Still，itisamusingtoseethesetarryfellows，eveninthismodernday，taketheirlastfarewelloftheharbourtown。Theshipisstowed，andallreadyforsea，andtheywashandputonalltheirbraveryofattire。Ashoretheygo，theirfaceslongwithpiety，andseeksomeobscuretemplewhoseGodhaslittleflavourwithshorefolk，andheretheymakesacrificewithclamourandlavishoutlay。And，finally，therefollowsafeastinhonouroftheGod，andtheyarrivebackonboard，andputtoseaforthemostpartdrunken，andallheavyandevil—humouredwithgluttonyandtheirotherexcesses。
Thevoyagewasverydifferenttomyprevioussea—going。Therewasnocreepingtimorouslyalongintouchwiththecoasts。Westoodstraightacrosstheopengulfinthedirectionofhome，cameupwiththebandoftheCaribIslands，andworkedconfidentlythroughthem，asthoughtheyhadbeensignpoststomarktheseahighway;andstoppedonlytwicetoreplenishwithwood，water，andfruit。Thesecommodities，too，thesavagesbroughtusfreely，sogreatwastheirsubjection，andinneitherplacedidwehaveeventhesemblanceofafight。ItwasagreatcertificateofthegrowingpowerofAtlantisandherfinestover—seacolony。
Thenboldlyonwewentacrossthevastoceanbeyond，withneverasacrificetoimploretheGodsthattheyshouldhelpourdirection。Onemightfeelcensuretowardstheseruggedmarinersfortheirimpiety，butonecouldnothelpanadmirationfortheirlustyskillandconfidence。
ThedangersofthedesolateseaaredealtoutastheGodswill，andmancanonlytakethemastheycome。Stormsweencountered，andthemarinersfoughtthemwithstubbornendurance;twiceablazingstonefromHeavenhissedintotheseabesideus，thoughwithoutinjuringanyofourships;and，aswasunavoidable，thegreatbeastsoftheseahunteduswiththeiraccustomedsavagery。Butonlyoncedidwesuffermateriallossfromtheselast，andthatwaswhenthreeofthegreatersealizardsattackedthe"Bear，"theshipwhereonItravelled，atoneandthesametime。
Thehouroftheironsetwasduringtheblazingmiddayheat，andtheSunbeingatthefullofHispower，ourmachinesweregettingfullforcefromHim。Thevesselwastravellingforwardfasterthanamanondrylandcouldwalk。Butforthepowerescapeshemightaswellhavebeenstandingstillwhenthebeastssightedher。Therewerethreeofthem，asIhavesaid，andwesawthemcomeupoverthecurveofthehorizon，beatingtheseaintofoamwiththeirflappers，andwavingtheirgreatneckslikemastsastheyswam。Ournavywasspreadoutinalonglineofships，andinoldendayseachofthebeastswouldhaveselectedaseparateprey，andproceededforit;but，likeman，thesebeastshavelearnedthenecessitiesofwarfare，andtheyhuntinpacknowanddonotseparatetheirforces。
Itwasplaintheyweremakingforourship，andTob，thecaptain，wouldhavehadmegointotheafter—castle，andtherebesecurefromtheirmarauding。HewasresponsibletotheLordTatho，hesaid，formysafeconduct;itwascertainthatthebeastswouldcontrivetoseizesomeoftheship’scompanybeforetheyweresatiated;andifthehapcametotheLordDeucalion，he（thecaptain）wouldhavetogivehimselfvoluntarilytothebeaststhen，toescapeaverypainfuldeathatTatho’shandslateron。
However，mymindwasset。Amancanneverhavetoomuchexperienceinfightingenemies，whetherhumanorbestial，andtheattackofthesecreatureswasnewtome，andIwasfaintolearnitsmethod。SoIgavethecaptainalettertoTatho，sayinghowthematterlay（andforwhich，itmaybementioned，therudefellowseemedlittleenoughgrateful），andstayedinmychairundertheawning。
