," I said stolidly, "and I am her servant. +To-morrow, if she gives me leave, I will clear away this rabble which +clamours outside the walls. I must begin to prove my uses." + +"I am told you are a pretty fighter," said she. "Well, I hold some small +skill in arms myself, and have a conceit that I am something of a judge. +To-morrow we will take a taste of battle together. But to-day I +must carry through the honourable reception I have planned for you, +Deucalion. The feast will be set ready soon, and you will wish to make +ready for the feast. There are chambers here selected for your use, and +stored with what is needful. Ylga will show you their places." + +We waited, the fan-girl and I, till Phorenice had passed out of the glow +of the light-jet, and had left the hall of waiting through a doorway +amongst the shadows of its farther angle, and then (the girl taking a +lamp and leading) we also threaded our way through the narrow mazes of +the pyramid. + +Everywhere the air was full of perfumes, and everywhere the passages +turned and twisted and doubled through the solid stone of the pyramid, +so that strangers might have spent hours--yes, or days--in search before +they came to the chamber they desired. There was a fine cunningness +about those forgotten builders who set up this royal pyramid. They had +no mind that kings should fall by the hand of vulgar assassins who might +come in suddenly from outside. And it is said also that the king of the +time, to make doubly sure, killed all that had built the pyramid, or +seen even the lay of its inner stones. + +But the fan-girl led the way with the lamp swinging in her hand, as one +accustomed to the mazes. Here she doubled, there she turned, and here +she stopped in the middle of a blank wall to push a stone, which swung +to let us pass. And once she pressed at the corner of a flagstone on the +floor, which reared up to the thrust of her foot, and showed us a stair +steep and narrow. That we descended, coming to the foot of an inclined +way which led us upward again; and so by degrees we came unto the +chamber which had been given for my use. + +"There is raiment in all these chests which stand by the walls," +said the girl, "and jewels and gauds in that bronze coffer. They are +Phorenice's first presents, she bid me say, and but a small earnest of +what is to come. My Lord Deucalion can drop his simplicity now, and fig +himself out in finery to suit the fashion." + +"Girl," I said sharply, "be more decorous with your tongue, and spare me +such small advice." + +"If my Lord Deucalion thinks this a rudeness, he can give a word to +Phorenice, and I shall be whipped. If he asks it, I can be stripped and +scourged before him. The Empress will do much for Deucalion just now." + +"Girl," I said, "you are nearer to that whipping than you think for." + +"I have got a name," she retorted, looking at me sullenly from under her +black brows. "They call me Ylga. You might have heard that as we rode +here on the mammoth, had you not been so wrapped up in Phorenice." + +I gazed at her curiously. "You have never seen me before," I said, "and +the first words you utter are those that might well bring trouble to +yourself. There is some object in all this." + +She went and pushed to the massive stone that swung in the doorway of +the chamber. Then she put her little jewelled fingers on my garment and +drew me carefully away from the airshaft into the farther corner. "I am +the daughter of Zaemon," she said, "whom you knew." + +"You bring me some message from him?" + +"How could I? He lives in the priests' dwellings on the Mountain you did +obeisance to. I have not put eyes on him these two years. But when I +saw you first step out from that red pavilion they had pitched at the +harbour side, I--I felt a pity for you, Deucalion. I remembered you were +my father's, Zaemon's, friend, and I knew what Phorenice had in store. +She has been plotting it all these two months." + +"I cannot hear words against the Empress." + +"And yet--" + +"What?" + +She stamped her sandal upon the stone of the floor. "You must be a very +blind man, Deucalion, or a very daring one. But I shall not interfere +further; at least not now. Still, I shall watch, and if at any time you +seem to want a friend I will try and serve you." + +"I thank you for your friendship." + +"You seem to take it lightly enough. Why, sir, even now I do not believe +you know my power, any more than you guess my motive. You may be first +man in this kingdom, but let me tell you I rank as second lady. And +remember, women stand high in Atlantis now. Believe me, my friendship is +a commodity that has been sought with frequence and industry." + +"And as I say, I am grateful for it. You seem to think little enough of +my gratitude, Ylga; but, credit me, I never have bestowed it on a woman +before, and so you should treasure it for its rarity." + +"Well," she said, "my lord, there is an education before you." She left +me then, showing me how to call slaves when I wished for their help, and +for a full minute I stood wondering at the words I had spoken to her. +Who was the daughter of Zaemon that she should induce me to change the +habit of a lifetime? + +The slaves came at my bidding, and showed themselves anxious to deck +me with a thousand foolishnesses in the matter of robes and gauds, and +(what seemed to be the modern fashion of their class) holding out the +virtues of a score of perfumes and unguents. Their manner irritated +me. Clean I was already, and shaved; my hair was trim, and my robe was +unsoiled; and, considering these pressing attentions of theirs something +of an impertinence, I set them to beat one another as a punishment, +promising that if they did not do it with thoroughness, I would hand +them on to the brander to be marked with stripes which would endure. +It is strange, but a common menial can often surpass even a rebellious +general in power of ruffling one. + +I had seen many strange sights that day, and undergone many new +sensations; but of all the things which came to my notice, Phorenice's +manner of summoning the guests to her feast surprised me most. Nay, it +did more; it shocked me profoundly; and I cannot say whether amazement +at her profanity, or wonder at her power, was for the moment strongest +in my breast. I sat in my chamber awaiting the summons, when gradually, +growing out of nothing, a sound fell upon my ear which increased in +volume with infinitely small graduations, till at last it became a +clanging din which hurt the ear with its fierceness; and then (I guessed +what was coming) the whole massive fabric of the pyramid trembled and +groaned and shook, as though it had been merely a child's wooden toy +brushed about by a strong man's sandal. + +It was the portent served out yearly by the chiefs of the Priests' Clan +on the Sacred Mountain, when they bade all the world take count of their +sins. It was the sacred reminder that from roaring, raging fire, and +from the agony of monstrous earth-tremors, man had been born, and that +by these same agencies he would eventually be swallowed up--he and +the sins within his breast. And here the Empress was prostituting its +solemnities into a mere call to gluttony, and sign for ribald laughter +and sensuous display. + +But how had she acquired the authority to do this thing? Who was she +that she should tamper with those dimly understood powers, the forces +that dwell within the liquid heart of our mother earth? Had there been +treachery? Had some member of the Priests' Clan forgotten his sacred +vows, and babbled to this woman matters concerning the holy mysteries? +Or had Phorenice discovered a key to these mysteries with her own agile +brain? + +If that last was the case, I could continue to serve her with silent +conscience. Though she might be none of my making, at least she was +Empress, and it was my duty to give her obedience. But if she had +suborned some weaker member of the Clan on the Sacred Mount, that would +be a different matter. For be it remembered that it was one of the +elements of our constitution to preserve our secrets and mysteries +inviolate, and to pursue with undying hatred both the man who had dared +to betray them, and the unhappy recipient of his confidence. + +It was with very undecided feelings, then, that I obeyed the summons of +the earth-shaking, and bade the slaves lead me through the windings of +the pyramid to the great banqueting-hall. The scene there was dazzling. +The majestic chamber with its marvellous carvings was filled with a +company decked out with all the gauds and colours that fancy could +conceive. Little recked they of the solemn portent which had summoned +them to the meal, of the death and misery that stalked openly through +the city wards without, of the rebels which lay in leaguer beyond the +walls, of the neglected Gods and their clan of priests on the Sacred +Mountain. They were all gluttonous for the passions of the moment; it +was their fashion and conceit to look at nothing beyond. + +Flaming jets of earth-breath lit the great hall to the brightness of +midday; and when I stepped out upon the pavement, trumpets blared, so +that all might know of my coming. But there was no roar of welcome. +"Deucalion," they lisped with mincing voices, bowing themselves +ridiculously to the ground so that all their ornaments and silks might +jangle and swish. Indeed, when Phorenice herself appeared, and all +sent up their cries and made lawful obeisance, there was the same +artificiality in the welcome. They meant well enough, it is true; +but this was the new fashion. Heartiness had come to be accounted a +barbarism by this new culture. + +A pair of posturing, smirking chamberlains took me in charge, and +ushered me with their flimsy golden wands to the dais at the farther +end. It appeared that I was to sit on Phorenice's divan, and eat my meat +out of her dish. + +"There is no stint to the honour the Empress puts upon me," I said, as I +knelt down and took my seat. + +She gave me one of her queer, sidelong looks. "Deucalion may have more +beside, if he asks for it prettily. He may have what all the other men +in the known world have sighed for, and what none of them will ever +get. But I have given enough of my own accord; he must ask me warmly for +those further favours." + +"I ask," I said, "first, that I may sweep the boundaries clear of this +rabble which is clamouring against the city walls." + +"Pah," she said, and frowned. "Have you appetite only for the sterner +pleasures of life? My good Deucalion, they must have been rustic folk +in that colony of yours. Well, you shall give me news now of the +toothsomeness of this feast." + +Dishes and goblets were placed before us, and we began to eat, though I +had little enough appetite for victual so broken and so highly spiced. +But if this finicking cookery and these luscious wines did not appeal +to me, the other diners in that gorgeous hall appreciated it all to the +full. They sat about in groups on the pavement beneath the light-jets +like a tangle of rainbows for colour, and according to the new custom +they went into raptures and ecstasies over their enjoyment. Women and +men both, they lingered over each titillation of the palate as though it +were a caress of the Gods. + +Phorenice, with her quick, bright eyes, looked on, and occasionally +flung one or another a few words between her talk with me, and now and +again called some favoured creature up to receive a scrap of viand +from the royal dish. This the honoured one would eat with extravagant +gesture, or (as happened twice) would put it away in the folds of his +clothes as a treasure too dear to be profaned by human lips. + +To me, this flattery appeared gross and disgustful, but Phorenice, +through use, perhaps, seemed to take it as merely her due. There was, +one had to suppose, a weakness in her somewhere, though truly to the +outward seeing none was apparent. Her face was strong enough, and it was +subtle also, and, moreover, it was wondrous comely. All the courtiers in +the banqueting-hall raved about Phorenice's face and the other beauties +of her body and limbs, and though not given to appreciation in these +matters, I could not but see that here at least they had a groundwork +for their admiration, for surely the Gods have never favoured mortal +woman more highly. Yet lovely though she might be, for myself I +preferred to look upon Ylga, the girl, who, because of her rank, was +privileged to sit on the divan behind us as immediate attendant. There +was an honesty in Ylga's face which Phorenice's lacked. + +They did not eat to nutrify their bodies, these feasters in the +banqueting-hall of the royal pyramid, but they all ate to cloy +themselves, and they strutted forth new usages with every platter and +bowl that the slaves brought. To me some of their manners were +closely touching on disrespect. At the halfway of the meal, a gorgeous +popinjay--he was a governor of an out-province driven into the capital +by a rebellion in his own lands--this gorgeous fop, I say, walked up +between the groups of feasters with flushed face and unsteady gait, and +did obeisance before the divan. "Most astounding Empress," cried he, +"fairest among the Goddesses, Queen regnant of my adoring heart, hail!" + +Phorenice with a smile stretched him out her cup. I looked to see him +pour respectful libation, but no such thing. He set the drink to his +lips and drained it to the final drop. "May all your troubles," he +cried, "pass from you as easily, and leave as pleasant a flavour." + +The Empress turned to me with one of her quick looks. "You do not like +this new habit?" + +To which I replied bluntly enough that to pour out liquor at a person's +feet had grown through custom to be a mark of respect, but that drinking +it seemed to me mere self-indulgence, which might be practised anywhere. + +"You still keep to the old austere teachings," she said. "Our newer code +bids us enjoy life first, and order other things so as not to meddle +with our more immediate pleasure." + +And so the feast went on, the guests practising their gluttonies and +their absurdities, and the guards standing to their arms round the +circuit of the walls as motionless and as stern as the statues carven +in the white stone beyond them. But a term was put to the orgy with +something of suddenness. There was a stir at the farther doorway of the +banqueting-hall, and a clash, as two of the guards joined their spears +across the entrance. But the man they tried to stop--or perhaps it was +to pin--passed them unharmed, and walked up over the pavement between +the lights, and the groups of feasters. All looked round at him; a few +threw him ribald words; but none ventured to stop his progress. A few, +women chiefly, I could see, shuddered as he passed them by, as though a +wintry chill had come over them; and in the end he walked up and stood +in front of Phorenice's divan, and gazed fixedly on her, but without +making obeisance. + +He was a frail old man, with white hair tumbling on his shoulders, and +ragged white beard. The mud of wayfaring hung in clots on his feet and +legs. His wizened body was bare save for a single cloth wound about +his shoulders and his loins, and he carried in his hand a wand with the +symbol of our Lord the Sun glowing at its tip. That wand went to show +his caste, but in no other way could I recognize him. + +I took him for one of those ascetics of the Priests' Clan, who had +forsworn the steady nurtured life of the Sacred Mountain, and who lived +out in the dangerous lands amongst the burning hills, where there is +daily peril from falling rocks, from fire streams, from evil vapours, +from sudden fissuring of the ground, and from other movements of those +unstable territories, and from the greater lizards and other monstrous +beasts which haunt them. These keep constant in the memory the might of +the Holy Gods, and the insecurity of this frail earth on which we have +our resting-place, and so the sojourners there become chastened in the +spirit, and gain power over mysteries which even the most studious and +learned of other men can never hope to attain. + +A silence filled the room when the old man came to his halt, and +Phorenice was the first to break it. "Those two guards," she said, in +her clear, carrying voice, "who held the door, are not equal to their +work. I cannot have imperfect servants; remove them." + +The soldiers next in the rank lifted their spears and drove them home, +and the two fellows who had admitted the old man fell to the ground. One +shrieked once, the other gave no sound: they were clever thrusts both. + +The old man found his voice, thin, and high, and broken. "Another crime +added to your tally, Phorenice. Not half your army could have hindered +my entrance had I wished to come, and let me tell you that I am here to +bring you your last warning. The Gods have shown you much favour; they +gave you merit by which you could rise above your fellows, till at last +only the throne stood above you. It was seen good by those on the Sacred +Mountain to let you have this last ambition, and sit on this throne +that has as long and honourably been filled by the ancient kings of +Atlantis." + +The Empress sat back on the divan smiling. "I seemed to get these things +as I chose, and in spite of your friends' teeth. I may owe to you, old +man, a small parcel of thanks, though that I offered to repay; but for +my lords the priests, their permission was of small enough value when +it came. I would have you remember that I was as firm on the throne of +Atlantis as this pyramid stands upon its base when your worn-out priests +came up to give their tottering benediction." + +The old man waved aside her interruption. "Hear me out," he said. "I am +here with no trivial message. There is nothing paltry about the threat +I can throw at you, Phorenice. With your fire-tubes, your handling of +troops, and your other fiendish clevernesses, you may not be easy to +overthrow by mere human means, though, forsooth, these poor rebels who +yap against your city walls have contrived to hold their ground for long +enough now. It may be that you are becoming enervated; I do not know. +It may be that you are too wrapped up in your feastings, your dressings, +your pomps, and your debaucheries, to find leisure to turn to the art +of war. It may be that the man's spirit has gone out from your arm and +brain, and you are a woman once more--weak, and pleasure-loving; again I +do not know. + +"But this must happen: You must undo the evil you have done; you must +give bread to the people who are starving, even if you take it from +these gluttons in this hall; you must restore Atlantis to the state in +which it was entrusted to you: or else you must be removed. It cannot +be permitted that the country should sink back into the lawlessness +and barbarism from which its ancient kings have digged it. You hear, +Phorenice. Now give me true answer." + +"Speak him fair. Oh! For the sake of your fortune, speak him fair," came +Ylga's voice in a hurried whisper from behind us. But the Empress took +no notice of it. She leaned forward on the cushions of the divan with a +knit brow. + +"Do you dare to threaten me, old man, knowing what I am?" + +"I know your origin," he said gravely, "as well as you know it yourself. +As for my daring, that is a small matter. He need be but a timid man who +dares to say words that the High Gods put on his lips." + +"I shall rule this kingdom as I choose. I shall brook interference from +no creature on this earth, or beneath it, or in the sky above. The Gods +have chosen me to be Their regent in Atlantis, and They do not depose me +through such creatures as you. Go away, old man, and play the fanatic in +another court. It is well that I have an ancient kindliness for you, or +you would not leave this place unharmed." + +"Now, indeed, you are lost," I heard Ylga murmur from behind, and the +old man in front of us did not move a step. Instead, he lifted up the +Symbol of our Lord the Sun, and launched his curse. "Your blasphemy +gives the reply I asked for. Hear me now make declaration of war on +behalf of Those against whom you have thrown your insults. You shall be +overthrown and sent to the nether Gods. At whatever cost the land shall +be purged of you and yours, and all the evil that has been done to it +whilst you have sullied the throne of its ancient kings. You will not +amend, neither will you yield tamely. You vaunt that you sit as firm on +your throne as this pyramid reposes on its base. See how little you +know of what the future carries. I say to you that, whilst you are yet +Empress, you shall see this royal pyramid which you have polluted +with your debaucheries torn tier from tier, and stone from stone, and +scattered as feathers spread before a wind." + +"You may wreck the pyramid," said Phorenice contemptuously. "I myself +have some knowledge of the earth forces, as I have shown this night. But +though you crumble every stone above us now and grind it into grit and +dust, I shall still be Empress. What force can you crazy priests bring +against me that I cannot throw back and destroy?" + +"We have a weapon that was forged in no mortal smithy," shrilled the +old man, "whereof the key is now lodged in the Ark of the Mysteries. But +that weapon can be used only as a last resource. The nature of it even +is too awful to be told in words. Our other powers will be launched +against you first, and for this poor country's sake I pray that they may +cause you to wince. Yet rest assured, Phorenice, that we shall not step +aside once we have put a hand to this matter. We shall carry it through, +even though the cost be a universal burning and destruction. For know +this, daughter of the swineherd, it is agreed amongst the most High Gods +that you are too full of sin to continue unchecked." + +"Speak him fairly," Ylga urged from behind. "He has a power at which you +cannot even guess." + +The Empress made to rise, but Ylga clung to her skirt. "For the sake of +your fame," she urged, "for the sake of your life, do not defy him." But +Phorenice struck her fiercely aside, and faced the old man in a tumult +of passion. "You dare call me a blasphemer, who blaspheme yourself? You +dare cast slurs upon my birth, who am come direct from the most high +Heaven? Old man, your craziness protects you in part, but not in all. +You shall be whipped. Do you hear me? I say, whipped. The lean flesh +shall be scourged from your scraggy bones, and you shall totter away +from this place as a red and bleeding example for those who would dare +traduce their Empress. Here, some of you, I say, take that man, and let +him be whipped where he stands." + +Her cry went out clearly enough. But not a soul amongst those glittering +feasters stirred in his place. Not a soldier amongst the guards stepped +from his rank. The place was hung in a terrible silence. It seemed as +though no one within the hall dared so much as to draw a breath. All +felt that the very air was big with fate. + +Phorenice, with her head crouched forward, looked from one group to +another. Her face was working. "Have I no true servants," she asked, +"amongst all you pretty lip-servers?" + +Still no one moved. They stood, or sat, or crouched like people +fascinated. For myself, with the first words he had uttered, I had +recognized the old man by his voice. It was Zaemon, the weak governor +who had given the Empress her first step towards power; that earnest +searcher into the mysteries, who knew more of their powers, and more +about the hidden forces, than any other dweller on the Sacred Mountain, +even at that time when I left for my colony. And now, during his strange +hermit life, how much more might he not have learned? I was torn by +warring duties. I owed much to the Priests' Clan, by reason of my oath +and membership; it seemed I owed no less to Phorenice. And, again, was +Zaemon the truly accredited envoy of the high council of the priests of +the Sacred Mountain? And was the Empress of a truth deposed by the High +Gods above, or was she still Empress, and still the commander of my +duty? I could not tell, and so I sat in my seat awaiting what the event +would sow. + +Phorenice's fury was growing. "Do I stand alone here?" she cried. "Have +I pampered you creatures out of all touch with gratitude? It seems that +at last I want a new chief to my guards. Ho! Who will be chief of the +guards of the Empress?" + +There was a shifting of eyes, a hesitation. Then a great burly form +strode up from the farther end of the hall, and a perceptible shudder +went up from all the others as they watched him. + +"So, Tarca, you prefer to take the risks, and remain chief of the guard +yourself?" she said with an angry scoff. "Truly there did not seem to be +many thrusting forward to strip you of the office. I shall have a fine +sorting up of places in payment for this night's work. But for the +present, Tarca, do your duty." + +The man came up, obviously timorous. He was a solidly made fellow, but +not altogether unmartial, and though but little of his cheek showed +above his decorated beard, I could see that he paled as he came near +to the priest. "My lord," he said quietly, "I must ask you to come with +me." + +"Stand aside," said the old man, thrusting out the Symbol in front of +him. I could see his eyes gather on the soldier and his brows knit with +a strain of will. + +Tarca saw this too, and I thought he would have fallen, but with an +effort he kept his manhood, and doggedly repeated his summons. "I must +obey the command of my mistress, and I would have you remember, my lord, +that I am but a servant. You must come with me to the whip." + +"I warn you!" cried the old man. "Stand from out of my path, you!" + +It must have been with the courage of desperation that the soldier dared +to use force. But the hand he stretched out dropped limply back to his +side the moment it touched the old man's bare shoulder, as though it had +been struck by some shock. He seemed almost to have expected some such +repulse; yet when he picked up that hand with the other, and looked +at it, and saw its whiteness, he let out of him a yell like a wounded +beast. "Oh, Gods!" he cried. "Not that. Spare me!" + +But Zaemon was glowering at him still. A twitching seized the man's +face, and he put up his sound hand to it and plucked at his beard, +which was curled and plaited after the new fashion of the day. A woman +standing near screamed as the half of the beard came off in his fingers. +Beneath was silver whiteness over half his face. Zaemon had smitten him +with a sudden leprosy that was past cure. + +Yet the punishment was not ended even then. Other twitchings took him +on other parts of the body, and he tore off his armour and his foppish +clothes, and always where the bare flesh showed, there had the horrid +plague written its white mark; and in the end, being able to endure no +more, the man fell to the pavement and lay there writhing. + +Zaemon said no further word. He lifted the Symbol before him, set +his eyes on the farther door of the banqueting-hall and walked for +it directly, all those in his path shrinking away from him with open +shudders. And through the valves of the door he passed out of our sight, +still wordless, still unchecked. + +I glanced up at Phorenice. The loveliness of her face was drawn and +haggard. It was the first great reverse, this, she had met with in +all her life, and the shock of it, and the vision of what might follow +after, dazed her. Alas, if she could only have guessed at a tenth of the +terrors which the future had in its womb, Atlantis might have been saved +even then. + + + + +6. THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS + + +Here then was the manner of my reception back in the capital of +Atlantis, and some first glimpse at her new policies. I freely confess +to my own inaction and limpness; but it was all deliberate. The old ties +of duty seemed lost, or at least merged in one another. Beforetime, to +serve the king was to serve the Clan of the Priests, from which he had +been chosen, and whose head he constituted. But Phorenice was self-made, +and appeared to be a rule unto herself; if Zaemon was to be trusted, +he was the mouthpiece of the Priests, and their Clan had set her at +defiance; and how was a mere honest man to choose on the instant between +the two? + +But cold argument told me that governments were set up for the good +of the country at large, and I said to myself that there would be my +choice. I must find out which rule promised best of Atlantis, and do my +poor best to prop it into full power. And here at once there opened up +another path in the maze: I had heard some considerable talk of rebels; +of another faction of Atlanteans who, whatever their faults might be, +were at any rate strong enough to beleaguer the capital; and before +coming to any final decision, it would be as well to take their claims +in balance with the rest. So on the night of that very same day on which +I had just re-planted my foot on the old country's shores, I set out to +glean for myself tidings on the matter. + +No one inside the royal pyramid gainsaid me. The banquet had ended +abruptly with the terrible scene that I have set down above on these +tablets, for with Tarca writhing on the floor, and thrusting out the +gruesome scars of his leprosy, even the most gluttonous had little +enough appetite for further gorging. Phorenice glowered on the feasters +for a while longer in silent fury, but saying no further word; and then +her eyes turned on me, though softened somewhat. + +"You may be an honest man, Deucalion," she said, at length, "but you are +a monstrous cold one. I wonder when you will thaw?" And here she smiled. +"I think it will be soon. But for now I bid you farewell. In the morning +we will take this country by the shoulders, and see it in some new +order." + +She left the banqueting-hall then, Ylga following; and taking +precedence of my rank, I went out next, whilst all others stood and made +salutation. But I halted by Tarca first, and put my hand on his unclean +flesh. "You are an unfortunate man," I said, "but I can admire a brave +soldier. If relief can be gained for your plague, I will use interest to +procure it for you." + +The man's thanks came in a mumble from his wrecked mouth, and some of +those near shuddered in affected disgust. I turned on them with a +black brow: "Your charity, my lords, seems of as small account as +your courage. You affected a fine disbelief of Zaemon's sayings, and +a simpering contempt for his priesthood, but when it comes to laying +a hand on him, you show a discretion which, in the old days, we should +have called by an ugly name. I had rather be Tarca, with all his +uncleanness, than any of you now as you stand." + +With which leave-taking I waited coldly till they gave me my due +salutation, and then walked out of the banqueting-hall without offering +a soul another glance. I took my way to the grand gate of the pyramid, +called for the officer of the guard, and demanded exit. The man was +obsequious enough, but he opened with some demur. + +"My lord's attendants have not yet come up?" + +"I have none." + +"My lord knows the state of the streets?" + +"I did twenty years back. I shall be able to pick my way." + +"My lord must remember that the city is beleaguered," the fellow +persisted. "The people are hungry. They prowl in bands after nightfall, +and--I make no question that my lord would conquer in a fight against +whatever odds, but--" + +"Quite right. I covet no street scuffle to-night. Lend me, I pray you, +a sufficiency of men. You will know best what are needed. For me, I am +accustomed to a city with quiet streets." + +A score of sturdy fellows were detailed off for my escort, and with them +in a double file on either hand, I marched out from the close perfumed +air of the pyramid into the cool moonlight of the city. It was my +purpose to make a tour of the walls and to find out somewhat of the +disposition of these rebels. + +But the Gods saw fit to give me another education first. The city, as I +saw it during that night walk, was no longer the old capital that I had +known, the just accretion of the ages, the due admixture of comfort and +splendour. The splendour was there, vastly increased. Whole wards had +been swept away to make space for new palaces, and new pyramids of the +wealthy, and I could not but have an admiration for the skill and the +brain which made possible such splendid monuments. + +And, indeed, gazing at them there under the silver of the moonlight, +I could almost understand the emotions of the Europeans and other +barbarous savages which cause them to worship all such great buildings +as Gods, since they deem them too wonderful and majestic to be set up by +human hands unaided. + +Still, if it was easy to admire, it was simple also to see plain +advertisement of the cost at which these great works had been reared. +From each grant of ground, where one of these stately piles earned +silver under the moon, a hundred families had been evicted and left to +harbour as they pleased in the open; and, as a consequence, now every +niche had its quota of sleepers, and every shadow its squad of fierce +wild creatures, ready to rush out and rob or slay all wayfarers of less +force than their own. + +Myself, I am no pamperer of the common people. I say that, if a man be +left to hunger and shiver, he will work to gain him food and raiment; +and if not, why then he can die, and the State is well rid of a +worthless fellow. But here beside us, as we marched through many wards, +were marks of blind oppression; starved dead bodies, with the bones +starting through the lean skin, sprawled in the gutter; and indeed +it was plain that, save for the favoured few, the people of the great +capital were under a most heavy oppression. + +But at this, though I might regret it abominably, I could make no strong +complaint. By the ancient law of the land all the people, great and +small, were the servants of the king, to be put without question to what +purposes he chose; and Phorenice stood in the place of the king. So I +tried to think no treason, but with a sigh passed on, keeping my eyes +above the miseries and the squalors of the roadway, and sending out my +thoughts to the stars which hung in the purple night above, and to +the High Gods which dwelt amongst them, seeking, if it might be, for +guidance for my future policies. And so in time the windings of the +streets brought us to the walls, and, coursing beside these and giving +fitting answer to the sentries who beat their drums as we passed, we +came in time to that great gate which was a charge to the captain of the +garrison. + +Here it was plain there was some special commotion. A noise of laughter +went up into the still night air, and with it now and again the snarl +and roar of a great beast, and now and again the shriek of a hurt man. +But whatever might be afoot, it was not a scene to come upon suddenly. +The entrance gates of our great capital were designed by their ancient +builders to be no less strong than the walls themselves. Four pairs +of valves were there, each a monstrous block of stone two man-heights +square, and a man-height thick, and the wall was doubled to receive +them, enclosing an open circus between its two parts. The four gates +themselves were set one at the inner, one at the outer side of each of +these walls, and a hidden machinery so connected them, that of each set +one could not open till the other was closed; and as for forcing them +without war engines, one might as foolishly try to push down the royal +pyramid with the bare hand. + +My escort made outcry with the horn which hung from the wall inviting +such a summons, and a warder came to an arrow-slit, and did inspection +of our persons and business. His survey was according to the ancient +form of words, which is long, and this was made still more tedious by +the noise from within, which ever and again drowned all speech between +us entirely. + +But at last the formalities had been duly complied with, and he shot +back the massive bars and bolts of stone, and threw ajar one monstrous +stone valve of the door. Into the chamber within--a chamber made from +the thickness of the wall between the two doors--I and my fellows +crowded, and then the warder with his machines pulled to the valve which +had been opened, and came to me again through the press of my escort, +bowing low to the ground. + +"I have no vail to give you," I said abruptly. "Get on with your duty. +Open me that other door." + +"With respect, my lord, it would be better that I should first announce +my lord's presence. There is a baiting going forward in the circus, and +the tigers are as yet mere savages, and no respecters of persons." + +"The what?" + +"The tigers, if my lord will permit them the name. They are baiting a +batch of prisoners with the two great beasts which the Empress (whose +name be adored) has sent here to aid us keep the gate. But if my +lord will, there are the ward rooms leading off this passage, and the +galleries which run out from them commanding the circus, and from there +my lord can see the sport undisturbed." + +Now, the mere lust for killing excites only disgust in me, but I +suspected the orders of the Empress in this matter, and had a curiosity +to see her scheme. So I stepped into the warder's lodge, and on into +the galleries which commanded the circus with their arrow-slits. The old +builders of the place had intended these for a second line of defence, +for, supposing the outer doors all forced, an enemy could be speedily +shot down in the circus, without being able to give a blow in return, +and so would only march into a death-trap. But as a gazing-place on a +spectacle they were no less useful. + +The circus was bright lit by the moonlight, and the air which came in to +me from it was acrid with the reek of blood. There was no sport in +what was going forward: as I said, it was mere killing, and the sight +disgusted me. I am no prude about this matter. Give a prisoner his +weapons, put him in a pit with beasts of reasonable strength, and let +him fight to a finish if you choose, and I can look on there and applaud +the strokes. The war prisoner, being a prisoner, has earned death by +natural law, and prefers to get his last stroke in hot blood than to +be knocked down by the headsman's axe. And it is any brave man's luxury +either to help or watch a lusty fight. But this baiting in the circus +between the gates was no fair battle like that. + +To begin with, the beasts were no fair antagonists for single men. In +fact, twenty men armed might well have fled from them. When the warder +said tigers, I supposed he meant the great cats of the woods. But here, +in the circus, I saw a pair of the most terrific of all the fur-bearing +land beasts, the great tigers of the caves--huge monsters, of such +ponderous strength that in hunger they will oftentimes drag down a +mammoth, if they can find him away from his herd. + +How they had been brought captive I could not tell. Hunter of beasts +though I had been for all my days, I take no shame in saying that +I always approached the slaying of a cave-tiger with stratagem and +infinite caution. To entrap it alive and bring it to a city on a chain +was beyond my most daring schemes, and I have been accredited with more +new things than one. But here it was in fact, and I saw in these captive +beasts a new certificate for Phorenice's genius. + +The purpose of these two cave-tigers was plain: whilst they were in +the circus, and loose, no living being could cross from one gate to +the other. They were a new and sturdy addition to the defences of the +capital. A collar of bronze was round the throat of each, and on the +collar was a massive chain which led to the wall, where it could be +payed out or hauled in by means of a windlass in one of the hidden +galleries. So that at ordinary moments the two huge beasts could be +tethered, one close to either end of the circus, as the litter of bones +and other messes showed, leaving free passage-way between the two sets +of doors. + +But when I stood there by the arrow-slit, looking down into the +moonlight of the circus, these chains were slackened (though men stood +by the windlass of each), and the great striped brutes were prowling +about the circus with the links clanking and chinking in their wake. +Lying stark on the pavement were the bodies of some eight men, dead +and uneaten; and though the cave-tigers stopped their prowlings now and +again to nuzzle these, and beat them about with playful paw-blows, they +made no pretence at commencing a meal. It was clear that this cruel +sport had grown common to them, and they knew there were other victims +yet to be added to the tally. + +Presently, sure enough, as I watched, a valve of the farther gate swung +back an arm's length, and a prisoner, furiously resisting, was thrust +out into the circus. He fell on his face, and after one look around him +he lay resolutely still, with eyes on the ground passively awaiting +his fate. The ponderous stone of the gate clapped to in its place; the +cave-tigers turned in their prowlings; and a chatter of wagers ran to +and fro amongst the watchers behind the arrow-slits. + +It seemed there were niceties of cruelty in this wretched game. There +was a sharp clank as the windlasses were manned, and the tethering +chains were drawn in by perhaps a score of links. One of the cave-tigers +crouched, lashed its tail, and launched forth on a terrific spring. +The chain tautened, the massive links sang to the strain, and the great +beast gave a roar which shook the walls. It had missed the prone man by +a hand's breadth, and the watchers behind the arrow-slits shrieked forth +their delight. The other tiger sprang also and missed, and again there +were shouts of pleasure, which mingled with the bellowing voices of the +beasts. The man lay motionless in his form. One more cowardly, or +one more brave, might have run from death, or faced it; but this poor +prisoner chose the middle course--he permitted death to come to him, and +had enough of doggedness to wait for it without stir. + +The great cave-tigers were used, it appeared, to this disgusting sport. +There were no more wild springs, no more stubbings at the end of the +massive chains. They lay down on the pavement, and presently began to +purr, rolling on to their sides and rubbing themselves luxuriously. The +prisoner still lay motionless in his form. + +By slow degrees the monstrous brutes each drew to the end of its chain +and began to reach at the man with out-stretched forepaw. The male could +not touch him; the female could just reach him with the far tip of a +claw; and I saw a red scratch start up in the bare skin of his side at +every stroke. But still the prisoner would not stir. It seemed to me +that they must slack out more links of one of the tigers' chains, or let +the vile play linger into mere tediousness. + +But I had more to learn yet. The male tiger, either taught by his +own devilishness, or by those brutes that were his keepers, had still +another ruse in store. He rose to his feet and turned round, backing +against the chain. A yell of applause from the hidden men behind +the arrow-slits told that they knew what was in store; and then the +monstrous beast, stretched to the utmost of its vast length, kicked +sharply with one hind paw. + +I heard the crunch of the prisoner's ribs as the pads struck him, and at +that same moment the poor wretch's body was spurned away by the blow, as +one might throw a fruit with the hand. But it did not travel far. It was +clear that the she-tiger knew this manoeuvre of her mate's. She caught +the man on his bound, nuzzling over him for a minute, and then tossing +him high into the air, and leaping up to the full of her splendid height +after him. + +Those other onlookers thought it magnificent; their gleeful shouts said +as much. But for me, my gorge rose at the sight. Once the tigers +had reached him, the man had been killed, it is true, without any +unnecessary lingering. Even a light blow from those terrific paws would +slay the strongest man living. But to see the two cave-tigers toying +with the poor body was an insult to the pride of our race. + +However, I was not there to preach the superiority of man to the +beasts, and the indecency and degradation of permitting man to be unduly +insulted. I had come to learn for myself the new balance of things +in the kingdom of Atlantis, and so I stood at my place behind the +arrow-slit with a still face. And presently another scene in this +ghastly play was enacted. + +The cave-tigers tired of their sport, and first one and then the other +fell once more to prowling over the littered pavements, with the heavy +chains scraping and chinking in their wake. They made no beginning to +feast on the bodies provided for them. That would be for afterwards. In +the present, the fascination of slaughter was big in them, and they +had thought that it would be indulged further. It seemed that they knew +their entertainers. + +Again the windlass clanked, and the tethering chains drew the great +beasts clear of the doorway; and again a valve of the farther door swung +ajar, and another prisoner was thrust struggling into the circus. A +sickness seized me when I saw that this was a woman, but still, in view +of the object I had in hand, I made no interruption. + +It was not that I had never seen women sent to death before. A general, +who has done his fighting, must in his day have killed women equally +with men; yes, and seen them earn their death-blow by lusty battling. +Yet there seemed something so wanton in this cruel helpless sacrifice +of a woman prisoner, that I had a struggle with myself to avoid +interference. Still it is ever the case that the individual must be +sacrificed to a policy, and so as I say, I watched on, outwardly cold +and impassive. + +I watched too (I confess it freely) with a quickening heart. Here was no +sullen submissive victim like the last. She may have been more cowardly +(as some women are), she may have been braver (as many women have shown +themselves); but, at any rate, it was clear that she was going to make a +struggle for her life, and to do vicious damage, it might be, before +she yielded it up. The watchers behind the arrow-slits recognized this. +Their wagers, and the hum of their appreciation, swept loudly round the +ring of the circus. + +They stripped their prisoners, before they thrust them out to this +death, of all the clothes they might carry, for clothes have a value; +and so the woman stood there bare-limbed in the moonlight. + +She clapped her back to the great stone door by which she had entered, +and faced fate with glowing eye. Gods! there have been times in early +years when I could have plucked out sword and jumped down, and fought +for her there for the sheer delight of such a battle. But now policy +restrained me. The individual might want a helping hand, but it was +becoming more and more clear that Atlantis wanted a minister also; and +before these great needs, the lesser ones perforce must perish. Still, +be it noted that, if I did not jump down, no other man there that night +had sufficient manhood remaining to venture the opportunity. + +My heart glowed as I watched her. She picked a bone from the litter on +the pavement and beat off its head by blows against the wall. Then with +her teeth she fashioned the point to still further sharpness. I could +see her teeth glisten white in the moonrays as she bit with them. + +The huge cave-tigers, which stood as high as her head as they walked, +came nearer to her in their prowlings, yet obviously neglected her. This +was part of their accustomed scheme of torment, and the woman knew it +well. There was something intolerable in their noiseless, ceaseless +paddings over the pavement. I could see the prisoner's breast heave as +she watched them. A terror such as that would have made many a victim +sick and helpless. + +But this one was bolder than I had thought. She did not wait for a +spring: she made the first attack herself. When the she-tiger made its +stroll towards her, and was in the act of turning, she flung herself +into a sudden leap, striking viciously at its eye with her sharpened +bone. A roar from the onlookers acknowledged the stroke. The +cave-tiger's eye remained undarkened, but the puny weapon had dealt it +a smart flesh wound, and with a great bellow of surprise and pain it +scampered away to gain space for a rush and a spring. + +But the woman did not await its charge. With a shrill scream she sped +forward, running at the full of her speed across the moonlight directly +towards that shadowed part of the encircling wall within whose thickness +I had my gazing place; and then, throwing every tendon of her body into +the spring, made the greatest leap that surely any human being +ever accomplished, even when spurred on by the utmost of terror and +desperation. In an after day I measured it, and though of a certainty +she must have added much to the tally by the sheer force of her run, +which drove her clinging up the rough surface of the wall, it is a sure +thing that in that splendid leap her feet must have dangled a man-height +and a half above the pavement. + +I say it was prodigious, but then the spur was more than the ordinary, +and the woman herself was far out of the common both in thews and +intelligence; and the end of the leap left her with five fingers lodged +in the sill of the arrow-slit from which I watched. Even then she must +have slipped back if she had been left to herself, for the sill sloped, +and the stone was finely smooth; but I shot out my hand and gripped +hers by the wrist, and instantly she clambered up with both knees on the +sills, and her fingers twined round to grip my wrist in her turn. + +And now you will suppose she gushed out prayers and promises, thinking +only of safety and enlargement. There was nothing of this. With savage +panting wordlessness she took fresh grip on the sharpened bone with her +spare hand, and lunged with it desperately through the arrow-slit. With +the hand that clutched mine she drew me towards her, so as to give the +blows the surer chance, and so unprepared was I for such an attack, and +with such fierce suddenness did she deliver it, that the first blow was +near giving me my quietus. But I grappled with the poor frantic creature +as gently as might be--the stone of the wall separating us always--and +stripped her of her weapon, and held her firmly captive till she might +calm herself. + +"That was an ungrateful blow," I said. "But for my hand you'd have +slipped and be the sport of a tiger's paw this minute." + +"Oh, I must kill some one," she panted, "before I am killed myself." + +"There will be time enough to think upon that some other day; but for +now you are far enough off meeting further harm." + +"You are lying to me. You will throw me to the beasts as soon as I loose +my grip. I know your kind: you will not be robbed of your sport." + +"I will go so far as to prove myself to you," said I, and called out for +the warder who had tended the doors below. "Bid those tigers be tethered +on a shorter chain," I ordered, "and then go yourself outside into the +circus, and help this lady delicately to the ground." + +The word was passed and these things were done; and I too came out into +the circus and joined the woman, who stood waiting under the moonlight. +But the others who had seen these doings were by no means suited at the +change of plan. One of the great stone valves of the farther door opened +hurriedly, and a man strode out, armed and flushed. "By all the Gods!" +he shouted. "Who comes between me and my pastime?" + +I stepped quietly to the advance. "I fear, sir," I said, "that you must +launch your anger against me. By accident I gave that woman sanctuary, +and I had not heart to toss her back to your beasts." + +His fingers began to snap against his hilt. + +"You have come to the wrong market here with your qualms. I am captain +here, and my word carries, subject only to Phorenice's nod. Do you +hear that? Do you know too that I can have you tossed to those striped +gate-keepers of mine for meddling in here without an invitation?" He +looked at me sharp enough, but saw plainly that I was a stranger. "But +perhaps you carry a name, my man, which warrants your impertinence?" + +"Deucalion is my poor name," I said, "but I cannot expect you will know +it. I am but newly landed here, sir, and when I left Atlantis some score +of years back, a very different man to you held guard over these gates." +He had his forehead on my feet by this time. "I had it from the Empress +this night that she will to-morrow make a new sorting of this kingdom's +dignities. Perhaps there is some recommendation you would wish me to lay +before her in return for your courtesies?" + +"My lord," said the man, "if you wish it, I can have a turn with those +cave-tigers myself now, and you can look on from behind the walls and +see them tear me." + +"Why tell me what is no news?" + +"I wish to remind my lord of his power; I wish to beg of his clemency." + +"You showed your power to these poor prisoners; but from what remains +here to be seen, few of them have tasted much of your clemency." + +"The orders were," said the captain of the gate, as though he thought a +word might be said here for his defence, "the orders were, my lord, that +the tigers should be kept fierce and accustomed to killing." + +"Then, if you have obeyed orders, let me be the last to chide you. +But it is my pleasure that this woman be respited, and I wish now to +question her." + +The man got to his feet again with obvious relief, though still bowing +low. + +"Then if my lord will honour me by sitting in my room that overlooks the +outer gate, the favour will never be forgotten." + +"Show the way," I said, and took the woman by the fingers, leading her +gently. At the two ends of the circus the tigers prowled about on short +chains, growling and muttering. + +We passed through the door into the thickness of the outer wall, and the +captain of the gate led us into his private chamber, a snug enough box +overlooking the plain beyond the city. He lit a torch from his lamp +and thrust it into a bracket on the wall, and bowing deeply and walking +backwards, left us alone, closing the door in place behind him. He was +an industrious fellow, this captain, to judge from the spoil with +which his chamber was packed. There could have come very few traders in +through that gate below without his levying a private tribute; and so, +judging that most of his goods had been unlawfully come by, I had little +qualm at making a selection. It was not decent that the woman, being +an Atlantean, should go bereft of the dignity of clothes, as though +she were a mere savage from Europe; and so I sought about amongst the +captain's spoil for garments that would be befitting. + +But, as I busied myself in this search for raiment, rummaging amongst +the heaps and bales, with a hand and eye little skilled in such +business, I heard a sound behind which caused me to turn my head, and +there was the woman with a dagger she had picked from the floor, in the +act of drawing it from the sheath. + +She caught my eye and drew the weapon clear, but seeing that I made no +advance towards her, or move to protect myself, waited where she was, +and presently was took with a shuddering. + +"Your designs seem somewhat of a riddle," I said. "At first you +wished to kill me from motives which you explained, and which I quite +understood. It lay in my power next to confer some small benefit +upon you, in consequence of which you are here, and not--shall we +say?--yonder in the circus. Why you should desire now to kill the only +man here who can set you completely free, and beyond these walls, is a +thing it would gratify me much to learn. I say nothing of the trifle of +ingratitude. Gratitude and ingratitude are of little weight here. There +is some far greater in your mind." + +She pressed a hand hard against her breasts. "You are Deucalion," she +gasped; "I heard you say it." + +"I am Deucalion. So far, I have known no reason to feel shame for my +name." + +"And I come of those," she cried, with a rising voice, "who bite against +this city, because they have found their fate too intolerable with the +land as it is ordered now. We heard of your coming from Yucatan. It was +we who sent the fleet to take you at the entrance to the Gulf." + +"Your fleet gave us a pretty fight." + +"Oh, I know, I know. We had our watchers on the high land who brought us +the tidings. We had an omen even before that. Where we lay with our army +before the walls here, we saw great birds carrying off the slain to the +mountains. But where the fleet failed, I saw a chance where I, a woman, +might--" + +"Where you might succeed?" I sat me down on a pile of the captain's +stuffs. It seemed as if here at last that I should find a solution for +many things. "You carry a name?" I asked. + +"They call me Nais." + +"Ah," I said, and signed to her to take the clothes that I had sought +out. She was curiously like, so both my eyes and hearing said, to Ylga, +the fan-girl of Phorenice, but as she had told me of no parentage I +asked for none then. Still her talk alone let me know that she was bred +of none of the common people, and I made up my mind towards definite +understanding. "Nais," I said, "you wish to kill me. At the same time I +have no doubt you wish to live on yourself, if only to get credit from +your people for what you have done. So here I will make a contract with +you. Prove to me that my death is for Atlantis' good, and I swear by our +Lord the Sun to go out with you beyond the walls, where you can stab me +and then get you gone. Or the--" + +"I will not be your slave." + +"I do not ask you for service. Or else, I wished to say, I shall live +so long as the High Gods wish, and do my poor best for this country. And +for you--I shall set you free to do your best also. So now, I pray you, +speak." + + + + +7. THE BITERS OF THE WALLS (FURTHER ACCOUNT) + + +"You will set me free," she said, regarding me from under her brows, +"without any further exactions or treaty?" + +"I will set you free exactly on those terms," I answered, "unless indeed +we here decide that it is better for Atlantis that I should die, in +which case the freedom will be of your own taking." + +"My lord plays a bold game." + +"Tut, tut," I said. + +"But I shall not hesitate to take the full of my bond, unless my +theories are most clearly disproved to me." + +"Tut," I said, "you women, how you can play out the time needlessly. +Show me sufficient cause, and you shall kill me where and how you +please. Come, begin the accusation." + +"You are a tyrant." + +"At least I have not paraded my tyrannies in Atlantis these twenty +years. Why, Nais, I did but land yesterday." + +"You will not deny you came back from Yucatan for a purpose." + +"I came back because I was sent for. The Empress gives no reasons for +her recalls. She states her will; and we who serve her obey without +question." + +"Pah, I know that old dogma." + +"If you discredit my poor honesty at the outset like this, I fear we +shall not get far with our unravelling." + +"My lord must be indeed simple," said this strange woman scornfully, "if +he is ignorant of what all Atlantis knows." + +"Then simple you must write me down. Over yonder in Yucatan we were too +well wrapped up in our own parochial needs and policies to have +leisure to ponder much over the slim news which drifted out to us from +Atlantis--and, in truth, little enough came. By example, Phorenice +(whose office be adored) is a great personage here at home; but over +there in the colony we barely knew so much as her name. Here, since I +have been ashore, I have seen many new wonders; I have been carried by a +riding mammoth; I have sat at a banquet; but in what new policies there +are afoot, I have yet to be schooled." + +"Then, if truly you do not know it, let me repeat to you the common +tale. Phorenice has tired of her unmated life." + +"Stay there. I will hear no word against the Empress." + +"Pah, my lord, your scruples are most decorous. But I did no more than +repeat what the Empress had made public by proclamation. She is minded +to take to herself a husband, and nothing short of the best is good +enough for Phorenice. One after another has been put up in turn as +favourite--and been found wanting. Oh, I tell you, we here in Atlantis +have watched her courtship with jumping hearts. First it was this one +here, then it was that one there; now it was this general just returned +from a victory, and a day later he had been packed back to his camp, to +give place to some dashing governor who had squeezed increased revenues +from his province. But every ship that came from the West said that +there was a stronger man than any of these in Yucatan, and at last the +Empress changed the wording of her vow. 'I'll have Deucalion for my +husband,' said she, 'and then we will see who can stand against my +wishes.'" + +"The Empress (whose name be adored) can do as she pleases in such +matters," I said guardedly; "but that is beside the argument. I am here +to know how it would be better for Atlantis that I should die?" + +"You know you are the strongest man in the kingdom." + +"It pleases you to say so." + +"And Phorenice is the strongest woman." + +"That is beyond doubt." + +"Why, then, if the Empress takes you in marriage, we shall be under a +double tyranny. And her rule alone is more cruelly heavy than we can +bear already." + +"I pass no criticism on Phorenice's rule. I have not seen it. But I +crave your mercy, Nais, on the newcomer into this kingdom. I am strong, +say you, and therefore I am a tyrant, say you. Now to me this sequence +is faulty." + +"Who should a strong man use strength for, if not for himself? And if +for himself, why that spells tyranny. You will get all your heart's +desires, my lord, and you will forget that many a thousand of the common +people will have to pay for them." + +"And this is all your accusation?" + +"It seems to be black enough. I am one that has a compassion for my +fellow-men, my lord, and because of that compassion you see me what I am +to-day. There was a time, not long passed, when I slept as soft and ate +as dainty as any in Atlantis." + +I smiled. "Your speech told me that much from the first." + +"Then I would I had cast the speech off, too, if that is also a livery +of the tyrant's class. But I tell you I saw all the oppression myself +from the oppressor's side. I was high in Phorenice's favour then." + +"That, too, is easy of credence. Ylga is the fan-girl to the Empress +now, and second lady in the kingdom, and those who have seen Ylga could +make an easy guess at the parentage of Nais." + +"We were the daughters of one birth; but I do not count with either +Zaemon or Ylga now. Ylga is the creature of Phorenice, and Phorenice +would have all the people of Atlantis slaves and in chains, so that +she might crush them the easier. And as for Zaemon, he is no friend of +Phorenice's; he fights with brain and soul to drag the old authority +to those on the Sacred Mountain; and that, if it come down on us again, +would only be the exchange of one form of slavery for another." + +"It seems to me you bite at all authority." + +"In fact," she said simply, "I do. I have seen too much of it." + +"And so you think a rule of no-rule would be best for the country?" + +"You have put it plainly in words for me. That is my creed to-day. That +is the creed of all those yonder, who sit in the camp and besiege this +city. And we number on our side, now, all in Atlantis save those in the +city and a handful on the priests' Mountain." + +I shook my head. "A creed of desperation, if you like, Nais, but, +believe me, a silly creed. Since man was born out of the quakings and +the fevers of this earth, and picked his way amongst the cooler-places, +he has been dependent always on his fellow-men. And where two are +congregated together, one must be chief, and order how matters are to be +governed--at least, I speak of men who have a wish to be higher than the +beasts. Have you ever set foot in Europe?" + +"No." + +"I have. Years back I sailed there, gathering slaves. What did I see? A +country without rule or order. Tyrants they were, to be sure, but they +were the beasts. The men and the women were the rudest savages, knowing +nothing of the arts, dressing in skins and uncleanness, harbouring in +caves and the tree-tops. The beasts roamed about where they would, and +hunted them unchecked." + +"Still, they fought you for their liberty?" + +"Never once. They knew how disastrous was their masterless freedom. Even +to their dull, savage brains it was a sure thing that no slavery could +be worse; and to that state you, and your friends, and your theories, +will reduce Atlantis, if you get the upper hand. But, then, to argue +in a circle, you will never get it. For to conquer, you must set up +leaders, and once you have set them up, you will never pull them down +again." + +"Aye," she said with a sigh, "there is truth in that last." + +The torch had filled the captain's room with a resinous smoke, but the +flame was growing pale. Dawn was coming in greyly through a slender +arrow-slit, and with it ever and again the glow from some mountain out +of sight, which was shooting forth spasmodic bursts of fire. With it +also were mutterings of distant falling rocks, and sullen tremblings, +which had endured all the night through, and I judged that earth was in +one of her quaking moods, and would probably during the forthcoming day +offer us some chastening discomforts. + +On this account, perhaps, my senses were stilled to certain evidences +which would otherwise have given me a suspicion; and also, there is no +denying that my general wakefulness was sapped by another matter. This +woman, Nais, interested me vastly out of the common; the mere presence +of her seemed to warm the organs of my interior; and whilst she was +there, all my thoughts and senses were present in the room of the +captain of the gate in which we sat. + +But of a sudden the floor of the chamber rocked and fell away beneath +me, and in a tumult of dust, and litter, and bales of the captain's +plunder, I fell down (still seated on the flagstone) into a pit which +had been digged beneath it. With the violence of the descent, and the +flutter of all these articles about my head, I was in no condition for +immediate action; and whilst I was still half-stunned by the shock, and +long before I could get my eyes into service again, I had been seized, +and bound, and half-strangled with a noose of hide. Voices were raised +that I should be despatched at once out of the way; but one in authority +cried out that, killing me at leisure, and as a prisoner, promised more +genteel sport; and so I was thrust down on the floor, whilst a whole +army of men trod in over me to the attack. + +What had happened was clear to me now, though I was powerless to do +anything in hindrance. The rebels with more craft than any one had +credited to them, had driven a galley from their camp under the ground, +intending so to make an entrance into the heart of the city. In their +clumsy ignorance, and having no one of sufficient talent in mensuration, +they had bungled sadly both in direction and length, and so had ended +their burrow under this chamber of the captain of the gate. The great +flagstone in its fall had, it appeared, crushed four of them to death, +but these were little noticed or lamented. Life was to them a bauble of +the slenderest price, and a horde of others pressed through the opening, +lusting for the fight, and recking nothing of their risks and perils. + +Half-choked by the foul air of the galley, and trodden on by this great +procession of feet, it was little enough I could do to help my immediate +self much less the more distant city. But when the chief mass of the +attackers had passed through, and there came only here and there one +eager to take his share at storming the gate, a couple of fellows +plucked me up out of the mud on the floor, and began dragging me down +through the stinking darkness of the galley towards the pit that gave it +entrance. + +Twenty times we were jostled by others hastening to the attack, either +from hunger for fight, or from appetite for what they could steal. +But we came to the open at last, and half-suffocated though I was, I +contrived to do obeisance, and say aloud the prescribed prayer to the +most High Gods in gratitude for the fresh, sweet air which They had +provided. + +Our Lord the Sun was on the verge of rising for His day, and all things +were plainly shown. Before me were the monstrous walls of the capital, +with the heads of its pyramids and higher buildings showing above them. +And on the walls, the sentries walked calmly their appointed paces, or +took shelter against arrows in the casemates provided for them. + +The din of fighting within the gate rose high into the air, and the +heavy roaring of the cave-tigers told that they too were taking their +share of the melee. But the massive stonework of the walls hid all the +actual engagement from our view, and which party was getting the upper +hand we could not even guess. But the sounds told how tight a fight was +being hammered out in those narrow boundaries, and my veins tingled to +be once more back at the old trade, and to be doing my share. + +But there was no chivalry about the fellows who held me by my bonds. +They thrust me into a small temple near by, which once had been a fane +in much favour with travellers, who wished to show gratitude for the +safe journey to the capital, but which now was robbed and ruined, and +they swung to the stone entrance gate and barred it, leaving me to +commune with myself. Presently, they told me, I should be put to death +by torments. Well, this seemed to be the new custom of Atlantis, and I +should have to endure it as best I could. The High Gods, it appeared, +had no further use for my services in Atlantis, and I was not in the +mood then to bite very much at their decision. What I had seen of the +country since my return had not enamoured me very much with its new +conditions. + +The little temple in which I was gaoled had been robbed and despoiled of +all its furnishments. But the light-slits, where at certain hours of the +day the rays of our Lord the Sun had fallen upon the image of the God, +before this had been taken away, gave me vantage places from which I +could see over the camp of these rebel besiegers, and a dreary prospect +it was. The people seemed to have shucked off the culture of centuries +in as many months, and to have gone back for the most part to sheer +brutishness. The majority harboured on the bare ground. Few owned +shelter, and these were merely bowers of mud and branches. + +They fought and quarrelled amongst themselves for food, eating their +meat raw, and their grain (when they had it) unground. Many who passed +my vision I saw were even gnawing the soft inside of tree bark. + +The dead lay where they fell. The sick and the wounded found no hand +to tend them. Great man-eating birds hovered about the camp or skulked +about, heavy with gorging, amongst the hovels, and no one had public +spirit enough to give them battle. The stink of the place rose up to +heaven as a foul incense inviting a pestilence. There was no order, no +trace of strong command anywhere. With three hundred well-disciplined +troops it seemed to me that I could have sent those poor desperate +hordes flying in panic to the forest. + +However, there was no very lengthy space of time granted me for thinking +out the policy of this matter to any great depth. The attack on the gate +had been delivered with suddenness; the repulse was not slow. Of what +desperate fighting took place in the galleries, and in the circus +between the two sets of gates, the detail will never be told in full. + +At the first alarm the great cave-tigers were set loose, and these raged +impartially against keeper and foe. Of those that went in through the +tunnel, not one in ten returned, and there were few of these but what +carried a bloody wound. Some, with the ruling passion still strong in +them, bore back plunder; one trailed along with him the head of the +captain of the gate; and amongst them they dragged out two of the +warders who were wounded, and whom revenge had urged them to take as +prisoners. + +Over these two last a hubbub now arose, that seemed likely to boil over +into blows. Every voice shouted out for them what he thought the most +repulsive fate. Some were for burning, some for skinning, some for +impaling, some for other things: my flesh crept as I heard their +ravenous yells. Those that had been to the trouble of making them +captive were still breathless from the fight, and were readily thrust +aside; and it seemed to me that the poor wretches would be hustled into +death before any definite fate was agreed upon, which all would pass as +sufficiently terrific. Never had I seen such a disorderly tumult, never +such a leaderless mob. But, as always has happened, and always will, the +stronger men by dint of louder voices and more vigorous shoulders got +their plans agreed to at last, and the others perforce had to give way. + +A band of them set off running, and presently returned at snails' pace, +dragging with them (with many squeals from ungreased wheels) one of +those huge war engines with which besiegers are wont to throw great +stones and other missiles into the cities they sit down against. They +ran it up just beyond bowshot of the walls, and clamped it firmly down +with stakes and ropes to the earth. Then setting their lean arms to the +windlasses, they drew back the great tree which formed the spring till +its tethering place reached the ground, and in the cradle at its head +they placed one of the prisoners, bound helplessly, so that he could not +throw himself over the side. + +Then the rude, savage, skin-clad mob stood back, and one who had +appointed himself engineer knocked back the catch that held the great +spring in place. + +With a whir and a twang the elastic wood flung upwards, and the bound +man was shot away from its tip with the speed of a lightning flash. +He sang through the air, spinning over and over with inconceivable +rapidity, and the great crowd of rebels held their breath in silence as +they watched. He passed high above the city wall, a tiny mannikin in the +distance now, and then the trajectory of his flight began to lower. The +spike of a new-built pyramid lay in the path of his terrific flight, and +he struck it with a thud whose sound floated out to us afterwards, +and then he toppled down out of our sight, leaving a red stain on the +whiteness of the stone as he fell. + +With a roar the crowd acknowledged the success of their device, and +bellowed out insults to Phorenice, and insults to the Gods: a poor +frantic crowd they showed themselves. And then with ravening shouts, +they fell upon the other captive warder, binding him also into a compact +helpless missile, and meanwhile getting the engine in gear again for +another shot. + +But for my part I saw nothing of this disgusting scene. I heard the bolt +grate stealthily against the door of the little temple in which I was +imprisoned, and was minded to give these brutish rebels somewhat of a +surprise. I had rid myself of my bonds handily enough; I had rubbed +my limbs to that perfect suppleness which is always desirable before a +fight; and I had planned to rush out so soon as the door was swung, and +kill those that came first with fist blows on the brow and chin. + +They had not suspected my name, it was clear, for my stature and garb +were nothing out of the ordinary; but if my bodily strength and fighting +power had been sufficient to raise me to a vice-royalty like that of +Yucatan, and let me endure alive in that government throughout twenty +hard-battling years, why, it was likely that this rabble of savages +would see something that was new and admirable in the practice of arms +before the crude weight of their numbers could drag me down. Nay, I did +not even despair of winning free altogether. I must find me a weapon +from those that came up to battle, with which I could write worthy +signatures, and I must attempt no standing fights. Gods! but what a glow +the prospect did send through me as I stood there waiting. + +A vainer man, writing history, might have said that always, before +everything else, he held in mind the greater interests before the less. +But for me--I prefer to be honest, and own myself human. In my glee +at that forthcoming fight--which promised to be the greatest and most +furious I had known in all a long life of battling--I will confess that +Atlantis and her differing policies were clean forgot. I should go out +an unknown man from the little cell of a temple, I should do my work, +and then, whether I took freedom with me, or whether I came down at last +myself on a pile of slain, these people would guess without being told +the name, that here was Deucalion. Gods! what a fight we would have +made! + +But the door did not open wide to give me space for my first rush. It +creaked gratingly outwards on its pivots, and a slim hand and a white +arm slipped inside, beckoning me to quietude. Here was some woman. The +door creaked wider, and she came inside. + +"Nais," I said. + +"Silence, or they will hear you, and remember. At present those who +brought you here are killed, and unless by chance some one blunders into +this robbed shrine, you will not be found." + +"Then, if that is so, let me go out and walk amongst these people as one +of themselves." + +She shook her head. + +"But, Nais, I am not known here. I am merely a man in very plain and +mud-stained robe. I should be in no ways remarkable." + +A smile twitched her face. "My lord," she said, "wears no beard; and his +is the only clean chin in the camp." + +I joined in her laugh. "A pest on my want of foppishness then. But I am +forgetting somewhat. It comes to my mind that we still have unfinished +that small discussion of ours concerning the length of my poor life. +Have you decided to cut it off from risk of further mischief, or do you +propose to give me further span?" + +She turned to me with a look of sharp distress. "My lord," she said, +"I would have you forget that silly talk of mine. This last two hours I +thought you were dead in real truth." + +"And you were not relieved?" + +"I felt that the only man was gone out of the world--I mean, my lord, +the only man who can save Atlantis." + +"Your words give me a confidence. Then you would have me go back and +become husband to Phorenice?" + +"If there is no other way." + +"I warn you I shall do that, if she still so desires it, and if it seems +to me that that course will be best. This is no hour for private likings +or dislikings." + +"I know it," she said, "I feel it. I have no heart now, save only for +Atlantis. I have schooled myself once more to that." + +"And at present I am in this lone little box of a temple. A minute +ago, before you came, I had promised myself a pretty enough fight to +signalise my changing of abode." + +"There must be nothing of that. I will not have these poor people +slaughtered unnecessarily. Nor do I wish to see my lord exposed to a +hopeless risk. This poor place, such as it is, has been given to me +as an abode, and, if my lord can remain decorously till nightfall in a +maiden's chamber, he may at least be sure of quietude. I am a person," +she added simply, "that in this camp has some respect. When darkness +comes, I will take my lord down to the sea and a boat, and so he may +come with ease to the harbour and the watergate." + + + + +8. THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS + + +It was long enough since I had found leisure for a parcel of sleep, +and so during the larger part of that day I am free to confess that I +slumbered soundly, Nais watching me. Night fell, and still we remained +within the privacy of the temple. It was our plan that I should stay +there till the camp slept, and so I should have more chance of reaching +the sea without disturbance. + +The night came down wet, with a drizzle of rain, and through the slits +in the temple walls we could see the many fires in the camp well cared +for, the men and women in skins and rags toasting before them, with +steam rising as the heat fought with their wetness. Folk seated in +discomfort like this are proverbially alert and cruel in the temper, and +Nais frowned as she looked on the inclemency of the weather. + +"A fine night," she said, "and I would have sent my lord back to the +city without a soul here being the wiser; but in this chill, people +sleep sourly. We must wait till the hour drugs them sounder." + +And so we waited, sitting there together on that pavement so long +unkissed by worshippers, and it was little enough we said aloud. But +there can be good companionship without sentences of talk. + +But as the hours drew on, the night began to grow less quiet. From the +distance some one began to blow on a horn or a shell, sending forth a +harsh raucous note incessantly. The sound came nearer, as we could tell +from its growing loudness, and the voices of those by the fires made +themselves heard, railing at the blower for his disturbance. And +presently it became stationary, and standing up we could see through the +slits in the walls the people of the camp rousing up from their uneasy +rest, and clustering together round one who stood and talked to them +from the pedestal of a war engine. + +What he was declaiming upon we could not hear, and our curiosity on +the matter was not keen. Given that all who did not sleep went to weary +themselves with this fellow, as Nais whispered, it would be simple for +me to make an exit in the opposite direction. + +But here we were reckoning without the inevitable busybody. A dozen +pairs of feet splashing through the wet came up to the side of the +little temple, and cried loudly that Nais should join the audience. She +had eloquence of tongue, it appeared, and they feared lest this speaker +who had taken his stand on the war engine should make schisms amongst +their ranks unless some skilled person stood up also to refute his +arguments. + +Here, then, it seemed to me that I must be elbowed into my skirmish by +the most unexpected of chances, but Nais was firmly minded that there +should be no fight, if courage on her part could turn it. "Come out with +me," she whispered, "and keep distant from the light of the fires." + +"But how explain my being here?" + +"There is no reason to explain anything," she said bitterly. "They will +take you for my lover. There is nothing remarkable in that: it is the +mode here. But oh, why did not the Gods make you wear a beard, and curl +it, even as other men? Then you could have been gone and safe these two +hours." + +"A smooth chin pleases me better." + +"So it does me," I heard her murmur as she leaned her weight on the +stone which hung in the doorway, and pushed it ajar; "your chin." The +ragged men outside--there were women with them also--did not wait to +watch me very closely. A coarse jest or two flew (which I could have +found good heart to have repaid with a sword-thrust) and they stepped +off into the darkness, just turning from time to time to make sure we +followed. On all sides others were pressing in the same direction--black +shadows against the night; the rain spat noisily on the camp fires as we +passed them; and from behind us came up others. There were no sleepers +in the camp now; all were pressing on to hear this preacher who stood on +the pedestal of the war engine; and if we had tried to swerve from the +straight course, we should have been marked at once. + +So we held on through the darkness, and presently came within earshot. + +Still it was little enough of the preacher's words we could make out at +first. "Who are your chiefs?" came the question at the end of a fervid +harangue, and immediately all further rational talk was drowned in +uproar. "We have no chiefs," the people shouted, "we are done with +chiefs; we are all equal here. Take away your silly magic. You may kill +us with magic if you choose, but rule us you shall not. Nor shall +the other priests rule. Nor Phorenice. Nor anybody. We are done with +rulers." + +The press had brought us closer and closer to the man who stood on the +war engine. We saw him to be old, with white hair that tumbled on his +shoulders, and a long white beard, untrimmed and uncurled. Save for a +wisp of rag about the loins, his body was unclothed, and glistened in +the wet. + +But in his hand he held that which marked his caste. With it he pointed +his sentences, and at times he whirled it about bathing his wet, +naked body in a halo of light. It was a wand whose tip burned with an +unconsuming fire, which glowed and twinkled and blazed like some star +sent down by the Gods from their own place in the high heaven. It was +the Symbol of our Lord the Sun, a credential no one could forge, and one +on which no civilised man would cast a doubt. + +Indeed, the ragged frantic crew did not question for one moment that +he was a member of the Clan of Priests, the Clan which from time out +of numbering had given rulers for the land, and even in their loudest +clamours they freely acknowledged his powers. "You may kill us with your +magic, if you choose," they screamed at him. But stubbornly they refused +to come back to their old allegiance. "We have suffered too many +things these later years," they cried. "We are done with rulers now for +always." + +But for myself I saw the old man with a different emotion. Here was +Zaemon that was father to Nais, Zaemon that had seen me yesterday seated +on the divan at Phorenice's elbow, and who to-day could denounce me as +Deucalion if so he chose. These rebels had expended a navy in their +wish to kill me four days earlier, and if they knew of my nearness, even +though Nais were my advocate, her cold reasoning would have had little +chance of an audience now. The High Gods who keep the tether of our +lives hide Their secrets well, but I did not think it impious to be sure +that mine was very near the cutting then. + +The beautiful woman saw this too. She even went so far as to twine her +fingers in mine and press them as a farewell, and I pressed hers in +return, for I was sorry enough not to see her more. Still I could not +help letting my thoughts travel with a grim gloating over the fine mound +of dead I should build before these ragged, unskilled rebels pulled me +down. And it was inevitable this should be so. For of all the emotions +that can ferment in the human heart, the joy of strife is keenest, and +none but an old fighter, face to face with what must necessarily be his +final battle, can tell how deep this lust is embroidered into the very +foundations of his being. + +But for the time Zaemon did not see me, being too much wrapped in his +outcry, and so I was free to listen to the burning words which he spread +around him, and to determine their effect on the hearers. + +The theme he preached was no new one. He told that ever since the +beginning of history, the Gods had set apart one Clan of the people +to rule over the rest and be their Priests, and until the coming of +Phorenice these had done their duties with exactitude and justice. +They had fought invaders, carried war against the beasts, and studied +earth-movements so that they were able to foretell earthquakes and +eruptions, and could spread warnings that the people might be able +to escape their devastations. They are no self-seekers; their aim was +always to further the interest of Atlantis, and so do honour to the +kingdom on which the High Gods had set their special favour. Under the +Priestly Clan, Atlantis had reached the pinnacle of human prosperity and +happiness. + +"But," cried the old man, waving the Symbol till his wet body glistened +in a halo of light, "the people grew fat and careless with their easy +life. They began to have a conceit that their good fortune was earned +by their own puny brains and thews, and was no gift from the Gods above; +and presently the cult of these Gods became neglected, and Their temples +were barren of gifts and worshippers. Followed a punishment. The Gods +in Their inscrutable way decreed that a wife of one of the Priests (that +was a governor of no inconsiderable province) should see a woman child +by the wayside, and take it for adoption. That child the Gods in their +infinite wisdom fashioned into a scourge for Atlantis, and you who have +felt the weight of Phorenice's hand, know with what completeness the +High Gods can fashion their instruments. + +"Yet, even as they set up, so can they throw down, and those that +shall debase Phorenice are even now appointed. The old rule is to +be re-established; but not till you who have sinned are sufficiently +chastened to cry to it for relief." He waved the mysterious glowing +Symbol before him. "See," he cried in his high old quavering voice, "you +know the unspeakable Power of which that is the sign, and for which I +am the mouthpiece. It is for you to make decision now. Are the Gods to +throw down this woman who has scorned Them and so cruelly trodden on +you? Or are you to be still further purged of your pride before you are +ripe for deliverance?" + +The old priest broke off with a gesture, and his ragged white beard +sank on to his chest. Promptly a young man, skin clad and carrying his +weapon, elbowed up through the press of listeners, and jumped on to the +platform beside him. "Hear me, brethren!" he bellowed, in his strong +young voice. "We are done with tyrants. Death may come, and we all of us +here have shown how little we fear it. But own rulers again we will not, +and that is our final say. My lord," he said, turning to the old man +with a brave face, "I know it is in your power to kill me by magic if +you choose, but I have said my say, and can stand the cost if needs be." + +"I can kill you, but I will not," said Zaemon. "You have said your +silliness. Now go you to the ground again." + +"We have free speech here. I will not go till I choose." + +"Aye, but you will," said the old man, and turned on him with a sudden +tightening of the brows. There was no blow passed; even the Symbol, +which glowed like a star against the night, was not so much as lifted in +warning; but the young man tried to retort, and, finding himself smitten +with a sudden dumbness, turned with a spasm of fear, and jumped back +whence he had come. The crowd of them thrilled expectantly, and when no +further portent was given, they began to shout that a miracle should be +shown them, and then perchance they would be persuaded back to the old +allegiance. + +The old man stooped and glowered at them in fury. "You dogs," he cried, +"you empty-witted dogs! Do you ask that I should degrade the powers of +the Higher Mysteries by dancing them out before you as though they were +a mummers' show? Do you tickle yourselves that you are to be tempted +back to your allegiance? It is for you to woo the Gods who are so +offended. Come in humility, and I take it upon myself to declare that +you will receive fitting pardon and relief. Remain stubborn, and the +scourge, Phorenice, may torment you into annihilation before she in turn +is made to answer for the evil she has put upon the land. There is the +choice for you to pick at." + +The turmoil of voices rose again into the wetness of the night, and +weapons were upraised menacingly. It was clear that the party for +independence had by far the greater weight, both in numbers and +lustiness; and those who might, from sheer weariness of strife, have +been willing for surrender, withheld their word through terror of the +consequence. It was a fine comment on the freedom of speech, about which +these unruly fools had made their boast, and, with a sly malice, I could +not help whispering a word on this to Nais as she stood at my elbow. But +Nais clutched at my hand, and implored me for caution. "Oh, be silent, +my lord," she whispered back, "or they will tear you in pieces. They are +on fire for mischief now." + +"Yet a few hours back you were for killing me yourself," I could not +help reminding her. + +She turned on me with a hot look. "A woman can change her mind, my lord. +But it becomes you little to remind her of her fickleness." + +A man in the press beside me wrenched round with an effort, and stared +at me searchingly through the darkness. "Oh!" he said. "A shaved chin. +Who are you, friend, that you should cut a beard instead of curling it? +I can see no wound on your face." + +I answered him civilly enough that, with "freedom" for a watchword, the +fashion of my chin was a matter of mere private concern. But as that did +not satisfy him, and as he seemed to be one of those quarrelsome fellows +that are the bane of every community, I took him suddenly by the throat +and the shoulder, and bent his neck with the old, quick turn till I +heard it crack, and had unhanded him before any of his neighbours had +seen what had befallen. The fierce press of the crowd held him from +slipping to the ground, and so he stood on there where he was, with his +head nodded forward, as though he had fallen asleep through heaviness, +or had fainted through the crushing of his fellows. I had no desire to +begin that last fight of mine in a place like this, where there was no +room to swing a weapon, nor chance to clear a battle ring. + +But all this time the lean preacher from the mountains was sending forth +his angry anathemas, and still holding the strained attention of the +people. And next he set forth before them the cult of the Gods in the +ancient form as is prescribed, and they (with old habit coming back to +them) made response in the words and in the places where the old ritual +enjoins. It was weird enough sight, that time-honoured service of +adoration, forced upon these wild people after so long a period of +irreligion. + +They warmed to the old words as the high shrill voice of the priest +cried them forth, and as they listened, and as they realised how +intimate was the care of the Gods for the travails and sorrows of their +daily lives, so much warmer grew their responses. + +"... WHO STILLED THE BURNING OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND MADE COOL PLACES ON +THE EARTH FOR US TO LIVE!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS. + +"WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF TEN TIMES TO +PREVAIL!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS...." + +"WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF TEN TIMES TO +PREVAIL!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS...." + +It thrilled one to hear their earnestness; it sorrowed one to know that +they would yet be obdurate and not return to their old allegiance. +For this is the way with these common people; they will work up an +enthusiasm one minute, and an hour later it will have fled away and left +them cold and empty. + +But Zaemon made no further calls upon their loyalty. He finished the +prescribed form of sentences, and stepped down off the platform of the +war engine with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun thrust out resolutely +before him. To all ordinary seeming the crowd had been packed so that no +further compression was possible, but before the advance of the Symbol +the people crushed back, leaving a wide lane for his passage. + +And here came the turning point of my life. At first, like, I take +it, every one else in that crowd, I imagined that the old man, having +finished his mission, was making a way to return to the place from which +he had come. But he held steadily to one direction, and as that was +towards myself, it naturally came to my mind that, having dealt with +greater things, he would now settle with the less; or, in plainer words, +that having put his policy before the swarming people, he would now +smite down the man he had seen but yesterday seated as Phorenice's +minister. Well, I should lose that final fight I had promised myself, +and that mound of slain for my funeral bed. It was clear that Zaemon was +the mouthpiece of the Priests' Clan, duly appointed; and I also was a +priest. If the word had been given on the Sacred Mountain to those who +sat before the Ark of the Mysteries that Atlantis would prosper more +with Deucalion sent to the Gods, I was ready to bow to the sentence with +submissiveness. That I had regret for this mode of cutting off, I will +not deny. No man who has practised the game of arms could abandon the +promise of such a gorgeous final battle without a qualm of longing. + +But I had been trained enough to show none of these emotions on my face, +and when the old man came up to me, I stood my ground and gave him the +salutation prescribed between our ranks, which he returned to me with +circumstance and accuracy. The crowd fell back, being driven away by the +ineffable force of the Symbol, leaving us alone in the middle of a +ring. Even Nais, though she was a priest's daughter, was ignorant of the +Mysteries, and could not withstand its force. And so we two men stood +there alone together, with the glow of the Symbol bathing us, and +lighting up the sea of ravenous faces that watched. + +The people were quick to put their natural explanation on the scene. "A +spy!" they began to roar out. "A spy! Zaemon salutes him as a Priest!" + +Zaemon faced round on them with a queer look on his grim old face. +"Aye," he said, "this is a Priest. If I give you his name, you might +have further interest. This is the Lord Deucalion." + +The word was picked up and yelled amongst them with a thousand emotions. +But at least they were loyal to their policy; they had decided that +Deucalion was their enemy; they had already expended a navy for his +destruction; and now that he was ringed in by their masses, they lusted +to tear him into rags with their fingers. But rave and rave though they +might against me, the glare from the Symbol drove them shuddering back +as though it had been a lava-stream; and Zaemon was not the man to hand +me over to their fury until he had delivered formal sentence as the +emissary of our Clan on the Sacred Mount. So the end was not to be yet. + +The old man faced me and spoke in the sacred tongue, which the common +people do not know. "My brother," he said, "which have you come to +serve, Deucalion or Atlantis?" + +"Words are a poor thing to answer a question like that. You will know +all of my record. According to the Law of the Priests, each ship from +Yucatan will have carried home its sworn report to lay at the feet of +their council, and before I went to that vice-royalty, what I did was +written plain here on the face of Atlantis." + +"We know your doings in the past, brother, and they have found approval. +You have governed well, and you have lived austerely. You set up +Atlantis for a mistress, and served her well; but then, you have had no +Phorenice to tempt you into change and fickleness." + +"You can send me where I shall see her no more, if you think me frail." + +"Yes, and lose your usefulness. No, brother, you are the last hope which +this poor land has remaining. All other human means that have been tried +against Phorenice have failed. You have returned from overseas for the +final duel. You are the strongest man we have, and you are our final +champion. If you fail, then only those terrible Powers which are locked +within the Ark of the Mysteries remains to us, and though it is not +lawful to speak even in this hidden tongue of their scope, you at least +have full assurance of their potency." + +I shrugged my shoulders. "It seems that you would save time and pains +if you threw me to these wolves of rebels, and let them end me here and +now." + +The old man frowned on me angrily. "I am bidding you do your duty. What +reason have you for wishing to evade it?" + +"I have in my memory the words you spoke in the pyramid, when you came +in amongst the banqueters. 