"IfDeucalionhassmalltimetosparefromhisgovernmentforbroodingoverhisfatherland，Atlantis，atleast，hasfoundleisuretoadmirethedeedsofherbrilliantson。Why，sir，overyonderathome，yournamecarriesmagicwithit。WhenyouandIwereladstogether，itwasthecustominthecollegestoteachthatthemenofthepastwerethegreatestthisworldhaseverseen;butto—daythisteachingischanged。ItisDeucalionwhoisheldupasthemodelandexample。MothersnametheirsonsDeucalion，asthemostvaluablebirth—gifttheycanmake。Deucalionisahouseholdword。
Indeed，thereisonlyonenamethatisneartoitinfamiliarity。"
"Youtroubleme，"Isaid，frowning。"Ihavetriedtodomydutyforitsownsake，andforthecountry’ssake，notforthepattingsandfondlingsofthevulgar。Andbesides，iftherearenamestobeineveryone’smouth，theyshouldbethenamesoftheGods。"
Tathoshruggedhisshoulders。"TheGods？Theyoccupyusverylittletheselatteryears。Withourmodernscience，wehavegrownpastthetetheroftheolderGods，andnonewonehasappeared。
No，myLordDeucalion，ifitweremerelytheGodswhowereyourcompetitorsonmen’slips，yournamewouldbeathousandtimesthebetterknown。"
"Ofmerehumannames，"Isaid，"thenameofthisnewEmpressshouldcomefirstinAtlantis，ourlordtheoldKingbeingnowdead。"
"Shecertainlywouldhaveitso，"repliedTatho，andtherewassomethinginhistonewhichmademeseethatmorewasmeantbehindthewords。Idrewhimtooneofthemarbleseats，andbentmyselffamiliarlytowardshim。"Iamspeaking，"Isaid，"nottothenewViceroyofYucatan，buttomyoldfriendTatho，amemberofthePriests’Clan，likemyself，withwhomIworkedsidebysideinascoreofthesmallerhomegovernments，inhamlets，invillages，insmallertowns，ingreatertowns，aswegainedexperienceinwarandknowledgeintheartofrulingpeople，andsotediouslywonourpromotion。IamspeakinginTatho’sprivateabode，thatwasmineownnottwohourssince，andIwouldhaveananswerwiththatplainnesswhichwealwaysthenusedtooneanother。"
ThenewViceroysighedwhimsically。"Ialmostforgethowtospeakinplainwordsnow，"hesaid。"Wehavegrownsopolishedintheselatterdays，thatmerebaldtruthwouldbehissedasindelicate。Butforthememoryofthoseearlyyears，whenweexpendedasmuchlawandthoughtovertheownershipofahay—byreasweshouldnowoverthefateofarebelliouscity，Iwilltryandspeakplaintoyouevennow，Deucalion。Tellme，oldfriend，whatisit？"
"WhatofthisnewEmpress？"
Hefrowned。"Imighthaveguessedyoursubject，"hesaid。
"Thenspeakuponit。Tellmeofallthechangesthathavebeenmade。WhathasthisPhorenicedonetomakeherthroneunstableinAtlantis？"
Tathofrownedstill。"IfIdidnotknowyoutobeashonestasourLordtheSun，yourquestionswouldcarrymischiefwiththem。
Phorenicehasashortwaywiththosewhoaredaringenoughtodiscussherpoliciesforotherpurposethanpolitelytopraisethem。"
"Youcanleavemeignorantifyouwish，"Isaidwithatouchofchill。ThisTathoseemedtobedifferentfromtheTathoIhadknownathome，Tathomyworkmate，TathowhohadreadwithmeintheCollegeofPriests，whohadrunwithmeinmanyafuriouscharge，whohadlabouredwithmesoheavilythatthepeoplesunderusmightprosper。Buthewasquickenoughtoseemychangeoftone。
"Youforcemebacktomyoldself，"hesaidwithahalfsmile，"thoughitishardenoughtoforgetthecautiononehaslearnedduringthelasttwentyyears，evenwhenspeakingwithyou。Still，whatevermayhavehappenedtotherestofus，itiscleartoseethatyouatleasthavenotchanged，and，oldfriend，Iamreadytotrustyouwithmylifeifyouaskit。Infact，youdoaskmethatverythingwhenyoutellmetospeakallIknowofPhorenice。"