Thebeastssurgeduptouswithchampingjaws，andalltheshipmenstoodarmedontheirdefence。Theycameupalongside，twofemales（thesmaller）ontheflankoftheship，thegiantmalebyhimselfontheother。Theirgreatheadsswoopedabout，ashighastheyardsthatheldthesails，andthereekfromthemgaveonephysicalsickness。
Theshipmenfacedthemonsterswithasturdycourage。Arrowswereuselessagainstthesmooth，bull—likehides。Eventhethrowingfirecouldnotsomuchassingethem;nothingbuttwentyaxeblowsdeliveredonanattackingheadtogethercouldbeatitback，andeventhesesucceededonlythroughsheerweightofmetal，anddidnotmakesomuchasthescratchofawound。
Duringalltimebeastshavedisputedwithmanthemasteryoftheearth，anditisonlyinAtlantisandEgyptandYucatanthatmanhasdaredtoholdhisown，andfightthemwithamindmadestrongbymanypreviousvictories。InEuropeandmid—Africathegreaterbeastsholdfulldominion，andmanadmitshispunynumberandforce，andlivesinearthcranniesandthehighertree—tops，asafugitiveconfessed。Anduponthegreatoceans，thebeastsarelords，unchecked。
Stillhere，uponthisdesolatesea，althoughthegiantlizardswerenewtome，itwasapleasuretopitmyknowledgeofwaragainsttheirbrutestrengthandcourage。Eversincethefirstmendidtheirbusinessuponthegreatwaters，theyfulfilledtheirinstinctsinfightingthebeastswithdesperation。Hidingcoward—likeinaholdwasuseless，forifthisenemycouldnotfindmenabovedeckstoglutthem，theywouldbreakashipwiththeirpaddles，andsoallwouldbeslain。Andsoitwasrecognisedthatthefightshouldgoforwardasdesperatelyasmightbe，andthatitcouldonlyendwhenthebeastshadgottheirpreyandhadgoneawaysatisfied。
Itwasinaone—sidedconflictafterthisfashionthen，thatIfoundmyself，andfeltthejoyoncemoretohavemythewsinaction。Butaftermyaxehadgotinsomedozenlustyblows，which，foralltheharmtheydid，mighthavebeendeliveredagainstsomecitywall，or，indeed，againstthearkoftheMysteriesitself，I
soughtaboutmetillIfoundalance，andwiththatmadeverydifferentplay。
Theeyesoftheselizardsaresmall，andsetdeepinabonysocket，butIjudgedthemtobevulnerable，anditwasupontheeyesofthebeastthatImademyattack。Thedeckswereslipperywiththehorridslimeofthem。Thecrewsurgedaboutintheirbattling，and，moreover，constantlyofferedthemselvesasarampartbeforemebyreasonofTob，thecaptain’sthreats。ButIgaveafewshrewdprogueswiththelancetoshowthatIdidnotchoosemywilltobeoverridden，andpresentlywasgivenroomformanoeuvre。
DeliberatelyIplacedmyselfinthesightofoneofthelizards，andofferedmybodytoitsattack。Thechallengewasaccepted。Itswoopedlikeadroppingstone，andIswervedanddroveinthelanceatitsoozyeye。
IthankedtheGodsthenthatIhadbeentrainedwiththelancetillcertainaimwasamatterofinstinctwithme。Thebladewenttruetoitsmarkandstuckthere，andtheshaftbrokeinmyhand。
Thebeastdrewoff，blindedandbellowing，andbeatingtheseawithitspaddles。InagreatcataractoffoamIsawitbenditsgreatlongneck，andrubitshead（withthespearstillfixed）againstitsback，therebyenduringnewagonies，butwithoutdislodgingtheweapon。Andthenpresently，findingthisofnoavail，itsetofffortheplacefromwhichitcamewithextraordinaryquickness，andrapidlygrewsmalleragainstthehorizon。