'PHORENICE,' was your cry, 'WHILST YOU ARE +YET EMPRESS, YOU SHALL SEE THIS ROYAL PYRAMID, WHICH YOU HAVE POLLUTED +WITH YOUR DEBAUCHERIES, TORN TIER FROM TIER, AND STONE FROM STONE, +AND SCATTERED AS FEATHERS BEFORE A WIND.' It seems that you foresee my +defeat." + +The old man shuddered. "I cannot tell what she may force us to do. I +spoke then only what it was revealed to me must happen. Perhaps when +matters have reached that pass, she will repent and submit. But in the +meanwhile, before we use the more desperate weapons of the Gods, it is +fitting that we should expend all human power remaining to us. And so +you must go, my brother, and play your part to the utmost." + +"It is an order. So I obey." + +"You shall be at Phorenice's side again by the next dawn. She has sent +for you from Yucatan as a husband, and as one who (so she thinks, +poor human conqueror) has the weight of arm necessary to prolong her +tyrannies. You are a Priest, brother, and you are a man of convincing +tongue. It will be your part to make her stubborn mind see the +invincible power that can be loosed against her, to point out to her the +utter hopelessness of prevailing against it." + +"If it is ordered, I will do these things. But there is little enough +chance of success. I have seen Phorenice, and can gauge her will. There +will be no turning her once she has made a decision. Others have tried; +you have tried yourself; all have failed." + +"Words that were wasted on a maiden may go home to a wife. You have been +brought here to be her husband. Well, take your place." + +The order came to me with a pang. I had given little enough heed to +women through all of a busy life, though when I landed, the taking of +Phorenice to wife would not have been very repugnant to me if policy had +demanded it. But the matters of the last two days had put things in a +different shape. I had seen two other women who had strangely attracted +me, and one of these had stirred within me a tumult such as I had never +felt before amongst my economies. + +To lead Phorenice in marriage would mean a severance from this other +woman eternally, and I ached as I thought of it. But though these +thoughts floated through my system and gave me harsh wrenches of pain, I +did not thrust my puny likings before the command of the council of the +Priests. I bowed before Zaemon, and put his hand to my forehead. "It is +an order," I said. "If our Lord the Sun gives me life, I will obey." + +"Then let us begone from this place," said Zaemon, and took me by the +arm and waved a way for us with the Symbol. No further word did I have +with Nais, fearing to embroil her with these rebels who clustered round, +but I caught one hot glance from her eyes, and that had to suffice +for farewell. The dense ranks of the crowd opened, and we walked +away between them scathless. Fiercely though they lusted for my life, +brimming with hate though they made their cries, no man dared to rush +in and raise a hand against me. Neither did they follow. When we reached +the outskirts of the crowd, and the ranks thinned, they had a mind, many +of them, to surge along in our wake; but Zaemon whirled the Symbol back +before their faces with a blaze of lurid light, and they fell to their +knees, grovelling, and pressed on us no more. + +The rain still fell, and in the light of the camp fires as we passed +them, the wet gleamed on the old man's wasted body. And far before us +through the darkness loomed the vast bulk of the Sacred Mountain, with +the ring of eternal fires encincturing its crest. I sighed as I thought +of the old peaceful days I had spent in its temple and groves. + +But there was to be no more of that studious leisure now. There was work +to be done, work for Atlantis which did not brook delay. And so when we +had progressed far out into the waste, and there was none near to view +(save only the most High Gods), we found the place where the passage +was, whose entrance is known only to the Seven amongst the Priests; and +there we parted, Zaemon to his hermitage in the dangerous lands, and I +by this secret way back into the capital. + + + + +9. PHORENICE, GODDESS + + +Now the passage, though its entrance had been cunningly hidden by man's +artifice, was one of those veins in which the fiery blood of our mother, +the Earth, had aforetime coursed. Long years had passed since it carried +lava streams, but the air in it was still warm and sulphurous, and there +was no inducement to linger in transit. I lit me a lamp which I found +in an appointed niche, and walked briskly along my ways, coughing, and +wishing heartily I had some of those simples which ease a throat that +has a tendency to catarrh. But, alas! all that packet of drugs which +were my sole spoil from the vice-royalty of Yucatan were lost in the +sea-fight with Dason's navy, and since landing in Atlantis there had +been little enough time to think for the refinements of medicine. + +The network of earth-veins branched prodigiously, and if any but one of +us Seven Priests had found a way into its recesses by chance, he would +have perished hopelessly in the windings, or have fallen into one of +those pits which lead to the boil below. But I carried the chart of the +true course clearly in my head, remembering it from that old initiation +of twenty years back, when, as an appointed viceroy, I was raised to the +highest degree but one known to our Clan, and was given its secrets and +working implements. + +The way was long, the floor was monstrous uneven, and the air, as I have +said, bad; and I knew that day would be far advanced before the signs +told me that I had passed beneath the walls, and was well within +the precincts of the city. And here the vow of the Seven hampered my +progress; for it is ordained that under no circumstances, whatever the +stress, shall egress be made from this passage before mortal eye. One +branch after another did I try, but always found loiterers near the +exits. I had hoped to make my emergence by that path which came inside +the royal pyramid. But there was no chance of coming up unobserved here; +the place was humming like a hive. And so, too, with each of the +five next outlets that I visited. The city was agog with some strange +excitement. + +But I came at last to a temple of one of the lesser Gods, and stood +behind the image for a while making observation. The place was empty; +nay, from the dust which robed all the floors and the seats of the +worshippers, it had been empty long enough; so I moved all that was +needful, stepped out, and closed all entry behind me. A broom lay +unnoticed on one of the pews, and with this I soon disguised all route +of footmark, and took my way to the temple door. It was shut, and priest +though I was, the secret of its opening was beyond me. + +Here was a pretty pass. No one but the attendant priests of the temple +could move the mechanism which closed and opened the massive stone which +filled the doorway; and if all had gone out to attend this spectacle, +whatever it might be, that was stirring the city, why there I should be +no nearer enlargement than before. + +There was no sound of life within the temple precincts; there were +evidences of decay and disuse spread broadcast on every hand; but +according to the ancient law there should be eternally one at least on +watch in the priests' dwellings, so down the passages which led to them +I made my way. It would have surprised me little to have found even +these deserted. That the old order was changed I knew, but I was only +then beginning to realise the ruthlessness with which it had been swept +away, and how much it had given place to the new. + +However, there can be some faithful men remaining even in an age of +general apostasy, and on making my way to the door of the dwelling +(which lay in the roof of the temple) I gave the call, and presently it +was opened to me. The man who stood before me, peering dully through +the gloom, had at least remained constant to his vows, and I made the +salutation before him with a feeling of respect. + +His name was Ro, and I remembered him well. We had passed through the +sacred college together, and always he had been known as the dullard. +He had capacity for learning little of the cult of the Gods, less of +the arts of ruling, less still of the handling of arms; and he had been +appointed to some lowly office in this obscure temple, and had risen to +being its second priest and one of its two custodians merely through the +desertion of all his colleagues. But it was not pleasant to think that a +fool should remain true where cleverer men abandoned the old beliefs. + +Ro did before me the greater obeisance. He wore his beard curled in the +prevailing fashion, but it was badly done. His clothing was ill-fitting +and unbrushed. He always had been a slovenly fellow. "The temple door +is shut," he said, "and I only have the secret of its opening. My lord +comes here, therefore, by the secret way, and as one of the Seven. I am +my lord's servant." + +"Then I ask this small service of you. Tell me, what stirs the city?" + +"That impious Phorenice has declared herself Goddess, and declares that +she will light the sacrifice with her own divine fire. She will do it, +too. She does everything. But I wish the flames may burn her when she +calls them down. This new Empress is the bane of our Clan, Deucalion, +these latter days. The people neglect us; they bring no offerings; and +now, since these rebels have been hammering at the walls, I might have +gone hungry if I had not some small store of my own. Oh, I tell you, the +cult of the true Gods is well-nigh oozed quite out of the land." + +"My brother, it comes to my mind that the Priests of our Clan have been +limp in their service to let these things come to pass." + +"I suppose we have done our best. At least, we did as we were taught. +But if the people will not come to hear your exhortations, and neglect +to adore the God, what hold have you over their religion? But I tell +you, Deucalion, that the High Gods try our own faith hard. Come into the +dwelling here. Look there on my bed." + +I saw the shape of a man, untidily swathed in reddened bandages. + +"This is all that is left of the poor priest that was my immediate +superior in this cure. It was his turn yesterday to celebrate the weekly +sacrifice to our Lord the Sun with the circle of His great stones. +Faugh! Deucalion, you should have seen how he was mangled when they +brought him back to me here." + +"Did the people rise on him? Has it come to that?" + +"The people stayed passive," said Ro bitterly, "what few of them had +interest to attend; but our Lord the Sun saw fit to try His minister +somewhat harshly. The wood was laid; the sacrifice was disposed upon it +according to the prescribed rites; the procession had been formed round +the altar, and the drums and the trumpets were speaking forth, to let +all men know that presently the smoke of their prayer would be wafted +up towards Those that sit in the great places in the heavens. But then, +above the noise of the ceremonial, there came the rushing sound of +wings, and from out of the sky there flew one of those great featherless +man-eating birds, of a bigness such as seldom before has been seen." + +"An arrow shot in the eye, or a long-shafted spear receives them best." + +"Oh, all men know what they were taught as children, Deucalion; but +these priests were unarmed, according to the rubric, which ordains that +they shall intrust themselves completely to the guardianship of the +High Gods during the hours of sacrifice. The great bird swooped down, +settling on the wood pyre, and attacked the sacrifice with beak and +talon. My poor superior here, still strong in his faith, called loudly +on our Lord the Sun to lend power to his arm, and sprang up on the altar +with naught but his teeth and his bare arms for weapons. It may be +that he expected a miracle--he has not spoke since, poor soul, in +explanation--but all he met were blows from leathery wings, and rakings +from talons which went near to disembowelling him. The bird brushed him +away as easily as we could sweep aside a fly, and there he lay bleeding +on the pavement beside the altar, whilst the sacrifice was torn and +eaten in the presence of all the people. And then, when the bird was +glutted, it flew away again to the mountains." + +"And the people gave no help?" + +"They cried out that the thing was a portent, that our Lord the Sun +was a God no longer if He had not power or thought to guard His own +sacrifice; and some cried that there was no God remaining now, and +others would have it that there was a new God come to weigh on the +country, which had chosen to take the form of a common man-eating bird. +But a few began to shout that Phorenice stood for all the Gods now in +Atlantis, and that cry was taken up till the stones of the great +circle rang with it. Some may have made proclamations because they were +convinced; many because the cry was new, and pleased them; but I am sure +there were not a few who joined in because it was dangerous to leave +such an outburst unwelcomed. The Empress can be hard enough to those who +neglect to give her adulation." + +"The Empress is Empress," I said formally, "and her name carries +respect. It is not for us to question her doings." + +"I am a priest," said Ro, "and I speak as I have been taught, and defend +the Faith as I have been commanded. Whether there is a Faith any longer, +I am beginning to doubt. But, anyway, it yields a poor enough livelihood +nowadays. There have been no offerings at this temple this five months +past, and if I had not a few jars of corn put by, I might have starved +for anything the pious of this city cared. And I do not think that the +affair of that sacrifice is likely to put new enthusiasm into our cold +votaries." + +"When did it happen?" + +"Twenty hours ago. To-day Phorenice conducts the sacrifice herself. +That has caused the stir you spoke about. The city is in the throes of +getting ready one of her pageants." + +"Then I must ask you to open the temple doors and give me passage. I +must go and see this thing for myself." + +"It is not for me to offer advice to one of the Seven," said Ro +doubtfully. + +"It is not." + +"But they say that the Empress is not overpleased at your absence," he +mumbled. "I should not like harm to come in your way, Deucalion," he +said aloud. + +"The future is in the hands of the most High Gods, Ro, and I at least +believe that They will deal out our fates to each of us as They in Their +infinite wisdom see best, though you seem to have lost your faith. And +now I must be your debtor for a passage out through the doors. Plagues! +man, it is no use your holding out your hand to me. I do not own a coin +in all the world." + +He mumbled something about "force of habit" as he led the way down +towards the door, and I responded tartly enough about the unpleasantness +of his begging customs. "If it were not for your sort and your customs, +the Priests' Clan would not be facing this crisis to-day." + +"One must live," he grumbled, as he pressed his levers, and the massive +stone in the doorway swung ajar. + +"If you had been a more capable man, I might have seen the necessity," +said I, and passed into the open and left him. I could never bring +myself to like Ro. + +A motley crowd filled the street which ran past the front of this +obscure temple, and all were hurrying one way. With what I had been +told, it did not take much art to guess that the great stone circle of +our Lord the Sun was their mark, and it grieved me to think of how many +venerable centuries that great fane had upreared before the weather and +the earth tremors, without such profanation as it would witness to-day. +And also the thought occurred to me, "Was our Great Lord above drawing +this woman on to her destruction? Would He take some vast and final act +of vengeance when she consummated her final sacrilege?" + +But the crowd pressed on, thrilled and excited, and thinking little +(as is a crowd's wont) on the deeper matters which lay beneath the bare +spectacle. From one quarter of the city walls the din of an attack from +the besiegers made itself clearly heard from over the house, and the +temples and the palaces intervening, but no one heeded it. They had +grown callous, these townsfolk, to the battering of rams, and the flight +of fire-darts, and the other emotions of a bombardment. Their nerves, +their hunger, their desperation, were strung to such a pitch that little +short of an actual storm could stir them into new excitement over the +siege. + +All were weaponed. The naked carried arms in the hopes of meeting some +one whom they could overcome and rob; those that had a possession walked +ready to do a battle for its ownership. There was no security, no trust; +the lesson of civilisation had dropped away from these common people as +mud is washed from the feet by rain, and in their new habits and their +thoughts they had gone back to the grade from which savages like those +of Europe have never yet emerged. It was a grim commentary on the +success of Phorenice's rule. + +The crowd merged me into their ranks without question, and with them I +pressed forward down the winding streets, once so clean and trim, now so +foul and mud-strewn. Men and women had died of hunger in these streets +these latter years, and rotted where they lay, and we trod their bones +underfoot as we walked. Yet rising out of this squalor and this misery +were great pyramids and palaces, the like of which for splendour and +magnificence had never been seen before. It was a jarring admixture. + +In time we came to the open space in the centre of the city, which even +Phorenice had not dared to encroach upon with her ambitious building +schemes, and stood on the secular ground which surrounds the most +ancient, the most grand, and the breast of all this world's temples. + +Since the beginning of time, when man first emerged amongst the beasts, +our Lord the Sun has always been his chiefest God, and legend says that +He raised this circle of stones Himself to be a place where votaries +should offer Him worship. It is the fashion amongst us moderns not to +take these old tales in a too literal sense, but for myself, this one +satisfies me. By our wits we can lift blocks weighing six hundred men, +and set them as the capstones of our pyramids. But to uprear the stones +of that great circle would be beyond all our art, and much more would +it be impossible to-day, to transport them from their distant quarries +across the rugged mountains. + +There were nine-and-forty of the stones, alternating with spaces, and +set in an accurate circle, and across the tops of them other stones were +set, equally huge. The stones were undressed and rugged; but the huge +massiveness of them impressed the eye more than all the temples and +daintily tooled pyramids of our wondrous city. And in the centre of the +circle was that still greater stone which formed the altar, and round +which was carved, in the rude chiselling of the ancients, the snake and +the outstretched hand. + +The crowd which bore me on came to a standstill before the circle of +stones. To trespass beyond this is death for the common people; and for +myself, although I had the right of entrance, I chose to stay where I +was for the present, unnoticed amongst the mob, and wait upon events. + +For long enough we stood there, our Lord the Sun burning high and +fiercely from the clear blue sky above our heads. The din of the rebels' +attack upon the walls came to us clearly, even above the gabble of the +multitude, but no one gave attention to it. Excitement about what was to +befall in the circle mastered every other emotion. + +I learned afterways that so pressing was the rebels' attack, and so +destructive the battering of their new war engines, that Phorenice had +gone off to the walls first to lend awhile her brilliant skill for its +repulse, and to put heart into the defenders. But as it was, the day had +burned out to its middle and scorched us intolerably, before the noise +of the drums and horns gave advertisement that the pageant had formed in +procession; and of those who waited in the crowd, many had fainted with +exhaustion and the heat, and not a few had died. But life was cheap in +the city of Atlantis now, and no one heeded the fallen. + +Nearer and nearer drew the drums and the braying of the other music, +and presently the head of a glittering procession began to arrive and +dispose itself in the space which had been set apart. Many a thousand +poor starving wretches sighed when they saw the wanton splendour of it. +But these lords and these courtiers of this new Atlantis had no concern +beyond their own bellies and their own backs, except for their one alien +regard--their simpering affection for Phorenice. + +I think, though, their loyalty for the Empress was real enough, and +it was not to be wondered at, since everything they had came from her +lavish hands. Indeed, the woman had a charm that cannot be denied, for +when she appeared, riding in the golden castle (where I also had ridden) +on the back of her monstrous shaggy mammoth, the starved sullen faces +of the crowd brightened as though a meal and sudden prosperity had been +bestowed upon them; and without a word of command, without a trace of +compulsion, they burst into spontaneous shouts of welcome. + +She acknowledged it with a smile of thanks. Her cheeks were a little +flushed, her movements quick, her manner high-strung, as all well +might be, seeing the horrible sacrilege she had in mind. But she was +undeniably lovely; yes, more adorably beautiful than ever with her +present thrill of excitement; and when the stair was brought, and she +walked down from the mammoth's back to the ground, those near fell +to their knees and gave her worship, out of sheer fascination for her +beauty and charm. + +Ylga, the fan-girl, alone of all that vast multitude round the Sun +temple contained herself with her formal paces and duties. She looked +pained and troubled. It was plain to see, even from the distance where +I stood, that she carried a heavy heart under the jewels of her robe. +It was fitting, too, that this should be so. Though she had been long +enough divorced from his care and fostered by the Empress, Ylga was +a daughter of Zaemon, and he was the chiefest of our Lord the Sun's +ministers here on earth. She could not forget her upbringing now at +this supreme moment when the highest of the old Gods was to be formally +defied. And perhaps also (having a kindness for Phorenice) she was not a +little dreadful of the consequences. + +But the Empress had no eye for one sad look amongst all that sea of +glowing faces. Boldly and proudly she strode out into the circle, as +though she had been the duly appointed priest for the sacrifice. And +after her came a knot of men, dressed as priests, and bearing the +victim. Some of these were creatures of her own, and it was easy to +forgive mere ignorant laymen, won over by the glamour of Phorenice's +presence. But some, to their shame, were men born in the Priests' Clan, +and brought up in the groves and colleges of the Sacred Mountain, and +for their apostasy there could be no palliation. + +The wood had already been stacked on the altar-stone in the due form +required by the ancient symbolism, and the Empress stood aside whilst +those who followed did what was needful. As they opened out, I saw that +the victim was one of the small, cloven-hoofed horses that roam the +plains--a most acceptable sacrifice. They bound its feet with metal +gyves, and put it on the pyre, where, for a while, it lay neighing. Then +they stepped aside, and left it living. Here was an innovation. + +The false priests went back to the farther side of the circle, and +Phorenice stood alone before the altar. She lifted up her voice, sweet, +tuneful, and carrying, and though the din of the siege still came from +over the city, no ear there lost a word of what was spoken. + +She raised her glance aloft, and all other eyes followed it. The heaven +was clear as the deep sea, a gorgeous blue. But as the words came from +her, so a small mist was born in the sky, wheeling and circling like a +ball, although the day was windless, and rapidly growing darker and more +compact. So dense had it become, that presently it threw a shadow on +part of the sacred circle and soothed it into twilight, though all +without where the people stood was still garish day. And in the ball of +mist were little quick stabs and splashes of noiseless flame. + +She spoke, not in the priests' sacred tongue--though such was her wicked +cleverness, that she may very well have learned it--but in the common +speech of the people, so that all who heard might understand; and she +told of her wondrous birth (as she chose to name it), and of the +direct aid of the most High Gods, which had enabled her to work so many +marvels. And in the end she lifted both of her fair white arms towards +the blackness above, and with her lovely face set with the strain of +will, she uttered her final cry: + +"O my high Father, the Sun, I pray You now to acknowledge me as Your +very daughter. Give this people a sign that I am indeed a child of the +Gods and no frail mortal. Here is sacrifice unlit, where mortal priests +with their puny fires had weekly, since the foundation of this land, +sent savoury smoke towards the sky. I pray You send down the heavenly +fire to burn this beast here offered, in token that though You still +rule on high, You have given me Atlantis to be my kingdom, and the +people of the Earth to be my worshippers." + +She broke off and strained towards the sky. Her face was contorted. Her +limbs shook. "O mighty Father," she cried, "who hast made me a God and +an equal, hear me! Hear me!" + +Out of the black cloud overhead there came a blinding flash of light, +which spat downwards on to the altar. The cloven-hoofed horse gave one +shrill neigh, and one convulsion, and fell back dead. Flames crackled +out from the wood pile, and the air became rich with the smell of +burning flesh. And lo! in another moment the cloud above had melted into +nothingness, and the flames burnt pale, and the smoke went up in a thin +blue spiral towards the deeper blueness of the sky. + +Phorenice, the Empress, stood there before the great stone, and before +the snake and the outstretched hand of life which were inscribed upon +it, flushed, exultant, and once more radiantly lovely; and the knot of +priests within the circle, and the great mob of people without, fell to +the ground adoring. + +"Phorenice, Goddess!" they cried. "Phorenice, Goddess of all Atlantis!" + +But for myself I did not kneel. I would have no part in this apostasy, +so I stood there awaiting fate. + + + + +10. A WOOING + + +A murmur quickly sprang up round me, which grew into shouts. "Kneel," +one whispered, "kneel, sir, or you will be seen." And another cried: +"Kneel, you without beard, and do obeisance to the only Goddess, or by +the old Gods I will make myself her priest and butcher you!" And so the +shouts arose into a roar. + +But presently the word "Deucalion" began to be bandied about, and there +came a moderation in the zeal of these enthusiasts. Deucalion, the man +who had left Atlantis twenty years before to rule Yucatan, they might +know little enough about, but Deucalion, who rode not many days back +beside the Empress in the golden castle beneath the canopy of snakes, +was a person they remembered; and when they weighed up his possible +ability for vengeance, the shouts died away from them limply. + +So when the silence had grown again, and Phorenice turned and saw me +standing alone amongst all the prostrate worshippers, I stepped out from +the crowd and passed between two of the great stones, and went across +the circle to where she stood beside the altar. I did not prostrate +myself. At the prescribed distance I made the salutation which she +herself had ordered when she made me her chief minister, and then hailed +her with formal decorum as Empress. + +"Deucalion, man of ice," she retorted. + +"I still adhere to the old Gods!" + +"I was not referring to that," said she, and looked at me with a +sidelong smile. + +But here Ylga came up to us with a face that was white, and a hand that +shook, and made supplication for my life. "If he will not leave the old +Gods yet," she pleaded, "surely you will pardon him? He is a strong +man, and does not become a convert easily. You may change him later. But +think, Phorenice, he is Deucalion; and if you slay him here for this +one thing, there is no other man within all the marches of Atlantis who +would so worthily serve--" + +The Empress took the words from her. "You slut," she cried out. "I have +you near me to appoint my wardrobe, and carry my fan, and do you dare +to put a meddling finger on my policies? Back with you, outside this +circle, or I'll have you whipped. Ay, and I'll do more. I'll serve you +as Zaemon served my captain, Tarca. Shall I point a finger at you, and +smite your pretty skin with a sudden leprosy?" + +The girl bowed her shoulders, and went away cowed, and Phorenice turned +to me. "My lord," she said, "I am like a young bird in the nest that has +suddenly found its wings. Wings have so many uses that I am curious to +try them all." + +"May each new flight they take be for the good of Atlantis." + +"Oh," she said, with an eye-flash, "I know what you have most at heart. +But we will go back to the pyramid, and talk this out at more leisure. I +pray you now, my lord, conduct me back to my riding beast." + +It appeared then that I was to be condoned for not offering her worship, +and so putting public question on her deification. It appeared also that +Ylga's interference was looked upon as untimely, and, though I could not +understand the exact reasons for either of these things, I accepted +them as they were, seeing that they forwarded the scheme that Zaemon had +bidden me carry out. + +So when the Empress lent me her fingers--warm, delicate fingers they +were, though so skilful to grasp the weapons of war--I took them +gravely, and led her out of the great circle, which she had polluted +with her trickeries. I had expected to see our Lord the Sun take +vengeance on the profanation whilst it was still in act; but none had +come: and I knew that He would choose his own good time for retribution, +and appoint what instrument He thought best, without my raising a puny +arm to guard His mighty honour. + +So I led this lovely sinful woman back to the huge red mammoth which +stood there tamely in waiting, and the smell of the sacrifice came +after us as we walked. She mounted the stair to the golden castle on the +shaggy beast's back, and bade me mount also and take seat beside her. +But the place of the fan-girl behind was empty, and what we said as we +rode back through the streets there was none to overhear. + +She was eager to know what had befallen me after the attack on the gate, +and I told her the tale, laying stress on the worthiness of Nais, +and uttering an opinion that with care the girl might be won back to +allegiance again. Only the commands that Zaemon laid upon me when he +and I spoke together in the sacred tongue, did I withhold, as it is +not lawful to repeat these matters save only in the High Council of the +Priests itself as they sit before the Ark of the Mysteries. + +"You seem to have an unusual kindliness for this rebel Nais," said +Phorenice. + +"She showed herself to me as more clever and thoughtful than the common +herd." + +"Ay," she answered, with a sigh that I think was real enough in its way, +"an Empress loses much that meaner woman gets as her common due." + +"In what particular?" + +"She misses the honest wooing of her equals." + +"If you set up for a Goddess--" I said. + +"Pah! I wish to be no Goddess to you, Deucalion. That was for the common +people; it gives me more power with them; it helps my schemes. All you +Seven higher priests know that trick of calling down the fire, and it +pleased me to filch it. Can you not be generous, and admit that a woman +may be as clever in finding out these natural laws as your musty elder +priests?" + +"Remains that you are Empress." + +"Nor Empress either. Just think that there is a woman seated beside you +on this cushion, Deucalion, and look upon her, and say what words +come first to your lips. Have done with ceremonies, and have done with +statecraft. Do you wish to wait on as you are till all your manhood +withers? It is well not to hurry unduly in these matters: I am with you +there. Yet, who but a fool watches a fruit grow ripe, and then leaves it +till it is past its prime?" + +I looked on her glorious beauty, but as I live it left me cold. But I +remembered the command that had been laid upon me, and forced a smile. +"I may have been fastidious," I said, "but I do not regret waiting this +long." + +"Nor I. But I have played my life as a maid, time enough. I am a woman, +ripe, and full-blooded, and the day has come when I should be more than +what I have been." + +I let my hand clench on hers. "Take me to husband then, and I will be a +good man to you. But, as I am bidden speak to Phorenice the woman now, +and not to the Empress, I offer fair warning that I will be no puppet." + +She looked at me sidelong. "I have been master so long that I think +it will come as enjoyment to be mastered sometimes. No, Deucalion, I +promise that--you shall be no puppet. Indeed, it would take a lusty lung +to do the piping if you were to dance against your will." + +"Then, as man and wife we will live together in the royal pyramid, and +we will rule this country with all the wit that it has pleased the High +Gods to bestow on us. These miserable differences shall be swept aside; +the rebels shall go back to their homes, and hunt, and fight the beasts +in the provinces, and the Priests' Clan shall be pacified. Phorenice, +you and I will throw ourselves brain and soul into the government, and +we will make Atlantis rise as a nation that shall once more surpass all +the world for peace and prosperity." + +Petulantly she drew her hand away from mine. "Oh, your conditions, and +your Atlantis! You carry a crudeness in these colonial manners of yours, +Deucalion, that palls on one after the first blunt flavour has worn +away. Am I to do all the wooing? Is there no thrill of love under all +your ice?" + +"In truth, I do not know what love may be. I have had little enough +speech with women all these busy years." + +"We were a pair, then, when you landed, though I have heard sighs and +protestations from every man that carries a beard in all Atlantis. Some +of them tickled my fancy for the day, but none of them have moved me +deeper. No, I also have not learned what this love may be from my own +personal feelings. But, sir, I think that you will teach me soon, if you +go on with your coldness." + +"From what I have seen, love is for the poor, and the weak, and for +those of flighty emotions." + +"Then I would that another woman were Empress, and that I were some +ill-dressed creature of the gutter that a strong man could pick up by +force, and carry away to his home for sheer passion. Ah! How I could +revel in it! How I could respond if he caught my whim!" She laughed. +"But I should lead him a sad life of it if my liking were not so strong +as his." + +"We are as we are made, and we cannot change our inwards which move us." + +She looked at me with a sullen glance. "If I do not change yours, my +Deucalion, there will be more trouble brewed for this poor Atlantis +that you set such store upon. There will be ill doings in this coming +household of ours if my love grows for you, and yours remains still +unborn." + +I believe she would have had me fondle her there in the golden castle on +the mammoth's shabby back, before the city streets packed with curious +people. She had little enough appetite for privacy at any time. But for +the life of me I could not do it. The Gods know I was earnest enough +about my task, and They know also how it repelled me. But I was a true +priest that day, and I had put away all personal liking to carry out the +commands which the Council had laid upon me. If I had known how to set +about it, I would have fallen in with her mood. But where any of those +shallow bedizened triflers about the court would have been glibly in his +element, I stuck for lack of a dozen words. + +There was no help for it but to leave all, save what I actually felt, +unsaid. Diplomacy I was trained in, and on most matters I had a glib +enough tongue. But to palter with women was a lightness I had always +neglected, and if I had invented would-be pretty speeches out of my +clumsy inexperience, Phorenice would have seen through the fraud on the +instant. She had been nurtured during these years of her rule on a +pap of these silly protestations, and could weigh their value with an +expert's exactness. + +Nor was it a case where honest confession would have served my purpose +better. If I had put my position to her in plain words, it would have +made relations worse. And so perforce I had to hold my tongue, and +submit to be considered a clown. + +"I had always heard," she said, "that you colonists in Yucatan were far +ahead of those in Egypt in all the arts and graces. But you, sir, do +small credit to your vice-royalty. Why, I have had gentry from the Nile +come here, and you might almost think they had never left their native +shores." + +"They must have made great strides this last twenty years, then. When +last I was sent to Egypt to report, the blacks were clearly masters of +the land, and our people lived there only on sufferance. Their pyramids +were puny, and their cities nothing more than forts." + +"Oh," she said mockingly, "they are mere exiles still, but they remember +their manners. My poor face seemed to please them, at least they all +went into raptures over it. And for ten pleasant words, one of them cut +off his own right hand. We made the bargain, my Egyptian gallant and +I, and the hand lies dried on some shelf in my apartment to-day as a +pleasant memento." + +But here, by a lucky chance for me, an incident occurred which saved me +from further baiting. The rebels outside the walls were conducting their +day's attack with vigour and some intelligence. More than once during +our procession the lighter missiles from their war engines had sung +up through the air, and split against a building, and thrown splinters +which wounded those who thronged the streets. Still there had been +nothing to ruffle the nerves of any one at all used to the haps of +warfare, or in any way to hinder our courtship. But presently, it seems, +they stopped hurling stones from their war engines, and took to loading +them with carcases of wood lined with the throwing fire. + +Now, against stone buildings these did little harm, save only that they +scorched horribly any poor wretch that was within splash of them when +they burst; but when they fell upon the rude wooden booths and rush +shelters of the poorer folk, they set them ablaze instantly. There was +no putting out these fires. + +These things also would have given to either Phorenice or myself little +enough of concern, as they are the trivial and common incidents of +every siege; but the mammoth on which we rode had not been so properly +schooled. When the first blue whiff of smoke came to us down the +windings of the street, the huge red beast hoisted its trunk, and began +to sway its head uneasily. When the smoke drifts grew more dense, and +here and there a tongue of flame showed pale beneath the sunshine, it +stopped abruptly and began to trumpet. + +The guards who led it, tugged manfully at the chains which hung from the +jagged metal collar round its neck, so that the spikes ran deep into its +flesh, and reminded it keenly of its bondage. But the beast's terror +at the fire, which was native to its constitution, mastered all its +new-bought habits of obedience. From time unknown men have hunted the +mammoth in the savage ground, and the mammoth has hunted men; and the +men have always used fire as a shield, and mammoths have learned to +dread fire as the most dangerous of all enemies. + +Phorenice's brow began to darken as the great beast grew more restive, +and she shook her red curls viciously. "Some one shall lose a head for +this blundering," said she. "I ordered to have this beast trained to +stand indifferent to drums, shouting, arrows, stones, and fire, and the +trainers assured me that all was done, and brought examples." + +I slipped my girdle. "Here," I said, "quick. Let me lower you to the +ground." + +She turned on me with a gleam. "Are you afraid for my neck, then, +Deucalion?" + +"I have no mind to be bereaved before I have tasted my wedded life." + +"Pish! There is little enough of danger. I will stay and ride it out. I +am not one of your nervous women, sir. But go you, if you please." + +"There is little enough chance of that now." + +Blood flowed from the mammoth's neck where the spikes of the collar tore +it, and with each drop, so did the tameness seem to ooze out from it +also. With wild squeals and trumpetings it turned and charged viciously +down the way it had come, scattering like straws the spearmen who +tried to stop it, and mowing a great swath through the crowd with its +monstrous progress. Many must have been trodden under foot, many killed +by its murderous trunk, but only their cries came to us. The golden +castle, with its canopy of royal snakes, was swayed and tossed, so that +we two occupants had much ado not to be shot off like stones from a +catapult. But I took a brace with my feet against the front, and one +arm around a pillar, and clapped the spare arm round Phorenice, so as to +offer myself to her as a cushion. + +She lay there contentedly enough, with her lovely face just beneath my +chin, and the faint scent of her hair coming in to me with every breath +I took; and the mammoth charged madly on through the narrow streets. We +had outstripped the taint of smoke, and the original cause of fear, but +the beast seemed to have forgotten everything in its mad panic. It +held furiously on with enormous strides, carrying its trunk aloft, and +deafening us with its screams and trumpetings. We left behind us quickly +all those who had trod in that glittering pageant, and we were carried +helplessly on through the wards of the city. + +The beast was utterly beyond all control. So great was its pace that +there was no alternative but to try and cling on to the castle. Up there +we were beyond its reach. To have leapt off, even if we had avoided +having brains dashed out or limbs smashed by the fall, would have been +to put ourselves at once at a frightful disadvantage. The mammoth would +have scented us immediately, and turned (as is the custom of these +beasts), and we should have been trampled into a pulp in a dozen +seconds. + +The thought came to me that here was the High God's answer to +Phorenice's sacrilege. The mammoth was appointed to carry out Their +vengeance by dashing her to pieces, and I, their priest, was to be human +witness that justice had been done. But no direct revelation had been +given me on this matter, and so I took no initiative, but hung on to the +swaying castle, and held the Empress against bruises in my arms. + +There was no guiding the brute: in its insanity of madness it doubled +many times upon its course, the windings of the streets confusing it. +But by degrees we left the large palaces and pyramids behind, and got +amongst the quarters of artisans, where weavers and smiths gaped at +us from their doors as we thundered past. And then we came upon the +merchants' quarters where men live over their storehouses that do +traffic with the people over seas, and then down an open space there +glittered before us a mirror of water. + +"Now here," thought I, "this mad beast will come to sudden stop, and as +like as not will swerve round sharply and charge back again towards the +heart of the city." And I braced myself to withstand the shock, and took +fresh grip upon the woman who lay against my breast. But with louder +screams and wilder trumpetings the mammoth held straight on, and +presently came to the harbour's edge, and sent the spray sparkling in +sheets amongst the sunshine as it went with its clumsy gait into the +water. + +But at this point the pace was very quickly slackened. The great sewers, +which science devised for the health of the city in the old King's +time, vomit their drainings into this part of the harbour, and the solid +matter which they carry is quickly deposited as an impalpable sludge. +Into this the huge beast began to sink deeper and deeper before it could +halt in its rush, and when with frightened bellowings it had come to +a stop, it was bogged irretrievably. Madly it struggled, wildly it +screamed and trumpeted. The harbour-water and the slime were churned +into one stinking compost, and the golden castle in which we clung +lurched so wildly that we were torn from it and shot far away into the +water. + +Still there, of course, we were safe, and I was pleased enough to be rid +of the bumpings. + +Phorenice laughed as she swam. "You handle yourself like a sore man, +Deucalion. I owe you something for lending me the cushion of your body. +By my face! There's more of the gallant about you when it comes to the +test than one would guess to hear you talk. How did you like the ride, +sir? I warrant it came to you as a new experience." + +"I'd liefer have walked." + +"Pish, man! You'll never be a courtier. You should have sworn that with +me in your arms you could have wished the bumping had gone on for ever. +Ho, the boat there! Hold your arrows. Deucalion, hail me those fools in +that boat. Tell them that, if they hurt so much as a hair of my mammoth, +I'll kill them all by torture. He'll exhaust himself directly, and when +his flurry's done we'll leave him where he is to consider his evil ways +for a day or so, and then haul him out with windlasses, and tame him +afresh. Pho! I could not feel myself to be Phorenice, if I had no fine, +red, shaggy mammoth to take me out for my rides." + +The boat was a ten-slave galley which was churning up from the farther +side of the harbour as hard as well-plied whips could make oars drive +her, but at the sound of my shouts the soldiers on her foredeck stopped +their arrowshots, and the steersman swerved her off on a new course to +pick us up. Till then we had been swimming leisurely across an angle of +the harbour, so as to avoid landing where the sewers outpoured; but we +stopped now, treading the water, and were helped over the side by most +respectful hands. + +The galley belonged to the captain of the port, a mincing figure of +a mariner, whose highest appetite in life was to lick the feet of the +great, and he began to fawn and prostrate himself at once, and to wish +that his eyes had been blinded before he saw the Empress in such deadly +peril. + +"The peril may pass," said she. "It's nothing mortal that will ever kill +me. But I have spoiled my pretty clothes, and shed a jewel or two, and +that's annoying enough as you say, good man." + +The silly fellow repeated a wish that he might be blinded before the +Empress was ever put to such discomfort again. + +But it seemed she could be cloyed with flattery. "If you are tired of +your eyes," said she, "let me tell you that you have gone the way to +have them plucked out from their sockets. Kill my mammoth, would you, +because he has shown himself a trifle frolicsome? You and your sort want +more education, my man. I shall have to teach you that port-captains and +such small creatures are very easy to come by, and very small value when +got, but that my mammoth is mine--mine, do you understand?--the property +of Goddess Phorenice, and as such is sacred." + +The port-captain abased himself before her. "I am an ignorant fellow," +said he, "and heaven was robbed of its brightest ornament when Phorenice +came down to Atlantis. But if reparation is permitted me, I have two +prisoners in the cabin of the boat here who shall be sacrificed to the +mammoth forthwith. Doubtless it would please him to make sport with +them, and spill out the last lees of his rage upon their bodies." + +"Prisoners you've got, have you? How taken?" + +"Under cover of last night they were trying to pass in between the two +forts which guard the harbour mouth. But their boat fouled the chain, +and by the light of the torches the sentries spied them. They were +caught with ropes, and put in a dungeon. There is an order not to abuse +prisoners before they have been brought before a judgment?" + +"It was my order. Did these prisoners offer to buy their lives with +news?" + +"The man has not spoken. Indeed, I think he got his death-wound in being +taken. The woman fought like a cat also, so they said in the fort, but +she was caught without hurt. She says she has got nothing that would be +of use to tell. She says she has tired of living like a savage outside +the city, and moreover that, inside, there is a man for whose nearness +she craves most mightily." + +"Tut!" said Phorenice. "Is this a romance we have swum to? You see what +affectionate creatures we women are, Deucalion."--The galley was brought +up against the royal quay and made fast to its golden rings. I handed +the Empress ashore, but she turned again and faced the boat, her +garments still yielding up a slender drip of water.--"Produce your woman +prisoner, master captain, and let us see whether she is a runaway +wife, or a lovesick girl mad after her sweetheart. Then I will deliver +judgment on her, and as like as not will surprise you all with my +clemency. I am in a mood for tender romance to-day." + +The port-captain went into the little hutch of a cabin with a white +face. It was plain that Phorenice's pleasantries scared him. "The man +appears to be dead, Your Majesty. I see that his wounds--" + +"Bring out the woman, you fool. I asked for her. Keep your carrion where +it is." + +I saw the fellow stoop for his knife to cut a lashing, and presently who +should he bring out to the daylight but the girl I had saved from the +cave-tigers in the circus, and who had so strangely drawn me to her +during the hours that we had spent afterwards in companionship. It was +clear, too, that the Empress recognised her also. Indeed, she made no +secret about the matter, addressing her by name, and mockingly making +inquiries about the menage of the rebels, and the success of the +prisoner's amours. + +"This good port-captain tells me that you made a most valiant attempt to +return, Nais, and for an excuse you told that it was your love for +some man in the city here which drew you. Come, now, we are willing to +overlook much of your faults, if you will give us a reasonable chance. +Point me out your man, and if he is a proper fellow, I will see that he +weds you honestly. Yes, and I will do more for you, Nais, since this day +brings me to a husband. Seeing that all your estate is confiscate as a +penalty for your late rebellion, I will charge myself with your dowry, +and give it back to you. So come, name me the man." + +The girl looked at her with a sullen brow. "I spoke a lie," she said; +"there is no man." + +I tried myself to give her advocacy. "The lady doubtless spoke what came +to her lips. When a woman is in the grip of a rude soldiery, any excuse +which can save her for the moment must serve. For myself, I should think +it like enough that she would confess to having come back to her old +allegiance, if she were asked." + +"Sir," said the Empress, "keep your peace. Any interest you may show in +this matter will go far to offend me. You have spoken of Nais in your +narrative before, and although your tongue was shrewd and you did not +say much, I am a woman and I could read between the lines. Now regard, +my rebel, I have no wish to be unduly hard upon you, though once +you were my fan-girl, and so your running away to these ill-kempt +malcontents, who beat their heads against my city walls, is all the +more naughty. But you must meet me halfway. You must give an excuse +for leniency. Point me out the man you would wed, and he shall be your +husband to-morrow." + +"There is no man." + +"Then name me one at random. Why, my pretty Nais, not ten months ago +there were a score who would have leaped at the chance of having you for +a wife. Drop your coyness, girl, and name me one of those. I warrant +you that I will be your ambassadress and will put the matter to him with +such delicacy that he will not make you blush by refusal." + +The prisoner moistened her lips. "I am a maiden, and I have a maiden's +modesty. I will die as you choose, but I will not do this indecency." + +"Well, I am a maiden too, and though because I am Empress also, +questions of State have to stand before questions of my private modesty, +I can have a sympathy for yours--although in truth it did not obtrude +unduly when you were my fan-girl, Nais. No, come to think of it, you +liked a tender glance and a pretty phrase as well as any when you were +fan-girl. You have grown wild and shy, amongst these savage rebels, but +I will not punish you for that. + +"Let me call your favourites to memory now. There was Tarca, of course, +but Tarca had a difference with that ill-dressed father of yours, and +wears a leprosy on half his face instead of that beard he used to trim +so finely. And then there is Tatho, but Tatho is away overseas. Eron, +too, you liked once, but he lost an arm in fighting t'other day, and I +would not marry you to less than a whole man. Ah, by my face! I have it, +the dainty exquisite, Rota! He is the husband! How well I remember the +way he used to dress in a change of garb each day to catch your proud +fancy, girl. Well, you shall have Rota. He shall lead you to wife before +this hour to-morrow." + +Again the prisoner moistened her lips. "I will not have Rota, and spare +me the others. I know why you mock me, Phorenice." + +"Then there are three of us here who share one knowledge."--She turned +her eyes upon me. Gods! who ever saw the like of Phorenice's eyes, and +who ever saw them lit with such fire as burned within them then?--"My +lord, you are marrying me for policy; I am marrying you for policy, and +for another reason which has grown stronger of late, and which you may +guess at. Do you wish still to carry out the match?" + +I looked once at Nais, and then I looked steadily back to Phorenice. The +command given by the mouth of Zaemon from the High Council of the Sacred +Mountain had to outweigh all else, and I answered that such was my +desire. + +"Then," said she, glowering at me with her eyes, "you shall build me up +the pretty body of Nais beneath a throne of granite as a wedding gift. +And you shall do it too with your own proper hands, my Deucalion, whilst +I watch your devotion." + +And to Nais she turned with a cruel smile. "You lied to me, my girl, +and you spoke truth to the soldiers in the harbour forts. There is a man +here in the city you came after, and he is the one man you may not have. +Because you know me well, and my methods very thoroughly, your love for +him must be very deep, or you would not have come. And so, being here, +you shall be put beyond mischief's reach. I am not one of those who see +luxury in fostering rivals. + +"You came for attention at the hands of Deucalion. By my face! you shall +have it. I will watch myself whilst he builds you up living." + + + + +11. AN AFFAIR WITH THE BARBAROUS FISHERS + + +So this mighty Empress chose to be jealous of a mere woman prisoner! + +Now my mind has been trained to work with a soldierly quickness in these +moments of stress, and I decided on my proper course on the instant the +words had left her lips. I was sacrificing myself for Atlantis by +order of the High Council of the Priests, and, if needful, Nais must +be sacrificed also, although in the same flash a scheme came to me for +saving her. + +So I bowed gravely before the Empress, and said I, "In this, and in all +other things where a mere human hand is potent, I will carry out your +wishes, Phorenice." And she on her part patted my arm, and fresh waves +of feeling welled up from the depths of her wondrous eyes. Surely the +Gods won for her half her schemes and half her battles when they gave +Phorenice her shape, and her voice, and the matters which lay within the +outlines of her face. + +By this time the merchants, and the other dwellers adjacent to this part +of the harbour, where the royal quay stands, had come down, offering +changes of raiment, and houses to retire into. Phorenice was all +graciousness, and though it was little enough I cared for mere wetness +of my coat, still that part of the harbour into which we had been thrown +by the mammoth was not over savoury, and I was glad enough to follow her +example. For myself, I said no further word to Nais, and refrained even +from giving her a glance of farewell. But a small sop like this was no +meal for Phorenice, and she gave the port-captain strict orders for the +guarding of his prisoner before she left him. + +At the house into which I was ushered they gave me a bath, and I eased +my host of the plainest garment in his store, and he was pleased enough +at getting off so cheaply. But I had an hour to spend outside on the +pavement listening to the distant din of bombardment before Phorenice +came out to me again, and I could not help feeling some grim amusement +at the face of the merchant who followed. The fellow was clearly ruined. +He had a store of jewels and gauds of the most costly kind, which were +only in fraction his own, seeing that he had bought them (as the custom +is) in partnership with other merchants. These had pleased Phorenice's +eye, and so she had taken all and disposed them on her person. + +"Are they not pretty?" said she, showing them to me. "See how they flash +under the sun. I am quite glad now, Deucalion, that the mammoth gave us +that furious ride and that spill, since it has brought me such a bonny +present. You may tell the fellow here that some day when he has earned +some more, I will come and be his guest again. Ah! They have brought us +litters, I see. Well, send one away and do you share mine with me, sir. +We must play at being lovers to-day, even if love is a matter which will +come to us both with more certainty to-morrow. No; do not order more +bearers. My own slaves will carry us handily enough. I am glad you +are not one of your gross, overfed men, Deucalion. I am small and slim +myself, and I do not want to be husbanded by a man who will overshadow +me." + +"Back to the royal pyramid?" I asked. + +"No, nor to the walls. I neither wish to fight nor to sit as Empress +to-day, sir. As I have told you before, it is my whim to be Phorenice, +the maiden, for a few hours, and if some one I wot of would woo me now, +as other maidens are wooed, I should esteem it a luxury. Bid the slaves +carry us round the harbour's rim, and give word to these starers that, +if they follow, I will call down fire upon them as I did upon the +sacrifice." + +Now, I had seen something of the unruliness of the streets myself, and +I had gathered a hint also from the officer at the gate of the royal +pyramid that night of Phorenice's welcoming banquet. But as whatever +there was in the matter must be common knowledge to the Empress, I did +not bring it to her memory then. So I dismissed the guard which had +come up, and drove away with a few sharp words the throng of gaping +sightseers who always, silly creatures, must needs come to stare at +their betters; and then I sat in the litter in the place where I was +invited, and the bearers put their heads to the pole. + +They swung away with us along the wide pavement which runs between the +houses of the merchants and the mariner folk and the dimpling waters of +the harbour, and I thought somewhat sadly of the few ships that floated +on that splendid basin now, and of the few evidences of business that +showed themselves on the quays. Time was when the ships were berthed +so close that many had to wait in the estuary outside the walls, and +memorials had been sent to the King that the port should be doubled in +size to hold the glut of trade. And that, too, in the old days of oar +and sail, when machines drawing power from our Lord the Sun were but +rarely used to help a vessel speedily along her course. + +The Egypt voyage and a return was a matter of a year then, as against a +brace of months now, and of three ships that set out, one at least could +be reckoned upon succumbing to the dangers of the wide waters and the +terrible beasts that haunt them. But in those old days trade roared with +lusty life, and was ever growing wider and more heavy. Your merchant +then was a portly man and gave generously to the Gods. But now all +the world seemed to be in arms, and moreover trade was vulgar. Your +merchant, if he was a man of substance, forgot his merchandise, swore +that chaffering was more indelicate than blasphemy and curled his beard +after the new fashion, and became a courtier. Where his father had spent +anxious days with cargo tally and ship-master, the son wasted hours in +directing sewing men as they adorned a coat, and nights in vapouring at +a banquet. + +Of the smaller merchants who had no substance laid by, taxes and the +constant bickerings of war had wellnigh ground them into starvation. +Besides, with the country in constant uproar, there were few markets +left for most merchandise, nor was there aught made now which could be +carried abroad. If your weaver is pressed as a fire-tube man he does not +make cloth, and if your farmer is playing at rebellion, he does not buy +slaves to till his fields. Indeed, they told me that a month before my +return, as fine a cargo of slaves had been brought into harbour as ever +came out of Europe, and there was nothing for it but to set them ashore +across the estuary, and leave them free to starve or live in the wild +ground there as they chose. There was no man in all Atlantis who would +hold so much as one more slave as a gift. + +But though I was grieved at this falling away, all schemes for remedy +would be for afterwards. It would only make ill worse to speak of it as +we rode together in the litter. I was growing to know Phorenice's moods +enough for that. Still, I think that she too had studied mine, and did +her best to interest me between her bursts of trifling. We went out to +where the westernmost harbour wall joins the land, and there the panting +bearers set us down. She led me into a little house of stone which stood +by itself, built out on a promontory where there is a constant run of +tide, and when we had been given admittance, after much unbarring, she +showed me her new gold collectors. + +In the dry knowledge taught in the colleges and groves of the Sacred +Mountain it had been a common fact to us that the metal gold was present +in a dissolved state in all sea water, but of plans for dragging it +forth into yellow hardness, none had ever been discussed. But here this +field-reared upstart of an Empress had stumbled upon the trick as though +it had been written in a book. + +She patted my arm laughingly as I stared curiously round the place. "I +tell all others in Atlantis that only the Gods have this secret," said +she, "and that They gave it to me as one of themselves. But I am no +Goddess to you, am I, Deucalion? And, by my face! I have no other +explanation of how this plan was invented. We'll suppose I must have +dreamed it. Look! The sea-water sluices in through that culvert, and +passes over these rough metal plates set in the floor, and then flows +out again yonder in its natural course. You see the yellow metal caught +in the ridges of the plates? That is gold. And my fellows here melt it +with fire into bars, and take it to my smith's in the city. The tides +vary constantly, as you priests know well, as the quiet moon draws them, +and it does not take much figuring to know how much of the sea passes +through these culverts in a month and how much gold to a grain should be +caught in the plates. My fellows here at first thought to cheat me, but +I towed two of them in the water once behind a galley till the cannibal +fish ate them, and since then the others have given me credit for--for +what do you think?" + +"More divinity." + +"I suppose it is that. But I am letting you see how it is done. Just +have the head to work out a little sum, and see what an effect can be +gained. You will be a God yet yourself, Deucalion, with these silly +Atlanteans, if only you will use your wit and cleverness." + +Was she laughing at me? Was she in earnest? I could not tell. Sometimes +she pointed out that her success and triumphs were merely the reward +of thought and brilliancy, and next moment she gave me some impossible +explanation and left me to deduce that she must be more than mortal or +the thing could never have been found. In good truth, this little woman +with her supple mind and her supple body mystified me more and more the +longer I stayed by her side; and more and more despairing did I grow +that Atlantis could ever be restored by my agency to peace and the +ancient Gods, even after I had carried out the commands of the High +Council, and taken her to wife. + +Only one plan seemed humanly possible, and that was to curb her further +mischievousness by death and then leave the wretched country naturally +to recover. It was just a dagger-stroke, and the thing was done. Yet the +very idea of this revolted me, and when the desperate thought came to my +mind (which it did ever and anon), I hugged to myself the answer that if +it were fitting to do this thing, the High Gods in Their infinite wisdom +would surely have put definite commands upon me for its carrying out. + +Yet, such was the fascination of Phorenice, that when presently we +left her gold collectors, and stumbled into such peril, that a little +withholding of my hand would have gained her a passage to the nether +Gods, I found myself fighting when she called upon me, as seldom I have +fought before. And though, of course, some blame for this must be laid +upon that lust of battle which thrills even the coldest of us when blows +begin to whistle and war-cries start to ring, there is no doubt also +that the pleasure of protecting Phorenice, and the distaste for seeing +her pulled down by those rude, uncouth fishers put special nerve and +vehemence into my blows. + +The cause of the matter was the unrest and the prevalency to street +violence which I have spoken of above, and the desperate poverty of +the common people, which led them to take any risk if it showed them a +chance of winning the wherewithal to purchase a meal. We had once more +mounted the litter, and once more the bearers, with their heads beneath +the pole, bore us on at their accustomed swinging trot. Phorenice was +telling me about her new supplies of gold. She had made fresh sumptuary +laws, it appeared. + +"In the old days," said she, "when yellow gold was tediously dredged up +grain by grain from river gravels in the dangerous lands, a quill +full would cost a rich man's savings, and so none but those whose high +station fitted them to be so adorned could wear golden ornaments. But +when the sea-water gave me gold here by the double handful a day, I +found that the price of these river hoards decreased, and one day--could +you credit it?--a common fellow, who was one of my smiths, came to me +wearing a collar of yellow gold on his own common neck. Well, I had +that neck divided, as payment for his presumption; and as I promised +to repeat the division promptly on all other offenders, that special +species of forwardness seems to be checked for the time. There are many +exasperations, Deucalion, in governing these common people." + +She had other things to say upon the matter, but at this point I saw two +clumsy boats of fishers paddling to us from over the ripples, and at the +same time amongst the narrow lanes which led between the houses on +the other side of us, savage-faced men were beginning to run after the +litter in threatening clusters. + +"With permission," I said, "I will step out of the conveyance and +scatter this rabble." + +"Oh, the people always cluster round me. Poor ugly souls, they seem +to take a strange delight in coming to stare at my pretty looks. But +scatter them. I have said I did not wish to be followed. I am taking +holiday now, Deucalion, am I not, whilst you learn to woo me?" + +I stepped to the ground. The rough fishers in the boats were beginning +to shout to those who dodged amongst the houses to see to it that we +did not escape, and the numbers who hemmed us in on the shore side were +increasing every moment. The prospect was unpleasant enough. We had come +out beyond the merchants' quarters, and were level with those small +huts of mud and grass which the fishing population deem sufficient for +shelter, and which has always been a spot where turbulence might be +expected. Indeed, even in those days of peace and good government in +the old King's time, this part of the city had rarely been without its +weekly riot. + +The life of the fisherman is the most hard that any human toilers have +to endure. Violence from the wind and waves, and pelting from firestones +out of the sky are their daily portion; the great beasts that dwell in +the seas hunt them with savage persistence, and it is a rare day when +at least some one of the fishers' guild fails to come home to answer the +tally. + +Moreover, the manner which prevails of catching fish is not without its +risks. + +To each man there is a large sea-fowl taken as a nestling, and +trained to the work. A ring of bronze is round its neck to prevent its +swallowing the spoil for which it dives, and for each fish it takes and +flies back with to the boat, the head and tail and inwards are given to +it for a reward, the ring being removed whilst it makes the meal. + +The birds are faithful, once they have got a training, and are seldom +known to desert their owners; but, although the fishers treat them more +kindly than they do their wives, or children of their own begetting, the +life of the birds is precarious like that of their masters. The larger +beasts and fish of the sea prey on them as they prey on the smaller +fish, and so whatever care may be lavished upon them, they are most +liable to sudden cutting off. + +And here is another thing that makes the life of the fisher most +precarious: if his fishing bird be slain, and the second which he has +in training also come by ill fortune, he is left suddenly bereft of all +utensils of livelihood, and (for aught his guild-fellows care) he may go +starve. For these fishers hold that the Gods of the sea regulate their +craft, and that if one is not pleasing to Them They rob him of his +birds; after which it would be impious to have any truck or dealing +with such a fellow; and accordingly he is left to starve or rob as he +chooses. + +All of which circumstances tend to make the fishers rude, desperate +men, who have been forced into the trade because all other callings have +rejected them. They are fellows, moreover, who will spend the gains of +a month on a night's debauch, for fear that the morrow will rob them of +life and the chance of spending; and, moreover, it is their one point of +honour to be curbed in no desire by an ordinary fear of consequences. As +will appear. + +I went quickly towards the largest knot of these people, who were +skulking behind the houses, leaving the litter halted in the path behind +me, and I bade them sharply enough to disperse. "For an employment," +I added, "put your houses in order, and clean the fish offal from the +lanes between them. To-morrow I will come round here to inspect, and put +this quarter into a better order. But for to-day the Empress (whose name +be adored) wishes for a privacy, so cease your staring." + +"Then give us money," said a shrill voice from amongst the huts. + +"I will send you a torch in an hour's time," I said grimly, "and rig you +a gallows, if you give me more annoyance. To your kennels, you!" + +I think they would have obeyed the voice of authority if they had been +left to themselves. There was a quick stir amongst them. Those that +stood in the sunlight instinctively slipped into the shadow, and many +dodged into the houses and cowered in dark corners out of sight. But the +men in the two hide-covered fisher-boats that were paddling up, called +them back with boisterous cries. + +I signed to the litter-bearers to move on quickly along their road. +There was need of discipline here, and I was minded to deal it out +myself with a firm hand. I judged that I could prevent them following +the Empress, but if she still remained as a glittering bait for them to +rob, and I had to protect her also, it might be that my work would not +be done so effectively. + +But it seems I was presumptuous in giving an order which dealt with the +person of Phorenice. She bade the bearers stand where they were, and +stepped out, and drew her weapons from beneath the cushions. She came +towards me strapping a sword on to her hip, and carrying a well-dinted +target of gold on her left forearm. "An unfair trick," cries she, +laughing. "If you will keep a fight to yourself now, Deucalion, where +will your greediness carry you when I am your shrinking, wistful little +wife? Are these fools truly going to stand up against us?" + +I was not coveting a fight, but it seemed as if there would be no +avoidance of it now. The robe and the glittering gauds of which +Phorenice had recently despoiled the merchant, drew the eyes of these +people with keen attraction. The fishers in the boats paddled into +the surf which edged the beach, and leaped overside and left the frail +basket-work structures to be spewed up sound or smashed, as chance +ordered. And from the houses, and from the filthy lanes between them, +poured out hordes of others, women mixed with the men, gathering round +us threateningly. + +"Have a care," shouted one on the outskirts of the crowd. "She called +down fire for the sacrifice once to-day, and she can burn up others here +if she chooses." + +"So much the more for those that are left," retorted another. "She +cannot burn all." + +"Nay, I will not burn any," said Phorenice, "but you shall look upon my +sword-play till you are tired." + +I heard her say that with some malicious amusement, knowing (as one of +the Seven) how she had called down the fires of the sky to burn that +cloven-hoofed horse offered in sacrifice, and knowing too, full well, +that she could bring down no fire here. But they gave us little enough +time for wordy courtesies. Their Empress never went far unattended, and, +for aught the wretches knew, an escort might be close behind. So what +pilfering they did, it behoved them to get done quickly. + +They closed in, jostling one another to be first, and the reek of their +filthy bodies made us cough. A grimy hand launched out to seize some of +the jewels which flashed on Phorenice's breast, and I lopped it off +at the elbow, so that it fell at her feet, and a second later we were +engaged. + +"Your back to mine, comrade," cried she, with a laugh, and then drew and +laid about her with fine dexterity. Bah! but it was mere slaughter, that +first bout. + +The crowd hustled inwards with such greediness to seize what they could, +that none had space to draw back elbow for a thrust, and we two kept a +circle round us by sheer whirling of steel. It is necessary to do one's +work cleanly in these bouts, as wounded left on the ground unnoticed +before one are as dangerous as so many snakes. But as we circled round +in our battling I noted that all of Phorenice's quarry lay peaceful +and still. By the Gods! but she could play a fine sword, this dainty +Empress. She touched life with every thrust. + +Yes, it was plain to see, now an example was given, that the throne of +Atlantis had been won, not by a lovely face and a subtle tongue alone; +and (as a fighter myself) I did not like Phorenice the less for the +knowledge. I could but see her out of the corner of my eye, and that +only now and again, for the fishers, despite their ill-knowledge of +fence, and the clumsiness of their weapons, had heavy numbers, and most +savage ferocity; and as they made so confident of being able to pull +us down, it required more than a little hard battling to keep them from +doing it. Ay, by the Gods! it was at times a fight my heart warmed to, +and if I had not contrived to pluck a shield from one fool who came too +vain-gloriously near me with one, I could not swear they would not have +dragged me down by sheer ravening savageness. + +And always above the burly uproar of the fight came very pleasantly to +my ears Phorenice's cry of "Deucalion!" which she chose as her battle +shout. I knew her, of course, to be a past-mistress of the art of +compliment, and it was no new thing for me to hear the name roared out +above a battle din, but it was given there under circumstances which +were peculiar, and for the life of me I could not help being tickled by +the flattery. + +Condemn my weakness how you will, but I came very near then to liking +the Empress of Atlantis in the way she wished. And as for that other +woman who should have filled my mind, I will confess that the stress of +the moment, and the fury of the engagement, had driven both her and her +strait completely out beyond the marches of my memory. Of such frail +stuff are we made, even those of us who esteem ourselves the strongest. + +Now it is a temptation few men born to the sword can resist, to throw +themselves heart and soul into a fight for a fight's sake, and it seems +that women can be bitten with the same fierce infection. The attack +slackened and halted. We stood in the middle of a ring of twisted dead, +and the rest of the fishers and their women who hemmed us in shrank back +out of reach of our weapons. + +It was the moment for a truce, and the moment when a few strong words +would have sent them back cowering to their huts, and given us free +passage to go where we chose. But no, this Phorenice must needs sing a +hymn to her sword and mine, gloating over our feats and invulnerability; +and then she must needs ask payment for the bearers of her litter whom +they had killed, and then speak balefully of the burnings, and the +skinnings, and the sawings asunder with which this fishers' quarter +would be treated in the near future, till they learned the virtues of +deportment and genteel manners. + +"It makes your backs creep, does it?" said Phorenice. "I do not wonder. +This severity must have its unpleasant side. But why do you not put it +beyond my power to give the order? Either you must think yourselves Gods +or me no Goddess, or you would not have gone on so far. Come now, you +nasty-smelling people, follow out your theory, and if you make a good +fight of it, I swear by my face I will be lenient with those who do not +fall." + +But there was no pressing up to meet our swords. They still ringed us +in, savage and sullen, beyond the ring of their own dead, and would +neither run back to the houses, nor give us the game of further fight. +There was a certain stubborn bravery about them that one could not but +admire, and for myself I determined that next time it became my duty +to raise troops, I would catch a handful of these men, and teach them +handiness with the utensils of war, and train them to loyalty and +faithfulness. But presently from behind their ranks a stone flew, and +though it whizzed between the Empress and myself, and struck down a +fisher, it showed that they had brought a new method into their attack, +and it behoved us to take thought and meet it. + +I looked round me up and down the beach. There was no sign of a rescue. +"Phorenice," I said in the court tongue, which these barbarous fishers +would know little enough of, "I take it that a whiff of the sea-breeze +would come very pleasant after all this warm play. As you can show such +pretty sword work, will you cut me a way down to the beach, and I will +do my poor best to keep these creatures from snapping at our heels?" + +"Oh!" cried she. "Then I am to have a courtier for a husband after all. +Why have you kept back your flattering speeches till now? Is that your +trick to make me love you?" + +"I will think out the reason for it another time." + +"Ah, these stern, commanding husbands," said she, "how they do press +upon their little wives!" and with that leaped over the ring of dead +before her, and cut and stabbed a way through those that stood between +her and the waters which creamed and crashed upon the beach. Gods! +what a charge she made. It made me tingle with admiration as I followed +sideways behind her, guarding the rear. And I am a man that has spent so +many years in battling, that it takes something far out of the common to +move me to any enthusiasm in this matter. + +There were two boats creaking and washing about in the edge of the surf, +but in one, happily, the wicker-work which made its frame was crushed +by the weight of the waves into a shapeless bundle of sticks, and would +take half a day to replace. So that, let us but get the other craft +afloat, and we should be free from further embroiling. But the fishers +were quick to see the object of this new manoeuvre. "Guard the boat," +they shouted. "Smash her; slit her skin with your knives! Tear her with +your fingers! Swim her out to sea! Oh, at least take the paddles!" + +But, if these clumsy fishers could run, Phorenice was like a legged +snake for speed. She was down beside the boat before any could reach +it, laughing and shouting out that she could beat them at every point. +Myself, I was slower of foot; and, besides, there was some that offered +me a fight on the road, and I was not wishful to baulk them; and +moreover, the fewer we left clamouring behind, the fewer there would be +to speed our going with their stones. Still I came to the beach in good +order, and laid hands on the flimsy boat and tipped her dry. + +"Fighting is no trade for, me," I cried, "whilst you are here, +Phorenice. Guard me my back and walk out into the water." + +I took the boat, thrusting it afloat, and wading with it till two lines +of the surf were past. The fishers swarmed round us, active as fish in +their native element, and strove mightily to get hands on the boat and +slit the hides which covered it with their eager fingers. But I had a +spare hand, and a short stabbing-knife for such close-quarter work, and +here, there, and everywhere was Phorenice the Empress, with her thirsty +dripping sword. By the Gods! I laughed with sheer delight at seeing her +art of fence. + +But the swirl of a great fish into the shallows, and the squeal of +a fisher as he was dragged down and home away into the deep, made me +mindful of foes that no skill can conquer, and no bravery avoid. Without +taking time to give the Empress a word of warning, I stooped, and flung +an arm round her, and threw her up out of the water into the boat, and +then thrust on with all my might, driving the flimsy craft out to +sea, whilst my legs crept under me for fear of the beasts which swam +invisible beneath the muddied waters. + +To the fishers, inured to these horrid perils by daily association, +the seizing of one of their number meant little, and they pressed on, +careless of their dull lives, eager only to snatch the jewels which +still flaunted on Phorenice's breast. Of the vengeance that might come +after they recked nothing; let them but get the wherewithal for one +night's good debauch, and they would forget that such a thing as the +morning of a morrow could have existence. + +Two fellows I caught and killed that, diving down beneath, tried to slit +the skin of the boat out of sight under the water; and Phorenice cared +for all those that tried to put a hand on the gunwales. Yes, and she did +more than that. A huge long-necked turtle that was stirred out of the +mud by the turmoil, came up to daylight, and swung its great horn-lipped +mouth to this side and that, seeking for a prey. The fishers near it +dodged and dived. I, thrusting at the stern of the boat, could only hope +it would pass me by and so offered an easy mark. It scurried towards +me, champing its noisy lips, and beating the water into spray with its +flippers. + +But Phorenice was quick with a remedy and a rescue. She passed her sword +through one of the fishers that pressed her, and then thrust the body +towards the turtle. The great neck swooped towards it; the long slimy +feelers which protruded from its head quivered and snuffled; and then +the horny green jaws crunched on it, and drew it down out of sight. + +The boat was in deep water now, and Phorenice called upon me to come in +over the side, she the while balancing nicely so that the flimsy thing +should not be overset. The fishers had given up their pursuit, finding +that they earned nothing but lopped-off arms and split faces by coming +within swing of this terrible sword of their Empress, and so contented +themselves with volleying jagged stones in the hopes of stunning us or +splitting the boat. However, Phorenice crouched in the stern, holding +the two shields--her own golden target, and the rough hide buckler I +had won--and so protected both of us whilst I paddled, and though many +stones clattered against the shields, and hit the hide covering of the +boat, so that it resounded like a drum, none of them did damage, and we +drew quickly out of their range. + + + + +12. THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE MOON + + +Our Lord the Sun was riding towards the end of His day, and the smoke +from a burning mountain fanned black and forbidding before His face. +Phorenice wrung the water from her clothes and shivered. "Work hard with +those paddles, Deucalion, and take me in through the water-gate and let +me be restored to my comforts again. That merchant would rue if he saw +how his pretty garments were spoiled, and I rue, too, being a woman, +and remembering that he at least has no others I can take in place of +these." She looked at me sidelong, tossing back the short red hair from +her eyes. "What think you of my wisdom in coming where we have come +without an escort?" + +"The Empress can do no wrong," I quoted the old formula with a smile. + +"At least I have shown you that I can fight. I caught you looking your +approval of me quite pleasantly once or twice. You were a difficult man +to thaw, Deucalion, but you warm perceptibly as you keep on being near +me. La, sir, we shall be a pair of rustic sweethearts yet, if this +goes on. I am glad I thought of the device of going near those smelly +fishers." + +So she had taken me out in the litter unattended for the plain purpose +of inviting a fight, and showing me her skill at arms, and perhaps, too, +of seeing in person how I also carried myself in a moment of stress. +Well, if we were to live on together as husband and wife, it was good +that each should know to a nicety the other's powers; and also, I am too +much of an old battler and too much enamoured with the glorious handling +of arms to quarrel very deeply with any one who offers me a tough +upstanding fight. Still for the life of me, I could not help comparing +Phorenice with another woman. With a similar chance open before us, Nais +had robbed me of the struggle through a sheer pity for those squalid +rebels who did not even call her chieftain; whilst here was this Empress +frittering away two score of the hardiest of her subjects merely to +gratify a whim. + +Yet, loyal to my vow as a priest, and to the commands set upon me by the +high council on the Sacred Mountain, I tried to put away these wayward +thoughts and comparisons. As I rowed over the swingings of the waves +towards the forts which guard the harbour's mouth, I sent prayers to the +High Gods to give my tongue dexterity, and They through Their love for +the country of Atlantis, and the harassed people, whom it was my deep +wish to serve, granted me that power of speech which Phorenice loved. +Her eyes glowed upon me as I talked. + +This beach of the fishers where we had had our passage at arms is safe +from ship attack from without, by reason of a chain of jagged rocks +which spring up from the deep, and run from the harbour side to the end +of the city wall. The fishers know the passes, and can oftentimes get +through to the open water beyond without touching a stone; or if they +do see a danger of hitting on the reef, leap out and carry their light +boats in their hands till the water floats them again. But here I had +neither the knowledge nor the dexterity, and, thought I, now the High +Gods will show finally if They wish this woman who has defiled them to +reign on in Atlantis, and if also They wish me to serve as her husband. + +I cried these things in my heart, and waited to receive the omen. There +was no half-answer. A great wave rose in the lagoon behind us, a wave +such as could have only been caused by an earth tremor, and on its sleek +back we were hurled forward and thrown clear of the reefs with their +seaweeds licking round us, without so much as seeing a stone of the +barrier. I bowed my head as I rowed on towards the harbour forts. It was +plain that not yet would the High Gods take vengeance for the insults +which this lovely woman had offered Them. + +The sentries in the two forts beat drums at one another in their +accustomed rotation, and in the growing dusk were going to pay little +enough attention to the fishingboat which lay against the great chain +clamouring to have it lowered. But luckily a pair of officers were +taking the air of the evening in a stone-dropping turret of the roof +of the nearer fort, and these recognised the tone of our shouts. They +silenced the drums, torches were lowered to make sure of our faces, and +then with a splash the great chain was dropped into the water to give us +passage. + +A galley lay inside, nuzzling the harbour wall, and presently the ladder +of ropes was let down from the top of the nearest fort, and a crew came +down to man the oars. There were the customary changes of raiment too, +given as presents by the officers of the fort, and these we put on in +the cabin of the galley in place of the sodden clothes we wore. There +are fevers to be gained by carrying wet clothes after sunset, and though +from personal experience I have learned that these may be warded off +with drugs, I noticed with some grim amusement that the Empress had +sufficiently little of the Goddess about her to fear very much the +ailments which are due to frail humanity. + +The galley rowed swiftly across the calm waters of the harbour, and made +fast to the rings of gold on the royal quay, and whilst we were waiting +for litters to be brought, I watched a lantern lit in the boat +which stood guard over Phorenice's mammoth. The huge red beast stood +shoulder-deep in the harbour water, with trunk up-turned. It was tamed +now, and the light of the boat's lantern fell on the little ripples sent +out by its tremblings. But I did not choose to intercede or ask +mercy for it. If the mammoth sank deeper in the harbour mud, and was +swallowed, I could have borne the loss with equanimity. + +To tell the truth, that ride on the great beast's back had impressed me +unfavourably. In fact, it put into me a sense of helplessness that +was wellnigh intolerable. Perhaps circumstances have made me unduly +self-reliant: on that others must judge. But I will own to having a +preference for walking on my own proper feet, as the Gods in fashioning +our shapes most certainly intended. On my own feet I am able to guard my +own head and neck, and have done on four continents, throughout a long +and active life, and on many a thousand occasions. But on the back of +that detestable mammoth, pah! I grew as nervous as a child or a dastard. + +However, I had little enough leisure for personal megrims just then. +Whilst we waited, Phorenice asked the port-captain (who must needs come +up officiously to make his salutations) after the disposal of Nais, +and was told that she had been clapped into a dungeon beneath the royal +pyramid, and the officer of the guard there had given his bond for her +safe-keeping. + +"It is to be hoped he understands his work," said the Empress. "That +pretty Nais knows the pyramid better than most, and it may be he will +be sent to the tormentors for putting her in a cell which had a secret +outlet. You would feel pleasure if the girl escaped, Deucalion?" + +"Assuredly," said I, knowing how useless it would be to make a secret of +the matter. "I have no enmity against Nais." + +"But I have," said she viciously, "and I am still minded to lock your +faith to me by that wedding gift you know of." + +"The thing shall be done," I said. "Before all, the Empress of +Atlantis." + +"Poof! Deucalion, you are too stiff and formal. You ought to be mightily +honoured that I condescend to be jealous of your favours. Your hand, +sir, please, to help me into the litter. And now come in beside me, +and keep me warm against the night air. Ho! you guards there with the +torches! Keep farther back against the street walls. The perfume you are +burning stifles me." + +Again there was a feast that night in the royal banqueting-hall; again I +sat beside Phorenice on the raised dais which stands beneath the symbols +of the snake and the out-stretched hand. What had been taken for granted +before about our forthcoming relationship was this time proclaimed +openly; the Empress herself acknowledged me as her husband that was to +be; and all that curled and jewelled throng of courtiers hailed me as +greater than themselves, by reason of this woman's choice. There was +method, too, in their salutation. Some rumour must have got about of my +preference for the older and simpler habits, and there was no drinking +wine to my health after the new and (as I considered) impertinent +manner. Decorously, each lord and lady there came forward, and each in +turn spilt a goblet at my feet; and when I called any up, whether man +or woman, to receive tit-bits from my platter, it was eaten simply and +thankfully, and not kissed or pocketed with any extravagant gesture. + +The flaring jets of earth-breath showed me, too, so I thought, a plainer +habit of dress, and a more sober mien amongst this thoughtless mob +of banqueters. And, indeed, it must have been plain to notice, for +Phorenice, leaning over till the ruddy curls on her shoulder brushed +my face, chided me in a playful whisper as having usurped her high +authority already. + +"Oh, sir," she pleaded mockingly, "do not make your rule over us too +ascetic. I have given no orders for this change, but to-night there are +no perfumes in the air; the food is so plain and I have half a mind to +burn the cook; and as for the clothes and gauds of these diners, by my +face! they might have come straight from the old King's reign before I +stepped in here to show how tasteful could be colours on a robe, or how +pretty the glint of a jewel. It's done by no orders of mine, Deucalion. +They have swung round to this change by sheer courtier instinct. Why, +look at the beards of the men! There is not half the curl about many of +them to-day that they showed with such exquisiteness yesterday. By my +face! I believe they'd reap their chins to-morrow as smooth as yours, +if you go on setting the fashions at this prodigious rate and I do not +interfere." + +"Why hinder them if they feel more cleanly shaven?" + +"No, sir. There shall be only one clean chin where a beard can grow in +all Atlantis, and that shall be carried by the man who is husband to the +Empress. Why, my Deucalion, would you have no sumptuary laws? Would you +have these good folk here and the common people outside imitate us in +every cut of the hair and every fold of a garment which it pleases us to +discover? Come, sir, if you and I chose to say that our sovereignty was +marked only by our superior strength of arm and wit, they would hate us +at once for our arrogance; whereas, if we keep apart to ourselves a +few mere personal decorations, these become just objects to admire and +pleasantly envy." + +"You show me that there is more in the office of a ruler than meets the +eye." + +"And yet they tell me, and indeed show me, that you have ruled with some +success." + +"I employed the older method. It requires a Phorenice to invent these +nicer flights." + +"Flatterer!" said she, and smote me playfully with the back of her +little fingers on my arm. "You are becoming as great a courtier as any +of them. You make me blush with your fine pleasantries, Deucalion, and +there is no fan-girl here to-night to cool my cheek. I must choose me +another fan-girl. But it shall not be Ylga. Ylga seems to have more of a +kindness for you than I like, and if she is wise she will go live in her +palace at the other side of the city, and there occupy herself with the +ordering of her slaves, and the makings of embroideries. I shall not +be hard on Ylga unless she forces me, but I will have no woman in this +kingdom treat you with undue civility." + +"And how am I to act," said I, falling in with her mood, "when I see and +hear all the men of Atlantis making their protestations before you? By +your own confession they all love you as ardently as they seem to have +loved you hopelessly." + +"Ah, now," she said, "you must not ask me to do impossibilities. I am +powerful if you will. But I have no force which will govern the hearts +of these poor fellows on matters such as that. But if you choose, you +make proclamation that I am given now body and inwards to you, and if +they continue to offend your pride in this matter, you may take your +culprits, and give them over to the tormentors. Indeed, Deucalion, I +think it would be a pretty attention to me if you did arrange some such +ceremony. It seems to me a present," she added with a frown, "that the +jealousy is too much on one side." + +"You must not expect that a man who has been divorced from love for all +of a busy life can learn all its niceties in an instant. Myself, I was +feeling proud of my progress. With any other schoolmistress than you, +Phorenice, I should not be near so forward. In fact (if one may judge by +my past record), I should not have begun to learn at all." + +"I suppose you think I should be satisfied with that? Well, I am not. I +can be finely greedy over some matters." + +The banquet this night did not extend to inordinate length. Phorenice +had gone through much since last she slept, and though she had declared +herself Goddess in the meantime, it seemed that her body remained mortal +as heretofore. The black rings of weariness had grown under her wondrous +eyes, and she lay back amongst the cushions of the divan with her limbs +slackened and listless. When the dancers came and postured before us, +she threw them a jewel and bade them begone before they had given a half +of their performance, and the poet, a silly swelling fellow who came to +sing the deeds of the day, she would not hear at all. + +"To-morrow," she said wearily, "but for now grant me peace. My Lord +Deucalion has given me much food for thought this day, and presently +I go to my chamber to muse over the future policies of this State +throughout the night. To-morrow come to me again, and if your poetry is +good and short, I will pay you surprisingly. But see to it that you +are not long-winded. If there are superfluous words, I will pay you for +those with the stick." + +She rose to her feet then, and when the banqueters had made their +salutation to us, I led her away from the banqueting-hall and down the +passages with their secret doors which led to her private chambers. +She clung on my arm, and once when we halted whilst a great stone +block swung slowly ajar to let us pass, she drooped her head against my +shoulder. Her breath came warm against my cheek, and the loveliness of +her face so close at hand surpasses the description of words. I think it +was in her mind that I should kiss the red lips which were held so near +to mine, but willing though I was to play the part appointed, I could +not bring myself to that. So when the stone block had swung, she drew +away with a sigh, and we went on without further speech. + +"May the High Gods treat you tenderly," I said, when we came to the door +of her bed-chamber. + +"I am my own God," said she, "in all things but one. By my face! you are +a tardy wooer, Deucalion. Where do you go now?" + +"To my own chamber." + +"Oh, go then, go." + +"Is there anything more I could do?" + +"Nothing that your wit or your will would prompt you to. Yes, indeed, +you are finely decorous, Deucalion, in your old-fashioned way, but you +are a mighty poor wooer. Don't you know, my man, that a woman esteems +some things the more highly if they are taken from her by rude force?" + +"It seems I know little enough about women." + +"You never said a truer word. Bah! And I believe your coldness brings +you more benefit in a certain matter than any show of passion could +earn. There, get you gone, if the atmosphere of a maiden's bed-chamber +hurts your rustic modesty, and your Gods keep you, Deucalion, if that's +the phrase, and if you think They can do it. Get you gone, man, and +leave me solitary." + +I had taken the plan of the pyramid out of the archives before the +banquet and learned it thoroughly, and so was able to thread my way +through its angular mazes without pause or blunder. I, too, was heavily +wearied with what I had gone through since my last snatch of sleep, but +I dare set apart no time for rest just then. Nais must be sacrificed in +part for the needs of Atlantis; but a plan had come to me by which it +seemed that she need not be sacrificed wholly; and to carry this through +there was need for quick thought and action. + +Help came to me also from a quarter I did not expect. As I passed along +the tortuous way between the ponderous stones of the pyramid, which led +to the apartments that had been given me by Phorenice, a woman glided +up out of the shadows of one of the side passages, and when I lifted my +hand lamp, there was Ylga. + +She regarded me half-sullenly. "I have lost my place," she said, "and it +seems I need never have spoken. She intended to have you all along, and +it was not a thing like that which could put her off. And you--you just +think me officious, if, indeed, you have ever given me another thought +till now." + +"I never forget a kindness." + +"Oh, you will learn that trick soon now. And you are going to marry her, +you! The city is ringing with it. I thought at least you were honest, +but when there is a high place to be got by merely taking a woman with +it, you are like the rest. I thought, too, that you would be one of +those men who have a distrust for ruddy hair. And, besides she is +little." + +"Ylga," I said, "you have taught me that these walls are full of +crannies and ears. I will listen to no word against Phorenice. But I +would have further converse with you soon. If you still have a kindness +for me, go to the chamber that is mine and wait for me there. I will +join you shortly." + +She drooped her eyes. "What do you want of me, Deucalion?" + +"I want to say something to you. You will learn who it concerns later." + +"But is it--is it fitting for a maiden to come to a man's room at this +hour?" + +"I know little of your conventions here in this new Atlantis. I am +Deucalion, girl, and if you still have qualms, remembering that, do not +come." + +She looked up at me with a sneer. "I was foolish," she said. "My lord's +coldness has grown into a proverb, and I should have remembered it. Yes; +I will come." + +"Go now, then," said I, and waited till she had passed on ahead and was +out of sight and hearing. With Ylga to help me, my tasks were somewhat +lightened, and their sequence changed. In the first instance, now, I +had got to make my way with as little delay and show as possible into a +certain sanctuary which lay within the temple of our Lady the Moon. And +here my knowledge as one of the Seven stood me in high favour. + +All the temples of the city of Atlantis are in immediate and secret +connection with the royal pyramid, but the passages are little used, +seeing that they are known only to the Seven and to the Three above +them, supposing that there are three men living at one time sufficiently +learned in the highest of the highest mysteries to be installed in that +sublime degree of the Three. And, even by these, the secret ways may +only be used on occasions of the greatest stress, so that a generation +well may pass without their being trodden by a human foot. + +It was with some trouble, and after no little experiment that I groped +my way into this secret alley; but once there, the rest was easy. I had +never trodden it before certainly, but the plan of it had been taught +me at my initiation as one of the Seven, and the course of the windings +came back to me now with easy accuracy. I walked quickly, not only +because the air in those deep crannies is always full of lurking evils, +but also because the hours were fleeting, and much must be done before +our Lord the Sun again rose to make another day. + +I came to the spy-place which commands the temple, and found the holy +place empty, and, alas! dust-covered, and showing little trace that +worshippers ever frequented it these latter years. A vast stone of +the wall swung outwards and gave me entrance, and presently (after the +solemn prayer which is needful before attempting these matters), I took +the metal stair from the place where it is kept, and climbed to the +lap of the Goddess, and then, pulling the stair after me, climbed again +upwards till my length lay against her calm mysterious face. + +A shivering seized me as I thought of what was intended, for even a +warrior hardened to horrid sights and deeds may well have qualms when +he is called upon to juggle with life and death, and years and history, +with the welfare of his country in one hand, and the future of a woman +who is as life to him in the other. But again I told myself that +the hours flew, and laid hold of the jewel which is studded into the +forehead of the image with one hand, and then stretching out, thrust at +a corner of the eyebrow with the other. With a faint creak the massive +eyeball below, a stone that I could barely have covered with my back, +swung inwards. I stepped off the stair, and climbed into the gap. Inside +was the chamber which is hollowed from the head of the Goddess. + +It was the first time I had seen this most secret place, but the aspect +of it was familiar to me from my teaching, and I knew where to find the +thing which would fill my need. Yet, occupied though I might be with the +stress of what was to befall, I could not help having a wonder and an +admiration for the cleverness with which it was hidden. + +High as I was in the learning and mysteries of the Priestly Clan, the +structure of what I had come to fetch was hidden from me. Beforetime I +had known only of their power and effect; and now that I came to handle +them, I saw only some roughly rounded balls, like nut kernels, grass +green in colour, and in hardness like the wax of bees. There were three +of these balls in the hidden place, and I took the one that was needful, +concealing the others as I had found them. It may have been a drug, it +may have been something more; what exactly it was I did not know; only +of its power and effect I was sure, as that was set forth plainly in +the teaching I had learned; and so I put it in a pouch of my garment, +returning by the way I had come, and replacing all things in due order +behind me. + +One look I took at the image of the Goddess before I left the temple. +The jet of earth-breath which burns eternally from the central altar +lit her from head to toe, and threw sparkles from the great jewel in +her forehead. Vast she was, and calm and peaceful beyond all human +imaginings, a perfect symbolism of that rest and quietness which many +sigh for so vainly on this rude earth, but which they will never attain +unless by their piety they earn a place in the hereafter, where our Lady +the Moon and the rest of the High Ones reign in Their eternal glorious +majesty. + +It was with tired dragging limbs that I made my way back again to the +royal pyramid, and at last came to my own private chamber. Ylga awaited +me there, though at first I did not see her. The suspicions of these +modern days had taken a deep hold of the girl, and she must needs crouch +in hiding till she made sure it was I who came to the chamber, and, +moreover, that I came alone. + +"Oh, frown at me if you choose," said she sullenly, "I am past caring +now for your good opinion. I had heard so much of Deucalion, and I +thought I read honesty in you when first you came ashore; but now I know +that you are no better than the rest. Phorenice offers you a high place, +and you marry her blithely to get it. And why, indeed, should you not +marry her? People say she is pretty, and I know she can be warm. I have +seen her warm and languishing to scores of men. She is clever, too, with +her eyes, is our great Empress; I grant her that. And as for you, it +tickles you to be courted." + +"I think you are a very silly woman," I said. + +"If you flatter yourself it matters a rap to me whom you marry, you are +letting conceit run away with you." + +"Listen," I said. "I did not ask you here to make foolish speeches +which seem largely beyond my comprehension. I asked you to help me do a +service to one of your own blood-kin." + +She stared at me wonderingly. "I do not understand." + +"It rests largely with you as to whether Nais dies to-morrow, or whether +she is thrown into a sleep from which she may waken on some later and +more happy day." + +"Nais!" she gasped. "My twin, Nais? She is not here. She is out in +the camp with those nasty rebels who bite against the city walls, if, +indeed, still she lives." + +"Nais, your sister is near us in the royal pyramid this minute, and +under guard, though where I do not know." And with that I told her all +that had passed since the girl was brought up a prisoner in the galley +of that foolish, fawning captain of the port. "The Empress has decreed +that Nais shall be buried alive under a throne of granite which I am to +build for her to-morrow, and buried she will assuredly be. Yet I have a +kindness for Nais, which you may guess at if you choose, and I am minded +to send her into a sleep such as only we higher priests know of, from +which at some future day she may possibly awaken." + +"So it is Nais; and not Phorenice, and not--not any other?" + +"Yes; it is Nais. I marry the Empress because Zaemon, who is mouthpiece +to the High Council of the Priests, has ordered it, for the good of +Atlantis. But my inwards remain still cold towards her." + +"Almost I hate poor Nais already." + +"Your vengeance would be easy. Do not tell me where she is gaoled, and I +shall not dare to ask. Even to give Nais a further span of life I cannot +risk making inquiries for her cell, when there is a chance that those +who tell me might carry news to the Empress, and so cause more trouble +for this poor Atlantis." + +"And why should I not carry the news, and so bring myself into favour +again? I tell you that being fan-girl to Phorenice and second woman in +the kingdom is a thing that not many would cast lightly aside." + +I looked her between eyes and smiled. "I have no fear there. You will +not betray me, Ylga. Neither will you sell Nais." + +"I seem to remember very small love for this same Nais just now," she +said bitterly. "But you are right about that other matter. I shall not +buy myself back at your expense. Oh, I am a fool, I know, and you can +give me no thanks that I care about, but there is no other way I can +act." + +"Then let us fritter no more time. Go you out now and find where Nais +is gaoled, and bring me news how I can say ten words to her, and press a +certain matter into her clasp." + +She bowed her head and left the chamber, and for long enough I was +alone. I sat down on the couch, and rested wearily against the wall. +My bones ached, my eyes ached, and most of all, my inwards ached. I had +thought to myself that a man who makes his life sufficiently busy +will find no leisure for these pains which assault frailer folk; but a +philosophy like this, which carried one well in Yucatan, showed poorly +enough when one tried it here at home. But that there was duty ahead, +and the order of the High Council to be carried into effect, the +bleakness of the prospect would have daunted me, and I would have prayed +the Gods then to spare me further life, and take me unto Themselves. + +Ylga came back at last, and I got up and went quickly after her as +she led down a maze of passages and alleyways. "There has been no care +spared over her guarding," she whispered, as we halted once to move a +stone. "The officer of the guard is an old lover of mine, and I raised +his hopes to the burning point again by a dozen words. But when I wanted +to see his prisoner, there he was as firm as brass. I told him she was +my sister, but that did not move him. I offered him--oh, Deucalion, it +makes me blush to think of the things I did offer to that man, but there +was no stirring him. He has watched the tormentors so many times, that +there is no tempting him into touch of their instruments." + +"If you have failed, why bring me out here?" + +"Oh, I am not inveigling you into a lover's walk with myself, sir. You +tickle yourself when you think your society is so pleasant as that." + +"Come, girl, tell me then what it is. If my temper is short, credit it +against my weariness." + +"I have carried out my lord's commands in part. I know the cell where +Nais lives, and I have had speech with her, though not through the door. +And moreover, I have not seen her or touched her hand." + +"Your riddles are beyond me, Ylga, but if there is a chance, let us get +on and have this business done." + +"We are at the place now," said she, with a hard little laugh, "and if +you kneel on the floor, you will find an airshaft, and Nais will answer +you from the lower end. For myself, I will leave you. I have a delicacy +in hearing what you want to say to my sister, Deucalion." + +"I thank you," I said. "I will not forget what you have done for me this +night." + +"You may keep your thanks," she said bitterly, and walked away into the +shadows. + +I knelt on the floor of the gallery, and found the air passage with my +hand, and then, putting my lips to it, whispered for Nais. + +The answer came on the instant, muffled and quiet. "I knew my lord would +come for a farewell." + +"What the Empress said, has to be. You understand, my dear? It is for +Atlantis." + +"Have I reproached my lord, by word or glance?" + +"I myself am bidden to place you in the hollow between the stones, and I +must do it." + +"Then my last sleep will be a sweet one. I could not ask to be touched +by pleasanter hands." + +"But it mayhap that a day will come when she whom you know of will be +suffered by the High Gods to live on this land of Atlantis no longer." + +"If my lord will cherish my poor memory when he is free again, I shall +be grateful. He might, if he chose, write them on the stones: Here was +buried a maid who died gladly for the good of Atlantis, even though she +knew that the man she so dearly loved was husband to her murderess." + +"You must not die," I whispered. "My breast is near broken at the very +thought of it. And for respite, we must trust to the ancient knowledge, +which in its day has been sent out from the Ark of the Mysteries."--I +took the green waxy ball in my fingers, and stretched them down the +crooked air-shaft to the full of my span.--"I have somewhat for you +here. Reach up and try to catch it from me." + +I heard the faint rustle of her arm as it swept against the masonry, and +then the ball was taken over into her grasp. Gods! what a thrill went +through me when the fingers of Nais touched mine! I could not see her, +because of the crookedness of the shaft, but that faint touch of her was +exquisite. + +"I have it," she whispered. "And what now, dear?" + +"You will hide the thing in your garment, and when to-morrow the upper +stone closes down upon you and the light is gone, then you will take it +between your lips and let it dissolve as it will. Sleep will take you, +my darling, then, and the High Gods will watch over you, even though +centuries pass before you are roused." + +"If Deucalion does not wake me, I shall pray never again to open an eye. +And now go, my lord and my dear. They watch me here constantly, and I +would not have you harmed by being brought to notice." + +"Yes, I must go, my sweetheart. It will not do to have our scheme +spoiled by a foolish loitering. May the most High Gods attend your rest, +and if the sacrifice we make finds favour, may They grant us meeting +here again on earth before we meet--as we must--when our time is done, +and They take us up to Their own place." + +"Amen," she whispered back, and then: "Kiss your fingers, dear, and +thrust them down to me." + +I did that, and for an instant felt her fondle them down the crook of +the airshaft out of sight, and then heard her withdraw her little hand +and kiss it fondly. Then again she kissed her own fingers and stretched +them up, and I took up the virtue of that parting kiss on my finger-tips +and pressed it sacredly to my lips. + +"Living, sleeping, or dead, always my darling," she whispered. And then, +before I could answer, she whispered again: "Go, they are coming for +me." And so I went, knowing that I could do no more to help her then, +and knowing that all our schemes would be spilt if any eye spied upon me +as I lay there beside the air shaft. But my chest was like to have split +with the dull, helpless anguish that was in it, as I made my way back to +my chamber through the mazy alleys of the pyramid. + +"Do not look upon mine eyes, dear, when the time comes," had been her +last command, "or they will tell a tale which Phorenice, being a woman, +would read. Remember, we make these small denials, not for our own +likings, but for Atlantis, which is mother to us all." + + + + +13. THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS + + +There is no denying that the wishes of Phorenice were carried into quick +effect in the city of Atlantis. Her modern theory was that the country +and all therein existed only for the good of the Empress, and when she +had a desire, no cost could possibly be too great in its carrying out. + +She had given forth her edict concerning the burying alive of Nais, and +though the words were that I was to build the throne of stone, it was an +understood thing that the manual labour was to be done for me by others. +Heralds made the proclamation in every ward of the city, and masons, +labourers, stonecutters, sculptors, engineers, and architects took hands +from whatever was occupying them for the moment, and hastened to the +rendezvous. The architects chose a chief who gave directions, and the +lesser architects and the engineers saw these carried into effect. Any +material within the walls of the city on which they set their seal, +was taken at once without payment or compensation; and as the blocks of +stone they chose were the most monstrous that could be got, they were +forced to demolish no few buildings to give them passage. + +I have before spoken of the modern rage for erecting new palaces and +pyramids, and even though at the moment an army of rebels was battering +with war engines at the city walls, the building guilds were steadily +at work, and their skill (with Phorenice's marvellous invention to aid +them) was constantly on the increase. True, they could not move such +massive blocks of stone as those which the early Gods planted for the +sacred circle of our Lord the Sun, but they had got rams and trucks and +cranes which could handle amazing bulks. + +The throne was to be erected in the open square before the royal +pyramid. Seven tiers of stone were there for a groundwork, each a +knee-height deep, and each cut in the front with three steps. In the +uppermost layer was a cavity made to hold the body of Nais, and above +this was poised the vast block which formed the seat of the throne +itself. + +Throughout the night, to the light of torches, relay after relay of the +stonecutters, and the masons, and the sweating labourers had toiled over +bringing up the stone and dressing it into fit shape, and laying it in +due position; and the engineers had built machines for lifting, and the +architects had proved that each stone lay in its just and perfect place. +Whips cracked, and men fainted with the labour, but so soon as one was +incapable another pressed forward into his place. No delay was brooked +when Phorenice had said her wish. + +And finally, as the square began to fill with people come to gape at the +pageant of to-day, the chippings and the scaffolding were cleared away, +and with it the bodies of some half-score of workmen who had died from +accidents or their exertions during the building, and there stood the +throne, splendid in its carvings, and all ready for completion. The +lower part stood more than two man-heights above the ground, and no +stone of its courses weighed less than twenty men; the upper part was +double the weight of any of these, and was carved so that the royal +snake encircled the chair, and the great hooded head overshadowed it. +But at present the upper part was not on its bed, being held up high by +lifting rams, for what purposes all men knew. + +It was to face this scene, then, that I came out from the royal pyramid +at the summons of the chamberlains in the cool of next morning. Each +great man who had come there before me had banner-bearers and trumpeters +to proclaim his presence; the middle classes were in all their bravery +of apparel; and even poor squalid creatures, with ribs of hunger showing +through their dusty skins, had turbans and wisps of colour wrapped about +their heads to mark the gaiety of the day. + +The trumpets proclaimed my coming, and the people shouted welcome, and +with the gorgeous chamberlains walking backwards in advance, I went +across to a scarlet awning that had been prepared, and took my seat upon +the cushions beneath it. + +And then came Phorenice, my bride that was to be that day, fresh from +sleep, and glorious in her splendid beauty. She was borne out from the +pyramid in an open litter of gold and ivory by fantastic savages from +Europe, her own refinement of feature being thrown up into all the +higher relief by contrast with their brutish ugliness. One could hear +the people draw a deep breath of delight as their eyes first fell upon +her; and it is easy to believe there was not a man in that crowd which +thronged the square who did not envy me her choice, nor was there a +soul present (unless Ylga was there somewhere veiled) who could by any +stretch imagine that I was not overjoyed in winning so lovely a wife. + +For myself, I summoned up all the iron of my training to guard the +expression of my face. We were here on ceremonial to-day; a ghastly +enough affair throughout all its acts, if you choose, but still +ceremonial; and I was minded to show Phorenice a grand manner that would +leave her nothing to cavil at. After all that had been gone through and +endured, I did not intend a great scheme to be shattered by letting my +agony and pain show themselves, in either a shaking hand or a twitching +cheek. When it came to the point, I told myself, I would lay the living +body of my love in the hollow beneath the stone as calmly, and with as +little outward emotion, as though I had been a mere priest carrying out +the burial of some dead stranger. And she, on her part, would not, +I knew, betray our secret. With her, too, it was truly "Before all +Atlantis." + +I think it spared a pang to find that there was to be no mockery or +flippancy in what went forward. All was solemn and impressive; and, +though a certain grandeur and sombreness which bit deep into my breast +was lost to the vulgar crowd, I fancy that the outward shape of the +double sacrifice they witnessed that day would not be forgotten by any +of them, although the inner meaning of it all was completely hidden from +their minds. When it suited her fancy, none could be more strict on the +ritual of a ceremony than this many-mooded Empress, and it appeared +that on this occasion she had given command that all things were to be +carried out with the rigid exactness and pomp of the older manner. + +So she was borne up by her Europeans to the scarlet awning, and I handed +her to the ground. She seated herself on the cushions, and beckoned +me to her side, entwining her fingers with mine as has always been the +custom with rulers of Atlantis and their consorts. And there before us +as we sat, a body of soldiery marched up, and opening out showed Nais +in their midst. She had a collar of metal round her neck, with chains +depending from it firmly held by a brace of guards, so that she should +not run in upon the spears of the escort, and thus get a quick and +easy death, which is often the custom of those condemned to the more +lingering punishments. + +But it was pleasant to see that she still wore her clothing. Raiment, +whether of fabric or skin, has its value, and custom has always given +the garments of the condemned to the soldiers guarding them. So as Nais +was not stripped, I could not but see that some one had given moneys +to the guards as a recompense, and in this I thought I saw the hand of +Ylga, and felt a gratitude towards her. + +The soldiers brought her forward to the edge of the pavilion's shade, +and she was bidden prostrate herself before the Empress, and this she +wisely did and so avoided rough handling and force. Her face was +pale, but showed neither fear nor defiance, and her eyes were calm +and natural. She was remembering what was due to Atlantis, and I was +thrilled with love and pride as I watched her. + +But outwardly I, too, was impassive as a man of stone, and though I knew +that Phorenice's eye was on my face, there was never anything on it from +first to last that I would not have had her see. + +"Nais," said the Empress, "you have eaten from my platter when you were +fan-girl, and drunk from my cup, and what was yours I gave you. You +should have had more than gratitude, you should have had knowledge also +that the arm of the Empress was long and her hand consummately heavy. +But it seems that you have neither of these things. And, moreover, you +have tried to take a certain matter that the Empress has set apart for +herself. You were offered pardon, on terms, and you rejected it. You +were foolish. But it is a day now when I am inclined to clemency. +Presently, seated on that carved throne of granite which he has built me +yonder, I shall take my Lord Deucalion to husband. Give me a plain word +that you are sorry, girl, and name a man whom you would choose, and I +will remember the brightness of the occasion, you shall be pardoned and +wed before we rise from these cushions." + +"I will not wed," she said quietly. + +"Think for the last time, Nais, of what is the other choice. You will +be taken, warm, and quick, and beautiful as you stand there this minute, +and laid in the hollow place that is made beneath the throne-stone. +Deucalion, that is to be my husband, will lay you in that awful bed, as +a symbol that so shall perish all Phorenice's enemies, and then he will +release the rams and lower the upper stone into place, and the world +shall see your face no more. Look at the bright sky, Nais, fill your +chest with the sweet warm air, and then think of what this death will +mean. Believe me, girl, I do not want to make you an example unless you +force me." + +"I will not wed," said the prisoner quietly. + +The Empress loosed her fingers from my arm, and lay back against the +cushions. "If the girl presumes on our old familiarity, or thinks that I +jest, show her now, Deucalion, that I do not." + +"The Empress is far from jesting," I said. "I will do this thing because +it is the wish of the Empress that it should be done, and because it is +the command of the Empress that a symbol of it shall remain for ever as +an example for others. Lead your prisoner to the place." + +The soldiers wheeled, and the two guards with the chains of the collar +which was on the neck of Nais prepared to put out force to drag her +up the steps. But she walked with them willingly, and with a colour +unchanged, and I rose from my seat, and made obeisance to the Empress +and followed them. + +Before all those ten thousand eyes, we two made no display of emotion +then, not only for Atlantis' sake, but also because both Nais and I had +a nicety and a pride in our natures. We were not as Phorenice to flaunt +endearments before others. + +Yet, when I had bidden the guards unhasp the collar which held the +prisoner's neck, and clapped my arms around her, showing all the +roughness of one who has no mind that his captive shall escape or even +unduly struggle, a thrill gushed through me so potent that I was like +to have fainted, and it was only by supreme strain of will that I held +unbrokenly on with the ceremonial. I, who had never embraced a woman +with aught but the arm of roughness before, now held pressed to me one +whom I loved with an infinite tenderness, and the revelation of how love +can come out and link with love was almost my undoing. Yet, outwardly, +Nais made so sign, but lay half-strangled in my arms, as any woman does +that is being borne away by a spoiler. + +I trod with her to the uppermost step, the vast throne-stone overhanging +us, and then so that all of those who were gazing from the sides of the +pyramids and the roofs of the buildings round might see, though we were +beyond Phorenice's view, I used a force that was brutal in dragging her +across the level, and putting her down into the hollow. And yet the girl +resisted me with no one effort whatever. + +So that the victim might not struggle out and be crushed, and so gain +an easy death when the stone descended, there were brazen clamps to fit +into grooves of the stones above the hollow where she lay, and these I +fitted in place above her, and fastened one by one, doing this butcher's +work with one hand, and still fiercely holding her down by the other. +Gods! and the sweat of agony dripped from me on to the thirsty stone as +I worked. I could not keep that in. + +I clamped and locked the last two bars in place, and took my brute's +hand away from her throat. + +The hateful fingermarks showed as bloodless furrows in the whiteness +of her skin. For the life of me, yes, even for the fate of Atlantis, I +could not help dropping my glance upon her face. But she was stronger +than I. She gave me no last look. She kept her eyes steadfastly fixed on +the cruel stone above, and so I left her, knowing that it was best not +to tarry longer. + +I came out from under the stone, and gave the sign to the engineers who +stood by the rams. The fires were taken away from their sides, and +the metal in them began to contract, and slowly the vast bulk of the +throne-stone began to creep down towards its bed. + +But ah, so slowly! Gods! how my soul was torn as I watched and waited. + +Yet I kept my face impassive, overlooking as any officer might a piece +of work which others were carrying out under his direction, and on which +his credit rested; and I stood gravely in my place till the rams had +let the stone come down on its final resting place, and had been carried +away by the engineers; and then I went round with the master architect +with his plumbline and level, whilst he tested this last piece of the +building and declared it perfect. + +It was a useless form, this last, seeing that by calculation they knew +exactly how the stone must rest; but the guilds have their forms +and customs, and on these occasions of high ceremonial, they are +punctiliously carried out, because these middle-class people wish always +to appear mysterious and impressive to the poor vulgar folk who are +their inferiors. But perhaps I am hard there on them. A man who is +needlessly taken round to plumb and duly level the tomb where his love +lies buried living, may perhaps be excused by the assessors on high a +little spirit of bitterness. + +I had gone up the steps to do my hateful work a man full of grief, +though outwardly unmoved. As I came down again I had a feeling of +incompleteness; it seemed as though half my inwards had been left behind +with Nais in the hollow of the stone, and their place was taken by a +void which ached wearily; but still I carried a passive face, and memory +that before all these private matters stood the command of the High +Council, which sat before the Ark of the Mysteries. + +So I went and stood before Phorenice, and said the words which the +ancient forms prescribed concerning the carrying out of her wish. + +"Then, now," she said, "I will give myself to you as wife. We are not as +others, you and I, Deucalion. There is a law and a form set down for +the marrying of these other people, but that would be useless for our +purposes. We will have neither priest nor scribe to join us and set down +the union. I am the law here in Atlantis, and you soon will be part of +me. We will not be demeaned by profaner hands. We will make the ceremony +for ourselves, and for witnesses, there are sufficient in waiting. +Afterwards, the record shall be cut deep in the granite throne you have +built for me, and the lettering filled in with gold, so that it shall +endure and remain bright for always." + +"The Empress can do no wrong," I said formally, and took the hand she +offered me, and helped her to rise. We walked out from the scarlet +awning into the glare of the sunshine, she leaning on me, flushing, and +so radiantly lovely that the people began to hail her with rapturous +shouts of "A Goddess; our Goddess Phorenice." But for me they had no +welcoming word. I think the set grimness of my face both scared and +repelled them. + +We went up the steps which led to the throne, the people still shouting, +and I sat her in the royal seat beneath the snake's outstretched head, +and she drew me down to sit beside her. + +She raised her jewelled hand, and a silence fell on that great throng, +as though the breath had been suddenly cut short for all of them. + +Then Phorenice made proclamation: + +"Hear me, O my people, and hear me, O High Gods from whom I am come. +I take this man Deucalion, to be my husband, to share with me the +prosperity of Atlantis, and join me in guarding our great possession. +May all our enemies perish as she is now perishing above whom we sit." +And then she put her arms around my neck, and kissed me hotly on the +mouth. + +In turn I also spoke: "Hear me, O most High Gods, whose servant I am, +and hear me also, O ye people. I take this Empress, Phorenice, to +wife, to help with her the prosperity of Atlantis, and join with her in +guarding the welfare of that great possession. May all the enemies of +this country perish as they have perished in the past." + +And then, I too, who had not been permitted by the fate to touch the +lips of my love, bestowed the first kiss I had ever given woman to +Phorenice, that was now being made my wife. + +But we were not completely linked yet. + +"A woman is one, and man is one," she proclaimed, following for the +first time the old form of words, "but in marriage they merge, so that +wife and husband are no more separate, but one conjointly. In token of +this we will now make the symbolic joining together, so that all may see +and remember." She took her dagger, and pricking the brawn on my forearm +till a head of blood appeared, set her red lips to it, and took it into +herself. + +"Ah," she said, with her eyes sparkling, "now you are part of me indeed, +Deucalion, and I feel you have strengthened me already." She pulled down +the neck of her robe. "Let me make you my return." + +I pricked the rounded whiteness of her shoulder. Gods! when I remembered +who was beneath us as we sat on that throne, I could have driven the +blade through to her heart! And then I, too, put down my lips, and took +the drop of her blood that was yielded to me. + +My tongue was dry, my throat was parched, and my face suffused, and I +thought I should have choked. + +But the Empress, who was ordinarily so acute, was misled then. "It +thrills you?" she cried. "It burns within you like living fire? I have +just felt it. By my face! Deucalion, if I had known the pleasure it +gives to be made a wife, I do not think I should have waited this long +for you. Ah, yes; but with another man I should have had no thrill. I +might have gone through the ceremony with another, but it would have +left me cold. Well, they say this feeling comes to a woman but once in +her time, and I would not change it for the glory of all my conquests +and the whirl of all my power." She leaned in close to me so that the +red curls of her hair swept my cheek, and her breath came hot against my +mouth. "Tasted you ever any sweet so delicious as this knowledge that we +are made one now, Deucalion, past all possible dissolving?" + +I could not lie to her any more just then. The Gods know how honestly I +had striven to play the part commanded me for Atlantis' good, but there +is a limit to human endurance, and mine was reached. I was not all anger +towards her. I had some pity for this passion of hers, which had grown +of itself certainly, but which I had done nothing to check; and the +indecent frankness with which it was displayed was only part of the +livery of potentates who flaunt what meaner folk would coyly hide. But +always before my eyes was a picture of the girl on whom her jealousy had +taken such a bitter vengeance, and to invent spurious lover's talk then +was a thing my tongue refused to do. + +"Words are poor things," I said, "and I am a man unused to women, and +have but a small stock of any phrases except the dryest. Remember, +Phorenice, a week agone, I did not know what love was, and now that I +have learned the lesson, somewhat of the suddenest, the language remains +still to come to me. My inwards speak; indeed they are full of speech; +but I cannot translate into bald cold words what they say." + +And here, surely the High Gods took pity on my tied tongue and my +misery, and made an opportunity for bringing the ceremony to an end. A +man ran into the square shouting, and showing a wound that dripped, +and presently all that vast crowd which stood on the pavements, and the +sides of the pyramids, and the roofs of the temples, took up the cry, +and began to feel for their weapons. + +"The rebels are in!" "They have burrowed a path into the city!" "They +have killed the cave-tigers and taken a gate!" "They are putting the +whole place to the storm!" "They will presently leave no poor soul of us +here alive!" + +There then was a termination of our marriage cooings. With rebels merely +biting at the walls, it was fine to put strong trust in the defences, +and easy to affect contempt for the besiegers' powers, and to keep +the business of pageants and state craft and marryings turning on easy +wheels. But with rebel soldiers already inside the city (and hordes of +others doubtless pressing on their heels), the affairs took a different +light. It was no moment for further delay, and Phorenice was the first +to admit it. The glow that had been in her eyes changed to the glare of +the fighter, as the fellow who had run up squalled out his tidings. + +I stood and stretched my chest. I seemed in need of air. "Here," I said, +"is work that I can understand more clearly. I will go and sweep this +rabble back to their burrows, Phorenice." + +"But not alone, sir. I come too. It is my city still. Nay, sir, we are +too newly wed to be parted yet." + +"Have your will," I said, and together we went down the steps of the +throne to the pavement below. Under my breath I said a farewell to Nais. + +Our armour-bearers met us with weapons, and we stepped into litters, and +the slaves took us off hot foot. The wounded man who had first brought +the news had fallen in a faint, and no more tidings was to be got from +him, but the growing din of the fight gave us the general direction, and +presently we began to meet knots of people who dwelt near the place of +irruption, running away in wild panic, loaded down with their household +goods. + +It was useless to stop these, as fight they could not, and if they had +stayed they would merely have been slaughtered like flies, and would +in all likelihood have impeded our own soldiery. And so we let them run +screaming on their blind way, but forced the litters through them with +but very little regard for their coward convenience. + +Now the advantage of the rebels, when it came to be looked upon by a +soldier's eye, was a thing of little enough importance. They had driven +a tunnel from behind a covering mound, beneath the walls, and had opened +it cleverly enough through the floor of a middle-class house. They had +come through into this, collecting their numbers under its shelter, and +doubtless hoping that the marriage of the Empress (of which spies had +given them information) would sap the watchfulness of the city guards. +But it seems they were discovered and attacked before they were +thoroughly ready to emerge, and, as a fine body of troops were barracked +near the spot, their extermination would have been merely a matter of +time, even if we had not come up. + +It did not take a trained eye long to decide on this, and Phorenice, +with a laugh, lay back on the cushions of the litter, and returned her +weapons to the armour-bearer who came panting up to receive them. "We +grow nervous with our married life, my Deucalion," she said. "We are +fearful lest this new-found happiness be taken from us too suddenly." + +But I was not to be robbed of my breathing-space in this wise. "Let me +crave a wedding gift of you," I said. + +"It is yours before you name it." + +"Then give me troops, and set me wide a city gate a mile away from +here." + +"You can gather five hundred as you go from here to the gate, taking two +hundred of those that are here. If you want more, they must be fetched +from other barracks along the walls. But where is your plan?" + +"Why, my poor strategy teaches me this: these foolish rebels have set +all their hopes on this mine, and all their excitement on its present +success. If they are kept occupied here by a Phorenice, who will give +them some dainty fighting without checking them unduly, they will press +on to the attack and forget all else, and never so much as dream of a +sortie. And meanwhile, a Deucalion with his troop will march out of the +city well away from here, without tuck of drum or blare of trumpet, and +fall most unpleasantly upon their rear. After which, a Phorenice will +burn the house here at the mine's head, which is of wood, and straw +thatched, to discourage further egress, and either go to the walls to +watch the fight from there, or sally out also and spur on the rout as +her fancy dictates." + +"Your scheme is so pretty, I would I could rob you of it for my own +credit's sake, and as it is, I must kiss you for your cleverness. But +you got my word first, you naughty fellow, and you shall have the men +and do as you ask. Eh, sir, this is a sad beginning of our wedded life, +if you begin to rob your little wife of all the sweets of conquest from +the outset." + +She took back the weapons and target she had given to the armour-bearer, +and stepped over the side of the litter to the ground. "But at least," +she said, "if you are going to fight, you shall have troops that will do +credit to my drill," and thereupon proceeded to tell off the companies +of men-at-arms who were to accompany me. She left herself few enough to +stem the influx of rebels who poured ceaselessly in through the +tunnel; but as I had seen, with Phorenice, heavy odds added only to her +enjoyment. + +But for the Empress, I will own at the time to have given little enough +of thought. My own proper griefs were raw within me, and I thirsted for +that forgetfulness of all else which battle gives, so that for awhile I +might have a rest from their gnawings. + +It made my blood run freer to hear once more the tramp of practised +troops behind me, and when all had been collected, we marched out +through a gate of the city, and presently were charging through and +through the straggling rear of the enemy. By the Gods! for the moment +even Nais was blotted from my wearied mind. Never had I loved more to +let my fierceness run madly riot. Never have I gloated more abundantly +over the terrible joy of battle. + +Nais must forgive my weakness in seeking to forget her even for a +breathing-space. Had that opportunity been denied me, I believe the +agony of remembering would have snapped my brain-strings for always. + + + + +14. AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE + + +Now it would be tedious to tell how with a handful of highly trained +fighting men, I charged and recharged, and finally broke up that horde +of rebels which outnumbered us by fifteen times. It must be remembered +that they grew suddenly panic-stricken in finding that of all those +who went in under the city walls by the mine on which they had set such +great store, none came back, and that the sounds of panic which had +first broken out within the city soon gave way to cries of triumph and +joy. And it must be carried in memory also that these wretched rebels +were without training worthy of the name, were for the most part +weaponed very vilely, and, seeing that their silly principles made each +the equal of his neighbour, were practically without heads or leaders +also. + +So when the panic began, it spread like a malignant murrain through all +their ragged ranks, and there were none to rally the flying, none to +direct those of more desperate bravery who stayed and fought. + +My scheme of attack was simple. I hunted them without a halt. I and my +fellows never stopped to play the defensive. We turned one flank, and +charged through a centre, and then we were harrying the other flank, +and once more hacking our passage through the solid mass. And so by +constantly keeping them on the run, and in ignorance of whence would +come the next attack, panic began to grow amongst them and ferment, till +presently those in the outer lines commenced to scurry away towards +the forests and the spoiled corn-lands of the country, and those in the +inner packs were only wishful of a chance to follow them. + +It was no feat of arms this breaking up of the rebel leaguer, and no +practised soldier would wish to claim it as such. It was simply taking +advantage of the chances of the moment, and as such it was successful. +Given an open battle on their own ground, these desperate rebels would +have fought till none could stand, and by sheer ferocious numbers +would have pulled down any trained troops that the city could have sent +against them, whether they had advanced in phalanx or what formation +you will. For it must be remembered they were far removed from cowards, +being Atlantean all, just as were those within the city, and were, +moreover, spurred to extraordinary savageness and desperation by the +oppression under which they had groaned, and the wrongs they had been +forced to endure. + +Still, as I say, the poor creatures were scattered, and the siege was +raised from that moment, and it was plain to see that the rebellion +might be made to end, if no unreasonable harshness was used for its +final suppression. Too great severity, though perhaps it may be justly +their portion, only drives such malcontents to further desperations. + +Now, following up these fugitives, to make sure that there was no halt +in their retreat, and to send the lesson of panic thoroughly home to +them, had led us a long distance from the city walls; and as we had +fought all through the burning heat of the day and my men were heavily +wearied, I decided to halt where we were for the night amongst +some half-ruined houses which would make a temporary fortification. +Fortunately, a drove of little cloven-hoofed horses which had been +scared by some of the rebels in their flight happened to blunder into +our lines, and as we killed five before they were clear again, there was +a soldier's supper for us, and quickly the fires were lit and cooking +it. + +Sentries paced the outskirts and made their cries to one another, and +the wounded sat by the fires and dressed their hurts, and with the +officers I talked over the engagements of the day, and the methods of +each charge, and the other details of the fighting. It is the special +perquisite of soldiers to dally over these matters with gusto, though +they are entirely without interest for laymen. + +The hour drew on for sleep, and snores went up from every side. It was +clear that all my officers were wearied out, and only continued the +talk through deference to their commander. Yet I had a feverish dread +of being left alone again with my thoughts, and pressed them on with +conversation remorselessly. But in the end they were saved the rudeness +of dropping off into unconsciousness during my talk. A sentry came up +and saluted. "My lord," he reported, "there is a woman come up from the +city whom we have caught trying to come into the bivouac." + +"How is she named?" + +"She will not say." + +"Has she business?' + +"She will say none. She demands only to see my lord." + +"Bring her here to the fire," I ordered, and then on second thoughts +remembering that the woman, whoever she might be, had news likely enough +for my private ear (or otherwise she would not have come to so uncouth +a rendezvous), I said to the sentry: "Stay," and got up from the ground +beside the fire, and went with him to the outer line. + +"Where is she?" I asked. + +"My comrades are holding her. She might be a wench belonging to these +rebels, with designs to put a knife into my lord's heart, and then we +sentries would suffer. The Empress," he added simply, "seems to set +good store upon my lord at present, and we know the cleverness of her +tormentors." + +"Your thoughtfulness is frank," I said, and then he showed me the woman. +She was muffled up in hood and cloak, but one who loved Nais as I loved +could not mistake the form of Ylga, her twin sister, because of mere +swathings. So I told the sentries to release her without asking her for +speech, and then led her out from the bivouac beyond earshot of their +lines. + +"It is something of the most pressing that has brought you out here, +Ylga?" + +"You know me, then? There must be something warmer than the ordinary +between us two, Deucalion, if you could guess who walked beneath all +these mufflings." + +I let that pass. "But what's your errand, girl?" + +"Aye," she said bitterly, "there's my reward. All your concern's for the +message, none for the carrier. Well, good my lord, you are husband to +the dainty Phorenice no longer." + +"This is news." + +"And true enough, too. She will have no more of you, divorces you, +spurns you, thrusts you from her, and, after the first splutter of wrath +is done, then come pains and penalties." + +"The Empress can do no wrong. I will have you speak respectful words of +the Empress." + +"Oh, be done with that old fable! It sickens me. The woman was mad for +love of you, and now she's mad with jealousy. She knows that you gave +Nais some of your priest's magic, and that she sleeps till you choose to +come and claim her, even though the day be a century from this. And if +you wish to know the method of her enlightenment, it is simple. There +is another airshaft next to the one down which you did your cooing and +billing, and that leads to another cell in which lay another prisoner. +The wretch heard all that passed, and thought to buy enlargement by +telling it. + +"But his news came a trifle stale. It seems that with the pressure of +the morning's ceremonies, they forgot to bring a ration, and when at +last his gaoler did remember him, it was rather late, seeing that by +then Phorenice had tied herself publicly to a husband, and poor Nais had +doubtless eaten her green drug. However, the fools must needs try and +barter his tale for what it would fetch; and, as was natural, had such +a silly head chopped off for his pains; and after that your Phorenice +behaved as you may guess. And now you may thank me, sir, for coming to +warn you not to go back to Atlantis." + +"But I shall go back. And if the Empress chooses to cut my head also +from its proper column, that is as the High Gods will." + +"You are more sick of life than I thought. But I think, sir, our +Phorenice judges your case very accurately. It was permitted me to hear +the outbursting of this lady's rage. 