Inodded。Thiswasmoreliketheoldtimes，whentherewasfullconfidencebetweenus。"TheGodswillitnowthatIreturntoAtlantis，"Isaid，"andwhathappensafterthattheGodsaloneknow。ButitwouldbeofservicetomeifIcouldlandonhershoreswithsomeknowledgeofthisPhorenice，foratpresentIamasignorantconcerningherassomesavagefromEuropeormid—Africa。"
"Whatwouldyouhavemetell？"
"Tellall。Iknowonlythatshe，awoman，reigns，wherebytheancientlawoftheland，amanshouldrule;thatsheisnotevenofthePriestlyClanfromwhichthelawsaysallrulersmustbedrawn;
andthat，fromwhatyousay，shehascausedthethronetototter。
ThethronewasasfirmastheeverlastinghillsintheoldKing’sday，Tatho。"
"Historyhasmovedwithpacesincethen，andPhorenicehasspurredit。Youknowherorigin？"
"IknowonlytheexactlittleIhavetoldyou。"
"Shewasaswineherd’sdaughterfromthemountains，thoughthisisneverevenwhisperednow，asshehasdeclaredherselftobeadaughteroftheGods，withamiraculousbirthandupbringing。Asshehasdecreeditasacrilegetoquestionthisparentage，andhasorderedtobeburntallthosethatseemtorecollecthermoreearthlyorigin，thefablepassescurrentfortruth。YouseethefaithIputinyou，Deucalion，bytellingyouwhatyouwishtolearn。"
"Therehasalwaysbeentrustbetweenus。"
"Iknow;butthishabitofsuspicionishardtocastoff，evenwithyou。However，letmeputyourgoodfaithbetweenmeandthetorturefurther。Zaemon，youremember，wasgovernoroftheswineherd’sprovince，andZaemon’swifesawPhoreniceandtookherawaytoadoptandbringupasherown。Itissaidthattheswineherdandhiswomanobjected;perhapstheydid;anyway，Iknowtheydied;andPhorenicewastaughttheartsandgraces，andbroughtupasadaughterofthePriestlyClan。"
"Butstillshewasanadopteddaughteronly，"Iobjected。
"Theomissionofthe’adopted’washerwillatanearlyage，"
saidTathodryly，"andshelearntearlytohaveherwishescarriedintofact。Itwasnotoriousthatbeforeshehadgrowntofifteenyearssherulednotonlythewomenofthehousehold，butZaemonalso，andtheprovincethatwasbeyondZaemon。"
"Zaemonwaslearned，"Isaid，"andadevoutfolloweroftheGods，andsearcherintothehighermysteries;but，asaruler，hewasalwaysaflabbyfellow。"
"IdonotsaythatopportunitieshavenotcomeusefullyinPhorenice’sway，butshehasgeniusaswell。Forhertohaveraisedherselfatallfromwhatshewas，wasremarkable。Notonewomanoutofathousand，placedasshewas，wouldhavegrowntobeaughthigherthanamerewifeofsomesturdycountryman，whowassufficientlysimpletocarenothingforpedigree。ButlookatPhorenice:itwasherwhimtotakeexerciseasaman—at—armsandpractisewithalltheutensilsofwar;andthen，beforeanyonequiteknowshoworwhyithappened，arebellionhadbrokenoutintheprovince，andherewasshe，aslipofagirl，leadingZaemon’stroops。"
"Zaemon，whenIknewhim，wasamerederisioninthefield。"
"Hearmeon。Phoreniceputdowntherebellioninmasterlyfashion，andgavetheconqueredachoicebetweenswordandservice。
Theyfellintoherranksatonce，andwerefaithfultoherfromthatmoment。Itellyou，Deucalion，thereisamarvellousfascinationaboutthewoman。"
"Herpresenthistorianseemstohavefeltit。"
"OfcourseIhave。Everyonewhoseeshercomesunderherspell。Andfrankly，Iaminlovewithheralso，andlookuponmycominghereasdetestableexile。EveryoneneartoPhorenice，highandlow，lovesherjustthesame，eventhoughtheyknowitmaybeherwhimtosendthemtoexecutionnextminute。"
PerhapsIletmyscornofthisappear。
"Youfeelcontemptforourweakness？Youwerealwaysastrongman，Deucalion。"