Themaleandtheotherfemalelizardhadalsoleftus，butnotinsimilarplight。Tob，thecaptain，seeingmyresolvetotakehazards，deliberatelythrustashipmanintothejawsofeachoftheothers，sothattheymightbesatedandgetthemgone。ItwasclearthatTobdreadedverymuchforhisownskinifIcamebyharm，andIthoughtwithawarmingheartofthethreatsthatTathomusthaveusedinhiskindanxietyformysafety。Itispleasantwhenone’soldfriendsdonotomittopaytheselittleattentions。
3。ARIVALNAVY
Now，whenwecameupwiththecoastsofAtlantis，thoughTob，withtheaidofhismoderninstruments，hadmadehislandfallwithmostmarvellousskillandnearness，therestillremainedsometendays’morejourneyinwhichwehadtoretraceourcourse，tillwecametothatarmoftheseaupwhichliesthegreatcityofAtlantis，thecapital。
Thesightoftheland，andthebreathofearthandherbagewhichcameofffromitwiththebreezes，were，Ibelieve，undertheGods，themeansofsavingthelivesofallofus。For，asisnecessarywithlongcross—oceanvoyages，manyofourships’
companieshaddied，andstillmoreweresickwithscurvythroughtheunnaturaltossing，or（assomehaveit）throughthesalt，unnaturalfoodinseparablefromshipboard。Buttheselast，thesightandthesmellsoflandheartenedupinextraordinaryfashion，andfrombeinghelplesslogs，unabletomoveevenunderblowsofthescourge，theybecameactiveagain，abletohelpintheshipwork，andlusty（whenthetimecame）tofightfortheirlivesandtheirvessels。
FromthemomentthatIwasdeposedinYucatan，despiteTatho’sassurances，therehadbeendoubtsinmymindastowhatnaturewouldbemyreceptioninAtlantis。ButIhadfacedthiseventofthefuturewithoutconcern:itwasinthehandsoftheGods。TheEmpressPhorenicemightbesupremeonearth;shemightcausemyheadtobeloppedfromitspropershouldersthemomentIsetfootashore;butmyLordtheSunwasabovePhorenice，andifmyheadfell，itwouldbebecauseHesawbestthatitshouldbeso。Onwhichaccount，therefore，Ihadnottroubledmyselfaboutthematterduringthevoyage，buthadfollowedoutmycalmstudyofthehighermysterieswithanunloadedmind。
Butwhenournavyhadretracedsufficientlythecoursethathadbeenoverrun，andcameupwiththetwovastheadlandswhichmarkedtheentrancetotheinlandwaters，there，abaretwodaysfromtheAtlantiscapital，wemetwithanothernavywhichwas，beyonddoubt，waitingtogiveusareception。Theshipswereridingatanchorinabaywhichlentthemshelter，buttheyhadscoutsonthehighlandabove，whocriedthealarmofourapproach，andwhenweroundedtheheadland，theywerestandingouttodisputeourpassage。
Ofustherewerenowbutfiveships，theresthavingbeenlostinstorms，orfallenbehindbecausealltheircrewsweredeadfromthescurvy;andofthestrangerstherewerethreefineships，andthreegalleysofmanyoarsapiece。Theywerecleanandbrightandblack;ourshipswerestorm—raggedandweather—worn，andhadbottomsthatwerefoulwithtrailingoceanweed。OurshipshungoutthecoloursandsignsofTathoandDeucalionopenlyandwithoutshame，sothatallwholookedmightknowtheiroriginanderrand;
buttheothernavycameonwithoutbannerorantient，asthoughtheyweresomelowcreaturesfeelingshamefortheirbirth。