'Shall I hew off his head?' said +she. 'Pah! Shall I give him over to my tormentors, and stand by whilst +they do their worst? He would not wrinkle his brow at their fiercest +efforts. No; he must have a heavier punishment than any of these, and +one also which will endure. I shall lop off his right hand and his left +foot, so that he may be a fighting man no longer, and then I shall drive +him forth crippled into the dangerous lands, where he may learn Fear. +The beasts shall hunt him, the fires of the ground shall spoil his rest. +He shall know hunger, and he shall breathe bad air. And all the while he +shall remember that I have Nais near me, living and locked in her coffin +of stone, to play with as I choose, and to give over to what insults may +come to my fancy.' That is what she said, Deucalion. Now I ask you again +will you go back to meet her vengeance?" + +"No," I said, "it is no part of my plan to be mutilated and left to +live." + +"So, being a woman of some sense, I judged. And, moreover, having some +small kindness still left for you, I have taken it upon myself to make +a plan for your further movement which may fall in with your whim. Does +the name of Tob come back to your memory?" + +"One who was Captain of Tatho's navy?" + +"That same Tob. A gruff, rude fellow, and smelling vile of tar, but +seeming to have a sturdy honesty of his own. Tob sails away this night +for parts unknown, presumably to found a kingdom with Tob for king. It +seems he can find little enough to earn at his craft in Atlantis these +latter days, and has scruples at seeing his wife and young ones hungry. +He told me this at the harbour side when I put my neck under the axe by +saying I wanted carriage for you, sir, and so having me under his thumb, +he was perhaps more loose-lipped than usual. You seem to have made +a fine impression on Tob, Deucalion. He said--I repeat his hearty +disrespect--you were just the recruit he wanted, but whether you joined +him or not, he would go to the nether Gods to do you service." + +"By the fellow's side, I gained some experience in fighting the greater +sea beasts." + +"Well, go and do it again. Believe me, sir, it is your only chance. It +would grieve me much to hear the searing-iron hiss on your stumps. I +bargained with Tob to get clear of the harbour forts before the chain +was up for the night, and as he is a very daring fellow, with no fear of +navigating under the darkness, he himself said he would come to a point +of the shore which we agreed upon, and there await you. Come, Deucalion, +let me lead you to the place." + +"My girl," I said, "I see I owe you many thanks for what you have done +on my poor behalf." + +"Oh, your thanks!" she said. "You may keep them. I did not come out here +in the dark and the dangers for mere thanks, though I knew well enough +there would be little else offered."--She plucked at my sleeve.--"Now +show me your walking pace, sir. They will begin to want your countenance +in the camp directly, and we need hanker after no too narrow inquiries +for what's along." + +So thereon we set off, Ylga and I, leaving the lights of the bivouac +behind us, and she showed the way, whilst I carried my weapons ready to +ward off attacks whether from beasts or from men. Few words were passed +between us, except those which had concern with the dangers natural +to the way. Once only did we touch one another, and that was where +a tree-trunk bridged a rivulet of scalding water which flowed from a +boil-spring towards the sea. + +"Are you sure of footing?" I asked, for the night was dark, and the heat +of the water would peel the flesh from the bones if one slipped into it. + +"No," she said, "I am not," and reached out and took my hand. I helped +her over and then loosed my grip, and she sighed, and slowly slipped her +hand away. Then on again we went in silence, side by side, hour after +hour, and league after league. + +But at last we topped a rise, and below us through the trees I could see +the gleam of the great estuary on which the city of Atlantis stands. The +ground was soggy and wet beneath us, the trees were full of barbs and +spines, the way was monstrous hard. Ylga's breath was beginning to come +in laboured pants. But when I offered to take her arm, and help her, +as some return against what she had done for me, she repulsed me rudely +enough. "I am no poor weakling," said she, "if that is your only reason +for wanting to touch me." + +Presently, however, we came out through the trees, and the roughest part +of our journey was done. We saw the ship riding to her anchors in +shore a mile away, and a weird enough object she was under the faint +starlight. We made our way to her along the level beaches. + +Tob was keeping a keen watch. We were challenged the moment we came +within stone or arrow shot, and bidden to halt and recite our business; +but he was civil enough when he heard we were those whom he expected. +He called a crew and slacked out his anchor-rope till his ship ground +against the shingle, and then thrust out his two steering oars to help +us clamber aboard. + +I turned to Ylga with words of thanks and farewell. "I will never forget +what you have done for me this night; and should the High Gods see fit +to bring me back to Atlantis and power, you shall taste my gratitude." + +"I do not want to return. I am sick of this old life here." + +"But you have your palace in the city, and your servants, and your +wealth, and Phorenice will not disturb you from their possession." + +"Oh, as for that, I could go back and be fan-girl tomorrow. But I do not +want to go back." + +"Let me tell you it is no time for a gently nurtured lady like yourself +to go forward. I have been viceroy of Yucatan, Ylga, and know somewhat +of making a foothold in these new countries. And that was nothing +compared with what this will be. I tell you it entails hardships, and +privations, and sufferings which you could not guess at. Few survive +who go to colonise in the beginning, and those only of the hardiest, and +they earn new scars and new batterings every day." + +"I do not care, and, besides, I can share the work. I can cook, I can +shoot a good arrow, and I can make garments, yes, though they were +cut from the skins of beasts and had to be sewn with backbone sinews. +Because you despise fine clothes, and because you have seen me only +decked out as fan-girl, you think I am useless. Bah, Deucalion! Never +let people prate to me about your perfection. You know less about a +woman than a boy new from school." + +"I have learned all I care to know about one woman, and because of the +memory of her, I could not presume to ask her sister to come with me +now." + +"Aye," she said bitterly, "kick my pride. I knew well enough it was only +second place to Nais I could get all the time I was wanting to come. Yet +no one but a boor would have reminded me of it. Gods! and to think that +half the men in Atlantis have courted me, and now I am arrived at this!" + +"I must go alone. It would have made me happier to take your esteem with +me. But as it is, I suppose I shall carry only your hate." + +"That is the most humiliating thing of all; I cannot bring myself to +hate you. I ought to, I know, after the brutal way you have scorned me. +But I do not, and there is the truth. I seem to grow the fonder of you, +and if I thought there was a way of keeping you alive, and unmutilated, +here in Atlantis, I do not think I should point out that Tob is tired +of waiting, and will probably be off without you." She flung her arms +suddenly about my neck, and kissed me hotly on the mouth. "There, that +is for good-bye, dear. You see I am reckless. I care not what I do now, +knowing that you cannot despise me more than you have done all along for +my forwardness." + +She ran back from me into the edge of the trees. + +"But this is foolishness," I said. "I must take you through the dangers +that lie between here and some gate of the city, and then come back to +the ship." + +"You need not fear for me. The unhappy are always safe. And, besides, I +have a way. It is my solace to know that you will remember me now. You +will never forget that kiss." + +"Fare you well, Ylga," I cried. "May the High Gods keep you entirely in +their holy care." + +But no reply came back. She had gone off into the forest. And so I +turned down to the beach, and splashed into the water, and climbed on +board the ship up the steering oars. Tob gave the word to haul-to the +anchor, and get her away from the beach. + +"Greeting, my lord," said he, "but I'd have been pleased to see you +earlier. We've small enough force and slow enough heels in this vessel, +and it's my idea that the sooner we're away from here and beyond range +of pursuit, the safer it will be for my woman and brats who are in that +hutch of an after-castle. It's long enough since I sailed in such a +small old-fashioned ship as this. She's no machines, and she's not even +a steering mannikin. Look at the meanness of her furniture and (in your +ear) I've suspicions that there's rottenness in her bottom. But she's +the best I'd the means to buy, and if she reaches the place at the +farther end I've got my eye on, we shall have to make a home there, or +be content to die, for she'll never have strength to carry us farther +or back. She's been a ship in the Egypt trade, and you know what that is +for getting worm and rot in the wood." + +"You'd enough hands for your scheme before I came?" + +"Oh yes. I've fifty stout lads and eight women packed in the ship +somehow, and trouble enough I've had to get them away from the city. +That thief of a port-captain wellnigh skinned us clean before he could +see it lawful that so many useful fighting men might go out of harbour. +Times are not what they were, I tell you, and the sea trade's about +done. All sailor men of any skill have taken a woman or two and gone +out in companies to try their fortunes in other lands. Why, I'd trouble +enough to get half a score to help me work this ship. All my balance are +just landsmen raw and simple, and if I land half of them alive at the +other end, we shall be doing well." + +"Still with luck and a few good winds it should not take long to get +across to Europe." + +Tob slapped his leg. "No savage Europe for me, my lord. Now, see the +advantage of being a mariner. I found once some islands to the north +of Europe, separated from the main by a strait, which I called the Tin +Islands, seeing that tin ore litters many of the beaches. I was driven +there by storm, and said no word of the find when I got back, and here +you see it comes in useful. There's no one in all Atlantis but me knows +of those Tin Islands to-day, and we'll go and fight honestly for our +ground, and build a town and a kingdom on it." + +"With Tob for king?" + +"Well, I have figured it out as such for many a day, but I know when I +meet my better, and I'm content to serve under Deucalion. My lord would +have done wiser to have brought a wife with him, though, and I thought +it was understood by the good lady that spoke to me down at the harbour, +or I'd have mentioned it earlier. The savages in my Tin Islands go naked +and stain themselves blue with woad, and are very filthy and brutish to +look upon. They are sturdy, and should make good slaves, but one would +have to get blunted in the taste before one could wish to be father to +their children." + +"I am still husband to Phorenice." + +Tob grinned. "The Gods give you joy of her. But it is part of a +mariner's creed--and you will grow to be a mariner here--that wedlock +does not hold across the seas. However, that matter may rest. But, +coming to my Tin Islands again: they'll delight you. And I tell you, a +kingdom will not be so hard to carve out as it was in Egypt, or as you +found in Yucatan. There are beasts there, of course, and no one who +can hunt need ever go hungry. But the greater beasts are few. There +are cave-bears and cave-tigers in small numbers, to be sure, and some +river-horses and great snakes. But the greater lizards seem to avoid the +land; and as for birds, there is rarely seen one that can hurt a grown +man. Oh, I tell you, it will be a most desirable kingdom." + +"Tob seems to have imagined himself king of the Tin Islands with much +reality." + +He sighed a little. "In truth I did, and there is no denying it, and I +tell you plain, there is not another man living that I would have broken +this voyage for but Deucalion. But don't think I regret it, and don't +think I want to push myself above my place. This breeze and the ebb are +taking the old ship finely along her ways. See those fire baskets on the +harbour forts? We're abreast of them now. We'll have dropped them and +the city out of sight by daylight, and the flood will not begin to run +up till then. But I fear unless the wind hardens down with the dawn +we'll have to bring up to an anchor when the flood makes. Tides run very +hard in these narrow seas. Aye, and there are some shrewdish tide-rips +round my Tin Islands, as you shall see when we reach them." + +There were many fearful glances backwards when day came and showed the +waters, and the burning mountains that hemmed them in beyond the shores. +All seemed to expect some navy of Phorenice to come surging up to take +them back to servitude and starvation in the squalid wards of the city; +and I confess ingenuously that I was with them in all truth when they +swore they would fight the ship till she sank beneath them, before they +would obey another of the commands of Phorenice. However, their brave +heroics were displayed to no small purpose. For the full flow of the +tide we hung in our place, barely moving past the land, but yet not +seeing either oar or sail; and then, when the tide turned, away we went +once more with speed, mightily comforted. + +Tob's woman must needs bring drink on deck, and bid all pour libations +to her as a future queen. But Tob cuffed her back into the after-castle, +slamming to the hatch behind her heels, and bidding the crew send the +liquor down their dusty throats. "We are done with that foolery," said +he. "My Lord Deucalion will be king of this new kingdom we shall +build in the Tin Islands, and a right proper king he'll make, as you +untravelled ones would know, if you'd sailed the outer seas with him as +I have done." Beneath which I read a regret, but said nothing, having +made my plans from the moment of stepping on board, as will appear on a +later sheet. + +So on down the great estuary we made our way, and though it pleasured +the others on board when they saw that the seas were desolate of sails, +it saddened me when I recalled how once the waters had been whitened +with the glut of shipping. + +They had started off on their voyage with a bare two days' provision +in their equipment, and so, of necessity even after leaving the great +estuary, we were forced to voyage coastwise, putting into every likely +river and sheltered beach to slay fish and meat for future victualling. +"And when the winter comes," said Tob, "as its gales will be heavier +than this old ship can stomach, I had determined to haul up and make a +permanent camp ashore, and get a crop of grain grown and threshed before +setting sail again. It is the usual custom in these voyages. And I shall +do it still, subject to my lord's better opinion." + +So here, having by this time completed a two months' leisurely journey +from the city, I saw my opportunity to speak what I had always carried +in my mind. "Tob," I said, "I am a poor, weak, defenceless man, and I am +quite at your mercy, but what if I do not voyage all the way to the Tin +Islands, and oust you of this kingship?" + +He brightened perceptibly. "Aye," he grunted, "you are very weak, my +lord, and mighty defenceless. We know all about that. But what's +else? You must tell all your meaning plain. I'm a common mariner, and +understand little of your fancy talk." + +"Why, this. That it is not my wish to leave the continent of Atlantis. +If you will put me down on any part of this side that faces Europe, I +will commend you strongly to the Gods. I would I could give you +money, or (better still) articles that would be useful to you in your +colonising; but as it is, you see me destitute." + +"As to that, you owe me nothing, having done vastly more than your share +each time we have put in shore for the hunting. But it will not do, this +plan of yours. I will shamedly confess that the sound of that kingship +in my Tin Islands sounds sweet to me. But no, my lord, it will not do. +You are no mariner yet, and understand little of geography, but I must +tell you that the part of Atlantis there"--he jerked his thumb towards +the line of trees, and the mountains which lay beyond the fringe +of surf--"is called the Dangerous Lands, and a man must needs be a +salamander and be learned in magic (so I am told) before he can live +there." + +I laughed. "We of the Priests' Clan have some education, Tob, though +it may not be on the same lines as your own. In fact, I may say I was +taught in the colleges concerning the boundaries and the contents of +our continent with a nicety that would surprise you. And once ashore, my +fate will still be under the control of the most High Gods." + +He muttered something in his profane seaman's way about preferring to +keep his own fate under control of his own most strong right arm, but +saying that he would keep the matter in his thoughts, he excused himself +hurriedly to go and see to somewhat concerning the working of the ship, +and there left me. + +But I think the sweets of kingly rule were a strong argument in favour +of letting me have my way (which I should have had otherwise if it had +not been given peacefully), and on the third day after our talk he +put the ship inshore again for re-victualling. We lurched into a +river-mouth, half swamped over a roaring bar, and ran up against the +bank and made fast there to trees, but booming ourselves a safe distance +off with oars and poles, so that no beast could leap on board out of the +thicket. + +Fish-spearing and meat-hunting were set about with promptitude, and +on the second day we were happy enough to slay a yearling river-horse, +which gave provisions in all sufficiency. A space was cleared on the +bank, fires were lit, and the meat hung over the smoke in strips, and +when as much was cured as the ship would carry, the shipmen made a final +gorge on what remained, filled up a great stack of hollow reeds with +drinking water, and were ready to continue the voyage. + +With sturdy generosity did Tob again attempt to make me sail on with +them as their future king, and as steadfastly did I make refusal; and +at last stood alone on the bank amongst the gnawed bones of their feast, +with my weapons to bear me company, and he, and his men, and the women +stood in the little old ship, ready to drop down river with the current. + +"At least," said Tob, "we'll carry your memory with us, and make it big +in the Tin Islands for everlasting." + +"Forget me," I said, "I am nothing. I am merely an incident that has +come in your way. But if you want to carry some memory with you that +shall endure, preserve the cult of the most High Gods as it was taught +to you when you were children here in Atlantis. And afterwards, when +your colony grows in power, and has come to sufficient magnificence, you +may send to the old country for a priest." + +"We want no priest, except one we shall make ourselves, and that will +be me. And as for the old Gods--well, I have laid my ideas before the +fellows here, and they agree to this: We are done with those old Gods +for always. They seem worn out, if one may judge from Their present lack +of usefulness in Atlantis, and, anyway, there will be no room for Them +on the Tin Islands.--Let go those warps there aft, and shove her head +out.--We are under weigh now, my lord, and beyond recall, and so I am +free to tell you what we have decided upon for our religious exercises. +We shall set up the memory of a living Hero on earth, and worship that. +And when in years to come the picture of his face grows dim, we shall +doubtless make an image of him, as accurate as our art permits, and +build him a temple for shelter, and bring there our offerings and +prayers. And as I say, my lord, I shall be priest, and when I am dead, +the sons of my body shall be priests after me, and the eldest a king +also." + +"Let me plead with you," I said. "This must not be." + +The ship was drifting rapidly away with the current, and they were +hoisting sail. Tob had to shout to make himself heard. "Aye, but it +shall be. For I, too, am a strong man after my kind, and I have ordered +it so. And if you want the name of our Hero that some day shall be God, +you wear it on yourself. Deucalion shall be God for our children." + +"This is blasphemy," I cried. "Have a care, fool, or this impiety will +sink you." + +"We will risk it," he bawled back, "and consider the odds against us are +small. Regard! Here is thy last horn of wine in the ship, and my woman +has treasured it against this moment. Regard, all men, together +with Those above and Those below! I pour this wine as a libation to +Deucalion, great lord that is to-day, Hero that shall be to-morrow, God +that will be in time to come!" And then all those on the ship joined +in the acclaim till they were beyond the reach of my voice, and were +battling their way out to sea through the roaring breakers of the bar. + +Solitary I stood at the brink of the forest, looking after them and +musing sadly. Tob, despite his lowly station, was a man I cared for more +than many. Like all seamen, I knew that he paid his devotions to one +of the obscurer Gods, but till then I had supposed him devout in his +worship. His new avowal came to me as a desolating shock. If a man like +Tob could forsake all the older Gods to set up on high some poor mortal +who had momentarily caught his fancy, what could be expected from +the mere thoughtless mob, when swayed by such a brilliant tongue as +Phorenice's? It seemed I was to begin my exile with a new dreariness +added to all the other adverse prospects of Atlantis. + +But then behind me I heard the rustle of some great beast that had +scented me, and was coming to attack through the thicket, and so I had +other matters to think upon. I had to let Tob and his ship go out over +the rim of the horizon unwatched. + + + + +15. ZAEMON'S SUMMONS + + +Since the days when man was first created upon the earth by Gods who +looked down and did their work from another place, there have always +been areas of the land ill-adapted for his maintenance, but none more so +than that part of Atlantis which lies over against the savage continents +of Europe and Africa. The common people avoid it, because of a +superstition which says that the spirits of the evil dead stalk about +there in broad daylight, and slay all those that the more open dangers +of the place might otherwise spare. And so it has happened often that +the criminals who might have fled there from justice, have returned +of their own free will, and voluntarily given themselves up to the +tormentors, rather than face its fabulous terrors. + +To the educated, many of these legends are known to be mythical; but +withal there are enough disquietudes remaining to make life very arduous +and stocked with peril. Everywhere the mountains keep their contents +on the boil; earth tremors are every day's experience; gushes of unseen +evil vapours steal upon one with such cunningness and speed, that it is +often hard to flee in time before one is choked and killed; poisons well +up into the rivers, yet leave their colour unchanged; great cracks split +across the ground reaching down to the fires beneath, and the waters +gush into these, and are shot forth again with devastating explosion; +and always may be expected great outpourings of boiling mud or molten +rock. + +Yet with all this, there are great sombre forests in these lands, with +trees whose age is unimaginable, and fires amongst the herbage are rare. +All beneath the trees is water, and the air is full of warm steam and +wetness. For a man to live in that constant hot damp is very mortifying +to the strength. But strength is wanted, and cunning also beyond the +ordinary, for these dangerous lands are the abode of the lizards, which +of all beasts grow to the most enormous size and are the most fearsome +to deal with. + +There are countless families and species of these lizards, and with some +of them a man can contend with prospect of success. But there are others +whose hugeness no human force can battle against. One I saw, as it came +up out of a lake after gaining its day's food, that made the wet land +shake and pulse as it trod. It could have taken Phorenice's mammoth into +its belly,* and even a mammoth in full charge could not have harmed it. +Great horny plates covered its head and body, and on the ridge of its +back and tail and limbs were spines that tore great slivers from the +black trees as it passed amongst them. + + +* TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: Professor Reeder of the Wyoming State University +has recently unearthed the skeleton of a Brontosaurus, 130 ft. in +length, which would have weighed 50 tons when alive. It was 35 ft. in +height at the hips, and 25 ft. at the shoulder, and 40 people could be +seated with comfort within its ribs. Its thigh bone was 8 ft. long. The +fossils of a whole series of these colossal lizards have been found. + + +Now and again these monsters would get caught in some vast fissuring +of the ground, but not often. Their speed of foot was great, and their +sagacity keen. They seemed to know when the worst boilings of the +mountains might be expected, and then they found safety in the deeper +lakes, or buried themselves in wallows of the mud. Moreover, they were +more kindly constituted than man to withstand one great danger of these +regions, in that the heat of the water did them no harm. Indeed, they +will lie peacefully in pools where sudden steam-bursts are making the +water leap into boiling fountains, and I have seen one run quickly +across a flow of molten rock which threatened to cut it off, and not be +so much as singed in the transit. + +In the midst of such neighbours, then, was my new life thrown, and +existence became perilous and hard to me from the outset. I came near to +knowing what Fear was, and indeed only a fervent trust in the most High +Gods, and a firm belief that my life was always under Their fostering +care, prevented me from gaining that horrid knowledge. For long enough, +till I learned somewhat of the ways of this steaming, sweltering land, +I was in as miserable a case as even Phorenice could have wished to see +me. My clothes rotted from my back with the constant wetness, till I +went as naked as a savage from Europe; my limbs were racked with agues, +and I could find no herbs to make drugs for their relief; for days +together I could find no better food than tree-grubs and leaves; and +often when I did kill beasts, knowing little of their qualities, I ate +those that gave me pain and sickness. + +But as man is born to make himself adaptable to his surroundings, so +as the months dragged on did I learn the limitation of this new life of +mine, and gather some knowledge of its resources. As example: I found +a great black tree, with a hollow core, and a hole into its middle near +the roots. Here I harboured, till one night some monstrous lizard, whose +sheer weight made the tree rock like a sapling, endeavoured to suck me +forth as a bird picks a worm from a hollow log. I escaped by the will +of the Gods--I could as much have done harm to a mountain as injure that +horny tongue with my weapons--but I gave myself warning that this chance +must not happen again. + +So I cut myself a ladder of footholes on the inside of the trunk till I +had reached a point ten man-heights from the ground, and there cut other +notches, and with tree branches made a floor on which I might rest. +Later, for luxury, I carved me arrow-slit windows in the walls of my +chamber, and even carried up sand for a hearth, so that I might cook my +victual up there instead of lighting a fire in all the dangers of the +open below. + +By degrees, too, I began to find how the large-scaled fish of the rivers +and the lesser turtles might be more readily captured, and so my ribs +threatened less to start through their proper covering of skin as the +days went on. But the lack of salads and gruels I could never overcome. +All the green meat was tainted so powerfully with the taste of tars that +never could I force my palate to accept it. And of course, too, there +remained the peril of the greater lizards and the other dangers native +to the place. + +But as the months began to mount into years, and the brute part of my +nature became more satisfied, there came other longings which it was +less easy to provide for. From the ivory of a river horse's tooth I had +endeavoured to carve me a representative of Nais as last I had seen her. +But, though my fingers might be loving, and my will good, my art was +of the dullest, and the result--though I tried time and time again--was +always clumsy and pitiful. Still, in my eyes it carried some suggestion +of the original--a curve here, an outline there, and it made my old love +glow anew within me as I sat and ate it with my eyes. Yet it did little +to satisfy my longings for the woman I had lost; rather it whetted my +cravings to be with her again, or at least to have some knowledge of her +fate. + +Other men of the Priests' Clan have come out and made an abode in these +Dangerous Lands, and by mortifying the flesh, have gained an intimacy +with the Higher Mysteries which has carried them far past what mere +human learning and repetition could teach. Indeed, here and there one, +who from some cause and another has returned to the abodes of men, has +carried with him a knowledge that has brought him the reputation amongst +the vulgar for the workings of magic and miracles, which--since all arts +must be allowed which aid so holy a cause--have added very materially to +the ardour with which these common people pursue the cult of the Gods. +But for myself I could not free my mind to the necessary clearness for +following these abstruse studies. During that voyage home from Yucatan I +had communed with them with growing insight; but now my mind was not my +own. Nais had a lien upon it, and refused to be ousted; and, in truth, +her sweet trespass was my chief solace. + +But at last my longing could no further be denied. Through one of +the arrow-slit windows of my tree-house I could see far away a great +mountain top whitened with perpetual snow, which our Lord the Sun dyed +with blood every night of His setting. Night after night I used to watch +that ruddy light with wide straining eyes. Night after night I used to +remember that in days agone when I was entering upon the priesthood, it +had been my duty to adore our great Lord as He rose for His day behind +the snows of that very mountain. And always the thought followed on +these musings, that from that distant crest I could see across the +continent to the Sacred Mount, which had the city below it where I had +buried my love alive. + +So at last I gave way and set out, and a perilous journey I made of it. +In the heavy mists, which hung always on the lower ground, my way lay +blind before me, and I was constantly losing it. Indeed, to say that +I traversed three times the direct distance is setting a low estimate. +Throughout all those swamps the great lizards hunted, and as the country +was new to me I did not know places of harbour, and a hundred times was +within an ace of being spied and devoured at a mouthful. But the High +Gods still desired me for Their own purposes, and blinded the great +beasts' eyes when I slunk to cover as they passed. Twice rivers of +scalding water roared boiling across my path, and I had to delay till I +could collect enough black timber from the forests to build rafts that +would give me dry ferriage. + +It will be seen then that my journey was in a way infinitely tedious, +but to me, after all those years of waiting, the time passed on winged +feet. I had been separated from my love till I could bear the strain +no longer; let me but see from a distance the place where she lay, and +feast my eyes upon it for a while, and then I could go back to my abode +in the tree and there remain patiently awaiting the will of the Gods. + +The air grew more chilly as I began to come out above the region of +trees, on to that higher ground which glares down on the rest of the +world, and I made buskins and a coat of woven grasses to protect my body +from the cold, which began to blow upon me keenly. And later on, where +the snow lay eternally, and was blown into gullies, and frozen into +solid banks and bergs of ice, I had hard work to make any progress +amongst its perilous mazes, and was moreover so numbed by the chill, +that my natural strength was vastly weakened. Overhead, too, following +me up with forbidding swoops, and occasionally coming so close that I +had to threaten it with my weapons, was one of those huge man-eating +birds which live by pulling down and carrying off any creature that +their instincts tell them is weakly, and likely soon to die. + +But the lure ahead of me was strong enough to make these difficulties +seem small, and though the air of the mountain agreed with me ill, +causing sickness and panting, I pressed on with what speed I could +muster towards the elusive summit. Time after time I thought the next +spurt would surely bring me out to the view for which my soul yearned, +but always there seemed another bank of snow and ice yet to be climbed. +But at last I reached the crest, and gave thanks to the most High Gods +for Their protection and favour. + +Far, far away I could see the Sacred Mountain with its ring of fires +burning pale under the day, and although the splendid city which nestled +at its foot could not be seen from where I stood, I knew its position +and I knew its plan, and my soul went out to that throne of granite in +the square before the royal pyramid, where once, years before, I had +buried my love. Had Phorenice left the tomb unviolated? + +I stood there leaning on my spear, filling my eye with the prospect, +warming even to the smoke of mountains that I recognised as old +acquaintances. Gods! how my love burned within me for this woman. My +whole being seemed gone out to meet her, and to leave room for nothing +beside. For long enough a voice seemed dimly to be calling me, but +I gave it no regard. I had come out to that hoary mountain top for +communion with Nais alone, and I wanted none others to interrupt. + +But at length the voice calling my name grew too loud to be neglected, +and I pulled myself out of my sweet musing with a start to think that +here, for the first time since parting with Tob and his company, I +should see another human fellow-being. I gripped my weapon and asked who +called. The reply came clearly from up the slopes of mountain, and I saw +a man coming towards me over the snows. He was old and feeble. His body +was bent, and his hair and beard were white as the ground on which he +trod, and presently I recognised him as Zaemon. He was coming towards +me with incredible speed for a man of his years and feebleness, but he +carried in his hand the glowing Symbol of our Lord the Sun, and holy +strength from this would add largely to his powers. + +He came close to me and made the sign of the Seven, which I returned +to him, with its completion, with due form and ceremony. And then he +saluted me in the manner prescribed as messenger appointed by the High +Council of the Priests seated before the Ark of the Mysteries, and I +made humble obeisance before him. + +"In all things I will obey the orders that you put before me," I said. + +"Such is your duty, my brother. The command is, that you return +immediately to the Sacred Mountain, so that if human means may still +prevail, you, as the most skilful general Atlantis owns within her +borders, may still save the country from final wreck and punishment. The +woman Phorenice persists in her infamies. The poor land groans under +her heel. And now she has laid siege to our Sacred Mountain itself, and +swears that not one soul shall be left alive in all Atlantis who does +not bend humbly to her will." + +"It is a command and I obey it. But let me ask of another matter that is +intimate to both of us. What of Nais?" + +"Nais rests where you left her, untouched. Phorenice knows by her +arts--she has stolen nearly all the ancient knowledge now--that still +you live, and she keeps Nais unharmed beneath the granite throne in the +hopes that some time she may use her as a weapon against you. Little she +knows the sternness of our Priests' creed, my brother. Why, even I, that +am the girl's father, would sacrifice her blithely, if her death or ruin +might do a tittle of good to Atlantis." + +"You go beyond me with your devotion." + +The old man leaned forward at me, with glowering brow. "What!" + +"Or my old blind adherence to the ancient dogma has been sapped and +weakened by events. You must buy my full obedience, Zaemon, if you want +it. Promise me Nais--and your arts I know can snatch her--and I will be +true servant to the High Council of the Priest, and will die in the +last ditch if need be for the carrying out of order. But let me see Nais +given over to the fury of that wanton woman, and I shall have no inwards +left, except to take my vengeance, and to see Atlantis piled up in ruins +as her funeral-stone." + +Zaemon looked at me bitterly. "And you are the man the High Council +thought to trust as they would trust one of themselves? Truly we are in +an age of weak men and faithless now. But, my lord--nay, I must call you +brother still: we cannot be too nice in our choosing to-day--you are the +best there is, and we must have you. We little thought you would ask a +price for your generalship, having once taken oath on the walls of the +Ark of the Mysteries itself that always, come what might, you would be a +servant of the High Council of the Clan without fee and without hope of +advancement. But this is the age of broken vows, and you are going no +more than trim with the fashion. Indeed, brother, perhaps I should thank +you for being no more greedy in your demands." + +"You may spare me your taunts. You, by self-denial and profound search +into the highest of the higher Mysteries, have made yourself something +wiser than human; I have preserved my humanity, and with it its powers +and frailties; and it seems that each of us has his proper uses, or +you would not be come now here to me. Rather you would have done the +generalling yourself." + +"You make a warm defence, my brother. But I have no leisure now to stand +before you with argument. Come to the Sacred Mountain, fight me this +wanton, upstart Empress, and by my beard you shall have your Nais as you +left her as a reward." + +"It is a command of the High Council which shall be obeyed. I will come +with my brother now, as soon as he is rested." + +"Nay," said the old man, "I have no tiredness, and as for coming with +me, there you will not be able. But follow at what pace you may." + +He turned and set off down the snowy slopes of the mountain and I +followed; but gradually he distanced me; and so he kept on, with speed +always increasing, till presently he passed out of my sight round the +spur of an ice-cliff, and I found myself alone on the mountain side. +Yes, truly alone. For his footmarks in the snow from being deep, grew +shallower, and less noticeable, so that I had to stoop to see them. And +presently they vanished entirely, and the great mountain's flank lay +before me trackless, and untrodden by the foot of man since time began. + +I was not shaken by any great amazement. Though it was beyond my poor +art to compass this thing myself, having occupied my mind in exile more +with memories of Nais than in study of those uppermost recesses of the +Higher Mysteries in which Zaemon was so prodigiously wise, still I had +some inkling of his powers. + +Zaemon I knew would be back again in his dwelling on the Sacred +Mountain, shaken and breathless, even before I had found an end to his +tracks in the snow, and it behoved me to join him there in the quickest +possible time. I had his promise now for my reward, and I knew that he +would carry it into effect. Beforetime I had made an error. I had valued +Atlantis most, and Nais, my private love, as only second. But now it was +in my mind to be honest with others even as with myself. Though all +the world were hanging on my choice, I could but love my Nais most, and +serve her first and foremost of all. + + + + +16. SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + + +Now, my passage across the great continent of Atlantis, if tedious and +haunted by many dangers, need not be recounted in detail here. Only one +halt did I make of any duration, and that was unavoidable. I had killed +a stag one day, bringing it down after a long chase in an open savannah. +I scented the air carefully, to see if there was any other beast which +could do me harm within reach, and thinking that the place was safe, +set about cutting my meat, and making a sufficiency into a bundle for +carriage. + +But underfoot amongst the grasses there was a great legged worm, a +monstrous green thing, very venomous in its bite; and presently as I +moved I brushed it with my heel, and like the dart of light it swooped +with its tiny head and struck me with its fangs in the lower thigh. With +my knife I cut through its neck and it fell to writhing and struggling +and twining its hundred legs into all manner of contortions; and then, +cleaning my blade in the ground, I stabbed with it deep all round the +wound, so that the blood might flow freely and wash the venom from its +lodgement. And then with the blood trickling healthily down from my +heel, I shouldered the meat and strode off, thankful for being so well +quit of what might have made itself a very ugly adventure. + +As I walked, however, my leg began to be filled with a tightness and +throbbing which increased every hour, and presently it began to swell +also, till the skin was stretched like drawn parchment. I was taken, +too, with a sickness, that racked me violently, and if one of the +greater and more dangerous beasts had come upon me then, he would have +eaten me without a fight. With the fall of darkness I managed to haul +myself up into a tree, and there abode in the crutch of a limb, in +wakefulness and pain throughout the night. + +With the dawn, when the night beasts had gone to their lairs, I +clambered down again, and leaning heavily on my spear, limped onwards +through the sombre forests along my way. The moss which grows on the +northern side of each tree was my guide, but gradually I began to note +that I was seeing moss all round the trees, and, in fact, was growing +light-headed with the pain and the swelling of the limb. But still I +pressed onwards with my journey, my last instinct being to obey the +command of the High Council, and so procure the enlargement of Nais as +had been promised. + +My last memory was of being met by someone in the black forest who aided +me, and there my waking senses took wings into forgetfulness. + +But after an interval, wit returned, and I found myself on a bed of +leaves in a cleft between two rocks, which was furnished with some poor +skill, and fortified with stakes and buildings against the entrance of +the larger marauding beasts. My wound was dressed with a poultice of +herbs, and at the other side of the cavern there squatted a woman, +cooking a mess of wood-grubs and honey over a fire of sticks. + +"How came I here?" I asked. + +"I brought you," said she. + +"And who are you?" + +"A nymph, they call me, and I practise as such, collecting herbs and +curing the diseases of those that come to me, telling fortunes, and +making predictions. In return I receive what each can afford, and if +they do not pay according to their means, I clap on a curse to make them +wither. It's a lean enough living when wars and the pestilence have left +so few poor folk to live in the land." + +"Do you visit Atlantis?" + +"Not I. Phorenice would have me boiled in brine, living, if she could +lay easy hands on me. Our dainty Empress tolerates no magic but her own. +They say she is for pulling down the Priests off their Mountain now." + +"So you do get news of the city?" + +"Assuredly. It is my trade to get good news, or otherwise how could I +tell fortunes to the vulgar? You see, my lord, I detected your quality +by your speech, and knowing you are not one of those that come to me for +spells, and potions, I have no fear in speaking to you plainly." + +"Tell me then: Phorenice still reigns?" + +"Most vilely." + +"As a maiden?" + +"As the mother of twin sons. Tatho's her husband now, and has been these +three years." + +"Tatho! Who followed him as viceroy of Yucatan?" + +"There is no Yucatan. A vast nation of little hairy men, so the tale +goes, coming from the West overran the country. They had clubs of +wood tipped with stone as their only arm, but numbers made their chief +weapon. They had no desire for plunder, or the taking of slaves, or +the conquering of cities. To eat the flesh of Atlanteans was their only +lust, and they followed it prodigiously. Their numbers were like the +bees in a swarm. + +"They came to each of the cities of Yucatan in turn, and though +the colonists slew them in thousands, the weight of numbers always +prevailed. They ate clean each city they took, and left it to the beasts +of the forest, and went on to the next. And so in time they reached the +coast towns, and Tatho and the few that survived took ship, and +sailed home. They even ate Tatho's wife for him. They must be curious +persevering things, these little hairy men. The Gods send they do not +get across the seas to Atlantis, or they would be worse plague to the +poor country than Phorenice." + +Now I had heard of these little hairy creatures before, and though +indeed I had never seen them, I had gathered that they were a little +less than human and a little more than bestial; a link so to speak +between the two orders; and specially held in check by the Gods in +certain forest solitudes. Also I had learned that on occasion, when +punishment was needful, they could be set loose as a devastating army +upon men, devouring all before them. But I said nothing of this to the +nymph, she being but a vulgar woman, and indeed half silly, as is always +the case with these self-styled sorceresses who gull the ignorant, +common folk. But within myself I was bitterly grieved at the fate of +that fine colony of Yucatan, in which I had expended such an infinity of +pains to do my share of the building. + +But it did not suit my purpose to have my name and quality blazoned +abroad till the time was full, and so I said nothing to the nymph about +Yucatan, but let the talk continue upon other matters. "What about +Egypt?" I asked. + +"In its accustomed darkness, so they say. Who cares for Egypt these +latter years? Who cares for anyone or anything for that matter except +for himself and his own proper estate? Time was when the country folk +and the hunters hereabouts brought me offerings to this cave for sheer +piety's sake. But now they never come near unless they see a way of +getting good value in return for their gifts. And, by result, instead +of living fat and hearty, I make lean meals off honey and grubs. It's +a poor life, a nymph's, in these latter years I tell you, my lord. It's +the fashion for all classes to believe in no kind of mystery now." + +"What manner of pestilence is this you spoke of?" + +"I have not seen it. Thank the Gods it has not come this way. But they +do say that it has grown from the folk Phorenice has slain, and whose +bodies remain unburied. She is always slaying, and so the bodies lie +thicker than the birds and beasts can eat them. For which of our sins, +I wonder, did the Gods let Phorenice come to reign? I wish that she and +her twins were boiled alive in brine before they came between an honest +nymph of the forest and her living. + +"They say she has put an image of herself in all the temples of the +city now, and has ordered prayers and sacrifices to be made night +and morning. She has decreed all other Gods inferior to herself +and forbidden their worship, and those of the people that are not +sufficiently devout for her taste, have their hamstrings slit by their +tormentors to aid them constantly into a devotional attitude.--Will you +eat of my grubs and honey? There is nothing else. Your back was bloody +with carrying meat when I met you, but you had lost your load. You must +either taste this mess of mine now, or go without." + +I harboured with that nymph in cave six days, she using her drugs and +charms to cure my leg the while, and when I was recovered, I hunted the +plains and killed her a fat cloven-hoofed horse as payment, and then +went along my ways. + +The country from there onwards had at one time carried a sturdy +population which held its own firmly, and, as its numbers grew, took in +more ground, and built more homesteads farther afield. The houses were +perched in trees for the most part, as there they were out of reach +of cave-bear and cave-tiger and the other more dangerous beasts. But +others, and these were the better ones, were built on the ground, of +logs so ponderous and so firmly clamped and dovetailed that the beasts +could not pull them down, and once inside a house of this fashion +its owners were safe, and could progue at any attackers through the +interstices between the logs, and often wound, sometimes make a kill. + +But not one in ten of these outlying settlers remained. The houses were +silent when I reached them, the fire-hearth before the door weed-grown, +and the patch of vegetables taken back by the greedy fingers of the +forest into mere scrub and jungle. And farther on, when villages began +to appear, strongly-walled as the custom is, to ward off the attacks of +beasts, the logs which aforetime had barred the gateway lay strewn in +a sprouting undergrowth, and naught but the kitchen middens remained to +prove that once they had sheltered human tenants. Phorenice's influence +seemed to have spread as though it were some horrid blight over the +whole face of what was once a smiling and an easy-living land. + +So far I had met with little enough interference from any men I had come +across. Many had fled with their women into the depths of the forest at +the bare sight of me; some stood their ground with a threatening face, +but made no offer to attack, seeing that I did not offer them insult +first; and a few, a very few, offered me shelter and provision. But as +I neared the city, and began to come upon muddy beaten paths, I passed +through governments that were more thickly populated, and here appeared +strong chance of delay. The watcher in the tower which is set above each +village would spy me and cry: "Here is a masterless man," and then the +people that were within would rush out with intent to spoil me of my +weapons, and afterwards to appoint me as a labourer. + +I had no desire to slay these wretched folk, being filled with pity at +the state to which they had fallen; and often words served me to make +them stand aside from the path, and stare wonderingly at my fierceness, +and let me go my ways. And when at other times words had no avail, I +strove to strike as lightly as could be, my object being to get forward +with my journey and leave no unnecessary dead behind me. Indeed, having +found the modern way of these villages, it grew to be my custom to turn +off into the forest, and make a circuit whenever I came within smell of +their garbage. + +Similarly, too, when I got farther on, and came amongst greater towns +also, I kept beyond challenge of their walls, having no mind to risk +delay from the whim of any new law which might chance to be set up by +their governors. My progress might be slinking, but my pride did not +upbraid me very loudly; indeed, the fever of haste burned within me so +hot and I had little enough carrying space for other emotions. + +But at last I found myself within a half-day's journey the city of +Atlantis itself, with the Sacred Mountain and its ring of fires looming +high beside it, and the call for caution became trebly accentuated. +Everywhere evidences showed that the country had been drained of its +fighting men. Everywhere women prayed that the battles might end +with the rout of the Priests or the killing of Phorenice, so that the +wretched land might have peace and time to lick its wounds. + +An army was investing the Sacred Mountain, and its one approach was most +narrowly guarded. Even after having journeyed so far, it seemed as if I +should have to sit hopelessly down without being able to carry out the +orders which had been laid upon me by the High Council, and earn the +reward which had been promised. Force would be useless here. I should +have one good fight--a gorgeous fight--one man against an army, and my +usefulness would be ended.... No; this was the occasion for guile, and +I found covert in the outskirts of a wood, and lay there cudgelling my +brain for a plan. + +Across the plain before me lay the grim great walls of the city, with +the heads of its temples, and its palaces, and its pyramids showing +beyond. The step-sides of the royal pyramid held my eye. Phorenice had +expended some of her new-found store of gold in overlaying their former +whiteness with sheets of shining yellow metal. But it was not that +change that moved me. I was remembering that, in the square before the +pyramid, there stood a throne of granite carved with the snake and the +outstretched hand, and in the hollow beneath the throne was Nais, my +love, asleep these eight years now because of the drug that had been +given to her, but alive still, and waiting for me, if only I on my +part could make a way to the place where Zaemon defied the Empress, and +announce my coming. + +In that covert of the woods I lay a day and a night raging with myself +for not discovering some plan to get within the defences of the Sacred +Mountain, but in the morning which followed, there came a man towards me +running. + +"You need not threaten me with your weapons," he cried. "I mean no harm. +It seems that you are Deucalion; though I should not have known you +myself in those rags and skins, and behind that tangle of hair and +beard. You will give me your good word I know. Believe me, I have not +loitered unduly." + +He was a lower priest whom I knew, and held in little esteem; his name +was Ro, a greedy fellow and not overworthy of trust. "From whom do you +come?" I asked. + +"Zaemon laid a command on me. He came to my house, though how he got +there I cannot tell, seeing that Phorenice's army blocks all possible +passage to and from the Mountain. I told him I wished to be mixed with +none of his schemings. I am a peaceful man, Deucalion, and have taken a +wife who requires nourishment. I still serve in the same temple, though +we have swept out the old Gods by order of the Empress, and put her +image in their place. The people are tidily pious nowadays, those that +are left of them, and the living is consequently easy. Yes, I tell you +there are far more offerings now than there were in the old days. And +so I had no wish to be mixed with matters which might well make me be +deprived of a snug post, and my head to boot." + +"I can believe it all of you, Ro." + +"But there was no denying Zaemon. He burst into one of his black furies, +and while he spoke at me, I tell you I felt as good as dead. You know +his powers?" + +"I have seen some of them." + +"Well, the Gods alone know which are the true Gods, and which are the +others. I serve the one that gives me employment. But those that Zaemon +serves give him power, and that's beyond denying. You see that right +hand of mine? It is dead and paralysed from the wrist, and that is +a gift of Zaemon. He bestowed it, he said, to make me collect my +attention. Then he said more hard things concerning what he was pleased +to term my apostasy, not letting me put up a word in my own defence of +how the change was forced upon me. And finally, said he, I might +either do his bidding on a certain matter to the letter, or take that +punishment which my falling away from the old Gods had earned. 'I +shall not kill you,' said he, 'but I will cover all your limbs with a +paralysis, such as you have tasted already, and when at length death +reaches you in some gutter, you will welcome it.'" + +"If Zaemon said those words, he meant them. So you accepted the +alternative?" + +"Had I, with a wife depending on me, any other choice? I asked his +pleasure. It was to find you when you came in here from some distant +part of the land, and deliver to you his message. + +"'Then tell me where is the meeting place,' said I, 'and when.' + +"'There is none appointed, nor is the day fixed,' said he. 'You must +watch and search always for him. But when he comes, you will be guided +to his place.' Well, Deucalion, I think I was guided, but how, I do +not know. But now I have found you, and if there's such a thing as +gratitude, I ask you to put in your word with Zaemon that this deadness +be taken away from my hand. It's an awful thing for a man to be forced +to go through life like this, for no real fault of his own. And Zaemon +could cure it from where he sat, if he was so minded." + +"You seem still to have a very full faith in some of the old Gods' +priests," I said. "But so far, I do not see that your errand is done. I +have had no message yet." + +"Why, the message is so simple that I do not see why he could not have +got some one else to carry it. You are to make a great blaze. You may +fire the grasses of the plain in front of this wood if you choose. And +on the night which follows, you are to go round to that flank of the +Sacred Mountain away from the city where the rocks run down sheer, and +there they will lower a rope and haul you up to their hands above." + +"It seems easy, and I thank you for your pains. I will ask Zaemon that +your hand may be restored to you." + +"You shall have my prayers if it is. And look, Deucalion, it is a small +matter, and it would be less likely to slip your memory if you saw to it +at once on your landing. Later, you may be disturbed. Phorenice is bound +to pull you down off your perch up there now she has made her mind to +it. She never fails, once she has set her hand to a thing. Indeed, +if she was no Goddess at birth, she is making herself into one very +rapidly. She has got all the ancient learning of our Priests, and more +besides. She has discovered the Secret of Life these recent months--" + +"She has found that?" I cried, fairly startled. "How? Tell me how? Only +the Three know that. It is beyond our knowledge even who are members of +the Seven." + +"I know nothing of her means. But she has the secret, and now she is as +good an immortal (so she says) as any of them. Well, Deucalion, it is +dangerous for me to be missing from my temple overlong, so I will go. +You will carry that matter we spoke of in your mind? It means much +to me."--His eye wandered over my ragged person--"And if you think my +service is of value to you--" + +"You see me poor, my man, and practically destitute." + +"Some small coin," he murmured, "or even a link of bronze? I am at +great expense just now buying nourishment for my wife. Well, if you have +nothing, you cannot give. So I'll just bid you farewell." + +He took himself off then, and I was not sorry. I had never liked Ro. But +I wasted no more precious time then. The grass blazed up for a signal +almost before his timorous heels were clear of it, and that night when +the darkness gave me cover, I took the risk of what beasts might be +prowling, and went to the place appointed. There was no rope dangling, +but presently one came down the smooth cliff face like some slender +snake. I made a loop, slipped it over a leg, and pulled hard as a +signal. Those above began to haul, and so I went back to the Sacred +Mountain after an absence of so many toilsome and warring years. There +were none to disturb the ascent. Phorenice's troops had no thought to +guard that gaunt, bare, seamless precipice. + +The men who hauled me up were old, and panted heavily with their task, +and, until I knew the reason, I wondered why a knot of younger priests +had not been appointed for the duty. But I put no question. With us of +the Priests' Clan on the Sacred Mountain, it is always taken as granted +that when an order is given, it is given for the best. Besides, these +priests did not offer themselves to question. They took me off at once +to Zaemon, and that is what I could have wished. + +The old man greeted me with the royal sign. "All hail to Deucalion," he +cried, "King of Atlantis, duly called thereto by the High Council of the +priests." + +"Is Phorenice dead?" I asked. + +"It remains for you to slay her, and take your kingdom, if, indeed, +when all is done, there remains a man or a rood of land to govern. The +sentence has gone out that she is to die, and it shall be carried into +effect, even though we have to set loose the most dreadful powers that +are stored in the Ark of the Mysteries, and wreck this continent in our +effort. We have borne with her infamies all these years by command sent +down by the most High Gods; but now she has gone beyond endurance, and +They it is who have given the word for her cutting off." + +"You are one of the highest Three; I am only one of the Seven; you best +know the cost." + +"There can be no counting the cost now, my brother, and my king. It is +an order." + +"It is an order," I repeated formally, "so I obey." + +"If it were not impious to do so, it would be easy to justify this +decision of the Gods. The woman has usurped the throne; yet she was +forgiven and bidden rule on wisely. She has tampered with our holy +religion; yet she was forgiven. She has killed the peoples of Atlantis +in greedy useless wars, and destroyed the country's trade; yet she was +forgiven. She has desecrated the old temples, and latterly has set up +in them images of herself to be worshipped as a deity; yet she was +forgiven. But at last her evil cleverness has discovered to her the +tremendous Secret of Life and Death, and there she overstepped the +boundary of the High Gods' forbearance. + +"I myself went to carry a final warning, and once more faced her in +the great banqueting-hall. Solemnly I recited to her the edict, and she +chose to take it as a challenge. She would live on eternally herself and +she would share her knowledge with those that pleased her. Tatho that +was her husband should also be immortal. Indeed, if she thought fit, she +would cry the secret aloud so that even the common people might know it, +and death from mere age would become a legend. + +"She cared no wit how she might upset the laws of Nature. She was +Phorenice, and was the highest law of all. And finally she defied me +there in that banqueting-hall and defied also the High Gods that stood +behind my mouth. 'My magic is as strong as yours, you pompous fool,' +she cried, 'and presently you shall see the two stand side by side upon +their trial.' + +"She began to collect an army from that moment, and we on our part made +our preparations. It was discovered by our arts that you still lived, +and King of Atlantis you were made by solemn election. How you were +summoned, you know as nearly as it is lawful that one of your degree +should know; how you came, you understand best yourself; but here you +are, my brother, and being King now, you must order all things as you +see best for the preservation of your high estate, and we others live +only to give you obedience." + +"Then being King, I can speak without seeming to make use of a threat. +I must have my Queen first, or I am not strong enough to give my whole +mind to this ruling." + +"She shall be brought here." + +"So! Then I will be a General now, and see to the defences of this +place, and view the men who are here to stand behind them." + +I went out of the dwelling then, Zaemon giving place and following me. +It was night still but there is no darkness on the upper part of the +Sacred Mountain. A ring of fires, fed eternally from the earth-breath +which wells up from below, burns round one-half of the crest, lighting +it always as bright as day, and in fact forming no small part of its +fortification. Indeed, it is said that, in the early dawn of history, +men first came to the Mountain as a stronghold because of the natural +defence which the fires offered. + +There is no bridging these flames or smothering them. On either side +of their line for a hundred paces the ground glows with heat, and a man +would be turned to ash who tried to cross it. Round full one-half the +mountain slopes the fires make a rampart unbreakable, and on the other +side the rock runs in one sheer precipice from the crest to the plain +which spreads beyond its foot. But it is on this farther side that there +is the only entrance way which gives passage to the crest of the Sacred +Mountain from below. Running diagonally up the steep face of the cliff +is a gigantic fissure, which succeeding ages (as man has grown more +luxurious) have made more easy to climb. + +Looking at the additions, in the ancient days, I can well imagine that +none but the most daring could have made the ascent. But one generation +has thrown a bridge over a bad gap here, and another has cut into the +living stone and widened a ledge there, till in these latter years there +is a path with cut steps and carved balustrade such as the feeblest or +most giddy might traverse with little effort or exertion. But always +when these improvers made smooth the obstacles, they were careful to +weaken in no possible way the natural defences but rather to add to +them. + +Eight gates of stone there were cutting the pathway, each commanding +a straight, steep piece of the ascent, and overhanging each gate was a +gallery secure from arrow-shot, yet so contrived that great stones could +be hurled through holes in the floor of it, in such a manner that they +must irretrievably smash to a pulp any men advancing against it from +below. And in caves dug out from the rock on either hand was a great +hoard of these stones, so that no enemy through sheer expenditure of +troops could hope to storm a gate by exhausting its ammunition. + +But though there were eight of these granite gates in the series, we had +the whole number to depend on no longer. The lowest gate was held by +a garrison of Phorenice's troops, who had built a wall above them to +protect their occupation. The gate had been gained by no brilliant feat +of arms--it had been won by threats, bribery, and promises; or, in other +words, it had been given up by the blackest treachery. + +And here lay the keynote of the weakness in our defence. The most +perfect ramparts that brain can invent are useless without men to line +them, and it was men we lacked. Of students entering into the colleges +of the Sacred Mountain, there had been none now for many a year. The +younger generation thought little of the older Gods. Of the men that had +grown up amongst the sacred groves, and filled offices there, many had +become lukewarm in their faith and remained on only through habit, and +because an easy living stayed near them there; and these, when the siege +began, quickly made their way over to the other side. + +Phorenice was no fool to fight against unnecessary strength. Her heralds +made proclamation that peace and a good subsistence would be given to +those who chose to come out to her willingly; and as an alternative she +would kill by torture and mutilation those she caught in the place when +she took it by storm, as she most assuredly would do before she had +finished with it. And so great was the prestige of her name, that quite +one-half of these that remained on the mountain took themselves away +from the defence. + +There was no attempt to hold back these sorry priests, nor was there any +punishing them as they went. Zaemon, indeed, was minded (so he told me +with grim meaning himself) to give them some memento of their apostasy +to carry away which would not wear out, but the others of the High +Council made him stay his vengeful hand. And so when I came to the place +the garrison numbered no more than eighty, counting even feeble old +dotards who could barely walk; and of men not past their prime I could +barely command a score. + +Still, seeing the narrowness of the passages which led to each of the +gates, up which in no place could more than two men advance together, we +were by no means in desperate straits for the defence as yet; and if my +new-given kingdom was so far small, consisting as it did in effect of +the Sacred Mountain and no other part of Atlantis, at any rate there +seemed little danger of its being further contracted. + +Another of the wise precautions of the men of old stood us in good stead +then. In the ancient times, when grain first was grown as food, it came +to be looked upon as the acme of wealth. Tribute was always paid from +the people to their Priests, and presently, so the old histories say, +it was appointed that this should take the form of grain, as this was +a medium both dignified and fitting. And those of the people who had +it not, were forced to barter their other produce for grain before they +could pay this tribute. + +On the Sacred Mountain itself vast storehouses were dug in the rock, and +here the grain was teemed in great yellow heaps, and each generation of +those that were set over it, took a pride in adding to the accumulation. + +In more modern days it had been a custom amongst the younger and more +forward of the Priests to scoff at this ancient provision, and to hold +that a treasure of gold, or weapons, or jewels would have more value and +no less of dignity; and more than once it has been a close thing +lest these innovators should not be out-voted. But as it was, the old +constitution had happily been preserved, and now in these years of trial +the Clan reaped the benefit. And so with these granaries, and a series +of great tanks and cisterns which held the rainfall, there was no chance +of Phorenice reducing our stronghold by mere close investment, even +though she sat down stubbornly before it for a score of years. + +But it was the paucity of men for the defence which oppressed me most. +As I took my way about the head of the Mountain, inspecting all points, +the emptiness of the place smote me like a succession of blows. The +groves, once so trim, were now shaggy and unpruned. Wind had whirled +the leaves in upon the temple floors, and they lay there unswept. The +college of youths held no more now than a musty smell to bear witness +that men had once been grown there. The homely palaces of the higher +Priests, at one time so ardently sought after, lay many of them empty, +because not even one candidate came forward now to canvass for election. + +Evil thoughts surged up within me as I saw these things, that were +direct promptings from the nether Gods. "There must be something +wanting," these tempters whispered, "in a religion from which so many of +its Priests fled at the first pinch of persecution." + +I did what I could to thrust these waverings resolutely behind me; but +they refused to be altogether ousted from my brain; and so I made a +compromise with myself: First, I would with the help that might be given +me, destroy this wanton Phorenice, and regain the kingdom which had been +given me to my own proper rule; and afterwards I would call a council +of the Seven and council of the Three, and consider without prejudice +if there was any matter in which our ancient ritual could be amended +to suit the more modern requirements. But this should not be done till +Phorenice was dead and I was firmly planted in her room. I would not be +a party, even to myself, to any plan which smacked at all of surrender. + +And there as I walked through the desolate groves and beside the cold +altars, the High Gods were pleased to show their approval of my scheme, +and to give me opportunity to bind myself to it with a solemn oath and +vow. At that moment from His distant resting-place in the East, our Lord +the Sun leaped up to begin another day. For long enough from where I +stood below the crest of the Mountain, He Himself would be invisible. +But the great light of His glory spread far into the sky, and against it +the Ark of the Mysteries loomed in black outline from the highest crag +where it rested, lonely and terrible. + +For anyone unauthorised to go nearer than a thousand paces to this +storehouse of the Highest Mysteries meant instant death. On that day +when I was initiated as one of the Seven, I had been permitted to go +near and once press my lips against its ample curves; and the rank of +my degree gave me the privilege to repeat that salute again once on each +day when a new year was born. But what lay inside its great interior, +and how it was entered, that was hidden from the Seven, even as it was +from the other Priests and the common people in the city below. Only +those who had been raised to the sublime elevation of the Three had a +knowledge of the dreadful powers which were stored within it. + +I went down on my knees where I was, and Zaemon knelt beside me, and +together we recited the prayers which had been said by the Priests from +the beginning of time, giving thanks to our great Lord that He has +come to brighten another day. And then, with my eyes fixed on the black +outline of the Ark of Mysteries I vowed that, come what might, I at +least would be true servant of the High Gods to my life's end, and that +my whole strength should be spent in restoring Their worship and glory. + + + + +17. NAIS THE REGAINED + + +Now, from where we stood together just below the crest of the Sacred +Mountain, we could see down into the city, which lay spread out below +us like a map. The harbour and the great estuary gleamed at its +farther side; and the fringe of hills beyond smoked and fumed in their +accustomed fashion; the great stone circle of our Lord the Sun stood +up grim and bare in the middle of the city; and nearer in reared up the +great mass of the royal pyramid, the gold on its sides catching new gold +from the Sun. There, too, in the square before the pyramid stood the +throne of granite, dwarfed by the distance to the size of a mole's hill, +in which these nine years my love had lain sleeping. + +Old Zaemon followed my gaze. "Ay," he said with a sigh, "I know where +your chief interest is. Deucalion when he landed here new from Yucatan +was a strong man. The King whom we have chosen--and who is the best we +have to choose--has his weakness." + +"It can be turned into additional strength. Give me Nais here, living +and warm to fight for, and I am a stronger man by far than the cold +viceroy and soldier that you speak about." + +"I have passed my word to that already, and you shall have her, but at +the cost of damaging somewhat this new kingdom of yours. Maybe too at +the same time we may rid you of this Phorenice and her brood. But I do +not think it likely. She is too wily, and once we begin our play, she is +likely to guess whence it comes, and how it will end, and so will make +an escape before harm can reach her. The High Gods, who have sent +all these trials for our refinement, have seen fit to give her some +knowledge of how these earth tremors may be set a-moving." + +"I have seen her juggle with them. But may I hear your scheme?" + +"It will be shown you in good time enough. But for the present I would +bid you sleep. It will be your part to go into the city to-night, and +take your woman (that is my daughter) when she is set free, and bring +her here as best you can. And for that you will need all a strong man's +strength."--He stepped back, and looked me up and down.--"There are not +many folk that would take you for the tidy clean-chinned Deucalion now, +my brother. Your appearance will be a fine armour for you down yonder in +the city to-night when we wake it with our earth-shaking and terror. +As you stand now, you are hairy enough, and shaggy enough, and naked +enough, and dirty enough for some wild savage new landed out of Europe. +Have a care that no fine citizen down yonder takes a fancy to your +thews, and seizes upon you as his servant." + +"I somewhat pity him in his household if he does." + +Old Zaemon laughed. "Why, come to think of it, so do I." + +But quickly he got grave again. Laughter and Zaemon were very rare +playmates. "Well, get you to bed, my King, and leave me to go into the +Ark of Mysteries and prepare there with another of the Three the things +that must be done. It is no light business to handle the tremendous +powers which we must put into movement this night. And there is danger +for us as there is for you. So if by chance we do not meet again till we +stand up yonder behind the stars, giving account to the Gods, fare you +well, Deucalion." + +I slept that day as a soldier sleeps, taking full rest out of the hours, +and letting no harassing thought disturb me. It is only the weak who +permit their sleep to be broken on these occasions. And when the dark +was well set, I roused and fetched those who should attend to the rope. +Our Lady the Moon did not shine at that turn of the month: and the air +was full of a great blackness. So I was out of sight all the while they +lowered me. + +I reached the tumbled rocks that lay at the deep foot of the cliff, +and then commenced to use a nice caution, because Phorenice's soldiers +squatted uneasily round their camp-fires, as though they had forebodings +of the coming evil. I had no mind to further stir their wakefulness. So +I crept swiftly along in the darkest of the shadows, and at last came to +the spot where that passage ends which before I had used to get beneath +the walls of the city. + +The lamp was in place, and I made my way along the windings swiftly. The +air, so it seemed to me, was even more noxious with vapours than it had +been when I was down there before, and I judged that Zaemon had already +begun to stir those internal activities which were shortly to convulse +the city. But again I had difficulty in finding an exit, and this, not +because there were people moving about at the places where I had to come +out, but because the set of the masonry was entirely changed. In olden +times the Priests' Clan oversaw all the architects' plans, and ruled out +anything likely to clash with their secret passages and chambers. But +in this modern day the Priests were of small account, and had no say in +this matter, and the architects often through sheer blundering sealed up +and made useless many of these outlets and hiding-places. + +As it was then, I had to get out of the network of tunnels and galleries +where I could, and not where I would, and in the event found myself at +the farther side of the city, almost up to where the outer wall joins +down to the harbour. I came out without being seen, careful even in this +moment of extremity to preserve the ordinances, and closed all traces of +exit behind me. The earth seemed to spring beneath my feet like the deck +of a ship in smooth water; and though there was no actual movement as +yet to disturb the people, and indeed these slept on in their houses and +shelters without alarm, I could feel myself that the solid deadness +of the ground was gone, and that any moment it might break out into +devastating waves of movement. + +Gods! Should I be too late to see the untombing of my love? Would she be +laid there bare to the public gaze when presently the people swarmed out +into the open spaces through fear at what the great earth tremor might +cause to fall? I could see, in fancy, their rude, cruel hands thrust +upon her as she lay there helpless, and my inwards dried up at the +thought. + +I ran madly down and down the narrow winding streets with the one +thought of coming to the square which lay in front of the royal pyramid +before these things came to pass. With exquisite cruelty I had been +forced with my own hands to place her alive in her burying-place beneath +the granite throne, and if thews and speed could do it, I would not miss +my reward of taking her forth again with the same strong hands. + +Few disturbed that furious hurry. At first here and there some wretch +who harboured in the gutter cried: "A thief! Throw a share or I pursue." +But if any of these followed, I do not know. At any rate, my speed then +must have out-distanced anyone. Presently, too, as the swing of the +earth underfoot became more keen, and the stonework of the buildings by +the street side began to grate and groan and grit, and sent forth little +showers of dust, people began to run with scared cries from out of their +doors. But none of these had a mind to stop the ragged, shaggy, savage +man who ran so swiftly past, and flung the mud from his naked feet. + +And so in time I came to the great square, and was there none too soon. +The place was filling with people who flocked away from the narrow +streets, and it was full of darkness, and noise, and dust, and sickness. +Beneath us the ground rippled in undulations like a sea, which with +terrifying slowness grew more and more intense. + +Ever and again a house crashed down unseen in the gloom, and added to +the tumult. But the great pyramid had been planned by its old builders +to stand rude shocks. Its stones were dovetailed into one another with a +marvellous cleverness, and were further clamped and joined by ponderous +tongues of metal. It was a boast that one-half the foundations could be +dug from beneath it, and still the pyramid would stand four-square under +heaven, more enduring than the hills. + +Flickering torches showed that its great stone doors lay open, and ever +and again I saw some frightened inmate scurry out and then be lost to +sight in the gloom. But with the royal pyramid and its ultimate fate +I had little concern; I did not even care then whether Phorenice was +trapped, or whether she came out sound and fit for further mischief. +I crouched by the granite throne which stood in the middle of that +splendid square, and heard its stones grate together like the ends of a +broken bone as it rocked to the earth-waves. + +In that night of dust and darkness it was hard to see the outline of +one's own hand, but I think that the Gods in some requital for the love +which had ached so long within me, gave me special power of sight. As +I watched, I saw the great carved rock which formed the capstone of the +throne move slightly and then move again, and then again; a tiny jerk +for each earth-pulse, but still there was an appreciable shifting; and, +moreover, the stone moved always to one side. + +There was method in Zaemon's desperate work, and this in my blind panic +of love and haste, I had overlooked. So I went up the steps of the +throne on the side from which the great capstone was moving, and clung +there afire with expectation. + +More and more violent did the earth-swing grow, though the graduations +of its increase could not be perceived, and the din of falling houses +and the shrieks and cries of hurt and frightened people went louder +up into the night. Thicker grew the dust that filled the air, till one +coughed and strangled in the breathing, and more black did the night +become as the dust rose and blotted the rare stars from sight. I clung +to an angle of the granite throne, crouching on the uppermost step but +one below the capstone, and could scarcely keep my place against the +violence of the earth tremors. + +But still the huge capstone that was carved with the snake and the +outstretched hand held my love fast locked in her living tomb, and I +could have bit the cold granite at the impotence which barred me from +her. The people who kept thronging into the square were mad with +terror, but their very numbers made my case more desperate every moment. +"Phorenice, Goddess, aid us now!" some cried, and when the prayer +did not bring them instant relief, they fell to yammering out the old +confessions of the faith which they had learned in childhood, turning +in this hour of their dreadful need to those old Gods, which, through +so many dishonourable years, they had spurned and deserted. It was a +curious criticism on the balance of their real religion, if one had +cared to make it. + +Louder grew the crash of falling masonry; and from the royal pyramid +itself, though indeed I could not even see its outline through the +darkness, there came sounds of grinding stones and cracking bars of +metal which told that even its superb majestic strength had a breaking +strain. There came to my mind the threat that old Zaemon had thundered +forth in that painted, perfumed banqueting-hall: "You shall see," he had +cried to the Empress, "this royal pyramid which you have polluted +with your debaucheries torn tier from tier, and stone from stone, and +scattered as feathers spread before a wind!" + +Still heavier grew the surging of the earth, and the pavement of the +great square gaped and upheaved, and the people who thronged it screamed +still more shrilly as their feet were crushed by the grinding blocks. +And now too the great pyramid itself was commencing to split, and +gape, and topple. The roofs of its splendid chambers gave way, and the +ponderous masonry above shuttered down and filled them. In part, too, +one could see the destruction now, and not guess at it merely from the +fearful hearings of the darkness. Thunders had begun to roar through +the black night above, and add their bellowings to this devil's +orchestration of uproar, and vivid lightning splashes lit the flying +dust-clouds. + +It was perhaps natural that she should be there, but it came as a +shock when a flare of the lightning showed me Phorenice safe out in the +square, and indeed standing not far from myself. + +She had taken her place in the middle of a great flagstone, and stood +there swaying her supple body to the shocks. Her face was calm, and its +loveliness was untouched by the years. From time to time she brushed +away the dust as it settled on the short red hair which curled about her +neck. There was no trace of fear written upon her face. There was some +weariness, some contempt, and I think a tinge of amusement. Yes, it took +more than the crumbling of her royal pyramid to impress Phorenice with +the infinite powers of those she warred against. + +Gods! How the sight of her cool indifference maddened me then. I had +it in me to have strangled her with my hands if she had come within +my reach. But as it was, she stood in her place, swaying easily to the +earth-waves as a sailor sways on a ship's deck, and beside her, crouched +on the same great flagstone, and overcome with nausea was Ylga, who +again was raised to be her fan-girl. It came to my mind that Ylga was +twin sister to Nais, and that I owed her for an ancient kindness, but I +had leisure to do nothing for her then, and indeed it was little enough +I could have done. With each shock the great capstone of the throne to +which I clung jarred farther and farther from its bed place, and my love +was coming nearer to me. It was she who claimed all my service then. + +Once in their blind panic a knot of the people in the square thought +that the granite stone was too solid to be overturned, and saw in it +an oasis of safety. They flocked towards it, many of them dragging +themselves up the steep deep high steps on hands and knees because their +feet had been injured by the billowing flagstones of the square. + +But I was in no mood to have the place profaned by their silly +tremblings and stares: I beat at them with my hands, tearing them away, +and hurling them back down the steepness of the steps. They asked me +what was my title to the place above their own, and I answered them with +blows and gnashing teeth. I was careless as to what they thought me or +who they thought me. Only I wished them gone. And so they went, wailing +and crying that I was a devil of the night, for they had no spirit left +to defend themselves. + +Farther and farther the great stone that made the top of the throne slid +out from its bed, but its slowness of movement maddened me. A life's +education left me in that moment, and I had no trace of stately patience +left. In my puny fury I thrust at the great block with my shoulder and +head, and clawed at it with my hands till the muscles rose on me +in great ropes and knots, and the High Gods must have laughed at my +helplessness as They looked. All was being ordered by the Three who were +Their trusted servants, in Their good time. The work of the Gods may be +done slowly, but it is done exceeding sure. + +But at last, when all the people of the city were numb with terror, +and incapable of further emotion (save only for Phorenice who still had +nerve enough to show no concern), what had been threatened came to pass. +The capstone of the throne slid out till it reached the balance, and the +next shock threw it with a roar and a clatter to the ground. And then a +strange tremor seized me. + +After all the scheming and effort, what I had so ardently prayed for had +come about; but yet my inwards sank at the thought of mounting on the +stone where I had mounted before, and taking my dear from the hollow +where my hands had laid her. I knew Phorenice's vengefulness, and had a +high value for her cleverness. Had she left Nais to lie in peace, or had +she stolen her away to suffer indignities elsewhere? Or had she ended +her sleep with death, and (as a grisly jest) left the corpse for my +finding? I could not tell; I dared not guess. Never during a whole +hard-fighting life have my emotions been so wrenched as they were at +that moment. And, for excuse, it must be owned that love for Nais +had sapped my hardihood over a matter in which she was so privately +concerned. + +It began to come to my mind, however, that the infernal uproar of the +earth tremor was beginning to slacken somewhat, as though Zaemon knew +he had done the work that he had promised, and was minded to give the +wretched city a breathing space. So I took my fortitude in hand, and +clambered up on to the flat of the stone. The lightning flashes had +ceased and all was darkness again and stifling dust, but at any moment +the sky might be lit once more, and if I were seen in that place, shaggy +and changed though I might be, Phorenice, if she were standing near, +would not be slow to guess my name and errand. + +So changed was I for the moment, that I will finely confess that the +idea of a fight was loathsome to me then. I wanted to have my business +done and get gone from the place. + +With hands that shook, I fumbled over the face of the stone and found +the clamps and bars of metal still in position where I had clenched +them, and then reverently I let my fingers pass between these, and felt +the curves of my love's body in its rest beneath. An exultation began +to whirl within me. I did not know if she had been touched since I last +left her; I did not know if the drug would have its due effect, and let +her be awakened to warmth and sight again; but, dead or alive, I had her +there, and she was mine, mine, mine, and I could have yelled aloud in my +joy at her possession. + +Still the earth shook beneath us, and masonry roared and crashed into +ruin. I had to cling to my place with one hand, whilst I unhasped the +clamps of metal that made the top of her prison with the other. But at +last I swung the upper half of them clear, and those which pinned down +her feet I let remain. I stooped and drew her soft body up on to the +flat of the stone beside me, and pressed my lips a hundred times to the +face I could not see. + +Some mad thought took me, I believe, that the mere fierceness and heat +of my kisses would bring her back again to life and wakefulness. Indeed +I will own plainly, that I did but sorry credit to my training in +calmness that night. But she lay in my arms cold and nerveless as a +corpse, and by degrees my sober wits returned to me. + +This was no place for either of us. Let the earth's tremors cease (as +was plainly threatened), let daylight come, and let a few of these +nerveless people round recover from their panic, and all the great cost +that had been expended might be counted as waste. We should be seen, +and it would not be long before some one put a name to Nais; and then +it would be an easy matter to guess at Deucalion under the beard and the +shaggy hair and the browned nakedness of the savage who attended on her. +Tell of fright? By the Gods! I was scared as the veriest trembler who +blundered amongst the dust-clouds that night when the thought came to +me. + +With all that ruin spread around, it would be hopeless to think that any +of those secret galleries which tunnelled under the ground would be left +unbroken, and so it was useless to try a passage under the walls by the +old means. But I had heard shouts from that frightened mob which came to +me through the din and the darkness, that gave another idea for escape. +"The city is accursed," they had cried: "if we stay here it will fall +on us. Let us get outside the walls where there are no buildings to bury +us." + +If they went, I could not see. But one gate lay nearest to the royal +pyramid, and I judged that in their panic they would not go farther than +was needful. So I put the body of Nais over my shoulder (to leave my +right arm free) and blundered off as best I could through the stifling +darkness. + +It was hard to find a direction; it was hard to walk in the inky +darkness over ground that was tossed and tumbled like a frozen sea: +and as the earth still quaked and heaved, it was hard also to keep a +footing. But if I did fall myself a score of times, my dear burden got +no bruise, and presently I got to the skirts of the square, and found +a street I knew. The most venomous part of the shaking was done, and no +more buildings fell, but enough lay sprawled over the roadway to make +walking into a climb, and the sweat rolled from me as I laboured along +my way. + +There was no difficulty about passing the gate. There was no gate. There +was no wall. The Gods had driven their plough through it, and it lay +flat, and proud Atlantis stood as defenceless as the open country. +Though I knew the cause of this ruin, though, in fact, I had myself in +some measure incited it, I was almost sad at the ruthlessness with which +it had been carried out. The royal pyramid might go, houses and palaces +might be levelled, and for these I cared little enough; but when I saw +those stately ramparts also filched away, there the soldier in me woke, +and I grieved at this humbling of the mighty city that once had been my +only mistress. + +But this was only a passing regret, a mere touch of the fighting-man's +pride. I had a different love now, that had wrapped herself round me far +deeper and more tightly, and my duty was towards her first and foremost. +The night would soon be past, and then dangers would increase. None had +interfered with us so far, though many had jostled us as I clambered +over the ruins; but this forbearance could not be reckoned upon for +long. The earth tremors had almost died away, and after the panic and +the storm, then comes the time for the spoiling. + +All men who were poor would try to seize what lay nearest to their +hands, and those of higher station, and any soldiers who could be +collected and still remained true to command, would ruthlessly stop and +strip any man they saw making off with plunder. I had no mind to clash +with these guardians of law and property, and so I fled on swiftly +through the night with my burden, using the unfrequented ways; and +crying to the few folk who did meet me that the woman had the plague, +and would they lend me the shelter of their house as ours had fallen. +And so in time we came to the place where the rope dangled from the +precipice, and after Nais had been drawn up to the safety of the Sacred +Mountain, I put my leg in the loop of the rope and followed her. + +Now came what was the keenest anxiety of all. We took the girl and laid +her on a bed in one of the houses, and there in the lit room for the +first time I saw her clearly. Her beauty was drawn and pale. Her eyes +were closed, but so thin and transparent had grown the lids that one +could almost see the brown of the pupil beneath them. Her hair had grown +to inordinate thickness and length, and lay as a cushion behind and +beside her head. + +There was no flicker of breath; there was none of that pulsing of +the body which denotes life; but still she had not the appearance of +ordinary death. The Nais I had placed nine long years before to rest in +the hollow of the stone, was a fine grown woman, full bosomed, and well +boned. The Nais that remained for me was half her weight. The old Nais +it would have puzzled me to carry for an hour: this was no burden to +impede a grown man. + +In other ways too she had altered. The nails of her fingers had grown to +such a great length that they were twisted in spirals, and the fingers +themselves and her hands were so waxy and transparent that the bony core +upon which they were built showed itself beneath the flesh in plain dull +outline. Her clay-cold lips were so white, that one sighed to remember +the full beauty of their carmine. Her shoulders and neck had lost their +comely curves, and made bony hollows now in which the dust of entombment +lodged black and thickly. + +Reverently I set about preparing those things which if all went well +should restore her. I heated water and filled a bath, and tinctured +it heavily with those essences of the life of beasts which the Priests +extract and store against times of urgent need and sickness. I laid her +chin-deep in this bath, and sat beside it to watch, maintaining that +bath at a constant blood heat. + +An hour I watched; two hours I watched; three hours--and yet she showed +no flicker of life. The heat of her body given her by the bath, was the +same as the heat of my own. But in the feel of her skin when I stroked +it with my hand, there was something lacking still. Only when our Lord +the Sun rose for His day did I break off my watching, whilst I said the +necessary prayer which is prescribed, and quickly returned again to the +gloom of the house. + +I was torn with anxiety, and as the time went on and still no sign of +life came back, the hope that had once been so high within me began to +sicken and leave me downcast and despondent. From without, came the +din of fighting. Already Phorenice had sent her troops to storm the +passageway, and the Priests who defended it were shattering them with +volleys of rocks. But these sounds of war woke no pulse within me. If +Nais did not wake, then the world for me was ended, and I had no spirit +left to care who remained uppermost. The Gods in Their due time will +doubtless smite me for this impiety. But I make a confession of it here +on these sheets, having no mind to conceal any portion of this history +for the small reason that it does me a personal discredit. + +But as the hours went on, and still no flicker of life came to lessen +the dumb agony that racked me, I grew more venturesome, and added more +essences to the bath, and drugs also such as experience had shown might +wake the disused tissues into life. I watched on with staring eyes, +rubbing her wasted body now and again, and always keeping the heat of +the bath at a constant. From the first I had barred the door against +all who would have come near to help me. With my own hands I had laid +my love to sleep, and I could not bear that others should rouse her, +if indeed roused she should ever be. But after those first offers, no +others came, and the snarl and din of fighting told of what occupied +them. + +It is hard to take note of small changes which occur with infinite +slowness when one is all the while on the tense watch, and high strung +though my senses were, I think there must have been some indication of +returning life shown before I was keen enough