"Atanyrateyouseemestillunmarried。Ihavefoundnotimetopalterwiththefripperiesofwomen。"
"Ah，butthesecolonistsherearecrudeandunfascinating。
Waittillyouseetheladiesofthecourt，myascetic。"
"Itcomestomymind，"Isaiddryly，"thatIlivedinAtlantisbeforeIcameouthere，andatthattimeIusedtoseeasmuchofcourtlifeasmostmen。Yetthen，also，Ifeltnoinducementtomarry。"
Tathochuckled。"Atlantishaschangedsothatyouwouldhardlyknowthecountryto—day。Anewerahascomeovereverything，especiallyovertheothersex。WelldoIrememberthewomenoftheoldKing’stime，howmonstrousuncomelytheywere，howlittletheyknewhowtowalkorcarrythemselves，howpainfullybarbaricwastheirnotionofdress。IdareswearthatyourladieshereinYucatanarenotsoprovincialto—dayasourswerethen。
Butyoushouldseethemnowathome。Theyaredelicious。AndaboveallincharmistheEmpress。Oh，Deucalion，youshallseePhoreniceinallhergloriousbeautyandhermagnificenceoneofthesefinedayssoon，andbelievemeyouwillgodownonyourkneesandrepent。"
"Imaysee，and（becauseyousayso）Imayaltermylife’sways。TheGodsmakeallthingspossible。ButforthepresentI
remainasIam，celibate，andnotwishfultobeotherwise;andsointhemeantimeIwouldhearthecontinuanceofyourhistory。"
"Itisonelongstoryofsuccess。ShedeposedZaemonfromhisgovernmentinnameaswellasinfact，andthenewswasspread，andthePriestlyClanroseinitswrath。Thetwoneighbouringgovernorswerebiddenjoinforces，takehercaptive，andbringherforexecution。Poormen！Theytriedtoobeytheirorders;theyattackedhersurelyenough，butinbattleshecouldlaughatthem。
Shekilledboth，andmadesomeslaughteramongsttheirtroops;andtothosethatremainedaliveandbecameherprisoners，shemadeherusualoffer——theswordorservice。Naturallytheywerenotlongovermakingtheirchoice:tothesecommonpeopleonerulerismuchthesameasanother:andsoagainherarmywasreinforced。
"Threetimeswerebodiesofsoldierysentagainsther，andthreetimeswasshevictorious。Thelastwasafinaleffort。Before，ithadbeencustomarytodespisethisadventuresswhohadsprungupsosuddenly。Butthenthepriestsbegantorealisetheirperil;toseethatthethroneitselfwasindanger;andtoknowthatifsheweretobecrushed，theywouldhavetoputforththeirutmost。Everymanwhocouldcarryarmswaspressedintotheservice。Everyknownartofwarwasorderedtobeputintoemployment。Itwasthelargestarmy，andthebestequippedarmythatAtlantisthenhadeverraised，andthePriestlyClansawfittoputinsupremecommandtheirgeneral，Tatho。"
"You！"Icried。
"Evenmyself，Deucalion。Andmarkyou，Ifoughtmyutmost。
Iwasnothercreaturethen;andwhenIsetout（becausetheywantedtospurmetotheuttermost）theHighCouncilofthepriestspointedoutmyprospects。TheKingwehadknownsolong，wasailingandwearilyold;hewassowrappedupinthestudyofthemysteries，andthejoyofcloselyknowingthem，thatearthlymattershadgrownnauseoustohim;andatanytimehemightdecidetodie。ThePriestlyClanusesitsowndiscretionintheelectionofanewking，butittakesnoteofpopularsentiment;andageneralwhoatthecriticaltimecouldcomehomevictoriousfromagreatcampaign，whichmoreoverwouldreleaseaharassedpeoplefromtheconstantapplicationofarms，wouldbetheidolofthemoment。
Thesethingswerepointedouttomesolemnlyandinthefullcouncil。"
"What！Theypromisedyouthethrone？"
"Eventhat。SoyouseeIsetoutwithahighstakebeforeme。