Clearitseemedalsothattheywouldnotletuspasswithoutafight，andinthistherewasnothinguncommon;fornolawcarriesoutovertheseas，andabrotherinoneshipfeelsquitefreetoharryhisbrotherinanothervesselifhemeetshimoutofearshotofthebeach——moreespeciallyifthatotherbrotherbecominghomeladenfromforayortradingtour。SoTob，withsystemandmethod，gotourvesselintofightingtrim，andtheotherfourcaptainsdidthelikewiththeirs，anddrewcloseintoustoformacompactsquadron。Theyhadnowishtosmellslavery，nowthatthevoyagehadcomesoneartoitsend。
OurLordtheSunshonebrilliantly，givingfullspeedtothemachines，asthoughHewasfullywillingfortheaffairtoproceed，andthetwonaviesapproachedoneanotherwithquickness，thethreegalleysholdingbacktostayinlinewiththeirconsorts。Butwhensomebarehundredship—lengthsseparatedus，theothernavyhalted，andoneofthegalleys，drawingahead，flewgreenbranchesfromhermasts，seekingforaparley。
Thecoursewasunusual，butwe，inoursea—batteredstate，werenonavytoinviteafightunnecessarily。Soinhoarsesea—bawlswordwaspassed，andwetoohalted，andTobhoistedawitheredstick（whichhadtododutyforgreenery），toshowthatwewerereadyfortalk，andwouldrespectthepersonofanambassador。
Thegalleydrewon，swunground，andbackedtillitssternraspedonourshieldrail，andoneofherpeopleclamberedupandjumpeddownuponourdecks。Hewasadandilyrigged—outfellow，youngandlusty，andallhealthyfromthelandandlandvictual，andhelookedroundhimwithasneeratoursea—tatteredness，andwithafineself—confidence。Then，seeingTob，henoddedasonemeetsanacquaintance。"Oldpot—mate，"hesaid，"yourwomanwaitsforyouupbythequay—sideinAtlantisyonder，withfouryoungstersatherheels。Isawhernothalfamonthago。"
"Youdidn’tcomeoutheretotellmehomenews，"saidTob;
"thatI’llbesworn。I’vedrunkenoughpotswithyou，Dason，toknowyourpleasantriesthoroughly。"
"Iwantedtopointouttoyouthatyourhomeisstillthere，withyourwifeandchildrenreadytowelcomeyou。"
"Iamnotamanthateverforgetsit，"saidTobgrimly;"andbecauseI’vegotthemalwaysatthebackofmymind，I’vesailedthisshipoverthetopofmorethanonepirate，when，ifI’dbeenasingleman，Imighthavebeene’encontenttotakethehapofslavery。"
"Oh，Iknowyou’readesperateenoughfellow，"saidDason，"andI’mfreetoconfessthatifitdoescometoblowsweareliketoloseafewmenbeforewegetyouandyourcrippleshere，andyourcrazyshipscomfortablysunk。Ournavyhasitsorderstocarryout，andthecauseofmyembassageisthis:wewishtoseeifyouwillactthesensiblepartandgiveuswhatwewant，andsobepermittedtogoonyourwayhome，withaskinthatisunslitanddry？"
"Youhavecometothewrongbirdhereforaplucking，"saidTobwithaheavylaugh。"WetooknotreasureormerchandiseonboardinYucatan。Westayedinharbourlongenoughtocureourseavictualandfillwithfoodandwater，andnolonger。Wesailbackaswesailedout，barrenships。Youwillnotbelieveme，ofcourse;Iwouldnothavebelievedyouhadourplacesbeenchanged;
butyoumaygointotheholdsandsearchifyouchoose。Youwillfindtherenothingbutafewpoorsailormenhalfinpieceswiththescurvy。No，youcanstealnothingherebutblows，Dason，andwewillgiveyouthosewithbutlittleasking。"
"Iamgladtoseethatyoustateyourcargoatsuchslendervalue，"saidtheenvoy，"foritisthecargoImusttakebackwithmeonthegalley，ifyouaretoearnyoursafeconducttohome。"