to notice it. For of a +sudden, as I gazed, I saw a faint rippling on the surface of the water +of the bath. Gods! Would it come back again to my love at last--this +life, this wakefulness? The ripple died out as it had come, and I +stooped my head nearer to the bath to try if I could see some faint +heaving of her bosom some small twitching of the limbs. No, she lay +there still without even a flutter of movement. But as I watched, surely +it seemed to my aching eyes that some tinge was beginning to warm that +blank whiteness of skin? + +How I filled myself with that sight. The colour was returning to her +again beyond a doubt. Once more the dried blood was becoming fluid and +beginning again to course in its old channels. Her hair floated out in +the liquid of the bath like some brown tangle of the ocean weed, and +ever and again it twitched and eddied to some impulse which in itself +was too small for the eye to see. + +She had slept for nine long years, and I knew that the wakening could +be none of the suddenest. Indeed, it came by its own gradations and +with infinite slowness, and I did not dare do more to hasten it. Further +drugs might very well stop eternally what those which had been used +already had begun. So I sat motionless where I was, and watched the +colour come back, and the waxenness go, and even the fullness of her +curves in some small measure return. And when growing strength gave +her power to endure them, and she was racked with those pains which are +inevitable to being born back again in this fashion to life, I too felt +the reflex of her agony, and writhed in loving sympathy. + +Still further, too, was I wrung by a torment of doubt as to whether life +or these rackings would in the end be conqueror. After each paroxysm +the colour ebbed back from her again, and for a while she would lie +motionless. But strength and power seemed gradually to grow, and at last +these prevailed, and drove death and sleep beneath them. Her eyelids +struggled with their fastenings. Her lips parted, and her bosom heaved. +With shivering gasps her breath began to pant between her reddening +lips. At first it rattled dryly in her throat, but soon it softened and +became more regular. And then with a last effort her eyes, her glorious +loving eyes, slowly opened. + +I leaned over and called her softly by name. + +Her eyes met mine, and a glow arose from their depths that gave me the +greatest joy I have met in all the world. + +"Deucalion, my love," she whispered. "Oh, my dear, so you have come for +me. How I have dreamed of you! How I have been racked! But it was worth +it all for this." + + + + +18. STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + + +It was Nais herself who sent me to attend to my sterner duties. The din +of the attack came to us in the house where I was tending her, and she +asked its meaning. As pithily as might be, for she was in no condition +for tedious listening, I gave her the history of her nine years' sleep. + +The colour flushed more to her face. "My lord is the properest man in +all the world to be King," she whispered. + +"I refused to touch the trade till they had given me the Queen I +desired, safe and alive, here upon the Mountain." + +"How we poor women are made the chattels of you men! But, for myself, I +seem to like the traffic well enough. You should not have let me stand +in the way of Atlantis' good, Deucalion. Still, it is very sweet to know +you were weak there for once, and that I was the cause of your weakness. +What is that bath over yonder? Ah! I remember; my wits seem none of the +clearest just now." + +"You have made the beginning. Your strength will return to you by quick +degrees. But it will not bear hurrying. You must have a patience." + +"Your ear, sir, for one moment, and then I will rest in peace. My poor +looks, are they all gone? You seem to have no mirror here. I had visions +that I should wake up wrinkled and old." + +"You are as you were, dear, that first night I saw you--the most +beautiful woman in all the world." + +"I am pleased you like me," she said, and took the cup of broth I +offered her. "My hair seems to have grown; but it needs combing sadly. I +had a fancy, dear, once, that you liked ruddy hair best, and not a plain +brown." She closed her eyes then, lying back amongst the cushions where +I had placed her, and dropped off into healthy sleep, with the smiles +still playing upon her lips. I put the coverlet over her, and kissed her +lightly, holding back my beard lest it should sweep her cheek. And then +I went out of the chamber. + +That beard had grown vastly disagreeable to me these last hours, and +then I went into a room in the house, and found instruments, and shaved +it down to the bare chin. A change of robe also I found there and took +it instead of my squalid rags. If a man is in truth a king, he owes +these things to the dignity of his office. + +But, if the din of the fighting was any guide, mine was a narrowing +kingdom. Every hour it seemed to grow fiercer and more near, and it was +clear that some of the gates in the passage up the cleft in the +cliff, impregnable though all men had thought them, had yielded to the +vehemence of Phorenice's attack. And, indeed, it was scarcely to be +marvelled at. With all her genius spurred on to fury by the blow that +had been struck at her by wrecking so fair a part of the city, the +Empress would be no light adversary even for a strong place to resist, +and the Sacred Mountain was no longer strong. + +Defences of stone, cunningly planned and mightily built, it still +possessed, but these will not fight alone. They need men to line them, +and, moreover, abundance of men. For always in a storm of this kind, +some desperate fellows will spit at death and get to hand grips, or +slingers and archers slip in their shot, or the throwing-fire gets home, +or (as here) some newfangled machine like Phorenice's fire-tubes, make +one in a thousand of their wavering darts find the life; and so, though +the general attacking loses his hundreds, the defenders also are not +without their dead. + +The slaughter, as it turned out, had been prodigious. As fast as the +stormers came up, the Priests who held the lowest gate remaining to us +rained down great rocks upon them till the narrow alley of the stair +was paved with their writhing dead. But Phorenice stood on a spur of the +rock below them urging on the charges, and with an insane valour company +after company marched up to hurl themselves hopelessly against the +defences. They had no machines to batter the massive gates, and their +attack was as pathetically useless as that of a child who hammers +against a wall with an orange; and meanwhile the terrible stones from +above mowed them down remorselessly. + +Company after company of the troops marched into this terrible +death-trap, and not a man of all of them ever came back. Nor was it +Phorenice's policy that they should do so. In her lust for this final +conquest, she was minded to pour out troops till she had filled up the +passes with the slain, so that at last she might march on to a +level fight over the bridge of their poor bodies. It was no part of +Phorenice's mood ever to count the cost. She set down the object which +was to be gained, and it was her policy that the people of Atlantis were +there to gain it for her. + +Two gates then had she carried in this dreadful fashion, slaughtering +those Priests that stood behind, them who had not been already shot +down. And here I came down from above to take my share in the fight. +There was no trumpet to announce my coming, no herald to proclaim my +quality, but the Priests as a sheer custom picked up "Deucalion!" as a +battle-cry; and some shouted that, with a King to lead, there would be +no further ground lost. + +It was clear that the name carried to the other side and bore weight +with it. A company of poor, doomed wretches who were hurrying up stopped +in their charge. The word "Deucalion!" was bandied round and handed +back down the line. I thought with some grim satisfaction, that here was +evidence I was not completely forgotten in the land. + +There came shouts to them from behind to carry on their advance; but +they did not budge; and presently a glittering officer panted up, and +commenced to strike right and left amongst them with his sword. From +where I stood on the high rampart above the gate, I could see him +plainly, and recognised him at once. + +"It matters not what they use for their battle-cry," he was shouting. +"You have the orders of your divine Empress, and that is enough. You +should be proud to die for her wish, you cowards. And if you do not +obey, you will die afterwards under the instruments of the tormentors, +very painfully. As for Deucalion, he is dead any time these nine years." + +"There it seems you lie, my Lord Tatho," I shouted down to him. + +He started, and looked up at me. + +"So you are there in real truth, then? Well, old comrade, I am sorry. +But it is too late to make a composition now. You are on the side of +these mangy Priests, and the Empress has made an edict that they are to +be rooted out, and I am her most obedient servant." + +"You used to be skilful of fence," I said, and indeed there was little +enough to choose between us. "If it please you to stop this pitiful +killing, make yourself the champion of your side, and I will stand for +mine, and we will fight out this quarrel in some fair place, and bind +our parties to abide by the result." + +"It would be a grand fight between us two, old friend, and it goes hard +with me to balk you of it. But I cannot pleasure you. I am general here +under Phorenice, and she has given me the strongest orders not to peril +myself. And besides, though you are a great man, Deucalion, you are not +chief. You are not even one of the Three." + +"I am King." + +Tatho laughed. "Few but yourself would say so, my lord." + +"Few truly, but what there are, they are powerful. I was given the name +for the first time yesterday, and as a first blow in the campaign there +was some mischief done in the city. I was there myself, and saw how you +took it." + +"You were in Atlantis!" + +"I went for Nais. She is on the mountain now, and to-morrow will be my +Queen. Tatho, as a priest to a priest, let me solemnly bring to your +memory the infinite power you bite against on this Sacred Mountain. Your +teaching has warned you of the weapons that are stored in the Ark of +the Mysteries. If you persist in this attack, at the best you can merely +lose; at the worst you can bring about a wreck over which even the High +Gods will shudder as They order it." + +"You cannot scare us back now by words," said Tatho doggedly. "And +as for magic, it will be met by magic. Phorenice has found by her own +cleverness as many powers as were ever stored up in the Ark of the +Mysteries." + +"Yet she looked on helplessly enough last night, when her royal pyramid +was trundled into a rubbish heap. Zaemon had prophesied that this should +be so, and for a witness, why I myself stood closer to her than we two +stand now, and saw her." + +"I will own you took her by surprise somewhat there. I do not understand +these matters myself; I was never more than one of the Seven in the old +days; and now, quite rightly, Phorenice keeps the knowledge of her magic +to herself: but it seems time is needed when one magic is to be met by +another." + +"Well," I said, "I know little about the business either. I leave these +matters now to those who are higher above me in the priesthood. Indeed, +having a liking for Nais, it seems I am debarred from ever being given +understanding about the highest of the higher Mysteries. So I content +myself with being a soldier, and when the appointed day comes, I shall +fall and kiss my mother the Earth for the last time. You, so I am told, +have ambition for longer life." + +He nodded. "Phorenice has found the Great Secret, and I am to be the +first that will share it with her. We shall be as Gods upon the earth, +seeing that Death will be powerless to touch us. And the twin sons she +has borne me, will be made immortal also." + +"Phorenice is headstrong. No, my lord, there is no need to shake your +head and try to deny it. I have had some acquaintance with her. But the +order has been made, and her immortality will be snatched from her very +rudely. Now, mark solemnly my words. I, Deucalion, have been appointed +King of Atlantis by the High Council of the Priests who are the +mouthpiece of the most High Gods, and if I do not have my reign, then +there will be no Atlantis left to carry either King or Empress. You know +me, Tatho, for a man that never lies." + +He nodded. + +"Then save yourself before it is too late. You shall have again your +vice-royalty in Yucatan." + +"But, man, there is no Yucatan. A great horde of little hairy creatures, +that were something less than human and something more than beasts, +swept down upon our cities and ate them out. Oh, you may sneer if you +choose! Others sneered when I came home, till the Empress stopped them. +But you know what a train of driver ants is, that you meet with in the +forests? You may light fires across their path, and they will march into +them in their blind bravery, and put them out with their bodies, and +those that are left will march on in an unbroken column, and devour +all that stands in their path. I tell you, my lord, those little hairy +creatures were like the ants--aye, for numbers, and wooden bravery, as +well as for appetite. As a result to-day, there is no Yucatan." + +"You shall have Egypt, then." + +He burst at me hotly. "I would not take seven Egypts and ten Yucatans. +My lord, you think more poorly of me than is kind, when you ask me to +become a traitor. In your place would you throw your Nais away, if the +doing it would save you from a danger?" + +"That is different." + +"In no degree. You have a kindness for her. I have all that and more for +Phorenice, who is, besides, my wife and the mother of my children. If I +have qualms--and I freely confess I know you are desperate men up there, +and have dreadful powers at your command--my shiverings are for them and +not for myself. But I think, my lord, this parley is leading to nothing, +and though these common soldiers here will understand little enough of +our talk, they may be picking up a word here and there, and I do not +wish them to go on to their death (as you will see them do shortly) +and carry evil reports about me to whatever Gods they chance to come +before." + +He saluted me with his sword and drew back, and once more the missiles +began to fly, and the doomed wretches, who had been halting beside +the steep rock walls of the pass began once more to press hopelessly +forward. They had scaling-ladders certainly, but they had no chance of +getting these planted. They could do naught but fill the narrow way with +their bodies, and to that end they had been sent, and to that end +they humbly died. Our Priests with crow and lever wrenched from their +lodging-places the great rocks which had been made ready, and sent them +crashing down, so that once more screams filled the pass, and the horrid +butchery was renewed. + +But ever and again, some arrow or some sling-stone, or some fire-tube's +dart would find its way up from below and through the defences, and +there we would be with a man the less to carry on the fight. It was well +enough for Phorenice to be lavish with her troops; indeed, if she wished +for success, there were no two ways for it; and when those she had +levied were killed, she could readily press others into the service, +seeing that she had the whole broad face of the country under her rule. +But with us it was different. A man down on our side was a man whose +arm would bitterly be missed, and one which could in no possible way be +replaced. + +I made calculation of the chances, and saw clearly that, if we continued +the fight on the present plan, they would storm the gates one after +another as they came to them, and that by the time the uppermost gate +was reached, there would be no Priest alive to defend it. And so, not +disdaining to fashion myself on Phorenice's newer plan, which held that +a general should at times in preference plot coldly from a place of some +safety, and not lead the thick of the fighting, I left those who stood +to the gate with some rough soldier's words of cheer, and withdrew again +up the narrow stair of the pass. + +This one approach to the Sacred Mountain was, as I have said before, +vastly more difficult and dangerous in the olden days when it stood as +a mere bare cleft as the High Gods made it. But a chasm had been bridged +here, a shelf cut through the solid rock there, and in many places the +roadway was built up on piers from distant crags below so as to make all +uniform and easy. It came to my mind now, that if I could destroy this +path, we might gain a breathing space for further effort. + +The idea seemed good, or at least no other occurred to me which would +in any way relieve our desperate situation, and I looked around me for +means to put it into execution. Up and down, from the mountain to the +plains below, I had traversed that narrow stair of a pass some thousands +of times, and so in a manner of speaking knew every stone, and every +turn, and every cut of it by heart. But I had never looked upon it with +an eye to shaving off all roadway to the Sacred Mountain, and so now, +even in this moment of dreadful stress, I had to traverse it no less +than three times afresh before I could decide upon the best site for +demolition. + +But once the point was fixed, there was little delay in getting the +scheme in movement. Already I had sent men to the storehouses amongst +the Priests' dwellings to fetch me rams, and crows, and acids, and +hammers, and such other material as was needed, and these stood handy +behind one of the upper gates. I put on every pair of hands that could +be spared to the work, no matter what was their age and feebleness; +yes, if Nais could have walked so far I would have pressed her for the +labour; and presently carved balustrade, and wayside statue, together +with the lettered wall-stones and the foot-worn cobbles, roared down +into the gulf below, and added their din to the shrieks and yells and +crashes of the fighting. Gods! But it was a hateful task, smashing down +that splendid handiwork of the men of the past. But it was better that +it should crash down to ruin in the abyss below, than that Phorenice +should profane it with her impious sandals. + +At first I had feared that it would be needful to sacrifice the knot of +brave men who were so valiantly defending the gate then being attacked. +It is disgusting to be forced into a measure of this kind, but in hard +warfare it is often needful to the carrying out of his schemes for a +general to leave a part of his troops to fight to a finish, and without +hope of rescue, as valiantly as they may; and all he can do for their +reward is to recommend them earnestly to the care of the Gods. But when +the work of destroying the pathway was nearly completed, I saw a chance +of retrieving them. + +We had not been content merely with breaking arches, and throwing down +the piers. We had got our rams and levers under the living rock itself +on which all the whole fabric stood; and fire stood ready to heat the +rams for their work; and when the word was given, the whole could be +sent crashing down the face of the cliffs beyond chance of repair. + +All was, I say, finally prepared in this fashion, and then I gave the +word to hold. A narrow ledge still remained undestroyed, and offered +footway, and over this I crossed. The cut we had made was immediately +below the uppermost gate of all, and below it there were three more +massive gates still unviolated, besides the one then being so vehemently +attacked. Already, the garrisons had been retired from these, and I +passed through them all in turn, unchallenged and unchecked, and came to +that busy rampart where the twelve Priests left alive worked, stripped +to the waist, at heaving down the murderous rocks. + +For awhile I busied myself at their side, stopping an occasional +fire-tube dart or arrow on my shield and passing them the tidings. The +attack was growing fiercer every minute now. The enemy had packed the +pass below well-nigh full of their dead, and our battering stones had +less distance to fall and so could do less execution. They pressed +forward more eagerly than ever with their scaling ladders, and it was +plain that soon they would inevitably put the place to the storm. Even +during the short time I was there, their sling-stones and missiles took +life from three more of the twelve who stood with me on the defence. + +So I gave the word for one more furious avalanche of rock to be pelted +down, and whilst the few living were crawling out from those killed +by the discharge, and whilst the next band of reinforcements came +scrambling up over the bodies, I sent my nine remaining men away at a +run up the steep stairway of the path, and then followed them myself. +Each of the gates in turn we passed, shutting them after us, and +breaking the bars and levers with which they were moved, and not till +we were through the last did the roar of shouts from below tell that the +besiegers had found the gate they bit against was deserted. + +One by one we balanced our way across the narrow ledge which was left +where the path had been destroyed, and one poor Priest that carried a +wound grew giddy, and lost his balance here, and toppled down to his +death in the abyss below before a hand could be stretched out to steady +him. And then, when we were all over, heat was put to the rams, and they +expanded with their resistless force, and tore the remaining ledges from +their hold in the rock. I think a pang went through us all then when +we saw for ourselves the last connecting link cut away from between the +poor remaining handful of our Sacred Clan on the Mountain, and the rest +of our great nation, who had grown so bitterly estranged to us, below. + +But here at any rate was a break in the fighting. There were no further +preparations we could make for our defence, and high though I knew +Phorenice's genius to be, I did not see how she could very well do other +than accept the check and retire. So I set a guard on the ramparts of +the uppermost gate to watch all possible movements, and gave the word to +the others to go and find the rest which so much they needed. + +For myself, dutifully I tried to find Zaemon first, going on the errand +my proper self, for there was little enough of kingly state observed on +the Sacred Mountain, although the name and title had been given me. +But Zaemon was not to be come at. He was engaged inside the Ark of the +Mysteries with another of the Three, and being myself only one of the +Seven, I had not rank enough in the priesthood to break in upon their +workings. And so I was free to turn where my likings would have led me +first, and that was to the house which sheltered Nais. + +She waked as I came in over the threshold, and her eyes filled with a +welcome for me. I went across and knelt where she lay, putting my +face on the pillow beside her. She was full of tender talk and sweet +endearments. Gods! What an infinity of delight I had missed by not +knowing my Nais earlier! But she had a will of her own through it all, +and some quaint conceits which made her all the more adorable. She +rallied me on the new cleanness of my chin, and on the robe which I had +taken as a covering. She professed a pretty awe for my kingship, and +vowed that had she known of my coming dignities she would never have +dared to discover a love for me. But about my marriage with Phorenice +she spoke with less lightness. She put out her thin white hand, and drew +my face to her lips. + +"It is weak of me to have a jealousy," she murmured, "knowing how +completely my lord is mine alone; but I cannot help it. You have said +you were her husband for awhile. It gives me a pang to think that I +shall not be the first to lie in your arms, Deucalion." + +"Then you may gaily throw your pang away," I whispered back. "I was +husband to Phorenice in mere word for how long I do not precisely know. +But in anything beyond, I was never her husband at all. She married +me by a form she prescribed herself, ignoring all the old rites and +ceremonies, and whether it would hold as legal or not, we need not +trouble to inquire. She herself has most nicely and completely annulled +that marriage as I have told you. Tatho is her husband now, and father +to her children, and he seems to have a fondness for her which does him +credit." + +We said other things too in that chamber, those small repetitions +of endearments which are so precious to lovers, and so beyond the +comprehension of other folk, but they are not to be set down on these +sheets. They are a mere private matter which can have no concern to +any one beyond our two selves, and more weighty subjects are piling +themselves up in deep index for the historian. + +Phorenice, it seemed, had more rage against the Priests' Clan on the +Mountain and more bright genius to help her to a vengeance than I had +credited. Her troops stormed easily the gates we had left to them, and +swarmed up till they stood where the pathway was broken down. In the +fierceness of their rush, the foremost were thrust over the brink by +those pressing up behind, before the advance could be halted, and these +went screaming to a horrid death in the great gulf below. But it was no +position here that a lavish spending of men could take, and presently +all were drawn off, save for some half-score who stood as outpost +sentries, and dodged out of arrow-shot behind angles of the rock. + +It seems, too, that the Empress herself reconnoitered the place, using +due caution and quickness, and so got for herself a full plan of its +requirements without being obliged to trust the measuring of another +eye. With extraordinary nimbleness she must have planned an engine such +as was necessary to suit her purposes, and given orders for its making; +for even with the vast force and resources at her disposal, the speed +with which it was built was prodigious. + +There was very little noise made to tell of what was afoot. All the +woodwork and metalwork was cut, and tongued, and forged, and fitted +first by skilled craftsmen below, in the plain at the foot of the cleft; +and when each ponderous balk and each crosspiece, and each plank was +dragged up the steep pass through the conquered gates, it was ready +instantly for fitting into its appointed place in the completed machine. + +The cleft was straight where they set about their building, and there +was no curve or spur of the cliff to hide their handiwork from those of +the Priests who watched from the ramparts above our one remaining gate. +But Phorenice had a coyness lest her engine should be seen before it +was completed, and so to screen it she had a vast fire built at the +uppermost point where the causeway was broken off, and fed diligently +with wet sedge and green wood, so that a great smoke poured out, rising +like a curtain that shut out all view. And so though the Priests on the +rampart above the gate picked off now and again some of those who tended +the fire, they could do the besiegers no further injury, and remained up +to the last quite in ignorance of their tactics. + +The passage up the cleft was in shadow during the night hours, for, +though all the crest of the Sacred Mountain was always lit brightly by +the eternal fires which made its defence on the farther side, their glow +threw no gleam down that flank where the cliff ran sheer to the plains +beneath. And so it was under cover of the darkness that Phorenice +brought up her engine into position for attack. + +Planking had been laid down for its wheels, and the wheels themselves +well greased, and it may be that she hoped to march in upon us whilst +all slept. But there was a certain creaking and groaning of timbers, +and laboured panting of men, which gave advertisement that something was +being attempted, and the alarm was spread quietly in the hope that if a +surprise had been planned, the real surprise might be turned the other +way. + +A messenger came to me running, where I sat in the house at the side of +my love, and she, like the soldier's wife she was made to be, kissed me +and bade me go quickly and care for my honour, and bring back my wounds +for her to mend. + +On the rampart above the gate all was silence, save for the faint rustle +of armed men, and out of the black darkness ahead, and from the other +side of the broken causeway, came the sounds of which the messenger bad +warned me. + +The captain of the gate came to me and whispered: "We have made no light +till the King came, not knowing the King's will in the matter. Is it +wished I send some of the throwing-fire down yonder, on the chance that +it does some harm, and at the same time lights up the place? Or is it +willed that we wait for their surprise?" + +"Send the fire," I said, "or we may find that Phorenice's brain has been +one too many for us." + +The captain of the gate took one of the balls in his hand, lit the fuse, +and hurled it. The horrid thing burst amongst a mass of men who were +labouring with a huge engine, sputtering them with its deadly fire, and +lighting their garments. The plan of the engine showed itself plainly. +They had built them a vast great tower, resting on wheels at its base, +so that it might by pushed forward from behind, and slanting at its foot +to allow for the steepness of the path and leave it always upright. + +It was storeyed inside, with ladders joining each floor, and through +slits in the side which faced us bowmen could cover an attack. From its +top a great bridge reared high above it, being carried vertically till +the tower was brought near enough for its use. The bridge was hinged at +the third storey of the tower, and fastened with ropes to its extreme +top; but, once the ropes were cut, the bridge would fall, and light upon +whatever came within its swing, and be held there by the spikes with +which it was studded beneath. + +I saw, and inwardly felt myself conquered. The cleverness of Phorenice +had been too strong for my defence. No war-engine of which we had +command could overset the tower. The whole of its massive timbers +were hung with the wet new-stripped skins of beasts, so that even the +throwing-fire could not destroy it. What puny means we had to impede +those who pushed it forward would have little effect. Presently it would +come to the place appointed, and the ropes would be cut, and the bridge +would thunder down on the rampart above our last gate, and the stormers +would pour out to their final success. + +Well, life had loomed very pleasant for me these few days with a warm +and loving Nais once more in touch of my arms, but the High Gods in +Their infinite wisdom knew best always, and I was no rebel to stay +stiff-necked against their decision. But it is ever a soldier's +privilege, come what may, to warm over a fight, and the most exquisitely +fierce joy of all is that final fight of a man who knows that he must +die, and who lusts only to make his bed of slain high enough to carry a +due memory of his powers with those who afterwards come to gaze upon it. +I gripped my axe, and the muscles of my arms stood out in knots at the +thought of it. Would Tatho come to give me sport? I feared not. They +would send only the common soldiers first to the storm, and I must be +content to do my killing on those. + +And Nais, what of her? I had a quiet mind there. When any spoilers came +to the house where she lay, she would know that Deucalion had been taken +up to the Gods, and she would not be long in following him. She had her +dagger. No, I had no fears of being parted long from Nais now. + + + + +19. DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS + + +A tottering old Priest came up and touched me on the shoulder. + +"Well?" I said sharply, having small taste for interruption just now. + +"News has been carried to the Three, my King, of what is threatened." + +"Then they will know that I stand here now, brother, to enjoy the finest +fight of my life. When it is finished I shall go to the Gods, and be +there standing behind the stars to welcome them when presently they also +arrive. They have my regrets that they are too old and too feeble to die +and look upon a fine killing themselves." + +"I have commands from them, my King, to lay upon you, which I fear you +will like but slenderly. You are forbidden to find your death here in +the fighting. They have a further use for you yet." + +I turned on the old man angrily enough. "I shall take no such order, +my brother. I am not going to believe it was ever given. You must have +misunderstood. If I am a man, if I am a Priest, if I am a soldier, if +I am a King, then it stands to my honour that no enemy should pass this +gate whilst yet I live. And you may go back and throw that message at +their teeth." + +The old man smiled enviously. He, too, had been a keen soldier in his +day. "I told them you would not easily believe such a message, and asked +them for a sign, and they bore with me, and gave me one. I was to give +you this jewel, my King." + +"How came they by that? It is a bracelet from the elbow of Nais." + +"They must have stripped her of it. I did not know it came from Nais. +The word I was to bring you said that the owner of the jewel was inside +the Ark of the Mysteries, and waited you there. The use which the Three +have for you further concerns her also." + +Even when I heard that, I will freely confess that my obedience was +sorely tried, and I have the less shame in setting it down on these +sheets, because I know that all true soldiers will feel a sympathy for +my plight. Indeed, the promise of the battle was very tempting. But in +the end my love for Nais prevailed, and I gave the salutation that was +needful in token that I heard the order and obeyed it. + +To the knot of Priests who were left for the defence, I turned and made +my farewells. "You will have what I shall miss, my brothers," I said. "I +envy you that fight. But, though I am King of Atlantis, still I am only +one of the Seven, and so am the servant of the Three and must obey their +order. They speak in words the will of the most High Gods, and we must +do as they command. You will stand behind the stars before I come, and +I ask of you that you will commend me to Those you meet there. It is not +my own will that I shall not appear there by your side." + +They heard my words with smiles, and very courteously saluted me with +their weapons, and there we parted. I did not see the fight, but I know +it was good, from the time which passed before Phorenice's hordes broke +out on to the crest of the Mountain. They died hard, that last remnant +of the lesser Priests of Atlantis. + +With a sour enough feeling I went up to the head of the pass, and then +through the groves, and between the temples and colleges and houses +which stood on the upper slopes of the Sacred Mountain, till I reached +that boundary, beyond which in milder days it was death for any but the +privileged few to pass. But the time, it appeared to me, was past for +conventions, and, moreover, my own temper was hot; and it is likely +that I should have strode on with little scruple if I had not been +interrupted. But in the temple which marked the boundary, there was old +Zaemon waiting; and he, with due solemnity of words, and with the whole +of some ancient ritual ordained for that purpose, sought dispensation +from the High Gods for my trespass, and would not give me way till he +was through with his ceremony. + +Already Phorenice's tower and bridge were in position, for the clash and +yelling of a fight told that the small handful of Priests on the rampart +of the last gate were bartering their lives for the highest return in +dead that they could earn. They were trained fighting men all, but old +and feeble, and the odds against them were too enormous to be stemmed +for over long. In a very short time the place would be put to the storm, +and the roof of the Sacred Mountain would be at the open mercy of the +invader. If there was any further thing to be done, it was well that it +should be set about quickly whilst peace remained. It seemed to me +that the moment for prompt action, and the time for lengthy pompous +ceremonial was done for good. + +But Zaemon was minded otherwise. He led me up to the Ark of the +Mysteries, and chided my impatience, and waited till I had given it my +reverential kiss, and then he called aloud, and another old man came +out of the opening which is in the top of the Ark, and climbed painfully +down by the battens which are fixed on its sides. He was a man I had +never seen before, hoary, frail, and emaciated, and he and Zaemon were +then the only two remaining Priests who had been raised to the highest +degree known to our Clan, and who alone had knowledge of the highest +secrets and powers and mysteries. + +"Look!" cried Zaemon, in his shrill old voice, and swept a trembling +finger over the shattered city, and the great spread of sea and country +which lay in view of us below. I followed his pointing and looked, and a +chill began to crawl through me. All was plainly shown. Our Lord the Sun +burned high overhead in a sky of cloudless blue, and day shimmered in +His heat. All below seemed from that distance peaceful and warm and +still, save only that the mountains smoked more than ordinary, and some +spouted fires, and that the sea boiled with some strange disorder. + +But it was the significance of the sea that troubled me most. Far out on +the distant coast it surged against the rocks in enormous rolls of surf; +and up the great estuary, at the head of which the city of Atlantis +stands, it gushed in successive waves of enormous height which never +returned. Already the lower lands on either side were blotted out +beneath tumultuous waters, the harbour walls were drowned out of sight, +and the flood was creeping up into the lower wards of the great city +itself. + +"You have seen?" asked Zaemon. + +"I have seen." + +"You understand?" + +"In part." + +"Then let me tell you all. This is the beginning, and the end will +follow swiftly. The most High Gods, that sit behind the stars, have a +limit to even Their sublime patience; and that has been passed. The city +of Atlantis, the great continent that is beyond, and all that are in +them are doomed to unutterable destruction. Of old it was foreseen that +this great wiping-out would happen through the sins of men, and to this +end the Ark of the Mysteries was built under the direction of the Gods. +No mortal implements can so much as scratch its surface, no waves or +rocks wreck it. Inside is stored on sheets of the ancient writing all +that is known in the world of learning that is not shared by the +common people, also there is grain in a store, and sweet water in tanks +sufficient for two persons for the space of four years, together with +seeds, weapons, and all such other matters as were deemed fit. + +"Out of all this vast country it has been decreed by the High Gods that +two shall not perish. Two shall be chosen, a man and a woman, who are +fit and proper persons to carry away with them the ancient learning to +dispose of it as they see best, and afterwards to rear up a race who +shall in time build another kingdom and do honour to our Lord the +Sun and the other Gods in another place. The woman is within the Ark +already, and seated in the place appointed for her, and though she is a +daughter of mine, the burden of her choosing is with you. For the man, +the choice has fallen upon yourself." + +I was half numb with the shock of what was befalling. "I do not know +that I care to be a survivor." + +"You are not asked for your wishes," said the old man. "You are given an +order from the High Gods, who know you to be Their faithful servant." + +Habit rode strong upon me. I made salutation in the required form, and +said that I heard and would obey. + +"Then it remains to raise you to the sublime degree of the Three, and if +your learning is so small that you will not understand the keys to many +of the Powers, and the highest of the Mysteries, when they are handed to +you, that fault cannot be remedied now." + +Certainly the time remaining was short enough. The fight still raged +down at the gate in the pass, though it was a wonder how the handful of +Priests had held their ground so long. But the ocean rolled in upon the +land in an ever-increasing flood, and the mountains smoked and belched +forth more volleys of rock as the weight increased on their lower parts, +and presently those that besieged the Mountain could not fail to see +the fate that threatened them. Then there would be no withholding their +rush. In their mad fury and panic they would sweep all obstruction +resistlessly before them, and those who stood in their path might look +to themselves. + +But there was no hurrying Zaemon and his fellow sage. They were without +temple for the ceremony, without sacrifice or incense to decorate it. +They had but the sky for a roof to make their echoes, and the Gods +themselves for witnesses. But they went through the work of raising +me to their own degree, with all the grand and majestic form which has +gathered dignity from the ages, and by no one sentence did they curtail +it. A burning mountain burst with a bellowing roar as the incoming +waters met its fires, but gravely they went on, in turn reciting their +sentences. Phorenice's troops broke down the last resistance, and poured +in a frenzied stream amongst the groves and temples, but still they +quavered never in the ritual. + +It had been said that this ceremony is the grandest and the most +impressive of all those connected with our holy religion; and certainly +I found it so; and I speak as one intimate with all the others. Even the +tremendous circumstances which hemmed them in could do nothing to make +these frail old men forget the deference which was due to the highest +order of the Clan. + +For myself, I will freely own I was less rapt. I stood there bareheaded +in the heat, a man trying to concentrate himself, and yet torn the while +by a thousand foreign emotions. The awful thing that was happening all +around compelled some of my attention. A continent was in the very act +and article of meeting with complete destruction, and if Zaemon and +the other Priest were strong enough to give their minds wholly up to a +matter parochial to the priesthood, I was not so stoical. And moreover, +I was filled with other anxieties and thoughts concerning Nais. Yet I +managed to preserve a decent show of attention to the ceremony; making +all those responses which were required of me; and trying as well as +might be to preserve in my mind those sentences which were the keys to +power and learning, and not mere phrasings of grandeur and devotion. + +But it became clear that if the ceremony of my raising did not soon +arrive at its natural end, it would be cut short presently with +something of suddenness. Phorenice's conquering legions swarmed out +on to the crest of the Mountain, and now carried full knowledge of the +dreadful thing that was come upon the country. They were out of all +control, and ran about like men distracted; but knowing full well that +the Priests would have brought this terrible wreck to pass by virtue of +the powers which were stored within the Ark of the Mysteries, it would +be their natural impulse to pour out a final vengeance upon any of these +same Priests they could come across before it was too late. + +It began to come to my mind that if the ceremony did not very shortly +terminate, the further part of the plan would stand very small chance +of completion, and I should come by my death after all by fighting to a +finish, as I had pictured to myself before. My flickering attention saw +the soldiers coming always nearer in their frantic wanderings, and saw +also the sea below rolling deeper and deeper in upon the land. + +The fires, too, which ringed in half the mountain, spurted up to +double their old height, and burned with an unceasing roar. But for all +distraction these things gave to the two old Priests who were raising +me, we might have been in the quietness of some ancient temple, with no +so much as a fly to buzz an interruption. + +But at last an end came to the ceremony. "Kneel," cried Zaemon, "and +make obeisance to your mother the Earth, and swear by the High Gods that +you will never make improper use of the powers over Her which this day +you have been granted." + +When I had done that, he bade me rise as a fully installed and duly +initiated member of the Three. "You will have no opportunity to practise +the workings of this degree with either of us, my brother," said he, +"for presently our other brother and I go to stand before the Gods to +deliver to Them an account of our trust, and of how we have carried it +out. But what items you remember here and there may turn of use to you +hereafter. And now we two give you our farewells, and promise to commend +you highly to the Gods when soon we meet Them in Their place behind +the stars. Climb now into the Ark, and be ready to shut the door which +guards it, if there is any attempt by these raging people to invade that +also. Remember, my brother, it is the Gods' direct will that you and the +woman Nais go from this place living and sound, and you are expressly +forbidden to accept challenge or provocation to fight on any pretext +whatever. But as long as may be done in safety, you may look out upon +Atlantis in her death-throes. It is very fitting that one of the only +two who are sent hence alive, should carry the full tale of what has +befallen." + +I went to the top of the Ark of Mysteries then, climbing there by the +battens which are fastened to the sides, and then descended by the stair +which is inside and found Nais in a little chamber waiting for me. + +"I was bidden stay here by Zaemon," she said, "who forced me to this +place by threats and also by promises that my lord would follow. He is +very ungentle, that father of mine, but I think he has a kindness for us +both, and any way he is my father and I cannot help loving him. Is there +no chance to save him from what is going to happen?" + +"He will not come into this Ark, for I asked him. It has been ordained +from the ancient time when first the Ark was built, that when the day +for its purpose came, one woman and one man should be its only tenants, +and they are here already. Zaemon's will in the matter is not to be +twisted by you or by me. He has a message to be delivered to the Gods, +and (if I know him at all), he grudges every minute that is lost in +carrying it to them." + +I left her then, and went out again up the stair, and stood once more on +the roof of the Ark. On the Mountain top men still ran about distracted, +but gradually they were coming to where the Ark rested on the highest +point. For the moment, however, I passed them lightly. The drowning of +the great continent that had been spread out below filled the eye. Ocean +roared in upon it with still more furious waves. The plains and the +level lands were foaming lakes. The great city of Atlantis had vanished +eternally. The mountains alone kept their heads above the flood, and +spewed out rocks, and steam, and boiling stone, or burst when the waters +reached them and created great whirlpools of surging sea, and twisted +trees, and bubbling mud. + +In the space of a few breaths every living creature that dwelt in the +lower grounds had been smothered by the waters, save for a few who +huddled in a pair of galleys that were driven oarless inland, over what +had once been black forest and hunting land for the beasts. And even as +I watched, these also were swallowed up by the horrid turmoil of sea, +and nothing but the sea beasts, and those of the greater lizards which +can live in such outrageous waters, could have survived even that +state of the destruction. Indeed, none but those men who had now found +standing-ground on the upper slopes of the Sacred Mountain survived, +and it was plain that their span was short, for the great mass of the +continent sank deeper and more deep every minute before our aching eyes, +beneath the boiling inrush of the seas. + +But though the great mass of the soldiery were dazed and maddened at the +prospect of the overwhelming which threatened them, there were some with +a strength of mind too valiant to give any outward show of discomposure. +Presently a compact little body of people came from out the houses and +the temples, and headed directly across the open ground towards the Ark. +On the outside marched Phorenice's personal guards with their weapons +new blooded. They had been forced to fight a way through their own +fellow soldiers. The poor demented creatures had thought it was every +one for himself now, till these guards (by their mistress's order) +proved to them that Phorenice still came first. + +And in the middle of them, borne in a litter of gold and ivory by her +grotesque European slaves, rode the Empress, still calm, still lovely, +and seemingly divided in her sentiments between contempt and amusement. +Her two children lay in the litter at her feet. On her right hand +marched Tatho gorgeously apparelled, and with a beard curled and plaited +into a thousand ringlets. On the other side, plying her industry with +unruffled defence, walked Ylga, once again fan-girl, and so still second +lady in this dwindling kingdom. + +The party of them halted half a score of paces from the Ark by +Phorenice's order. "Do not go nearer to those unclean old men. They +carry a rank odour with them, and for the moment we are short of +essences to sweeten the air of their neighbourhood." She lifted her +eyebrows and looked up at me. "Truly a quiet little gathering of old +acquaintances. Why, there is Deucalion, that once I took the flavour of +and threw aside when he cloyed me." + +"I have Nais here," I said, "and presently we two will be all that are +left alive of this nation." + +"Nais is quite welcome to my leavings," she laughed. "I will look down +upon your country cooings when presently I go back to the Place behind +the stars from which I came. You are a very rustic person, Deucalion. +They tell me too that three or four of these smelling old men up +here have named you King. Did you swell much with dignity? Or did +you remember that there was a pretty Empress left that would still be +Empress so long as there was an Atlantis to govern? Come, sir, find your +tongue. By my face! you must have hungered for me very madly these years +we have been parted, if new-grown ruggedness of feature is an evidence." + +"Have your gibe. I do not gibe back at a woman who presently will die." + +"Bah! Deucalion, you will live behind the times. Have they not told you +that I know the Great Secret and am indeed a Goddess now? My arts can +make life run on eternally." + +"Then the waters will presently test them hard," I said, but there the +talk was taken into other lips. Zaemon went forward to the front of +the litter with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun glowing in his hand, and +burst into a flow of cursing. It was hard for me to hear his words. The +roar of the waters which poured up over the land, and beat in vast waves +against the Sacred Mountain itself, grew nearer and more loud. But the +old man had his say. + +Phorenice gave orders to her guards for his killing; yes, tried even to +rise from the litter and do the work herself; but Zaemon held the Symbol +to his front, and its power in that supreme moment mastered all the arts +that could be brought against it. The majesty of the most High Gods +was vindicated, and that splendid Empress knew it and lay back sullenly +amongst the cushions of her litter, a beaten woman. + +Only one person in that rigid knot of people found power to leave the +rest, and that was Ylga. She came out to the side of the Ark, and leaned +up, and cried me a farewell through the gathering roar of the flood. + +"I would I might save you and take you with us," I said. + +"As for that," she said, with a gesture, "I would not come if you asked +me. I am not a woman that will take anything less than all. But I shall +meet what comes presently with the memory that you will have me always +somewhere in your recollection. I know somewhat of men, even men of your +stamp, Deucalion, and you will never forget that you came very near to +loving me once." + +I think, too, she said something further, concerning Nais, but the +bellowing rush of the waters drowned all other words. A great mist made +from the stream sent up by the swamped burning mountains stopped all +accurate view, though the blaze from the fires lit it like gold. But +I had a last sight of a horde of soldiery rushing up the slopes of the +Mountain, with a scum of surge billowing at their heels, and licking +many of them back in its clutch. And then my eye fell on old Zaemon +waving to me with the Symbol to shut down the door in the roof of the +Ark. + +I obeyed his last command, and went down the stair, and closed all +ingress behind me. There were bolts placed ready, and I shot these into +their sockets, and there were Nais and I alone, and cut off from all the +rest of our world that remained. + +I went to the place where she lay, and put my arms tightly around her. +Without, we heard men beating desperately on the Ark with their weapons, +and some even climbed by the battens to the top and wrenched to try and +move the door from its fastenings. The end was coming very nearly to +them now, and the great crowd of them were mad with terror. + +I would have given much to have known how Phorenice fared in that final +tumult, and how she faced it. I could see her, with her lovely face, and +her wondrous eyes, and her ruddy hair curling about her neck, and by +all the Gods! I thought more of her at that last moment than of the +poor land she had conquered, and misgoverned, and brought to this horrid +destruction. There is no denying the fascination which Phorenice carried +with her. + +But the end did not dally long with its coming. There was a little surge +that lifted the Ark a hand's breadth or so in its cradle, and set it +back again with a jar and a quiver. The blows from axes and weapons +ceased on its lower part, but redoubled into frenzied batterings on its +rounded roof. There were some screams and cries also which came to +us but dully through the thickness of its ponderous sheathing, though +likely enough they were sent forth at the full pitch of human lungs +outside. And when another surge came, roaring and thundering, which +picked up the great vessel as though it had been a feather, and spun it +giddily; and after that we touched earth or rock no more. + +We tossed about on the crest and troughs of delirious seas, a sport for +the greedy Gods of the ocean. The lamp had fallen, and we crouched there +in darkness, dully weighed with the burden of knowledge that we alone +were saved out of what was yesterday a mighty nation. + + + + +20. ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP + + +The Ark was rudderless, oarless, and machineless, and could travel only +where the High Gods chose. The inside was dark, and full of an ancient +smell, and crowded with groanings and noise. I could not find the +fire-box to relight the fallen lamp, and so we had to endure blindly +what was dealt out to us. The waves tossed us in merciless sport, and I +clung on by the side of Nais, holding her to the bed. We did not speak +much, but there was full companionship in our bereavement and our +silence. + +When Atlantis sank to form new ocean bed, she left great whirlpools and +spoutings from her drowned fires as a fleeting legacy to the Gods of the +Sea. And then, I think (though in the black belly of the Ark we could +not see these things), a vast hurricane of wind must have come on next +so as to leave no piece of the desolation incomplete. For seven nights +and seven days did this dreadful turmoil continue, as counted for us +afterwards by the reckoner of hours which hung within the Ark, and then +the howling of the wind departed, and only the roll of a long still +swell remained. It was regular and it was oily, as I could tell by the +difference of the motion, and then for the first time I dared to go up +the stair, and open the door which stood in the roof of the Ark. + +The sweet air came gushing down to freshen the foulness within, and as +the Ark rode dryly over the seas, I went below and brought up Nais to +gain refreshment from the curing rays of our Lord the Sun. Duly the pair +of us adored Him, and gave thanks for His great mercy in coming to light +another day, and then we laid ourselves down where we were to doze, and +take that easy rest which we so urgently needed. + +Yet, though I was tired beyond words, for long enough sleep would not +visit me. Wearily I stared out over the oily sunlit waters. No blur +of land met the eye. The ring of ocean was unbroken on every side, and +overhead the vault of heaven remained unchanged. The bosom of the deep +was littered with the poor wreckage of Atlantis, to remind one, if there +had been a need, that what had come about was fact, and not some horrid +dream. Trees, squared timber, a smashed and upturned boat of hides, and +here and there the rounded corpse of a man or beast shouldered over the +swells, and kept convoy with our Ark as she drifted on in charge of the +Gods and the current. + +But sleep came to me at last, and I dropped off into unconsciousness, +holding the hand of Nais in mine, and when next I woke, I found her +open-eyed also and watching me tenderly. We were finely rested, both of +us, and rest and strength bring one complacency. We were more ready +now to accept the station which the High Gods had made for us without +repining, and so we went below again into the belly of the Ark to eat +and drink and maintain strength for the new life which lay before us. + +A wonderful vessel was this Ark, now we were able to see it at leisure +and intimately. Although for the first time now in all its centuries +of life it swam upon the waters, it showed no leak or suncrack. Inside, +even its floor was bone dry. That it was built from some wood, one could +see by the grainings, but nowhere could one find suture or joint. The +living timbers had been put in place and then grown together by an +art which we have lost to-day, but which the Ancients knew with much +perfection; and afterwards some treatment, which is also a secret +of those forgotten builders, had made the wood as hard as metal and +impervious to all attacks of the weather. + +In the gloomy cave of its belly were stored many matters. At one end, in +great tanks on either side of central alley, was a prodigious store of +grain. Sweet water was in other tanks at the other end. In another place +were drugs and samples, and essences of the life of beasts; all these +things being for use whilst the Ark roamed under the guidance of the +Gods on the bosom of the deep. On all the walls of the Ark, and on all +the partitions of the tanks and the other woodwork, there were carved +in the rude art of bygone time representations of all the beasts which +lived in Atlantis; and on these I looked with a hunter's interest, as +some of them were strange to me, and had died out with the men who had +perpetuated them in these sculptures. There was a good store of weapons +too and the tools for handicrafts. + +Now, for many weeks, our life endured in this Ark as the Gods drove it +about here and there across the face of the waters. We had no government +over direction; we could not by so much as a hair's breadth a day +increase her speed. The High Gods that had chosen the two of us to be +the only ones saved out of all Atlantis, had sole control of our fate, +and into Their hands we cheerfully resigned our future direction. + +Of that land which we reached in due time, and where we made our abiding +place, and where our children were born, I shall tell of in its place; +but since this chronicle has proceeded so far in an exact order of the +events as they came to pass, it is necessary first to narrate how we +came by the sheets on which it is written. + +In a great coffer, in the centre of the Ark's floor, the whole of the +Mysteries learned during the study of ages were set down in accurate +writing. I read through some of them during the days which passed, and +the awfulness of the Powers over which they gave control appalled me. I +had seen some of these Powers set loose in Atlantis, and was a witness +of her destruction. But here were Powers far higher than those; here was +the great Secret of Life and Death which Phorenice also had found, and +for which she had been destroyed; and there were other things also of +which I cannot even bring my stylo to scribe. + +The thought of being custodian of these writings was more than I could +endure, and the more the matter rested in my mind, the more intolerable +became the burden. And at last I took hot irons, and with them seared +the wax on the sheets till every letter of the old writings was +obliterated. If I did wrong, the High Gods in Their infinite justice +will give me punishment; if it is well that these great secrets should +endure on earth, They in their infinite power will dictate them afresh +to some fitting scribes; but I destroyed them there as the Ark swayed +with us over the waves; and later, when we came to land, I rewrote upon +the sheets the matters which led to great Atlantis being dragged to her +death-throes. + +Nais, that I love so tenderly-- + +[TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: The remaining sheets are too broken to be legible.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lost Continent, by C. J. 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Cutliffe Hyne + + + +CONTENTS + +PREFATORY: THE LEGATEES OF DEUCALION + 1 MY RECALL + 2 BACK TO ATLANTIS + 3 A RIVAL NAVY + 4 THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE + 5 ZAEMON'S CURSE + 6 THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS + 7 THE BITERS OF THE WALLS + (FURTHER ACCOUNT) + 8 THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS + 9 PHORENICE, GODDESS +10 A WOOING +11 AN AFFAIR WITH THE BARBAROUS FISHERS +12 THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE MOON +13 THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS +14 AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE +15 ZAEMON'S SUMMONS +16 SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN +17 NAIS THE REGAINED +18 STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN +19 DESTRUCTION OF THE ATLANTIS +20 ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP + + + + + + +PREFATORY: + +THE LEGATEES OF DEUCALION + + +We were both of us not a little stiff as the result of +sleeping out in the open all that night, for even in Grand Canary +the dew-fall and the comparative chill of darkness are not to be +trifled with. For myself on these occasions I like a bit of a run +as an early refresher. But here on this rough ground in the middle +of the island there were not three yards of level to be found, and +so as Coppinger proceeded to go through some sort of dumb-bell +exercises with a couple of lumps of bristly lava, I followed his +example. Coppinger has done a good deal of roughing it in his +time, but being a doctor of medicine amongst other things--he takes +out a new degree of some sort on an average every other year--he is +great on health theories, and practises them like a religion. + +There had been rain two days before, and as there was still a +bit of stream trickling along at the bottom of the barranca, we +went down there and had a wash, and brushed our teeth. Greatest +luxury imaginable, a toothbrush, on this sort of expedition. + +"Now," said Coppinger when we had emptied our pockets, +"there's precious little grub left, and it's none the better for +being carried in a local Spanish newspaper." + +"Yours is mostly tobacco ashes." + +"It'll get worse if we leave it. We've a lot more bad +scrambling ahead of us." + +That was obvious. So we sat down beside the stream there at +the bottom of the barranca, and ate up all of what was left. It +was a ten-mile tramp to the fonda at Santa Brigida, where we had +set down our traps; and as Coppinger wanted to take a lot more +photographs and measurements before we left this particular group +of caves, it was likely we should be pretty sharp set before we got +our next meal, and our next taste of the PATRON'S splendid +old country wine. My faith! If only they knew down in the English +hotels in Las Palmas what magnificent wines one could get--with +diplomacy--up in some of the mountain villages, the old vintage +would become a thing of the past in a week. + +Now to tell the truth, the two mummies he had gathered already +quite satisfied my small ambition. The goatskins in which they +were sewn up were as brittle as paper, and the poor old things +themselves gave out dust like a puffball whenever they were +touched. But you know what Coppinger is. He thought he'd come +upon traces of an old Guanche university, or sacred college, or +something of that kind, like the one there is on the other side of +the island, and he wouldn't be satisfied till he'd ransacked every +cave in the whole face of the cliff. He'd plenty of stuff left for +the flashlight thing, and twenty-eight more films in his kodak, and +said we might as well get through with the job then as make a +return journey all on purpose. So he took the crowbar, and I +shouldered the rope, and away we went up to the ridge of the cliff, +where we had got such a baking from the sun the day before. + +Of course these caves were not easy to come at, or else they +would have been raided years before. Coppinger, who on principle +makes out he knows all about these things, says that in the old +Guanche days they had ladders of goatskin rope which they could +pull up when they were at home, and so keep out undesirable +callers; and as no other plan occurs to me, perhaps he may be +right. Anyway the mouths of the caves were in a more or less level +row thirty feet below the ridge of the cliff, and fifty feet above +the bottom; and Spanish curiosity doesn't go in much where it +cannot walk. + +Now laddering such caves from below would have been cumbersome, +but a light knotted rope is easily carried, and though it would +have been hard to climb up this, our plan was to descend on +each cave mouth from above, and then slip down to the foot of +the cliffs, and start again AB INITIO for the next. + +Coppinger is plucky enough, and he has a good head on a height, +but there is no getting over the fact that he is portly and +nearer fifty than forty-five. So you can see he must have been +pretty keen. Of course I went first each time, and got into the +cave mouth, and did what I could to help him in; but when you have +to walk down a vertical cliff face fly-fashion, with only a thin +bootlace of a rope for support, it is not much real help the man +below can give, except offer you his best wishes. + +I wanted to save him as much as I could, and as the first three +caves I climbed to were small and empty, seeming to be merely +store-places, I asked him to take them for granted, and save +himself the rest. But he insisted on clambering down to each one +in person, and as he decided that one of my granaries was a prison, +and another a pot-making factory, and another a schoolroom for +young priests, he naturally said he hadn't much reliance on my +judgment, and would have to go through the whole lot himself. You +know what these thorough-going archaeologists are for imagination. + +But as the day went on, and the sun rose higher, Coppinger began +clearly to have had enough of it, though he was very game, and +insisted on going on much longer than was safe. I must say I +didn't like it. You see the drop was seldom less than eighty feet +from the top of the cliffs. However, at last he was forced to give +it up. I suggested marching off to Santa Brigida forthwith, but he +wouldn't do that. There were three more cave-openings to be looked +into, and if I wouldn't do them for him, he would have to make +another effort to get there himself. He tried to make out he was +conferring a very great favour on me by offering to take a report +solely from my untrained observation, but I flatly refused to look +at it in that light. I was pretty tired also; I was soaked with +perspiration from the heat; my head ached from the violence of the +sun; and my hands were cut raw with the rope. + +Coppinger might be tired, but he was still enthusiastic. He +tried to make me enthusiastic also. "Look here," he said, "there's +no knowing what you may find up there, and if you do lay hands on +anything, remember it's your own. I shall have no claim whatever." + +"Very kind of you, but I've got no use for any more mummies done +up in goatskin bags." + +"Bah! That's not a burial cave up there. Don't you know the +difference yet in the openings? Now, be a good fellow. It doesn't +follow that because we have drawn all the rest blank, you won't +stumble across a good find for yourself up there." + +"Oh, very well," I said, as he seemed so set on it; and away I +stumbled over the fallen rocks, and along the ledge, and then +scrambled up by that fissure in the cliff which saved us the +two-mile round which we had had to take at first. I wrenched out +the crowbar, and jammed it down in a new place, and then away I +went over the side, with hands smarting worse at every new grip of +the rope. It was an awkward job swinging into the cave mouth +because the rock above overhung, or else (what came to the same +thing) it had broken away below; but I managed it somehow, although +I landed with an awkward thump on my back, and at the same time I +didn't let go the rope. It wouldn't do to have lost the rope then: +Coppinger couldn't have flicked it into me from where he was below. + +Now from the first glance I could see that this cave was of +different structure to the others. They were for the most part +mere dens, rounded out anyhow; this had been faced up with cutting +tools, so that all the angles were clean, and the sides smooth and +flat. The walls inclined inwards to the roof, reminding me of an +architecture I had seen before but could not recollect where, and +moreover there were several rooms connected up with passages. I +was pleased to find that the other cave-openings which Coppinger +wanted me to explore were merely the windows or the doorways of two +of these other rooms. + +Of inscriptions or markings on the walls there was not a trace, +though I looked carefully, and except for bats the place was +entirely bare. I lit a cigarette and smoked it through--Coppinger +always thinks one is slurring over work if it is got through too +quickly--and then I went to the entrance where the rope was, and +leaned out, and shouted down my news. + +He turned up a very anxious face. "Have you searched it +thoroughly?" he bawled back. + +"Of course I have. What do you think I've been doing all this +time?" + +"No, don't come down yet. Wait a minute. I say, old man, do +wait a minute. I'm making fast the kodak and the flashlight +apparatus on the end of the rope. Pull them up, and just make me +half a dozen exposures, there's a good fellow." + +"Oh, all right," I said, and hauled the things up, and got them +inside. The photographs would be absolutely dull and +uninteresting, but that wouldn't matter to Coppinger. He rather +preferred them that way. One has to be careful about halation in +photographing these dark interiors, but there was a sort of ledge +like a seat by the side of each doorway, and so I lodged the camera +on that to get a steady stand, and snapped off the flashlight from +behind and above. + +I got pictures of four of the chambers this way, and then came +to one where the ledge was higher and wider. I put down the +camera, wedged it level with scraps of stone, and then sat down +myself to recharge the flashlight machine. But the moment my +weight got on that ledge, there was a sharp crackle, and down I +went half a dozen inches. + +Of course I was up again pretty sharply, and snapped up the +kodak just as it was going to slide off to the ground. I will +confess, too, I was feeling pleased. Here at any rate was a +Guanche cupboard of sorts, and as they had taken the trouble to +hermetically seal it with cement, the odds were that it had +something inside worth hiding. At first there was nothing to be +seen but a lot of dust and rubble, so I lit a bit of candle and +cleared this away. Presently, however, I began to find that I was +shelling out something that was not cement. It chipped away, in +regular layers, and when I took it to the daylight I found that +each layer was made up of two parts. One side was shiny staff that +looked like talc, and on this was smeared a coating of dark toffee- +coloured material, that might have been wax. The toffee-coloured +surface was worked over with some kind of pattern. + +Now I do not profess to any knowledge on these matters, and as +a consequence took what Coppinger had told me about Guanche habits +and acquirements as more or less true. For instance, he had +repeatedly impressed upon me that this old people could not write, +and having this in my memory, I did not guess that the patterns +scribed through the wax were letters in some obsolete character, +which, if left to myself, probably I should have done. But still +at the same time I came to the conclusion that the stuff was worth +looting, and so set to work quarrying it out with the heel of my +boot and a pocket-knife. + +The sheets were all more or less stuck together, and so I did not +go in for separating them farther. They fitted exactly to the +cavity in which they were stored, but by smashing down its front I +was able to get at the foot of them, and then I hacked away through +the bottom layers with the knife till I got the bulk out in one +solid piece. It measured some twenty inches by fifteen, by +fifteen, but it was not so heavy as it looked, and when I had taken +the remaining photographs, I lowered it down to Coppinger on the +end of the rope. + +There was nothing more to do in the caves then, so I went down +myself next. The lump of sheets was on the ground, and Coppinger +was on all fours beside it. He was pretty nearly mad with +excitement. + + +"What is it?" I asked him. + +"I don't know yet. But it is the most valuable find ever made +in the Canary Islands, and it's yours, you unappreciative beggar; +at least what there is left of it. Oh, man, man, you've smashed up +the beginning, and you've smashed up the end of some history that +is probably priceless. It's my own fault. I ought to have known +better than set an untrained man to do important exploring work." + +"I should say it's your fault if anything's gone wrong. You +said there was no such thing as writing known to these ancient +Canarios, and I took your word for it. For anything I knew the +stuff might have been something to eat." + +"It isn't Guanche work at all," said he testily. "You ought to +have known that from the talc. Great heavens, man, have you no +eyes? Haven't you seen the general formation of the island? Don't +you know there's no talc here?" + +"I'm no geologist. Is this imported literature then?" + +"Of course. It's Egyptian: that's obvious at a glance. Though +how it's got here I can't tell yet. It isn't stuff you can read +off like a newspaper. The character's a variant on any of those +that have been discovered so far. And as for this waxy stuff +spread over the talc, it's unique. It's some sort of a mineral, I +think: perhaps asphalt. It doesn't scratch up like animal wax. +I'll analyse that later. Why they once invented it, and then let +such a splendid notion drop out of use, is just a marvel. I could +stay gloating over this all day." + +"Well," I said, "if it's all the same for you, I'd rather gloat +over a meal. It's a good ten miles hard going to the fonda, +and I'm as hungry as a hawk already. Look here, do you know it is +four o'clock already? It takes longer than you think climbing down +to each of these caves, and then getting up again for the next." + +Coppinger spread his coat on the ground, and wrapped the lump +of sheets with tender care, but would not allow it to be tied with +a rope for fear of breaking more of the edges. He insisted on +carrying it himself too, and did so for the larger part of the way +to Santa Brigida, and it was only when he was within an ace of +dropping himself with sheer tiredness that he condescended to let +me take my turn. He was tolerably ungracious about it too. "I +suppose you may as well carry the stuff," he snapped, "seeing that +after all it's your own." + +Personally, when we got to the fonda, I had as good a dinner +as was procurable, and a bottle of that old Canary wine, and turned +into bed after a final pipe. Coppinger dined also, but I have +reason to believe he did not sleep much. At any rate I found him +still poring over the find next morning, and looking very heavy- +eyed, but brimming with enthusiasm. + +"Do you know," he said, "that you've blundered upon the most +valuable historical manuscript that the modern world has ever yet +seen? Of course, with your clumsy way of getting it out, you've +done an infinity of damage. For instance, those top sheets you +shelled away and spoiled, contained probably an absolutely unique +account of the ancient civilisation of Yucatan." + +"Where's that, anyway?" + +"In the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. It's all ruins to-day, +but once it was a very prosperous colony of the Atlanteans." + +"Never heard of them. Oh yes, I have though. They were the +people Herodotus wrote about, didn't he? But I thought they were +mythical." + +"They were very real, and so was Atlantis, the continent where +they lived, which lay just north of the Canaries here." + +"What's that crocodile sort of thing with wings drawn in the +margin?" + +"Some sort of beast that lived in those bygone days. The pages +are full of them. That's a cave-tiger. And that's some sort +of colossal bat. Thank goodness he had the sense to illustrate +fully, the man who wrote this, or we should never have been able to +reconstruct the tale, or at any rate we could not have understood +half of it. Whole species have died out since this was written, +just as a whole continent has been swept away and three +civilisations quenched. The worst of it is, it was written by a +highly-educated man who somewhat naturally writes a very bad fist. +I've hammered at it all the night through, and have only managed to +make out a few sentences here and there"--he rubbed his hands +appreciatively. "It will take me a year's hard work to translate +this properly." + +"Every man to his taste. I'm afraid my interest in the thing +wouldn't last as long as that. But how did it get there? Did your +ancient Egyptian come to Grand Canary for the good of his lungs, +and write it because he felt dull up in that cave?" + +"I made a mistake there. The author was not an Egyptian. It +was the similarity of the inscribed character which misled me. The +book was written by one Deucalion, who seems to have been a priest +or general--or perhaps both--and he was an Atlantean. How it got +there, I don't know yet. Probably that was told in the last few +pages, which a certain vandal smashed up with his pocketknife, in +getting them away from the place where they were stowed." + +"That's right, abuse me. Deucalion you say? There was a +Deucalion in the Greek mythology. He was one of the two who +escaped from the Flood: their Noah, in fact." + +"The swamping of the continent of Atlantis might very well +correspond to the Flood." + +"Is there a Pyrrha then? She was Deucalion's wife." + +"I haven't come across her yet. But there's a Phorenice, who +may be the same. She seems to have been the reigning Empress, as +far as I can make out at present." + +I looked with interest at illustrations in the margin. They +were quite understandable, although the perspective was all wrong. +"Weird beasts they seem to have had knocking about the country in +those days. Whacking big size too, if one may judge. By Jove, +that'll be a cave-tiger trying to puff down a mammoth. I shouldn't +care to have lived in those days." + +"Probably they had some way of fighting the creatures. +However, that will show itself as I get along with the +translation." He looked at his watch--"I suppose I ought to be +ashamed of myself, but I haven't been to bed. Are you going out?" + +"I shall drive back to Las Palmas. I promised a man to have a +round at golf this afternoon." + +"Very well, see you at dinner. I hope they've sent back my dress +shirts from the wash. O, lord! I am sleepy." + +I left him going up to bed, and went outside and ordered a +carriage to take me down, and there I may say we parted for a +considerable time. A cable was waiting for me in the hotel at Las +Palmas to go home for business forthwith, and there was a Liverpool +boat in the harbour which I just managed to catch as she was +steaming out. It was a close thing, and the boatmen made a small +fortune out of my hurry. + +Now Coppinger was only an hotel acquaintance, and as I was up to +the eyes in work when I got back to England, I'm afraid I didn't +think very much more about him at the time. One doesn't with +people one just meets casually abroad like that. And it must have +been at least a year later that I saw by a paragraph in one of the +papers, that he had given the lump of sheets to the British Museum, +and that the estimated worth of them was ten thousand pounds at the +lowest valuation. + +Well, this was a bit of revelation, and as he had so repeatedly +impressed on me that the things were mine by right of discovery, +I wrote rather a pointed note to him mentioning that he seemed to +have been making rather free with my property. Promptly came +back a stilted letter beginning, "Doctor Coppinger regrets" and so +on, and with it the English translation of the wax-upon-talc +MSS. He "quite admitted" my claim, and "trusted that the profits +of publication would be a sufficient reimbursement for any damage +received." + +Now I had no idea that he would take me unpleasantly like this, +and wrote back a pretty warm reply to that effect; but the only +answer I got to this was through a firm of solicitors, who stated +that all further communications with Dr. Coppinger must be made +through them. + +I will say here publicly that I regret the line he has taken +over the matter; but as the affair has gone so far, I am disposed +to follow out his proposition. Accordingly the old history is here +printed; the credit (and the responsibility) of the translation +rests with Dr. Coppinger; and whatever revenue accrues from +readers, goes to the finder of the original talc-upon-wax sheets, +myself. + +If there is a further alteration in this arrangement, it will +be announced publicly at a later date. But at present this appears +to be most unlikely. + + + +1. MY RECALL + + +The public official reception was over. The sentence had been +read, the name of Phorenice, the Empress, adored, and the new +Viceroy installed with all that vast and ponderous ceremonial which +had gained its pomp and majesty from the ages. Formally, I had +delivered up the reins of my government; formally, Tatho had seated +himself on the snake-throne, and had put over his neck the chain of +gems which symbolised the supreme office; and then, whilst the +drums and the trumpets made their proclamation of clamour, he had +risen to his feet, for his first state progress round that gilded +council chamber as Viceroy of the Province of Yucatan. + +With folded arms and bended head, I followed him between the +glittering lines of soldiers, and the brilliant throng of +courtiers, and chiefs, and statesmen. The roof-beams quivered to +the cries of "Long Live Tatho!" "Flourish the Empress!" which came +forth as in duty bound, and the new ruler acknowledged the welcome +with stately inclinations of the head. In turn he went to the +three lesser thrones of the lesser governors--in the East, the +North, and the South, and received homage from each as the ritual +was; and I, the man whom his coming had deposed, followed with the +prescribed meekness in his train. + +It was a hard task, but we who hold the higher offices learn +to carry before the people a passionless face. Once, twenty years +before, these same fine obeisances had been made to me; now the +Gods had seen fit to make fortune change. But as I walked bent and +humbly on behind the heels of Tatho, though etiquette forbade noisy +salutations to myself, it could not inhibit kindly glances, and +these came from every soldier, every courtier, and every chief who +stood there in that gilded hall, and they fell upon me very +gratefully. It is not often the fallen meet such tender looks. + +The form goes, handed down from immemorial custom, that on +these great ceremonial days of changing a ruler, those of the +people being present may bring forward petitions and requests; may +make accusations against their retiring head with sure immunity +from his vengeance; or may state their own private theories for the +better government of the State in the future. I think it may be +pardoned to my vanity if I record that not a voice was raised +against me, or against any of the items of my twenty years of rule. +Nor did any speak out for alterations in the future. Yes, even +though we made the circuit for the three prescribed times, all +present showed their approval in generous silence. + +Then, one behind the other, the new Viceroy and the old, we +marched with formal step over golden tiles of that council hall +beneath the pyramid, and the great officers of state left their +stations and joined in our train; and at the farther wall we came +to the door of those private chambers which an hour ago had been +mine own. + +Ah, well! I had no home now in any of those wondrous cities +of Yucatan, and I could not help feeling a bitterness, though in +sooth I should have been thankful enough to return to the Continent +of Atlantis with my head still in its proper station. + +Tatho gave his formal summons of "Open ye to the Viceroy," +which the ritual commands, and the slaves within sent the massive +stone valves of the door gaping wide. Tatho entered, I at his +heels; the others halted, sending valedictions from the threshold; +and the valves of the door clanged on the lock behind us. We +passed on to the chamber beyond, and then, when for the first time +we were alone together, and the forced etiquette of courts was +behind us, the new Viceroy turned with meekly folded arms, and +bowed low before me. + +"Deucalion," he said, "believe me that I have not sought this +office. It was thrust upon me. Had I not accepted, my head would +have paid forfeit, and another man--your enemy--would have been +sent out as viceroy in your place. The Empress does not permit +that her will shall ever be questioned." + +"My friend," I made answer, "my brother in all but blood, +there is no man living in all Atlantis or her territories to whom +I had liefer hand over my government. For twenty years now have I +ruled this country of Yucatan, and Mexico beyond, first under the +old King, and then as minister to this new Empress. I know my +colony like a book. I am intimate with all her wonderful cities, +with their palaces, their pyramids, and their people. I have +hunted the beasts and the savages in the forests. I have built +roads, and made the rivers so that they will carry shipping. I +have fostered the arts and crafts like a merchant; I have +discoursed, three times each day, the cult of the Gods with mine +own lips. Through evil years and through good have I ruled here, +striving only for the prosperity of the land and the strengthening +of Atlantis, and I have grown to love the peoples like a father. +To you I bequeath them, Tatho, with tender supplications for their +interests." + +"It is not I that can carry on Deucalion's work with Deucalion's +power, but rest content, my friend, that I shall do my humble +best to follow exactly on in your footsteps. Believe me, I came +out to this government with a thousand regrets, but I would have +died sooner than take your place had I known how vigorously the +supplanting would trouble you." + +"We are alone here," I said, "away from the formalities of formal +assemblies, and a man may give vent to his natural self without +fear of tarnishing a ceremony. Your coming was something of the +suddenest. Till an hour ago, when you demanded audience, I had +thought to rule on longer; and even now I do not know for what +cause I am deposed." + +"The proclamation said: 'We relieve our well-beloved Deucalion +of his present service, because we have great need of his powers at +home in our kingdom of Atlantis.'" + +"A mere formality." + +Tatho looked uneasily round the hangings of the chamber, and +drew me with him to its centre, and lowered his voice. + +"I do not think so," he whispered. "I believe she has need of +you. There are troublous times on hand, and Phorenice wants the +ablest men in the kingdom ready to her call." + +"You may speak openly," I said, "and without fear of +eavesdroppers. We are in the heart of the pyramid here, built in +every way by a man's length of solid stone. Myself, I oversaw the +laying of every course. And besides, here in Yucatan, we have not +the niceties of your old world diplomacy, and do not listen, +because we count it shame to do so." + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. "I acted only according to mine +education. At home, a loose tongue makes a loose head, and there +are those whose trade it is to carry tales. Still, what I say is +this: The throne shakes, and Phorenice sees the need of sturdy +props. So she has sent this proclamation." + +"But why come to me? It is twenty years since I sailed to +this colony, and from that day I have not returned to Atlantis +once. I know little of the old country's politics. What small +parcel of news drifts out to us across the ocean, reads with +slender interest here. Yucatan is another world, my dear Tatho, as +you in the course of your government will learn, with new +interests, new people, new everything. To us here, Atlantis is +only a figment, a shadow, far away across the waters. It is for +this new world of Yucatan that I have striven through all these +years." + +"If Deucalion has small time to spare from his government for +brooding over his fatherland, Atlantis, at least, has found leisure +to admire the deeds of her brilliant son. Why, sir, over yonder at +home, your name carries magic with it. When you and I were lads +together, it was the custom in the colleges to teach that the men +of the past were the greatest this world has ever seen; but to-day +this teaching is changed. It is Deucalion who is held up as the +model and example. Mothers name their sons Deucalion, as the most +valuable birth-gift they can make. Deucalion is a household word. +Indeed, there is only one name that is near to it in familiarity." + +"You trouble me," I said, frowning. "I have tried to do my +duty for its own sake, and for the country's sake, not for the +pattings and fondlings of the vulgar. And besides, if there are +names to be in every one's mouth, they should be the names of the +Gods." + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. "The Gods? They occupy us very +little these latter years. With our modern science, we have grown +past the tether of the older Gods, and no new one has appeared. +No, my Lord Deucalion, if it were merely the Gods who were your +competitors on men's lips, your name would be a thousand times the +better known." + +"Of mere human names," I said, "the name of this new Empress +should come first in Atlantis, our lord the old King being now +dead." + +"She certainly would have it so," replied Tatho, and there was +something in his tone which made me see that more was meant behind +the words. I drew him to one of the marble seats, and bent myself +familiarly towards him. "I am speaking," I said, "not to the new +Viceroy of Yucatan, but to my old friend Tatho, a member of the +Priests' Clan, like myself, with whom I worked side by side in a +score of the smaller home governments, in hamlets, in villages, in +smaller towns, in greater towns, as we gained experience in war and +knowledge in the art of ruling people, and so tediously won our +promotion. I am speaking in Tatho's private abode, that was mine +own not two hours since, and I would have an answer with that +plainness which we always then used to one another." + +The new Viceroy sighed whimsically. "I almost forget how to +speak in plain words now," he said. "We have grown so polished in +these latter days, that mere bald truth would be hissed as +indelicate. But for the memory of those early years, when we +expended as much law and thought over the ownership of a hay-byre +as we should now over the fate of a rebellious city, I will try and +speak plain to you even now, Deucalion. Tell me, old friend, what +is it?" + +"What of this new Empress?" + +He frowned. "I might have guessed your subject," he said. + + +"Then speak upon it. Tell me of all the changes that have +been made. What has this Phorenice done to make her throne +unstable in Atlantis?" + +Tatho frowned still. "If I did not know you to be as honest +as our Lord the Sun, your questions would carry mischief with them. +Phorenice has a short way with those who are daring enough to +discuss her policies for other purpose than politely to praise +them." + +"You can leave me ignorant if you wish," I said with a touch +of chill. This Tatho seemed to be different from the Tatho I had +known at home, Tatho my workmate, Tatho who had read with me in the +College of Priests, who had run with me in many a furious charge, +who had laboured with me so heavily that the peoples under us might +prosper. But he was quick enough to see my change of tone. + +"You force me back to my old self," he said with a half smile, +"though it is hard enough to forget the caution one has learned +during the last twenty years, even when speaking with you. Still, +whatever may have happened to the rest of us, it is clear to see +that you at least have not changed, and, old friend, I am ready to +trust you with my life if you ask it. In fact, you do ask me that +very thing when you tell me to speak all I know of Phorenice." + +I nodded. This was more like the old times, when there was +full confidence between us. "The Gods will it now that I return to +Atlantis," I said, "and what happens after that the Gods alone +know. But it would be of service to me if I could land on her +shores with some knowledge of this Phorenice, for at present I am +as ignorant concerning her as some savage from Europe or +mid-Africa." + +"What would you have me tell?" + +"Tell all. I know only that she, a woman, reigns, whereby the +ancient law of the land, a man should rule; that she is not even of +the Priestly Clan from which the law says all rulers must be drawn; +and that, from what you say, she has caused the throne to totter. +The throne was as firm as the everlasting hills in the old King's +day, Tatho." + +"History has moved with pace since then, and Phorenice has +spurred it. You know her origin?" + +"I know only the exact little I have told you." + +"She was a swineherd's daughter from the mountains, though +this is never even whispered now, as she has declared herself to be +a daughter of the Gods, with a miraculous birth and upbringing. As +she has decreed it a sacrilege to question this parentage, and has +ordered to be burnt all those that seem to recollect her more +earthly origin, the fable passes current for truth. You see the +faith I put in you, Deucalion, by telling you what you wish to +learn." + +"There has always been trust between us." + +"I know; but this habit of suspicion is hard to cast off, even +with you. However, let me put your good faith between me and the +torture further. Zaemon, you remember, was governor of the +swineherd's province, and Zaemon's wife saw Phorenice and took her +away to adopt and bring up as her own. It is said that the +swineherd and his woman objected; perhaps they did; anyway, I know +they died; and Phorenice was taught the arts and graces, and +brought up as a daughter of the Priestly Clan." + +"But still she was an adopted daughter only," I objected. + +"The omission of the 'adopted' was her will at an early age," +said Tatho dryly, "and she learnt early to have her wishes carried +into fact. It was notorious that before she had grown to fifteen +years she ruled not only the women of the household, but Zaemon +also, and the province that was beyond Zaemon." + +"Zaemon was learned," I said, "and a devout follower of the +Gods, and searcher into the higher mysteries; but, as a ruler, he +was always a flabby fellow." + +"I do not say that opportunities have not come usefully in +Phorenice's way, but she has genius as well. For her to have +raised herself at all from what she was, was remarkable. Not one +woman out of a thousand, placed as she was, would have grown to be +aught higher than a mere wife of some sturdy countryman, who was +sufficiently simple to care nothing for pedigree. But look at +Phorenice: it was her whim to take exercise as a man-at-arms and +practise with all the utensils of war; and then, before any one +quite knows how or why it happened, a rebellion had broken out in +the province, and here was she, a slip of a girl, leading Zaemon's +troops." + +"Zaemon, when I knew him, was a mere derision in the field." + +"Hear me on. Phorenice put down the rebellion in masterly +fashion, and gave the conquered a choice between sword and service. +They fell into her ranks at once, and were faithful to her from +that moment. I tell you, Deucalion, there is a marvellous +fascination about the woman." + +"Her present historian seems to have felt it." + +"Of course I have. Every one who sees her comes under her +spell. And frankly, I am in love with her also, and look upon my +coming here as detestable exile. Every one near to Phorenice, high +and low, loves her just the same, even though they know it may be +her whim to send them to execution next minute." + +Perhaps I let my scorn of this appear. + +"You feel contempt for our weakness? You were always a strong +man, Deucalion." + +"At any rate you see me still unmarried. I have found no time +to palter with the fripperies of women." + +"Ah, but these colonists here are crude and unfascinating. +Wait till you see the ladies of the court, my ascetic." + +"It comes to my mind," I said dryly, "that I lived in Atlantis +before I came out here, and at that time I used to see as much of +court life as most men. Yet then, also, I felt no inducement to +marry." + +Tatho chuckled. "Atlantis has changed so that you would hardly +know the country to-day. A new era has come over everything, +especially over the other sex. Well do I remember the women of +the old King's time, how monstrous uncomely they were, how +little they knew how to walk or carry themselves, how painfully +barbaric was their notion of dress. I dare swear that your ladies +here in Yucatan are not so provincial to-day as ours were then. +But you should see them now at home. They are delicious. And +above all in charm is the Empress. Oh, Deucalion, you shall see +Phorenice in all her glorious beauty and her magnificence one of +these fine days soon, and believe me you will go down on your knees +and repent." + +"I may see, and (because you say so) I may alter my life's +ways. The Gods make all things possible. But for the present I +remain as I am, celibate, and not wishful to be otherwise; and so +in the meantime I would hear the continuance of your history." + +"It is one long story of success. She deposed Zaemon from his +government in name as well as in fact, and the news was spread, and +the Priestly Clan rose in its wrath. The two neighbouring +governors were bidden join forces, take her captive, and bring her +for execution. Poor men! They tried to obey their orders; they +attacked her surely enough, but in battle she could laugh at them. +She killed both, and made some slaughter amongst their troops; and +to those that remained alive and became her prisoners, she made her +usual offer--the sword or service. Naturally they were not long +over making their choice: to these common people one ruler is much +the same as another: and so again her army was reinforced. + +"Three times were bodies of soldiery sent against her, and three +times was she victorious. The last was a final effort. Before, +it had been customary to despise this adventuress who had sprung +up so suddenly. But then the priests began to realise their +peril; to see that the throne itself was in danger; and to know +that if she were to be crushed, they would have to put forth their +utmost. Every man who could carry arms was pressed into the +service. Every known art of war was ordered to be put into +employment. It was the largest army, and the best equipped army +that Atlantis then had ever raised, and the Priestly Clan saw fit +to put in supreme command their general, Tatho." + +"You!" I cried. + +"Even myself, Deucalion. And mark you, I fought my utmost. +I was not her creature then; and when I set out (because they +wanted to spur me to the uttermost) the High Council of the priests +pointed out my prospects. The King we had known so long, was +ailing and wearily old; he was so wrapped up in the study of the +mysteries, and the joy of closely knowing them, that earthly +matters had grown nauseous to him; and at any time he might decide +to die. The Priestly Clan uses its own discretion in the election +of a new king, but it takes note of popular sentiment; and a +general who at the critical time could come home victorious from a +great campaign, which moreover would release a harassed people from +the constant application of arms, would be the idol of the moment. +These things were pointed out to me solemnly and in the full +council." + +"What! They promised you the throne?" + +"Even that. So you see I set out with a high stake before me. +Phorenice I had never seen, and I swore to take her alive, and give +her to be the sport of my soldiery. I had a fine confidence in my +own strategy then, Deucalion. But the old Gods, in whom I trusted +then, remained old, taught me no new thing. I drilled and +exercised my army according to the forms you and I learnt together, +old comrade, and in many a tough fight found to serve well; I armed +them with the choicest weapons we knew of then, with sling and +mace, with bow and spear, with axe and knife, with sword and the +throwing fire; their bodies I covered with metal plates; even their +bellies I cared for, with droves of cattle driven in the rear of +the fighting troops. + +"But when the encounter came, they might have been men of +straw for all the harm they did. Out of her own brain Phorenice +had made fire-tubes that cast a dart which would kill beyond two +bowshots, and the fashion in which she handled her troops dazzled +me. They threatened us on one flank, they harassed us on the +other. It was not war as we had been accustomed to. It was a +newer and more deadly game, and I had to watch my splendid army +eaten away as waves eat a sandhill. Never once did I get a chance +of forcing close action. These new tactics that had come from +Phorenice's invention, were beyond my art to meet or understand. +We were eight to her one, and our close-packed numbers only made us +so much the more easy for slaughter. A panic came, and those who +could fled. Myself, I had no wish to go back and earn the axe that +waits for the unsuccessful general. I tried to die there fighting +where I stood. But death would not come. It was a fine melee, +Deucalion, that last one." + +"And so she took you?" + +"I stood with three others back to back, with a ring of dead round +us, and a ring of the enemy hemming us in. We taunted them to +come on. But at hand-to-hand courtesies we had shown we could hold +our own, and so they were calling for fire-tubes with which they +could strike us down in safety from a distance. Then up came +Phorenice. 'What is this to-do?' says she. 'We seek to kill Lord +Tatho, who led against you,' say they. 'So that is Tatho?' says +she. 'A fine figure of a man indeed, and a pretty fighter +seemingly, after the old manner. Doubtless he is one who would +acquire the newer method. See now Tatho,' says she, 'it is my +custom to offer those I vanquish either the sword (which, believe +me, was never nearer your neck than now) or service under my +banner. Will you make a choice?' + +"'Woman,' I said, 'fairest that ever I saw, finest general the +world has ever borne, you tempt me sorely by your qualities, but +there is a tradition in our Clan, that we should be true to the +salt we eat. I am the King's man still, and so I can take no +service from you.' + +"'The King is dead,' says she. 'A runner has just brought the +tidings, meaning them to have fallen into your hands. And I am the +Empress.' + +"'Who made you Empress?' I asked. + +"'The same most capable hand that has given me this battle,' +says she. 