PhoreniceIhadneverseen，andIsworetotakeheralive，andgivehertobethesportofmysoldiery。Ihadafineconfidenceinmyownstrategythen，Deucalion。ButtheoldGods，inwhomItrustedthen，remainedold，taughtmenonewthing。IdrilledandexercisedmyarmyaccordingtotheformsyouandIlearnttogether，oldcomrade，andinmanyatoughfightfoundtoservewell;Iarmedthemwiththechoicestweaponsweknewofthen，withslingandmace，withbowandspear，withaxeandknife，withswordandthethrowingfire;theirbodiesIcoveredwithmetalplates;eventheirbelliesIcaredfor，withdrovesofcattledrivenintherearofthefightingtroops。
"Butwhentheencountercame，theymighthavebeenmenofstrawforalltheharmtheydid。OutofherownbrainPhorenicehadmadefire—tubesthatcastadartwhichwouldkillbeyondtwobowshots，andthefashioninwhichshehandledhertroopsdazzledme。Theythreatenedusononeflank，theyharassedusontheother。Itwasnotwaraswehadbeenaccustomedto。Itwasanewerandmoredeadlygame，andIhadtowatchmysplendidarmyeatenawayaswaveseatasandhill。NeveroncedidIgetachanceofforcingcloseaction。ThesenewtacticsthathadcomefromPhorenice’sinvention，werebeyondmyarttomeetorunderstand。
Wewereeighttoherone，andourclose—packednumbersonlymadeussomuchthemoreeasyforslaughter。Apaniccame，andthosewhocouldfled。Myself，Ihadnowishtogobackandearntheaxethatwaitsfortheunsuccessfulgeneral。ItriedtodietherefightingwhereIstood。Butdeathwouldnotcome。Itwasafinemelee，Deucalion，thatlastone。"
"Andsoshetookyou？"
"Istoodwiththreeothersbacktoback，witharingofdeadroundus，andaringoftheenemyhemmingusin。Wetauntedthemtocomeon。Butathand—to—handcourtesieswehadshownwecouldholdourown，andsotheywerecallingforfire—tubeswithwhichtheycouldstrikeusdowninsafetyfromadistance。ThenupcamePhorenice。’Whatisthisto—do？’saysshe。’WeseektokillLordTatho，wholedagainstyou，’saythey。’SothatisTatho？’saysshe。’Afinefigureofamanindeed，andaprettyfighterseemingly，aftertheoldmanner。Doubtlessheisonewhowouldacquirethenewermethod。SeenowTatho，’saysshe，’itismycustomtoofferthoseIvanquisheitherthesword（which，believeme，wasneverneareryourneckthannow）orserviceundermybanner。Willyoumakeachoice？’
"’Woman，’Isaid，’fairestthateverIsaw，finestgeneraltheworldhaseverborne，youtemptmesorelybyyourqualities，butthereisatraditioninourClan，thatweshouldbetruetothesaltweeat。IamtheKing’smanstill，andsoIcantakenoservicefromyou。’
"’TheKingisdead，’saysshe。’Arunnerhasjustbroughtthetidings，meaningthemtohavefallenintoyourhands。AndIamtheEmpress。’
"’WhomadeyouEmpress？’Iasked。
"’Thesamemostcapablehandthathasgivenmethisbattle，’
saysshe。’Itisacapablehand，asyouhaveseen:itcanbeakindhandalso，asyoumaylearnifyouchoose。WiththeKingdead，Tathoisamasterlessmannow。IsTathoinwantofamistress？’
"’Suchagloriousmistressasyou，’Isaid，’Yes。’Andfromthatmoment，Deucalion，Ihavebeenherslave。Oh，youmayfrown;
youmaygetupfromthisseatandwalkawayifyouwill。ButIaskyouthis:keepbackyourworstjudgmentofme，oldfriend，tillafteryouhaveseenPhoreniceherselfinthewarmandlovelyflesh。
Thenyourownearsandyourownsenseswillbemyadvocates，towinmebackyouroldesteem。"
2。BACKTOATLANTIS
ThewordsofTathowerenosleepingdraughtformethatnight。