Tobknithisbrows。"Youhadbetterspeakmoreplain，"hesaid。"Iamacommonsailor，anddonotunderstandfancytalk。"
"Itiscleartosee，"saidDason，"thatyouhavebeensettobringDeucalionbacktoAtlantisasapropforPhorenice。Well，weothersfindPhorenicehardenoughtofightagainstwithoutfurtherreinforcements，andsowewantDeucalioninourowncustodytodealwithafterourownfashion。"
"AndifIdothemiser，anddenyyouthispieceofmyfreight？"
Thespruceenvoylookedroundatthesplinteredship，andthebatterednavybesideher。"Why，then，Tob，weshallsendyoualltothefishesinveryshorttime，andinsteadofDeucalionstandingbeforetheGodsalone，hewillgodownwithafineraggedcompanylimpingathisheels。"
"Idoubtit，"saidTob，"butweshallsee。AsforlettingyouhavemyLordDeucalion，thatisoutofthequestion。Forseehere，pot—mateDason;inthefirstplace，ifIwenttoAtlantiswithoutDeucalion，myotherlord，Tatho，wouldcomebackoneofthesedays，andinhishandsIshoulddiebytheslowestofslowinches;inthesecond，IhaveseenmyLordDeucalionkillagreatsealizard，andheshowedhimselfsuchapropermanthatdaythatIwouldnotgivehimupagainsthiswill，eventoTathohimself;andinthethirdplace，youowemeforyourshareinourlastwine—boutashore，andI’llseeyouwiththenetherGodsbeforeIgiveyouaughttillyou’vesettledthatscore。"
"Well，Tob，Ihopeyou’lldrowneasy。Asforthatwifeofyours，I’vealwayshadafancyforhermyself，andIshallknowhowtofindauseforthewoman。"
"I’lldrawyourneckforthat，yousonofaEuropean，"saidTob;"andifyoudonotclearoffthisdeckI’lldrawithere。
Go，"hecried，"youfatherofmonkeychildren！Getaway，andletmefightyoufairly，orbymyhonourI’llstamptheinwardsoutofyou，andmakeyoursillycrewwearthemasnecklaces。"
UponwhichDasonwenttohisgalley。
PromptlyTobsetgoingthemachineonourown"Bear，"andbawledhisordersrightandlefttotheotherships。Thecrewmightbeweakwithscurvy，buttheywerequicktoobey。Instantlythefivevesselswereallstarted，andbecauseourLordtheSunwasshiningbrightly，gotsoontothefulloftheirpace。Thewholeofoursmallnavyconverged，singlingoutoneshipoftheiropponents，andshe，notbeingreadyforsoswiftanattack，gotflurried，andendeavouredtoturnandrunforroom，insteadoftryingtomeetusbowson。Asaconsequence，thewholeofourfiveshipshithertogetheronthebroadside，tearingherplankingwiththeirunderwaterbeaks，andsinkingherbeforewehadbackedclearfromtheengage。
Butifwethusbroughttheenemy’snumberdowntofive，andsoequaltoourown，theadvantagedidnotremainwithusforlong。
Thethreenimblegalleysformedintoline:theirboatswains’whipscrackedastheslavesbenttotheiroars，andpresentlyoneofourownshipswasgoredandsunk，themenonherbeingkilledinthewaterwithouthopeofrescue。
Andthencommencedatight—lockedmeleethatwouldhavewarmedtheheartofthegreatestwarrioralive。Theshipsandthegalleyswereforcedtogetherandlaysavagelygrindingoneanotherupontheswells，asthoughtheyhadbeensentientanimals。Themenonboardthemshottheirarrows，slashedwithaxes，thrustandhackedwithswords，andhurledthethrowingfire。Butineverywaythefightconvergeduponthe"Bear。"Itwasonherthattheenemyspentthefiercestoftheirspite;itwastothe"Bear，"thattheothercrewsofTatho’snavyralliedastheirownvesselscaughtfire，orweresunkortaken。