'It is a capable hand, as you have seen: it can be a +kind hand also, as you may learn if you choose. With the King +dead, Tatho is a masterless man now. Is Tatho in want of a +mistress?' + +"'Such a glorious mistress as you,' I said, 'Yes.' And from +that moment, Deucalion, I have been her slave. Oh, you may frown; +you may get up from this seat and walk away if you will. But I ask +you this: keep back your worst judgment of me, old friend, till +after you have seen Phorenice herself in the warm and lovely flesh. +Then your own ears and your own senses will be my advocates, to win +me back your old esteem." + + + +2. BACK TO ATLANTIS + + +The words of Tatho were no sleeping draught for me that night. +I began to think that I had made somewhat a mistake in wrapping +myself up so entirely in my government of Yucatan, and not +contriving to keep more in touch with events that were passing at +home in Atlantis. For many years past it had been easy to see that +the mariner folk who did traffic across the seas spoke with +restraint, and that only what news the Empress pleased was allowed +to ooze out beyond her borders. But, as I say, I was fully +occupied with my work in the colony, and had no curiosity to pull +away a veil intentionally placed. Besides, it has always been +against my principles to put to the torture men who had received +orders for silence from their superiors, merely that they shall +break these orders for my private convenience. + +However, the iron discipline of our Priestly Clan left me no +choice of procedure. As was customary, I had been deprived of my +office at a moment's notice. From that time on, all papers and +authority belonged to my successor, and, although by courtesy I +might be permitted to remain as a guest in the pyramid that had so +recently been mine, to see another sunrise, it was clearly enjoined +that I must leave the territory then at the topmost of my speed and +hasten to report in Atlantis. + +Tatho, to give him credit, was anxious to further my interests +to the utmost in his power. He was by my side again before the +dawn, putting all his resources at my disposal. + +I had little enough to ask him. "A ship to take me home," I +said, "and I shall be your debtor." + +The request seemed to surprise him. "That you may certainly +have if you wish it. But my ships are foul with the long passage, +and are in need of a careen. If you take them, you will make a +slow voyage of it to Atlantis. Why do you not take your own navy? +The ships are in harbour now, for I saw them there when we came in. +Brave ships they are too." + +"But not mine. That navy belongs to Yucatan." + +"Well, Deucalion, you are Yucatan; or, rather, you were +yesterday, and have been these twenty years." + +I saw what he meant, and the idea did not please me. I answered +stiffly enough that the ships were owned by private merchants, +or belonged to the State, and I could not claim so much as a +ten-slave galley. + +Tatho shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose you know your own +policies best," he said, "though to me it seems but risky for a man +who has attained to a position like yours and mine not to have +provided himself with a stout navy of his own. One never knows +when a recall may be sent, and, through lack of these precautions, +a life's earnings may very well be lost in a dozen hours." + +"I have no fear for mine," I said coldly. + +"Of course not, because you know me to be your friend. But +had another man been appointed to this vice-royalty, you might have +been sadly shorn, Deucalion. It is not many fellows who can resist +a snug hoard ready and waiting in the very coffers they have come +to line." + +"My Lord Tatho," I said, "it is clear to me that you and I +have grown to be of different tastes. All of the hoard that I have +made for myself in this colony, few men would covet. I have the +poor clothes you see me in this moment, and a box of drugs such as +I have found useful to the stomach. I possess also three slaves, +two of them scribes and the third a sturdy savage from Europe, who +cooks my victual and fills for me the bath. For my maintenance +during my years of service, here, I have bled the State of a +soldier's ration and nothing beyond; and if in my name any man has +mulcted a creature in Yucatan of so much as an ounce of bronze, I +request you as a last service to have that man hanged for me as a +liar and a thief." + +Tatho looked at me curiously. "I do not know whether I admire +you most or whether I pity. I do not know whether to be astonished +or to despise. We had heard of much of your uprightness over +yonder in Atlantis, of your sternness and your justice, but I swear +by the old Gods that no soul guessed you carried your fancy so far +as this. Why, man, money is power. With money and the resources +money can buy, nothing could stop a fellow like you; whilst without +it you may be tripped up and trodden down irrevocably at the first +puny reverse." + +"The Gods will choose my fate." + +"Possibly; but for mine, I prefer to nourish it myself. I +tell you with frankness that I have not come here to follow in the +pattern you have made for a vice-royalty. I shall govern Yucatan +wisely and well to the best of my ability; but I shall govern it +also for the good of Tatho, the viceroy. I have brought with me +here my navy of eight ships and a personal bodyguard. There is my +wife also, and her women and her slaves. All these must be +provided for. And why indeed should it be otherwise? If a people +is to be governed, it should be their privilege to pay handsomely +for their prince." + +"We shall not agree on this. You have the power now, and can +employ it as you choose. If I thought it would be of any use, I +should like to supplicate you most humbly to deal with lenience +when you come to tax these people who are under you. They have +grown very dear to me." + +"I have disgusted you with me, and I am grieved for it. But +even to retain your good opinion, Deucalion--which I value more +than that of any man living--I cannot do here as you have done. It +would be impossible, even if I wished it. You must not judge all +other men by your own strong standard: a Tatho is by no means a +colossus like a Deucalion. And besides, I have a wife and +children, and they must be provided for, even if I neglect myself." + +"Ah, there," I said, "it does seem that I possess the +advantage. I have no wife, to clog me." + +He caught up my word quickly. "It seems to me you have +nothing that makes life worth living. You have neither wife, +children, riches, cooks, retinue, dresses, nor anything else in +proportion to your station. You will pardon my saying it, old +comrade, but you are plaguey ignorant about some matters. For +example, you do not know how to dine. During every day of a very +weary voyage, I have promised myself when sitting before the meagre +sea victual, that presently the abstinence would be more than +repaid by Deucalion's welcoming feast. Oh, I tell you that feast +was one of the vividest things that ever came before my eyes. And +then when we get to the actuality, what was it? Why, a country +farmer every day sits down to more delicate fare. You told me how +it was prepared. Well, your savage from Europe may be lusty, and +perchance is faithful, but be is a devil-possessed cook. Gods! I +have lived better on a campaign. + +"I know this is a colony here, without any of the home +refinements; but if in the days to come, the deer of the forest, +the fish of the stream, and the other resources of the place are +not put to better use than heretofore, I shall see it my duty as +ruler to fry some of the kitchen staff alive in grease so as to +encourage better cookery. Gods! Deucalion, have you forgotten +what it is to have a palate? And have you no esteem for your own +dignity? Man, look at your clothes. You are garbed like a +herdsman, and you have not a gaud or a jewel to brighten you." + +"I eat," I said coldly, "when my hunger bids me, and I carry +this one robe upon my person till it is worn out and needs +replacement. The grossness of excessive banqueting, and the +effeminacy of many clothes are attainments that never met my fancy. +But I think we have talked here over long, and there seems little +chance of our finding agreement. You have changed, Tatho, with the +years, and perhaps I have changed also. These alterations creep +imperceptibly into one's being as time advances. Let us part now, +and, forgetting these present differences, remember only our +friendship of twenty years agone. That for me, at any rate, has +always had a pleasant savour when called up into the memory." + +Tatho bowed his head. "So be it," he said. + +"And I would still charge myself upon your bounty for that +ship. Dawn cannot be far off now, and it is not decent that the +man who has ruled here so long, should walk in daylight through the +streets on the morning after his dismissal." + +"So be it," said Tatho. "You shall have my poor navy. I +could have wished that you had asked me something greater." + +"Not the navy, Tatho; one small ship. Believe me, more is +wasted." + +"Now, there," said Tatho, "I shall act the tyrant. I am +viceroy here now, and will have my way in this. You may go naked +of all possessions: that I cannot help. But depart for Atlantis +unattended, that you shall not." + +And so, in fine, as the choice was set beyond me, it was in +the "Bear," Tatho's own private ship, with all the rest of his navy +sailing in escort, that I did finally make my transit. + +But the start was not immediate. The vessels lay moored +against the stone quays of the inner harbour, gutted of their +stores, and with crews exhausted, and it would have been suicide to +have forced them out then and there to again take the seas. + +So the courtesies were fulfilled by the craft whereon I abode +hauling out into the entrance basin, and anchoring there in the +swells of the fairway; and forthwith she and her consorts took in +wood and water, cured meat and fish ashore, and refitted in all +needful ways, with all speed attainable. + +For myself there came then, as the first time during twenty +busy years, a breathing space from work. I had no further +connection with the country of my labours; indeed, officially, I +had left it already. Into the working of the ship it was contrary +to rule that I should make any inspection or interest, since all +sea matters were the exclusive property of the Mariners' Guild, +secured to them by royal patent, and most jealously guarded. + +So there remained to me in my day, hours to gaze (if I would) +upon the quays, the harbours, the palaces, and the pyramids of the +splendid city before me which I had seen grow stone by stone from +its foundations; or to roam my eye over the pastures and the grain +lands beyond the walls, and to look longingly at the dense forests +behind, from which field by field we had so tediously ripped our +territory. + +Would Tatho continue the work so healthily begun? I trusted +so, even in spite of his selfish words. And at all hours, during +the radiance of our Lord the Sun, or under the stars of night, I +was free to pursue that study of the higher mysteries, on which we +of the Priests' Clan are trained to set our minds, without aid of +book or instrument, of image or temple. + +The refitting of the navy was gone about with speed. Never, +it is said, had ships been reprovisioned and caulked, and remanned +with greater speed for the over-ocean voyage. Indeed, it was +barely over a month from the day that they brought up in the +harbour, they put out beyond the walls, and began their voyage +eastward over the hills and dale of the ocean. + +Rowing-slaves from Europe for this long passage of sea are not +taken now, owing to the difficulty in provisioning them, for modern +humanity forbids the practice of letting them eat one another +according to the home custom of their continent; sails alone are +but an indifferent stand by; but modern science has shown how to +extract force from the Sun, when He is free from cloud, and this +(in a manner kept secret by mariners) is made to draw sea-water at +the forepart of the vessel, and eject it with such force at the +stern that she is appreciably driven forward, even with the wind +adverse. + +In another matter also has navigation vastly improved. It is +not necessary now, as formerly, to trust wholly to a starry night +(when beyond sight of land) to find direction. A little image has +been made, and is stood balanced in the forepart of every vessel, +with an arm outstretched, pointing constantly to the direction +where the Southern Cross lies in the Heavens. So, by setting an +angle, can a just course be correctly steered. Other instruments +have they also for finding a true position on the ocean wastes, for +the newer mariner, when he is at sea, puts little trust in the +Gods, and confides mightily in his own thews and wits. + +Still, it is amusing to see these tarry fellows, even in this +modern day, take their last farewell of the harbour town. The ship +is stowed, and all ready for sea, and they wash and put on all +their bravery of attire. Ashore they go, their faces long with +piety, and seek some obscure temple whose God has little flavour +with shore folk, and here they make sacrifice with clamour and +lavish outlay. And, finally, there follows a feast in honour of +the God, and they arrive back on board, and put to sea for the most +part drunken, and all heavy and evil-humoured with gluttony and +their other excesses. + +The voyage was very different to my previous sea-going. There +was no creeping timorously along in touch with the coasts. We +stood straight across the open gulf in the direction of home, came +up with the band of the Carib Islands, and worked confidently +through them, as though they had been signposts to mark the sea +highway; and stopped only twice to replenish with wood, water, and +fruit. These commodities, too, the savages brought us freely, so +great was their subjection, and in neither place did we have even +the semblance of a fight. It was a great certificate of the +growing power of Atlantis and her finest over-sea colony. + +Then boldly on we went across the vast ocean beyond, with +never a sacrifice to implore the Gods that they should help our +direction. One might feel censure towards these rugged mariners +for their impiety, but one could not help an admiration for their +lusty skill and confidence. + +The dangers of the desolate sea are dealt out as the Gods will, +and man can only take them as they come. Storms we encountered, +and the mariners fought them with stubborn endurance; twice a +blazing stone from Heaven hissed into the sea beside us, though +without injuring any of our ships; and, as was unavoidable, the +great beasts of the sea hunted us with their accustomed +savagery. But only once did we suffer material loss from these +last, and that was when three of the greater sea lizards attacked +the "Bear," the ship whereon I travelled, at one and the same time. + +The hour of their onset was during the blazing midday heat, +and the Sun being at the full of His power, our machines were +getting full force from Him. The vessel was travelling forward +faster than a man on dry land could walk. But for the power escape +she might as well have been standing still when the beasts sighted +her. There were three of them, as I have said, and we saw them +come up over the curve of the horizon, beating the sea into foam +with their flappers, and waving their great necks like masts as +they swam. Our navy was spread out in a long line of ships, and in +olden days each of the beasts would have selected a separate prey, +and proceeded for it; but, like man, these beasts have learned the +necessities of warfare, and they hunt in pack now and do not +separate their forces. + +It was plain they were making for our ship, and Tob, the +captain, would have had me go into the after-castle, and there be +secure from their marauding. He was responsible to the Lord Tatho, +he said, for my safe conduct; it was certain that the beasts would +contrive to seize some of the ship's company before they were +satiated; and if the hap came to the Lord Deucalion, he (the +captain) would have to give himself voluntarily to the beasts then, +to escape a very painful death at Tatho's hands later on. + +However, my mind was set. A man can never have too much +experience in fighting enemies, whether human or bestial, and the +attack of these creatures was new to me, and I was fain to learn +its method. So I gave the captain a letter to Tatho, saying how +the matter lay (and for which, it may be mentioned, the rude fellow +seemed little enough grateful), and stayed in my chair under the +awning. + +The beasts surged up to us with champing jaws, and all the +shipmen stood armed on their defence. They came up alongside, two +females (the smaller) on the flank of the ship, the giant male by +himself on the other. Their great heads swooped about, as high as +the yards that held the sails, and the reek from them gave one +physical sickness. + +The shipmen faced the monsters with a sturdy courage. Arrows +were useless against the smooth, bull-like hides. Even the +throwing fire could not so much as singe them; nothing but twenty +axe blows delivered on an attacking head together could beat it +back, and even these succeeded only through sheer weight of metal, +and did not make so much as the scratch of a wound. + +During all time beasts have disputed with man the mastery of +the earth, and it is only in Atlantis and Egypt and Yucatan that +man has dared to hold his own, and fight them with a mind made +strong by many previous victories. In Europe and mid-Africa the +greater beasts hold full dominion, and man admits his puny number +and force, and lives in earth crannies and the higher tree-tops, as +a fugitive confessed. And upon the great oceans, the beasts are +lords, unchecked. + +Still here, upon this desolate sea, although the giant lizards +were new to me, it was a pleasure to pit my knowledge of war +against their brute strength and courage. Ever since the first men +did their business upon the great waters, they fulfilled their +instincts in fighting the beasts with desperation. Hiding +coward-like in a hold was useless, for if this enemy could not find +men above decks to glut them, they would break a ship with their +paddles, and so all would be slain. And so it was recognised that +the fight should go forward as desperately as might be, and that it +could only end when the beasts had got their prey and had gone away +satisfied. + +It was in a one-sided conflict after this fashion then, that +I found myself, and felt the joy once more to have my thews in +action. But after my axe had got in some dozen lusty blows, which, +for all the harm they did, might have been delivered against some +city wall, or, indeed, against the ark of the Mysteries itself, I +sought about me till I found a lance, and with that made very +different play. + +The eyes of these lizards are small, and set deep in a bony +socket, but I judged them to be vulnerable, and it was upon the +eyes of the beast that I made my attack. The decks were slippery +with the horrid slime of them. The crew surged about in their +battling, and, moreover, constantly offered themselves as a rampart +before me by reason of Tob, the captain's threats. But I gave a +few shrewd progues with the lance to show that I did not choose my +will to be overridden, and presently was given room for manoeuvre. + +Deliberately I placed myself in the sight of one of the +lizards, and offered my body to its attack. The challenge was +accepted. It swooped like a dropping stone, and I swerved and +drove in the lance at its oozy eye. + +I thanked the Gods then that I had been trained with the lance +till certain aim was a matter of instinct with me. The blade went +true to its mark and stuck there, and the shaft broke in my hand. +The beast drew off, blinded and bellowing, and beating the sea with +its paddles. In a great cataract of foam I saw it bend its great +long neck, and rub its head (with the spear still fixed) against +its back, thereby enduring new agonies, but without dislodging the +weapon. And then presently, finding this of no avail, it set off +for the place from which it came with extraordinary quickness, and +rapidly grew smaller against the horizon. + +The male and the other female lizard had also left us, but not +in similar plight. Tob, the captain, seeing my resolve to take +hazards, deliberately thrust a shipman into the jaws of each of the +others, so that they might be sated and get them gone. It was +clear that Tob dreaded very much for his own skin if I came by +harm, and I thought with a warming heart of the threats that Tatho +must have used in his kind anxiety for my safety. It is pleasant +when one's old friends do not omit to pay these little attentions. + + + +3. A RIVAL NAVY + + +Now, when we came up with the coasts of Atlantis, though Tob, +with the aid of his modern instruments, had made his landfall with +most marvellous skill and nearness, there still remained some ten +days' more journey in which we had to retrace our course, till we +came to that arm of the sea up which lies the great city of +Atlantis, the capital. + +The sight of the land, and the breath of earth and herbage +which came off from it with the breezes, were, I believe, under the +Gods, the means of saving the lives of all of us. For, as is +necessary with long cross-ocean voyages, many of our ships' +companies had died, and still more were sick with scurvy through +the unnatural tossing, or (as some have it) through the salt, +unnatural food inseparable from shipboard. But these last, the +sight and the smells of land heartened up in extraordinary fashion, +and from being helpless logs, unable to move even under blows of +the scourge, they became active again, able to help in the +shipwork, and lusty (when the time came) to fight for their lives +and their vessels. + +From the moment that I was deposed in Yucatan, despite Tatho's +assurances, there had been doubts in my mind as to what nature +would be my reception in Atlantis. But I had faced this event of +the future without concern: it was in the hands of the Gods. The +Empress Phorenice might be supreme on earth; she might cause my +head to be lopped from its proper shoulders the moment I set foot +ashore; but my Lord the Sun was above Phorenice, and if my head +fell, it would be because He saw best that it should be so. On +which account, therefore, I had not troubled myself about the +matter during the voyage, but had followed out my calm study of the +higher mysteries with an unloaded mind. + +But when our navy had retraced sufficiently the course that +had been overrun, and came up with the two vast headlands which +marked the entrance to the inland waters, there, a bare two days +from the Atlantis capital, we met with another navy which was, +beyond doubt, waiting to give us a reception. The ships were +riding at anchor in a bay which lent them shelter, but they had +scouts on the high land above, who cried the alarm of our approach, +and when we rounded the headland, they were standing out to dispute +our passage. + +Of us there were now but five ships, the rest having been lost +in storms, or fallen behind because all their crews were dead from +the scurvy; and of the strangers there were three fine ships, and +three galleys of many oars apiece. They were clean and bright and +black; our ships were storm-ragged and weather-worn, and had +bottoms that were foul with trailing ocean weed. Our ships hung +out the colours and signs of Tatho and Deucalion openly and without +shame, so that all who looked might know their origin and errand; +but the other navy came on without banner or antient, as though +they were some low creatures feeling shame for their birth. + +Clear it seemed also that they would not let us pass without +a fight, and in this there was nothing uncommon; for no law carries +out over the seas, and a brother in one ship feels quite free to +harry his brother in another vessel if he meets him out of earshot +of the beach--more especially if that other brother be coming home +laden from foray or trading tour. So Tob, with system and method, +got our vessel into fighting trim, and the other four captains did +the like with theirs, and drew close in to us to form a compact +squadron. They had no wish to smell slavery, now that the voyage +had come so near to its end. + +Our Lord the Sun shone brilliantly, giving full speed to the +machines, as though He was fully willing for the affair to proceed, +and the two navies approached one another with quickness, the three +galleys holding back to stay in line with their consorts. But when +some bare hundred ship-lengths separated us, the other navy halted, +and one of the galleys, drawing ahead, flew green branches from her +masts, seeking for a parley. + +The course was unusual, but we, in our sea-battered state, +were no navy to invite a fight unnecessarily. So in hoarse +sea-bawls word was passed, and we too halted, and Tob hoisted a +withered stick (which had to do duty for greenery), to show that we +were ready for talk, and would respect the person of an ambassador. + +The galley drew on, swung round, and backed till its stern +rasped on our shield rail, and one of her people clambered up and +jumped down upon our decks. He was a dandily rigged-out fellow, +young and lusty, and all healthy from the land and land victual, +and he looked round him with a sneer at our sea-tatteredness, and +with a fine self-confidence. Then, seeing Tob, he nodded as one +meets an acquaintance. "Old pot-mate," he said, "your woman waits +for you up by the quay-side in Atlantis yonder, with four +youngsters at her heels. I saw her not half a month ago." + +"You didn't come out here to tell me home news," said Tob; +"that I'll be sworn. I've drunk enough pots with you, Dason, to +know your pleasantries thoroughly." + +"I wanted to point out to you that your home is still there, +with your wife and children ready to welcome you." + +"I am not a man that ever forgets it," said Tob grimly; "and +because I've got them always at the back of my mind, I've sailed +this ship over the top of more than one pirate, when, if I'd been +a single man, I might have been e'en content to take the hap of +slavery." + +"Oh, I know you're a desperate enough fellow," said Dason, +"and I'm free to confess that if it does come to blows we are like +to lose a few men before we get you and your cripples here, and +your crazy ships comfortably sunk. Our navy has its orders to +carry out, and the cause of my embassage is this: we wish to see if +you will act the sensible part and give us what we want, and so be +permitted to go on your way home, with a skin that is unslit and +dry?" + +"You have come to the wrong bird here for a plucking," said +Tob with a heavy laugh. "We took no treasure or merchandise on +board in Yucatan. We stayed in harbour long enough to cure our sea +victual and fill with food and water, and no longer. We sail back +as we sailed out, barren ships. You will not believe me, of +course; I would not have believed you had our places been changed; +but you may go into the holds and search if you choose. You will +find there nothing but a few poor sailormen half in pieces with the +scurvy. No, you can steal nothing here but blows, Dason, and we +will give you those with but little asking." + +"I am glad to see that you state your cargo at such slender +value," said the envoy, "for it is the cargo I must take back with +me on the galley, if you are to earn your safe conduct to home." + +Tob knit his brows. "You had better speak more plain," he +said. "I am a common sailor, and do not understand fancy talk." + +"It is clear to see," said Dason, "that you have been set to +bring Deucalion back to Atlantis as a prop for Phorenice. Well, we +others find Phorenice hard enough to fight against without further +reinforcements, and so we want Deucalion in our own custody to deal +with after our own fashion." + +"And if I do the miser, and deny you this piece of my freight?" + +The spruce envoy looked round at the splintered ship, and the +battered navy beside her. "Why, then, Tob, we shall send you all +to the fishes in very short time, and instead of Deucalion standing +before the Gods alone, he will go down with a fine ragged company +limping at his heels." + +"I doubt it," said Tob, "but we shall see. As for letting you +have my Lord Deucalion, that is out of the question. For see here, +pot-mate Dason; in the first place, if I went to Atlantis without +Deucalion, my other lord, Tatho, would come back one of these days, +and in his hands I should die by the slowest of slow inches; in the +second, I have seen my Lord Deucalion kill a great sea lizard, and +he showed himself such a proper man that day that I would not give +him up against his will, even to Tatho himself; and in the third +place, you owe me for your share in our last wine-bout ashore, and +I'll see you with the nether Gods before I give you aught till +you've settled that score." + +"Well, Tob, I hope you'll drown easy. As for that wife of yours, +I've always had a fancy for her myself, and I shall know how to +find a use for the woman." + +"I'll draw your neck for that, you son of a European," said +Tob; "and if you do not clear off this deck I'll draw it here. +Go," he cried, "you father of monkey children! Get away, and let +me fight you fairly, or by my honour I'll stamp the inwards out of +you, and make your silly crew wear them as necklaces." + +Upon which Dason went to his galley. + +Promptly Tob set going the machine on our own "Bear," and +bawled his orders right and left to the other ships. The crew +might be weak with scurvy, but they were quick to obey. Instantly +the five vessels were all started, and because our Lord the Sun was +shining brightly, got soon to the full of their pace. The whole of +our small navy converged, singling out one ship of their opponents, +and she, not being ready for so swift an attack, got flurried, and +endeavoured to turn and run for room, instead of trying to meet us +bows on. As a consequence, the whole of our five ships hit her +together on the broadside, tearing her planking with their +underwater beaks, and sinking her before we had backed clear from +the engage. + +But if we thus brought the enemy's number down to five, and so +equal to our own, the advantage did not remain with us for long. +The three nimble galleys formed into line: their boatswains' whips +cracked as the slaves bent to their oars, and presently one of our +own ships was gored and sunk, the men on her being killed in the +water without hope of rescue. + +And then commenced a tight-locked melee that would have warmed +the heart of the greatest warrior alive. The ships and the galleys +were forced together and lay savagely grinding one another upon the +swells, as though they had been sentient animals. The men on board +them shot their arrows, slashed with axes, thrust and hacked with +swords, and hurled the throwing fire. But in every way the fight +converged upon the "Bear." It was on her that the enemy spent the +fiercest of their spite; it was to the "Bear," that the other crews +of Tatho's navy rallied as their own vessels caught fire, or were +sunk or taken. + +Battle is an old acquaintance with us of the Priestly Clan, +and for those of us who have had to carve out territories for the +new colonies, it comes with enough frequency to cloy even the most +chivalrous appetite. So I can speak here as a man of experience. +Up till that time, for half a life-span, I had heard men shout +"Deucalion" as a battlecry, and in my day had seen some lusty +encounters. But this sea-fight surprised even me in its savage +fierceness. The bleak, unstable element which surrounded us; the +swaying decks on which we fought; the throwing fire, which burnt +flesh and wood alike with its horrid flame; the great gluttonous +man-eating birds that hovered in the sky overhead; the man-eating +fish that swarmed up from the seas around, gnawing and quarrelling +over those that fell into the waters, all went to make up a +circumstance fit to daunt the bravest men-at-arms ever gathered for +an army. + +But these tarry shipmen faced it all with an indomitable +courage, and never a cry of quailing. Life on the seas is so hard, +and (from the beasts that haunt the great waters) so full of savage +dangers, that Death has lost half his terrors to them through sheer +familiarity. They were fellows who from pure lust for a fray would +fight to a finish amongst themselves in the taverns ashore; and so +here, in this desperate sea-battle, the passion for killing burned +in them, as a fire stone from Heaven rages in a forest; and they +took even their death-wounds laughing. + +On our side the battle-cry was "Tob!" and the name of this +obscure ship-captain seemed to carry a confidence with it for our +own crews that many a well-known commander might have envied. The +enemy had a dozen rallying cries, and these confused them. But as +their other ship-commanders one by one were killed, and Dason +remained, active with mischief, "Dason!" became the shout which was +thrown back at us in response to our "Tob!" + +However, I will not load my page with farther long account of +this obscure sea-fight, whose only glory was its ferocity. One by +one all the ships of either side were sunk or lay with all their +people killed, till finally only Dason's galley and our own "Bear" +were left. For the moment we were being mastered. We had a score +of men remaining out of all those that manned the navy when it +sailed from Yucatan, and the enemy had boarded us and made the +decks of the "Bear" the field of battle. But they had been over +busy with the throwing fire, and presently, as we raged at one +another, the smoke and the flame from the sturdy vessel herself let +us very plainly know that she was past salvation. + +But Tob was nothing daunted. "They may stay here and fry if they +choose," he shouted with his great boisterous laugh, "but for +ourselves the galley is good enough now. Keep a guard on +Deucalion, and come with me, shipmates!" + +"Tob!" our fellows shouted in their ecstasy of fighting +madness, and I too could not forbear sending out a "Tob!" for my +battle-cry. It was a change for me not to be leader, but it was a +luxury for once to fight in the wake of this Tob, despite his +uncouthness of mien and plan. There was no stopping this new rush, +though progress still was slow. Tob with his bloody axe cut the +road in front, and we others, with the lust of battle filling us to +the chin, raged like furies in his wake. Gods! but it was a fight. + +Ten of us won to the galley, with the flames and the smoke from +the poor "Bear" spurting at our heels. We turned and stabbed +madly at all who tried to follow, and hacked through the grapples +that held the vessels to their embrace. The sea-swells spurned the +"Bear" away. + +The slaves chained to the rowing-galley's benches had interest +neither one way nor the other, and looked on the contest with dull +concern, save when some stray missile found a billet amongst them. +But a handful of the fighting men had scrambled desperately on +board the galley after us, preferring any fate to a fiery death on +the "Bear," and these had to be dealt with promptly. Three, with +their fighting fury still red-hot in them, had most wastefully to +be killed out of mischief's way; five, who had pitched their +weapons into the sea, were chained to oar looms, in place of slaves +who were dead; and there remained only Dason to have a fate +apportioned. + +The fight had cooled out of him, and he had thrown his arms to +the sea, and stood sullenly ready for what might befall; and to him +Tob went up with an exulting face. + +"Ho, pot-mate Dason," cried he, "you made a lot of talk an +hour ago about that woman of mine, who lives with her brats on the +quay-side in Atlantis yonder. Now, I'll give you a pleasant +choice; either I'll take you along home, and tell her what you said +before the whole ship's company (that are for the most part dead +now, poor souls!), and I'll leave her to perform on your carcase as +she sees fit by way of payment; or, as the other choice, I'll deal +with you here now myself." + +"I thank you for the chance," said Dason, and knelt and offered +his neck to the axe. So Tob cut off his head, sticking it +on the galley's beak as an advertisement of what had been done. +The body he threw over the side, and one of the great man-eating +birds that hovered near, picked it up and flew away with it to its +nest amongst the crags. And so we were free to get a meal of the +fruits and the fresh meats which the galley offered, whilst the +oar-slaves sent the galley rushing onwards towards the capital. + +There was a wine-skin in the after-castle, and I filled a horn +and poured some out at Tob's feet in salutation. "My man," I said, +"you have shown me a fight." + +"Thanks," said he, "and I know you are a judge. 'Twas pretty +whilst it lasted; and, seeing that my lads were, for the most, +scurvy-rotten, I will say they fought with credit. I have lost my +Lord Tatho's navy, but I think Phorenice will see me righted there. +If those that are against her took so much trouble to kill my Lord +Deucalion before he could come to her aid, I can fancy she will not +be niggard in her joy when I put Deucalion safe, if somewhat dented +and blood-bespattered, on the quay." + +"The Gods know," I said, for it is never my custom to discuss +policies with my inferiors, even though etiquette be for the moment +loosened, as ours was then by the thrill of battle. "The Gods will +decide what is best for you, Tob, even as they have decided that it +is best that I should go on to Atlantis." + +The sailor held a horn filled from the wine-skin in his hand, +and I think was minded to pour a libation at my feet, even as I had +done at his. But he changed his mind, and emptied it down his +throat instead. "It is thirsty work, this fighting," he said, "and +that drink comes very useful." + +I put my hand on his blood-smeared arm. "Tob," I said, +"whether I step into power again, or whether I go to the block +to-morrow, is another matter which the Gods alone know, but hear me +tell you now, that if a chance is given me of showing my gratitude, +I shall not forget the way you have served me in this voyage, and +the way you have fought this day." + +Tob filled another brimming horn from the wine-skin and +splashed it at my feet. "That's good enough surety for me," he +said, "that my woman and brats never want from this day onward. +The Lord Deucalion for the block, indeed!" + + + +4. THE WELCOME OF PHORENICE + + +Now I can say it with all truth that, till the rival navy met +us in the mouth of the gulf, I had thought little enough of my +importance as a recruit for the Empress. But the laying in wait +for us of those ships, and the wild ferocity with which they fought +so that I might fall into their hands, were omens which the +blindest could not fail to read. It was clear that I was expected +to play a lusty part in the fortunes of the nation. + +But if our coming had been watched for by enemies it seemed +that Phorenice also had her scouts; and these saw us from the +mountains, and carried news to the capital. The arm of the sea at +the head of which the vast city of Atlantis stands, varies greatly +in width. In places where the mountains have over-boiled, and sent +their liquid contents down to form hard stone below, the channel +has barely a river's wideness, and then beyond, for the next +half-day's sail it will widen out into a lake, with the sides +barely visible. Moreover, its course is winding, and so a runner +who knows his way across the flats, and the swamps, and between the +smoking hills which lie along the shore, and did not get overcome +by fire-streams, or water, or wandering beasts, could carry news +overland from seacoast to capital far speedier than even the most +shrewdly whipped of galleys could ferry it along the water. + +Of course there were heavy risks that a lone traveller would +not make a safe passage by this land route, if he were bidden to +sacrifice all precautions to speed. But Phorenice was no niggard +with her couriers. She sent a corps of twenty to the headland that +overlooks the sea-entrance to the straits; they started with the +news, each on his own route; and it says much for their speed and +cleverness, that no fewer than seven of these agile fellows came +through scathless with their tidings, and of the others it was said +that quite three were known to have survived. + +Still, about this we had no means of knowing at the time, and +pushed on in fancy that our coming was quite unheralded. The +slaves on the galley's row-banks were for the most part savages +from Europe, and the smell of them was so offensive that the voyage +lost all its pleasures; and as, moreover, the wind carried with it +an infinite abundance of small grit from some erupting fire +mountain, we were anxious to linger as little as possible. +Besides, if I may confess to such a thing without being unduly +degraded, although by my priestly training I had been taught +stoicism, and knew that all the future was in the hands of the +Gods, I was frailly human still to have a very vast curiosity as to +what would be the form of my own reception at Atlantis. I could +imagine myself taken a formal prisoner on landing, and set on a +formal trial to answer for my cure of the colony of Yucatan; I +could imagine myself stepping ashore unknown and unnoticed, and +after a due lapse, being sent for by the Empress to take up new +duties; but the manner of my real welcome was a thing I did not +even guess at. + +We came in sight of the peak of the sacred mountain, with its +glare of eternal fires which stand behind the city, one morning +with the day's break, and the whips of the boatswains cracked more +vehemently, so that those offensive slaves should give the galley +a final spurt. The wind was adverse, and no sail could be spread, +but under oars alone we made a pretty pace, and the sides of the +sacred mountain grew longer, and presently the peaks of the +pyramids in the city, the towers of the higher buildings, began to +show themselves as though they floated upon the gleaming water. It +was twenty years since I had seen Atlantis last, and my heart +glowed with the thought of treading again upon her paving-stones. + +The splendid city grew out of the sea as we approached, and to +every throb of the oars, the shores leaped nearer. I saw the +temple where I had been admitted first to manhood; I saw the +pyramid in whose heart I had been initiated to the small mysteries; +and then (as the lesser objects became discernible) I made out the +house where a father and a mother had reared me, and my eyes became +dim as the memories rose. + +We drew up outside the white walls of the harbour, as the law +was, and the slaves panted and sobbed in quietude over the +oar-looms. For vessels thus stationed there is, generally, a +sufficiency of waiting, for a port-captain is apt to be so +uncertain of his own dignity, that he must e'en keep folks waiting +to prove it to them. But here for us it might have been that the +port-captain's boat was waiting. The signal was sounded from the +two castles at the harbour's entrance, the chain which hung between +them was dropped, and a ten-oared boat shot out from behind the +walls as fast as oars could drive her. She raced up alongside and +the questions were put: + +"That should be Dason's galley?" + +"It was," said Tob. + +"Oh, I saw Dason's head on your beak," said the port-captain. +"You were Tatho's captain?" + +"And am still. Tatho's fleet was sent by Dason and his friends +to the sea-floor, and so we took this stinking galley to finish +the voyage in, seeing that it was the only craft left afloat." + +The port-captain was roving his eye over the group of us who +stood on the after-deck. "I fear me, captain, that you'll have but +a dangerous reception. I do not see my Lord Deucalion. Or does he +come with some other navy? Gods, captain, if you have let him get +killed whilst under your charge, the Empress will have the skin +torn slowly off you living." + +"What with Phorenice and Tatho both so curious for his +welfare," said Tob, "my Lord Deucalion seems but a dangerous +passenger. But I shall save my hide this voyage." He jerked at me +with his thumb. "He's there to put in a word for me himself." + +The port-captain stared for a moment, as if unbelieving, and +then, as though satisfied, made obeisance like a fellow well used +to ceremonial. "I trust my lord, in his infinite strength, will +pardon my sin in not knowing him by his nobleness before. But +truth to tell, I had looked to see my lord more suitably +apparelled." + +"Pish," I said; "if I choose to dress simply, I cannot object +to being mistaken for a simple man. It is not my pleasure to +advertise my quality by the gauds on my garb. If you think amends +are due to me, I pray of your charity that this inquisition may +end." + +The fellow was all bows and obsequiousness. "I am the humblest +of my lord's servants," he said. "It will be my exceeding +honour to pilot my lord's galley into the berth appointed in +harbour." + +The boat shot ahead, and our galley-slaves swung into stroke +again. Tob watched me with a dry smile as he stood directing the +men at the helms. + +"Well," I said, humouring his whim, "what is it?" + +"I'm thinking," said Tob, "that my Lord Deucalion will remember +me only as a very rude fellow when he steps ashore amongst all +this fine gentility." + +"You don't think," said I, "anything of the kind." + +"Then I must prove my refinement," said Tob, "and not +contradict." He picked up my hand in his huge, hard fist, and +pressed it. "By the Gods, Deucalion, you may be a great prince, +but I've only known you as a man. You're the finest fighter of +beasts and men that walks this world to-day, and I love you for it. +That spear-stroke of yours on the lizard is a thing the singers in +the taverns shall make chaunts about." + +We drew rapidly into the harbour, the soldiers in the entrance +castle blowing their trumpets in welcome as we passed between them. +The captain of the port had run up my banner to the masthead of his +boat, having been provided with one apparently for this purpose of +announcement, and from the quays, across the vast basin of the +harbour, there presently came to us the noises of musicians, and +the pale glow of welcoming fires, dancing under the sunlight. I +was almost awed to think that an Empress of Atlantis had come to +such straits as to feel an interest like this in any mere returning +subject. + +It was clear that nothing was to be done by halves. The +port-captain's boat led, and we had no choice but to follow. Our +galley was run up alongside the royal quay and moored to its posts +and rings of gold, all of which are sacred to the reigning house. + +"If Dason could only have foreseen this honour," said Tob, with +grisly jest, "I'm sure he'd have laid in a silken warp to make +fast on the bollards instead of mere plebeian hemp. I'm sure +there'd be a frown on Dason's head this minute, if the sun +hadn't scorched it stiff. My Lord Deucalion, will you pick your +way with niceness over this common ship and tread on the genteel +carpet they've spread for you on the quay yonder?" + +The port-captain heard Tob's rude banter and looked up with a +face of horror, and I remembered, with a small sigh, that colonial +freedom would have no place here in Atlantis. Once more I must +prepare myself for all the dignity of rank, and make ready to tread +the formalities of vast and gorgeous ceremonial. + +But, be these things how they may, a self-respecting man must +preserve his individuality also, and though I consented to enter a +pavilion of crimson cloth, specially erected to shelter me till the +Empress should deign to arrive, there my complaisance ended. Again +the matter of clothes was harped upon. The three gorgeously +caparisoned chamberlains, who had inducted me to the shelter, laid +before me changes of raiment bedecked with every imaginable kind of +frippery, and would have me transform myself into a popinjay in +fashion like their own. + +Curtly enough, I refused to alter my garb, and when one of +them stammeringly referred to the Empress's tastes I asked him with +plainness if he had got any definite commands on this paltry matter +from her mightiness. + +Of course, he had to confess that there were none. + +Upon which I retorted that Phorenice had commanded Deucalion, +the man, to attend before her, and had sent no word of her pleasure +as to his outer casing. + +"This dress," I said, "suits my temper well. It shields my +poor body from the heat and the wind, and, moreover, it is clean. +It seems to me, sirs," I added, "that your interfering savours +somewhat of an impertinence." + +With one accord the chamberlains drew their swords and pushed +the hilts towards me. + +"It would be a favour," said their spokesman, "if the great +Lord Deucalion would take his vengeance now, instead of delivering +us to the tormentors hereafter." + +"Poof," I said, "the matter is forgotten. You make too much +of a little." + +Nevertheless, their action gave me some enlightenment. They +were perfectly in earnest in offering me the swords, and I +recognised that this was a different Atlantis that I had come home +to, where a man had dread of the torture for a mere difference +concerning the cut of a coat. + +There was a bath in the pavilion, and in that I regaled myself +gladly, though there was some paltry scent added to the water that +took away half its refreshing power; and then I set myself to wait +with all outward composure and placidity. The chamberlains were +too well-bred to break into my calm, and I did not condescend to +small talk. So there we remained, the four of us, I sitting, they +standing, with our Lord the Sun smiting heavily on the scarlet roof +of the pavilion, whilst the music blared, and the welcoming fires +dispersed their odours from the great paved square without, which +faced upon the quay. + +It has been said that the great should always collect dignity +by keeping those of lesser degree waiting their pleasure, though +for myself I must say I have always thought the stratagem paltry +and beneath me. Phorenice also seemed of this opinion, for (as she +herself told me later) at the moment that Tob's galley was reported +as having its flank against the marble of the royal quay, at that +precise moment did she start out from the palace. The gorgeous +procession was already marshalled, bedecked, and waiting only for +its chiefest ornament, and as soon as she had mounted to her steed, +trumpets gave the order, and the advance began. + +Sitting in the doorway of the pavilion, I saw the soldiery who +formed the head of this vast concourse emerge from the great broad +street where it left the houses. They marched straight across to +give me the salute, and then ranged themselves on the farther side +of the square. Then came the Mariners' Guild, then more soldiers, +all making obeisance in their turn, and passing on to make room for +others. Following were the merchants, the tanners, the +spear-makers and all the other acknowledged Guilds, deliberately +attired (so it seemed to me) that they might make a pageant; and +whilst most walked on foot, there were some who proudly rode on +beasts which they had tamed into rendering them this menial +service. + +But presently came the two wonders of all that dazzling +spectacle. From out of the eclipse of the houses there swung into +the open no less a beast than a huge bull mammoth. The sight had +sufficient surprise in it almost to make me start. Many a time +during my life had I led hunts to kill the mammoth, when a herd of +them had raided some village or cornland under my charge. I had +seen the huge brutes in the wild ground, shaggy, horrid, monstrous; +more fierce than even the cave-tiger or the cave-bear; most +dangerous beast of all that fight with man for dominion of the +earth, save only for a few of the greater lizards. And here was +this creature, a giant even amongst mammoths, yet tame as any +well-whipped slave, and bearing upon its back a great half-castle +of gold, stamped with the outstretched hand, and bedecked with +silver snakes. Its murderous tusks were gilded, its hairy neck was +garlanded with flowers, and it trod on in the procession as though +assisting at such pageantry was the beginning and end of its +existence. Its tameness seemed a fitting symbol of the masterful +strength of this new ruler of Atlantis. + +Simultaneously with the mammoth, there came into sight that +other and greater wonder, the mammoth's mistress, the Empress +Phorenice. The beast took my eye at the first, from its very +uncouth hugeness, from its show of savage power restrained; but the +lady who sat in the golden half-castle on its lofty back quickly +drew away my gaze, and held it immovable from then onwards with an +infinite attraction. + +I stood to my feet when the people first shouted at Phorenice's +approach, and remained in the porchway of my scarlet pavilion +till her vast steed had halted in the centre of the square, +and then I advanced across the pavement towards her. + +"On your knees, my lord," said one of the chamberlains behind +me, in a scared whisper. + +"At least with bent head," urged another. + +But I had my own notions of what is due to one's own +self-respect in these matters, and I marched across the bare open +space with head erect, giving the Empress gaze for gaze. She was +clearly summing me up. I was frankly doing the like by her. Gods! +but those few short seconds made me see a woman such as I never +imagined could have lived. + +I know I have placed it on record earlier in this writing +that, during all the days of a long official life, women have had +no influence over me. But I have been quick to see that they often +had a strong swaying power over the policies of others, and as a +consequence I have made it my business to study them even as I have +studied men. But this woman who sat under the sacred snakes in her +golden half-castle on the mammoth's back, fairly baffled me. Of +her thoughts I could read no single syllable. I could see a body +slight, supple, and beautifully moulded; in figure rather small. +Her face was a most perfect book of cleverness, yet she was fair, +too, beyond belief, with hair of a lovely ruddiness, cut short in +the new fashion, and bunching on her shoulders. And eyes! Gods! +who could plumb the depths of Phorenice's eyes, or find in mere +tint a trace of their heaven-made colour? + +It was plain, also, that she in her turn was searching me down +to my very soul, and it seemed that her scrutiny was not without +its satisfaction. She moved her head in little nods as I drew +near, and when I did the requisite obeisance permitted to my rank, +she bade me in a voice loud and clear enough for all at hand to +hear, never to put forehead on the ground again on her behalf so +long as she ruled in Atlantis. + +"For others," she said, "it is fitting that they should do so, +once, twice, or several times, according to their rank and station, +for I am Empress, and they are all so far beneath me; but you are +Deucalion, my lord, and though till to-day I knew you only from +pictures drawn with tongues, I have seen you now, and have judged +for myself. And so I make this decree: Deucalion is above all +other men in Atlantis, and if there is one who does not render him +obedience, that man is enemy also of Phorenice, and shall feel her +anger." + +She made a sign, and a stair was brought, and then she called +to me, and I mounted and sat beside her in the golden half-castle +under the canopy of royal snakes. The girl who stood behind in +attendance fanned us both with perfumed feathers, and at a word +from Phorenice the mammoth was turned, bearing us back towards the +royal pyramid by the way through which it had come. At the same +time also all the other machinery of splendour was put in motion. +The soldiers and the gaudily bedecked civil traders fell into +procession before and behind, and I noted that a body of troops, +heavily armed, marched on each of the mammoth's flanks. + +Phorenice turned to me with a smile. "You piqued me," she +said, "at first." + +"Your Majesty overwhelms me with so much notice." + +"You looked at my steed before you looked at me. A woman finds +it hard to forgive a slight like that." + +"I envied you the greatest of your conquests, and do still. +I have fought mammoths myself, and at times have killed, but I +never dared even to think of taking one alive and bringing it into +tameness." + +"You speak boldly," she said, still smiling, "and yet you can +turn a pretty compliment. Faugh! Deucalion, the way these people +fawn on me gives me a nausea. I am not of the same clay as they +are, I know; but just because I am the daughter of Gods they must +needs feed me on the pap of insincerity." + +So Tatho was right, and the swineherd was forgotten. Well, if +she chose to keep up the fiction she had made, it was not my part +to contradict her. Rightly or wrongly I was her servant. + +"I have been pining this long enough for a stronger meat than +they can give," she went on, "and at last I have sent for you. I +have been at some pains to procure my tongue-pictures of you, +Deucalion, and though you do not know me yet, I may say I knew you +with all thoroughness even before we met. I can admire a man with +a mind great enough to forego the silly gauds of clothes, or the +excesses of feasts, or the pamperings of women." She looked down +at her own silks and her glittering jewels. "We women like to +carry colours upon our persons, but that is a different matter. +And so I sent for you here to be my minister, and bear with me +the burden of ruling." + +"There should be better men in broad Atlantis." + +"There are not, my lord, and I who know them all by heart tell +you so. They are all enamoured of my poor person; they weary me +with their empty phrases and their importunities; and, though they +are always brimming with their cries of service, their own +advancement and the filling of their own treasuries ever comes +first with them. So I have sent for you, Deucalion, the one strong +man in all the world. You at least will not sigh to be my lover?" + +I saw her watching for my answer from the corner of her eyes. +"The Empress," I said, "is my mistress, and I will be an honest +minister to her. With Phorenice, the woman, it is likely that I +shall have little enough to do. Besides, I am not the sort that +sports with this toy they call love." + +"And yet you are a personable man enough," she said rather +thoughtfully. "But that still further proves your strength, +Deucalion. You at least will not lose your head through weak +infatuation for my poor looks and graces."--She turned to the girl +who stood behind us.--"Ylga, fan not so violently." + +Our talk broke off then for the moment, and I had time to look +about me. We were passing through the chief street in the fairest, +the most wonderful city this world has ever seen. I had left it a +score of years before, and was curious to note its increase. + +In public buildings the city had certainly made growth; there +were new temples, new pyramids, new palaces, and statuary +everywhere. Its greatness and magnificence impressed me more +strongly even than usual, returning to it as I did from such a +distance of time and space, for, though the many cities of Yucatan +might each of them be princely, this great capital was a place not +to be compared with any of them. It was imperial and gorgeous +beyond descriptive words. + +Yet most of all was I struck by the poverty and squalor which +stood in such close touch with all this magnificence. In the +throngs that lined the streets there were gaunt bodies and hungry +faces everywhere. Here and there stood one, a man or a woman, as +naked as a savage in Europe, and yet dull to shame. Even the +trader, with trumpery gauds on his coat, aping the prevailing +fashion for display, had a scared, uneasy look to his face, as +though he had forgotten the mere name of safety, and hid a frantic +heart with his tawdry outward vauntings of prosperity. + +Phorenice read the direction of my looks. + +"The season," she said, "has been unhealthy of recent months. +These lower people will not build fine houses to adorn my city, and +because they choose to live on in their squalid, unsightly kennels, +there have been calentures and other sicknesses amongst them, which +make them disinclined for work. And then, too, for the moment, +earning is not easy. Indeed, you may say trade is nearly stopped +this last half-year, since the rebels have been hammering so +lustily at my city gates." + +I was fairly startled out of my decorum. + +"Rebels!" I cried. "Who are hammering at the gates of +Atlantis? Is the city in a state of siege?" + +"Of their condescension," said Phorenice lightly, "they are +giving us holiday to-day, and so, happily, my welcome to you comes +undisturbed. If they were fighting, your ears would have told you +of it. To give them their due, they are noisy enough in all their +efforts. My spies say they are making ready new engines for use +against the walls, which you may sally out to-morrow and break if +it gives you amusement. But for to-day, Deucalion, I have you, and +you have me, and there is peace round us, and some prettiness of +display. If you ask for more I will give it you." + +"I did not know of this rebellion," I said, "but as Your Majesty +has made me your minister, it is well that I should know all about +its scope at once. This is a matter we should be serious upon." + +"And do you think I cannot take it seriously also?" she +retorted. "Ylga," she said to the girl that stood behind, "set +loose my dress at the shoulder." + +And when the attendant had unlinked the jewelled clasp (as it +seemed to me with a very ill grace), she herself stripped down the +fabric, baring the pure skin beneath, and showing me just below the +curve of the left breast a bandage of bloodstained linen. + +"There is a guarantee of my seriousness yesterday, at any +rate," she said, looking at me sidelong. "The arrow struck on a +rib and that saved me. If it had struck between, Deucalion would +have been standing beside my funeral pyre to-day instead of riding +on this pretty steed of mine which he admires so much. Your eye +seems to feast itself most on the mammoth, Deucalion. Ah, poor me. +I am not one of your shaggy creatures, and so it seems I shall +never be able to catch your regard. Ylga," she said to the girl +behind, "you may link my dress up again with its clasp. My Lord +Deucalion has seen wounds before, and there is nothing else here to +interest him." + + + +5. ZAEMON'S CURSE + + +It appeared that for the present at any rate I was to have my +residence in the royal pyramid. The glittering cavalcade drew up +in the great paved square which lies before the building, and +massed itself in groups. The mammoth was halted before the +doorway, and when a stair had been brought, the trumpets sounded, +and we three who had ridden in the golden half-castle under the +canopy of snakes, descended to the ground. + +It was plain that we were going from beneath the open sky to +the apartments which lay inside the vast stone mazes of the +pyramid, and without thinking, the instinct of custom and reverence +that had become part of my nature caused me to turn to where the +towering rocks of the Sacred Mountain frowned above the city, and +make the usual obeisance, and offer up in silence the prescribed +prayer. I say I did this thing unthinking, and as a matter of +common custom, but when I rose to my feet, I could have sworn I +heard a titter of laughter from somewhere in that fancifully +bedecked crowd of onlookers. + +I glanced in the direction of the scoffers, frowningly enough, +and then I turned to Phorenice to demand their prompt punishment +for the disrespect. But here was a strange thing. I had looked to +see her in the act and article of rising from an obeisance; but +there she was, standing erect, and had clearly never touched her +forehead to the ground. Moreover, she was regarding me with a +queer look which I could not fathom. + +But whatever was in her mind, she had no plan to bawl about it +then before the people collected in the square. She said to me, +"Come," and, turning to the doorway, cried for entrance, giving the +secret word appointed for the day. The ponderous stone blocks, +which barred the porch, swung back on their hinges, and with +stately tread she passed out of the hot sunshine into the cool +gloom beyond, with the fan-girl following decorously at her heels. +With a heaviness beginning to grow at my heart, I too went inside +the pyramid, and the stone doors, with a sullen thud, closed behind +us. + +We did not go far just then. Phorenice halted in the hall of +waiting. How well I remembered the place, with the pictures of +kings on its red walls, and the burning fountain of earth-breath +which blazed from a jet of bronze in the middle of the flooring and +gave it light. The old King that was gone had come this far of his +complaisance when he bade me farewell as I set out twenty years +before for my vice-royalty in Yucatan. But the air of the hall was +different to what it had been in those old days. Then it was pure +and sweet. Now it was heavy with some scent, and I found it +languid and oppressive. + +"My minister," said the Empress, "I acquit you of intentional +insult; but I think the colonial air has made you a very simple +man. Such an obeisance as you showed to that mountain not a minute +since has not been made since I was sent to reign over this +kingdom." + +"Your Majesty," I said, "I am a member of the Priests' Clan +and was brought up in their tenets. I have been taught, before +entering a house, to thank the Gods, and more especially our Lord +the Sun, for the good air that He and They have provided. It has +been my fate more than once to be chased by streams of fire and +stinking air amongst the mountains during one of their sudden +boils, and so I can say the prescribed prayer upon this matter +straight from my heart." + +"Circumstances have changed since you left Atlantis," said +Phorenice, "and when thanks are given now, they are not thrown at +those old Gods." + +I saw her meaning, and almost started at the impiety of it. +If this was to be the new rule of things, I would have no hand in +it. Fate might deal with me as it chose. To serve truly a +reigning monarch, that I was prepared for; but to palter with +sacrilege, and accept a swineherd's daughter as a God, who should +receive prayers and obeisances, revolted my manhood. So I invited +a crisis. + +"Phorenice," I said, "I have been a priest from my childhood +up, revering the Gods, and growing intimate with their mysteries. +Till I find for myself that those old things are false, I must +stand by that allegiance, and if there is a cost for this +faithfulness I must pay it." + +She looked at me with a slow smile. "You are a strong man, +Deucalion," she said. + +I bowed. + +"I have heard others as stubborn," she said, "but they were +converted." She shook out the ruddy bunches of her hair, and stood +so that the light of the burning earth-breath might fall on the +loveliness of her face and form. "I have found it as easy to +convert the stubborn as to burn them. Indeed, there has been +little talk of burning. They have all rushed to conversion, +whether I would or no. But it seems that my poor looks and tongue +are wanting in charm to-day." + +"Phorenice is Empress," I said stolidly, "and I am her +servant. To-morrow, if she gives me leave, I will clear away this +rabble which clamours outside the walls. I must begin to prove my +uses." + +"I am told you are a pretty fighter," said she. "Well, I hold +some small skill in arms myself, and have a conceit that I am +something of a judge. To-morrow we will take a taste of battle +together. But to-day I must carry through the honourable reception +I have planned for you, Deucalion. The feast will be set ready +soon, and you will wish to make ready for the feast. There are +chambers here selected for your use, and stored with what is +needful. Ylga will show you their places." + +We waited, the fan-girl and I, till Phorenice had passed out +of the glow of the light-jet, and had left the hall of waiting +through a doorway amongst the shadows of its farther angle, and +then (the girl taking a lamp and leading) we also threaded our way +through the narrow mazes of the pyramid. + +Everywhere the air was full of perfumes, and everywhere the +passages turned and twisted and doubled through the solid stone of +the pyramid, so that strangers might have spent hours--yes, or +days--in search before they came to the chamber they desired. +There was a fine cunningness about those forgotten builders who set +up this royal pyramid. They had no mind that kings should fall by +the hand of vulgar assassins who might come in suddenly from +outside. And it is said also that the king of the time, to make +doubly sure, killed all that had built the pyramid, or seen even +the lay of its inner stones. + +But the fan-girl led the way with the lamp swinging in her +hand, as one accustomed to the mazes. Here she doubled, there she +turned, and here she stopped in the middle of a blank wall to push +a stone, which swung to let us pass. And once she pressed at the +corner of a flagstone on the floor, which reared up to the thrust +of her foot, and showed us a stair steep and narrow. That we +descended, coming to the foot of an inclined way which led us +upward again; and so by degrees we came unto the chamber which had +been given for my use. + +"There is raiment in all these chests which stand by the walls," +said the girl, "and jewels and gauds in that bronze coffer. +They are Phorenice's first presents, she bid me say, and but a +small earnest of what is to come. My Lord Deucalion can drop his +simplicity now, and fig himself out in finery to suit the fashion." + +"Girl," I said sharply, "be more decorous with your tongue, and +spare me such small advice." + +"If my Lord Deucalion thinks this a rudeness, he can give a word +to Phorenice, and I shall be whipped. If he asks it, I can be +stripped and scourged before him. The Empress will do much for +Deucalion just now." + +"Girl," I said, "you are nearer to that whipping than you think +for." + +"I have got a name," she retorted, looking at me sullenly from +under her black brows. "They call me Ylga. You might have heard +that as we rode here on the mammoth, had you not been so wrapped up +in Phorenice." + +I gazed at her curiously. "You have never seen me before," I +said, "and the first words you utter are those that might well +bring trouble to yourself. There is some object in all this." + +She went and pushed to the massive stone that swung in the +doorway of the chamber. Then she put her little jewelled fingers +on my garment and drew me carefully away from the airshaft into the +farther corner. "I am the daughter of Zaemon," she said, "whom you +knew." + +"You bring me some message from him?" + +"How could I? He lives in the priests' dwellings on the +Mountain you did obeisance to. I have not put eyes on him these +two years. But when I saw you first step out from that red +pavilion they had pitched at the harbour side, I--I felt a pity for +you, Deucalion. I remembered you were my father's, Zaemon's, +friend, and I knew what Phorenice had in store. She has been +plotting it all these two months." + +"I cannot hear words against the Empress." + +"And yet--" + +"What?" + +She stamped her sandal upon the stone of the floor. "You must +be a very blind man, Deucalion, or a very daring one. But I shall +not interfere further; at least not now. Still, I shall watch, and +if at any time you seem to want a friend I will try and serve you." + +"I thank you for your friendship." + +"You seem to take it lightly enough. Why, sir, even now I do +not believe you know my power, any more than you guess my motive. +You may be first man in this kingdom, but let me tell you I rank as +second lady. And remember, women stand high in Atlantis now. +Believe me, my friendship is a commodity that has been sought with +frequence and industry." + +"And as I say, I am grateful for it. You seem to think little +enough of my gratitude, Ylga; but, credit me, I never have bestowed +it on a woman before, and so you should treasure it for its +rarity." + +"Well," she said, "my lord, there is an education before you." +She left me then, showing me how to call slaves when I wished for +their help, and for a full minute I stood wondering at the words I +had spoken to her. Who was the daughter of Zaemon that she should +induce me to change the habit of a lifetime? + +The slaves came at my bidding, and showed themselves anxious +to deck me with a thousand foolishnesses in the matter of robes and +gauds, and (what seemed to be the modern fashion of their class) +holding out the virtues of a score of perfumes and unguents. Their +manner irritated me. Clean I was already, and shaved; my hair was +trim, and my robe was unsoiled; and, considering these pressing +attentions of theirs something of an impertinence, I set them to +beat one another as a punishment, promising that if they did not do +it with thoroughness, I would hand them on to the brander to be +marked with stripes which would endure. It is strange, but a +common menial can often surpass even a rebellious general in power +of ruffling one. + +I had seen many strange sights that day, and undergone many +new sensations; but of all the things which came to my notice, +Phorenice's manner of summoning the guests to her feast surprised +me most. Nay, it did more; it shocked me profoundly; and I cannot +say whether amazement at her profanity, or wonder at her power, was +for the moment strongest in my breast. I sat in my chamber +awaiting the summons, when gradually, growing out of nothing, a +sound fell upon my ear which increased in volume with infinitely +small graduations, till at last it became a clanging din which hurt +the ear with its fierceness; and then (I guessed what was coming) +the whole massive fabric of the pyramid trembled and groaned and +shook, as though it had been merely a child's wooden toy brushed +about by a strong man's sandal. + +It was the portent served out yearly by the chiefs of the +Priests' Clan on the Sacred Mountain, when they bade all the world +take count of their sins. It was the sacred reminder that from +roaring, raging fire, and from the agony of monstrous +earth-tremors, man had been born, and that by these same agencies +he would eventually be swallowed up--he and the sins within his +breast. And here the Empress was prostituting its solemnities into +a mere call to gluttony, and sign for ribald laughter and sensuous +display. + +But how had she acquired the authority to do this thing? Who +was she that she should tamper with those dimly understood powers, +the forces that dwell within the liquid heart of our mother earth? +Had there been treachery? Had some member of the Priests' Clan +forgotten his sacred vows, and babbled to this woman matters +concerning the holy mysteries? Or had Phorenice discovered a key +to these mysteries with her own agile brain? + +If that last was the case, I could continue to serve her with +silent conscience. Though she might be none of my making, at least +she was Empress, and it was my duty to give her obedience. But if +she had suborned some weaker member of the Clan on the Sacred +Mount, that would be a different matter. For be it remembered that +it was one of the elements of our constitution to preserve our +secrets and mysteries inviolate, and to pursue with undying hatred +both the man who had dared to betray them, and the unhappy +recipient of his confidence. + +It was with very undecided feelings, then, that I obeyed the +summons of the earth-shaking, and bade the slaves lead me through +the windings of the pyramid to the great banqueting-hall. The +scene there was dazzling. The majestic chamber with its marvellous +carvings was filled with a company decked out with all the gauds +and colours that fancy could conceive. Little recked they of the +solemn portent which had summoned them to the meal, of the death +and misery that stalked openly through the city wards without, of +the rebels which lay in leaguer beyond the, walls, of the neglected +Gods and their clan of priests on the Sacred Mountain. They were +all gluttonous for the passions of the moment; it was their fashion +and conceit to look at nothing beyond. + +Flaming jets of earth-breath lit the great hall to the +brightness of midday; and when I stepped out upon the pavement, +trumpets blared, so that all might know of my coming. But there +was no roar of welcome. "Deucalion," they lisped with mincing +voices, bowing themselves ridiculously to the ground so that all +their ornaments and silks might jangle and swish. Indeed, when +Phorenice herself appeared, and all sent up their cries and made +lawful obeisance, there was the same artificiality in the welcome. +They meant well enough, it is true; but this was the new fashion. +Heartiness had come to be accounted a barbarism by this new +culture. + +A pair of posturing, smirking chamberlains took me in charge, +and ushered me with their flimsy golden wands to the dais at the +farther end. It appeared that I was to sit on Phorenice's divan, +and eat my meat out of her dish. + +"There is no stint to the honour the Empress puts upon me," I +said, as I knelt down and took my seat. + +She gave me one of her queer, sidelong looks. "Deucalion may +have more beside, if he asks for it prettily. He may have what all +the other men in the known world have sighed for, and what none of +them will ever get. But I have given enough of my own accord; he +must ask me warmly for those further favours." + +"I ask," I said, "first, that I may sweep the boundaries clear +of this rabble which is clamouring against the city walls." + +"Pah," she said, and frowned. "Have you appetite only for the +sterner pleasures of life? My good Deucalion, they must have been +rustic folk in that colony of yours. Well, you shall give me news +now of the toothsomeness of this feast." + +Dishes and goblets were placed before us, and we began to eat, +though I had little enough appetite for victual so broken and so +highly spiced. But if this finicking cookery and these luscious +wines did not appeal to me, the other diners in that gorgeous hall +appreciated it all to the full. They sat about in groups on the +pavement beneath the light-jets like a tangle of rainbows for +colour, and according to the new custom they went into raptures and +ecstasies over their enjoyment. Women and men both, they lingered +over each titillation of the palate as though it were a caress of +the Gods. + +Phorenice, with her quick, bright eyes, looked on, and +occasionally flung one or another a few words between her talk with +me, and now and again called some favoured creature up to receive +a scrap of viand from the royal dish. This the honoured one would +eat with extravagant gesture, or (as happened twice) would put it +away in the folds of his clothes as a treasure too dear to be +profaned by human lips. + +To me, this flattery appeared gross and disgustful, but +Phorenice, through use, perhaps, seemed to take it as merely her +due. There was, one had to suppose, a weakness in her somewhere, +though truly to the outward seeing none was apparent. Her face was +strong enough, and it was subtle also, and, moreover, it was +wondrous comely. All the courtiers in the banqueting-hall raved +about Phorenice's face and the other beauties of her body and +limbs, and though not given to appreciation in these matters, I +could not but see that here at least they had a groundwork for +their admiration, for surely the Gods have never favoured mortal +woman more highly. Yet lovely though she might be, for myself I +preferred to look upon Ylga, the girl, who, because of her rank, +was privileged to sit on the divan behind us as immediate +attendant. There was an honesty in Ylga's face which Phorenice's +lacked. + +They did not eat to nutrify their bodies, these feasters in +the banqueting-hall of the royal pyramid, but they all ate to cloy +themselves, and they strutted forth new usages with every platter +and bowl that the slaves brought. To me some of their manners were +closely touching on disrespect. At the halfway of the meal, a +gorgeous popinjay--he was a governor of an out-province driven into +the capital by a rebellion in his own lands--this gorgeous fop, I +say, walked up between the groups of feasters with flushed face and +unsteady gait, and did obeisance before the divan. "Most +astounding Empress," cried he, "fairest among the Goddesses, Queen +regnant of my adoring heart, hail!" + +Phorenice with a smile stretched him out her cup. I looked to +see him pour respectful libation, but no such thing. He set the +drink to his lips and drained it to the final drop. "May all your +troubles," he cried, "pass from you as easily, and leave as +pleasant a flavour." + +The Empress turned to me with one of her quick looks. "You do +not like this new habit?" + +To which I replied bluntly enough that to pour out liquor at +a person's feet had grown through custom to be a mark of respect, +but that drinking it seemed to me mere self-indulgence, which might +be practised anywhere. + +"You still keep to the old austere teachings," she said. "Our +newer code bids us enjoy life first, and order other things so as +not to meddle with our more immediate pleasure." + +And so the feast went on, the guests practising their +gluttonies and their absurdities, and the guards standing to their +arms round the circuit of the walls as motionless and as stern as +the statues carven in the white stone beyond them. But a term was +put to the orgy with something of suddenness. There was a stir at +the farther doorway of the banqueting-hall, and a clash, as two of +the guards joined their spears across the entrance. But the man +they tried to stop--or perhaps it was to pin--passed them unharmed, +and walked up over the pavement between the lights, and the groups +of feasters. All looked round at him; a few threw him ribald +words; but none ventured to stop his progress. A few, women +chiefly, I could see, shuddered as he passed them by, as though a +wintry chill had come over them; and in the end he walked up and +stood in front of Phorenice's divan, and gazed fixedly on her, but +without making obeisance. + +He was a frail old man, with white hair tumbling on his +shoulders, and ragged white beard. The mud of wayfaring hung in +clots on his feet and legs. His wizened body was bare save for a +single cloth wound about his shoulders and his loins, and he +carried in his hand a wand with the symbol of our Lord the Sun +glowing at its tip. That wand went to show his caste, but in no +other way could I recognize him. + +I took him for one of those ascetics of the Priests' Clan, who +had forsworn the steady nurtured life of the Sacred Mountain, and +who lived out in the dangerous lands amongst the burning hills, +where there is daily peril from falling rocks, from fire streams, +from evil vapours, from sudden fissuring of the ground, and from +other movements of those unstable territories, and from the greater +lizards and other monstrous beasts which haunt them. These keep +constant in the memory the might of the Holy Gods, and the +insecurity of this frail earth on which we have our resting-place, +and so the sojourners there become chastened in the spirit, and +gain power over mysteries which even the most studious and learned +of other men can never hope to attain. + +A silence filled the room when the old man came to his halt, +and Phorenice was the first to break it. "Those two guards," she +said, in her clear, carrying voice, "who held the door, are not +equal to their work. I cannot have imperfect servants; remove +them." + +The soldiers next in the rank lifted their spears and drove +them home, and the two fellows who had admitted the old man fell to +the ground. One shrieked once, the other gave no sound: they were +clever thrusts both. + +The old man found his voice, thin, and high, and broken. +"Another crime added to your tally, Phorenice. Not half your army +could have hindered my entrance had I wished to come, and let me +tell you that I am here to bring you your last warning. The Gods +have shown you much favour; they gave you merit by which you could +rise above your fellows, till at last only the throne stood above +you. It was seen good by those on the Sacred Mountain to let you +have this last ambition, and sit on this throne that has as long +and honourably been filled by the ancient kings of Atlantis." + +The Empress sat back on the divan smiling. "I seemed to get +these things as I chose, and in spite of your friends' teeth. I +may owe to you, old man, a small parcel of thanks, though that I +offered to repay; but for my lords the priests, their permission +was of small enough value when it came. I would have you remember +that I was as firm on the throne of Atlantis as this pyramid stands +upon its base when your worn-out priests came up to give their +tottering benediction." + +The old man waved aside her interruption. "Hear me out," he +said. "I am here with no trivial message. There is nothing paltry +about the threat I can throw at you, Phorenice. With your +fire-tubes, your handling of troops, and your other fiendish +clevernesses, you may not be easy to overthrow by mere human means, +though, forsooth, these poor rebels who yap against your city walls +have contrived to hold their ground for long enough now. It may be +that you are becoming enervated; I do not know. It may be that you +are too wrapped up in your feastings, your dressings, your pomps, +and your debaucheries, to find leisure to turn to the art of war. +It may be that the man's spirit has gone out from your arm and +brain, and you are a woman once more--weak, and pleasure-loving; +again I do not know. + +"But this must happen: You must undo the evil you have done; +you must give bread to the people who are starving, even if you +take it from these gluttons in this hall; you must restore Atlantis +to the state in which it was entrusted to you: or else you must be +removed. It cannot be permitted that the country should sink back +into the lawlessness and barbarism from which its ancient kings +have digged it. You hear, Phorenice. Now give me true answer." + +"Speak him fair. Oh! For the sake of your fortune, speak him +fair," came Ylga's voice in a hurried whisper from behind us. But +the Empress took no notice of it. She leaned forward on the +cushions of the divan with a knit brow. + +"Do you dare to threaten me, old man, knowing what I am?" + +"I know your origin," he said gravely, "as well as you know it +yourself. As for my daring, that is a small matter. He need be +but a timid man who dares to say words that the High Gods put on +his lips." + +"I shall rule this kingdom as I choose. I shall brook +interference from no creature on this earth, or beneath it, or in +the sky above. The Gods have chosen me to be Their regent in +Atlantis, and They do not depose me through such creatures as you. +Go away, old man, and play the fanatic in another court. It is +well that I have an ancient kindliness for you, or you would not +leave this place unharmed." + +"Now, indeed, you are lost," I heard Ylga murmur from behind, +and the old man in front of us did not move a step. Instead, he +lifted up the Symbol of our Lord the Sun, and launched his curse. +"Your blasphemy gives the reply I asked for. Hear me now make +declaration of war on behalf of Those against whom you have thrown +your insults. You shall be overthrown and sent to the nether Gods. +At whatever cost the land shall be purged of you and yours, and all +the evil that has been done to it whilst you have sullied the +throne of its ancient kings. You will not amend, neither will you +yield tamely. You vaunt that you sit as firm on your throne as +this pyramid reposes on its base. See how little you know of what +the future carries. I say to you that, whilst you are yet Empress, +you shall see this royal pyramid which you have polluted with your +debaucheries torn tier from tier, and stone from stone, and +scattered as feathers spread before a wind." + +"You may wreck the pyramid," said Phorenice contemptuously. +"I myself have some knowledge of the earth forces, as I have shown +this night. But though you crumble every stone above us now and +grind it into grit and dust, I shall still be Empress. What force +can you crazy priests bring against me that I cannot throw back and +destroy?" + +"We have a weapon that was forged in no mortal smithy," +shrilled the old man, "whereof the key is now lodged in the Ark of +the Mysteries. But that weapon can be used only as a last +resource. The nature of it even is too awful to be told in words. +Our other powers will be launched against you first, and for this +poor country's sake I pray that they may cause you to wince. Yet +rest assured, Phorenice, that we shall not step aside once we have +put a hand to this matter. We shall carry it through, even though +the cost be a universal burning and destruction. For know this, +daughter of the swineherd, it is agreed amongst the most High Gods +that you are too full of sin to continue unchecked." + +"Speak him fairly," Ylga urged from behind. "He has a power +at which you cannot even guess." + +The Empress made to rise, but Ylga clung to her skirt. "For +the sake of your fame," she urged, "for the sake of your life, do +not defy him." But Phorenice struck her fiercely aside, and faced +the old man in a tumult of passion. "You dare call me a +blasphemer, who blaspheme yourself? You dare cast slurs upon my +birth, who am come direct from the most high Heaven? Old man, your +craziness protects you in part, but not in all. You shall be +whipped. Do you hear me? I say, whipped. The lean flesh shall be +scourged from your scraggy bones, and you shall totter away from +this place as a red and bleeding example for those who would dare +traduce their Empress. Here, some of you, I say, take that man, +and let him be whipped where he stands." + +Her cry went out clearly enough. But not a soul amongst those +glittering feasters stirred in his place. Not a soldier amongst +the guards stepped from his rank. The place was hung in a terrible +silence. It seemed as though no one within the hall dared so much +as to draw a breath. All felt that the very air was big with fate. + +Phorenice, with her head crouched forward, looked from one +group to another. Her face was working. "Have I no true +servants," she asked, "amongst all you pretty lip-servers?" + +Still no one moved. They stood, or sat, or crouched like +people fascinated. For myself, with the first words he had +uttered, I had recognized the old man by his voice. It was Zaemon, +the weak governor who had given the Empress her first step towards +power; that earnest searcher into the mysteries, who knew more of +their powers, and more about the hidden forces, than any other +dweller on the Sacred Mountain, even at that time when I left for +my colony. And now, during his strange hermit life, how much more +might he not have learned? I was torn by warring duties. I owed +much to the Priests' Clan, by reason of my oath and membership; it +seemed I owed no less to Phorenice. And, again, was Zaemon the +truly accredited envoy of the high council of the priests of the +Sacred Mountain? And was the Empress of a truth deposed by the +High Gods above, or was she still Empress, and still the commander +of my duty? I could not tell, and so I sat in my seat awaiting +what the event would sow. + +Phorenice's fury was growing. "Do I stand alone here?" she +cried. "Have I pampered you creatures out of all touch with +gratitude? It seems that at last I want a new chief to my guards. +Ho! Who will be chief of the guards of the Empress?" + +There was a shifting of eyes, a hesitation. Then a great +burly form strode up from the farther end of the hall, and a +perceptible shudder went up from all the others as they watched +him. + +"So, Tarca, you prefer to take the risks, and remain chief of +the guard yourself?" she said with an angry scoff. "Truly there +did not seem to be many thrusting forward to strip you of the +office. I shall have a fine sorting up of places in payment for +this night's work. But for the present, Tarca, do your duty." + +The man came up, obviously timorous. He was a solidly made +fellow, but not altogether unmartial, and though but little of his +cheek showed above his decorated beard, I could see that he paled +as he came near to the priest. "My lord," he said quietly, "I must +ask you to come with me." + +"Stand aside," said the old man, thrusting out the Symbol in +front of him. I could see his eyes gather on the soldier and his +brows knit with a strain of will. + +Tarca saw this too, and I thought he would have fallen, but +with an effort he kept his manhood, and doggedly repeated his +summons. "I must obey the command of my mistress, and I would have +you remember, my lord, that I am but a servant. You must come with +me to the whip." + +"I warn you!" cried the old man. "Stand from out of my path, +you!" + +It must have been with the courage of desperation that the +soldier dared to use force. But the hand he stretched out dropped +limply back to his side the moment it touched the old man's bare +shoulder, as though it had been struck by some shock. He seemed +almost to have expected some such repulse; yet when he picked up +that hand with the other, and looked at it, and saw its whiteness, +he let out of him a yell like a wounded beast. "Oh, Gods!" he +cried. "Not that. Spare me!" + +But Zaemon was glowering at him still. A twitching seized the +man's face, and he put up his sound hand to it and plucked at his +beard, which was curled and plaited after the new fashion of the +day. A woman standing near screamed as the half of the beard came +off in his fingers. Beneath was silver whiteness over half his +face. Zaemon had smitten him with a sudden leprosy that was past +cure. + +Yet the punishment was not ended even then. Other twitchings +took him on other parts of the body, and he tore off his armour and +his foppish clothes, and always where the bare flesh showed, there +had the horrid plague written its white mark; and in the end, being +able to endure no more, the man fell to the pavement and lay there +writhing. + +Zaemon said no further word. He lifted the Symbol before him, +set his eyes on the farther door of the banqueting-hall and walked +for it directly, all those in his path shrinking away from him with +open shudders. And through the valves of the door he passed out of +our sight, still wordless, still unchecked. + +I glanced up at Phorenice. The loveliness of her face was +drawn and haggard. It was the first great reverse, this, she had +met with in all her life, and the shock of it, and the vision of +what might follow after, dazed her. Alas, if she could only have +guessed at a tenth of the terrors which the future had in its womb, +Atlantis might have been saved even then. + + + +6. THE BITERS OF THE CITY WALLS + + +Here then was the manner of my reception back in the capital +of Atlantis, and some first glimpse at her new policies. I freely +confess to my own inaction and limpness; but it was all deliberate. +The old ties of duty seemed lost, or at least merged in one +another. Beforetime, to serve the king was to serve the Clan of +the Priests, from which he had been chosen, and whose head he +constituted. But Phorenice was self-made, and appeared to be a +rule unto herself; if Zaemon was to be trusted, he was the +mouthpiece of the Priests, and their Clan had set her at defiance; +and how was a mere honest man to choose on the instant between the +two? + +But cold argument told me that governments were set up for the +good of the country at large, and I said to myself that there would +be my choice. I must find out which rule promised best of +Atlantis, and do my poor best to prop it into full power. And here +at once there opened up another path in the maze: I had heard some +considerable talk of rebels; of another faction of Atlanteans who, +whatever their faults might be, were at any rate strong enough to +beleaguer the capital; and before coming to any final decision, it +would be as well to take their claims in balance with the rest. So +on the night of that very same day on which I had just re-planted +my foot on the old country's shores, I set out to glean for myself +tidings on the matter. + +No one inside the royal pyramid gainsaid me. The banquet had +ended abruptly with the terrible scene that I have set down above +on these tablets, for with Tarca writhing on the floor, and +thrusting out the gruesome scars of his leprosy, even the most +gluttonous had little enough appetite for further gorging. +Phorenice glowered on the feasters for a while longer in silent +fury, but saying no further word; and then her eyes turned on me, +though softened somewhat. + +"You may be an honest man, Deucalion," she said, at length, +"but you are a monstrous cold one. I wonder when you will thaw?" +And here she smiled. "I think it will be soon. But for now I bid +you farewell. In the morning we will take this country by the +shoulders, and see it in some new order." + +She left the banqueting-hall then, Ylga following; and taking +precedence of my rank, I went out next, whilst all others stood and +made salutation. But I halted by Tarca first, and put my hand on +his unclean flesh. "You are an unfortunate man," I said, "but I can +admire a brave soldier. If relief can be gained for your plague, +I will use interest to procure it for you." + +The man's thanks came in a mumble from his wrecked mouth, and +some of those near shuddered in affected disgust. I turned on them +with a black brow: "Your charity, my lords, seems of as small +account as your courage. You affected a fine disbelief of Zaemon's +sayings, and a simpering contempt for his priesthood, but when it +comes to laying a hand on him, you show a discretion which, in the +old days, we should have called by an ugly name. I had rather be +Tarca, with all his uncleanness, than any of you now as you stand." + +With which leave-taking I waited coldly till they gave me my +due salutation, and then walked out of the banqueting-hall without +offering a soul another glance. I took my way to the grand gate of +the pyramid, called for the officer of the guard, and demanded +exit. The man was obsequious enough, but he opened with some +demur. + +"My lord's attendants have not yet come up?" + +"I have none." + +"My lord knows the state of the streets?" + +"I did twenty years back. I shall be able to pick my way." + +"My lord must remember that the city is beleaguered," the +fellow persisted. "The people are hungry. They prowl in bands +after nightfall, and--I make no question that my lord would conquer +in a fight against whatever odds, but--" + +"Quite right. I covet no street scuffle to-night. Lend me, +I pray you, a sufficiency of men. You will know best what are +needed. For me, I am accustomed to a city with quiet streets." + +A score of sturdy fellows were detailed off for my escort, and +with them in a double file on either hand, I marched out from the +close perfumed air of the pyramid into the cool moonlight of the +city. It was my purpose to make a tour of the walls and to find +out somewhat of the disposition of these rebels. + +But the Gods saw fit to give me another education first. The +city, as I saw it during that night walk, was no longer the old +capital that I had known, the just accretion of the ages, the due +admixture of comfort and splendour. The splendour was there, +vastly increased. Whole wards had been swept away to make space +for new palaces, and new pyramids of the wealthy, and I could not +but have an admiration for the skill and the brain which made +possible such splendid monuments. + +And, indeed, gazing at them there under the silver of the +moonlight, I could almost understand the emotions of the Europeans +and other barbarous savages which cause them to worship all such +great buildings as Gods, since they deem them too wonderful and +majestic to be set up by human hands unaided. + +Still, if it was easy to admire, it was simple also to see +plain advertisement of the cost at which these great works had been +reared. From each grant of ground, where one of these stately +piles earned silver under the moon, a hundred families had been +evicted and left to harbour as they pleased in the open; and, as a +consequence, now every niche had its quota of sleepers, and every +shadow its squad of fierce wild creatures, ready to rush out and +rob or slay all wayfarers of less force than their own. + +Myself, I am no pamperer of the common people. I say that, if +a man be left to hunger and shiver, he will work to gain him food +and raiment; and if not, why then he can die, and the State is well +rid of a worthless fellow. But here beside us, as we marched +through many wards, were marks of blind oppression; starved dead +bodies, with the bones starting through the lean skin, sprawled in +the gutter; and indeed it was plain that, save for the favoured +few, the people of the great capital were under a most heavy +oppression. + +But at this, though I might regret it abominably, I could make +no strong complaint. By the ancient law of the land all the +people, great and small, were the servants of the king, to be put +without question to what purposes he chose; and Phorenice stood in +the place of the king. So I tried to think no treason, but with a +sigh passed on, keeping my eyes above the miseries and the squalors +of the roadway, and sending out my thoughts to the stars which hung +in the purple night above, and to the High Gods which dwelt amongst +them, seeking, if it might be, for guidance for my future policies. +And so in time the windings of the streets brought us to the walls, +and, coursing beside these and giving fitting answer to the +sentries who beat their drums as we passed, we came in time to that +great gate which was a charge to the captain of the garrison. + +Here it was plain there was some special commotion. A noise +of laughter went up into the still night air, and with it now and +again the snarl and roar of a great beast, and now and again the +shriek of a hurt man. But whatever might be afoot, it was not a +scene to come upon suddenly. The entrance gates of our great +capital were designed by their ancient builders to be no less +strong than the walls themselves. Four pairs of valves were there, +each a monstrous block of stone two man-heights square, and a +man-height thick, and the wall was doubled to receive them, +enclosing an open circus between its two parts. The four gates +themselves were set one at the inner, one at the outer side of each +of these walls, and a hidden machinery so connected them, that of +each set one could not open till the other was closed; and as for +forcing them without war engines, one might as foolishly try to +push down the royal pyramid with the bare hand. + +My escort made outcry with the horn which hung from the wall +inviting such a summons, and a warder came to an arrow-slit, and +did inspection of our persons and business. His survey was +according to the ancient form of words, which is long, and this was +made still more tedious by the noise from within, which ever and +again drowned all speech between us entirely. + +But at last the formalities had been duly complied with, and +he shot back the massive bars and bolts of stone, and threw ajar +one monstrous stone valve of the door. Into the chamber within--a +chamber made from the thickness of the wall between the two +doors--I and my fellows crowded, and then the warder with his +machines pulled to the valve which had been opened, and came to me +again through the press of my escort, bowing low to the ground. + +"I have no vail to give you," I said abruptly. "Get on with +your duty. Open me that other door." + +"With respect, my lord, it would be better that I should first +announce my lord's presence. There is a baiting going forward in +the circus, and the tigers are as yet mere savages, and no +respecters of persons." + +"The what?" + +"The tigers, if my lord will permit them the name. They are +baiting a batch of prisoners with the two great beasts which the +Empress (whose name be adored) has sent here to aid us keep the +gate. But if my lord will, there are the ward rooms leading off +this passage, and the galleries which run out from them commanding +the circus, and from there my lord can see the sport undisturbed." + +Now, the mere lust for killing excites only disgust in me, but +I suspected the orders of the Empress in this matter, and had a +curiosity to see her scheme. So I stepped into the warder's lodge, +and on into the galleries which commanded the circus with their +arrow-slits. The old builders of the place had intended these for +a second line of defence, for, supposing the outer doors all +forced, an enemy could be speedily shot down in the circus, without +being able to give a blow in return, and so would only march into +a death-trap. But as a gazing-place on a spectacle they were no +less useful. + +The circus was bright lit by the moonlight, and the air which +came in to me from it was acrid with the reek of blood. There was +no sport in what was going forward: as I said, it was mere killing, +and the sight disgusted me. I am no prude about this matter. Give +a prisoner his weapons, put him in a pit with beasts of reasonable +strength, and let him fight to a finish if you choose, and I can +look on there and applaud the strokes. The war prisoner, being a +prisoner, has earned death by natural law, and prefers to get his +last stroke in hot blood than to be knocked down by the headsman's +axe. And it is any brave man's luxury either to help or watch a +lusty fight. But this baiting in the circus between the gates was +no fair battle like that. + +To begin with, the beasts were no fair antagonists for single +men. In fact, twenty men armed might well have fled from them. +When the warder said tigers, I supposed he meant the great cats of +the woods. But here, in the circus, I saw a pair of the most +terrific of all the fur-bearing land beasts, the great tigers of +the caves--huge monsters, of such ponderous strength that in hunger +they will oftentimes drag down a mammoth, if they can find him away +from his herd. + +How they had been brought captive I could not tell. Hunter of +beasts though I had been for all my days, I take no shame in saying +that I always approached the slaying of a cave-tiger with +stratagem and infinite caution. To entrap it alive and bring it +to a city on a chain was beyond my most daring schemes, and I have +been accredited with more new things than one. But here it was in +fact, and I saw in these captive beasts a new certificate for +Phorenice's genius. + +The purpose of these two cave-tigers was plain: whilst they +were in the circus, and loose, no living being could cross from one +gate to the other. They were a new and sturdy addition to the +defences of the capital. A collar of bronze was round the throat +of each, and on the collar was a massive chain which led to the +wall, where it could be payed out or hauled in by means of a +windlass in one of the hidden galleries. So that at ordinary +moments the two huge beasts could be tethered, one close to either +end of the circus, as the litter of bones and other messes showed, +leaving free passage-way between the two sets of doors. + +But when I stood there by the arrow-slit, looking down into +the moonlight of the circus, these chains were slackened (though +men stood by the windlass of each), and the great striped brutes +were prowling about the circus with the links clanking and chinking +in their wake. Lying stark on the pavement were the bodies of some +eight men, dead and uneaten; and though the cave-tigers stopped +their prowlings now and again to nuzzle these, and beat them about +with playful paw-blows, they made no pretence at commencing a meal. +It was clear that this cruel sport had grown common to them, and +they knew there were other victims yet to be added to the tally. + +Presently, sure enough, as I watched, a valve of the farther +gate swung back an arm's length, and a prisoner, furiously +resisting, was thrust out into the circus. He fell on his face, +and after one look around him he lay resolutely still, with eyes on +the ground passively awaiting his fate. The ponderous stone of the +gate clapped to in its place; the cave-tigers turned in their +prowlings; and a chatter of wagers ran to and fro amongst the +watchers behind the arrow-slits. + +It seemed there were niceties of cruelty in this wretched +game. There was a sharp clank as the windlasses were manned, and +the tethering chains were drawn in by perhaps a score of links. +One of the cave-tigers crouched, lashed its tail, and launched +forth on a terrific spring. The chain tautened, the massive links +sang to the strain, and the great beast gave a roar which shook the +walls. It had missed the prone man by a hand's breadth, and the +watchers behind the arrow-slits shrieked forth their delight. The +other tiger sprang also and missed, and again there were shouts of +pleasure, which mingled with the bellowing voices of the beasts. +The man lay motionless in his form. One more cowardly, or one more +brave, might have run from death, or faced it; but this poor +prisoner chose the middle course--he permitted death to come to +him, and had enough of doggedness to wait for it without stir. + +The great cave-tigers were used, it appeared, to this disgusting +sport. There were no more wild springs, no more stubbings at +the end of the massive chains. They lay down on the pavement, +and presently began to purr, rolling on to their sides and +rubbing themselves luxuriously. The prisoner still lay +motionless in his form. + +By slow degrees the monstrous brutes each drew to the end of +its chain and began to reach at the man with out-stretched forepaw. +The male could not touch him; the female could just reach him with +the far tip of a claw; and I saw a red scratch start up in the bare +skin of his side at every stroke. But still the prisoner would not +stir. It seemed to me that they must slack out more links of one +of the tigers' chains, or let the vile play linger into mere +tediousness. + +But I had more to learn yet. The male tiger, either taught by +his own devilishness, or by those brutes that were his keepers, had +still another ruse in store. He rose to his feet and turned round, +backing against the chain. A yell of applause from the hidden men +behind the arrow-slits told that they knew what was in store; and +then the monstrous beast, stretched to the utmost of its vast +length, kicked sharply with one hind paw. + +I heard the crunch of the prisoner's ribs as the pads struck +him, and at that same moment the poor wretch's body was spurned +away by the blow, as one might throw a fruit with the hand. But it +did not travel far. It was clear that the she-tiger knew this +manoeuvre of her mate's. She caught the man on his bound, nuzzling +over him for a minute, and then tossing him high into the air, and +leaping up to the full of her splendid height after him. + +Those other onlookers thought it magnificent; their gleeful +shouts said as much. But for me, my gorge rose at the sight. Once +the tigers had reached him, the man had been killed, it is true, +without any unnecessary lingering. Even a light blow from those +terrific paws would slay the strongest man living. But to see the +two cave-tigers toying with the poor body was an insult to the +pride of our race. + +However, I was not there to preach the superiority of man to +the beasts, and the indecency and degradation of permitting man to +be unduly insulted. I had come to learn for myself the new balance +of things in the kingdom of Atlantis, and so I stood at my place +behind the arrow-slit with a still face. And presently another +scene in this ghastly play was enacted. + +The cave-tigers tired of their sport, and first one and then +the other fell once more to prowling over the littered pavements, +with the heavy chains scraping and chinking in their wake. They +made no beginning to feast on the bodies provided for them. That +would be for afterwards. In the present, the fascination of +slaughter was big in them, and they had thought that it would be +indulged further. It seemed that they knew their entertainers. + +Again the windlass clanked, and the tethering chains drew the +great beasts clear of the doorway; and again a valve of the farther +door swung ajar, and another prisoner was thrust struggling into +the circus. A sickness seized me when I saw that this was a woman, +but still, in view of the object I had in hand, I made no +interruption. + +It was not that I had never seen women sent to death before. +A general, who has done his fighting, must in his day have killed +women equally with men; yes, and seen them earn their death-blow by +lusty battling. Yet there seemed something so wanton in this cruel +helpless sacrifice of a woman prisoner, that I had a struggle with +myself to avoid interference. Still it is ever the case that the +individual must be sacrificed to a policy, and so as I say, I +watched on, outwardly cold and impassive. + +I watched too (I confess it freely) with a quickening heart. +Here was no sullen submissive victim like the last. She may have +been more cowardly (as some women are), she may have been braver +(as many women have shown themselves); but, at any rate, it was +clear that she was going to make a struggle for her life, and to do +vicious damage, it might be, before she yielded it up. The +watchers behind the arrow-slits recognized this. Their wagers, and +the hum of their appreciation, swept loudly round the ring of the +circus. + +They stripped their prisoners, before they thrust them out to +this death, of all the clothes they might carry, for clothes have +a value; and so the woman stood there bare-limbed in the moonlight. + +She clapped her back to the great stone door by which she had +entered, and faced fate with glowing eye. Gods! there have been +times in early years when I could have plucked out sword and jumped +down, and fought for her there for the sheer delight of such a +battle. But now policy restrained me. The individual might want +a helping hand, but it was becoming more and more clear that +Atlantis wanted a minister also; and before these great needs, the +lesser ones perforce must perish. Still, be it noted that, if I +did not jump down, no other man there that night had sufficient +manhood remaining to venture the opportunity. + +My heart glowed as I watched her. She picked a bone from the +litter on the pavement and beat off its head by blows against the +wall. Then with her teeth she fashioned the point to still further +sharpness. I could see her teeth glisten white in the moonrays as +she bit with them. + +The huge cave-tigers, which stood as high as her head as they +walked, came nearer to her in their prowlings, yet obviously +neglected her. This was part of their accustomed scheme of +torment, and the woman knew it well. There was something +intolerable in their noiseless, ceaseless paddings over the +pavement. I could see the prisoner's breast heave as she watched +them. A terror such as that would have made many a victim sick and +helpless. + +But this one was bolder than I had thought. She did not wait +for a spring: she made the first attack herself. When the +she-tiger made its stroll towards her, and was in the act of +turning, she flung herself into a sudden leap, striking viciously +at its eye with her sharpened bone. A roar from the onlookers +acknowledged the stroke. The cave-tiger's eye remained undarkened, +but the puny weapon had dealt it a smart flesh wound, and with a +great bellow of surprise and pain it scampered away to gain space +for a rush and a spring. + +But the woman did not await its charge. With a shrill scream +she sped forward, running at the full of her speed across the +moonlight directly towards that shadowed part of the encircling +wall within whose thickness I had my gazing place; and then, +throwing every tendon of her body into the spring, made the +greatest leap that surely any human being ever accomplished, even +when spurred on by the utmost of terror and desperation. In an +after day I measured it, and though of a certainty she must have +added much to the tally by the sheer force of her run, which drove +her clinging up the rough surface of the wall, it is a sure thing +that in that splendid leap her feet must have dangled a man-height +and a half above the pavement. + +I say it was prodigious, but then the spur was more than the +ordinary, and the woman herself was far out of the common both in +thews and intelligence; and the end of the leap left her with five +fingers lodged in the sill of the arrow-slit from which I watched. +Even then she must have slipped back if she had been left to +herself, for the sill sloped, and the stone was finely smooth; but +I shot out my hand and gripped hers by the wrist, and instantly she +clambered up with both knees on the sills, and her fingers twined +round to grip my wrist in her turn. + +And now you will suppose she gushed out prayers and promises, +thinking only of safety and enlargement. There was nothing of +this. With savage panting wordlessness she took fresh grip on the +sharpened bone with her spare hand, and lunged with it desperately +through the arrow-slit. With the hand that clutched mine she drew +me towards her, so as to give the blows the surer chance, and so +unprepared was I for such an attack, and with such fierce +suddenness did she deliver it, that the first blow was near giving +me my quietus. But I grappled with the poor frantic creature as +gently as might be--the stone of the wall separating us always--and +stripped her of her weapon, and held her firmly captive till she +might calm herself. + +"That was an ungrateful blow," I said. "But for my hand you'd +have slipped and be the sport of a tiger's paw this minute." + +"Oh, I must kill some one," she panted, "before I am killed +myself." + +"There will be time enough to think upon that some other day; +but for now you are far enough off meeting further harm." + +"You are lying to me. You will throw me to the beasts as soon +as I loose my grip. I know your kind: you will not be robbed of +your sport." + +"I will go so far as to prove myself to you," said I, and +called out for the warder who had tended the doors below. "Bid +those tigers be tethered on a shorter chain," I ordered, "and then +go yourself outside into the circus, and help this lady delicately +to the ground." + +The word was passed and these things were done; and I too came +out into the circus and joined the woman, who stood waiting under +the moonlight. But the others who had seen these doings were by no +means suited at the change of plan. One of the great stone valves +of the farther door opened hurriedly, and a man strode out, armed +and flushed. "By all the Gods!" he shouted. "Who comes between me +and my pastime?" + +I stepped quietly to the advance. "I fear, sir," I said, +"that you must launch your anger against me. By accident I gave +that woman sanctuary, and I had not heart to toss her back to your +beasts." + +His fingers began to snap against his hilt. + +"You have come to the wrong market here with your qualms. I +am captain here, and my word carries, subject only to Phorenice's +nod. Do you hear that? Do you know too that I can have you tossed +to those striped gate-keepers of mine for meddling in here without +an invitation?" He looked at me sharp enough, but saw plainly that +I was a stranger. "But perhaps you carry a name, my man, which +warrants your impertinence?" + +"Deucalion is my poor name," I said, "but I cannot expect you +will know it. I am but newly landed here, sir, and when I left +Atlantis some score of years back, a very different man to you held +guard over these gates." He had his forehead on my feet by this +time. "I had it from the Empress this night that she will +to-morrow make a new sorting of this kingdom's dignities. Perhaps +there is some recommendation you would wish me to lay before her in +return for your courtesies?" + +"My lord," said the man, "if you wish it, I can have a turn +with those cave-tigers myself now, and you can look on from behind +the walls and see them tear me." + +"Why tell me what is no news?" + +"I wish to remind my lord of his power; I wish to beg of his +clemency." + +"You showed your power to these poor prisoners; but from what +remains here to be seen, few of them have tasted much of your +clemency." + +"The orders were," said the captain of the gate, as though he +thought a word might be said here for his defence, "the orders +were, my lord, that the tigers should be kept fierce and accustomed +to killing." + +"Then, if you have obeyed orders, let me be the last to chide +you. But it is my pleasure that this woman be respited, and I wish +now to question her." + +The man got to his feet again with obvious relief, though +still bowing low. + +"Then if my lord will honour me by sitting in my room that +overlooks the outer gate, the favour will never be forgotten." + +"Show the way," I said, and took the woman by the fingers, +leading her gently. At the two ends of the circus the tigers +prowled about on short chains, growling and muttering. + +We passed through the door into the thickness of the outer +wall, and the captain of the gate led us into his private chamber, +a snug enough box overlooking the plain beyond the city. He lit a +torch from his lamp and thrust it into a bracket on the wall, and +bowing deeply and walking backwards, left us alone, closing the +door in place behind him. He was an industrious fellow, this +captain, to judge from the spoil with which his chamber was packed. +There could have come very few traders in through that gate below +without his levying a private tribute; and so, judging that most of +his goods had been unlawfully come by, I had little qualm at making +a selection. It was not decent that the woman, being an Atlantean, +should go bereft of the dignity of clothes, as though she were a +mere savage from Europe; and so I sought about amongst the +captain's spoil for garments that would be befitting. + +But, as I busied myself in this search for raiment, rummaging +amongst the heaps and bales, with a hand and eye little skilled in +such business, I heard a sound behind which caused me to turn my +head, and there was the woman with a dagger she had picked from the +floor, in the act of drawing it from the sheath. + +She caught my eye and drew the weapon clear, but seeing that +I made no advance towards her, or move to protect myself, waited +where she was, and presently was took with a shuddering. + +"Your designs seem somewhat of a riddle," I said. "At first +you wished to kill me from motives which you explained, and which +I quite understood. It lay in my power next to confer some small +benefit upon you, in consequence of which you are here, and +not--shall we say?--yonder in the circus. Why you should desire +now to kill the only man here who can set you completely free, and +beyond these walls, is a thing it would gratify me much to learn. +I say nothing of the trifle of ingratitude. Gratitude and +ingratitude are of little weight here. There is some far greater +in your mind." + +She pressed a hand hard against her breasts. "You are +Deucalion," she gasped; "I heard you say it." + +"I am Deucalion. So far, I have known no reason to feel shame +for my name." + +"And I come of those," she cried, with a rising voice, "who +bite against this city, because they have found their fate too +intolerable with the land as it is ordered now. We heard of your +coming from Yucatan. It was we who sent the fleet to take you at +the entrance to the Gulf." + +"Your fleet gave us a pretty fight." + +"Oh, I know, I know. We had our watchers on the high land who +brought us the tidings. We had an omen even before that. Where we +lay with our army before the walls here, we saw great birds +carrying off the slain to the mountains. But where the fleet +failed, I saw a chance where I, a woman, might--" + +"Where you might succeed?" I sat me down on a pile of the +captain's stuffs. It seemed as if here at last that I should find +a solution for many things. "You carry a name?" I asked. + +"They call me Nais." + +"Ah," I said, and signed to her to take the clothes that I had +sought out. She was curiously like, so both my eyes and hearing +said, to Ylga, the fan-girl of Phorenice, but as she had told me of +no parentage I asked for none then. Still her talk alone let me +know that she was bred of none of the common people, and I made up +my mind towards definite understanding. "Nais," I said, "you wish +to kill me. At the same time I have no doubt you wish to live on +yourself, if only to get credit from your people for what you have +done. So here I will make a contract with you. Prove to me that +my death is for Atlantis' good, and I swear by our Lord the Sun to +go out with you beyond the walls, where you can stab me and then +get you gone. Or the--" + +"I will not be your slave." + +"I do not ask you for service. Or else, I wished to say, I +shall live so long as the High Gods wish, and do my poor best for +this country. And for you--I shall set you free to do your best +also. So now, I pray you, speak." + + + +7. THE BITERS OF THE WALLS +(FURTHER ACCOUNT) + + +"You will set me free," she said, regarding me from under her +brows, "without any further exactions or treaty?" + +"I will set you free exactly on those terms," I answered, +"unless indeed we here decide that it is better for Atlantis that +I should die, in which case the freedom will be of your own +taking." + +"My lord plays a bold game." + +"Tut, tut," I said. + +"But I shall not hesitate to take the full of my bond, unless +my theories are most clearly disproved to me." + +"Tut," I said, "you women, how you can play out the time +needlessly. Show me sufficient cause, and you shall kill me where +and how you please. Come, begin the accusation." + +"You are a tyrant." + +"At least I have not paraded my tyrannies in Atlantis these +twenty years. Why, Nais, I did but land yesterday." + +"You will not deny you came back from Yucatan for a purpose." + +"I came back because I was sent for. The Empress gives no +reasons for her recalls. She states her will; and we who serve her +obey without question." + +"Pah, I know that old dogma." + +"If you discredit my poor honesty at the outset like this, I +fear we shall not get far with our unravelling." + +"My lord must be indeed simple," said this strange woman +scornfully, "if he is ignorant of what all Atlantis knows." + +"Then simple you must write me down. Over yonder in Yucatan +we were too well wrapped up in our own parochial needs and policies +to have leisure to ponder much over the slim news which drifted out +to us from Atlantis--and, in truth, little enough came. By +example, Phorenice (whose office be adored) is a great personage +here at home; but over there in the colony we barely knew so much +as her name. Here, since I have been ashore, I have seen many new +wonders; I have been carried by a riding mammoth; I have sat at a +banquet; but in what new policies there are afoot, I have yet to be +schooled." + +"Then, if truly you do not know it, let me repeat to you the +common tale. Phorenice has tired of her unmated life." + +"Stay there. I will hear no word against the Empress." + +"Pah, my lord, your scruples are most decorous. But I did no +more than repeat what the Empress had made public by proclamation. +She is minded to take to herself a husband, and nothing short of +the best is good enough for Phorenice. One after another has been +put up in turn as favourite--and been found wanting. Oh, I tell +you, we here in Atlantis have watched her courtship with jumping +hearts. First it was this one here, then it was that one there; +now it was this general just returned from a victory, and a day +later he had been packed back to his camp, to give place to some +dashing governor who had squeezed increased revenues from his +province. But every ship that came from the West said that there +was a stronger man than any of these in Yucatan, and at last the +Empress changed the wording of her vow. 