IbegantothinkthatIhadmadesomewhatamistakeinwrappingmyselfupsoentirelyinmygovernmentofYucatan，andnotcontrivingtokeepmoreintouchwitheventsthatwerepassingathomeinAtlantis。Formanyyearspastithadbeeneasytoseethatthemarinerfolkwhodidtrafficacrosstheseasspokewithrestraint，andthatonlywhatnewstheEmpresspleasedwasallowedtooozeoutbeyondherborders。But，asIsay，Iwasfullyoccupiedwithmyworkinthecolony，andhadnocuriositytopullawayaveilintentionallyplaced。Besides，ithasalwaysbeenagainstmyprinciplestoputtothetorturemenwhohadreceivedordersforsilencefromtheirsuperiors，merelythattheyshallbreaktheseordersformyprivateconvenience。
However，theirondisciplineofourPriestlyClanleftmenochoiceofprocedure。Aswascustomary，Ihadbeendeprivedofmyofficeatamoment’snotice。Fromthattimeon，allpapersandauthoritybelongedtomysuccessor，and，althoughbycourtesyI
mightbepermittedtoremainasaguestinthepyramidthathadsorecentlybeenmine，toseeanothersunrise，itwasclearlyenjoinedthatImustleavetheterritorythenatthetopmostofmyspeedandhastentoreportinAtlantis。
Tatho，togivehimcredit，wasanxioustofurthermyintereststotheutmostinhispower。Hewasbymysideagainbeforethedawn，puttingallhisresourcesatmydisposal。
Ihadlittleenoughtoaskhim。"Ashiptotakemehome，"I
said，"andIshallbeyourdebtor。"
Therequestseemedtosurprisehim。"Thatyoumaycertainlyhaveifyouwishit。Butmyshipsarefoulwiththelongpassage，andareinneedofacareen。Ifyoutakethem，youwillmakeaslowvoyageofittoAtlantis。Whydoyounottakeyourownnavy？
Theshipsareinharbournow，forIsawthemtherewhenwecamein。
Braveshipstheyaretoo。"
"Butnotmine。ThatnavybelongstoYucatan。"
"Well，Deucalion，youareYucatan;or，rather，youwereyesterday，andhavebeenthesetwentyyears。"
Isawwhathemeant，andtheideadidnotpleaseme。Iansweredstifflyenoughthattheshipswereownedbyprivatemerchants，orbelongedtotheState，andIcouldnotclaimsomuchasaten—slavegalley。
Tathoshruggedhisshoulders。"Isupposeyouknowyourownpoliciesbest，"hesaid，"thoughtomeitseemsbutriskyforamanwhohasattainedtoapositionlikeyoursandminenottohaveprovidedhimselfwithastoutnavyofhisown。Oneneverknowswhenarecallmaybesent，and，throughlackoftheseprecautions，alife’searningsmayverywellbelostinadozenhours。"
"Ihavenofearformine，"Isaidcoldly。
"Ofcoursenot，becauseyouknowmetobeyourfriend。Buthadanothermanbeenappointedtothisvice—royalty，youmighthavebeensadlyshorn，Deucalion。Itisnotmanyfellowswhocanresistasnughoardreadyandwaitingintheverycofferstheyhavecometoline。"
"MyLordTatho，"Isaid，"itiscleartomethatyouandI
havegrowntobeofdifferenttastes。AllofthehoardthatIhavemadeformyselfinthiscolony，fewmenwouldcovet。Ihavethepoorclothesyouseemeinthismoment，andaboxofdrugssuchasIhavefoundusefultothestomach。Ipossessalsothreeslaves，twoofthemscribesandthethirdasturdysavagefromEurope，whocooksmyvictualandfillsformethebath。Formymaintenanceduringmyyearsofservice，here，IhavebledtheStateofasoldier’srationandnothingbeyond;andifinmynameanymanhasmulctedacreatureinYucatanofsomuchasanounceofbronze，I
requestyouasalastservicetohavethatmanhangedformeasaliarandathief。"
Tatholookedatmecuriously。"IdonotknowwhetherIadmireyoumostorwhetherIpity。Idonotknowwhethertobeastonishedortodespise。WehadheardofmuchofyouruprightnessoveryonderinAtlantis，ofyoursternnessandyourjustice，butIswearbytheoldGodsthatnosoulguessedyoucarriedyourfancysofarasthis。Why，man，moneyispower。Withmoneyandtheresourcesmoneycanbuy，nothingcouldstopafellowlikeyou;whilstwithoutityoumaybetrippedupandtroddendownirrevocablyatthefirstpunyreverse。"
"TheGodswillchoosemyfate。"
"Possibly;butformine，Iprefertonourishitmyself。I