BattleisanoldacquaintancewithusofthePriestlyClan，andforthoseofuswhohavehadtocarveoutterritoriesforthenewcolonies，itcomeswithenoughfrequencytocloyeventhemostchivalrousappetite。SoIcanspeakhereasamanofexperience。
Uptillthattime，forhalfalife—span，Ihadheardmenshout"Deucalion"asabattlecry，andinmydayhadseensomelustyencounters。Butthissea—fightsurprisedevenmeinitssavagefierceness。Thebleak，unstableelementwhichsurroundedus;theswayingdecksonwhichwefought;thethrowingfire，whichburntfleshandwoodalikewithitshorridflame;thegreatgluttonousman—eatingbirdsthathoveredintheskyoverhead;theman—eatingfishthatswarmedupfromtheseasaround，gnawingandquarrellingoverthosethatfellintothewaters，allwenttomakeupacircumstancefittodauntthebravestmen—at—armsevergatheredforanarmy。
Butthesetarryshipmenfaceditallwithanindomitablecourage，andneveracryofquailing。Lifeontheseasissohard，and（fromthebeaststhathauntthegreatwaters）sofullofsavagedangers，thatDeathhaslosthalfhisterrorstothemthroughsheerfamiliarity。Theywerefellowswhofrompurelustforafraywouldfighttoafinishamongstthemselvesinthetavernsashore;andsohere，inthisdesperatesea—battle，thepassionforkillingburnedinthem，asafirestonefromHeavenragesinaforest;andtheytookeventheirdeath—woundslaughing。
Onoursidethebattle—crywas"Tob！"andthenameofthisobscureship—captainseemedtocarryaconfidencewithitforourowncrewsthatmanyawell—knowncommandermighthaveenvied。Theenemyhadadozenrallyingcries，andtheseconfusedthem。Butastheirothership—commandersonebyonewerekilled，andDasonremained，activewithmischief，"Dason！"becametheshoutwhichwasthrownbackatusinresponsetoour"Tob！"
However，Iwillnotloadmypagewithfartherlongaccountofthisobscuresea—fight，whoseonlyglorywasitsferocity。Onebyonealltheshipsofeithersideweresunkorlaywithalltheirpeoplekilled，tillfinallyonlyDason’sgalleyandourown"Bear"
wereleft。Forthemomentwewerebeingmastered。WehadascoreofmenremainingoutofallthosethatmannedthenavywhenitsailedfromYucatan，andtheenemyhadboardedusandmadethedecksofthe"Bear"thefieldofbattle。Buttheyhadbeenoverbusywiththethrowingfire，andpresently，asweragedatoneanother，thesmokeandtheflamefromthesturdyvesselherselfletusveryplainlyknowthatshewaspastsalvation。
ButTobwasnothingdaunted。"Theymaystayhereandfryiftheychoose，"heshoutedwithhisgreatboisterouslaugh，"butforourselvesthegalleyisgoodenoughnow。KeepaguardonDeucalion，andcomewithme，shipmates！"
"Tob！"ourfellowsshoutedintheirecstasyoffightingmadness，andItoocouldnotforbearsendingouta"Tob！"formybattle—cry。Itwasachangeformenottobeleader，butitwasaluxuryforoncetofightinthewakeofthisTob，despitehisuncouthnessofmienandplan。Therewasnostoppingthisnewrush，thoughprogressstillwasslow。Tobwithhisbloodyaxecuttheroadinfront，andweothers，withthelustofbattlefillingustothechin，ragedlikefuriesinhiswake。Gods！butitwasafight。
Tenofuswontothegalley，withtheflamesandthesmokefromthepoor"Bear"spurtingatourheels。Weturnedandstabbedmadlyatallwhotriedtofollow，andhackedthroughthegrapplesthatheldthevesselstotheirembrace。Thesea—swellsspurnedthe"Bear"away。