'I'll have Deucalion for +my husband,' said she, 'and then we will see who can stand against +my wishes.'" + +"The Empress (whose name be adored) can do as she pleases in +such matters," I said guardedly; "but that is beside the argument. +I am here to know how it would be better for Atlantis that I should +die?" + +"You know you are the strongest man in the kingdom." + +"It pleases you to say so." + +"And Phorenice is the strongest woman." + +"That is beyond doubt." + +"Why, then, if the Empress takes you in marriage, we shall be +under a double tyranny. And her rule alone is more cruelly heavy +than we can bear already." + +"I pass no criticism on Phorenice's rule. I have not seen it. +But I crave your mercy, Nais, on the newcomer into this kingdom. +I am strong, say you, and therefore I am a tyrant, say you. Now to +me this sequence is faulty." + +"Who should a strong man use strength for, if not for himself? +And if for himself, why that spells tyranny. You will get all your +heart's desires, my lord, and you will forget that many a thousand +of the common people will have to pay for them." + +"And this is all your accusation?" + +"It seems to be black enough. I am one that has a compassion +for my fellow-men, my lord, and because of that compassion you see +me what I am to-day. There was a time, not long passed, when I +slept as soft and ate as dainty as any in Atlantis." + +I smiled. "Your speech told me that much from the first." + +"Then I would I had cast the speech off, too, if that is also +a livery of the tyrant's class. But I tell you I saw all the +oppression myself from the oppressor's side. I was high in +Phorenice's favour then." + +"That, too, is easy of credence. Ylga is the fan-girl to the +Empress now, and second lady in the kingdom, and those who have +seen Ylga could make an easy guess at the parentage of Nais." + +"We were the daughters of one birth; but I do not count with +either Zaemon or Ylga now. Ylga is the creature of Phorenice, and +Phorenice would have all the people of Atlantis slaves and in +chains, so that she might crush them the easier. And as for +Zaemon, he is no friend of Phorenice's; he fights with brain and +soul to drag the old authority to those on the Sacred Mountain; and +that, if it come down on us again, would only be the exchange of +one form of slavery for another." + +"It seems to me you bite at all authority." + +"In fact," she said simply, "I do. I have seen too much of it." + +"And so you think a rule of no-rule would be best for the +country?" + +"You have put it plainly in words for me. That is my creed +to-day. That is the creed of all those yonder, who sit in the camp +and besiege this city. And we number on our side, now, all in +Atlantis save those in the city and a handful on the priests' +Mountain." + +I shook my head. "A creed of desperation, if you like, Nais, +but, believe me, a silly creed. Since man was born out of the +quakings and the fevers of this earth, and picked his way amongst +the cooler-places, he has been dependent always on his fellow-men. +And where two are congregated together, one must be chief, and +order how matters are to be governed--at least, I speak of men who +have a wish to be higher than the beasts. Have you ever set foot +in Europe?" + +"No." + +"I have. Years back I sailed there, gathering slaves. What +did I see? A country without rule or order. Tyrants they were, to +be sure, but they were the beasts. The men and the women were the +rudest savages, knowing nothing of the arts, dressing in skins and +uncleanness, harbouring in caves and the tree-tops. The beasts +roamed about where they would, and hunted them unchecked." + +"Still, they fought you for their liberty?" + +"Never once. They knew how disastrous was their masterless +freedom. Even to their dull, savage brains it was a sure thing +that no slavery could be worse; and to that state you, and your +friends, and your theories, will reduce Atlantis, if you get the +upper hand. But, then, to argue in a circle, you will never get +it. For to conquer, you must set up leaders, and once you have set +them up, you will never pull them down again." + +"Aye," she said with a sigh, "there is truth in that last." + +The torch had filled the captain's room with a resinous smoke, +but the flame was growing pale. Dawn was coming in greyly through +a slender arrow-slit, and with it ever and again the glow from some +mountain out of sight, which was shooting forth spasmodic bursts of +fire. With it also were mutterings of distant falling rocks, and +sullen tremblings, which had endured all the night through, and I +judged that earth was in one of her quaking moods, and would +probably during the forthcoming day offer us some chastening +discomforts. + +On this account, perhaps, my senses were stilled to certain +evidences which would otherwise have given me a suspicion; and +also, there is no denying that my general wakefulness was sapped by +another matter. This woman, Nais, interested me vastly out of the +common; the mere presence of her seemed to warm the organs of my +interior; and whilst she was there, all my thoughts and senses were +present in the room of the captain of the gate in which we sat. + +But of a sudden the floor of the chamber rocked and fell away +beneath me, and in a tumult of dust, and litter, and bales of the +captain's plunder, I fell down (still seated on the flagstone) into +a pit which had been digged beneath it. With the violence of the +descent, and the flutter of all these articles about my head, I was +in no condition for immediate action; and whilst I was still +half-stunned by the shock, and long before I could get my eyes into +service again, I had been seized, and bound, and half-strangled +with a noose of hide. Voices were raised that I should be +despatched at once out of the way; but one in authority cried out +that, killing me at leisure, and as a prisoner, promised more +genteel sport; and so I was thrust down on the floor, whilst a +whole army of men trod in over me to the attack. + +What had happened was clear to me now, though I was powerless +to do anything in hindrance. The rebels with more craft than any +one had credited to them, had driven a galley from their camp under +the ground, intending so to make an entrance into the heart of the +city. In their clumsy ignorance, and having no one of sufficient +talent in mensuration, they had bungled sadly both in direction and +length, and so had ended their burrow under this chamber of the +captain of the gate. The great flagstone in its fall had, it +appeared, crushed four of them to death, but these were little +noticed or lamented. Life was to them a bauble of the slenderest +price, and a horde of others pressed through the opening, lusting +for the fight, and recking nothing of their risks and perils. + +Half-choked by the foul air of the galley, and trodden on by +this great procession of feet, it was little enough I could do to +help my immediate self much less the more distant city. But when +the chief mass of the attackers had passed through, and there came +only here and there one eager to take his share at storming the +gate, a couple of fellows plucked me up out of the mud on the +floor, and began dragging me down through the stinking darkness of +the galley towards the pit that gave it entrance. + +Twenty times we were jostled by others hastening to the +attack, either from hunger for fight, or from appetite for what +they could steal. But we came to the open at last, and +half-suffocated though I was, I contrived to do obeisance, and say +aloud the prescribed prayer to the most High Gods in gratitude for +the fresh, sweet air which They had provided. + +Our Lord the Sun was on the verge of rising for His day, and +all things were plainly shown. Before me were the monstrous walls +of the capital, with the heads of its pyramids and higher buildings +showing above them. And on the walls, the sentries walked calmly +their appointed paces, or took shelter against arrows in the +casemates provided for them. + +The din of fighting within the gate rose high into the air, +and the heavy roaring of the cave-tigers told that they too were +taking their share of the melee. But the massive stonework of the +walls hid all the actual engagement from our view, and which party +was getting the upper hand we could not even guess. But the sounds +told how tight a fight was being hammered out in those narrow +boundaries, and my veins tingled to be once more back at the old +trade, and to be doing my share. + +But there was no chivalry about the fellows who held me by my +bonds. They thrust me into a small temple near by, which once had +been a fane in much favour with travellers, who wished to show +gratitude for the safe journey to the capital, but which now was +robbed and ruined, and they swung to the stone entrance gate and +barred it, leaving me to commune with myself. Presently, they told +me, I should be put to death by torments. Well, this seemed to be +the new custom of Atlantis, and I should have to endure it as best +I could. The High Gods, it appeared, had no further use for my +services in Atlantis, and I was not in the mood then to bite very +much at their decision. What I had seen of the country since my +return had not enamoured me very much with its new conditions. + +The little temple in which I was gaoled had been robbed and +despoiled of all its furnishments. But the light-slits, where at +certain hours of the day the rays of our Lord the Sun had fallen +upon the image of the God, before this had been taken away, gave me +vantage places from which I could see over the camp of these rebel +besiegers, and a dreary prospect it was. The people seemed to have +shucked off the culture of centuries in as many months, and to have +gone back for the most part to sheer brutishness. The majority +harboured on the bare ground. Few owned shelter, and these were +merely bowers of mud and branches. + +They fought and quarrelled amongst themselves for food, eating +their meat raw, and their grain (when they had it) unground. Many +who passed my vision I saw were even gnawing the soft inside of +tree bark. + +The dead lay where they fell. The sick and the wounded found +no hand to tend them. Great man-eating birds hovered about the +camp or skulked about, heavy with gorging, amongst the hovels, and +no one had public spirit enough to give them battle. The stink of +the place rose up to heaven as a foul incense inviting a +pestilence. There was no order, no trace of strong command +anywhere. With three hundred well-disciplined troops it seemed to +me that I could have sent those poor desperate hordes flying in +panic to the forest. + +However, there was no very lengthy space of time granted me +for thinking out the policy of this matter to any great depth. The +attack on the gate had been delivered with suddenness; the repulse +was not slow. Of what desperate fighting took place in the +galleries, and in the circus between the two sets of gates, the +detail will never be told in full. + +At the first alarm the great cave-tigers were set loose, and +these raged impartially against keeper and foe. Of those that went +in through the tunnel, not one in ten returned, and there were few +of these but what carried a bloody wound. Some, with the ruling +passion still strong in them, bore back plunder; one trailed along +with him the head of the captain of the gate; and amongst them they +dragged out two of the warders who were wounded, and whom revenge +had urged them to take as prisoners. + +Over these two last a hubbub now arose, that seemed likely to +boil over into blows. Every voice shouted out for them what he +thought the most repulsive fate. Some were for burning, some for +skinning, some for impaling, some for other things: my flesh crept +as I heard their ravenous yells. Those that had been to the +trouble of making them captive were still breathless from the +fight, and were readily thrust aside; and it seemed to me that the +poor wretches would be hustled into death before any definite fate +was agreed upon, which all would pass as sufficiently terrific. +Never had I seen such a disorderly tumult, never such a leaderless +mob. But, as always has happened, and always will, the stronger +men by dint of louder voices and more vigorous shoulders got their +plans agreed to at last, and the others perforce had to give way. + +A band of them set off running, and presently returned at +snails' pace, dragging with them (with many squeals from ungreased +wheels) one of those huge war engines with which besiegers are wont +to throw great stones and other missiles into the cities they sit +down against. They ran it up just beyond bowshot of the walls, and +clamped it firmly down with stakes and ropes to the earth. Then +setting their lean arms to the windlasses, they drew back the great +tree which formed the spring till its tethering place reached the +ground, and in the cradle at its head they placed one of the +prisoners, bound helplessly, so that he could not throw himself +over the side. + +Then the rude, savage, skin-clad mob stood back, and one who +had appointed himself engineer knocked back the catch that held the +great spring in place. + +With a whir and a twang the elastic wood flung upwards, and +the bound man was shot away from its tip with the speed of a +lightning flash. He sang through the air, spinning over and over +with inconceivable rapidity, and the great crowd of rebels held +their breath in silence as they watched. He passed high above the +city wall, a tiny mannikin in the distance now, and then the +trajectory of his flight began to lower. The spike of a new-built +pyramid lay in the path of his terrific flight, and he struck it +with a thud whose sound floated out to us afterwards, and then he +toppled down out of our sight, leaving a red stain on the whiteness +of the stone as he fell. + +With a roar the crowd acknowledged the success of their +device, and bellowed out insults to Phorenice, and insults to the +Gods: a poor frantic crowd they showed themselves. And then with +ravening shouts, they fell upon the other captive warder, binding +him also into a compact helpless missile, and meanwhile getting the +engine in gear again for another shot. + +But for my part I saw nothing of this disgusting scene. I +heard the bolt grate stealthily against the door of the little +temple in which I was imprisoned, and was minded to give these +brutish rebels somewhat of a surprise. I had rid myself of my +bonds handily enough; I had rubbed my limbs to that perfect +suppleness which is always desirable before a fight; and I had +planned to rush out so soon as the door was swung, and kill those +that came first with fist blows on the brow and chin. + +They had not suspected my name, it was clear, for my stature +and garb were nothing out of the ordinary; but if my bodily +strength and fighting power had been sufficient to raise me to a +vice-royalty like that of Yucatan, and let me endure alive in that +government throughout twenty hard-battling years, why, it was +likely that this rabble of savages would see something that was new +and admirable in the practice of arms before the crude weight of +their numbers could drag me down. Nay, I did not even despair of +winning free altogether. I must find me a weapon from those that +came up to battle, with which I could write worthy signatures, and +I must attempt no standing fights. Gods! but what a glow the +prospect did send through me as I stood there waiting. + +A vainer man, writing history, might have said that always, +before everything else, he held in mind the greater interests +before the less. But for me--I prefer to be honest, and own myself +human. In my glee at that forthcoming fight--which promised to be +the greatest and most furious I had known in all a long life of +battling--I will confess that Atlantis and her differing policies +were clean forgot. I should go out an unknown man from the little +cell of a temple, I should do my work, and then, whether I took +freedom with me, or whether I came down at last myself on a pile of +slain, these people would guess without being told the name, that +here was Deucalion. Gods! what a fight we would have made! + +But the door did not open wide to give me space for my first +rush. It creaked gratingly outwards on its pivots, and a slim hand +and a white arm slipped inside, beckoning me to quietude. Here was +some woman. The door creaked wider, and she came inside. + +"Nais," I said. + +"Silence, or they will hear you, and remember. At present +those who brought you here are killed, and unless by chance some +one blunders into this robbed shrine, you will not be found." + +"Then, if that is so, let me go out and walk amongst these +people as one of themselves." + +She shook her head. + +"But, Nais, I am not known here. I am merely a man in very +plain and mud-stained robe. I should be in no ways remarkable." + +A smile twitched her face. "My lord," she said, "wears no +beard; and his is the only clean chin in the camp." + +I joined in her laugh. "A pest on my want of foppishness +then. But I am forgetting somewhat. It comes to my mind that we +still have unfinished that small discussion of ours concerning the +length of my poor life. Have you decided to cut it off from risk +of further mischief, or do you propose to give me further span?" + +She turned to me with a look of sharp distress. "My lord," +she said, "I would have you forget that silly talk of mine. This +last two hours I thought you were dead in real truth." + +"And you were not relieved?" + +"I felt that the only man was gone out of the world--I mean, +my lord, the only man who can save Atlantis." + +"Your words give me a confidence. Then you would have me go +back and become husband to Phorenice?" + +"If there is no other way." + +"I warn you I shall do that, if she still so desires it, and +if it seems to me that that course will be best. This is no hour +for private likings or dislikings." + +"I know it," she said, "I feel it. I have no heart now, save +only for Atlantis. I have schooled myself once more to that." + +"And at present I am in this lone little box of a temple. A +minute ago, before you came, I had promised myself a pretty enough +fight to signalise my changing of abode." + +"There must be nothing of that. I will not have these poor +people slaughtered unnecessarily. Nor do I wish to see my lord +exposed to a hopeless risk. This poor place, such as it is, has +been given to me as an abode, and, if my lord can remain decorously +till nightfall in a maiden's chamber, he may at least be sure of +quietude. I am a person," she added simply, "that in this camp has +some respect. When darkness comes, I will take my lord down to the +sea and a boat, and so he may come with ease to the harbour and the +watergate." + + + +8. THE PREACHER FROM THE MOUNTAINS + + +It was long enough since I had found leisure for a parcel of +sleep, and so during the larger part of that day I am free to +confess that I slumbered soundly, Nais watching me. Night fell, +and still we remained within the privacy of the temple. It was our +plan that I should stay there till the camp slept, and so I should +have more chance of reaching the sea without disturbance. + +The night came down wet, with a drizzle of rain, and through +the slits in the temple walls we could see the many fires in the +camp well cared for, the men and women in skins and rags toasting +before them, with steam rising as the heat fought with their +wetness. Folk seated in discomfort like this are proverbially +alert and cruel in the temper, and Nais frowned as she looked on +the inclemency of the weather. + +"A fine night," she said, "and I would have sent my lord back +to the city without a soul here being the wiser; but in this chill, +people sleep sourly. We must wait till the hour drugs them +sounder." + +And so we waited, sitting there together on that pavement so +long unkissed by worshippers, and it was little enough we said +aloud. But there can be good companionship without sentences of +talk. + +But as the hours drew on, the night began to grow less quiet. +From the distance some one began to blow on a horn or a shell, +sending forth a harsh raucous note incessantly. The sound came +nearer, as we could tell from its growing loudness, and the voices +of those by the fires made themselves heard, railing at the blower +for his disturbance. And presently it became stationary, and +standing up we could see through the slits in the walls the people +of the camp rousing up from their uneasy rest, and clustering +together round one who stood and talked to them from the pedestal +of a war engine. + +What he was declaiming upon we could not hear, and our curiosity +on the matter was not keen. Given that all who did not sleep +went to weary themselves with this fellow, as Nais whispered, +it would be simple for me to make an exit in the opposite +direction. + +But here we were reckoning without the inevitable busybody. +A dozen pairs of feet splashing through the wet came up to the side +of the little temple, and cried loudly that Nais should join the +audience. She had eloquence of tongue, it appeared, and they +feared lest this speaker who had taken his stand on the war engine +should make schisms amongst their ranks unless some skilled person +stood up also to refute his arguments. + +Here, then, it seemed to me that I must be elbowed into my +skirmish by the most unexpected of chances, but Nais was firmly +minded that there should be no fight, if courage on her part could +turn it. "Come out with me," she whispered, "and keep distant from +the light of the fires." + +"But how explain my being here?" + +"There is no reason to explain anything," she said bitterly. +"They will take you for my lover. There is nothing remarkable in +that: it is the mode here. But oh, why did not the Gods make you +wear a beard, and curl it, even as other men? Then you could have +been gone and safe these two hours." + +"A smooth chin pleases me better." + +"So it does me," I heard her murmur as she leaned her weight +on the stone which hung in the doorway, and pushed it ajar; "your +chin." The ragged men outside--there were women with them +also--did not wait to watch me very closely. A coarse jest or two +flew (which I could have found good heart to have repaid with a +sword-thrust) and they stepped off into the darkness, just turning +from time to time to make sure we followed. On all sides others +were pressing in the same direction--black shadows against the +night; the rain spat noisily on the camp fires as we passed them; +and from behind us came up others. There were no sleepers in the +camp now; all were pressing on to hear this preacher who stood on +the pedestal of the war engine; and if we had tried to swerve from +the straight course, we should have been marked at once. + +So we held on through the darkness, and presently came within +earshot. + +Still it was little enough of the preacher's words we could +make out at first. "Who are your chiefs?" came the question at the +end of a fervid harangue, and immediately all further rational talk +was drowned in uproar. "We have no chiefs," the people shouted, +"we are done with chiefs; we are all equal here. Take away your +silly magic. You may kill us with magic if you choose, but rule us +you shall not. Nor shall the other priests rule. Nor Phorenice. +Nor anybody. We are done with rulers." + +The press had brought us closer and closer to the man who +stood on the war engine. We saw him to be old, with white hair +that tumbled on his shoulders, and a long white beard, untrimmed +and uncurled. Save for a wisp of rag about the loins, his body was +unclothed, and glistened in the wet. + +But in his hand he held that which marked his caste. With it +he pointed his sentences, and at times he whirled it about bathing +his wet, naked body in a halo of light. It was a wand whose tip +burned with an unconsuming fire, which glowed and twinkled and +blazed like some star sent down by the Gods from their own place in +the high heaven. It was the Symbol of our Lord the Sun, a +credential no one could forge, and one on which no civilised man +would cast a doubt. + +Indeed, the ragged frantic crew did not question for one moment +that he was a member of the Clan of Priests, the Clan which +from time out of numbering had given rulers for the land, and even +in their loudest clamours they freely acknowledged his powers. +"You may kill us with your magic, if you choose," they screamed at +him. But stubbornly they refused to come back to their old +allegiance. "We have suffered too many things these later years," +they cried. "We are done with rulers now for always." + +But for myself I saw the old man with a different emotion. +Here was Zaemon that was father to Nais, Zaemon that had seen me +yesterday seated on the divan at Phorenice's elbow, and who to-day +could denounce me as Deucalion if so he chose. These rebels had +expended a navy in their wish to kill me four days earlier, and if +they knew of my nearness, even though Nais were my advocate, her +cold reasoning would have had little chance of an audience now. +The High Gods who keep the tether of our lives hide Their secrets +well, but I did not think it impious to be sure that mine was very +near the cutting then. + +The beautiful woman saw this too. She even went so far as to +twine her fingers in mine and press them as a farewell, and I +pressed hers in return, for I was sorry enough not to see her more. +Still I could not help letting my thoughts travel with a grim +gloating over the fine mound of dead I should build before these +ragged, unskilled rebels pulled me down. And it was inevitable +this should be so. For of all the emotions that can ferment in the +human heart, the joy of strife is keenest, and none but an old +fighter, face to face with what must necessarily be his final +battle, can tell how deep this lust is embroidered into the very +foundations of his being. + +But for the time Zaemon did not see me, being too much wrapped +in his outcry, and so I was free to listen to the burning words +which he spread around him, and to determine their effect on the +hearers. + +The theme he preached was no new one. He told that ever since +the beginning of history, the Gods had set apart one Clan of the +people to rule over the rest and be their Priests, and until the +coming of Phorenice these had done their duties with exactitude and +justice. They had fought invaders, carried war against the beasts, +and studied earth-movements so that they were able to foretell +earthquakes and eruptions, and could spread warnings that the +people might be able to escape their devastations. They are no +self-seekers; their aim was always to further the interest of +Atlantis, and so do honour to the kingdom on which the High Gods +had set their special favour. Under the Priestly Clan, Atlantis +had reached the pinnacle of human prosperity and happiness. + +"But," cried the old man, waving the Symbol till his wet body +glistened in a halo of light, "the people grew fat and careless +with their easy life. They began to have a conceit that their good +fortune was earned by their own puny brains and thews, and was no +gift from the Gods above; and presently the cult of these Gods +became neglected, and Their temples were barren of gifts and +worshippers. Followed a punishment. The Gods in Their inscrutable +way decreed that a wife of one of the Priests (that was a governor +of no inconsiderable province) should see a woman child by the +wayside, and take it for adoption. That child the Gods in their +infinite wisdom fashioned into a scourge for Atlantis, and you who +have felt the weight of Phorenice's hand, know with what +completeness the High Gods can fashion their instruments. + +"Yet, even as they set up, so can they throw down, and those +that shall debase Phorenice are even now appointed. The old rule +is to be re-established; but not till you who have sinned are +sufficiently chastened to cry to it for relief." He waved the +mysterious glowing Symbol before him. "See," he cried in his high +old quavering voice, "you know the unspeakable Power of which that +is the sign, and for which I am the mouthpiece. It is for you to +make decision now. Are the Gods to throw down this woman who has +scorned Them and so cruelly trodden on you? Or are you to be still +further purged of your pride before you are ripe for deliverance?" + +The old priest broke off with a gesture, and his ragged white +beard sank on to his chest. Promptly a young man, skin clad and +carrying his weapon, elbowed up through the press of listeners, and +jumped on to the platform beside him. "Hear me, brethren!" he +bellowed, in his strong young voice. "We are done with tyrants. +Death may come, and we all of us here have shown how little we fear +it. But own rulers again we will not, and that is our final say. +My lord," he said, turning to the old man with a brave face, "I +know it is in your power to kill me by magic if you choose, but I +have said my say, and can stand the cost if needs be." + +"I can kill you, but I will not," said Zaemon. "You have said +your silliness. Now go you to the ground again." + +"We have free speech here. I will not go till I choose." + +"Aye, but you will," said the old man, and turned on him with +a sudden tightening of the brows. There was no blow passed; even +the Symbol, which glowed like a star against the night, was not so +much as lifted in warning; but the young man tried to retort, and, +finding himself smitten with a sudden dumbness, turned with a spasm +of fear, and jumped back whence he had come. The crowd of them +thrilled expectantly, and when no further portent was given, they +began to shout that a miracle should be shown them, and then +perchance they would be persuaded back to the old allegiance. + +The old man stooped and glowered at them in fury. "You dogs," +he cried, "you empty-witted dogs! Do you ask that I should degrade +the powers of the Higher Mysteries by dancing them out before you +as though they were a mummers' show? Do you tickle yourselves that +you are to be tempted back to your allegiance? It is for you to +woo the Gods who are so offended. Come in humility, and I take it +upon myself to declare that you will receive fitting pardon and +relief. Remain stubborn, and the scourge, Phorenice, may torment +you into annihilation before she in turn is made to answer for the +evil she has put upon the land. There is the choice for you to +pick at." + +The turmoil of voices rose again into the wetness of the +night, and weapons were upraised menacingly. It was clear that the +party for independence had by far the greater weight, both in +numbers and lustiness; and those who might, from sheer weariness of +strife, have been willing for surrender, withheld their word +through terror of the consequence. It was a fine comment on the +freedom of speech, about which these unruly fools had made their +boast, and, with a sly malice, I could not help whispering a word +on this to Nais as she stood at my elbow. But Nais clutched at my +hand, and implored me for caution. "Oh, be silent, my lord," she +whispered back, "or they will tear you in pieces. They are on fire +for mischief now." + +"Yet a few hours back you were for killing me yourself," I +could not help reminding her. + +She turned on me with a hot look. "A woman can change her +mind, my lord. But it becomes you little to remind her of her +fickleness." + +A man in the press beside me wrenched round with an effort, +and stared at me searchingly through the darkness. "Oh!" he said. +"A shaved chin. Who are you, friend, that you should cut a beard +instead of curling it? I can see no wound on your face." + +I answered him civilly enough that, with "freedom" for a +watchword, the fashion of my chin was a matter of mere private +concern. But as that did not satisfy him, and as he seemed to be +one of those quarrelsome fellows that are the bane of every +community, I took him suddenly by the throat and the shoulder, and +bent his neck with the old, quick turn till I heard it crack, +and had unhanded him before any of his neighbours had seen what had +befallen. The fierce press of the crowd held him from slipping to +the ground, and so he stood on there where he was, with his head +nodded forward, as though he had fallen asleep through heaviness, +or had fainted through the crushing of his fellows. I had no +desire to begin that last fight of mine in a place like this, where +there was no room to swing a weapon, nor chance to clear a battle +ring. + +But all this time the lean preacher from the mountains was +sending forth his angry anathemas, and still holding the strained +attention of the people. And next he set forth before them the +cult of the Gods in the ancient form as is prescribed, and they +(with old habit coming back to them) made response in the words and +in the places where the old ritual enjoins. It was weird enough +sight, that time-honoured service of adoration, forced upon these +wild people after so long a period of irreligion. + +They warmed to the old words as the high shrill voice of the +priest cried them forth, and as they listened, and as they realised +how intimate was the care of the Gods for the travails and sorrows +of their daily lives, so much warmer grew their responses. + +". . . WHO STILLED THE BURNING OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND MADE +COOL PLACES ON THE EARTH FOR US TO LIVE!--PRAISE TO THE MOST +HIGH GODS. + +"WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF +TEN TIMES TO PREVAIL!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS. . . ." + +"WHO GAVE US MASTERY OVER THE LESSER BEASTS AND SKILL OF +TEN TIMES TO PREVAIL!--PRAISE TO THE MOST HIGH GODS . . . ." + +It thrilled one to hear their earnestness; it sorrowed one to +know that they would yet be obdurate and not return to their old +allegiance. For this is the way with these common people; they +will work up an enthusiasm one minute, and an hour later it will +have fled away and left them cold and empty. + +But Zaemon made no further calls upon their loyalty. He +finished the prescribed form of sentences, and stepped down off the +platform of the war engine with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun +thrust out resolutely before him. To all ordinary seeming the +crowd had been packed so that no further compression was possible, +but before the advance of the Symbol the people crushed back, +leaving a wide lane for his passage. + +And here came the turning point of my life. At first, like, +I take it, every one else in that crowd, I imagined that the old +man, having finished his mission, was making a way to return to the +place from which he had come. But he held steadily to one +direction, and as that was towards myself, it naturally came to my +mind that, having dealt with greater things, he would now settle +with the less; or, in plainer words, that having put his policy +before the swarming people, he would now smite down the man he had +seen but yesterday seated as Phorenice's minister. Well, I should +lose that final fight I had promised myself, and that mound of +slain for my funeral bed. It was clear that Zaemon was the +mouthpiece of the Priests' Clan, duly appointed; and I also was a +priest. If the word had been given on the Sacred Mountain to those +who sat before the Ark of the Mysteries that Atlantis would prosper +more with Deucalion sent to the Gods, I was ready to bow to the +sentence with submissiveness. That I had regret for this mode of +cutting off, I will not deny. No man who has practised the game of +arms could abandon the promise of such a gorgeous final battle +without a qualm of longing. + +But I had been trained enough to show none of these emotions +on my face, and when the old man came up to me, I stood my ground +and gave him the salutation prescribed between our ranks, which he +returned to me with circumstance and accuracy. The crowd fell +back, being driven away by the ineffable force of the Symbol, +leaving us alone in the middle of a ring. Even Nais, though she +was a priest's daughter, was ignorant of the Mysteries, and could +not withstand its force. And so we two men stood there alone +together, with the glow of the Symbol bathing us, and lighting +up the sea of ravenous faces that watched. + +The people were quick to put their natural explanation on the +scene. "A spy!" they began to roar out. "A spy! Zaemon salutes +him as a Priest!" + +Zaemon faced round on them with a queer look on his grim old +face. "Aye," he said, "this is a Priest. If I give you his name, +you might have further interest. This is the Lord Deucalion." + +The word was picked up and yelled amongst them with a thousand +emotions. But at least they were loyal to their policy; they had +decided that Deucalion was their enemy; they had already expended +a navy for his destruction; and now that he was ringed in by their +masses, they lusted to tear him into rags with their fingers. But +rave and rave though they might against me, the glare from the +Symbol drove them shuddering back as though it had been a +lava-stream; and Zaemon was not the man to hand me over to their +fury until he had delivered formal sentence as the emissary of our +Clan on the Sacred Mount. So the end was not to be yet. + +The old man faced me and spoke in the sacred tongue, which the +common people do not know. "My brother," he said, "which have you +come to serve, Deucalion or Atlantis?" + +"Words are a poor thing to answer a question like that. You +will know all of my record. According to the Law of the Priests, +each ship from Yucatan will have carried home its sworn report to +lay at the feet of their council, and before I went to that +vice-royalty, what I did was written plain here on the face of +Atlantis." + +"We know your doings in the past, brother, and they have found +approval. You have governed well, and you have lived austerely. +You set up Atlantis for a mistress, and served her well; but then, +you have had no Phorenice to tempt you into change and fickleness." + +"You can send me where I shall see her no more, if you think +me frail." + +"Yes, and lose your usefulness. No, brother, you are the last +hope which this poor land has remaining. All other human means +that have been tried against Phorenice have failed. You have +returned from overseas for the final duel. You are the strongest +man we have, and you are our final champion. If you fail, then +only those terrible Powers which are locked within the Ark of the +Mysteries remains to us, and though it is not lawful to speak even +in this hidden tongue of their scope, you at least have full +assurance of their potency." + +I shrugged my shoulders. "It seems that you would save time +and pains if you threw me to these wolves of rebels, and let them +end me here and now." + +The old man frowned on me angrily. "I am bidding you do your +duty. What reason have you for wishing to evade it?" + +"I have in my memory the words you spoke in the pyramid, when +you came in amongst the banqueters. 'PHORENICE,' was your +cry, 'WHILST YOU ARE YET EMPRESS, YOU SHALL SEE THIS ROYAL +PYRAMID, WHICH YOU HAVE POLLUTED WITH YOUR DEBAUCHERIES, TORN TIER +FROM TIER, AND STONE FROM STONE, AND SCATTERED AS FEATHERS BEFORE +A WIND.' It seems that you foresee my defeat." + +The old man shuddered. "I cannot tell what she may force us +to do. I spoke then only what it was revealed to me must happen. +Perhaps when matters have reached that pass, she will repent and +submit. But in the meanwhile, before we use the more desperate +weapons of the Gods, it is fitting that we should expend all human +power remaining to us. And so you must go, my brother, and play +your part to the utmost." + +"It is an order. So I obey." + +"You shall be at Phorenice's side again by the next dawn. She +has sent for you from Yucatan as a husband, and as one who (so she +thinks, poor human conqueror) has the weight of arm necessary to +prolong her tyrannies. You are a Priest, brother, and you are a +man of convincing tongue. It will be your part to make her +stubborn mind see the invincible power that can be loosed against +her, to point out to her the utter hopelessness of prevailing +against it." + +"If it is ordered, I will do these things. But there is +little enough chance of success. I have seen Phorenice, and can +gauge her will. There will be no turning her once she has made a +decision. Others have tried; you have tried yourself; all have +failed." + +"Words that were wasted on a maiden may go home to a wife. +You have been brought here to be her husband. Well, take your +place." + +The order came to me with a pang. I had given little enough +heed to women through all of a busy life, though when I landed, the +taking of Phorenice to wife would not have been very repugnant to +me if policy had demanded it. But the matters of the last two days +had put things in a different shape. I had seen two other women +who had strangely attracted me, and one of these had stirred within +me a tumult such as I had never felt before amongst my economies. + +To lead Phorenice in marriage would mean a severance from this +other woman eternally, and I ached as I thought of it. But though +these thoughts floated through my system and gave me harsh wrenches +of pain, I did not thrust my puny likings before the command of the +council of the Priests. I bowed before Zaemon, and put his hand to +my forehead. "It is an order," I said. "If our Lord the Sun gives +me life, I will obey." + +"Then let us begone from this place," said Zaemon, and took me +by the arm and waved a way for us with the Symbol. No further word +did I have with Nais, fearing to embroil her with these rebels who +clustered round, but I caught one hot glance from her eyes, and +that had to suffice for farewell. The dense ranks of the crowd +opened, and we walked away between them scathless. Fiercely though +they lusted for my life, brimming with hate though they made their +cries, no man dared to rush in and raise a hand against me. +Neither did they follow. When we reached the outskirts of the +crowd, and the ranks thinned, they had a mind, many of them, to +surge along in our wake; but Zaemon whirled the Symbol back before +their faces with a blaze of lurid light, and they fell to their +knees, grovelling, and pressed on us no more. + +The rain still fell, and in the light of the camp fires as we +passed them, the wet gleamed on the old man's wasted body. And far +before us through the darkness loomed the vast bulk of the Sacred +Mountain, with the ring of eternal fires encincturing its crest. +I sighed as I thought of the old peaceful days I had spent in its +temple and groves. + +But there was to be no more of that studious leisure now. +There was work to be done, work for Atlantis which did not brook +delay. And so when we had progressed far out into the waste, and +there was none near to view (save only the most High Gods), we +found the place where the passage was, whose entrance is known only +to the Seven amongst the Priests; and there we parted, Zaemon to +his hermitage in the dangerous lands, and I by this secret way back +into the capital. + + + +9. PHORENICE, GODDESS + + +Now the passage, though its entrance had been cunningly hidden +by man's artifice, was one of those veins in which the fiery blood +of our mother, the Earth, had aforetime coursed. Long years had +passed since it carried lava streams, but the air in it was still +warm and sulphurous, and there was no inducement to linger in +transit. I lit me a lamp which I found in an appointed niche, and +walked briskly along my ways, coughing, and wishing heartily I had +some of those simples which ease a throat that has a tendency to +catarrh. But, alas! all that packet of drugs which were my sole +spoil from the vice-royalty of Yucatan were lost in the sea-fight +with Dason's navy, and since landing in Atlantis there had been +little enough time to think for the refinements of medicine. + +The network of earth-veins branched prodigiously, and if any +but one of us Seven Priests had found a way into its recesses by +chance, he would have perished hopelessly in the windings, or have +fallen into one of those pits which lead to the boil below. But I +carried the chart of the true course clearly in my head, +remembering it from that old initiation of twenty years back, when, +as an appointed viceroy, I was raised to the highest degree but one +known to our Clan, and was given its secrets and working +implements. + +The way was long, the floor was monstrous uneven, and the air, +as I have said, bad; and I knew that day would be far advanced +before the signs told me that I had passed beneath the walls, and +was well within the precincts of the city. And here the vow of the +Seven hampered my progress; for it is ordained that under no +circumstances, whatever the stress, shall egress be made from this +passage before mortal eye. One branch after another did I try, but +always found loiterers near the exits. I had hoped to make my +emergence by that path which came inside the royal pyramid. But +there was no chance of coming up unobserved here; the place was +humming like a hive. And so, too, with each of the five next +outlets that I visited. The city was agog with some strange +excitement. + +But I came at last to a temple of one of the lesser Gods, and +stood behind the image for a while making observation. The place +was empty; nay, from the dust which robed all the floors and the +seats of the worshippers, it had been empty long enough; so I moved +all that was needful, stepped out, and closed all entry behind me. +A broom lay unnoticed on one of the pews, and with this I soon +disguised all route of footmark, and took my way to the temple +door. It was shut, and priest though I was, the secret of its +opening was beyond me. + +Here was a pretty pass. No one but the attendant priests of +the temple could move the mechanism which closed and opened the +massive stone which filled the doorway; and if all had gone out to +attend this spectacle, whatever it might be, that was stirring the +city, why there I should be no nearer enlargement than before. + +There was no sound of life within the temple precincts; there +were evidences of decay and disuse spread broadcast on every hand; +but according to the ancient law there should be eternally one at +least on watch in the priests' dwellings, so down the passages +which led to them I made my way. It would have surprised me little +to have found even these deserted. That the old order was changed +I knew, but I was only then beginning to realise the ruthlessness +with which it had been swept away, and how much it had given place +to the new. + +However, there can be some faithful men remaining even in an +age of general apostasy, and on making my way to the door of the +dwelling (which lay in the roof of the temple) I gave the call, and +presently it was opened to me. The man who stood before me, +peering dully through the gloom, had at least remained constant to +his vows, and I made the salutation before him with a feeling of +respect. + +His name was Ro, and I remembered him well. We had passed +through the sacred college together, and always he had been known +as the dullard. He had capacity for learning little of the cult of +the Gods, less of the arts of ruling, less still of the handling of +arms; and he had been appointed to some lowly office in this +obscure temple, and had risen to being its second priest and one of +its two custodians merely through the desertion of all his +colleagues. But it was not pleasant to think that a fool should +remain true where cleverer men abandoned the old beliefs. + +Ro did before me the greater obeisance. He wore his beard +curled in the prevailing fashion, but it was badly done. His +clothing was ill-fitting and unbrushed. He always had been a +slovenly fellow. "The temple door is shut," he said, "and I only +have the secret of its opening. My lord comes here, therefore, by +the secret way, and as one of the Seven. I am my lord's servant." + +"Then I ask this small service of you. Tell me, what stirs +the city?" + +"That impious Phorenice has declared herself Goddess, and +declares that she will light the sacrifice with her own divine +fire. She will do it, too. She does everything. But I wish the +flames may burn her when she calls them down. This new Empress is +the bane of our Clan, Deucalion, these latter days. The people +neglect us; they bring no offerings; and now, since these rebels +have been hammering at the walls, I might have gone hungry if I had +not some small store of my own. Oh, I tell you, the cult of the +true Gods is well-nigh oozed quite out of the land." + +"My brother, it comes to my mind that the Priests of our Clan +have been limp in their service to let these things come to pass." + +"I suppose we have done our best. At least, we did as we were +taught. But if the people will not come to hear your exhortations, +and neglect to adore the God, what hold have you over their +religion? But I tell you, Deucalion, that the High Gods try our +own faith hard. Come into the dwelling here. Look there on my +bed." + +I saw the shape of a man, untidily swathed in reddened +bandages. + +"This is all that is left of the poor priest that was my +immediate superior in this cure. It was his turn yesterday to +celebrate the weekly sacrifice to our Lord the Sun with the circle +of His great stones. Faugh! Deucalion, you should have seen how +he was mangled when they brought him back to me here." + +"Did the people rise on him? Has it come to that?" + +"The people stayed passive," said Ro bitterly, "what few of +them had interest to attend; but our Lord the Sun saw fit to try +His minister somewhat harshly. The wood was laid; the sacrifice +was disposed upon it according to the prescribed rites; the +procession had been formed round the altar, and the drums and the +trumpets were speaking forth, to let all men know that presently +the smoke of their prayer would be wafted up towards Those that sit +in the great places in the heavens. But then, above the noise of +the ceremonial, there came the rushing sound of wings, and from out +of the sky there flew one of those great featherless man-eating +birds, of a bigness such as seldom before has been seen." + +"An arrow shot in the eye, or a long-shafted spear receives +them best." + +"Oh, all men know what they were taught as children, +Deucalion; but these priests were unarmed, according to the rubric, +which ordains that they shall intrust themselves completely to the +guardianship of the High Gods during the hours of sacrifice. The +great bird swooped down, settling on the wood pyre, and attacked +the sacrifice with beak and talon. My poor superior here, still +strong in his faith, called loudly on our Lord the Sun to lend +power to his arm, and sprang up on the altar with naught but his +teeth and his bare arms for weapons. It may be that he expected a +miracle--he has not spoke since, poor soul, in explanation--but all +he met were blows from leathery wings, and rakings from talons +which went near to disembowelling him. The bird brushed him away +as easily as we could sweep aside a fly, and there he lay bleeding +on the pavement beside the altar, whilst the sacrifice was torn and +eaten in the presence of all the people. And then, when the bird +was glutted, it flew away again to the mountains." + +"And the people gave no help?" + +"They cried out that the thing was a portent, that our Lord +the Sun was a God no longer if He had not power or thought to guard +His own sacrifice; and some cried that there was no God remaining +now, and others would have it that there was a new God come to +weigh on the country, which had chosen to take the form of a common +man-eating bird. But a few began to shout that Phorenice stood for +all the Gods now in Atlantis, and that cry was taken up till the +stones of the great circle rang with it. Some may have made +proclamations because they were convinced; many because the cry was +new, and pleased them; but I am sure there were not a few who +joined in because it was dangerous to leave such an outburst +unwelcomed. The Empress can be hard enough to those who neglect to +give her adulation." + +"The Empress is Empress," I said formally, "and her name +carries respect. It is not for us to question her doings." + +"I am a priest," said Ro, "and I speak as I have been taught, +and defend the Faith as I have been commanded. Whether there is a +Faith any longer, I am beginning to doubt. But, anyway, it yields +a poor enough livelihood nowadays. There have been no offerings at +this temple this five months past, and if I had not a few jars of +corn put by, I might have starved for anything the pious of this +city cared. And I do not think that the affair of that sacrifice +is likely to put new enthusiasm into our cold votaries." + +"When did it happen?" + +"Twenty hours ago. To-day Phorenice conducts the sacrifice +herself. That has caused the stir you spoke about. The city is in +the throes of getting ready one of her pageants." + +"Then I must ask you to open the temple doors and give me +passage. I must go and see this thing for myself." + +"It is not for me to offer advice to one of the Seven," said +Ro doubtfully. + +"It is not." + +"But they say that the Empress is not overpleased at your +absence," he mumbled. "I should not like harm to come in your way, +Deucalion," he said aloud. + +"The future is in the hands of the most High Gods, Ro, and I +at least believe that They will deal out our fates to each of us as +They in Their infinite wisdom see best, though you seem to have +lost your faith. And now I must be your debtor for a passage out +through the doors. Plagues! man, it is no use your holding out +your hand to me. I do not own a coin in all the world." + +He mumbled something about "force of habit" as he led the way +down towards the door, and I responded tartly enough about the +unpleasantness of his begging customs. "If it were not for your +sort and your customs, the Priests' Clan would not be facing this +crisis to-day." + +"One must live," he grumbled, as he pressed his levers, and +the massive stone in the doorway swung ajar. + +"If you had been a more capable man, I might have seen the +necessity," said I, and passed into the open and left him. I could +never bring myself to like Ro. + +A motley crowd filled the street which ran past the front of +this obscure temple, and all were hurrying one way. With what I +had been told, it did not take much art to guess that the great +stone circle of our Lord the Sun was their mark, and it grieved me +to think of how many venerable centuries that great fane had +upreared before the weather and the earth tremors, without such +profanation as it would witness to-day. And also the thought +occurred to me, "Was our Great Lord above drawing this woman on to +her destruction? Would He take some vast and final act of +vengeance when she consummated her final sacrilege?" + +But the crowd pressed on, thrilled and excited, and thinking +little (as is a crowd's wont) on the deeper matters which lay +beneath the bare spectacle. From one quarter of the city walls the +din of an attack from the besiegers made itself clearly heard from +over the house, and the temples and the palaces intervening, but no +one heeded it. They had grown callous, these townsfolk, to the +battering of rams, and the flight of fire-darts, and the other +emotions of a bombardment. Their nerves, their hunger, their +desperation, were strung to such a pitch that little short of an +actual storm could stir them into new excitement over the siege. + +All were weaponed. The naked carried arms in the hopes of +meeting some one whom they could overcome and rob; those that had +a possession walked ready to do a battle for its ownership. There +was no security, no trust; the lesson of civilisation had dropped +away from these common people as mud is washed from the feet by +rain, and in their new habits and their thoughts they had gone back +to the grade from which savages like those of Europe have never yet +emerged. It was a grim commentary on the success of Phorenice's +rule. + +The crowd merged me into their ranks without question, and +with them I pressed forward down the winding streets, once so clean +and trim, now so foul and mud-strewn. Men and women had died of +hunger in these streets these latter years, and rotted where they +lay, and we trod their bones underfoot as we walked. Yet rising +out of this squalor and this misery were great pyramids and +palaces, the like of which for splendour and magnificence had never +been seen before. It was a jarring admixture. + +In time we came to the open space in the centre of the city, +which even Phorenice had not dared to encroach upon with her +ambitious building schemes, and stood on the secular ground which +surrounds the most ancient, the most grand, and the breast of all +this world's temples. + +Since the beginning of time, when man first emerged amongst +the beasts, our Lord the Sun has always been his chiefest God, and +legend says that He raised this circle of stones Himself to be a +place where votaries should offer Him worship. It is the fashion +amongst us moderns not to take these old tales in a too literal +sense, but for myself, this one satisfies me. By our wits we can +lift blocks weighing six hundred men, and set them as the capstones +of our pyramids. But to uprear the stones of that great circle +would be beyond all our art, and much more would it be impossible +to-day, to transport them from their distant quarries across the +rugged mountains. + +There were nine-and-forty of the stones, alternating with +spaces, and set in an accurate circle, and across the tops of them +other stones were set, equally huge. The stones were undressed and +rugged; but the huge massiveness of them impressed the eye more +than all the temples and daintily tooled pyramids of our wondrous +city. And in the centre of the circle was that still greater stone +which formed the altar, and round which was carved, in the rude +chiselling of the ancients, the snake and the outstretched hand. + +The crowd which bore me on came to a standstill before the +circle of stones. To trespass beyond this is death for the common +people; and for myself, although I had the right of entrance, I +chose to stay where I was for the present, unnoticed amongst the +mob, and wait upon events. + +For long enough we stood there, our Lord the Sun burning high +and fiercely from the clear blue sky above our heads. The din of +the rebels' attack upon the walls came to us clearly, even above +the gabble of the multitude, but no one gave attention to it. +Excitement about what was to befall in the circle mastered every +other emotion. + +I learned afterways that so pressing was the rebels' attack, +and so destructive the battering of their new war engines, that +Phorenice had gone off to the walls first to lend awhile her +brilliant skill for its repulse, and to put heart into the +defenders. But as it was, the day had burned out to its middle and +scorched us intolerably, before the noise of the drums and horns +gave advertisement that the pageant had formed in procession; and +of those who waited in the crowd, many had fainted with exhaustion +and the heat, and not a few had died. But life was cheap in the +city of Atlantis now, and no one heeded the fallen. + +Nearer and nearer drew the drums and the braying of the other +music, and presently the head of a glittering procession began to +arrive and dispose itself in the space which had been set apart. +Many a thousand poor starving wretches sighed when they saw the +wanton splendour of it. But these lords and these courtiers of +this new Atlantis had no concern beyond their own bellies and their +own backs, except for their one alien regard--their simpering +affection for Phorenice. + +I think, though, their loyalty for the Empress was real +enough, and it was not to be wondered at, since everything they had +came from her lavish hands. Indeed, the woman had a charm that +cannot be denied, for when she appeared, riding in the golden +castle (where I also had ridden) on the back of her monstrous +shaggy mammoth, the starved sullen faces of the crowd brightened as +though a meal and sudden prosperity had been bestowed upon them; +and without a word of command, without a trace of compulsion, they +burst into spontaneous shouts of welcome. + +She acknowledged it with a smile of thanks. Her cheeks were +a little flushed, her movements quick, her manner high-strung, as +all well might be, seeing the horrible sacrilege she had in mind. +But she was undeniably lovely; yes, more adorably beautiful than +ever with her present thrill of excitement; and when the stair was +brought, and she walked down from the mammoth's back to the ground, +those near fell to their knees and gave her worship, out of sheer +fascination for her beauty and charm. + +Ylga, the fan-girl, alone of all that vast multitude round the +Sun temple contained herself with her formal paces and duties. She +looked pained and troubled. It was plain to see, even from the +distance where I stood, that she carried a heavy heart under the +jewels of her robe. It was fitting, too, that this should be so. +Though she had been long enough divorced from his care and fostered +by the Empress, Ylga was a daughter of Zaemon, and he was the +chiefest of our Lord the Sun's ministers here on earth. She could +not forget her upbringing now at this supreme moment when the +highest of the old Gods was to be formally defied. And perhaps +also (having a kindness for Phorenice) she was not a little +dreadful of the consequences. + +But the Empress had no eye for one sad look amongst all that +sea of glowing faces. Boldly and proudly she strode out into the +circle, as though she had been the duly appointed priest for the +sacrifice. And after her came a knot of men, dressed as priests, +and bearing the victim. Some of these were creatures of her own, +and it was easy to forgive mere ignorant laymen, won over by the +glamour of Phorenice's presence. But some, to their shame, were +men born in the Priests' Clan, and brought up in the groves and +colleges of the Sacred Mountain, and for their apostasy there could +be no palliation. + +The wood had already been stacked on the altar-stone in the +due form required by the ancient symbolism, and the Empress stood +aside whilst those who followed did what was needful. As they +opened out, I saw that the victim was one of the small, +cloven-hoofed horses that roam the plains--a most acceptable +sacrifice. They bound its feet with metal gyves, and put it on the +pyre, where, for a while, it lay neighing. Then they stepped +aside, and left it living. Here was an innovation. + +The false priests went back to the farther side of the circle, +and Phorenice stood alone before the altar. She lifted up her +voice, sweet, tuneful, and carrying, and though the din of the +siege still came from over the city, no ear there lost a word of +what was spoken. + +She raised her glance aloft, and all other eyes followed it. +The heaven was clear as the deep sea, a gorgeous blue. But as the +words came from her, so a small mist was born in the sky, wheeling +and circling like a ball, although the day was windless, and +rapidly growing darker and more compact. So dense had it become, +that presently it threw a shadow on part of the sacred circle and +soothed it into twilight, though all without where the people stood +was still garish day. And in the ball of mist were little quick +stabs and splashes of noiseless flame. + +She spoke, not in the priests' sacred tongue--though such was +her wicked cleverness, that she may very well have learned it--but +in the common speech of the people, so that all who heard might +understand; and she told of her wondrous birth (as she chose to +name it), and of the direct aid of the most High Gods, which had +enabled her to work so many marvels. And in the end she lifted +both of her fair white arms towards the blackness above, and with +her lovely face set with the strain of will, she uttered her final +cry: + +"O my high Father, the Sun, I pray You now to acknowledge me +as Your very daughter. Give this people a sign that I am indeed a +child of the Gods and no frail mortal. Here is sacrifice unlit, +where mortal priests with their puny fires had weekly, since the +foundation of this land, sent savoury smoke towards the sky. I +pray You send down the heavenly fire to burn this beast here +offered, in token that though You still rule on high, You have +given me Atlantis to be my kingdom, and the people of the Earth to +be my worshippers." + +She broke off and strained towards the sky. Her face was +contorted. Her limbs shook. "O mighty Father," she cried, "who +hast made me a God and an equal, hear me! Hear me!" + +Out of the black cloud overhead there came a blinding flash of +light, which spat downwards on to the altar. The cloven-hoofed +horse gave one shrill neigh, and one convulsion, and fell back +dead. Flames crackled out from the wood pile, and the air became +rich with the smell of burning flesh. And lo! in another moment +the cloud above had melted into nothingness, and the flames burnt +pale, and the smoke went up in a thin blue spiral towards the +deeper blueness of the sky. + +Phorenice, the Empress, stood there before the great stone, +and before the snake and the outstretched hand of life which were +inscribed upon it, flushed, exultant, and once more radiantly +lovely; and the knot of priests within the circle, and the great +mob of people without, fell to the ground adoring. + +"Phorenice, Goddess!" they cried. "Phorenice, Goddess of all +Atlantis!" + +But for myself I did not kneel. I would have no part in this +apostasy, so I stood there awaiting fate. + + + + +10. A WOOING + + +A murmur quickly sprang up round me, which grew into shouts. +"Kneel," one whispered, "kneel, sir, or you will be seen." And +another cried: "Kneel, you without beard, and do obeisance to the +only Goddess, or by the old Gods I will make myself her priest and +butcher you!" And so the shouts arose into a roar. + +But presently the word "Deucalion" began to be bandied about, +and there came a moderation in the zeal of these enthusiasts. +Deucalion, the man who had left Atlantis twenty years before to +rule Yucatan, they might know little enough about, but Deucalion, +who rode not many days back beside the Empress in the golden castle +beneath the canopy of snakes, was a person they remembered; and +when they weighed up his possible ability for vengeance, the shouts +died away from them limply. + +So when the silence had grown again, and Phorenice turned and +saw me standing alone amongst all the prostrate worshippers, I +stepped out from the crowd and passed between two of the great +stones, and went across the circle to where she stood beside the +altar. I did not prostrate myself. At the prescribed distance I +made the salutation which she herself had ordered when she made me +her chief minister, and then hailed her with formal decorum as +Empress. + +"Deucalion, man of ice," she retorted. + +"I still adhere to the old Gods!" + +"I was not referring to that," said she, and looked at me with +a sidelong smile. + +But here Ylga came up to us with a face that was white, and a +hand that shook, and made supplication for my life. "If he will +not leave the old Gods yet," she pleaded, "surely you will pardon +him? He is a strong man, and does not become a convert easily. +You may change him later. But think, Phorenice, he is Deucalion; +and if you slay him here for this one thing, there is no other man +within all the marches of Atlantis who would so worthily serve--" + +The Empress took the words from her. "You slut," she cried +out. "I have you near me to appoint my wardrobe, and carry my fan, +and do you dare to put a meddling finger on my policies? Back with +you, outside this circle, or I'll have you whipped. Ay, and I'll +do more. I'll serve you as Zaemon served my captain, Tarca. Shall +I point a finger at you, and smite your pretty skin with a sudden +leprosy?" + +The girl bowed her shoulders, and went away cowed, and +Phorenice turned to me. "My lord," she said, "I am like a young +bird in the nest that has suddenly found its wings. Wings have so +many uses that I am curious to try them all." + +"May each new flight they take be for the good of Atlantis." + +"Oh," she said, with an eye-flash, "I know what you have most +at heart. But we will go back to the pyramid, and talk this out at +more leisure. I pray you now, my lord, conduct me back to my +riding beast." + +It appeared then that I was to be condoned for not offering +her worship, and so putting public question on her deification. It +appeared also that Ylga's interference was looked upon as untimely, +and, though I could not understand the exact reasons for either of +these things, I accepted them as they were, seeing that they +forwarded the scheme that Zaemon had bidden me carry out. + +So when the Empress lent me her fingers--warm, delicate +fingers they were, though so skilful to grasp the weapons of war--I +took them gravely, and led her out of the great circle, which she +had polluted with her trickeries. I had expected to see our Lord +the Sun take vengeance on the profanation whilst it was still in +act; but none had come: and I knew that He would choose his own +good time for retribution, and appoint what instrument He thought +best, without my raising a puny arm to guard His mighty honour. + +So I led this lovely sinful woman back to the huge red mammoth +which stood there tamely in waiting, and the smell of the sacrifice +came after us as we walked. She mounted the stair to the golden +castle on the shaggy beast's back, and bade me mount also and take +seat beside her. But the place of the fan-girl behind was empty, +and what we said as we rode back through the streets there was none +to overhear. + +She was eager to know what had befallen me after the attack on +the gate, and I told her the tale, laying stress on the worthiness +of Nais, and uttering an opinion that with care the girl might be +won back to allegiance again. Only the commands that Zaemon laid +upon me when he and I spoke together in the sacred tongue, did I +withhold, as it is not lawful to repeat these matters save only in +the High Council of the Priests itself as they sit before the Ark +of the Mysteries. + +"You seem to have an unusual kindliness for this rebel Nais," +said Phorenice. + +"She showed herself to me as more clever and thoughtful than +the common herd." + +"Ay," she answered, with a sigh that I think was real enough +in its way, "an Empress loses much that meaner woman gets as her +common due." + +"In what particular?" + +"She misses the honest wooing of her equals." + +"If you set up for a Goddess--" I said. + +"Pah! I wish to be no Goddess to you, Deucalion. That was +for the common people; it gives me more power with them; it helps +my schemes. All you Seven higher priests know that trick of +calling down the fire, and it pleased me to filch it. Can you not +be generous, and admit that a woman may be as clever in finding out +these natural laws as your musty elder priests?" + +"Remains that you are Empress." + +"Nor Empress either. Just think that there is a woman seated +beside you on this cushion, Deucalion, and look upon her, and say +what words come first to your lips. Have done with ceremonies, and +have done with statecraft. Do you wish to wait on as you are till +all your manhood withers? It is well not to hurry unduly in these +matters: I am with you there. Yet, who but a fool watches a fruit +grow ripe, and then leaves it till it is past its prime?" + +I looked on her glorious beauty, but as I live it left me +cold. But I remembered the command that had been laid upon me, and +forced a smile. "I may have been fastidious," I said, "but I do +not regret waiting this long." + +"Nor I. But I have played my life as a maid, time enough. I +am a woman, ripe, and full-blooded, and the day has come when I +should be more than what I have been." + +I let my hand clench on hers. "Take me to husband then, and +I will be a good man to you. But, as I am bidden speak to +Phorenice the woman now, and not to the Empress, I offer fair +warning that I will be no puppet." + +She looked at me sidelong. "I have been master so long that +I think it will come as enjoyment to be mastered sometimes. No, +Deucalion, I promise that--you shall be no puppet. Indeed, it +would take a lusty lung to do the piping if you were to dance +against your will." + +"Then, as man and wife we will live together in the royal +pyramid, and we will rule this country with all the wit that it has +pleased the High Gods to bestow on us. These miserable differences +shall be swept aside; the rebels shall go back to their homes, and +hunt, and fight the beasts in the provinces, and the Priests' Clan +shall be pacified. Phorenice, you and I will throw ourselves brain +and soul into the government, and we will make Atlantis rise as a +nation that shall once more surpass all the world for peace and +prosperity." + +Petulantly she drew her hand away from mine. "oh, your +conditions, and your Atlantis! You carry a crudeness in these +colonial manners of yours, Deucalion, that palls on one after the +first blunt flavour has worn away. Am I to do all the wooing? Is +there no thrill of love under all your ice?" + +"In truth, I do not know what love may be. I have had little +enough speech with women all these busy years." + +"We were a pair, then, when you landed, though I have heard +sighs and protestations from every man that carries a beard in all +Atlantis. Some of them tickled my fancy for the day, but none of +them have moved me deeper. No, I also have not learned what this +love may be from my own personal feelings. But, sir, I think that +you will teach me soon, if you go on with your coldness." + +"From what I have seen, love is for the poor, and the weak, +and for those of flighty emotions." + +"Then I would that another woman were Empress, and that I were +some ill-dressed creature of the gutter that a strong man could +pick up by force, and carry away to his home for sheer passion. +Ah! How I could revel in it! How I could respond if he caught my +whim!" She laughed. "But I should lead him a sad life of it if my +liking were not so strong as his." + +"We are as we are made, and we cannot change our inwards which +move us." + +She looked at me with a sullen glance. "If I do not change +yours, my Deucalion, there will be more trouble brewed for this +poor Atlantis that you set such store upon. There will be ill +doings in this coming household of ours if my love grows for you, +and yours remains still unborn." + +I believe she would have had me fondle her there in the golden +castle on the mammoth's shabby back, before the city streets packed +with curious people. She had little enough appetite for privacy at +any time. But for the life of me I could not do it. The Gods know +I was earnest enough about my task, and They know also how it +repelled me. But I was a true priest that day, and I had put away +all personal liking to carry out the commands which the Council had +laid upon me. If I had known how to set about it, I would have +fallen in with her mood. But where any of those shallow bedizened +triflers about the court would have been glibly in his element, I +stuck for lack of a dozen words. + +There was no help for it but to leave all, save what I actually +felt, unsaid. Diplomacy I was trained in, and on most matters +I had a glib enough tongue. But to palter with women was a +lightness I had always neglected, and if I had invented would-be +pretty speeches out of my clumsy inexperience, Phorenice would have +seen through the fraud on the instant. She had been nurtured +during these years of her rule on a pap of these silly +protestations, and could weigh their value with an expert's +exactness. + +Nor was it a case where honest confession would have served my +purpose better. If I had put my position to her in plain words, it +would have made relations worse. And so perforce I had to hold my +tongue, and submit to be considered a clown. + +"I had always heard," she said, "that you colonists in Yucatan +were far ahead of those in Egypt in all the arts and graces. But +you, sir, do small credit to your vice-royalty. Why, I have had +gentry from the Nile come here, and you might almost think they had +never left their native shores." + +"They must have made great strides this last twenty years, +then. When last I was sent to Egypt to report, the blacks were +clearly masters of the land, and our people lived there only on +sufferance. Their pyramids were puny, and their cities nothing +more than forts." + +"Oh," she said mockingly, "they are mere exiles still, but +they remember their manners. My poor face seemed to please them, +at least they all went into raptures over it. And for ten pleasant +words, one of them cut off his own right hand. We made the +bargain, my Egyptian gallant and I, and the hand lies dried on some +shelf in my apartment to-day as a pleasant memento." + +But here, by a lucky chance for me, an incident occurred which +saved me from further baiting. The rebels outside the walls were +conducting their day's attack with vigour and some intelligence. +More than once during our procession the lighter missiles from +their war engines had sung up through the air, and split against a +building, and thrown splinters which wounded those who thronged the +streets. Still there had been nothing to ruffle the nerves of any +one at all used to the haps of warfare, or in any way to hinder our +courtship. But presently, it seems, they stopped hurling stones +from their war engines, and took to loading them with carcases of +wood lined with the throwing fire. + +Now, against stone buildings these did little harm, save only +that they scorched horribly any poor wretch that was within splash +of them when they burst; but when they fell upon the rude wooden +booths and rush shelters of the poorer folk, they set them ablaze +instantly. There was no putting out these fires. + +These things also would have given to either Phorenice or +myself little enough of concern, as they are the trivial and common +incidents of every siege; but the mammoth on which we rode had not +been so properly schooled. When the first blue whiff of smoke came +to us down the windings of the street, the huge red beast hoisted +its trunk, and began to sway its head uneasily. When the smoke +drifts grew more dense, and here and there a tongue of flame showed +pale beneath the sunshine, it stopped abruptly and began to +trumpet. + +The guards who led it, tugged manfully at the chains which +hung from the jagged metal collar round its neck, so that the +spikes ran deep into its flesh, and reminded it keenly of its +bondage. But the beast's terror at the fire, which was native to +its constitution, mastered all its new-bought habits of obedience. +From time unknown men have hunted the mammoth in the savage ground, +and the mammoth has hunted men; and the men have always used fire +as a shield, and mammoths have learned to dread fire as the most +dangerous of all enemies. + +Phorenice's brow began to darken as the great beast grew more +restive, and she shook her red curls viciously. "Some one shall +lose a head for this blundering," said she. "I ordered to have +this beast trained to stand indifferent to drums, shouting, arrows, +stones, and fire, and the trainers assured me that all was done, +and brought examples." + +I slipped my girdle. "Here," I said, "quick. Let me lower +you to the ground." + +She turned on me with a gleam. "Are you afraid for my neck, +then, Deucalion?" + +"I have no mind to be bereaved before I have tasted my wedded +life." + +"Pish! There is little enough of danger. I will stay and ride +it out. I am not one of your nervous women, sir. But go you, +if you please." + +"There is little enough chance of that now." + +Blood flowed from the mammoth's neck where the spikes of the +collar tore it, and with each drop, so did the tameness seem to +ooze out from it also. With wild squeals and trumpetings it turned +and charged viciously down the way it had come, scattering like +straws the spearmen who tried to stop it, and mowing a great swath +through the crowd with its monstrous progress. Many must have been +trodden under foot, many killed by its murderous trunk, but only +their cries came to us. The golden castle, with its canopy of +royal snakes, was swayed and tossed, so that we two occupants had +much ado not to be shot off like stones from a catapult. But I +took a brace with my feet against the front, and one arm around a +pillar, and clapped the spare arm round Phorenice, so as to offer +myself to her as a cushion. + +She lay there contentedly enough, with her lovely face just +beneath my chin, and the faint scent of her hair coming in to me +with every breath I took; and the mammoth charged madly on through +the narrow streets. We had outstripped the taint of smoke, and the +original cause of fear, but the beast seemed to have forgotten +everything in its mad panic. It held furiously on with enormous +strides, carrying its trunk aloft, and deafening us with its +screams and trumpetings. We left behind us quickly all those who +had trod in that glittering pageant, and we were carried helplessly +on through the wards of the city. + +The beast was utterly beyond all control. So great was its +pace that there was no alternative but to try and cling on to the +castle. Up there we were beyond its reach. To have leapt off, +even if we had avoided having brains dashed out or limbs smashed by +the fall, would have been to put ourselves at once at a frightful +disadvantage. The mammoth would have scented us immediately, and +turned (as is the custom of these beasts), and we should have been +trampled into a pulp in a dozen seconds. + +The thought came to me that here was the High God's answer to +Phorenice's sacrilege. The mammoth was appointed to carry out +Their vengeance by dashing her to pieces, and I, their priest, was +to be human witness that justice had been done. But no direct +revelation had been given me on this matter, and so I took no +initiative, but hung on to the swaying castle, and held the Empress +against bruises in my arms. + +There was no guiding the brute: in its insanity of madness it +doubled many times upon its course, the windings of the streets +confusing it. But by degrees we left the large palaces and +pyramids behind, and got amongst the quarters of artisans, where +weavers and smiths gaped at us from their doors as we thundered +past. And then we came upon the merchants' quarters where men live +over their storehouses that do traffic with the people over seas, +and then down an open space there glittered before us a mirror of +water. + +"Now here," thought I, "this mad beast will come to sudden +stop, and as like as not will swerve round sharply and charge back +again towards the heart of the city." And I braced myself to +withstand the shock, and took fresh grip upon the woman who lay +against my breast. But with louder screams and wilder trumpetings +the mammoth held straight on, and presently came to the harbour's +edge, and sent the spray sparkling in sheets amongst the sunshine +as it went with its clumsy gait into the water. + +But at this point the pace was very quickly slackened. The +great sewers, which science devised for the health of the city in +the old King's time, vomit their drainings into this part of the +harbour, and the solid matter which they carry is quickly deposited +as an impalpable sludge. Into this the huge beast began to sink +deeper and deeper before it could halt in its rush, and when with +frightened bellowings it had come to a stop, it was bogged +irretrievably. Madly it struggled, wildly it screamed and +trumpeted. The harbour-water and the slime were churned into one +stinking compost, and the golden castle in which we clung lurched +so wildly that we were torn from it and shot far away into the +water. + +Still there, of course, we were safe, and I was pleased enough +to be rid of the bumpings. + +Phorenice laughed as she swam. "You handle yourself like a +sore man, Deucalion. I owe you something for lending me the +cushion of your body. By my face! There's more of the gallant +about you when it comes to the test than one would guess to hear +you talk. How did you like the ride, sir? I warrant it came to +you as a new experience." + +"I'd liefer have walked." + +"Pish, man! You'll never be a courtier. You should have +sworn that with me in your arms you could have wished the bumping +had gone on for ever. Ho, the boat there! Hold your arrows. +Deucalion, hail me those fools in that boat. Tell them that, if +they hurt so much as a hair of my mammoth, I'll kill them all by +torture. He'll exhaust himself directly, and when his flurry's +done we'll leave him where he is to consider his evil ways for a +day or so, and then haul him out with windlasses, and tame him +afresh. Pho! I could not feel myself to be Phorenice, if I had no +fine, red, shaggy mammoth to take me out for my rides." + +The boat was a ten-slave galley which was churning up from the +farther side of the harbour as hard as well-plied whips could make +oars drive her, but at the sound of my shouts the soldiers on her +foredeck stopped their arrowshots, and the steersman swerved her +off on a new course to pick us up. Till then we had been swimming +leisurely across an angle of the harbour, so as to avoid landing +where the sewers outpoured; but we stopped now, treading the water, +and were helped over the side by most respectful hands. + +The galley belonged to the captain of the port, a mincing +figure of a mariner, whose highest appetite in life was to lick the +feet of the great, and he began to fawn and prostrate himself at +once, and to wish that his eyes had been blinded before he saw the +Empress in such deadly peril. + +"The peril may pass," said she. "It's nothing mortal that +will ever kill me. But I have spoiled my pretty clothes, and shed +a jewel or two, and that's annoying enough as you say, good man." + +The silly fellow repeated a wish that he might be blinded +before the Empress was ever put to such discomfort again. + +But it seemed she could be cloyed with flattery. "If you are +tired of your eyes," said she, "let me tell you that you have gone +the way to have them plucked out from their sockets. Kill my +mammoth, would you, because he has shown himself a trifle +frolicsome? You and your sort want more education, my man. I +shall have to teach you that port-captains and such small creatures +are very easy to come by, and very small value when got, but that +my mammoth is mine--mine, do you understand?--the property of +Goddess Phorenice, and as such is sacred." + +The port-captain abased himself before her. "I am an ignorant +fellow," said he, "and heaven was robbed of its brightest ornament +when Phorenice came down to Atlantis. But if reparation is +permitted me, I have two prisoners in the cabin of the boat here +who shall be sacrificed to the mammoth forthwith. Doubtless it +would please him to make sport with them, and spill out the last +lees of his rage upon their bodies." + +"Prisoners you've got, have you? How taken?" + +"Under cover of last night they were trying to pass in between +the two forts which guard the harbour mouth. But their boat fouled +the chain, and by the light of the torches the sentries spied them. +They were caught with ropes, and put in a dungeon. There is an +order not to abuse prisoners before they have been brought before +a judgment?" + +"It was my order. Did these prisoners offer to buy their +lives with news?" + +"The man has not spoken. Indeed, I think he got his death-wound +in being taken. The woman fought like a cat also, so they said +in the fort, but she was caught without hurt. She says she has +got nothing that would be of use to tell. She says she has +tired of living like a savage outside the city, and moreover that, +inside, there is a man for whose nearness she craves most +mightily." + +"Tut!" said Phorenice. "Is this a romance we have swum to? +You see what affectionate creatures we women are, Deucalion."--The +galley was brought up against the royal quay and made fast to its +golden rings. I handed the Empress ashore, but she turned again +and faced the boat, her garments still yielding up a slender drip +of water.--"Produce your woman prisoner, master captain, and let us +see whether she is a runaway wife, or a lovesick girl mad after her +sweetheart. Then I will deliver judgment on her, and as like as +not will surprise you all with my clemency. I am in a mood for +tender romance to-day." + +The port-captain went into the little hutch of a cabin with a +white face. It was plain that Phorenice's pleasantries scared him. +"The man appears to be dead, Your Majesty. I see that his +wounds--" + +"Bring out the woman, you fool. I asked for her. Keep your +carrion where it is." + +I saw the fellow stoop for his knife to cut a lashing, and +presently who should he bring out to the daylight but the girl I +had saved from the cave-tigers in the circus, and who had so +strangely drawn me to her during the hours that we had spent +afterwards in companionship. It was clear, too, that the Empress +recognised her also. Indeed, she made no secret about the matter, +addressing her by name, and mockingly making inquiries about the +menage of the rebels, and the success of the prisoner's amours. + +"This good port-captain tells me that you made a most valiant +attempt to return, Nais, and for an excuse you told that it was +your love for some man in the city here which drew you. Come, now, +we are willing to overlook much of your faults, if you will give us +a reasonable chance. Point me out your man, and if he is a proper +fellow, I will see that he weds you honestly. Yes, and I will do +more for you, Nais, since this day brings me to a husband. Seeing +that all your estate is confiscate as a penalty for your late +rebellion, I will charge myself with your dowry, and give it back +to you. So come, name me the man." + +The girl looked at her with a sullen brow. "I spoke a lie," +she said; "there is no man." + +I tried myself to give her advocacy. "The lady doubtless +spoke what came to her lips. When a woman is in the grip of a rude +soldiery, any excuse which can save her for the moment must serve. +For myself, I should think it like enough that she would confess to +having come back to her old allegiance, if she were asked." + +"Sir," said the Empress, "keep your peace. Any interest you +may show in this matter will go far to offend me. You have spoken +of Nais in your narrative before, and although your tongue was +shrewd and you did not say much, I am a woman and I could read +between the lines. Now regard, my rebel, I have no wish to be +unduly hard upon you, though once you were my fan-girl, and so your +running away to these ill-kempt malcontents, who beat their heads +against my city walls, is all the more naughty. But you must meet +me halfway. You must give an excuse for leniency. Point me out +the man you would wed, and he shall be your husband to-morrow." + +"There is no man." + +"Then name me one at random. Why, my pretty Nais, not ten +months ago there were a score who would have leaped at the chance +of having you for a wife. Drop your coyness, girl, and name me one +of those. I warrant you that I will be your ambassadress and will +put the matter to him with such delicacy that he will not make you +blush by refusal." + +The prisoner moistened her lips. "I am a maiden, and I have a +maiden's modesty. I will die as you choose, but I will not do +this indecency." + +"Well, I am a maiden too, and though because I am Empress +also, questions of State have to stand before questions of my +private modesty, I can have a sympathy for yours--although in truth +it did not obtrude unduly when you were my fan-girl, Nais. No, +come to think of it, you liked a tender glance and a pretty phrase +as well as any when you were fan-girl. You have grown wild and +shy, amongst these savage rebels, but I will not punish you for +that. + +"Let me call your favourites to memory now. There was Tarca, +of course, but Tarca had a difference with that ill-dressed father +of yours, and wears a leprosy on half his face instead of that +beard he used to trim so finely. And then there is Tatho, but +Tatho is away overseas. Eron, too, you liked once, but be lost an +arm in fighting t'other day, and I would not marry you to less than +a whole man. Ah, by my face! I have it, the dainty exquisite, +Rota! He is the husband! How well I remember the way he used to +dress in a change of garb each day to catch your proud fancy, girl. +Well, you shall have Rota. He shall lead you to wife before this +hour to-morrow." + +Again the prisoner moistened her lips. "I will not have Rota, +and spare me the others. I know why you mock me, Phorenice." + +"Then there are three of us here who share one +knowledge."--She turned her eyes upon me. Gods! who ever saw the +like of Phorenice's eyes, and who ever saw them lit with such fire +as burned within them then?--"My lord, you are marrying me for +policy; I am marrying you for policy, and for another reason which +has grown stronger of late, and which you may guess at. Do you +wish still to carry out the match?" + +I looked once at Nais, and then I looked steadily back to +Phorenice. The command given by the mouth of Zaemon from the High +Council of the Sacred Mountain had to outweigh all else, and I +answered that such was my desire. + +"Then," said she, glowering at me with her eyes, "you shall +build me up the pretty body of Nais beneath a throne of granite as +a wedding gift. And you shall do it too with your own proper +hands, my Deucalion, whilst I watch your devotion." + +And to Nais she turned with a cruel smile. "You lied to me, +my girl, and you spoke truth to the soldiers in the harbour forts. +There is a man here in the city you came after, and he is the one +man you may not have. Because you know me well, and my methods +very thoroughly, your love for him must be very deep, or you would +not have come. And so, being here, you shall be put beyond +mischief's reach. I am not one of those who see luxury in +fostering rivals. + +"You came for attention at the hands of Deucalion. By my face! +you shall have it. I will watch myself whilst he builds you up +living." + + + +11. AN AFFAIR WITH THE +BARBAROUS FISHERS + + +So this mighty Empress chose to be jealous of a mere woman +prisoner! + +Now my mind has been trained to work with a soldierly +quickness in these moments of stress, and I decided on my proper +course on the instant the words had left her lips. I was +sacrificing myself for Atlantis by order of the High Council of the +Priests, and, if needful, Nais must be sacrificed also, although in +the same flash a scheme came to me for saving her. + +So I bowed gravely before the Empress, and said I, "In this, +and in all other things where a mere human hand is potent, I will +carry out your wishes, Phorenice." And she on her part patted my +arm, and fresh waves of feeling welled up from the depths of her +wondrous eyes. Surely the Gods won for her half her schemes and +half her battles when they gave Phorenice her shape, and her voice, +and the matters which lay within the outlines of her face. + +By this time the merchants, and the other dwellers adjacent to +this part of the harbour, where the royal quay stands, had come +down, offering changes of raiment, and houses to retire into. +Phorenice was all graciousness, and though it was little enough I +cared for mere wetness of my coat, still that part of the harbour +into which we had been thrown by the mammoth was not over savoury, +and I was glad enough to follow her example. For myself, I said no +further word to Nais, and refrained even from giving her a glance +of farewell. But a small sop like this was no meal for Phorenice, +and she gave the port-captain strict orders for the guarding of his +prisoner before she left him. + +At the house into which I was ushered they gave me a bath, and +I eased my host of the plainest garment in his store, and he was +pleased enough at getting off so cheaply. But I had an hour to +spend outside on the pavement listening to the distant din of +bombardment before Phorenice came out to me again, and I could not +help feeling some grim amusement at the face of the merchant who +followed. The fellow was clearly ruined. He had a store of jewels +and gauds of the most costly kind, which were only in fraction his +own, seeing that he had bought them (as the custom is) in +partnership with other merchants. These had pleased Phorenice's +eye, and so she had taken all and disposed them on her person. + +"Are they not pretty?" said she, showing them to me. "See how +they flash under the sun. I am quite glad now, Deucalion, that the +mammoth gave us that furious ride and that spill, since it has +brought me such a bonny present. You may tell the fellow here that +some day when he has earned some more, I will come and be his guest +again. Ah! They have brought us litters, I see. Well, send one +away and do you share mine with me, sir. We must play at being +lovers to-day, even if love is a matter which will come to us both +with more certainty to-morrow. No; do not order more bearers. My +own slaves will carry us handily enough. I am glad you are not one +of your gross, overfed men, Deucalion. I am small and slim myself, +and I do not want to be husbanded by a man who will overshadow me." + +"Back to the royal pyramid?" I asked. + +"No, nor to the walls. I neither wish to fight nor to sit as +Empress to-day, sir. As I have told you before, it is my whim to +be Phorenice, the maiden, for a few hours, and if some one I wot of +would woo me now, as other maidens are wooed, I should esteem it a +luxury. Bid the slaves carry us round the harbour's rim, and give +word to these starers that, if they follow, I will call down fire +upon them as I did upon the sacrifice." + +Now, I had seen something of the unruliness of the streets +myself, and I had gathered a hint also from the officer at the gate +of the royal pyramid that night of Phorenice's welcoming banquet. +But as whatever there was in the matter must be common knowledge to +the Empress, I did not bring it to her memory then. So I dismissed +the guard which had come up, and drove away with a few sharp words +the throng of gaping sightseers who always, silly creatures, must +needs come to stare at their betters; and then I sat in the litter +in the place where I was invited, and the bearers put their heads +to the pole. + +They swung away with us along the wide pavement which runs +between the houses of the merchants and the mariner folk and the +dimpling waters of the harbour, and I thought somewhat sadly of the +few ships that floated on that splendid basin now, and of the few +evidences of business that showed themselves on the quays. Time +was when the ships were berthed so close that many had to wait in +the estuary outside the walls, and memorials had been sent to the +King that the port should be doubled in size to hold the glut of +trade. And that, too, in the old days of oar and sail, when +machines drawing power from our Lord the Sun were but rarely used +to help a vessel speedily along her course. + +The Egypt voyage and a return was a matter of a year then, as +against a brace of months now, and of three ships that set out, one +at least could be reckoned upon succumbing to the dangers of the +wide waters and the terrible beasts that haunt them. But in those +old days trade roared with lusty life, and was ever growing wider +and more heavy. Your merchant then was a portly man and gave +generously to the Gods. But now all the world seemed to be in +arms, and moreover trade was vulgar. Your merchant, if he was a +man of substance, forgot his merchandise, swore that chaffering was +more indelicate than blasphemy and curled his beard after the new +fashion, and became a courtier. Where his father had spent anxious +days with cargo tally and ship-master, the son wasted hours in +directing sewing men as they adorned a coat, and nights in +vapouring at a banquet. + +Of the smaller merchants who had no substance laid by, taxes +and the constant bickerings of war had wellnigh ground them into +starvation. Besides, with the country in constant uproar, there +were few markets left for most merchandise, nor was there aught +made now which could be carried abroad. If your weaver is pressed +as a fire-tube man he does not make cloth, and if your farmer is +playing at rebellion, he does not buy slaves to till his fields. +Indeed, they told me that a month before my return, as fine a cargo +of slaves had been brought into harbour as ever came out of Europe, +and there was nothing for it but to set them ashore across the +estuary, and leave them free to starve or live in the wild ground +there as they chose. There was no man in all Atlantis who would +hold so much as one more slave as a gift. + +But though I was grieved at this falling away, all schemes for +remedy would be for afterwards. It would only make ill worse to +speak of it as we rode together in the litter. I was growing to +know Phorenice's moods enough for that. Still, I think that she +too had studied mine, and did her best to interest me between her +bursts of trifling. We went out to where the westernmost harbour +wall joins the land, and there the panting bearers set us down. +She led me into a little house of stone which stood by itself, +built out on a promontory where there is a constant run of tide, +and when we had been given admittance, after much unbarring, she +showed me her new gold collectors. + +In the dry knowledge taught in the colleges and groves of the +Sacred Mountain it had been a common fact to us that the metal gold +was present in a dissolved state in all sea water, but of plans for +dragging it forth into yellow hardness, none had ever been +discussed. But here this field-reared upstart of an Empress had +stumbled upon the trick as though it had been written in a book. + +She patted my arm laughingly as I stared curiously round the +place. "I tell all others in Atlantis that only the Gods have this +secret," said she, "and that They gave it to me as one of +themselves. But I am no Goddess to you, am I, Deucalion? And, by +my face! I have no other explanation of how this plan was +invented. We'll suppose I must have dreamed it. Look! The +sea-water sluices in through that culvert, and passes over these +rough metal plates set in the floor, and then flows out again +yonder in its natural course. You see the yellow metal caught in +the ridges of the plates? That is gold. And my fellows here melt +it with fire into bars, and take it to my smith's in the city. The +tides vary constantly, as you priests know well, as the quiet moon +draws them, and it does not take much figuring to know how much of +the sea passes through these culverts in a month and how much gold +to a grain should be caught in the plates. My fellows here at +first thought to cheat me, but I towed two of them in the water +once behind a galley till the cannibal fish ate them, and since +then the others have given me credit for--for what do you think?" + +"More divinity." + +"I suppose it is that. But I am letting you see how it is +done. Just have the head to work out a little sum, and see what an +effect can be gained. You will be a God yet yourself, Deucalion, +with these silly Atlanteans, if only you will use your wit and +cleverness." + +Was she laughing at me? Was she in earnest? I could not +tell. Sometimes she pointed out that her success and triumphs were +merely the reward of thought and brilliancy, and next moment she +gave me some impossible explanation and left me to deduce that she +must be more than mortal or the thing could never have been found. +In good truth, this little woman with her supple mind and her +supple body mystified me more and more the longer I stayed by her +side; and more and more despairing did I grow that Atlantis could +ever be restored by my agency to peace and the ancient Gods, even +after I had carried out the commands of the High Council, and taken +her to wife. + +Only one plan seemed humanly possible, and that was to curb +her further mischievousness by death and then leave the wretched +country naturally to recover. It was just a dagger-stroke, and the +thing was done. Yet the very idea of this revolted me, and when +the desperate thought came to my mind (which it did ever and anon), +I hugged to myself the answer that if it were fitting to do this +thing, the High Gods in Their infinite wisdom would surely have put +definite commands upon me for its carrying out. + +Yet, such was the fascination of Phorenice, that when +presently we left her gold collectors, and stumbled into such +peril, that a little withholding of my hand would have gained her +a passage to the nether Gods, I found myself fighting when she +called upon me, as seldom I have fought before. And though, of +course, some blame for this must be laid upon that lust of battle +which thrills even the coldest of us when blows begin to whistle +and war-cries start to ring, there is no doubt also that the +pleasure of protecting Phorenice, and the distaste for seeing her +pulled down by those rude, uncouth fishers put special nerve and +vehemence into my blows. + +The cause of the matter was the unrest and the prevalency to +street violence which I have spoken of above, and the desperate +poverty of the common people, which led them to take any risk if it +showed them a chance of winning the wherewithal to purchase a meal. +We had once more mounted the litter, and once more the bearers, +with their heads beneath the pole, bore us on at their accustomed +swinging trot. Phorenice was telling me about her new supplies of +gold. She had made fresh sumptuary laws, it appeared. + +"In the old days," said she, "when yellow gold was tediously +dredged up grain by grain from river gravels in the dangerous +lands, a quill full would cost a rich man's savings, and so none +but those whose high station fitted them to be so adorned could +wear golden ornaments. But when the sea-water gave me gold here by +the double handful a day, I found that the price of these river +hoards decreased, and one day--could you credit it?