tellyouwithfranknessthatIhavenotcomeheretofollowinthepatternyouhavemadeforavice—royalty。IshallgovernYucatanwiselyandwelltothebestofmyability;butIshallgovernitalsoforthegoodofTatho，theviceroy。Ihavebroughtwithmeheremynavyofeightshipsandapersonalbodyguard。Thereismywifealso，andherwomenandherslaves。Allthesemustbeprovidedfor。Andwhyindeedshoulditbeotherwise？Ifapeopleistobegoverned，itshouldbetheirprivilegetopayhandsomelyfortheirprince。"
"Weshallnotagreeonthis。Youhavethepowernow，andcanemployitasyouchoose。IfIthoughtitwouldbeofanyuse，I
shouldliketosupplicateyoumosthumblytodealwithleniencewhenyoucometotaxthesepeoplewhoareunderyou。Theyhavegrownverydeartome。"
"Ihavedisgustedyouwithme，andIamgrievedforit。Buteventoretainyourgoodopinion，Deucalion——whichIvaluemorethanthatofanymanliving——Icannotdohereasyouhavedone。Itwouldbeimpossible，evenifIwishedit。Youmustnotjudgeallothermenbyyourownstrongstandard:aTathoisbynomeansacolossuslikeaDeucalion。Andbesides，Ihaveawifeandchildren，andtheymustbeprovidedfor，evenifIneglectmyself。"
"Ah，there，"Isaid，"itdoesseemthatIpossesstheadvantage。Ihavenowife，toclogme。"
Hecaughtupmywordquickly。"Itseemstomeyouhavenothingthatmakeslifeworthliving。Youhaveneitherwife，children，riches，cooks，retinue，dresses，noranythingelseinproportiontoyourstation。Youwillpardonmysayingit，oldcomrade，butyouareplagueyignorantaboutsomematters。Forexample，youdonotknowhowtodine。Duringeverydayofaverywearyvoyage，Ihavepromisedmyselfwhensittingbeforethemeagreseavictual，thatpresentlytheabstinencewouldbemorethanrepaidbyDeucalion’swelcomingfeast。Oh，Itellyouthatfeastwasoneofthevividestthingsthatevercamebeforemyeyes。Andthenwhenwegettotheactuality，whatwasit？Why，acountryfarmereverydaysitsdowntomoredelicatefare。Youtoldmehowitwasprepared。Well，yoursavagefromEuropemaybelusty，andperchanceisfaithful，butbeisadevil—possessedcook。Gods！I
havelivedbetteronacampaign。
"Iknowthisisacolonyhere，withoutanyofthehomerefinements;butifinthedaystocome，thedeeroftheforest，thefishofthestream，andtheotherresourcesoftheplacearenotputtobetterusethanheretofore，Ishallseeitmydutyasrulertofrysomeofthekitchenstaffaliveingreasesoastoencouragebettercookery。Gods！Deucalion，haveyouforgottenwhatitistohaveapalate？Andhaveyounoesteemforyourowndignity？Man，lookatyourclothes。Youaregarbedlikeaherdsman，andyouhavenotagaudorajeweltobrightenyou。"
"Ieat，"Isaidcoldly，"whenmyhungerbidsme，andIcarrythisonerobeuponmypersontillitiswornoutandneedsreplacement。Thegrossnessofexcessivebanqueting，andtheeffeminacyofmanyclothesareattainmentsthatnevermetmyfancy。
ButIthinkwehavetalkedhereoverlong，andthereseemslittlechanceofourfindingagreement。Youhavechanged，Tatho，withtheyears，andperhapsIhavechangedalso。Thesealterationscreepimperceptiblyintoone’sbeingastimeadvances。Letuspartnow，and，forgettingthesepresentdifferences，rememberonlyourfriendshipoftwentyyearsagone。Thatforme，atanyrate，hasalwayshadapleasantsavourwhencalledupintothememory。"
Tathobowedhishead。"Sobeit，"hesaid。
"AndIwouldstillchargemyselfuponyourbountyforthatship。Dawncannotbefaroffnow，anditisnotdecentthatthemanwhohasruledheresolong，shouldwalkindaylightthroughthestreetsonthemorningafterhisdismissal。"
"Sobeit，"saidTatho。"Youshallhavemypoornavy。I
couldhavewishedthatyouhadaskedmesomethinggreater。"