--a common +fellow, who was one of my smiths, came to me wearing a collar of +yellow gold on his own common neck. Well, I had that neck divided, +as payment for his presumption; and as I promised to repeat the +division promptly on all other offenders, that special species of +forwardness seems to be checked for the time. There are many +exasperations, Deucalion, in governing these common people." + +She had other things to say upon the matter, but at this point +I saw two clumsy boats of fishers paddling to us from over the +ripples, and at the same time amongst the narrow lanes which led +between the houses on the other side of us, savage-faced men were +beginning to run after the litter in threatening clusters. + +"With permission," I said, "I will step out of the conveyance +and scatter this rabble." + +"Oh, the people always cluster round me. Poor ugly souls, they +seem to take a strange delight in coming to stare at my pretty +looks. But scatter them. I have said I did not wish to be +followed. I am taking holiday now, Deucalion, am I not, whilst +you learn to woo me?" + +I stepped to the ground. The rough fishers in the boats were +beginning to shout to those who dodged amongst the houses to see to +it that we did not escape, and the numbers who hemmed us in on the +shore side were increasing every moment. The prospect was +unpleasant enough. We had come out beyond the merchants' quarters, +and were level with those small huts of mud and grass which the +fishing population deem sufficient for shelter, and which has +always been a spot where turbulence might be expected. Indeed, +even in those days of peace and good government in the old King's +time, this part of the city had rarely been without its weekly +riot. + +The life of the fisherman is the most hard that any human +toilers have to endure. Violence from the wind and waves, and +pelting from firestones out of the sky are their daily portion; the +great beasts that dwell in the seas hunt them with savage +persistence, and it is a rare day when at least some one of the +fishers' guild fails to come home to answer the tally. + +Moreover, the manner which prevails of catching fish is not +without its risks. + +To each man there is a large sea-fowl taken as a nestling, and +trained to the work. A ring of bronze is round its neck to prevent +its swallowing the spoil for which it dives, and for each fish it +takes and flies back with to the boat, the head and tail and +inwards are given to it for a reward, the ring being removed whilst +it makes the meal. + +The birds are faithful, once they have got a training, and are +seldom known to desert their owners; but, although the fishers +treat them more kindly than they do their wives, or children of +their own begetting, the life of the birds is precarious like that +of their masters. The larger beasts and fish of the sea prey on +them as they prey on the smaller fish, and so whatever care may be +lavished upon them, they are most liable to sudden cutting off. + +And here is another thing that makes the life of the fisher +most precarious: if his fishing bird be slain, and the second which +he has in training also come by ill fortune, he is left suddenly +bereft of all utensils of livelihood, and (for aught his +guild-fellows care) he may go starve. For these fishers hold that +the Gods of the sea regulate their craft, and that if one is not +pleasing to Them They rob him of his birds; after which it would be +impious to have any truck or dealing with such a fellow; and +accordingly he is left to starve or rob as he chooses. + +All of which circumstances tend to make the fishers rude, +desperate men, who have been forced into the trade because all +other callings have rejected them. They are fellows, moreover, who +will spend the gains of a month on a night's debauch, for fear that +the morrow will rob them of life and the chance of spending; and, +moreover, it is their one point of honour to be curbed in no desire +by an ordinary fear of consequences. As will appear. + +I went quickly towards the largest knot of these people, who +were skulking behind the houses, leaving the litter halted in the +path behind me, and I bade them sharply enough to disperse. "For +an employment," I added, "put your houses in order, and clean the +fish offal from the lanes between them. To-morrow I will come +round here to inspect, and put this quarter into a better order. +But for to-day the Empress (whose name be adored) wishes for a +privacy, so cease your staring." + +"Then give us money," said a shrill voice from amongst the +huts. + +"I will send you a torch in an hour's time," I said grimly, +"and rig you a gallows, if you give me more annoyance. To your +kennels, you!" + +I think they would have obeyed the voice of authority if they +had been left to themselves. There was a quick stir amongst them. +Those that stood in the sunlight instinctively slipped into the +shadow, and many dodged into the houses and cowered in dark corners +out of sight. But the men in the two hide-covered fisher-boats +that were paddling up, called them back with boisterous cries. + +I signed to the litter-bearers to move on quickly along their +road. There was need of discipline here, and I was minded to deal +it out myself with a firm hand. I judged that I could prevent them +following the Empress, but if she still remained as a glittering +bait for them to rob, and I had to protect her also, it might be +that my work would not be done so effectively. + +But it seems I was presumptuous in giving an order which dealt +with the person of Phorenice. She bade the bearers stand where +they were, and stepped out, and drew her weapons from beneath the +cushions. She came towards me strapping a sword on to her hip, and +carrying a well-dinted target of gold on her left forearm. "An +unfair trick," cries she, laughing. "If you will keep a fight to +yourself now, Deucalion, where will your greediness carry you when +I am your shrinking, wistful little wife? Are these fools truly +going to stand up against us?" + +I was not coveting a fight, but it seemed as if there would be +no avoidance of it now. The robe and the glittering gauds of which +Phorenice had recently despoiled the merchant, drew the eyes of +these people with keen attraction. The fishers in the boats +paddled into the surf which edged the beach, and leaped overside +and left the frail basket-work structures to be spewed up sound or +smashed, as chance ordered. And from the houses, and from the +filthy lanes between them, poured out hordes of others, women mixed +with the men, gathering round us threateningly. + +"Have a care," shouted one on the outskirts of the crowd. +"She called down fire for the sacrifice once to-day, and she can +burn up others here if she chooses." + +"So much the more for those that are left," retorted another. +"She cannot burn all." + +"Nay, I will not burn any," said Phorenice, "but you shall +look upon my sword-play till you are tired." + +I heard her say that with some malicious amusement, knowing +(as one of the Seven) how she had called down the fires of the sky +to burn that cloven-hoofed horse offered in sacrifice, and knowing +too, full well, that she could bring down no fire here. But they +gave us little enough time for wordy courtesies. Their Empress +never went far unattended, and, for aught the wretches knew, an +escort might be close behind. So what pilfering they did, it +behoved them to get done quickly. + +They closed in, jostling one another to be first, and the reek +of their filthy bodies made us cough. A grimy hand launched out to +seize some of the jewels which flashed on Phorenice's breast, and +I lopped it off at the elbow, so that it fell at her feet, and a +second later we were engaged. + +"Your back to mine, comrade," cried she, with a laugh, and +then drew and laid about her with fine dexterity. Bah! but it was +mere slaughter, that first bout. + +The crowd hustled inwards with such greediness to seize what +they could, that none had space to draw back elbow for a thrust, +and we two kept a circle round us by sheer whirling of steel. It +is necessary to do one's work cleanly in these bouts, as wounded +left on the ground unnoticed before one are as dangerous as so many +snakes. But as we circled round in our battling I noted that all +of Phorenice's quarry lay peaceful and still. By the Gods! but she +could play a fine sword, this dainty Empress. She touched life +with every thrust. + +Yes, it was plain to see, now an example was given, that the +throne of Atlantis had been won, not by a lovely face and a subtle +tongue alone; and (as a fighter myself) I did not like Phorenice +the less for the knowledge. I could but see her out of the corner +of my eye, and that only now and again, for the fishers, despite +their ill-knowledge of fence, and the clumsiness of their weapons, +had heavy numbers, and most savage ferocity; and as they made so +confident of being able to pull us down, it required more than a +little hard battling to keep them from doing it. Ay, by the Gods! +it was at times a fight my heart warmed to, and if I had not +contrived to pluck a shield from one fool who came too +vain-gloriously near me with one, I could not swear they would not +have dragged me down by sheer ravening savageness. + +And always above the burly uproar of the fight came very +pleasantly to my ears Phorenice's cry of "Deucalion!" which she +chose as her battle shout. I knew her, of course, to be a +past-mistress of the art of compliment, and it was no new thing for +me to hear the name roared out above a battle din, but it was given +there under circumstances which were peculiar, and for the life of +me I could not help being tickled by the flattery. + +Condemn my weakness how you will, but I came very near then to +liking the Empress of Atlantis in the way she wished. And as for +that other woman who should have filled my mind, I will confess +that the stress of the moment, and the fury of the engagement, had +driven both her and her strait completely out beyond the marches of +my memory. Of such frail stuff are we made, even those of us who +esteem ourselves the strongest. + +Now it is a temptation few men born to the sword can resist, +to throw themselves heart and soul into a fight for a fight's sake, +and it seems that women can be bitten with the same fierce +infection. The attack slackened and halted. We stood in the +middle of a ring of twisted dead, and the rest of the fishers and +their women who hemmed us in shrank back out of reach of our +weapons. + +It was the moment for a truce, and the moment when a few +strong words would have sent them back cowering to their huts, and +given us free passage to go where we chose. But no, this Phorenice +must needs sing a hymn to her sword and mine, gloating over our +feats and invulnerability; and then she must needs ask payment for +the bearers of her litter whom they had killed, and then speak +balefully of the burnings, and the skinnings, and the sawings +asunder with which this fishers' quarter would be treated in the +near future, till they learned the virtues of deportment and +genteel manners. + +"It makes your backs creep, does it?" said Phorenice. "I do +not wonder. This severity must have its unpleasant side. But why +do you not put it beyond my power to give the order? Either you +must think yourselves Gods or me no Goddess, or you would not have +gone on so far. Come now, you nasty-smelling people, follow out +your theory, and if you make a good fight of it, I swear by my face +I will be lenient with those who do not fall." + +But there was no pressing up to meet our swords. They still +ringed us in, savage and sullen, beyond the ring of their own dead, +and would neither run back to the houses, nor give us the game of +further fight. There was a certain stubborn bravery about them +that one could not but admire, and for myself I determined that +next time it became my duty to raise troops, I would catch a +handful of these men, and teach them handiness with the utensils of +war, and train them to loyalty and faithfulness. But presently +from behind their ranks a stone flew, and though it whizzed between +the Empress and myself, and struck down a fisher, it showed that +they had brought a new method into their attack, and it behoved us +to take thought and meet it. + +I looked round me up and down the beach. There was no sign of +a rescue. "Phorenice," I said in the court tongue, which these +barbarous fishers would know little enough of, "I take it that a +whiff of the sea-breeze would come very pleasant after all this +warm play. As you can show such pretty sword work, will you cut me +a way down to the beach, and I will do my poor best to keep these +creatures from snapping at our heels?" + +"Oh!" cried she. "Then I am to have a courtier for a husband +after all. Why have you kept back your flattering speeches till +now? Is that your trick to make me love you?" + +"I will think out the reason for it another time." + +"Ah, these stern, commanding husbands," said she, "how they do +press upon their little wives!" and with that leaped over the ring +of dead before her, and cut and stabbed a way through those that +stood between her and the waters which creamed and crashed upon the +beach. Gods! what a charge she made. It made me tingle with +admiration as I followed sideways behind her, guarding the rear. +And I am a man that has spent so many years in battling, that it +takes something far out of the common to move me to any enthusiasm +in this matter. + +There were two boats creaking and washing about in the edge of +the surf, but in one, happily, the wicker-work which made its frame +was crushed by the weight of the waves into a shapeless bundle of +sticks, and would take half a day to replace. So that, let us but +get the other craft afloat, and we should be free from further +embroiling. But the fishers were quick to see the object of this +new manoeuvre. "Guard the boat," they shouted. "Smash her; slit +her skin with your knives! Tear her with your fingers! Swim her +out to sea! Oh, at least take the paddles!" + +But, if these clumsy fishers could run, Phorenice was like a +legged snake for speed. She was down beside the boat before any +could reach it, laughing and shouting out that she could beat them +at every point. Myself, I was slower of foot; and, besides, there +was some that offered me a fight on the road, and I was not wishful +to baulk them; and moreover, the fewer we left clamouring behind, +the fewer there would be to speed our going with their stones. +Still I came to the beach in good order, and laid hands on the +flimsy boat and tipped her dry. + +"Fighting is no trade for, me," I cried, "whilst you are here, +Phorenice. Guard me my back and walk out into the water." + +I took the boat, thrusting it afloat, and wading with it till +two lines of the surf were past. The fishers swarmed round us, +active as fish in their native element, and strove mightily to get +hands on the boat and slit the hides which covered it with their +eager fingers. But I had a spare hand, and a short stabbing-knife +for such close-quarter work, and here, there, and everywhere was +Phorenice the Empress, with her thirsty dripping sword. By the +Gods! I laughed with sheer delight at seeing her art of fence. + +But the swirl of a great fish into the shallows, and the +squeal of a fisher as he was dragged down and home away into the +deep, made me mindful of foes that no skill can conquer, and no +bravery avoid. Without taking time to give the Empress a word of +warning, I stooped, and flung an arm round her, and threw her up +out of the water into the boat, and then thrust on with all my +might, driving the flimsy craft out to sea, whilst my legs crept +under me for fear of the beasts which swam invisible beneath the +muddied waters. + +To the fishers, inured to these horrid perils by daily +association, the seizing of one of their number meant little, and +they pressed on, careless of their dull lives, eager only to snatch +the jewels which still flaunted on Phorenice's breast. Of the +vengeance that might come after they recked nothing; let them but +get the wherewithal for one night's good debauch, and they would +forget that such a thing as the morning of a morrow could have +existence. + +Two fellows I caught and killed that, diving down beneath, +tried to slit the skin of the boat out of sight under the water; +and Phorenice cared for all those that tried to put a hand on the +gunwales. Yes, and she did more than that. A huge long-necked +turtle that was stirred out of the mud by the turmoil, came up to +daylight, and swung its great horn-lipped mouth to this side and +that, seeking for a prey. The fishers near it dodged and dived. +I, thrusting at the stern of the boat, could only hope it would +pass me by and so offered an easy mark. It scurried towards me, +champing its noisy lips, and beating the water into spray with its +flippers. + +But Phorenice was quick with a remedy and a rescue. She +passed her sword through one of the fishers that pressed her, and +then thrust the body towards the turtle. The great neck swooped +towards it; the long slimy feelers which protruded from its head +quivered and snuffled; and then the horny green jaws crunched on +it, and drew it down out of sight. + +The boat was in deep water now, and Phorenice called upon me +to come in over the side, she the while balancing nicely so that +the flimsy thing should not be overset. The fishers had given up +their pursuit, finding that they earned nothing but lopped-off arms +and split faces by coming within swing of this terrible sword of +their Empress, and so contented themselves with volleying jagged +stones in the hopes of stunning us or splitting the boat. However, +Phorenice crouched in the stern, holding the two shields--her own +golden target, and the rough hide buckler I had won--and so +protected both of us whilst I paddled, and though many stones +clattered against the shields, and hit the hide covering of the +boat, so that it resounded like a drum, none of them did damage, +and we drew quickly out of their range. + + + +12. THE DRUG OF OUR LADY THE +MOON + + +Our Lord the Sun was riding towards the end of His day, and +the smoke from a burning mountain fanned black and forbidding +before His face. Phorenice wrung the water from her clothes and +shivered. "Work hard with those paddles, Deucalion, and take me in +through the water-gate and let me be restored to my comforts again. +That merchant would rue if he saw how his pretty garments were +spoiled, and I rue, too, being a woman, and remembering that he at +least has no others I can take in place of these." She looked at +me sidelong, tossing back the short red hair from her eyes. "What +think you of my wisdom in coming where we have come without an +escort?" + +"The Empress can do no wrong," I quoted the old formula with +a smile. + +"At least I have shown you that I can fight. I caught you +looking your approval of me quite pleasantly once or twice. You +were a difficult man to thaw, Deucalion, but you warm perceptibly +as you keep on being near me. La, sir, we shall be a pair of +rustic sweethearts yet, if this goes on. I am glad I thought of +the device of going near those smelly fishers." + +So she had taken me out in the litter unattended for the plain +purpose of inviting a fight, and showing me her skill at arms, and +perhaps, too, of seeing in person how I also carried myself in a +moment of stress. Well, if we were to live on together as husband +and wife, it was good that each should know to a nicety the other's +powers; and also, I am too much of an old battler and too much +enamoured with the glorious handling of arms to quarrel very deeply +with any one who offers me a tough upstanding fight. Still for the +life of me, I could not help comparing Phorenice with another +woman. With a similar chance open before us, Nais had robbed me of +the struggle through a sheer pity for those squalid rebels who did +not even call her chieftain; whilst here was this Empress +frittering away two score of the hardiest of her subjects merely to +gratify a whim. + +Yet, loyal to my vow as a priest, and to the commands set upon +me by the high council on the Sacred Mountain, I tried to put away +these wayward thoughts and comparisons. As I rowed over the +swingings of the waves towards the forts which guard the harbour's +mouth, I sent prayers to the High Gods to give my tongue dexterity, +and They through Their love for the country of Atlantis, and the +harassed people, whom it was my deep wish to serve, granted me that +power of speech which Phorenice loved. Her eyes glowed upon me as +I talked. + +This beach of the fishers where we had had our passage at arms +is safe from ship attack from without, by reason of a chain of +jagged rocks which spring up from the deep, and run from the +harbour side to the end of the city wall. The fishers know the +passes, and can oftentimes get through to the open water beyond +without touching a stone; or if they do see a danger of hitting on +the reef, leap out and carry their light boats in their hands till +the water floats them again. But here I had neither the knowledge +nor the dexterity, and, thought I, now the High Gods will show +finally if They wish this woman who has defiled them to reign on in +Atlantis, and if also They wish me to serve as her husband. + +I cried these things in my heart, and waited to receive the +omen. There was no half-answer. A great wave rose in the lagoon +behind us, a wave such as could have only been caused by an earth +tremor, and on its sleek back we were hurled forward and thrown +clear of the reefs with their seaweeds licking round us, without so +much as seeing a stone of the barrier. I bowed my head as I rowed +on towards the harbour forts. It was plain that not yet would the +High Gods take vengeance for the insults which this lovely woman +had offered Them. + +The sentries in the two forts beat drums at one another in +their accustomed rotation, and in the growing dusk were going to +pay little enough attention to the fishingboat which lay against +the great chain clamouring to have it lowered. But luckily a pair +of officers were taking the air of the evening in a stone-dropping +turret of the roof of the nearer fort, and these recognised the +tone of our shouts. They silenced the drums, torches were lowered +to make sure of our faces, and then with a splash the great chain +was dropped into the water to give us passage. + +A galley lay inside, nuzzling the harbour wall, and presently +the ladder of ropes was let down from the top of the nearest fort, +and a crew came down to man the oars. There were the customary +changes of raiment too, given as presents by the officers of the +fort, and these we put on in the cabin of the galley in place of +the sodden clothes we wore. There are fevers to be gained by +carrying wet clothes after sunset, and though from personal +experience I have learned that these may be warded off with drugs, +I noticed with some grim amusement that the Empress had +sufficiently little of the Goddess about her to fear very much the +ailments which are due to frail humanity. + +The galley rowed swiftly across the calm waters of the +harbour, and made fast to the rings of gold on the royal quay, and +whilst we were waiting for litters to be brought, I watched a +lantern lit in the boat which stood guard over Phorenice's mammoth. +The huge red beast stood shoulder-deep in the harbour water, with +trunk up-turned. It was tamed now, and the light of the boat's +lantern fell on the little ripples sent out by its tremblings. But +I did not choose to intercede or ask mercy for it. If the mammoth +sank deeper in the harbour mud, and was swallowed, I could have +borne the loss with equanimity. + +To tell the truth, that ride on the great beast's back had +impressed me unfavourably. In fact, it put into me a sense of +helplessness that was wellnigh intolerable. Perhaps circumstances +have made me unduly self-reliant: on that others must judge. But +I will own to having a preference for walking on my own proper +feet, as the Gods in fashioning our shapes most certainly intended. +On my own feet I am able to guard my own head and neck, and have +done on four continents, throughout a long and active life, and on +many a thousand occasions. But on the back of that detestable +mammoth, pah! I grew as nervous as a child or a dastard. + +However, I had little enough leisure for personal megrims just +then. Whilst we waited, Phorenice asked the port-captain (who must +needs come up officiously to make his salutations) after the +disposal of Nais, and was told that she had been clapped into a +dungeon beneath the royal pyramid, and the officer of the guard +there had given his bond for her safe-keeping. + +"It is to be hoped he understands his work," said the Empress. +"That pretty Nais knows the pyramid better than most, and it may be +he will be sent to the tormentors for putting her in a cell which +had a secret outlet. You would feel pleasure if the girl escaped, +Deucalion?" + +"Assuredly," said I, knowing how useless it would be to make +a secret of the matter. "I have no enmity against Nais." + +"But I have," said she viciously, "and I am still minded to +lock your faith to me by that wedding gift you know of." + +"The thing shall be done," I said. "Before all, the Empress +of Atlantis." + +"Poof! Deucalion, you are too stiff and formal. You ought to +be mightily honoured that I condescend to be jealous of your +favours. Your hand, sir, please, to help me into the litter. And +now come in beside me, and keep me warm against the night air. Ho! +you guards there with the torches! Keep farther back against the +street walls. The perfume you are burning stifles me." + +Again there was a feast that night in the royal +banqueting-hall; again I sat beside Phorenice on the raised dais +which stands beneath the symbols of the snake and the out-stretched +hand. What had been taken for granted before about our forthcoming +relationship was this time proclaimed openly; the Empress herself +acknowledged me as her husband that was to be; and all that curled +and jewelled throng of courtiers hailed me as greater than +themselves, by reason of this woman's choice. There was method, +too, in their salutation. Some rumour must have got about of my +preference for the older and simpler habits, and there was no +drinking wine to my health after the new and (as I considered) +impertinent manner. Decorously, each lord and lady there came +forward, and each in turn spilt a goblet at my feet; and when I +called any up, whether man or woman, to receive tit-bits from my +platter, it was eaten simply and thankfully, and not kissed or +pocketed with any extravagant gesture. + +The flaring jets of earth-breath showed me, too, so I thought, +a plainer habit of dress, and a more sober mien amongst this +thoughtless mob of banqueters. And, indeed, it must have been +plain to notice, for Phorenice, leaning over till the ruddy curls +on her shoulder brushed my face, chided me in a playful whisper as +having usurped her high authority already. + +"Oh, sir," she pleaded mockingly, "do not make your rule over +us too ascetic. I have given no orders for this change, but +to-night there are no perfumes in the air; the food is so plain and +I have half a mind to burn the cook; and as for the clothes and +gauds of these diners, by my face! they might have come straight +from the old King's reign before I stepped in here to show how +tasteful could be colours on a robe, or how pretty the glint of a +jewel. It's done by no orders of mine, Deucalion. They have swung +round to this change by sheer courtier instinct. Why, look at the +beards of the men! There is not half the curl about many of them +to-day that they showed with such exquisiteness yesterday. By my +face! I believe they'd reap their chins to-morrow as smooth as +yours, if you go on setting the fashions at this prodigious rate +and I do not interfere." + +"Why hinder them if they feel more cleanly shaven?" + +"No, sir. There shall be only one clean chin where a beard +can grow in all Atlantis, and that shall be carried by the man who +is husband to the Empress. Why, my Deucalion, would you have no +sumptuary laws? Would you have these good folk here and the common +people outside imitate us in every cut of the hair and every fold +of a garment which it pleases us to discover? Come, sir, if you +and I chose to say that our sovereignty was marked only by our +superior strength of arm and wit, they would hate us at once for +our arrogance; whereas, if we keep apart to ourselves a few mere +personal decorations, these become just objects to admire and +pleasantly envy." + +"You show me that there is more in the office of a ruler than +meets the eye." + +"And yet they tell me, and indeed show me, that you have ruled +with some success." + +"I employed the older method. It requires a Phorenice to +invent these nicer flights." + +"Flatterer!" said she, and smote me playfully with the back of +her little fingers on my arm. "You are becoming as great a +courtier as any of them. You make me blush with your fine +pleasantries, Deucalion, and there is no fan-girl here to-night to +cool my cheek. I must choose me another fan-girl. But it shall +not be Ylga. Ylga seems to have more of a kindness for you than I +like, and if she is wise she will go live in her palace at the +other side of the city, and there occupy herself with the ordering +of her slaves, and the makings of embroideries. I shall not be +hard on Ylga unless she forces me, but I will have no woman in this +kingdom treat you with undue civility." + +"And how am I to act," said I, falling in with her mood, "when +I see and hear all the men of Atlantis making their protestations +before you? By your own confession they all love you as ardently +as they seem to have loved you hopelessly." + +"Ah, now," she said, "you must not ask me to do +impossibilities. I am powerful if you will. But I have no force +which will govern the hearts of these poor fellows on matters such +as that. But if you choose, you make proclamation that I am given +now body and inwards to you, and if they continue to offend your +pride in this matter, you may take your culprits, and give them +over to the tormentors. Indeed, Deucalion, I think it would be a +pretty attention to me if you did arrange some such ceremony. It +seems to me a present," she added with a frown, "that the jealousy +is too much on one side." + +"You must not expect that a man who has been divorced from +love for all of a busy life can learn all its niceties in an +instant. Myself, I was feeling proud of my progress. With any +other schoolmistress than you, Phorenice, I should not be near so +forward. In fact (if one may judge by my past record), I should +not have begun to learn at all." + +"I suppose you think I should be satisfied with that? Well, +I am not. I can be finely greedy over some matters." + +The banquet this night did not extend to inordinate length. +Phorenice had gone through much since last she slept, and though +she had declared herself Goddess in the meantime, it seemed that +her body remained mortal as heretofore. The black rings of +weariness had grown under her wondrous eyes, and she lay back +amongst the cushions of the divan with her limbs slackened and +listless. When the dancers came and postured before us, she threw +them a jewel and bade them begone before they had given a half of +their performance, and the poet, a silly swelling fellow who came +to sing the deeds of the day, she would not hear at all. + +"To-morrow," she said wearily, "but for now grant me peace. +My Lord Deucalion has given me much food for thought this day, and +presently I go to my chamber to muse over the future policies of +this State throughout the night. To-morrow come to me again, and +if your poetry is good and short, I will pay you surprisingly. But +see to it that you are not long-winded. If there are superfluous +words, I will pay you for those with the stick." + +She rose to her feet then, and when the banqueters had made +their salutation to us, I led her away from the banqueting-hall and +down the passages with their secret doors which led to her private +chambers. She clung on my arm, and once when we halted whilst a +great stone block swung slowly ajar to let us pass, she drooped her +head against my shoulder. Her breath came warm against my cheek, +and the loveliness of her face so close at hand surpasses the +description of words. I think it was in her mind that I should +kiss the red lips which were held so near to mine, but willing +though I was to play the part appointed, I could not bring myself +to that. So when the stone block had swung, she drew away with a +sigh, and we went on without further speech. + +"May the High Gods treat you tenderly," I said, when we came +to the door of her bed-chamber. + +"I am my own God," said she, "in all things but one. By my +face! you are a tardy wooer, Deucalion. Where do you go now?" + +"To my own chamber." + +"Oh, go then, go." + +"Is there anything more I could do?" + +"Nothing that your wit or your will would prompt you to. Yes, +indeed, you are finely decorous, Deucalion, in your old-fashioned +way, but you are a mighty poor wooer. Don't you know, my man, that +a woman esteems some things the more highly if they are taken from +her by rude force?" + +"It seems I know little enough about women." + +"You never said a truer word. Bah! And I believe your +coldness brings you more benefit in a certain matter than any show +of passion could earn. There, get you gone, if the atmosphere of +a maiden's bed-chamber hurts your rustic modesty, and your Gods +keep you, Deucalion, if that's the phrase, and if you think They +can do it. Get you gone, man, and leave me solitary." + +I had taken the plan of the pyramid out of the archives before +the banquet and learned it thoroughly, and so was able to thread my +way through its angular mazes without pause or blunder. I, too, +was heavily wearied with what I had gone through since my last +snatch of sleep, but I dare set apart no time for rest just then. +Nais must be sacrificed in part for the needs of Atlantis; but a +plan had come to me by which it seemed that she need not be +sacrificed wholly; and to carry this through there was need for +quick thought and action. + +Help came to me also from a quarter I did not expect. As I +passed along the tortuous way between the ponderous stones of the +pyramid, which led to the apartments that had been given me by +Phorenice, a woman glided up out of the shadows of one of the side +passages, and when I lifted my hand lamp, there was Ylga. + +She regarded me half-sullenly. "I have lost my place," she +said, "and it seems I need never have spoken. She intended to have +you all along, and it was not a thing like that which could put her +off. And you--you just think me officious, if, indeed, you have +ever given me another thought till now." + +"I never forget a kindness." + +"Oh, you will learn that trick soon now. And you are going to +marry her, you! The city is ringing with it. I thought at least +you were honest, but when there is a high place to be got by merely +taking a woman with it, you are like the rest. I thought, too, +that you would be one of those men who have a distrust for ruddy +hair. And, besides she is little." + +"Ylga," I said, "you have taught me that these walls are full +of crannies and ears. I will listen to no word against Phorenice. +But I would have further converse with you soon. If you still have +a kindness for me, go to the chamber that is mine and wait for me +there. I will join you shortly." + +She drooped her eyes. "What do you want of me, Deucalion?" + +"I want to say something to you. You will learn who it +concerns later." + +"But is it--is it fitting for a maiden to come to a man's room +at this hour?" + +"I know little of your conventions here in this new Atlantis. +I am Deucalion, girl, and if you still have qualms, remembering +that, do not come." + +She looked up at me with a sneer. "I was foolish," she said. +"My lord's coldness has grown into a proverb, and I should have +remembered it. Yes; I will come." + +"Go now, then," said I, and waited till she had passed on ahead +and was out of sight and hearing. With Ylga to help me, my tasks +were somewhat lightened, and their sequence changed. In the +first instance, now, I had got to make my way with as little delay +and show as possible into a certain sanctuary which lay within the +temple of our Lady the Moon. And here my knowledge as one of the +Seven stood me in high favour. + +All the temples of the city of Atlantis are in immediate and +secret connection with the royal pyramid, but the passages are +little used, seeing that they are known only to the Seven and to +the Three above them, supposing that there are three men living at +one time sufficiently learned in the highest of the highest +mysteries to be installed in that sublime degree of the Three. +And, even by these, the secret ways may only be used on occasions +of the greatest stress, so that a generation well may pass without +their being trodden by a human foot. + +It was with some trouble, and after no little experiment that +I groped my way into this secret alley; but once there, the rest +was easy. I had never trodden it before certainly, but the plan of +it had been taught me at my initiation as one of the Seven, and the +course of the windings came back to me now with easy accuracy. I +walked quickly, not only because the air in those deep crannies is +always full of lurking evils, but also because the hours were +fleeting, and much must be done before our Lord the Sun again rose +to make another day. + +I came to the spy-place which commands the temple, and found +the holy place empty, and, alas! dust-covered, and showing little +trace that worshippers ever frequented it these latter years. A +vast stone of the wall swung outwards and gave me entrance, and +presently (after the solemn prayer which is needful before +attempting these matters), I took the metal stair from the place +where it is kept, and climbed to the lap of the Goddess, and then, +pulling the stair after me, climbed again upwards till my length +lay against her calm mysterious face. + +A shivering seized me as I thought of what was intended, for +even a warrior hardened to horrid sights and deeds may well have +qualms when he is called upon to juggle with life and death, and +years and history, with the welfare of his country in one hand, and +the future of a woman who is as life to him in the other. But +again I told myself that the hours flew, and laid hold of the jewel +which is studded into the forehead of the image with one hand, and +then stretching out, thrust at a corner of the eyebrow with the +other. With a faint creak the massive eyeball below, a stone that +I could barely have covered with my back, swung inwards. I stepped +off the stair, and climbed into the gap. Inside was the chamber +which is hollowed from the head of the Goddess. + +It was the first time I had seen this most secret place, but +the aspect of it was familiar to me from my teaching, and I knew +where to find the thing which would fill my need. Yet, occupied +though I might be with the stress of what was to befall, I could +not help having a wonder and an admiration for the cleverness with +which it was hidden. + +High as I was in the learning and mysteries of the Priestly +Clan, the structure of what I had come to fetch was hidden from me. +Beforetime I had known only of their power and effect; and now that +I came to handle them, I saw only some roughly rounded balls, like +nut kernels, grass green in colour, and in hardness like the wax of +bees. There were three of these balls in the hidden place, and I +took the one that was needful, concealing the others as I had found +them. It may have been a drug, it may have been something more; +what exactly it was I did not know; only of its power and effect I +was sure, as that was set forth plainly in the teaching I had +learned; and so I put it in a pouch of my garment, returning by the +way I had come, and replacing all things in due order behind me. + +One look I took at the image of the Goddess before I left the +temple. The jet of earth-breath which burns eternally from the +central altar lit her from head to toe, and threw sparkles from the +great jewel in her forehead. Vast she was, and calm and peaceful +beyond all human imaginings, a perfect symbolism of that rest and +quietness which many sigh for so vainly on this rude earth, but +which they will never attain unless by their piety they earn a +place in the hereafter, where our Lady the Moon and the rest of the +High Ones reign in Their eternal glorious majesty. + +It was with tired dragging limbs that I made my way back again +to the royal pyramid, and at last came to my own private chamber. +Ylga awaited me there, though at first I did not see her. The +suspicions of these modern days had taken a deep hold of the girl, +and she must needs crouch in hiding till she made sure it was I who +came to the chamber, and, moreover, that I came alone. + +"Oh, frown at me if you choose," said she sullenly, "I am past +caring now for your good opinion. I had heard so much of +Deucalion, and I thought I read honesty in you when first you came +ashore; but now I know that you are no better than the rest. +Phorenice offers you a high place, and you marry her blithely to +get it. And why, indeed, should you not marry her? People say she +is pretty, and I know she can be warm. I have seen her warm and +languishing to scores of men. She is clever, too, with her eyes, +is our great Empress; I grant her that. And as for you, it tickles +you to be courted." + +"I think you are a very silly woman," I said. + +"If you flatter yourself it matters a rap to me whom you +marry, you are letting conceit run away with you." + +"Listen," I said. "I did not ask you here to make foolish +speeches which seem largely beyond my comprehension. I asked you +to help me do a service to one of your own blood-kin." + +She stared at me wonderingly. "I do not understand." + +"It rests largely with you as to whether Nais dies to-morrow, +or whether she is thrown into a sleep from which she may waken on +some later and more happy day." + +"Nais!" she gasped. "My twin, Nais? She is not here. She is +out in the camp with those nasty rebels who bite against the city +walls, if, indeed, still she lives." + +"Nais, your sister is near us in the royal pyramid this +minute, and under guard, though where I do not know." And with +that I told her all that had passed since the girl was brought up +a prisoner in the galley of that foolish, fawning captain of the +port. "The Empress has decreed that Nais shall be buried alive +under a throne of granite which I am to build for her to-morrow, +and buried she will assuredly be. Yet I have a kindness for Nais, +which you may guess at if you choose, and I am minded to send her +into a sleep such as only we higher priests know of, from which at +some future day she may possibly awaken." + +"So it is Nais; and not Phorenice, and not--not any other?" + +"Yes; it is Nais. I marry the Empress because Zaemon, who is +mouthpiece to the High Council of the Priests, has ordered it, for +the good of Atlantis. But my inwards remain still cold towards +her." + +"Almost I hate poor Nais already." + +"Your vengeance would be easy. Do not tell me where she is +gaoled, and I shall not dare to ask. Even to give Nais a further +span of life I cannot risk making inquiries for her cell, when +there is a chance that those who tell me might carry news to the +Empress, and so cause more trouble for this poor Atlantis." + +"And why should I not carry the news, and so bring myself into +favour again? I tell you that being fan-girl to Phorenice and +second woman in the kingdom is a thing that not many would cast +lightly aside." + +I looked her between eyes and smiled. "I have no fear there. +You will not betray me, Ylga. Neither will you sell Nais." + +"I seem to remember very small love for this same Nais just +now," she said bitterly. "But you are right about that other +matter. I shall not buy myself back at your expense. Oh, I am a +fool, I know, and you can give me no thanks that I care about, but +there is no other way I can act." + +"Then let us fritter no more time. Go you out now and find +where Nais is gaoled, and bring me news how I can say ten words to +her, and press a certain matter into her clasp." + +She bowed her head and left the chamber, and for long enough +I was alone. I sat down on the couch, and rested wearily against +the wall. My bones ached, my eyes ached, and most of all, my +inwards ached. I had thought to myself that a man who makes his +life sufficiently busy will find no leisure for these pains which +assault frailer folk; but a philosophy like this, which carried one +well in Yucatan, showed poorly enough when one tried it here at +home. But that there was duty ahead, and the order of the High +Council to be carried into effect, the bleakness of the prospect +would have daunted me, and I would have prayed the Gods then to +spare me further life, and take me unto Themselves. + +Ylga came back at last, and I got up and went quickly after +her as she led down a maze of passages and alleyways. "There has +been no care spared over her guarding," she whispered, as we halted +once to move a stone. "The officer of the guard is an old lover of +mine, and I raised his hopes to the burning point again by a dozen +words. But when I wanted to see his prisoner, there he was as firm +as brass. I told him she was my sister, but that did not move him. +I offered him--oh, Deucalion, it makes me blush to think of the +things I did offer to that man, but there was no stirring him. He +has watched the tormentors so many times, that there is no tempting +him into touch of their instruments." + +"If you have failed, why bring me out here?" + +"Oh, I am not inveigling you into a lover's walk with myself, +sir. You tickle yourself when you think your society is so +pleasant as that." + +"Come, girl, tell me then what it is. If my temper is short, +credit it against my weariness." + +"I have carried out my lord's commands in part. I know the +cell where Nais lives, and I have had speech with her, though not +through the door. And moreover, I have not seen her or touched her +hand." + +"Your riddles are beyond me, Ylga, but if there is a chance, +let us get on and have this business done." + +"We are at the place now," said she, with a hard little laugh, +"and if you kneel on the floor, you will find an airshaft, and Nais +will answer you from the lower end. For myself, I will leave you. +I have a delicacy in hearing what you want to say to my sister, +Deucalion." + +"I thank you," I said. "I will not forget what you have done +for me this night." + +"You may keep your thanks," she said bitterly, and walked away +into the shadows. + +I knelt on the floor of the gallery, and found the air passage +with my hand, and then, putting my lips to it, whispered for Nais. + +The answer came on the instant, muffled and quiet. "I knew my +lord would come for a farewell." + +"What the Empress said, has to be. You understand, my dear? +It is for Atlantis." + +"Have I reproached my lord, by word or glance?" + +"I myself am bidden to place you in the hollow between the +stones, and I must do it." + +"Then my last sleep will be a sweet one. I could not ask to +be touched by pleasanter hands." + +"But it mayhap that a day will come when she whom you know of +will be suffered by the High Gods to live on this land of Atlantis +no longer." + +"If my lord will cherish my poor memory when he is free again, +I shall be grateful. He might, if he chose, write them on the +stones: Here was buried a maid who died gladly for the good of +Atlantis, even though she knew that the man she so dearly loved was +husband to her murderess." + +"You must not die," I whispered. "My breast is near broken at +the very thought of it. And for respite, we must trust to the +ancient knowledge, which in its day has been sent out from the Ark +of the Mysteries."--I took the green waxy ball in my fingers, and +stretched them down the crooked air-shaft to the full of my +span.--"I have somewhat for you here. Reach up and try to catch it +from me." + +I heard the faint rustle of her arm as it swept against the +masonry, and then the ball was taken over into her grasp. Gods! +what a thrill went through me when the fingers of Nais touched +mine! I could not see her, because of the crookedness of the +shaft, but that faint touch of her was exquisite. + +"I have it," she whispered. "And what now, dear?" + +"You will hide the thing in your garment, and when to-morrow +the upper stone closes down upon you and the light is gone, then +you will take it between your lips and let it dissolve as it will. +Sleep will take you, my darling, then, and the High Gods will watch +over you, even though centuries pass before you are roused." + +"If Deucalion does not wake me, I shall pray never again to +open an eye. And now go, my lord and my dear. They watch me +here constantly, and I would not have you harmed by being +brought to notice." + +"Yes, I must go, my sweetheart. It will not do to have our +scheme spoiled by a foolish loitering. May the most High Gods +attend your rest, and if the sacrifice we make finds favour, may +They grant us meeting here again on earth before we meet--as we +must--when our time is done, and They take us up to Their own +place." + +"Amen," she whispered back, and then: "Kiss your fingers, +dear, and thrust them down to me." + +I did that, and for an instant felt her fondle them down the +crook of the airshaft out of sight, and then heard her withdraw her +little hand and kiss it fondly. Then again she kissed her own +fingers and stretched them up, and I took up the virtue of that +parting kiss on my finger-tips and pressed it sacredly to my lips. + +"Living, sleeping, or dead, always my darling," she whispered. +And then, before I could answer, she whispered again: "Go, they are +coming for me." And so I went, knowing that I could do no more to +help her then, and knowing that all our schemes would be spilt if +any eye spied upon me as I lay there beside the air shaft. But my +chest was like to have split with the dull, helpless anguish that +was in it, as I made my way back to my chamber through the mazy +alleys of the pyramid. + +"Do not look upon mine eyes, dear, when the time comes," had +been her last command, "or they will tell a tale which Phorenice, +being a woman, would read. Remember, we make these small denials, +not for our own likings, but for Atlantis, which is mother to us +all." + + + +13. THE BURYING ALIVE OF NAIS + + +There is no denying that the wishes of Phorenice were carried +into quick effect in the city of Atlantis. Her modern theory was +that the country and all therein existed only for the good of the +Empress, and when she had a desire, no cost could possibly be too +great in its carrying out. + +She had given forth her edict concerning the burying alive of +Nais, and though the words were that I was to build the throne of +stone, it was an understood thing that the manual labour was to be +done for me by others. Heralds made the proclamation in every ward +of the city, and masons, labourers, stonecutters, sculptors, +engineers, and architects took hands from whatever was occupying +them for the moment, and hastened to the rendezvous. The +architects chose a chief who gave directions, and the lesser +architects and the engineers saw these carried into effect. Any +material within the walls of the city on which they set their seal, +was taken at once without payment or compensation; and as the +blocks of stone they chose were the most monstrous that could be +got, they were forced to demolish no few buildings to give them +passage. + +I have before spoken of the modern rage for erecting new +palaces and pyramids, and even though at the moment an army of +rebels was battering with war engines at the city walls, the +building guilds were steadily at work, and their skill (with +Phorenice's marvellous invention to aid them) was constantly on the +increase. True, they could not move such massive blocks of stone +as those which the early Gods planted for the sacred circle of our +Lord the Sun, but they had got rams and trucks and cranes which +could handle amazing bulks. + +The throne was to be erected in the open square before the +royal pyramid. Seven tiers of stone were there for a groundwork, +each a knee-height deep, and each cut in the front with three +steps. In the uppermost layer was a cavity made to hold the body +of Nais, and above this was poised the vast block which formed the +seat of the throne itself. + +Throughout the night, to the light of torches, relay after +relay of the stonecutters, and the masons, and the sweating +labourers had toiled over bringing up the stone and dressing it +into fit shape, and laying it in due position; and the engineers +had built machines for lifting, and the architects had proved that +each stone lay in its just and perfect place. Whips cracked, and +men fainted with the labour, but so soon as one was incapable +another pressed forward into his place. No delay was brooked when +Phorenice had said her wish. + +And finally, as the square began to fill with people come to +gape at the pageant of to-day, the chippings and the scaffolding +were cleared away, and with it the bodies of some half-score of +workmen who had died from accidents or their exertions during the +building, and there stood the throne, splendid in its carvings, and +all ready for completion. The lower part stood more than two +man-heights above the ground, and no stone of its courses weighed +less than twenty men; the upper part was double the weight of any +of these, and was carved so that the royal snake encircled the +chair, and the great hooded head overshadowed it. But at present +the upper part was not on its bed, being held up high by lifting +rams, for what purposes all men knew. + +It was to face this scene, then, that I came out from the royal +pyramid at the summons of the chamberlains in the cool of next +morning. Each great man who had come there before me had banner- +bearers and trumpeters to proclaim his presence; the middle classes +were in all their bravery of apparel; and even poor squalid +creatures, with ribs of hunger showing through their dusty skins, +had turbans and wisps of colour wrapped about their heads to mark +the gaiety of the day. + +The trumpets proclaimed my coming, and the people shouted +welcome, and with the gorgeous chamberlains walking backwards in +advance, I went across to a scarlet awning that had been prepared, +and took my seat upon the cushions beneath it. + +And then came Phorenice, my bride that was to be that day, +fresh from sleep, and glorious in her splendid beauty. She was +borne out from the pyramid in an open litter of gold and ivory by +fantastic savages from Europe, her own refinement of feature being +thrown up into all the higher relief by contrast with their brutish +ugliness. One could hear the people draw a deep breath of delight +as their eyes first fell upon her; and it is easy to believe there +was not a man in that crowd which thronged the square who did not +envy me her choice, nor was there a soul present (unless Ylga was +there somewhere veiled) who could by any stretch imagine that I was +not overjoyed in winning so lovely a wife. + +For myself, I summoned up all the iron of my training to guard +the expression of my face. We were here on ceremonial to-day; a +ghastly enough affair throughout all its acts, if you choose, but +still ceremonial; and I was minded to show Phorenice a grand manner +that would leave her nothing to cavil at. After all that had been +gone through and endured, I did not intend a great scheme to be +shattered by letting my agony and pain show themselves, in either +a shaking hand or a twitching cheek. When it came to the point, I +told myself, I would lay the living body of my love in the hollow +beneath the stone as calmly, and with as little outward emotion, as +though I had been a mere priest carrying out the burial of some +dead stranger. And she, on her part, would not, I knew, betray our +secret. With her, too, it was truly "Before all Atlantis." + +I think it spared a pang to find that there was to be no +mockery or flippancy in what went forward. All was solemn and +impressive; and, though a certain grandeur and sombreness which bit +deep into my breast was lost to the vulgar crowd, I fancy that the +outward shape of the double sacrifice they witnessed that day would +not be forgotten by any of them, although the inner meaning of it +all was completely hidden from their minds. When it suited her +fancy, none could be more strict on the ritual of a ceremony than +this many-mooded Empress, and it appeared that on this occasion she +had given command that all things were to be carried out with the +rigid exactness and pomp of the older manner. + +So she was borne up by her Europeans to the scarlet awning, +and I handed her to the ground. She seated herself on the +cushions, and beckoned me to her side, entwining her fingers with +mine as has always been the custom with rulers of Atlantis and +their consorts. And there before us as we sat, a body of soldiery +marched up, and opening out showed Nais in their midst. She had a +collar of metal round her neck, with chains depending from it +firmly held by a brace of guards, so that she should not run in +upon the spears of the escort, and thus get a quick and easy death, +which is often the custom of those condemned to the more lingering +punishments. + +But it was pleasant to see that she still wore her clothing. +Raiment, whether of fabric or skin, has its value, and custom has +always given the garments of the condemned to the soldiers guarding +them. So as Nais was not stripped, I could not but see that some +one had given moneys to the guards as a recompense, and in this I +thought I saw the hand of Ylga, and felt a gratitude towards her. + +The soldiers brought her forward to the edge of the pavilion's +shade, and she was bidden prostrate herself before the Empress, and +this she wisely did and so avoided rough handling and force. Her +face was pale, but showed neither fear nor defiance, and her eyes +were calm and natural. She was remembering what was due to +Atlantis, and I was thrilled with love and pride as I watched her. + +But outwardly I, too, was impassive as a man of stone, and +though I knew that Phorenice's eye was on my face, there was never +anything on it from first to last that I would not have had her +see. + +"Nais," said the Empress, "you have eaten from my platter when +you were fan-girl, and drunk from my cup, and what was yours I gave +you. You should have had more than gratitude, you should have had +knowledge also that the arm of the Empress was long and her hand +consummately heavy. But it seems that you have neither of these +things. And, moreover, you have tried to take a certain matter +that the Empress has set apart for herself. You were offered +pardon, on terms, and you rejected it. You were foolish. But it +is a day now when I am inclined to clemency. Presently, seated on +that carved throne of granite which he has built me yonder, I shall +take my Lord Deucalion to husband. Give me a plain word that you +are sorry, girl, and name a man whom you would choose, and I will +remember the brightness of the occasion, you shall be pardoned and +wed before we rise from these cushions." + +"I will not wed," she said quietly. + +"Think for the last time, Nais, of what is the other choice. +You will be taken, warm, and quick, and beautiful as you stand +there this minute, and laid in the hollow place that is made +beneath the throne-stone. Deucalion, that is to be my husband, +will lay you in that awful bed, as a symbol that so shall perish +all Phorenice's enemies, and then he will release the rams and +lower the upper stone into place, and the world shall see your face +no more. Look at the bright sky, Nais, fill your chest with the +sweet warm air, and then think of what this death will mean. +Believe me, girl, I do not want to make you an example unless you +force me." + +"I will not wed," said the prisoner quietly. + +The Empress loosed her fingers from my arm, and lay back +against the cushions. "If the girl presumes on our old +familiarity, or thinks that I jest, show her now, Deucalion, that +I do not." + +"The Empress is far from jesting," I said. "I will do this +thing because it is the wish of the Empress that it should be done, +and because it is the command of the Empress that a symbol of it +shall remain for ever as an example for others. Lead your prisoner +to the place." + +The soldiers wheeled, and the two guards with the chains of +the collar which was on the neck of Nais prepared to put out force +to drag her up the steps. But she walked with them willingly, and +with a colour unchanged, and I rose from my seat, and made +obeisance to the Empress and followed them. + +Before all those ten thousand eyes, we two made no display of +emotion then, not only for Atlantis' sake, but also because both +Nais and I had a nicety and a pride in our natures. We were not as +Phorenice to flaunt endearments before others. + +Yet, when I had bidden the guards unhasp the collar which held +the prisoner's neck, and clapped my arms around her, showing all +the roughness of one who has no mind that his captive shall escape +or even unduly struggle, a thrill gushed through me so potent that +I was like to have fainted, and it was only by supreme strain of +will that I held unbrokenly on with the ceremonial. I, who had +never embraced a woman with aught but the arm of roughness before, +now held pressed to me one whom I loved with an infinite +tenderness, and the revelation of how love can come out and link +with love was almost my undoing. Yet, outwardly, Nais made so +sign, but lay half-strangled in my arms, as any woman does that is +being borne away by a spoiler. + +I trod with her to the uppermost step, the vast throne-stone +overhanging us, and then so that all of those who were gazing from +the sides of the pyramids and the roofs of the buildings round +might see, though we were beyond Phorenice's view, I used a force +that was brutal in dragging her across the level, and putting her +down into the hollow. And yet the girl resisted me with no one +effort whatever. + +So that the victim might not struggle out and be crushed, and +so gain an easy death when the stone descended, there were brazen +clamps to fit into grooves of the stones above the hollow where she +lay, and these I fitted in place above her, and fastened one by +one, doing this butcher's work with one hand, and still fiercely +holding her down by the other. Gods! and the sweat of agony +dripped from me on to the thirsty stone as I worked. I could not +keep that in. + +I clamped and locked the last two bars in place, and took my +brute's hand away from her throat. + +The hateful fingermarks showed as bloodless furrows in the +whiteness of her skin. For the life of me, yes, even for the fate +of Atlantis, I could not help dropping my glance upon her face. +But she was stronger than I. She gave me no last look. She kept +her eyes steadfastly fixed on the cruel stone above, and so I left +her, knowing that it was best not to tarry longer. + +I came out from under the stone, and gave the sign to the +engineers who stood by the rams. The fires were taken away from +their sides, and the metal in them began to contract, and slowly +the vast bulk of the throne-stone began to creep down towards its +bed. + +But ah, so slowly! Gods! how my soul was torn as I watched +and waited. + +Yet I kept my face impassive, overlooking as any officer might +a piece of work which others were carrying out under his direction, +and on which his credit rested; and I stood gravely in my place +till the rams had let the stone come down on its final resting +place, and had been carried away by the engineers; and then I went +round with the master architect with his plumbline and level, +whilst he tested this last piece of the building and declared it +perfect. + +It was a useless form, this last, seeing that by calculation +they knew exactly how the stone must rest; but the guilds have +their forms and customs, and on these occasions of high ceremonial, +they are punctiliously carried out, because these middle-class +people wish always to appear mysterious and impressive to the poor +vulgar folk who are their inferiors. But perhaps I am hard there +on them. A man who is needlessly taken round to plumb and duly +level the tomb where his love lies buried living, may perhaps be +excused by the assessors on high a little spirit of bitterness. + +I had gone up the steps to do my hateful work a man full of +grief, though outwardly unmoved. As I came down again I had a +feeling of incompleteness; it seemed as though half my inwards had +been left behind with Nais in the hollow of the stone, and their +place was taken by a void which ached wearily; but still I carried +a passive face, and memory that before all these private matters +stood the command of the High Council, which sat before the Ark of +the Mysteries. + +So I went and stood before Phorenice, and said the words which +the ancient forms prescribed concerning the carrying out of her +wish. + +"Then, now," she said, "I will give myself to you as wife. We +are not as others, you and I, Deucalion. There is a law and a form +set down for the marrying of these other people, but that would be +useless for our purposes. We will have neither priest nor scribe +to join us and set down the union. I am the law here in Atlantis, +and you soon will be part of me. We will not be demeaned by +profaner hands. We will make the ceremony for ourselves, and for +witnesses, there are sufficient in waiting. Afterwards, the record +shall be cut deep in the granite throne you have built for me, and +the lettering filled in with gold, so that it shall endure and +remain bright for always." + +"The Empress can do no wrong," I said formally, and took the +hand she offered me, and helped her to rise. We walked out from +the scarlet awning into the glare of the sunshine, she leaning on +me, flushing, and so radiantly lovely that the people began to hail +her with rapturous shouts of "A Goddess; our Goddess Phorenice." +But for me they had no welcoming word. I think the set grimness +of my face both scared and repelled them. + +We went up the steps which led to the throne, the people still +shouting, and I sat her in the royal seat beneath the snake's +outstretched head, and she drew me down to sit beside her. + +She raised her jewelled hand, and a silence fell on that great +throng, as though the breath had been suddenly cut short for all of +them. + +Then Phorenice made proclamation: + +"Hear me, O my people, and hear me, O High Gods from whom I am +come. I take this man Deucalion, to be my husband, to share with +me the prosperity of Atlantis, and join me in guarding our great +possession. May all our enemies perish as she is now perishing +above whom we sit." And then she put her arms around my neck, and +kissed me hotly on the mouth. + +In turn I also spoke: "Hear me, O most High Gods, whose +servant I am, and hear me also, O ye people. I take this Empress, +Phorenice, to wife, to help with her the prosperity of Atlantis, +and join with her in guarding the welfare of that great possession. +May all the enemies of this country perish as they have perished in +the past." + +And then, I too, who had not been permitted by the fate to +touch the lips of my love, bestowed the first kiss I had ever given +woman to Phorenice, that was now being made my wife. + +But we were not completely linked yet. + +"A woman is one, and man is one," she proclaimed, following +for the first time the old form of words, "but in marriage they +merge, so that wife and husband are no more separate, but one +conjointly. In token of this we will now make the symbolic joining +together, so that all may see and remember." She took her dagger, +and pricking the brawn on my forearm till a head of blood appeared, +set her red lips to it, and took it into herself. + +"Ah," she said, with her eyes sparkling, "now you are part of +me indeed, Deucalion, and I feel you have strengthened me already." +She pulled down the neck of her robe. "Let me make you my return." + +I pricked the rounded whiteness of her shoulder. Gods! when +I remembered who was beneath us as we sat on that throne, I could +have driven the blade through to her heart! And then I, too, put +down my lips, and took the drop of her blood that was yielded to +me. + +My tongue was dry, my throat was parched, and my face +suffused, and I thought I should have choked. + +But the Empress, who was ordinarily so acute, was misled then. +"It thrills you?" she cried. "It burns within you like living +fire? I have just felt it. By my face! Deucalion, if I had known +the pleasure it gives to be made a wife, I do not think I should +have waited this long for you. Ah, yes; but with another man I +should have had no thrill. I might have gone through the ceremony +with another, but it would have left me cold. Well, they say this +feeling comes to a woman but once in her time, and I would not +change it for the glory of all my conquests and the whirl of all my +power." She leaned in close to me so that the red curls of her hair +swept my cheek, and her breath came hot against my mouth. "Tasted +you ever any sweet so delicious as this knowledge that we are made +one now, Deucalion, past all possible dissolving?" + +I could not lie to her any more just then. The Gods know how +honestly I had striven to play the part commanded me for Atlantis' +good, but there is a limit to human endurance, and mine was +reached. I was not all anger towards her. I had some pity for +this passion of hers, which had grown of itself certainly, but +which I had done nothing to check; and the indecent frankness with +which it was displayed was only part of the livery of potentates +who flaunt what meaner folk would coyly hide. But always before my +eyes was a picture of the girl on whom her jealousy had taken such +a bitter vengeance, and to invent spurious lover's talk then was a +thing my tongue refused to do. + +"Words are poor things," I said, "and I am a man unused to +women, and have but a small stock of any phrases except the dryest. +Remember, Phorenice, a week agone, I did not know what love was, +and now that I have learned the lesson, somewhat of the suddenest, +the language remains still to come to me. My inwards speak; indeed +they are full of speech; but I cannot translate into bald cold +words what they say." + +And here, surely the High Gods took pity on my tied tongue and +my misery, and made an opportunity for bringing the ceremony to an +end. A man ran into the square shouting, and showing a wound that +dripped, and presently all that vast crowd which stood on the +pavements, and the sides of the pyramids, and the roofs of the +temples, took up the cry, and began to feel for their weapons. + +"The rebels are in!" "They have burrowed a path into the +city!" "They have killed the cave-tigers and taken a gate!" "They +are putting the whole place to the storm!" "They will presently +leave no poor soul of us here alive!" + +There then was a termination of our marriage cooings. With +rebels merely biting at the walls, it was fine to put strong trust +in the defences, and easy to affect contempt for the besiegers' +powers, and to keep the business of pageants and state craft and +marryings turning on easy wheels. But with rebel soldiers already +inside the city (and hordes of others doubtless pressing on their +heels), the affairs took a different light. It was no moment for +further delay, and Phorenice was the first to admit it. The glow +that had been in her eyes changed to the glare of the fighter, as +the fellow who had run up squalled out his tidings. + +I stood and stretched my chest. I seemed in need of air. +"Here," I said, "is work that I can understand more clearly. I +will go and sweep this rabble back to their burrows, Phorenice." + +"But not alone, sir. I come too. It is my city still. Nay, +sir, we are too newly wed to be parted yet." + +"Have your will," I said, and together we went down the steps +of the throne to the pavement below. Under my breath I said a +farewell to Nais. + +Our armour-bearers met us with weapons, and we stepped into +litters, and the slaves took us off hot foot. The wounded man who +had first brought the news had fallen in a faint, and no more +tidings was to be got from him, but the growing din of the fight +gave us the general direction, and presently we began to meet knots +of people who dwelt near the place of irruption, running away in +wild panic, loaded down with their household goods. + +It was useless to stop these, as fight they could not, and if +they had stayed they would merely have been slaughtered like flies, +and would in all likelihood have impeded our own soldiery. And so +we let them run screaming on their blind way, but forced the +litters through them with but very little regard for their coward +convenience. + +Now the advantage of the rebels, when it came to be looked +upon by a soldier's eye, was a thing of little enough importance. +They had driven a tunnel from behind a covering mound, beneath the +walls, and had opened it cleverly enough through the floor of a +middle-class house. They had come through into this, collecting +their numbers under its shelter, and doubtless hoping that the +marriage of the Empress (of which spies had given them information) +would sap the watchfulness of the city guards. But it seems they +were discovered and attacked before they were thoroughly ready to +emerge, and, as a fine body of troops were barracked near the spot, +their extermination would have been merely a matter of time, even +if we had not come up. + +It did not take a trained eye long to decide on this, and +Phorenice, with a laugh, lay back on the cushions of the litter, +and returned her weapons to the armour-bearer who came panting up +to receive them. "We grow nervous with our married life, my +Deucalion," she said. "We are fearful lest this new-found +happiness be taken from us too suddenly." + +But I was not to be robbed of my breathing-space in this wise. +"Let me crave a wedding gift of you," I said. + +"It is yours before you name it." + +"Then give me troops, and set me wide a city gate a mile away +from here." + +"You can gather five hundred as you go from here to the gate, +taking two hundred of those that are here. If you want more, they +must be fetched from other barracks along the walls. But where is +your plan?" + +"Why, my poor strategy teaches me this: these foolish rebels +have set all their hopes on this mine, and all their excitement on +its present success. If they are kept occupied here by a +Phorenice, who will give them some dainty fighting without checking +them unduly, they will press on to the attack and forget all else, +and never so much as dream of a sortie. And meanwhile, a Deucalion +with his troop will march out of the city well away from here, +without tuck of drum or blare of trumpet, and fall most +unpleasantly upon their rear. After which, a Phorenice will burn +the house here at the mine's head, which is of wood, and straw +thatched, to discourage further egress, and either go to the walls +to watch the fight from there, or sally out also and spur on the +rout as her fancy dictates." + +"Your scheme is so pretty, I would I could rob you of it for +my own credit's sake, and as it is, I must kiss you for your +cleverness. But you got my word first, you naughty fellow, and you +shall have the men and do as you ask. Eh, sir, this is a sad +beginning of our wedded life, if you begin to rob your little wife +of all the sweets of conquest from the outset." + +She took back the weapons and target she had given to the +armour-bearer, and stepped over the side of the litter to the +ground. "But at least," she said, "if you are going to fight, you +shall have troops that will do credit to my drill," and thereupon +proceeded to tell off the companies of men-at-arms who were to +accompany me. She left herself few enough to stem the influx of +rebels who poured ceaselessly in through the tunnel; but as I had +seen, with Phorenice, heavy odds added only to her enjoyment. + +But for the Empress, I will own at the time to have given +little enough of thought. My own proper griefs were raw within me, +and I thirsted for that forgetfulness of all else which battle +gives, so that for awhile I might have a rest from their gnawings. + +It made my blood run freer to hear once more the tramp of +practised troops behind me, and when all had been collected, we +marched out through a gate of the city, and presently were charging +through and through the straggling rear of the enemy. By the Gods! +for the moment even Nais was blotted from my wearied mind. Never +had I loved more to let my fierceness run madly riot. Never have +I gloated more abundantly over the terrible joy of battle. + +Nais must forgive my weakness in seeking to forget her even +for a breathing-space. Had that opportunity been denied me, I +believe the agony of remembering would have snapped my +brain-strings for always. + + + +14. AGAIN THE GODS MAKE CHANGE + + +Now it would be tedious to tell how with a handful of highly +trained fighting men, I charged and recharged, and finally broke up +that horde of rebels which outnumbered us by fifteen times. It +must be remembered that they grew suddenly panic-stricken in +finding that of all those who went in under the city walls by the +mine on which they had set such great store, none came back, and +that the sounds of panic which had first broken out within the city +soon gave way to cries of triumph and joy. And it must be carried +in memory also that these wretched rebels were without training +worthy of the name, were for the most part weaponed very vilely, +and, seeing that their silly principles made each the equal of his +neighbour, were practically without heads or leaders also. + +So when the panic began, it spread like a malignant murrain +through all their ragged ranks, and there were none to rally the +flying, none to direct those of more desperate bravery who stayed +and fought. + +My scheme of attack was simple. I hunted them without a halt. +I and my fellows never stopped to play the defensive. We turned +one flank, and charged through a centre, and then we were harrying +the other flank, and once more hacking our passage through the +solid mass. And so by constantly keeping them on the run, and in +ignorance of whence would come the next attack, panic began to grow +amongst them and ferment, till presently those in the outer lines +commenced to scurry away towards the forests and the spoiled +corn-lands of the country, and those in the inner packs were only +wishful of a chance to follow them. + +It was no feat of arms this breaking up of the rebel leaguer, +and no practised soldier would wish to claim it as such. It was +simply taking advantage of the chances of the moment, and as such +it was successful. Given an open battle on their own ground, these +desperate rebels would have fought till none could stand, and by +sheer ferocious numbers would have pulled down any trained troops +that the city could have sent against them, whether they had +advanced in phalanx or what formation you will. For it must be +remembered they were far removed from cowards, being Atlantean all, +just as were those within the city, and were, moreover, spurred to +extraordinary savageness and desperation by the oppression under +which they had groaned, and the wrongs they had been forced to +endure. + +Still, as I say, the poor creatures were scattered, and the +siege was raised from that moment, and it was plain to see that the +rebellion might be made to end, if no unreasonable harshness was +used for its final suppression. Too great severity, though perhaps +it may be justly their portion, only drives such malcontents to +further desperations. + +Now, following up these fugitives, to make sure that there was +no halt in their retreat, and to send the lesson of panic +thoroughly home to them, had led us a long distance from the city +walls; and as we had fought all through the burning heat of the day +and my men were heavily wearied, I decided to halt where we were +for the night amongst some half-ruined houses which would make a +temporary fortification. Fortunately, a drove of little +cloven-hoofed horses which had been scared by some of the rebels in +their flight happened to blunder into our lines, and as we killed +five before they were clear again, there was a soldier's supper for +us, and quickly the fires were lit and cooking it. + +Sentries paced the outskirts and made their cries to one +another, and the wounded sat by the fires and dressed their hurts, +and with the officers I talked over the engagements of the day, and +the methods of each charge, and the other details of the fighting. +It is the special perquisite of soldiers to dally over these +matters with gusto, though they are entirely without interest for +laymen. + +The hour drew on for sleep, and snores went up from every +side. It was clear that all my officers were wearied out, and only +continued the talk through deference to their commander. Yet I had +a feverish dread of being left alone again with my thoughts, and +pressed them on with conversation remorselessly. But in the end +they were saved the rudeness of dropping off into unconsciousness +during my talk. A sentry came up and saluted. "My lord," he +reported. "there is a woman come up from the city whom we have +caught trying to come into the bivouac." + +"How is she named?" + +"She will not say." + +"Has she business?' + +"She will say none. She demands only to see my lord." + +"Bring her here to the fire," I ordered, and then on second +thoughts remembering that the woman, whoever she might be, had news +likely enough for my private ear (or otherwise she would not have +come to so uncouth a rendezvous), I said to the sentry: "Stay," +and got up from the ground beside the fire, and went with him to +the outer line. + +"Where is she?" I asked. + +"My comrades are holding her. She might be a wench belonging +to these rebels, with designs to put a knife into my lord's heart, +and then we sentries would suffer. The Empress," he added simply, +"seems to set good store upon my lord at present, and we know the +cleverness of her tormentors." + +"Your thoughtfulness is frank," I said, and then he showed me +the woman. She was muffled up in hood and cloak, but one who loved +Nais as I loved could not mistake the form of Ylga, her twin +sister, because of mere swathings. So I told the sentries to +release her without asking her for speech, and then led her out +from the bivouac beyond earshot of their lines. + +"It is something of the most pressing that has brought you out +here, Ylga?" + +"You know me, then? There must be something warmer than the +ordinary between us two, Deucalion, if you could guess who walked +beneath all these mufflings." + +I let that pass. "But what's your errand, girl?" + +"Aye," she said bitterly, "there's my reward. All your +concern's for the message, none for the carrier. Well, good my +lord, you are husband to the dainty Phorenice no longer." + +"This is news." + +"And true enough, too. She will have no more of you, divorces +you, spurns you, thrusts you from her, and, after the first +splutter of wrath is done, then come pains and penalties." + +"The Empress can do no wrong. I will have you speak +respectful words of the Empress." + +"Oh, be done with that old fable! It sickens me. The woman +was mad for love of you, and now she's mad with jealousy. She +knows that you gave Nais some of your priest's magic, and that she +sleeps till you choose to come and claim her, even though the day +be a century from this. And if you wish to know the method of her +enlightenment, it is simple. There is another airshaft next to the +one down which you did your cooing and billing, and that leads to +another cell in which lay another prisoner. The wretch heard all +that passed, and thought to buy enlargement by telling it. + +"But his news came a trifle stale. It seems that with the +pressure of the morning's ceremonies, they forgot to bring a +ration, and when at last his gaoler did remember him, it was rather +late, seeing that by then Phorenice had tied herself publicly to a +husband, and poor Nais had doubtless eaten her green drug. +However, the fools must needs try and barter his tale for what it +would fetch; and, as was natural, had such a silly head chopped off +for his pains; and after that your Phorenice behaved as you may +guess. And now you may thank me, sir, for coming to warn you not +to go back to Atlantis." + +"But I shall go back. And if the Empress chooses to cut my +head also from its proper column, that is as the High Gods will." + +"You are more sick of life than I thought. But I think, sir, +our Phorenice judges your case very accurately. It was permitted +me to hear the outbursting of this lady's rage. 'Shall I hew off +his head?' said she. 'Pah! Shall I give him over to my +tormentors, and stand by whilst they do their worst? He would not +wrinkle his brow at their fiercest efforts. No; he must have a +heavier punishment than any of these, and one also which will +endure. I shall lop off his right hand and his left foot, so that +he may be a fighting man no longer, and then I shall drive him +forth crippled into the dangerous lands, where he may learn Fear. +The beasts shall hunt him, the fires of the ground shall spoil his +rest. He shall know hunger, and he shall breathe bad air. And all +the while he shall remember that I have Nais near me, living and +locked in her coffin of stone, to play with as I choose, and to +give over to what insults may come to my fancy.' That is what she +said, Deucalion. Now I ask you again will you go back to meet her +vengeance?" + +"No," I said, "it is no part of my plan to be mutilated and +left to live." + +"So, being a woman of some sense, I judged. And, moreover, +having some small kindness still left for you, I have taken it upon +myself to make a plan for your further movement which may fall in +with your whim. Does the name of Tob come back to your memory?" + +"One who was Captain of Tatho's navy?" + +"That same Tob. A gruff, rude fellow, and smelling vile of +tar, but seeming to have a sturdy honesty of his own. Tob sails +away this night for parts unknown, presumably to found a kingdom +with Tob for king. It seems he can find little enough to earn at +his craft in Atlantis these latter days, and has scruples at seeing +his wife and young ones hungry. He told me this at the harbour +side when I put my neck under the axe by saying I wanted carriage +for you, sir, and so having me under his thumb, he was perhaps more +loose-lipped than usual. You seem to have made a fine impression +on Tob, Deucalion. He said--I repeat his hearty disrespect--you +were just the recruit he wanted, but whether you joined him or not, +he would go to the nether Gods to do you service." + +"By the fellow's side, I gained some experience in fighting +the greater sea beasts." + +"Well, go and do it again. Believe me, sir, it is your only +chance. It would grieve me much to hear the searing-iron hiss on +your stumps. I bargained with Tob to get clear of the harbour +forts before the chain was up for the night, and as he is a very +daring fellow, with no fear of navigating under the darkness, he +himself said he would come to a point of the shore which we agreed +upon, and there await you. Come, Deucalion, let me lead you to the +place." + +"My girl," I said, "I see I owe you many thanks for what you +have done on my poor behalf." + +"Oh, your thanks!" she said. "You may keep them. I did not +come out here in the dark and the dangers for mere thanks, though +I knew well enough there would be little else offered."--She +plucked at my sleeve.--"Now show me your walking pace, sir. They +will begin to want your countenance in the camp directly, and we +need hanker after no too narrow inquiries for what's along." + +So thereon we set off, Ylga and I, leaving the lights of the +bivouac behind us, and she showed the way, whilst I carried my +weapons ready to ward off attacks whether from beasts or from men. +Few words were passed between us, except those which had concern +with the dangers natural to the way. Once only did we touch one +another, and that was where a tree-trunk bridged a rivulet of +scalding water which flowed from a boil-spring towards the sea. + +"Are you sure of footing?" I asked, for the night was dark, +and the heat of the water would peel the flesh from the bones if +one slipped into it. + +"No," she said, "I am not," and reached out and took my hand. +I helped her over and then loosed my grip, and she sighed, and +slowly slipped her hand away. Then on again we went in silence, +side by side, hour after hour, and league after league. + +But at last we topped a rise, and below us through the trees +I could see the gleam of the great estuary on which the city of +Atlantis stands. The ground was soggy and wet beneath us, the +trees were full of barbs and spines, the way was monstrous hard. +Ylga's breath was beginning to come in laboured pants. But when I +offered to take her arm, and help her, as some return against what +she had done for me, she repulsed me rudely enough. "I am no poor +weakling," said she, "if that is your only reason for wanting to +touch me." + +Presently, however, we came out through the trees, and the +roughest part of our journey was done. We saw the ship riding to +her anchors in shore a mile away, and a weird enough object she was +under the faint starlight. We made our way to her along the level +beaches. + +Tob was keeping a keen watch. We were challenged the moment +we came within stone or arrow shot, and bidden to halt and recite +our business; but he was civil enough when he heard we were those +whom he expected. He called a crew and slacked out his anchor-rope +till his ship ground against the shingle, and then thrust out his +two steering oars to help us clamber aboard. + +I turned to Ylga with words of thanks and farewell. "I will +never forget what you have done for me this night; and should the +High Gods see fit to bring me back to Atlantis and power, you shall +taste my gratitude." + +"I do not want to return. I am sick of this old life here." + +"But you have your palace in the city, and your servants, and +your wealth, and Phorenice will not disturb you from their +possession." + +"Oh, as for that, I could go back and be fan-girl tomorrow. +But I do not want to go back." + +"Let me tell you it is no time for a gently nurtured lady like +yourself to go forward. I have been viceroy of Yucatan, Ylga, and +know somewhat of making a foothold in these new countries. And +that was nothing compared with what this will be. I tell you it +entails hardships, and privations, and sufferings which you could +not guess at. Few survive who go to colonise in the beginning, and +those only of the hardiest, and they earn new scars and new +batterings every day." + +"I do not care, and, besides, I can share the work. I can +cook, I can shoot a good arrow, and I can make garments, yes, +though they were cut from the skins of beasts and had to be sewn +with backbone sinews. Because you despise fine clothes, and +because you have seen me only decked out as fan-girl, you think I +am useless. Bah, Deucalion! Never let people prate to me about +your perfection. You know less about a woman than a boy new from +school." + +"I have learned all I care to know about one woman, and because +of the memory of her, I could not presume to ask her sister to +come with me now." + +"Aye," she said bitterly, "kick my pride. I knew well enough +it was only second place to Nais I could get all the time I was +wanting to come. Yet no one but a boor would have reminded me of +it. Gods! and to think that half the men in Atlantis have courted +me, and now I am arrived at this!" + +"I must go alone. It would have made me happier to take your +esteem with me. But as it is, I suppose I shall carry only your +hate." + +"That is the most humiliating thing of all; I cannot bring +myself to hate you. I ought to, I know, after the brutal way you +have scorned me. But I do not, and there is the truth. I seem to +grow the fonder of you, and if I thought there was a way of keeping +you alive, and unmutilated, here in Atlantis, I do not think I +should point out that Tob is tired of waiting, and will probably be +off without you." She flung her arms suddenly about my neck, and +kissed me hotly on the mouth. "There, that is for good-bye, dear. +You see I am reckless. I care not what I do now, knowing that you +cannot despise me more than you have done all along for my +forwardness." + +She ran back from me into the edge of the trees. + +"But this is foolishness," I said. "I must take you through +the dangers that lie between here and some gate of the city, and +then come back to the ship." + +"You need not fear for me. The unhappy are always safe. And, +besides, I have a way. It is my solace to know that you will +remember me now. You will never forget that kiss." + +"Fare you well, Ylga," I cried. "May the High Gods keep you +entirely in their holy care." + +But no reply came back. She had gone off into the forest. +And so I turned down to the beach, and splashed into the water, and +climbed on board the ship up the steering oars. Tob gave the word +to haul-to the anchor, and get her away from the beach. + +"Greeting, my lord," said he, "but I'd have been pleased to +see you earlier. We've small enough force and slow enough heels in +this vessel, and it's my idea that the sooner we're away from here +and beyond range of pursuit, the safer it will be for my woman and +brats who are in that hutch of an after-castle. It's long enough +since I sailed in such a small old-fashioned ship as this. She's +no machines, and she's not even a steering mannikin. Look at the +meanness of her furniture and (in your ear) I've suspicions that +there's rottenness in her bottom. But she's the best I'd the means +to buy, and if she reaches the place at the farther end I've got my +eye on, we shall have to make a home there, or be content to die, +for she'll never have strength to carry us farther or back. She's +been a ship in the Egypt trade, and you know what that is for +getting worm and rot in the wood." + +"You'd enough hands for your scheme before I came?" + +"Oh yes. I've fifty stout lads and eight women packed in the +ship somehow, and trouble enough I've had to get them away from the +city. That thief of a port-captain wellnigh skinned us clean +before he could see it lawful that so many useful fighting men +might go out of harbour. Times are not what they were, I tell you, +and the sea trade's about done. All sailor men of any skill have +taken a woman or two and gone out in companies to try their +fortunes in other lands. Why, I'd trouble enough to get half a +score to help me work this ship. All my balance are just landsmen +raw and simple, and if I land half of them alive at the other end, +we shall be doing well." + +"Still with luck and a few good winds it should not take long +to get across to Europe." + +Tob slapped his leg. "No savage Europe for me, my lord. Now, +see the advantage of being a mariner. I found once some islands to +the north of Europe, separated from the main by a strait, which I +called the Tin Islands, seeing that tin ore litters many of the +beaches. I was driven there by storm, and said no word of the find +when I got back, and here you see it comes in useful. There's no +one in all Atlantis but me knows of those Tin Islands to-day, and +we'll go and fight honestly for our ground, and build a town and a +kingdom on it." + +"With Tob for king?" + +"Well, I have figured it out as such for many a day, but I +know when I meet my better, and I'm content to serve under +Deucalion. My lord would have done wiser to have brought a wife +with him, though, and I thought it was understood by the good lady +that spoke to me down at the harbour, or I'd have mentioned it +earlier. The savages in my Tin Islands go naked and stain +themselves blue with woad, and are very filthy and brutish to look +upon. They are sturdy, and should make good slaves, but one would +have to get blunted in the taste before one could wish to be father +to their children." + +"I am still husband to Phorenice." + +Tob grinned. "The Gods give you joy of her. But it is part +of a mariner's creed--and you will grow to be a mariner here--that +wedlock does not hold across the seas. However, that matter may +rest. But, coming to my Tin Islands again: they'll delight you. +And I tell you, a kingdom will not be so hard to carve out as it +was in Egypt, or as you found in Yucatan. There are beasts there, +of course, and no one who can hunt need ever go hungry. But the +greater beasts are few. There are cave-bears and cave-tigers in +small numbers, to be sure, and some river-horses and great snakes. +But the greater lizards seem to avoid the land; and as for birds, +there is rarely seen one that can hurt a grown man. Oh, I tell +you, it will be a most desirable kingdom." + +"Tob seems to have imagined himself king of the Tin Islands +with much reality." + +He sighed a little. "In truth I did, and there is no denying +it, and I tell you plain, there is not another man living that I +would have broken this voyage for but Deucalion. But don't think +I regret it, and don't think I want to push myself above my place. +This breeze and the ebb are taking the old ship finely along her +ways. See those fire baskets on the harbour forts? We're abreast +of them now. We'll have dropped them and the city out of sight by +daylight, and the flood will not begin to run up till then. But I +fear unless the wind hardens down with the dawn we'll have to bring +up to an anchor when the flood makes. Tides run very hard in these +narrow seas. Aye, and there are some shrewdish tide-rips round my +Tin Islands, as you shall see when we reach them." + +There were many fearful glances backwards when day came and +showed the waters, and the burning mountains that hemmed them in +beyond the shores. All seemed to expect some navy of Phorenice to +come surging up to take them back to servitude and starvation in +the squalid wards of the city; and I confess ingenuously that I was +with them in all truth when they swore they would fight the ship +till she sank beneath them, before they would obey another of the +commands of Phorenice. However, their brave heroics were displayed +to no small purpose. For the full flow of the tide we hung in our +place, barely moving past the land, but yet not seeing either oar +or sail; and then, when the tide turned, away we went once more +with speed, mightily comforted. + +Tob's woman must needs bring drink on deck, and bid all pour +libations to her as a future queen. But Tob cuffed her back into +the after-castle, slamming to the hatch behind her heels, and +bidding the crew send the liquor down their dusty throats. "We are +done with that foolery," said he. "My Lord Deucalion will be king +of this new kingdom we shall build in the Tin Islands, and a right +proper king he'll make, as you untravelled ones would know, if +you'd sailed the outer seas with him as I have done." Beneath +which I read a regret, but said nothing, having made my plans from +the moment of stepping on board, as will appear on a later sheet. + +So on down the great estuary we made our way, and though it +pleasured the others on board when they saw that the seas were +desolate of sails, it saddened me when I recalled how once the +waters had been whitened with the glut of shipping. + +They had started off on their voyage with a bare two days' +provision in their equipment, and so, of necessity even after +leaving the great estuary, we were forced to voyage coastwise, +putting into every likely river and sheltered beach to slay fish +and meat for future victualling. "And when the winter comes," said +Tob, "as its gales will be heavier than this old ship can stomach, +I had determined to haul up and make a permanent camp ashore, and +get a crop of grain grown and threshed before setting sail again. +It is the usual custom in these voyages. And I shall do it still, +subject to my lord's better opinion." + +So here, having by this time completed a two months' leisurely +journey from the city, I saw my opportunity to speak what I had +always carried in my mind. "Tob," I said, "I am a poor, weak, +defenceless man, and I am quite at your mercy, but what if I do not +voyage all the way to the Tin Islands, and oust you of this +kingship?" + +He brightened perceptibly. "Aye," he grunted, "you are very +weak, my lord, and mighty defenceless. We know all about that. +But what's else? You must tell all your meaning plain. I'm a +common mariner, and understand little of your fancy talk." + +"Why, this. That it is not my wish to leave the continent of +Atlantis. If you will put me down on any part of this side that +faces Europe, I will commend you strongly to the Gods. I would I +could give you money, or (better still) articles that would be +useful to you in your colonising; but as it is, you see me +destitute." + +"As to that, you owe me nothing, having done vastly more than +your share each time we have put in shore for the hunting. But it +will not do, this plan of yours. I will shamedly confess that the +sound of that kingship in my Tin Islands sounds sweet to me. But +no, my lord, it will not do. You are no mariner yet, and +understand little of geography, but I must tell you that the part +of Atlantis there"--he jerked his thumb towards the line of trees, +and the mountains which lay beyond the fringe of surf--"is called +the Dangerous Lands, and a man must needs be a salamander and be +learned in magic (so I am told) before he can live there." + +I laughed. "We of the Priests' Clan have some education, Tob, +though it may not be on the same lines as your own. In fact, I may +say I was taught in the colleges concerning the boundaries and the +contents of our continent with a nicety that would surprise you. +And once ashore, my fate will still be under the control of the +most High Gods." + +He muttered something in his profane seaman's way about +preferring to keep his own fate under control of his own most +strong right arm, but saying that he would keep the matter in his +thoughts, he excused himself hurriedly to go and see to somewhat +concerning the working of the ship, and there left me. + +But I think the sweets of kingly rule were a strong argument +in favour of letting me have my way (which I should have had +otherwise if it had not been given peacefully), and on the third +day after our talk he put the ship inshore again for +re-victualling. We lurched into a river-mouth, half swamped over +a roaring bar, and ran up against the bank and made fast there to +trees, but booming ourselves a safe distance off with oars and +poles, so that no beast could leap on board out of the thicket. + +Fish-spearing and meat-hunting were set about with +promptitude, and on the second day we were happy enough to slay a +yearling river-horse, which gave provisions in all sufficiency. A +space was cleared on the bank, fires were lit, and the meat hung +over the smoke in strips, and when as much was cured as the ship +would carry, the shipmen made a final gorge on what remained, +filled up a great stack of hollow reeds with drinking water, and +were ready to continue the voyage. + +With sturdy generosity did Tob again attempt to make me sail +on with them as their future king, and as steadfastly did I make +refusal; and at last stood alone on the bank amongst the gnawed +bones of their feast, with my weapons to bear me company, and he, +and his men, and the women stood in the little old ship, ready to +drop down river with the current. + +"At least," said Tob, "we'll carry your memory with us, and +make it big in the Tin Islands for everlasting." + +"Forget me," I said, "I am nothing. I am merely an incident +that has come in your way. But if you want to carry some memory +with you that shall endure, preserve the cult of the most High Gods +as it was taught to you when you were children here in Atlantis. +And afterwards, when your colony grows in power, and has come to +sufficient magnificence, you may send to the old country for a +priest." + +"We want no priest, except one we shall make ourselves, and +that will be me. And as for the old Gods--well, I have laid my +ideas before the fellows here, and they agree to this: We are done +with those old Gods for always. They seem worn out, if one may +judge from Their present lack of usefulness in Atlantis, and, +anyway, there will be no room for Them on the Tin Islands.--Let go +those warps there aft, and shove her head out.--We are under weigh +now, my lord, and beyond recall, and so I am free to tell you what +we have decided upon for our religious exercises. We shall set up +the memory of a living Hero on earth, and worship that. And when +in years to come the picture of his face grows dim, we shall +doubtless make an image of him, as accurate as our art permits, and +build him a temple for shelter, and bring there our offerings and +prayers. And as I say, my lord, I shall be priest, and when I am +dead, the sons of my body shall be priests after me, and the eldest +a king also." + +"Let me plead with you," I said. "This must not be." + +The ship was drifting rapidly away with the current, and they +were hoisting sail. Tob had to shout to make himself heard. "Aye, +but it shall be. For I, too, am a strong man after my kind, and I +have ordered it so. And if you want the name of our Hero that some +day shall be God, you wear it on yourself. Deucalion shall be God +for our children." + +"This is blasphemy," I cried. "Have a care, fool, or this +impiety will sink you." + +"We will risk it," he bawled back, "and consider the odds +against us are small. Regard! Here is thy last horn of wine in +the ship, and my woman has treasured it against this moment. +Regard, all men, together with Those above and Those below! I pour +this wine as a libation to Deucalion, great lord that is to-day, +Hero that shall be to-morrow, God that will be in time to come!" +And then all those on the ship joined in the acclaim till they were +beyond the reach of my voice, and were battling their way out to +sea through the roaring breakers of the bar. + +Solitary I stood at the brink of the forest, looking after +them and musing sadly. Tob, despite his lowly station, was a man +I cared for more than many. Like all seamen, I knew that he paid +his devotions to one of the obscurer Gods, but till then I had +supposed him devout in his worship. His new avowal came to me as +a desolating shock. If a man like Tob could forsake all the older +Gods to set up on high some poor mortal who had momentarily caught +his fancy, what could be expected from the mere thoughtless mob, +when swayed by such a brilliant tongue as Phorenice's? It seemed +I was to begin my exile with a new dreariness added to all the +other adverse prospects of Atlantis. + +But then behind me I heard the rustle of some great beast that +had scented me, and was coming to attack through the thicket, and +so I had other matters to think upon. I had to let Tob and his +ship go out over the rim of the horizon unwatched. + + + +15. ZAEMON'S SUMMONS + + +Since the days when man was first created upon the earth by +Gods who looked down and did their work from another place, there +have always been areas of the land ill-adapted for his maintenance, +but none more so than that part of Atlantis which lies over against +the savage continents of Europe and Africa. The common people +avoid it, because of a superstition which says that the spirits of +the evil dead stalk about there in broad daylight, and slay all +those that the more open dangers of the place might otherwise +spare. And so it has happened often that the criminals who might +have fled there from justice, have returned of their own free will, +and voluntarily given themselves up to the tormentors, rather than +face its fabulous terrors. + +To the educated, many of these legends are known to be +mythical; but withal there are enough disquietudes remaining to +make life very arduous and stocked with peril. Everywhere the +mountains keep their contents on the boil; earth tremors are every +day's experience; gushes of unseen evil vapours steal upon one with +such cunningness and speed, that it is often hard to flee in time +before one is choked and killed; poisons well up into the rivers, +yet leave their colour unchanged; great cracks split across the +ground reaching down to the fires beneath, and the waters gush into +these, and are shot forth again with devastating explosion; and +always may be expected great outpourings of boiling mud or molten +rock. + +Yet with all this, there are great sombre forests in these +lands, with trees whose age is unimaginable, and fires amongst the +herbage are rare. All beneath the trees is water, and the air is +full of warm steam and wetness. For a man to live in that constant +hot damp is very mortifying to the strength. But strength is +wanted, and cunning also beyond the ordinary, for these dangerous +lands are the abode of the lizards, which of all beasts grow to the +most enormous size and are the most fearsome to deal with. + +There are countless families and species of these lizards, and +with some of them a man can contend with prospect of success. But +there are others whose hugeness no human force can battle against. +One I saw, as it came up out of a lake after gaining its day's +food, that made the wet land shake and pulse as it trod. It could +have taken Phorenice's mammoth into its belly,* and even a mammoth +in full charge could not have harmed it. Great horny plates +covered its head and body, and on the ridge of its back and tail +and limbs were spines that tore great slivers from the black trees +as it passed amongst them. + + +* TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: Professor Reeder of the Wyoming +State University has recently unearthed the skeleton of a +Brontosaurus, 130 ft. in length, which would have weighed 50 tons +when alive. It was 35 ft. in height at the hips, and 25 ft. at the +shoulder, and 40 people could be seated with comfort within its +ribs. Its thigh bone was 8 ft. long. The fossils of a whole +series of these colossal lizards have been found. + + +Now and again these monsters would get caught in some vast +fissuring of the ground, but not often. Their speed of foot was +great, and their sagacity keen. They seemed to know when the worst +boilings of the mountains might be expected, and then they found +safety in the deeper lakes, or buried themselves in wallows of the +mud. Moreover, they were more kindly constituted than man to +withstand one great danger of these regions, in that the heat of +the water did them no harm. Indeed, they will lie peacefully in +pools where sudden steam-bursts are making the water leap into +boiling fountains, and I have seen one run quickly across a flow of +molten rock which threatened to cut it off, and not be so much as +singed in the transit. + +In the midst of such neighbours, then, was my new life thrown, +and existence became perilous and hard to me from the outset. I +came near to knowing what Fear was, and indeed only a fervent trust +in the most High Gods, and a firm belief that my life was always +under Their fostering care, prevented me from gaining that horrid +knowledge. For long enough, till I learned somewhat of the ways of +this steaming, sweltering land, I was in as miserable a case as +even Phorenice could have wished to see me. My clothes rotted from +my back with the constant wetness, till I went as naked as a savage +from Europe; my limbs were racked with agues, and I could find no +herbs to make drugs for their relief; for days together I could +find no better food than tree-grubs and leaves; and often when I +did kill beasts, knowing little of their qualities, I ate those +that gave me pain and sickness. + +But as man is born to make himself adaptable to his +surroundings, so as the months dragged on did I learn the +limitation of this new life of mine, and gather some knowledge of +its resources. As example: I found a great black tree, with a +hollow core, and a hole into its middle near the roots. Here I +harboured, till one night some monstrous lizard, whose sheer weight +made the tree rock like a sapling, endeavoured to suck me forth as +a bird picks a worm from a hollow log. I escaped by the will of +the Gods--I could as much have done harm to a mountain as injure +that horny tongue with my weapons--but I gave myself warning that +this chance must not happen again. + +So I cut myself a ladder of footholes on the inside of the +trunk till I had reached a point ten man-heights from the ground, +and there cut other notches, and with tree branches made a floor on +which I might rest. Later, for luxury, I carved me arrow-slit +windows in the walls of my chamber, and even carried up sand for a +hearth, so that I might cook my victual up there instead of +lighting a fire in all the dangers of the open below. + +By degrees, too, I began to find how the large-scaled fish of +the rivers and the lesser turtles might be more readily captured, +and so my ribs threatened less to start through their proper +covering of skin as the days went on. But the lack of salads and +gruels I could never overcome. All the green meat was tainted so +powerfully with the taste of tars that never could I force my +palate to accept it. And of course, too, there remained the peril +of the greater lizards and the other dangers native to the place. + +But as the months began to mount into years, and the brute +part of my nature became more satisfied, there came other longings +which it was less easy to provide for. From the ivory of a river +horse's tooth I had endeavoured to carve me a representative of +Nais as last I had seen her. But, though my fingers might be +loving, and my will good, my art was of the dullest, and the +result--though I tried time and time again--was always clumsy and +pitiful. Still, in my eyes it carried some suggestion of the +original--a curve here, an outline there, and it made my old love +glow anew within me as I sat and ate it with my eyes. Yet it did +little to satisfy my longings for the woman I had lost; rather +it whetted my cravings to be with her again, or at least to have +some knowledge of her fate. + +Other men of the Priests' Clan have come out and made an abode +in these Dangerous Lands, and by mortifying the flesh, have gained +an intimacy with the Higher Mysteries which has carried them far +past what mere human learning and repetition could teach. Indeed, +here and there one, who from some cause and another has returned to +the abodes of men, has carried with him a knowledge that has +brought him the reputation amongst the vulgar for the workings of +magic and miracles, which--since all arts must be allowed which aid +so holy a cause--have added very materially to the ardour with +which these common people pursue the cult of the Gods. But for +myself I could not free my mind to the necessary clearness for +following these abstruse studies. During that voyage home from +Yucatan I had communed with them with growing insight; but now my +mind was not my own. Nais had a lien upon it, and refused to be +ousted; and, in truth, her sweet trespass was my chief solace. + +But at last my longing could no further be denied. Through +one of the arrow-slit windows of my tree-house I could see far away +a great mountain top whitened with perpetual snow, which our Lord +the Sun dyed with blood every night of His setting. Night after +night I used to watch that ruddy light with wide straining eyes. +Night after night I used to remember that in days agone when I was +entering upon the priesthood, it had been my duty to adore our +great Lord as He rose for His day behind the snows of that very +mountain. And always the thought followed on these musings, that +from that distant crest I could see across the continent to the +Sacred Mount, which had the city below it where I had buried my +love alive. + +So at last I gave way and set out, and a perilous journey I +made of it. In the heavy mists, which hung always on the lower +ground, my way lay blind before me, and I was constantly losing it. +Indeed, to say that I traversed three times the direct distance is +setting a low estimate. Throughout all those swamps the great +lizards hunted, and as the country was new to me I did not know +places of harbour, and a hundred times was within an ace of being +spied and devoured at a mouthful. But the High Gods still desired +me for Their own purposes, and blinded the great beasts' eyes when +I slunk to cover as they passed. Twice rivers of scalding water +roared boiling across my path, and I had to delay till I could +collect enough black timber from the forests to build rafts that +would give me dry ferriage. + +It will be seen then that my journey was in a way infinitely +tedious, but to me, after all those years of waiting, the time +passed on winged feet. I had been separated from my love till I +could bear the strain no longer; let me but see from a distance the +place where she lay, and feast my eyes upon it for a while, and +then I could go back to my abode in the tree and there remain +patiently awaiting the will of the Gods. + +The air grew more chilly as I began to come out above the +region of trees, on to that higher ground which glares down on the +rest of the world, and I made buskins and a coat of woven grasses +to protect my body from the cold, which began to blow upon me +keenly. And later on, where the snow lay eternally, and was blown +into gullies, and frozen into solid banks and bergs of ice, I had +hard work to make any progress amongst its perilous mazes, and was +moreover so numbed by the chill, that my natural strength was +vastly weakened. Overhead, too, following me up with forbidding +swoops, and occasionally coming so close that I had to threaten it +with my weapons, was one of those huge man-eating birds which live +by pulling down and carrying off any creature that their instincts +tell them is weakly, and likely soon to die. + +But the lure ahead of me was strong enough to make these +difficulties seem small, and though the air of the mountain agreed +with me ill, causing sickness and panting, I pressed on with what +speed I could muster towards the elusive summit. Time after time +I thought the next spurt would surely bring me out to the view for +which my soul yearned, but always there seemed another bank of snow +and ice yet to be climbed. But at last I reached the crest, and +gave thanks to the most High Gods for Their protection and favour. + +Far, far away I could see the Sacred Mountain with its ring of +fires burning pale under the day, and although the splendid city +which nestled at its foot could not be seen from where I stood, I +knew its position and I knew its plan, and my soul went out to that +throne of granite in the square before the royal pyramid, where +once, years before, I had buried my love. Had Phorenice left the +tomb unviolated? + +I stood there leaning on my spear, filling my eye with the +prospect, warming even to the smoke of mountains that I recognised +as old acquaintances. Gods! how my love burned within me for this +woman. My whole being seemed gone out to meet her, and to leave +room for nothing beside. For long enough a voice seemed dimly to +be calling me, but I gave it no regard. I had come out to that +hoary mountain top for communion with Nais alone, and I wanted none +others to interrupt. + +But at length the voice calling my name grew too loud to be +neglected, and I pulled myself out of my sweet musing with a start +to think that here, for the first time since parting with Tob and +his company, I should see another human fellow-being. I gripped my +weapon and asked who called. The reply came clearly from up the +slopes of mountain, and I saw a man coming towards me over the +snows. He was old and feeble. His body was bent, and his hair and +beard were white as the ground on which he trod, and presently I +recognised him as Zaemon. He was coming towards me with incredible +speed for a man of his years and feebleness, but he carried in his +hand the glowing Symbol of our Lord the Sun, and holy strength from +this would add largely to his powers. + +He came close to me and made the sign of the Seven, which I +returned to him, with its completion, with due form and ceremony. +And then he saluted me in the manner prescribed as messenger +appointed by the High Council of the Priests seated before the Ark +of the Mysteries, and I made humble obeisance before him. + +"In all things I will obey the orders that you put before me," +I said. + +"Such is your duty, my brother. The command is, that you +return immediately to the Sacred Mountain, so that if human means +may still prevail, you, as the most skilful general Atlantis owns +within her borders, may still save the country from final wreck and +punishment. The woman Phorenice persists in her infamies. The +poor land groans under her heel. And now she has laid siege to our +Sacred Mountain itself, and swears that not one soul shall be left +alive in all Atlantis who does not bend humbly to her will." + +"It is a command and I obey it. But let me ask of another +matter that is intimate to both of us. What of Nais?" + +"Nais rests where you left her, untouched. Phorenice knows by +her arts--she has stolen nearly all the ancient knowledge now--that +still you live, and she keeps Nais unharmed beneath the granite +throne in the hopes that some time she may use her as a weapon +against you. Little she knows the sternness of our Priests' creed, +my brother. Why, even I, that am the girl's father, would +sacrifice her blithely, if her death or ruin might do a tittle of +good to Atlantis." + +"You go beyond me with your devotion." + +The old man leaned forward at me, with glowering brow. +"What!" + +"Or my old blind adherence to the ancient dogma has been +sapped and weakened by events. You must buy my full obedience, +Zaemon, if you want it. Promise me Nais--and your arts I know can +snatch her--and I will be true servant to the High Council of the +Priest, and will die in the last ditch if need be for the carrying +out of order. But let me see Nais given over to the fury of that +wanton woman, and I shall have no inwards left, except to take my +vengeance, and to see Atlantis piled up in ruins as her funeral- +stone." + +Zaemon looked at me bitterly. "And you are the man the High +Council thought to trust as they would trust one of themselves? +Truly we are in an age of weak men and faithless now. But, my +lord--nay, I must call you brother still: we cannot be too nice in +our choosing to-day--you are the best there is, and we must have +you. We little thought you would ask a price for your generalship, +having once taken oath on the walls of the Ark of the Mysteries +itself that always, come what might, you would be a servant of the +High Council of the Clan without fee and without hope of +advancement. But this is the age of broken vows, and you are going +no more than trim with the fashion. Indeed, brother, perhaps I +should thank you for being no more greedy in your demands." + +"You may spare me your taunts. You, by self-denial and +profound search into the highest of the higher Mysteries, have made +yourself something wiser than human; I have preserved my humanity, +and with it its powers and frailties; and it seems that each of us +has his proper uses, or you would not be come now here to me. +Rather you would have done the generalling yourself." + +"You make a warm defence, my brother. But I have no leisure +now to stand before you with argument. Come to the Sacred +Mountain, fight me this wanton, upstart Empress, and by my beard +you shall have your Nais as you left her as a reward." + +"It is a command of the High Council which shall be obeyed. +I will come with my brother now, as soon as he is rested." + +"Nay," said the old man, "I have no tiredness, and as for +coming with me, there you will not be able. But follow at what +pace you may." + +He turned and set off down the snowy slopes of the mountain +and I followed; but gradually he distanced me; and so he kept on, +with speed always increasing, till presently he passed out of my +sight round the spur of an ice-cliff, and I found myself alone on +the mountain side. Yes, truly alone. For his footmarks in the +snow from being deep, grew shallower, and less noticeable, so that +I had to stoop to see them. And presently they vanished entirely, +and the great mountain's flank lay before me trackless, and +untrodden by the foot of man since time began. + +I was not shaken by any great amazement. Though it was beyond +my poor art to compass this thing myself, having occupied my mind +in exile more with memories of Nais than in study of those +uppermost recesses of the Higher Mysteries in which Zaemon was so +prodigiously wise, still I had some inkling of his powers. + +Zaemon I knew would be back again in his dwelling on the +Sacred Mountain, shaken and breathless, even before I had found an +end to his tracks in the snow, and it behoved me to join him there +in the quickest possible time. I had his promise now for my +reward, and I knew that he would carry it into effect. Beforetime +I had made an error. I had valued Atlantis most, and Nais, my +private love, as only second. But now it was in my mind to be +honest with others even as with myself. Though all the world were +hanging on my choice, I could but love my Nais most, and serve her +first and foremost of all. + + + +16. SIEGE OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + + +Now, my passage across the great continent of Atlantis, if +tedious and haunted by many dangers, need not be recounted in +detail here. Only one halt did I make of any duration, and that +was unavoidable. I had killed a stag one day, bringing it down +after a long chase in an open savannah. I scented the air +carefully, to see if there was any other beast which could do me +harm within reach, and thinking that the place was safe, set about +cutting my meat, and making a sufficiency into a bundle for +carriage. + +But underfoot amongst the grasses there was a great legged +worm, a monstrous green thing, very venomous in its bite; and +presently as I moved I brushed it with my heel, and like the dart +of light it swooped with its tiny head and struck me with its fangs +in the lower thigh. With my knife I cut through its neck and it +fell to writhing and struggling and twining its hundred legs into +all manner of contortions; and then, cleaning my blade in the +ground, I stabbed with it deep all round the wound, so that the +blood might flow freely and wash the venom from its lodgement. And +then with the blood trickling healthily down from my heel, I +shouldered the meat and strode off, thankful for being so well quit +of what might have made itself a very ugly adventure. + +As I walked, however, my leg began to be filled with a +tightness and throbbing which increased every hour, and presently +it began to swell also, till the skin was stretched like drawn +parchment. I was taken, too, with a sickness, that racked me +violently, and if one of the greater and more dangerous beasts had +come upon me then, he would have eaten me without a fight. With +the fall of darkness I managed to haul myself up into a tree, and +there abode in the crutch of a limb, in wakefulness and pain +throughout the night. + +With the dawn, when the night beasts had gone to their lairs, +I clambered down again, and leaning heavily on my spear, limped +onwards through the sombre forests along my way. The moss which +grows on the northern side of each tree was my guide, but gradually +I began to note that I was seeing moss all round the trees, and, in +fact, was growing light-headed with the pain and the swelling of +the limb. But still I pressed onwards with my journey, my last +instinct being to obey the command of the High Council, and so +procure the enlargement of Nais as had been promised. + +My last memory was of being met by someone in the black forest +who aided me, and there my waking senses took wings into +forgetfulness. + +But after an interval, wit returned, and I found myself on a +bed of leaves in a cleft between two rocks, which was furnished +with some poor skill, and fortified with stakes and buildings +against the entrance of the larger marauding beasts. My wound was +dressed with a poultice of herbs, and at the other side of the +cavern there squatted a woman, cooking a mess of wood-grubs and +honey over a fire of sticks. + +"How came I here?" I asked. + +"I brought you," said she. + +"And who are you?" + +"A nymph, they call me, and I practise as such, collecting +herbs and curing the diseases of those that come to me, telling +fortunes, and making predictions. In return I receive what each +can afford, and if they do not pay according to their means, I clap +on a curse to make them wither. It's a lean enough living when +wars and the pestilence have left so few poor folk to live in the +land." + +"Do you visit Atlantis?" + +"Not I. Phorenice would have me boiled in brine, living, if +she could lay easy hands on me. Our dainty Empress tolerates no +magic but her own. They say she is for pulling down the Priests +off their Mountain now." + +"So you do get news of the city?" + +"Assuredly. It is my trade to get good news, or otherwise how +could I tell fortunes to the vulgar? You see, my lord, I detected +your quality by your speech, and knowing you are not one of those +that come to me for spells, and potions, I have no fear in speaking +to you plainly." + +"Tell me then: Phorenice still reigns?" + +"Most vilely." + +"As a maiden?" + +"As the mother of twin sons. Tatho's her husband now, and has +been these three years." + +"Tatho! Who followed him as viceroy of Yucatan?" + +"There is no Yucatan. A vast nation of little hairy men, so +the tale goes, coming from the West overran the country. They had +clubs of wood tipped with stone as their only arm, but numbers made +their chief weapon. They had no desire for plunder, or the taking +of slaves, or the conquering of cities. To eat the flesh of +Atlanteans was their only lust, and they followed it prodigiously. +Their numbers were like the bees in a swarm. + +"They came to each of the cities of Yucatan in turn, and +though the colonists slew them in thousands, the weight of numbers +always prevailed. They ate clean each city they took, and left it +to the beasts of the forest, and went on to the next. And so in +time they reached the coast towns, and Tatho and the few that +survived took ship, and sailed home. They even ate Tatho's wife +for him. They must be curious persevering things, these little +hairy men. The Gods send they do not get across the seas to +Atlantis, or they would be worse plague to the poor country than +Phorenice." + +Now I had heard of these little hairy creatures before, and +though indeed I had never seen them, I had gathered that they were +a little less than human and a little more than bestial; a link so +to speak between the two orders; and specially held in check by the +Gods in certain forest solitudes. Also I had learned that on +occasion, when punishment was needful, they could be set loose as +a devastating army upon men, devouring all before them. But I said +nothing of this to the nymph, she being but a vulgar woman, and +indeed half silly, as is always the case with these self-styled +sorceresses who gull the ignorant, common folk. But within myself +I was bitterly grieved at the fate of that fine colony of Yucatan, +in which I had expended such an infinity of pains to do my share of +the building. + +But it did not suit my purpose to have my name and quality +blazoned abroad till the time was full, and so I said nothing to +the nymph about Yucatan, but let the talk continue upon other +matters. "What about Egypt?" I asked. + +"In its accustomed darkness, so they say. Who cares for Egypt +these latter years? Who cares for anyone or anything for that +matter except for himself and his own proper estate? Time was when +the country folk and the hunters hereabouts brought me offerings to +this cave for sheer piety's sake. But now they never come near +unless they see a way of getting good value in return for their +gifts. And, by result, instead of living fat and hearty, I make +lean meals off honey and grubs. It's a poor life, a nymph's, in +these latter years I tell you, my lord. It's the fashion for all +classes to believe in no kind of mystery now." + +"What manner of pestilence is this you spoke of?" + +"I have not seen it. Thank the Gods it has not come this way. +But they do say that it has grown from the folk Phorenice has +slain, and whose bodies remain unburied. She is always slaying, +and so the bodies lie thicker than the birds and beasts can eat +them. For which of our sins, I wonder, did the Gods let Phorenice +come to reign? I wish that she and her twins were boiled alive in +brine before they came between an honest nymph of the forest and +her living. + +"They say she has put an image of herself in all the temples +of the city now, and has ordered prayers and sacrifices to be made +night and morning. She has decreed all other Gods inferior to +herself and forbidden their worship, and those of the people that +are not sufficiently devout for her taste, have their hamstrings +slit by their tormentors to aid them constantly into a devotional +attitude.--Will you eat of my grubs and honey? There is nothing +else. Your back was bloody with carrying meat when I met you, but +you had lost your load. You must either taste this mess of mine +now, or go without." + +I harboured with that nymph in cave six days, she using her +drugs and charms to cure my leg the while, and when I was +recovered, I hunted the plains and killed her a fat cloven-hoofed +horse as payment, and then went along my ways. + +The country from there onwards had at one time carried a +sturdy population which held its own firmly, and, as its numbers +grew, took in more ground, and built more homesteads farther +afield. The houses were perched in trees for the most part, as +there they were out of reach of cave-bear and cave-tiger and the +other more dangerous beasts. But others, and these were the better +ones, were built on the ground, of logs so ponderous and so firmly +clamped and dovetailed that the beasts could not pull them down, +and once inside a house of this fashion its owners were safe, and +could progue at any attackers through the interstices between the +logs, and often wound, sometimes make a kill. + +But not one in ten of these outlying settlers remained. The +houses were silent when I reached them, the fire-hearth before the +door weed-grown, and the patch of vegetables taken back by the +greedy fingers of the forest into mere scrub and jungle. And +farther on, when villages began to appear, strongly-walled as the +custom is, to ward off the attacks of beasts, the logs which +aforetime had barred the gateway lay strewn in a sprouting +undergrowth, and naught but the kitchen middens remained to prove +that once they had sheltered human tenants. Phorenice's influence +seemed to have spread as though it were some horrid blight over the +whole face of what was once a smiling and an easy-living land. + +So far I had met with little enough interference from any men +I had come across. Many had fled with their women into the depths +of the forest at the bare sight of me; some stood their ground with +a threatening face, but made no offer to attack, seeing that I did +not offer them insult first; and a few, a very few, offered me +shelter and provision. But as I neared the city, and began to come +upon muddy beaten paths, I passed through governments that were +more thickly populated, and here appeared strong chance of delay. +The watcher in the tower which is set above each village would spy +me and cry: "Here is a masterless man," and then the people that +were within would rush out with intent to spoil me of my weapons, +and afterwards to appoint me as a labourer. + +I had no desire to slay these wretched folk, being filled with +pity at the state to which they had fallen; and often words served +me to make them stand aside from the path, and stare wonderingly at +my fierceness, and let me go my ways. And when at other times +words had no avail, I strove to strike as lightly as could be, my +object being to get forward with my journey and leave no +unnecessary dead behind me. Indeed, having found the modern way of +these villages, it grew to be my custom to turn off into the +forest, and make a circuit whenever I came within smell of their +garbage. + +Similarly, too, when I got farther on, and came amongst +greater towns also, I kept beyond challenge of their walls, having +no mind to risk delay from the whim of any new law which might +chance to be set up by their governors. My progress might be +slinking, but my pride did not upbraid me very loudly; indeed, the +fever of haste burned within me so hot and I had little enough +carrying space for other emotions. + +But at last I found myself within a half-day's journey the +city of Atlantis itself, with the Sacred Mountain and its ring of +fires looming high beside it, and the call for caution became +trebly accentuated. Everywhere evidences showed that the country +had been drained of its fighting men. Everywhere women prayed that +the battles might end with the rout of the Priests or the killing +of Phorenice, so that the wretched land might have peace and time +to lick its wounds. + +An army was investing the sacred Mountain, and its one +approach was most narrowly guarded. Even after having journeyed so +far, it seemed as if I should have to sit hopelessly down without +being able to carry out the orders which had been laid upon me by +the High Council, and earn the reward which had been promised. +Force would be useless here. I should have one good fight--a +gorgeous fight--one man against an army, and my usefulness would be +ended. . . . No; this was the occasion for guile, and I found +covert in the outskirts of a wood, and lay there cudgelling my +brain for a plan. + +Across the plain before me lay the grim great walls of the +city, with the heads of its temples, and its palaces, and its +pyramids showing beyond. The step-sides of the royal pyramid held +my eye. Phorenice had expended some of her new-found store of gold +in overlaying their former whiteness with sheets of shining yellow +metal. But it was not that change that moved me. I was remembering +that, in the square before the pyramid, there stood a throne of +granite carved with the snake and the outstretched hand, and in the +hollow beneath the throne was Nais, my love, asleep these eight +years now because of the drug that had been given to her, but alive +still, and waiting for me, if only I on my part could make a way to +the place where Zaemon defied the Empress, and announce my coming. + +In that covert of the woods I lay a day and a night raging +with myself for not discovering some plan to get within the +defences of the Sacred Mountain, but in the morning which followed, +there came a man towards me running. + +"You need not threaten me with your weapons," he cried. "I +mean no harm. It seems that you are Deucalion; though I should not +have known you myself in those rags and skins, and behind that +tangle of hair and beard. You will give me your good word I know. +Believe me, I have not loitered unduly." + +He was a lower priest whom I knew, and held in little esteem; +his name was Ro, a greedy fellow and not overworthy of trust. +"From whom do you come?" I asked. + +"Zaemon laid a command on me. He came to my house, though how +he got there I cannot tell, seeing that Phorenice's army blocks all +possible passage to and from the Mountain. I told him I wished to +be mixed with none of his schemings. I am a peaceful man, +Deucalion, and have taken a wife who requires nourishment. I still +serve in the same temple, though we have swept out the old Gods by +order of the Empress, and put her image in their place. The people +are tidily pious nowadays, those that are left of them, and the +living is consequently easy. Yes, I tell you there are far more +offerings now than there were in the old days. And so I had no +wish to be mixed with matters which might well make me be deprived +of a snug post, and my head to boot." + +"I can believe it all of you, Ro." + +"But there was no denying Zaemon. He burst into one of his +black furies, and while he spoke at me, I tell you I felt as good +as dead. You know his powers?" + +"I have seen some of them." + +"Well, the Gods alone know which are the true Gods, and which +are the others. I serve the one that gives me employment. But +those that Zaemon serves give him power, and that's beyond denying. +You see that right hand of mine? It is dead and paralysed from the +wrist, and that is a gift of Zaemon. He bestowed it, he said, to +make me collect my attention. Then he said more hard things +concerning what he was pleased to term my apostasy, not letting me +put up a word in my own defence of how the change was forced upon +me. And finally, said he, I might either do his bidding on a +certain matter to the letter, or take that punishment which my +falling away from the old Gods had earned. 'I shall not kill you,' +said he, 'but I will cover all your limbs with a paralysis, such as +you have tasted already, and when at length death reaches you in +some gutter, you will welcome it.'" + +"If Zaemon said those words, he meant them. So you accepted +the alternative?" + +"Had I, with a wife depending on me, any other choice? I +asked his pleasure. It was to find you when you came in here from +some distant part of the land, and deliver to you his message. + +"'Then tell me where is the meeting place,' said I, 'and +when.' + +"'There is none appointed, nor is the day fixed,' said he. +'You must watch and search always for him. But when he comes, you +will be guided to his place.' Well, Deucalion, I think I was +guided, but how, I do not know. But now I have found you, and if +there's such a thing as gratitude, I ask you to put in your word +with Zaemon that this deadness be taken away from my hand. It's an +awful thing for a man to be forced to go through life like this, +for no real fault of his own. And Zaemon could cure it from where +he sat, if he was so minded." + +"You seem still to have a very full faith in some of the old +Gods' priests," I said. "But so far, I do not see that your errand +is done. I have had no message yet." + +"Why, the message is so simple that I do not see why he could +not have got some one else to carry it. You are to make a great +blaze. You may fire the grasses of the plain in front of this wood +if you choose. And on the night which follows, you are to go round +to that flank of the Sacred Mountain away from the city where the +rocks run down sheer, and there they will lower a rope and haul you +up to their hands above." + +"It seems easy, and I thank you for your pains. I will ask +Zaemon that your hand may be restored to you." + +"You shall have my prayers if it is. And look, Deucalion, it +is a small matter, and it would be less likely to slip your memory +if you saw to it at once on your landing. Later, you may be +disturbed. Phorenice is bound to pull you down off your perch up +there now she has made her mind to it. She never fails, once she +has set her hand to a thing. Indeed, if she was no Goddess at +birth, she is making herself into one very rapidly. She has got +all the ancient learning of our Priests, and more besides. She has +discovered the Secret of Life these recent months--" + +"She has found that?" I cried, fairly startled. "How? Tell +me how? Only the Three know that. It is beyond our knowledge even +who are members of the Seven." + +"I know nothing of her means. But she has the secret, and now +she is as good an immortal (so she says) as any of them. Well, +Deucalion, it is dangerous for me to be missing from my temple +overlong, so I will go. You will carry that matter we spoke of in +your mind? It means much to me."--His eye wandered over my ragged +person--"And if you think my service is of value to you--" + +"You see me poor, my man, and practically destitute." + +"Some small coin," he murmured, "or even a link of bronze? I +am at great expense just now buying nourishment for my wife. Well, +if you have nothing, you cannot give. So I'll just bid you +farewell." + +He took himself off then, and I was not sorry. I had never +liked Ro. But I wasted no more precious time then. The grass +blazed up for a signal almost before his timorous heels were clear +of it, and that night when the darkness gave me cover, I took the +risk of what beasts might be prowling, and went to the place +appointed. There was no rope dangling, but presently one came down +the smooth cliff face like some slender snake. I made a loop, +slipped it over a leg, and pulled hard as a signal. Those above +began to haul, and so I went back to the Sacred Mountain after an +absence of so many toilsome and warring years. There were none to +disturb the ascent. Phorenice's troops had no thought to guard +that gaunt, bare, seamless precipice. + +The men who hauled me up were old, and panted heavily with +their task, and, until I knew the reason, I wondered why a knot of +younger priests had not been appointed for the duty. But I put no +question. With us of the Priests' Clan on the Sacred Mountain, it +is always taken as granted that when an order is given, it is given +for the best. Besides, these priests did not offer themselves to +question. They took me off at once to Zaemon, and that is what I +could have wished. + +The old man greeted me with the royal sign. "All hail to +Deucalion," he cried, "King of Atlantis, duly called thereto by the +High Council of the priests." + +"Is Phorenice dead?" I asked. + +"It remains for you to slay her, and take your kingdom, if, +indeed, when all is done, there remains a man or a rood of land to +govern. The sentence has gone out that she is to die, and it shall +be carried into effect, even though we have to set loose the most +dreadful powers that are stored in the Ark of the Mysteries, and +wreck this continent in our effort. We have borne with her +infamies all these years by command sent down by the most High +Gods; but now she has gone beyond endurance, and They it is who +have given the word for her cutting off." + +"You are one of the highest Three; I am only one of the Seven; +you best know the cost." + +"There can be no counting the cost now, my brother, and my +king. It is an order." + +"It is an order," I repeated formally, "so I obey." + +"If it were not impious to do so, it would be easy to justify +this decision of the Gods. The woman has usurped the throne; yet +she was forgiven and bidden rule on wisely. She has tampered with +our holy religion; yet she was forgiven. She has killed the +peoples of Atlantis in greedy useless wars, and destroyed the +country's trade; yet she was forgiven. She has desecrated the old +temples, and latterly has set up in them images of herself to be +worshipped as a deity; yet she was forgiven. But at last her evil +cleverness has discovered to her the tremendous Secret of Life and +Death, and there she overstepped the boundary of the High Gods' +forbearance. + +"I myself went to carry a final warning, and once more faced +her in the great banqueting-hall. Solemnly I recited to her the +edict, and she chose to take it as a challenge. She would live on +eternally herself and she would share her knowledge with those that +pleased her. Tatho that was her husband should also be immortal. +Indeed, if she thought fit, she would cry the secret aloud so that +even the common people might know it, and death from mere age would +become a legend. + +"She cared no wit how she might upset the laws of Nature. She +was Phorenice, and was the highest law of all. And finally she +defied me there in that banqueting-hall and defied also the High +Gods that stood behind my mouth. 'My magic is as strong as yours, +you pompous fool,' she cried, 'and presently you shall see the two +stand side by side upon their trial.' + +"She began to collect an army from that moment, and we on our +part made our preparations. It was discovered by our arts that you +still lived, and King of Atlantis you were made by solemn election. +How you were summoned, you know as nearly as it is lawful that one +of your degree should know; how you came, you understand best +yourself; but here you are, my brother, and being King now, you +must order all things as you see best for the preservation of your +high estate, and we others live only to give you obedience." + +"Then being King, I can speak without seeming to make use of +a threat. I must have my Queen first, or I am not strong enough to +give my whole mind to this ruling." + +"She shall be brought here." + +"So! Then I will be a General now, and see to the defences of +this place, and view the men who are here to stand behind them." + +I went out of the dwelling then, Zaemon giving place and +following me. It was night still but there is no darkness on the +upper part of the Sacred Mountain. A ring of fires, fed eternally +from the earth-breath which wells up from below, burns round one- +half of the crest, lighting it always as bright as day, and in fact +forming no small part of its fortification. Indeed, it is said +that, in the early dawn of history, men first came to the Mountain +as a stronghold because of the natural defence which the fires +offered. + +There is no bridging these flames or smothering them. On +either side of their line for a hundred paces the ground glows with +heat, and a man would be turned to ash who tried to cross it. +Round full one-half the mountain slopes the fires make a rampart +unbreakable, and on the other side the rock runs in one sheer +precipice from the crest to the plain which spreads beyond its +foot. But it is on this farther side that there is the only +entrance way which gives passage to the crest of the Sacred +Mountain from below. Running diagonally up the steep face of the +cliff is a gigantic fissure, which succeeding ages (as man has +grown more luxurious) have made more easy to climb. + +Looking at the additions, in the ancient days, I can well +imagine that none but the most daring could have made the ascent. +But one generation has thrown a bridge over a bad gap here, and +another has cut into the living stone and widened a ledge there, +till in these latter years there is a path with cut steps and +carved balustrade such as the feeblest or most giddy might traverse +with little effort or exertion. But always when these improvers +made smooth the obstacles, they were careful to weaken in no +possible way the natural defences but rather to add to them. + +Eight gates of stone there were cutting the pathway, each +commanding a straight, steep piece of the ascent, and overhanging +each gate was a gallery secure from arrow-shot, yet so contrived +that great stones could be hurled through holes in the floor of it, +in such a manner that they must irretrievably smash to a pulp any +men advancing against it from below. And in caves dug out from the +rock on either hand was a great hoard of these stones, so that no +enemy through sheer expenditure of troops could hope to storm a +gate by exhausting its ammunition. + +But though there were eight of these granite gates in the +series, we had the whole number to depend on no longer. The lowest +gate was held by a garrison of Phorenice's troops, who had built a +wall above them to protect their occupation. The gate had been +gained by no brilliant feat of arms--it had been won by threats, +bribery, and promises; or, in other words, it had been given up by +the blackest treachery. + +And here lay the keynote of the weakness in our defence. The +most perfect ramparts that brain can invent are useless without men +to line them, and it was men we lacked. Of students entering into +the colleges of the Sacred Mountain, there had been none now for +many a year. The younger generation thought little of the older +Gods. Of the men that had grown up amongst the sacred groves, and +filled offices there, many had become lukewarm in their faith and +remained on only through habit, and because an easy living stayed +near them there; and these, when the siege began, quickly made +their way over to the other side. + +Phorenice was no fool to fight against unnecessary strength. +Her heralds made proclamation that peace and a good subsistence +would be given to those who chose to come out to her willingly; and +as an alternative she would kill by torture and mutilation those +she caught in the place when she took it by storm, as she most +assuredly would do before she had finished with it. And so great +was the prestige of her name, that quite one-half of these that +remained on the mountain took themselves away from the defence. + +There was no attempt to hold back these sorry priests, nor was +there any punishing them as they went. Zaemon, indeed, was minded +(so he told me with grim meaning himself) to give them some memento +of their apostasy to carry away which would not wear out, but the +others of the High Council made him stay his vengeful hand. And so +when I came to the place the garrison numbered no more than eighty, +counting even feeble old dotards who could barely walk; and of men +not past their prime I could barely command a score. + +Still, seeing the narrowness of the passages which led to each +of the gates, up which in no place could more than two men advance +together, we were by no means in desperate straits for the defence +as yet; and if my new-given kingdom was so far small, consisting as +it did in effect of the Sacred Mountain and no other part of +Atlantis, at any rate there seemed little danger of its being +further contracted. + +Another of the wise precautions of the men of old stood us in +good stead then. In the ancient times, when grain first was grown +as food, it came to be looked upon as the acme of wealth. Tribute +was always paid from the people to their Priests, and presently, so +the old histories say, it was appointed that this should take the +form of grain, as this was a medium both dignified and fitting. +And those of the people who had it not, were forced to barter their +other produce for grain before they could pay this tribute. + +On the Sacred Mountain itself vast storehouses were dug in the +rock, and here the grain was teemed in great yellow heaps, and each +generation of those that were set over it, took a pride in adding +to the accumulation. + +In more modern days it had been a custom amongst the younger +and more forward of the Priests to scoff at this ancient provision, +and to hold that a treasure of gold, or weapons, or jewels would +have more value and no less of dignity; and more than once it has +been a close thing lest these innovators should not be out-voted. +But as it was, the old constitution had happily been preserved, and +now in these years of trial the Clan reaped the benefit. And so +with these granaries, and a series of great tanks and cisterns +which held the rainfall, there was no chance of Phorenice reducing +our stronghold by mere close investment, even though she sat down +stubbornly before it for a score of years. + +But it was the paucity of men for the defence which oppressed +me most. As I took my way about the head of the Mountain, +inspecting all points, the emptiness of the place smote me like a +succession of blows. The groves, once so trim, were now shaggy and +unpruned. Wind had whirled the leaves in upon the temple floors, +and they lay there unswept. The college of youths held no more now +than a musty smell to bear witness that men had once been grown +there. The homely palaces of the higher Priests, at one time so +ardently sought after, lay many of them empty, because not even one +candidate came forward now to canvass for election. + +Evil thoughts surged up within me as I saw these things, that +were direct promptings from the nether Gods. "There must be +something wanting," these tempters whispered, "in a religion from +which so many of its Priests fled at the first pinch of +persecution." + +I did what I could to thrust these waverings resolutely behind +me; but they refused to be altogether ousted from my brain; and so +I made a compromise with myself: First, I would with the help that +might be given me, destroy this wanton Phorenice, and regain the +kingdom which had been given me to my own proper rule; and +afterwards I would call a council of the Seven and council of the +Three, and consider without prejudice if there was any matter in +which our ancient ritual could be amended to suit the more modern +requirements. But this should not be done till Phorenice was dead +and I was firmly planted in her room. I would not be a party, even +to myself, to any plan which smacked at all of surrender. + +And there as I walked through the desolate groves and beside +the cold altars, the High Gods were pleased to show their approval +of my scheme, and to give me opportunity to bind myself to it with +a solemn oath and vow. At that moment from His distant +resting-place in the East, our Lord the Sun leaped up to begin +another day. For long enough from where I stood below the crest of +the Mountain, He Himself would be invisible. But the great light +of His glory spread far into the sky, and against it the Ark of the +Mysteries loomed in black outline from the highest crag where it +rested, lonely and terrible. + +For anyone unauthorised to go nearer than a thousand paces to +this storehouse of the Highest Mysteries meant instant death. On +that day when I was initiated as one of the Seven, I had been +permitted to go near and once press my lips against its ample +curves; and the rank of my degree gave me the privilege to repeat +that salute again once on each day when a new year was born. But +what lay inside its great interior, and how it was entered, that +was hidden from the Seven, even as it was from the other Priests +and the common people in the city below. Only those who had been +raised to the sublime elevation of the Three had a knowledge of +the dreadful powers which were stored within it. + +I went down on my knees where I was, and Zaemon knelt beside +me, and together we recited the prayers which had been said by the +Priests from the beginning of time, giving thanks to our great Lord +that He has come to brighten another day. And then, with my eyes +fixed on the black outline of the Ark of Mysteries I vowed that, +come what might, I at least would be true servant of the High Gods +to my life's end, and that my whole strength should be spent in +restoring Their worship and glory. + + + +17. NAIS THE REGAINED + + +Now, from where we stood together just below the crest of the +Sacred Mountain, we could see down into the city, which lay spread +out below us like a map. The harbour and the great estuary gleamed +at its farther side; and the fringe of hills beyond smoked and +fumed in their accustomed fashion; the great stone circle of our +Lord the Sun stood up grim and bare in the middle of the city; and +nearer in reared up the great mass of the royal pyramid, the gold +on its sides catching new gold from the Sun. There, too, in the +square before the pyramid stood the throne of granite, dwarfed by +the distance to the size of a mole's hill, in which these nine +years my love had lain sleeping. + +Old Zaemon followed my gaze. "Ay," he said with a sigh, "I +know where your chief interest is. Deucalion when he landed here +new from Yucatan was a strong man. The King whom we have +chosen--and who is the best we have to choose--has his weakness." + +"It can be turned into additional strength. Give me Nais +here, living and warm to fight for, and I am a stronger man by far +than the cold viceroy and soldier that you speak about." + +"I have passed my word to that already, and you shall have +her, but at the cost of damaging somewhat this new kingdom of +yours. Maybe too at the same time we may rid you of this Phorenice +and her brood. But I do not think it likely. She is too wily, and +once we begin our play, she is likely to guess whence it comes, and +how it will end, and so will make an escape before harm can reach +her. The High Gods, who have sent all these trials for our +refinement, have seen fit to give her some knowledge of how these +earth tremors may be set a-moving." + +"I have seen her juggle with them. But may I hear your +scheme?" + +"It will be shown you in good time enough. But for the +present I would bid you sleep. It will be your part to go into the +city to-night, and take your woman (that is my daughter) when she +is set free, and bring her here as best you can. And for that you +will need all a strong man's strength."--He stepped back, and +looked me up and down.--"There are not many folk that would take +you for the tidy clean-chinned Deucalion now, my brother. Your +appearance will be a fine armour for you down yonder in the city +to-night when we wake it with our earth-shaking and terror. As you +stand now, you are hairy enough, and shaggy enough, and naked +enough, and dirty enough for some wild savage new landed out of +Europe. Have a care that no fine citizen down yonder takes a fancy +to your thews, and seizes upon you as his servant." + +"I somewhat pity him in his household if he does." + +Old Zaemon laughed. "Why, come to think of it, so do I." + +But quickly he got grave again. Laughter and Zaemon were very +rare playmates. "Well, get you to bed, my King, and leave me to go +into the Ark of Mysteries and prepare there with another of the +Three the things that must be done. It is no light business to +handle the tremendous powers which we must put into movement this +night. And there is danger for us as there is for you. So if by +chance we do not meet again till we stand up yonder behind the +stars, giving account to the Gods, fare you well, Deucalion." + +I slept that day as a soldier sleeps, taking full rest out of +the hours, and letting no harassing thought disturb me. It is only +the weak who permit their sleep to be broken on these occasions. +And when the dark was well set, I roused and fetched those who +should attend to the rope. Our Lady the Moon did not shine at that +turn of the month: and the air was full of a great blackness. So +I was out of sight all the while they lowered me. + +I reached the tumbled rocks that lay at the deep foot of the +cliff, and then commenced to use a nice caution, because +Phorenice's soldiers squatted uneasily round their camp-fires, as +though they had forebodings of the coming evil. I had no mind to +further stir their wakefulness. So I crept swiftly along in the +darkest of the shadows, and at last came to the spot where that +passage ends which before I had used to get beneath the walls of +the city. + +The lamp was in place, and I made my way along the windings +swiftly. The air, so it seemed to me, was even more noxious with +vapours than it had been when I was down there before, and I judged +that Zaemon had already begun to stir those internal activities +which were shortly to convulse the city. But again I had +difficulty in finding an exit, and this, not because there were +people moving about at the places where I had to come out, but +because the set of the masonry was entirely changed. In olden +times the Priests' Clan oversaw all the architects' plans, and +ruled out anything likely to clash with their secret passages and +chambers. But in this modern day the Priests were of small +account, and had no say in this matter, and the architects often +through sheer blundering sealed up and made useless many of these +outlets and hiding-places. + +As it was then, I had to get out of the network of tunnels and +galleries where I could, and not where I would, and in the event +found myself at the farther side of the city, almost up to where +the outer wall joins down to the harbour. I came out without being +seen, careful even in this moment of extremity to preserve the +ordinances, and closed all traces of exit behind me. The earth +seemed to spring beneath my feet like the deck of a ship in smooth +water; and though there was no actual movement as yet to disturb +the people, and indeed these slept on in their houses and shelters +without alarm, I could feel myself that the solid deadness of the +ground was gone, and that any moment it might break out into +devastating waves of movement. + +Gods! Should I be too late to see the untombing of my love? +Would she be laid there bare to the public gaze when presently the +people swarmed out into the open spaces through fear at what the +great earth tremor might cause to fall? I could see, in fancy, +their rude, cruel hands thrust upon her as she lay there helpless, +and my inwards dried up at the thought. + +I ran madly down and down the narrow winding streets with the +one thought of coming to the square which lay in front of the royal +pyramid before these things came to pass. With exquisite cruelty +I had been forced with my own hands to place her alive in her +burying-place beneath the granite throne, and if thews and speed +could do it, I would not miss my reward of taking her forth again +with the same strong hands. + +Few disturbed that furious hurry. At first here and there +some wretch who harboured in the gutter cried: "A thief! Throw a +share or I pursue." But if any of these followed, I do not know. +At any rate, my speed then must have out-distanced anyone. +Presently, too, as the swing of the earth underfoot became more +keen, and the stonework of the buildings by the street side began +to grate and groan and grit, and sent forth little showers of dust, +people began to run with scared cries from out of their doors. But +none of these had a mind to stop the ragged, shaggy, savage man who +ran so swiftly past, and flung the mud from his naked feet. + +And so in time I came to the great square, and was there none +too soon. The place was filling with people who flocked away from +the narrow streets, and it was full of darkness, and noise, and +dust, and sickness. Beneath us the ground rippled in undulations +like a sea, which with terrifying slowness grew more and more +intense. + +Ever and again a house crashed down unseen in the gloom, and +added to the tumult. But the great pyramid had been planned by its +old builders to stand rude shocks. Its stones were dovetailed into +one another with a marvellous cleverness, and were further clamped +and joined by ponderous tongues of metal. It was a boast that +one-half the foundations could be dug from beneath it, and still +the pyramid would stand four-square under heaven, more enduring +than the hills. + +Flickering torches showed that its great stone doors lay open, +and ever and again I saw some frightened inmate scurry out and then +be lost to sight in the gloom. But with the royal pyramid and its +ultimate fate I had little concern; I did not even care then +whether Phorenice was trapped, or whether she came out sound and +fit for further mischief. I crouched by the granite throne which +stood in the middle of that splendid square, and heard its stones +grate together like the ends of a broken bone as it rocked to the +earth-waves. + +In that night of dust and darkness it was hard to see the +outline of one's own hand, but I think that the Gods in some +requital for the love which had ached so long within me, gave me +special power of sight. As I watched, I saw the great carved rock +which formed the capstone of the throne move slightly and then move +again, and then again; a tiny jerk for each earth-pulse, but still +there was an appreciable shifting; and, moreover, the stone moved +always to one side. + +There was method in Zaemon's desperate work, and this in my +blind panic of love and haste, I had overlooked. So I went up the +steps of the throne on the side from which the great capstone was +moving, and clung there afire with expectation. + +More and more violent did the earth-swing grow, though the +graduations of its increase could not be perceived, and the din of +falling houses and the shrieks and cries of hurt and frightened +people went louder up into the night. Thicker grew the dust that +filled the air, till one coughed and strangled in the breathing, +and more black did the night become as the dust rose and blotted +the rare stars from sight. I clung to an angle of the granite +throne, crouching on the uppermost step but one below the capstone, +and could scarcely keep my place against the violence of the earth +tremors. + +But still the huge capstone that was carved with the snake and +the outstretched hand held my love fast locked in her living tomb, +and I could have bit the cold granite at the impotence which barred +me from her. The people who kept thronging into the square were +mad with terror, but their very numbers made my case more desperate +every moment. "Phorenice, Goddess, aid us now!" some cried, and +when the prayer did not bring them instant relief, they fell to +yammering out the old confessions of the faith which they had +learned in childhood, turning in this hour of their dreadful need +to those old Gods, which, through so many dishonourable years, they +had spurned and deserted. It was a curious criticism on the +balance of their real religion, if one had cared to make it. + +Louder grew the crash of falling masonry; and from the royal +pyramid itself, though indeed I could not even see its outline +through the darkness, there came sounds of grinding stones and +cracking bars of metal which told that even its superb majestic +strength had a breaking strain. There came to my mind the threat +that old Zaemon had thundered forth in that painted, perfumed +banqueting-hall: "You shall see," he had cried to the Empress, +"this royal pyramid which you have polluted with your debaucheries +torn tier from tier, and stone from stone, and scattered as +feathers spread before a wind!" + +Still heavier grew the surging of the earth, and the pavement +of the great square gaped and upheaved, and the people who thronged +it screamed still more shrilly as their feet were crushed by the +grinding blocks. And now too the great pyramid itself was +commencing to split, and gape, and topple. The roofs of its +splendid chambers gave way, and the ponderous masonry above +shuttered down and filled them. In part, too, one could see the +destruction now, and not guess at it merely from the fearful +hearings of the darkness. Thunders had begun to roar through the +black night above, and add their bellowings to this devil's +orchestration of uproar, and vivid lightning splashes lit the +flying dust-clouds. + +It was perhaps natural that she should be there, but it came +as a shock when a flare of the lightning showed me Phorenice safe +out in the square, and indeed standing not far from myself. + +She had taken her place in the middle of a great flagstone, +and stood there swaying her supple body to the shocks. Her face +was calm, and its loveliness was untouched by the years. From time +to time she brushed away the dust as it settled on the short red +hair which curled about her neck. There was no trace of fear +written upon her face. There was some weariness, some contempt, +and I think a tinge of amusement. Yes, it took more than the +crumbling of her royal pyramid to impress Phorenice with the +infinite powers of those she warred against. + +Gods! How the sight of her cool indifference maddened me +then. I had it in me to have strangled her with my hands if she +had come within my reach. But as it was, she stood in her place, +swaying easily to the earth-waves as a sailor sways on a ship's +deck, and beside her, crouched on the same great flagstone, and +overcome with nausea was Ylga, who again was raised to be her +fan-girl. It came to my mind that Ylga was twin sister to Nais, +and that I owed her for an ancient kindness, but I had leisure to +do nothing for her then, and indeed it was little enough I could +have done. With each shock the great capstone of the throne to +which I clung jarred farther and farther from its bed place, and my +love was coming nearer to me. It was she who claimed all my +service then. + +Once in their blind panic a knot of the people in the square +thought that the granite stone was too solid to be overturned, and +saw in it an oasis of safety. They flocked towards it, many of +them dragging themselves up the steep deep high steps on hands and +knees because their feet had been injured by the billowing +flagstones of the square. + +But I was in no mood to have the place profaned by their silly +tremblings and stares: I beat at them with my hands, tearing them +away, and hurling them back down the steepness of the steps. They +asked me what was my title to the place above their own, and I +answered them with blows and gnashing teeth. I was careless as to +what they thought me or who they thought me. Only I wished them +gone. And so they went, wailing and crying that I was a devil of +the night, for they had no spirit left to defend themselves. + +Farther and farther the great stone that made the top of the +throne slid out from its bed, but its slowness of movement maddened +me. A life's education left me in that moment, and I had no trace +of stately patience left. In my puny fury I thrust at the great +block with my shoulder and head, and clawed at it with my hands +till the muscles rose on me in great ropes and knots, and the High +Gods must have laughed at my helplessness as They looked. All was +being ordered by the Three who were Their trusted servants, in +Their good time. The work of the Gods may be done slowly, but it +is done exceeding sure. + +But at last, when all the people of the city were numb with +terror, and incapable of further emotion (save only for Phorenice +who still had nerve enough to show no concern), what had been +threatened came to pass. The capstone of the throne slid out till +it reached the balance, and the next shock threw it with a roar and +a clatter to the ground. And then a strange tremor seized me. + +After all the scheming and effort, what I had so ardently +prayed for had come about; but yet my inwards sank at the thought +of mounting on the stone where I had mounted before, and taking my +dear from the hollow where my hands had laid her. I knew +Phorenice's vengefulness, and had a high value for her cleverness. +Had she left Nais to lie in peace, or had she stolen her away to +suffer indignities elsewhere? Or had she ended her sleep with +death, and (as a grisly jest) left the corpse for my finding? I +could not tell; I dared not guess. Never during a whole hard- +fighting life have my emotions been so wrenched as they were at +that moment. And, for excuse, it must be owned that love for Nais +had sapped my hardihood over a matter in which she was so privately +concerned. + +It began to come to my mind, however, that the infernal uproar +of the earth tremor was beginning to slacken somewhat, as though +Zaemon knew he had done the work that he had promised, and was +minded to give the wretched city a breathing space. So I took my +fortitude in hand, and clambered up on to the flat of the stone. +The lightning flashes had ceased and all was darkness again and +stifling dust, but at any moment the sky might be lit once more, +and if I were seen in that place, shaggy and changed though I might +be, Phorenice, if she were standing near, would not be slow to +guess my name and errand. + +So changed was I for the moment, that I will finely confess +that the idea of a fight was loathsome to me then. I wanted to +have my business done and get gone from the place. + +With hands that shook, I fumbled over the face of the stone +and found the clamps and bars of metal still in position where I +had clenched them, and then reverently I let my fingers pass +between these, and felt the curves of my love's body in its rest +beneath. An exultation began to whirl within me. I did not know +if she had been touched since I last left her; I did not know if +the drug would have its due effect, and let her be awakened to +warmth and sight again; but, dead or alive, I had her there, and +she was mine, mine, mine, and I could have yelled aloud in my joy +at her possession. + +Still the earth shook beneath us, and masonry roared and +crashed into ruin. I had to cling to my place with one hand, +whilst I unhasped the clamps of metal that made the top of her +prison with the other. But at last I swung the upper half of them +clear, and those which pinned down her feet I let remain. I +stooped and drew her soft body up on to the flat of the stone +beside me, and pressed my lips a hundred times to the face I could +not see. + +Some mad thought took me, I believe, that the mere fierceness +and heat of my kisses would bring her back again to life and +wakefulness. Indeed I will own plainly, that I did but sorry +credit to my training in calmness that night. But she lay in my +arms cold and nerveless as a corpse, and by degrees my sober wits +returned to me. + +This was no place for either of us. Let the earth's tremors +cease (as was plainly threatened), let daylight come, and let a few +of these nerveless people round recover from their panic, and all +the great cost that had been expended might be counted as waste. +We should be seen, and it would not be long before some one put a +name to Nais; and then it would be an easy matter to guess at +Deucalion under the beard and the shaggy hair and the browned +nakedness of the savage who attended on her. Tell of fright? By +the Gods! I was scared as the veriest trembler who blundered +amongst the dust-clouds that night when the thought came to me. + +With all that ruin spread around, it would be hopeless to +think that any of those secret galleries which tunnelled under the +ground would be left unbroken, and so it was useless to try a +passage under the walls by the old means. But I had heard shouts +from that frightened mob which came to me through the din and the +darkness, that gave another idea for escape. "The city is +accursed," they had cried: "if we stay here it will fall on us. +Let us get outside the walls where there are no buildings to bury +us." + +If they went, I could not see. But one gate lay nearest to +the royal pyramid, and I judged that in their panic they would not +go farther than was needful. So I put the body of Nais over my +shoulder (to leave my right arm free) and blundered off as best I +could through the stifling darkness. + +It was hard to find a direction; it was hard to walk in the +inky darkness over ground that was tossed and tumbled like a frozen +sea: and as the earth still quaked and heaved, it was hard also to +keep a footing. But if I did fall myself a score of times, my dear +burden got no bruise, and presently I got to the skirts of the +square, and found a street I knew. The most venomous part of the +shaking was done, and no more buildings fell, but enough lay +sprawled over the roadway to make walking into a climb, and the +sweat rolled from me as I laboured along my way. + +There was no difficulty about passing the gate. There was no +gate. There was no wall. The Gods had driven their plough through +it, and it lay flat, and proud Atlantis stood as defenceless as the +open country. Though I knew the cause of this ruin, though, in +fact, I had myself in some measure incited it, I was almost sad at +the ruthlessness with which it had been carried out. The royal +pyramid might go, houses and palaces might be levelled, and for +these I cared little enough; but when I saw those stately ramparts +also filched away, there the soldier in me woke, and I grieved at +this humbling of the mighty city that once had been my only +mistress. + +But this was only a passing regret, a mere touch of the +fighting-man's pride. I had a different love now, that had wrapped +herself round me far deeper and more tightly, and my duty was +towards her first and foremost. The night would soon be past, and +then dangers would increase. None had interfered with us so far, +though many had jostled us as I clambered over the ruins; but this +forbearance could not be reckoned upon for long. The earth tremors +had almost died away, and after the panic and the storm, then comes +the time for the spoiling. + +All men who were poor would try to seize what lay nearest to +their hands, and those of higher station, and any soldiers who +could be collected and still remained true to command, would +ruthlessly stop and strip any man they saw making off with plunder. +I had no mind to clash with these guardians of law and property, +and so I fled on swiftly through the night with my burden, using +the unfrequented ways; and crying to the few folk who did meet me +that the woman had the plague, and would they lend me the shelter +of their house as ours had fallen. And so in time we came to the +place where the rope dangled from the precipice, and after Nais had +been drawn up to the safety of the Sacred Mountain, I put my leg in +the loop of the rope and followed her. + +Now came what was the keenest anxiety of all. We took the +girl and laid her on a bed in one of the houses, and there in the +lit room for the first time I saw her clearly. Her beauty was +drawn and pale. Her eyes were closed, but so thin and transparent +had grown the lids that one could almost see the brown of the pupil +beneath them. Her hair had grown to inordinate thickness and +length, and lay as a cushion behind and beside her head. + +There was no flicker of breath; there was none of that pulsing +of the body which denotes life; but still she had not the +appearance of ordinary death. The Nais I had placed nine long +years before to rest in the hollow of the stone, was a fine grown +woman, full bosomed, and well boned. The Nais that remained for +me was half her weight. The old Nais it would have puzzled me to +carry for an hour: this was no burden to impede a grown man. + +In other ways too she had altered. The nails of her fingers +had grown to such a great length that they were twisted in spirals, +and the fingers themselves and her hands were so waxy and +transparent that the bony core upon which they were built showed +itself beneath the flesh in plain dull outline. Her clay-cold lips +were so white, that one sighed to remember the full beauty of their +carmine. Her shoulders and neck had lost their comely curves, and +made bony hollows now in which the dust of entombment lodged black +and thickly. + +Reverently I set about preparing those things which if all +went well should restore her. I heated water and filled a bath, +and tinctured it heavily with those essences of the life of beasts +which the Priests extract and store against times of urgent need +and sickness. I laid her chin-deep in this bath, and sat beside it +to watch, maintaining that bath at a constant blood heat. + +An hour I watched; two hours I watched; three hours--and yet +she showed no flicker of life. The heat of her body given her by +the bath, was the same as the heat of my own. But in the feel of +her skin when I stroked it with my hand, there was something +lacking still. Only when our Lord the Sun rose for His day did I +break off my watching, whilst I said the necessary prayer which is +prescribed, and quickly returned again to the gloom of the house. + +I was torn with anxiety, and as the time went on and still no +sign of life came back, the hope that had once been so high within +me began to sicken and leave me downcast and despondent. From +without, came the din of fighting. Already Phorenice had sent her +troops to storm the passageway, and the Priests who defended it +were shattering them with volleys of rocks. But these sounds of +war woke no pulse within me. If Nais did not wake, then the world +for me was ended, and I had no spirit left to care who remained +uppermost. The Gods in Their due time will doubtless smite me for +this impiety. But I make a confession of it here on these sheets, +having no mind to conceal any portion of this history for the small +reason that it does me a personal discredit. + +But as the hours went on, and still no flicker of life came to +lessen the dumb agony that racked me, I grew more venturesome, and +added more essences to the bath, and drugs also such as experience +had shown might wake the disused tissues into life. I watched on +with staring eyes, rubbing her wasted body now and again, and +always keeping the heat of the bath at a constant. From the first +I had barred the door against all who would have come near to help +me. With my own hands I had laid my love to sleep, and I could not +bear that others should rouse her, if indeed roused she should ever +be. But after those first offers, no others came, and the snarl +and din of fighting told of what occupied them. + +It is hard to take note of small changes which occur with +infinite slowness when one is all the while on the tense watch, and +high strung though my senses were, I think there must have been +some indication of returning life shown before I was keen enough to +notice it. For of a sudden, as I gazed, I saw a faint rippling on +the surface of the water of the bath. Gods! Would it come back +again to my love at last--this life, this wakefulness? The ripple +died out as it had come, and I stooped my head nearer to the bath +to try if I could see some faint heaving of her bosom some small +twitching of the limbs. No, she lay there still without even a +flutter of movement. But as I watched, surely it seemed to my +aching eyes that some tinge was beginning to warm that blank +whiteness of skin? + +How I filled myself with that sight. The colour was returning +to her again beyond a doubt. Once more the dried blood was +becoming fluid and beginning again to course in its old channels. +Her hair floated out in the liquid of the bath like some brown +tangle of the ocean weed, and ever and again it twitched and eddied +to some impulse which in itself was too small for the eye to see. + +She had slept for nine long years, and I knew that the +wakening could be none of the suddenest. Indeed, it came by its +own gradations and with infinite slowness, and I did not dare do +more to hasten it. Further drugs might very well stop eternally +what those which had been used already had begun. So I sat +motionless where I was, and watched the colour come back, and the +waxenness go, and even the fullness of her curves in some small +measure return. And when growing strength gave her power to endure +them, and she was racked with those pains which are inevitable to +being born back again in this fashion to life, I too felt the +reflex of her agony, and writhed in loving sympathy. + +Still further, too, was I wrung by a torment of doubt as to +whether life or these rackings would in the end be conqueror. +After each paroxysm the colour ebbed back from her again, and for +a while she would lie motionless. But strength and power seemed +gradually to grow, and at last these prevailed, and drove death and +sleep beneath them. Her eyelids struggled with their fastenings. +Her lips parted, and her bosom heaved. With shivering gasps her +breath began to pant between her reddening lips. At first it +rattled dryly in her throat, but soon it softened and became more +regular. And then with a last effort her eyes, her glorious loving +eyes, slowly opened. + +I leaned over and called her softly by name. + +Her eyes met mine, and a glow arose from their depths that +gave me the greatest joy I have met in all the world. + +"Deucalion, my love," she whispered. "Oh, my dear, so you +have come for me. How I have dreamed of you! How I have been +racked! But it was worth it all for this." + + + +18. STORM OF THE SACRED MOUNTAIN + + +It was Nais herself who sent me to attend to my sterner +duties. The din of the attack came to us in the house where I was +tending her, and she asked its meaning. As pithily as might be, +for she was in no condition for tedious listening, I gave her the +history of her nine years' sleep. + +The colour flushed more to her face. "My lord is the +properest man in all the world to be King," she whispered. + +"I refused to touch the trade till they had given me the Queen +I desired, safe and alive, here upon the Mountain." + +"How we poor women are made the chattels of you men! But, for +myself, I seem to like the traffic well enough. You should not +have let me stand in the way of Atlantis' good, Deucalion. Still, +it is very sweet to know you were weak there for once, and that I +was the cause of your weakness. What is that bath over yonder? +Ah! I remember; my wits seem none of the clearest just now." + +"You have made the beginning. Your strength will return to +you by quick degrees. But it will not bear hurrying. You must +have a patience." + +"Your ear, sir, for one moment, and then I will rest in peace. +My poor looks, are they all gone? You seem to have no mirror here. +I had visions that I should wake up wrinkled and old." + +"You are as you were, dear, that first night I saw you--the +most beautiful woman in all the world." + +"I am pleased you like me," she said, and took the cup of +broth I offered her. "My hair seems to have grown; but it needs +combing sadly. I had a fancy, dear, once, that you liked ruddy +hair best, and not a plain brown." She closed her eyes then, lying +back amongst the cushions where I had placed her, and dropped off +into healthy sleep, with the smiles still playing upon her lips. +I put the coverlet over her, and kissed her lightly, holding back +my beard lest it should sweep her cheek. And then I went out of +the chamber. + +That beard had grown vastly disagreeable to me these last +hours, and then I went into a room in the house, and found +instruments, and shaved it down to the bare chin. A change of robe +also I found there and took it instead of my squalid rags. If a +man is in truth a king, he owes these things to the dignity of his +office. + +But, if the din of the fighting was any guide, mine was a +narrowing kingdom. Every hour it seemed to grow fiercer and more +near, and it was clear that some of the gates in the passage up the +cleft in the cliff, impregnable though all men had thought them, +had yielded to the vehemence of Phorenice's attack. And, indeed, +it was scarcely to be marvelled at. With all her genius spurred on +to fury by the blow that had been struck at her by wrecking so fair +a part of the city, the Empress would be no light adversary even +for a strong place to resist, and the Sacred Mountain was no longer +strong. + +Defences of stone, cunningly planned and mightily built, it +still possessed, but these will not fight alone. They need men to +line them, and, moreover, abundance of men. For always in a storm +of this kind, some desperate fellows will spit at death and get to +hand grips, or slingers and archers slip in their shot, or the +throwing-fire gets home, or (as here) some newfangled machine like +Phorenice's fire-tubes, make one in a thousand of their wavering +darts find the life; and so, though the general attacking loses his +hundreds, the defenders also are not without their dead. + +The slaughter, as it turned out, had been prodigious. As fast +as the stormers came up, the Priests who held the lowest gate +remaining to us rained down great rocks upon them till the narrow +alley of the stair was paved with their writhing dead. But +Phorenice stood on a spur of the rock below them urging on the +charges, and with an insane valour company after company marched up +to hurl themselves hopelessly against the defences. They had no +machines to batter the massive gates, and their attack was as +pathetically useless as that of a child who hammers against a wall +with an orange; and meanwhile the terrible stones from above mowed +them down remorselessly. + +Company after company of the troops marched into this terrible +death-trap, and not a man of all of them ever came back. Nor was +it Phorenice's policy that they should do so. In her lust for this +final conquest, she was minded to pour out troops till she had +filled up the passes with the slain, so that at last she might +march on to a level fight over the bridge of their poor bodies. It +was no part of Phorenice's mood ever to count the cost. She set +down the object which was to be gained, and it was her policy that +the people of Atlantis were there to gain it for her. + +Two gates then had she carried in this dreadful fashion, +slaughtering those Priests that stood behind, them who had not been +already shot down. And here I came down from above to take my +share in the fight. There was no trumpet to announce my coming, no +herald to proclaim my quality, but the Priests as a sheer custom +picked up "Deucalion!" as a battle-cry; and some shouted that, with +a King to lead, there would be no further ground lost. + +It was clear that the name carried to the other side and bore +weight with it. A company of poor, doomed wretches who were +hurrying up stopped in their charge. The word "Deucalion!" was +bandied round and handed back down the line. I though with some +grim satisfaction, that here was evidence I was not completely +forgotten in the land. + +There came shouts to them from behind to carry on their advance; +but they did not budge; and presently a glittering officer panted +up, and commenced to strike right and left amongst them with his +sword. From where I stood on the high rampart above the gate, +I could see him plainly, and recognised him at once. + +"It matters not what they use for their battle-cry," he was +shouting. "You have the orders of your divine Empress, and that is +enough. You should be proud to die for her wish, you cowards. And +if you do not obey, you will die afterwards under the instruments +of the tormentors, very painfully. As for Deucalion, he is dead +any time these nine years." + +"There it seems you lie, my Lord Tatho," I shouted down to +him. + +He started, and looked up at me. + +"So you are there in real truth, then? Well, old comrade, I +am sorry. But it is too late to make a composition now. You are +on the side of these mangy Priests, and the Empress has made an +edict that they are to be rooted out, and I am her most obedient +servant." + +"You used to be skilful of fence," I said, and indeed there +was little enough to choose between us. "If it please you to stop +this pitiful killing, make yourself the champion of your side, and +I will stand for mine, and we will fight out this quarrel in some +fair place, and bind our parties to abide by the result." + +"It would be a grand fight between us two, old friend, and it +goes hard with me to balk you of it. But I cannot pleasure you. +I am general here under Phorenice, and she has given me the +strongest orders not to peril myself. And besides, though you are +a great man, Deucalion, you are not chief. You are not even one of +the Three." + +"I am King." + +Tatho laughed. "Few but yourself would say so, my lord." + +"Few truly, but what there are, they are powerful. I was given +the name for the first time yesterday, and as a first blow in +the campaign there was some mischief done in the city. I was there +myself, and saw how you took it." + +"You were in Atlantis!" + +"I went for Nais. She is on the mountain now, and to-morrow +will be my Queen. Tatho, as a priest to a priest, let me solemnly +bring to your memory the infinite power you bite against on this +Sacred Mountain. Your teaching has warned you of the weapons that +are stored in the Ark of the Mysteries. If you persist in this +attack, at the best you can merely lose; at the worst you can bring +about a wreck over which even the High Gods will shudder as They +order it." + +"You cannot scare us back now by words," said Tatho doggedly. +"And as for magic, it will be met by magic. Phorenice has found by +her own cleverness as many powers as were ever stored up in the Ark +of the Mysteries." + +"Yet she looked on helplessly enough last night, when her +royal pyramid was trundled into a rubbish heap. Zaemon had +prophesied that this should be so, and for a witness, why I myself +stood closer to her than we two stand now, and saw her." + +"I will own you took her by surprise somewhat there. I do not +understand these matters myself; I was never more than one of the +Seven in the old days; and now, quite rightly, Phorenice keeps the +knowledge of her magic to herself: but it seems time is needed when +one magic is to be met by another." + +"Well," I said, "I know little about the business either. I +leave these matters now to those who are higher above me in the +priesthood. Indeed, having a liking for Nais, it seems I am +debarred from ever being given understanding about the highest of +the higher Mysteries. So I content myself with being a soldier, +and when the appointed day comes, I shall fall and kiss my mother +the Earth for the last time. You, so I am told, have ambition for +longer life." + +He nodded. "Phorenice has found the Great Secret, and I am to +be the first that will share it with her. We shall be as Gods upon +the earth, seeing that Death will be powerless to touch us. And +the twin sons she has borne me, will be made immortal also." + +"Phorenice is headstrong. No, my lord, there is no need to +shake your head and try to deny it. I have had some acquaintance +with her. But the order has been made, and her immortality will be +snatched from her very rudely. Now, mark solemnly my words. I, +Deucalion, have been appointed King of Atlantis by the High Council +of the Priests who are the mouthpiece of the most High Gods, and if +I do not have my reign, then there will be no Atlantis left to +carry either King or Empress. You know me, Tatho, for a man that +never lies." + +He nodded. + +"Then save yourself before it is too late. You shall have +again your vice-royalty in Yucatan." + +"But, man, there is no Yucatan. A great horde of little hairy +creatures, that were something less than human and something more +than beasts, swept down upon our cities and ate them out. Oh, you +may sneer if you choose! Others sneered when I came home, till the +Empress stopped them. But you know what a train of driver ants is, +that you meet with in the forests? You may light fires across +their path, and they will march into them in their blind bravery, +and put them out with their bodies, and those that are left will +march on in an unbroken column, and devour all that stands in their +path. I tell you, my lord, those little hairy creatures were like +the ants--aye, for numbers, and wooden bravery, as well as for +appetite. As a result to-day, there is no Yucatan." + +"You shall have Egypt, then." + +He burst at me hotly. "I would not take seven Egypts and ten +Yucatans. My lord, you think more poorly of me than is kind, when +you ask me to become a traitor. In your place would you throw your +Nais away, if the doing it would save you from a danger?" + +"That is different." + +"In no degree. You have a kindness for her. I have all that +and more for Phorenice, who is, besides, my wife and the mother of +my children. If I have qualms--and I freely confess I know you are +desperate men up there, and have dreadful powers at your +command--my shiverings are for them and not for myself. But I +think, my lord, this parley is leading to nothing, and though these +common soldiers here will understand little enough of our talk, +they may be picking up a word here and there, and I do not wish +them to go on to their death (as you will see them do shortly) and +carry evil reports about me to whatever Gods they chance to come +before." + +He saluted me with his sword and drew back, and once more the +missiles began to fly, and the doomed wretches, who had been +halting beside the steep rock walls of the pass began once more to +press hopelessly forward. They had scaling-ladders certainly, but +they had no chance of getting these planted. They could do naught +but fill the narrow way with their bodies, and to that end they had +been sent, and to that end they humbly died. Our Priests with crow +and lever wrenched from their lodging-places the great rocks which +had been made ready, and sent them crashing down, so that once more +screams filled the pass, and the horrid butchery was renewed. + +But ever and again, some arrow or some sling-stone, or some +fire-tube's dart would find its way up from below and through the +defences, and there we would be with a man the less to carry on the +fight. It was well enough for Phorenice to be lavish with her +troops; indeed, if she wished for success, there were no two ways +for it; and when those she had levied were killed, she could +readily press others into the service, seeing that she had the +whole broad face of the country under her rule. But with us it was +different. A man down on our side was a man whose arm would +bitterly be missed, and one which could in no possible way be +replaced. + +I made calculation of the chances, and saw clearly that, if we +continued the fight on the present plan, they would storm the gates +one after another as they came to them, and that by the time the +uppermost gate was reached, there would be no Priest alive to +defend it. And so, not disdaining to fashion myself on Phorenice's +newer plan, which held that a general should at times in preference +plot coldly from a place of some safety, and not lead the thick of +the fighting, I left those who stood to the gate with some rough +soldier's words of cheer, and withdrew again up the narrow stair of +the pass. + +This one approach to the Sacred Mountain was, as I have said +before, vastly more difficult and dangerous in the olden days when +it stood as a mere bare cleft as the High Gods made it. But a +chasm had been bridged here, a shelf cut through the solid rock +there, and in many places the roadway was built up on piers from +distant crags below so as to make all uniform and easy. It came to +my mind now, that if I could destroy this path, we might gain a +breathing space for further effort. + +The idea seemed good, or at least no other occurred to me +which would in any way relieve our desperate situation, and I +looked around me for means to put it into execution. Up and down, +from the mountain to the plains below, I had traversed that narrow +stair of a pass some thousands of times, and so in a manner of +speaking knew every stone, and every turn, and every cut of it by +heart. But I had never looked upon it with an eye to shaving off +all roadway to the Sacred Mountain, and so now, even in this moment +of dreadful stress, I had to traverse it no less than three times +afresh before I could decide upon the best site for demolition. + +But once the point was fixed, there was little delay in getting +the scheme in movement. Already I had sent men to the storehouses +amongst the Priests' dwellings to fetch me rams, and crows, and +acids, and hammers, and such other material as was needed, and +these stood handy behind one of the upper gates. I put on +every pair of hands that could be spared to the work, no matter +what was their age and feebleness; yes, if Nais could have walked +so far I would have pressed her for the labour; and presently +carved balustrade, and wayside statue, together with the lettered +wall-stones and the foot-worn cobbles, roared down into the gulf +below, and added their din to the shrieks and yells and crashes of +the fighting. Gods! But it was a hateful task, smashing down that +splendid handiwork of the men of the past. But it was better that +it should crash down to ruin in the abyss below, than that +Phorenice should profane it with her impious sandals. + +At first I had feared that it would be needful to sacrifice +the knot of brave men who were so valiantly defending the gate then +being attacked. It is disgusting to be forced into a measure of +this kind, but in hard warfare it is often needful to the carrying +out of his schemes for a general to leave a part of his troops to +fight to a finish, and without hope of rescue, as valiantly as they +may; and all he can do for their reward is to recommend them +earnestly to the care of the Gods. But when the work of destroying +the pathway was nearly completed, I saw a chance of retrieving +them. + +We had not been content merely with breaking arches, and throwing +down the piers. We had got our rams and levers under the living +rock itself on which all the whole fabric stood; and fire stood +ready to heat the rams for their work; and when the word was +given, the whole could be sent crashing down the face of the cliffs +beyond chance of repair. + +All was, I say, finally prepared in this fashion, and then I +gave the word to hold. A narrow ledge still remained undestroyed, +and offered footway, and over this I crossed. The cut we had made +was immediately below the uppermost gate of all, and below it there +were three more massive gates still unviolated, besides the one +then being so vehemently attacked. Already, the garrisons had been +retired from these, and I passed through them all in turn, +unchallenged and unchecked, and came to that busy rampart where the +twelve Priests left alive worked, stripped to the waist, at heaving +down the murderous rocks. + +For awhile I busied myself at their side, stopping an occasional +fire-tube dart or arrow on my shield and passing them the tidings. +The attack was growing fiercer every minute now. The enemy had +packed the pass below well-nigh full of their dead, and our +battering stones had less distance to fall and so could do less +execution. They pressed forward more eagerly than ever with their +scaling ladders, and it was plain that soon they would inevitably +put the place to the storm. Even during the short time I was +there, their sling-stones and missiles took life from three more of +the twelve who stood with me on the defence. + +So I gave the word for one more furious avalanche of rock to +be pelted down, and whilst the few living were crawling out from +those killed by the discharge, and whilst the next band of +reinforcements came scrambling up over the bodies, I sent my nine +remaining men away at a run up the steep stairway of the path, and +then followed them myself. Each of the gates in turn we passed, +shutting them after us, and breaking the bars and levers with which +they were moved, and not till we were through the last did the roar +of shouts from below tell that the besiegers had found the gate +they bit against was deserted. + +One by one we balanced our way across the narrow ledge which +was left where the path had been destroyed, and one poor Priest +that carried a wound grew giddy, and lost his balance here, and +toppled down to his death in the abyss below before a hand could be +stretched out to steady him. And then, when we were all over, heat +was put to the rams, and they expanded with their resistless force, +and tore the remaining ledges from their hold in the rock. I think +a pang went through us all then when we saw for ourselves the last +connecting link cut away from between the poor remaining handful of +our Sacred Clan on the Mountain, and the rest of our great nation, +who had grown so bitterly estranged to us, below. + +But here at any rate was a break in the fighting. There were +no further preparations we could make for our defence, and high +though I knew Phorenice's genius to be, I did not see how she could +very well do other than accept the check and retire. So I set a +guard on the ramparts of the uppermost gate to watch all possible +movements, and gave the word to the others to go and find the rest +which so much they needed. + +For myself, dutifully I tried to find Zaemon first, going on +the errand my proper self, for there was little enough of kingly +state observed on the Sacred Mountain, although the name and title +had been given me. But Zaemon was not to be come at. He was +engaged inside the Ark of the Mysteries with another of the Three, +and being myself only one of the Seven, I had not rank enough in +the priesthood to break in upon their workings. And so I was free +to turn where my likings would have led me first, and that was to +the house which sheltered Nais. + +She waked as I came in over the threshold, and her eyes filled +with a welcome for me. I went across and knelt where she lay, +putting my face on the pillow beside her. She was full of tender +talk and sweet endearments. Gods! What an infinity of delight I +had missed by not knowing my Nais earlier! But she had a will of +her own through it all, and some quaint conceits which made her all +the more adorable. She rallied me on the new cleanness of my chin, +and on the robe which I had taken as a covering. She professed a +pretty awe for my kingship, and vowed that had she known of my +coming dignities she would never have dared to discover a love for +me. But about my marriage with Phorenice she spoke with less +lightness. She put out her thin white hand, and drew my face to +her lips. + +"It is weak of me to have a jealousy," she murmured, "knowing +how completely my lord is mine alone; but I cannot help it. You +have said you were her husband for awhile. It gives me a pang to +think that I shall not be the first to lie in your arms, +Deucalion." + +"Then you may gaily throw your pang away," I whispered back. +"I was husband to Phorenice in mere word for how long I do not +precisely know. But in anything beyond, I was never her husband at +all. She married me by a form she prescribed herself, ignoring all +the old rites and ceremonies, and whether it would hold as legal or +not, we need not trouble to inquire. She herself has most nicely +and completely annulled that marriage as I have told you. Tatho is +her husband now, and father to her children, and he seems to have +a fondness for her which does him credit." + +We said other things too in that chamber, those small repetitions +of endearments which are so precious to lovers, and so beyond the +comprehension of other folk, but they are not to be set down on +these sheets. They are a mere private matter which can have no +concern to any one beyond our two selves, and more weighty +subjects are piling themselves up in deep index for the historian. + +Phorenice, it seemed, had more rage against the Priests' Clan +on the Mountain and more bright genius to help her to a vengeance +than I had credited. Her troops stormed easily the gates we had +left to them, and swarmed up till they stood where the pathway was +broken down. In the fierceness of their rush, the foremost were +thrust over the brink by those pressing up behind, before the +advance could be halted, and these went screaming to a horrid death +in the great gulf below. But it was no position here that a lavish +spending of men could take, and presently all were drawn off, save +for some half-score who stood as outpost sentries, and dodged out +of arrow-shot behind angles of the rock. + +It seems, too, that the Empress herself reconnoitered the place, +using due caution and quickness, and so got for herself a full +plan of its requirements without being obliged to trust the +measuring of another eye. With extraordinary nimbleness she must +have planned an engine such as was necessary to suit her purposes, +and given orders for its making; for even with the vast force and +resources at her disposal, the speed with which it was built was +prodigious. + +There was very little noise made to tell of what was afoot. +All the woodwork and metalwork was cut, and tongued, and forged, +and fitted first by skilled craftsmen below, in the plain at the +foot of the cleft; and when each ponderous balk and each +crosspiece, and each plank was dragged up the steep pass through +the conquered gates, it was ready instantly for fitting into its +appointed place in the completed machine. + +The cleft was straight where they set about their building, +and there was no curve or spur of the cliff to hide their handiwork +from those of the Priests who watched from the ramparts above our +one remaining gate. But Phorenice had a coyness lest her engine +should be seen before it was completed, and so to screen it she +had a vast fire built at the uppermost point where the causeway was +broken off, and fed diligently with wet sedge and green wood, so +that a great smoke poured out, rising like a curtain that shut out +all view. And so though the Priests on the rampart above the gate +picked off now and again some of those who tended the fire, they +could do the besiegers no further injury, and remained up to the +last quite in ignorance of their tactics. + +The passage up the cleft was in shadow during the night hours, +for, though all the crest of the Sacred Mountain was always lit +brightly by the eternal fires which made its defence on the farther +side, their glow threw no gleam down that flank where the cliff ran +sheer to the plains beneath. And so it was under cover of the +darkness that Phorenice brought up her engine into position for +attack. + +Planking had been laid down for its wheels, and the wheels +themselves well greased, and it may be that she hoped to march in +upon us whilst all slept. But there was a certain creaking and +groaning of timbers, and laboured panting of men, which gave +advertisement that something was being attempted, and the alarm +was spread quietly in the hope that if a surprise had been planned, +the real surprise might be turned the other way. + +A messenger came to me running, where I sat in the house at +the side of my love, and she, like the soldier's wife she was made +to be, kissed me and bade me go quickly and care for my honour, and +bring back my wounds for her to mend. + +On the rampart above the gate all was silence, save for the +faint rustle of armed men, and out of the black darkness ahead, and +from the other side of the broken causeway, came the sounds of +which the messenger bad warned me. + +The captain of the gate came to me and whispered: "We have +made no light till the King came, not knowing the King's will in +the matter. Is it wished I send some of the throwing-fire down +yonder, on the chance that it does some harm, and at the same time +lights up the place? Or is it willed that we wait for their +surprise?" + +"Send the fire," I said, "or we may find that Phorenice's +brain has been one too many for us." + +The captain of the gate took one of the balls in his hand, lit +the fuse, and hurled it. The horrid thing burst amongst a mass of +men who were labouring with a huge engine, sputtering them with its +deadly fire, and lighting their garments. The plan of the engine +showed itself plainly. They had built them a vast great tower, +resting on wheels at its base, so that it might by pushed forward +from behind, and slanting at its foot to allow for the steepness of +the path and leave it always upright. + +It was storeyed inside, with ladders joining each floor, and +through slits in the side which faced us bowmen could cover an +attack. From its top a great bridge reared high above it, being +carried vertically till the tower was brought near enough for its +use. The bridge was hinged at the third storey of the tower, and +fastened with ropes to its extreme top; but, once the ropes were +cut, the bridge would fall, and light upon whatever came within its +swing, and be held there by the spikes with which it was studded +beneath. + +I saw, and inwardly felt myself conquered. The cleverness of +Phorenice had been too strong for my defence. No war-engine of +which we had command could overset the tower. The whole of its +massive timbers were hung with the wet new-stripped skins of +beasts, so that even the throwing-fire could not destroy it. What +puny means we had to impede those who pushed it forward would have +little effect. Presently it would come to the place appointed, and +the ropes would be cut, and the bridge would thunder down on the +rampart above our last gate, and the stormers would pour out to +their final success. + +Well, life had loomed very pleasant for me these few days with +a warm and loving Nais once more in touch of my arms, but the High +Gods in Their infinite wisdom knew best always, and I was no rebel +to stay stiff-necked against their decision. But it is ever a +soldier's privilege, come what may, to warm over a fight, and the +most exquisitely fierce joy of all is that final fight of a man who +knows that he must die, and who lusts only to make his bed of slain +high enough to carry a due memory of his powers with those who +afterwards come to gaze upon it. I gripped my axe, and the muscles +of my arms stood out in knots at the thought of it. Would Tatho +come to give me sport? I feared not. They would send only the +common soldiers first to the storm, and I must be content to do my +killing on those. + +And Nais, what of her? I had a quiet mind there. When any +spoilers came to the house where she lay, she would know that +Deucalion had been taken up to the Gods, and she would not be long +in following him. She had her dagger. No, I had no fears of being +parted long from Nais now. + + + +19. DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS + + +A tottering old Priest came up and touched me on the shoulder. + +"Well?" I said sharply, having small taste for interruption +just now. + +"News has been carried to the Three, my King, of what is +threatened." + +"Then they will know that I stand here now, brother, to enjoy +the finest fight of my life. When it is finished I shall go to the +Gods, and be there standing behind the stars to welcome them when +presently they also arrive. They have my regrets that they are too +old and too feeble to die and look upon a fine killing themselves." + +"I have commands from them, my King, to lay upon you, which I +fear you will like but slenderly. You are forbidden to find your +death here in the fighting. They have a further use for you yet." + +I turned on the old man angrily enough. "I shall take no such +order, my brother. I am not going to believe it was ever given. +You must have misunderstood. If I am a man, if I am a Priest, if +I am a soldier, if I am a King, then it stands to my honour that no +enemy should pass this gate whilst yet I live. And you may go back +and throw that message at their teeth." + +The old man smiled enviously. He, too, had been a keen soldier +in his day. "I told them you would not easily believe such a +message, and asked them for a sign, and they bore with me, and +gave me one. I was to give you this jewel, my King." + +"How came they by that? It is a bracelet from the elbow of +Nais." + +"They must have stripped her of it. I did not know it came +from Nais. The word I was to bring you said that the owner of the +jewel was inside the Ark of the Mysteries, and waited you there. +The use which the Three have for you further concerns her also." + +Even when I heard that, I will freely confess that my obedience +was sorely tried, and I have the less shame in setting it +down on these sheets, because I know that all true soldiers will +feel a sympathy for my plight. Indeed, the promise of the battle +was very tempting. But in the end my love for Nais prevailed, and +I gave the salutation that was needful in token that I heard the +order and obeyed it. + +To the knot of Priests who were left for the defence, I turned +and made my farewells. "You will have what I shall miss, my +brothers," I said. "I envy you that fight. But, though I am King +of Atlantis, still I am only one of the Seven, and so am the +servant of the Three and must obey their order. They speak in +words the will of the most High Gods, and we must do as they +command. You will stand behind the stars before I come, and I ask +of you that you will commend me to Those you meet there. It is not +my own will that I shall not appear there by your side." + +They heard my words with smiles, and very courteously saluted +me with their weapons, and there we parted. I did not see the +fight, but I know it was good, from the time which passed before +Phorenice's hordes broke out on to the crest of the Mountain. They +died hard, that last remnant of the lesser Priests of Atlantis. + +With a sour enough feeling I went up to the head of the pass, +and then through the groves, and between the temples and colleges +and houses which stood on the upper slopes of the Sacred Mountain, +till I reached that boundary, beyond which in milder days it was +death for any but the privileged few to pass. But the time, it +appeared to me, was past for conventions, and, moreover, my own +temper was hot; and it is likely that I should have strode on with +little scruple if I had not been interrupted. But in the temple +which marked the boundary, there was old Zaemon waiting; and he, +with due solemnity of words, and with the whole of some ancient +ritual ordained for that purpose, sought dispensation from the High +Gods for my trespass, and would not give me way till he was through +with his ceremony. + +Already Phorenice's tower and bridge were in position, for the +clash and yelling of a fight told that the small handful of Priests +on the rampart of the last gate were bartering their lives for the +highest return in dead that they could earn. They were trained +fighting men all, but old and feeble, and the odds against them +were too enormous to be stemmed for over long. In a very short +time the place would be put to the storm, and the roof of the +Sacred Mountain would be at the open mercy of the invader. If +there was any further thing to be done, it was well that it should +be set about quickly whilst peace remained. It seemed to me that +the moment for prompt action, and the time for lengthy pompous +ceremonial was done for good. + +But Zaemon was minded otherwise. He led me up to the Ark of the +Mysteries, and chided my impatience, and waited till I had given it +my reverential kiss, and then he called aloud, and another old man +came out of the opening which is in the top of the Ark, and climbed +painfully down by the battens which are fixed on its sides. He was +a man I had never seen before, hoary, frail, and emaciated, and he +and Zaemon were then the only two remaining Priests who had been +raised to the highest degree known to our Clan, and who alone had +knowledge of the highest secrets and powers and mysteries. + +"Look!" cried Zaemon, in his shrill old voice, and swept a +trembling finger over the shattered city, and the great spread of +sea and country which lay in view of us below. I followed his +pointing and looked, and a chill began to crawl through me. All +was plainly shown. Our Lord the Sun burned high overhead in a sky +of cloudless blue, and day shimmered in His heat. All below seemed +from that distance peaceful and warm and still, save only that the +mountains smoked more than ordinary, and some spouted fires, and +that the sea boiled with some strange disorder. + +But it was the significance of the sea that troubled me most. +Far out on the distant coast it surged against the rocks in +enormous rolls of surf; and up the great estuary, at the head of +which the city of Atlantis stands, it gushed in successive waves of +enormous height which never returned. Already the lower lands on +either side were blotted out beneath tumultuous waters, the harbour +walls were drowned out of sight, and the flood was creeping up into +the lower wards of the great city itself. + +"You have seen?" asked Zaemon. + +"I have seen." + +"You understand?" + +"ln part." + +"Then let me tell you all. This is the beginning, and the end +will follow swiftly. The most High Gods, that sit behind the +stars, have a limit to even Their sublime patience; and that has +been passed. The city of Atlantis, the great continent that is +beyond, and all that are in them are doomed to unutterable +destruction. Of old it was foreseen that this great wiping-out +would happen through the sins of men, and to this end the Ark of +the Mysteries was built under the direction of the Gods. No mortal +implements can so much as scratch its surface, no waves or rocks +wreck it. Inside is stored on sheets of the ancient writing all +that is known in the world of learning that is not shared by the +common people, also there is grain in a store, and sweet water in +tanks sufficient for two persons for the space of four years, +together with seeds, weapons, and all such other matters as were +deemed fit. + +"Out of all this vast country it has been decreed by the High +Gods that two shall not perish. Two shall be chosen, a man and a +woman, who are fit and proper persons to carry away with them the +ancient learning to dispose of it as they see best, and afterwards +to rear up a race who shall in time build another kingdom and do +honour to our Lord the Sun and the other Gods in another place. +The woman is within the Ark already, and seated in the place +appointed for her, and though she is a daughter of mine, the burden +of her choosing is with you. For the man, the choice has fallen +upon yourself." + +I was half numb with the shock of what was befalling. "I do +not know that I care to be a survivor." + +"You are not asked for your wishes," said the old man. "You +are given an order from the High Gods, who know you to be Their +faithful servant." + +Habit rode strong upon me. I made salutation in the required +form, and said that I heard and would obey. + +"Then it remains to raise you to the sublime degree of the +Three, and if your learning is so small that you will not +understand the keys to many of the Powers, and the highest of the +Mysteries, when they are handed to you, that fault cannot be +remedied now." + +Certainly the time remaining was short enough. The fight +still raged down at the gate in the pass, though it was a wonder +how the handful of Priests had held their ground so long. But the +ocean rolled in upon the land in an ever-increasing flood, and the +mountains smoked and belched forth more volleys of rock as the +weight increased on their lower parts, and presently those that +besieged the Mountain could not fail to see the fate that +threatened them. Then there would be no withholding their rush. +In their mad fury and panic they would sweep all obstruction +resistlessly before them, and those who stood in their path might +look to themselves. + +But there was no hurrying Zaemon and his fellow sage. They +were without temple for the ceremony, without sacrifice or incense +to decorate it. They had but the sky for a roof to make their +echoes, and the Gods themselves for witnesses. But they went +through the work of raising me to their own degree, with all the +grand and majestic form which has gathered dignity from the ages, +and by no one sentence did they curtail it. A burning mountain +burst with a bellowing roar as the incoming waters met its fires, +but gravely they went on, in turn reciting their sentences. +Phorenice's troops broke down the last resistance, and poured in a +frenzied stream amongst the groves and temples, but still they +quavered never in the ritual. + +It had been said that this ceremony is the grandest and the +most impressive of all those connected with our holy religion; and +certainly I found it so; and I speak as one intimate with all the +others. Even the tremendous circumstances which hemmed them in +could do nothing to make these frail old men forget the deference +which was due to the highest order of the Clan. + +For myself, I will freely own I was less rapt. I stood there +bareheaded in the heat, a man trying to concentrate himself, and +yet torn the while by a thousand foreign emotions. The awful thing +that was happening all around compelled some of my attention. A +continent was in the very act and article of meeting with complete +destruction, and if Zaemon and the other Priest were strong enough +to give their minds wholly up to a matter parochial to the +priesthood, I was not so stoical. And moreover, I was filled with +other anxieties and thoughts concerning Nais. Yet I managed to +preserve a decent show of attention to the ceremony; making all +those responses which were required of me; and trying as well as +might be to preserve in my mind those sentences which were the keys +to power and learning, and not mere phrasings of grandeur and +devotion. + +But it became clear that if the ceremony of my raising did not +soon arrive at its natural end, it would be cut short presently +with something of suddenness. Phorenice's conquering legions +swarmed out on to the crest of the Mountain, and now carried full +knowledge of the dreadful thing that was come upon the country. +They were out of all control, and ran about like men distracted; +but knowing full well that the Priests would have brought this +terrible wreck to pass by virtue of the powers which were stored +within the Ark of the Mysteries, it would be their natural impulse +to pour out a final vengeance upon any of these same Priests they +could come across before it was too late. + +It began to come to my mind that if the ceremony did not very +shortly terminate, the further part of the plan would stand very +small chance of completion, and I should come by my death after all +by fighting to a finish, as I had pictured to myself before. My +flickering attention saw the soldiers coming always nearer in their +frantic wanderings, and saw also the sea below rolling deeper and +deeper in upon the land. + +The fires, too, which ringed in half the mountain, spurted up +to double their old height, and burned with an unceasing roar. But +for all distraction these things gave to the two old Priests who +were raising me, we might have been in the quietness of some +ancient temple, with no so much as a fly to buzz an interruption. + +But at last an end came to the ceremony. "Kneel," cried Zaemon, +"and make obeisance to your mother the Earth, and swear by the +High Gods that you will never make improper use of the powers +over Her which this day you have been granted." + +When I had done that, he bade me rise as a fully installed and +duly initiated member of the Three. "You will have no opportunity +to practise the workings of this degree with either of us, my +brother," said he, "for presently our other brother and I go to +stand before the Gods to deliver to Them an account of our trust, +and of how we have carried it out. But what items you remember +here and there may turn of use to you hereafter. And now we two +give you our farewells, and promise to commend you highly to the +Gods when soon we meet Them in Their place behind the stars. Climb +now into the Ark, and be ready to shut the door which guards it, if +there is any attempt by these raging people to invade that also. +Remember, my brother, it is the Gods' direct will that you and the +woman Nais go from this place living and sound, and you are +expressly forbidden to accept challenge or provocation to fight on +any pretext whatever. But as long as may be done in safety, you +may look out upon Atlantis in her death-throes. It is very fitting +that one of the only two who are sent hence alive, should carry the +full tale of what has befallen." + +I went to the top of the Ark of Mysteries then, climbing there +by the battens which are fastened to the sides, and then descended +by the stair which is inside and found Nais in a little chamber +waiting for me. + +"I was bidden stay here by Zaemon," she said, "who forced me +to this place by threats and also by promises that my lord would +follow. He is very ungentle, that father of mine, but I think he +has a kindness for us both, and any way he is my father and I +cannot help loving him. Is there no chance to save him from what +is going to happen?" + +"He will not come into this Ark, for I asked him. It has been +ordained from the ancient time when first the Ark was built, that +when the day for its purpose came, one woman and one man should be +its only tenants, and they are here already. Zaemon's will in the +matter is not to be twisted by you or by me. He has a message to +be delivered to the Gods, and (if I know him at all), he grudges +every minute that is lost in carrying it to them." + +I left her then, and went out again up the stair, and stood +once more on the roof of the Ark. On the Mountain top men still +ran about distracted, but gradually they were coming to where the +Ark rested on the highest point. For the moment, however, I passed +them lightly. The drowning of the great continent that had been +spread out below filled the eye. Ocean roared in upon it with +still more furious waves. The plains and the level lands were +foaming lakes. The great city of Atlantis had vanished eternally. +The mountains alone kept their heads above the flood, and spewed +out rocks, and steam, and boiling stone, or burst when the waters +reached them and created great whirlpools of surging sea, and +twisted trees, and bubbling mud. + +In the space of a few breaths every living creature that dwelt +in the lower grounds had been smothered by the waters, save for a +few who huddled in a pair of galleys that were driven oarless +inland, over what had once been black forest and hunting land for +the beasts. And even as I watched, these also were swallowed up by +the horrid turmoil of sea, and nothing but the sea beasts, and +those of the greater lizards which can live in such outrageous +waters, could have survived even that state of the destruction. +Indeed, none but those men who had now found standing-ground on the +upper slopes of the Sacred Mountain survived, and it was plain that +their span was short, for the great mass of the continent sank +deeper and more deep every minute before our aching eyes, beneath +the boiling inrush of the seas. + +But though the great mass of the soldiery were dazed and +maddened at the prospect of the overwhelming which threatened them, +there were some with a strength of mind too valiant to give any +outward show of discomposure. Presently a compact little body of +people came from out the houses and the temples, and headed +directly across the open ground towards the Ark. On the outside +marched Phorenice's personal guards with their weapons new blooded. +They had been forced to fight a way through their own fellow +soldiers. The poor demented creatures had thought it was every one +for himself now, till these guards (by their mistress's order) +proved to them that Phorenice still came first. + +And in the middle of them, borne in a litter of gold and ivory +by her grotesque European slaves, rode the Empress, still calm, +still lovely, and seemingly divided in her sentiments between +contempt and amusement. Her two children lay in the litter at her +feet. On her right hand marched Tatho gorgeously apparelled, and +with a beard curled and plaited into a thousand ringlets. On the +other side, plying her industry with unruffled defence, walked +Ylga, once again fan-girl, and so still second lady in this +dwindling kingdom. + +The party of them halted half a score of paces from the Ark by +Phorenice's order. "Do not go nearer to those unclean old men. +They carry a rank odour with them, and for the moment we are short +of essences to sweeten the air of their neighbourhood." She lifted +her eyebrows and looked up at me. "Truly a quiet little gathering +of old acquaintances. Why, there is Deucalion, that once I took +the flavour of and threw aside when he cloyed me." + +"I have Nais here," I said, "and presently we two will be all +that are left alive of this nation." + +"Nais is quite welcome to my leavings," she laughed. "I will +look down upon your country cooings when presently I go back to the +Place behind the stars from which I came. You are a very rustic +person, Deucalion. They tell me too that three or four of these +smelling old men up here have named you King. Did you swell much +with dignity? Or did you remember that there was a pretty Empress +left that would still be Empress so long as there was an Atlantis +to govern? Come, sir, find your tongue. By my face! you must have +hungered for me very madly these years we have been parted, if +new-grown ruggedness of feature is an evidence." + +"Have your gibe. I do not gibe back at a woman who presently +will die." + +"Bah! Deucalion, you will live behind the times. Have they +not told you that I know the Great Secret and am indeed a Goddess +now? My arts can make life run on eternally." + +"Then the waters will presently test them hard," I said, but +there the talk was taken into other lips. Zaemon went forward to +the front of the litter with the Symbol of our Lord the Sun glowing +in his hand, and burst into a flow of cursing. It was hard for me +to hear his words. The roar of the waters which poured up over the +land, and beat in vast waves against the Sacred Mountain itself, +grew nearer and more loud. But the old man had his say. + +Phorenice gave orders to her guards for his killing; yes, +tried even to rise from the litter and do the work herself; but +Zaemon held the Symbol to his front, and its power in that supreme +moment mastered all the arts that could be brought against it. The +majesty of the most High Gods was vindicated, and that splendid +Empress knew it and lay back sullenly amongst the cushions of her +litter, a beaten woman. + +Only one person in that rigid knot of people found power to leave +the rest, and that was Ylga. She came out to the side of the +Ark, and leaned up, and cried me a farewell through the gathering +roar of the flood. + +"I would I might save you and take you with us," I said. + +"As for that," she said, with a gesture, "I would not come if +you asked me. I am not a woman that will take anything less than +all. But I shall meet what comes presently with the memory that +you will have me always somewhere in your recollection. I know +somewhat of men, even men of your stamp, Deucalion, and you will +never forget that you came very near to loving me once." + +I think, too, she said something further, concerning Nais, but +the bellowing rush of the waters drowned all other words. A great +mist made from the stream sent up by the swamped burning mountains +stopped all accurate view, though the blaze from the fires lit it +like gold. But I had a last sight of a horde of soldiery rushing +up the slopes of the Mountain, with a scum of surge billowing at +their heels, and licking many of them back in its clutch. And then +my eye fell on old Zaemon waving to me with the Symbol to shut down +the door in the roof of the Ark. + +I obeyed his last command, and went down the stair, and closed +all ingress behind me. There were bolts placed ready, and I shot +these into their sockets, and there were Nais and I alone, and cut +off from all the rest of our world that remained. + +I went to the place where she lay, and put my arms tightly +around her. Without, we heard men beating desperately on the Ark +with their weapons, and some even climbed by the battens to the top +and wrenched to try and move the door from its fastenings. The end +was coming very nearly to them now, and the great crowd of them +were mad with terror. + +I would have given much to have known how Phorenice fared in +that final tumult, and how she faced it. I could see her, with her +lovely face, and her wondrous eyes, and her ruddy hair curling +about her neck, and by all the Gods! I thought more of her at that +last moment than of the poor land she had conquered, and +misgoverned, and brought to this horrid destruction. There is no +denying the fascination which Phorenice carried with her. + +But the end did not dally long with its coming. There was a +little surge that lifted the Ark a hand's breadth or so in its +cradle, and set it back again with a jar and a quiver. The blows +from axes and weapons ceased on its lower part, but redoubled into +frenzied batterings on its rounded roof. There were some screams +and cries also which came to us but dully through the thickness of +its ponderous sheathing, though likely enough they were sent forth +at the full pitch of human lungs outside. And when another surge +came, roaring and thundering, which picked up the great vessel as +though it had been a feather, and spun it giddily; and after that +we touched earth or rock no more. + +We tossed about on the crest and troughs of delirious seas, a +sport for the greedy Gods of the ocean. The lamp had fallen, and +we crouched there in darkness, dully weighed with the burden of +knowledge that we alone were saved out of what was yesterday a +mighty nation. + + + +20. ON THE BOSOM OF THE DEEP + + +The Ark was rudderless, oarless, and machineless, and could +travel only where the High Gods chose. The inside was dark, and +full of an ancient smell, and crowded with groanings and noise. I +could not find the fire-box to relight the fallen lamp, and so we +had to endure blindly what was dealt out to us. The waves tossed +us in merciless sport, and I clung on by the side of Nais, holding +her to the bed. We did not speak much, but there was full +companionship in our bereavement and our silence. + +When Atlantis sank to form new ocean bed, she left great +whirlpools and spoutings from her drowned fires as a fleeting +legacy to the Gods of the Sea. And then, I think (though in the +black belly of the Ark we could not see these things), a vast +hurricane of wind must have come on next so as to leave no piece +of the desolation incomplete. For seven nights and seven days did +this dreadful turmoil continue, as counted for us afterwards by the +reckoner of hours which hung within the Ark, and then the howling +of the wind departed, and only the roll of a long still swell +remained. It was regular and it was oily, as I could tell by the +difference of the motion, and then for the first time I dared to go +up the stair, and open the door which stood in the roof of the Ark. + +The sweet air came gushing down to freshen the foulness within, +and as the Ark rode dryly over the seas, I went below and brought +up Nais to gain refreshment from the curing rays of our Lord the +Sun. Duly the pair of us adored Him, and gave thanks for His +great mercy in coming to light another day, and then we laid +ourselves down where we were to doze, and take that easy rest which +we so urgently needed. + +Yet, though I was tired beyond words, for long enough sleep +would not visit me. Wearily I stared out over the oily sunlit +waters. No blur of land met the eye. The ring of ocean was +unbroken on every side, and overhead the vault of heaven remained +unchanged. The bosom of the deep was littered with the poor +wreckage of Atlantis, to remind one, if there had been a need, that +what had come about was fact, and not some horrid dream. Trees, +squared timber, a smashed and upturned boat of hides, and here and +there the rounded corpse of a man or beast shouldered over the +swells, and kept convoy with our Ark as she drifted on in charge of +the Gods and the current. + +But sleep came to me at last, and I dropped off into +unconsciousness, holding the hand of Nais in mine, and when next I +woke, I found her open-eyed also and watching me tenderly. We were +finely rested, both of us, and rest and strength bring one +complacency. We were more ready now to accept the station which +the High Gods had made for us without repining, and so we went +below again into the belly of the Ark to eat and drink and maintain +strength for the new life which lay before us. + +A wonderful vessel was this Ark, now we were able to see it at +leisure and intimately. Although for the first time now in all its +centuries of life it swam upon the waters, it showed no leak or +suncrack. Inside, even its floor was bone dry. That it was built +from some wood, one could see by the grainings, but nowhere could +one find suture or joint. The living timbers had been put in place +and then grown together by an art which we have lost to-day, but +which the Ancients knew with much perfection; and afterwards some +treatment, which is also a secret of those forgotten builders, had +made the wood as hard as metal and impervious to all attacks of the +weather. + +In the gloomy cave of its belly were stored many matters. At +one end, in great tanks on either side of central alley, was a +prodigious store of grain. Sweet water was in other tanks at the +other end. In another place were drugs and samples, and essences +of the life of beasts; all these things being for use whilst the +Ark roamed under the guidance of the Gods on the bosom of the deep. +On all the walls of the Ark, and on all the partitions of the tanks +and the other woodwork, there were carved in the rude art of bygone +time representations of all the beasts which lived in Atlantis; and +on these I looked with a hunter's interest, as some of them were +strange to me, and had died out with the men who had perpetuated +them in these sculptures. There was a good store of weapons too +and the tools for handicrafts. + +Now, for many weeks, our life endured in this Ark as the Gods +drove it about here and there across the face of the waters. We +had no government over direction; we could not by so much as a +hair's breadth a day increase her speed. The High Gods that had +chosen the two of us to be the only ones saved out of all Atlantis, +had sole control of our fate, and into Their hands we cheerfully +resigned our future direction. + +Of that land which we reached in due time, and where we made +our abiding place, and where our children were born, I shall tell +of in its place; but since this chronicle has proceeded so far in +an exact order of the events as they came to pass, it is necessary +first to narrate how we came by the sheets on which it is written. + +In a great coffer, in the centre of the Ark's floor, the whole +of the Mysteries learned during the study of ages were set down in +accurate writing. I read through some of them during the days +which passed, and the awfulness of the Powers over which they gave +control appalled me. I had seen some of these Powers set loose in +Atlantis, and was a witness of her destruction. But here were +Powers far higher than those; here was the great Secret of Life and +Death which Phorenice also had found, and for which she had been +destroyed; and there were other things also of which I cannot even +bring my stylo to scribe. + +The thought of being custodian of these writings was more than +I could endure, and the more the matter rested in my mind, the more +intolerable became the burden. And at last I took hot irons, and +with them seared the wax on the sheets till every letter of the old +writings was obliterated. If I did wrong, the High Gods in Their +infinite justice will give me punishment; if it is well that these +great secrets should endure on earth, They in their infinite power +will dictate them afresh to some fitting scribes; but I destroyed +them there as the Ark swayed with us over the waves; and later, +when we came to land, I rewrote upon the sheets the matters which +led to great Atlantis being dragged to her death-throes. + +Nais, that I love so tenderly-- + +[TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: The remaining sheets are too broken +to be legible.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext The Lost Continent + + + diff --git a/old/lostc10.zip b/old/lostc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..164361e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lostc10.zip |