"Notthenavy，Tatho;onesmallship。Believeme，moreiswasted。"
"Now，there，"saidTatho，"Ishallactthetyrant。Iamviceroyherenow，andwillhavemywayinthis。Youmaygonakedofallpossessions:thatIcannothelp。ButdepartforAtlantisunattended，thatyoushallnot。"
Andso，infine，asthechoicewassetbeyondme，itwasinthe"Bear，"Tatho’sownprivateship，withalltherestofhisnavysailinginescort，thatIdidfinallymakemytransit。
Butthestartwasnotimmediate。Thevesselslaymooredagainstthestonequaysoftheinnerharbour，guttedoftheirstores，andwithcrewsexhausted，anditwouldhavebeensuicidetohaveforcedthemoutthenandtheretoagaintaketheseas。
SothecourtesieswerefulfilledbythecraftwhereonIabodehaulingoutintotheentrancebasin，andanchoringthereintheswellsofthefairway;andforthwithsheandherconsortstookinwoodandwater，curedmeatandfishashore，andrefittedinallneedfulways，withallspeedattainable。
Formyselftherecamethen，asthefirsttimeduringtwentybusyyears，abreathingspacefromwork。Ihadnofurtherconnectionwiththecountryofmylabours;indeed，officially，I
hadleftitalready。IntotheworkingoftheshipitwascontrarytorulethatIshouldmakeanyinspectionorinterest，sinceallseamattersweretheexclusivepropertyoftheMariners’Guild，securedtothembyroyalpatent，andmostjealouslyguarded。
Sothereremainedtomeinmyday，hourstogaze（ifIwould）
uponthequays，theharbours，thepalaces，andthepyramidsofthesplendidcitybeforemewhichIhadseengrowstonebystonefromitsfoundations;ortoroammyeyeoverthepasturesandthegrainlandsbeyondthewalls，andtolooklonginglyatthedenseforestsbehind，fromwhichfieldbyfieldwehadsotediouslyrippedourterritory。
WouldTathocontinuetheworksohealthilybegun？Itrustedso，eveninspiteofhisselfishwords。Andatallhours，duringtheradianceofourLordtheSun，orunderthestarsofnight，I
wasfreetopursuethatstudyofthehighermysteries，onwhichweofthePriests’Clanaretrainedtosetourminds，withoutaidofbookorinstrument，ofimageortemple。
Therefittingofthenavywasgoneaboutwithspeed。Never，itissaid，hadshipsbeenreprovisionedandcaulked，andremannedwithgreaterspeedfortheover—oceanvoyage。Indeed，itwasbarelyoveramonthfromthedaythattheybroughtupintheharbour，theyputoutbeyondthewalls，andbegantheirvoyageeastwardoverthehillsanddaleoftheocean。
Rowing—slavesfromEuropeforthislongpassageofseaarenottakennow，owingtothedifficultyinprovisioningthem，formodernhumanityforbidsthepracticeoflettingthemeatoneanotheraccordingtothehomecustomoftheircontinent;sailsalonearebutanindifferentstandby;butmodernsciencehasshownhowtoextractforcefromtheSun，whenHeisfreefromcloud，andthis（inamannerkeptsecretbymariners）ismadetodrawsea—waterattheforepartofthevessel，andejectitwithsuchforceatthesternthatsheisappreciablydrivenforward，evenwiththewindadverse。
Inanothermatteralsohasnavigationvastlyimproved。Itisnotnecessarynow，asformerly，totrustwhollytoastarrynight（whenbeyondsightofland）tofinddirection。Alittleimagehasbeenmade，andisstoodbalancedintheforepartofeveryvessel，withanarmoutstretched，pointingconstantlytothedirectionwheretheSouthernCrossliesintheHeavens。So，bysettinganangle，canajustcoursebecorrectlysteered。Otherinstrumentshavetheyalsoforfindingatruepositionontheoceanwastes，forthenewermariner，whenheisatsea，putslittletrustintheGods，andconfidesmightilyinhisownthewsandwits。
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