Theslaveschainedtotherowing—galley’sbencheshadinterestneitheronewaynortheother，andlookedonthecontestwithdullconcern，savewhensomestraymissilefoundabilletamongstthem。
Butahandfulofthefightingmenhadscrambleddesperatelyonboardthegalleyafterus，preferringanyfatetoafierydeathonthe"Bear，"andthesehadtobedealtwithpromptly。Three，withtheirfightingfurystillred—hotinthem，hadmostwastefullytobekilledoutofmischief’sway;five，whohadpitchedtheirweaponsintothesea，werechainedtooarlooms，inplaceofslaveswhoweredead;andthereremainedonlyDasontohaveafateapportioned。
Thefighthadcooledoutofhim，andhehadthrownhisarmstothesea，andstoodsullenlyreadyforwhatmightbefall;andtohimTobwentupwithanexultingface。
"Ho，pot—mateDason，"criedhe，"youmadealotoftalkanhouragoaboutthatwomanofmine，wholiveswithherbratsonthequay—sideinAtlantisyonder。Now，I’llgiveyouapleasantchoice;eitherI’lltakeyoualonghome，andtellherwhatyousaidbeforethewholeship’scompany（thatareforthemostpartdeadnow，poorsouls！），andI’llleavehertoperformonyourcarcaseassheseesfitbywayofpayment;or，astheotherchoice，I’lldealwithyouherenowmyself。"
"Ithankyouforthechance，"saidDason，andkneltandofferedhisnecktotheaxe。SoTobcutoffhishead，stickingitonthegalley’sbeakasanadvertisementofwhathadbeendone。
Thebodyhethrewovertheside，andoneofthegreatman—eatingbirdsthathoverednear，pickeditupandflewawaywithittoitsnestamongstthecrags。Andsowewerefreetogetamealofthefruitsandthefreshmeatswhichthegalleyoffered，whilsttheoar—slavessentthegalleyrushingonwardstowardsthecapital。
Therewasawine—skinintheafter—castle，andIfilledahornandpouredsomeoutatTob’sfeetinsalutation。"Myman，"Isaid，"youhaveshownmeafight。"
"Thanks，"saidhe，"andIknowyouareajudge。’Twasprettywhilstitlasted;and，seeingthatmyladswere，forthemost，scurvy—rotten，Iwillsaytheyfoughtwithcredit。IhavelostmyLordTatho’snavy，butIthinkPhorenicewillseemerightedthere。
IfthosethatareagainsthertooksomuchtroubletokillmyLordDeucalionbeforehecouldcometoheraid，IcanfancyshewillnotbeniggardinherjoywhenIputDeucalionsafe，ifsomewhatdentedandblood—bespattered，onthequay。"
"TheGodsknow，"Isaid，foritisnevermycustomtodiscusspolicieswithmyinferiors，eventhoughetiquettebeforthemomentloosened，asourswasthenbythethrillofbattle。"TheGodswilldecidewhatisbestforyou，Tob，evenastheyhavedecidedthatitisbestthatIshouldgoontoAtlantis。"
Thesailorheldahornfilledfromthewine—skininhishand，andIthinkwasmindedtopouralibationatmyfeet，evenasIhaddoneathis。Buthechangedhismind，andemptieditdownhisthroatinstead。"Itisthirstywork，thisfighting，"hesaid，"andthatdrinkcomesveryuseful。"
Iputmyhandonhisblood—smearedarm。"Tob，"Isaid，"whetherIstepintopoweragain，orwhetherIgototheblockto—morrow，isanothermatterwhichtheGodsaloneknow，buthearmetellyounow，thatifachanceisgivenmeofshowingmygratitude，Ishallnotforgetthewayyouhaveservedmeinthisvoyage，andthewayyouhavefoughtthisday。"
Tobfilledanotherbrimminghornfromthewine—skinandsplasheditatmyfeet。"That’sgoodenoughsuretyforme，"hesaid，"thatmywomanandbratsneverwantfromthisdayonward。
TheLordDeucalionfortheblock，indeed！"
4。THEWELCOMEOFPHORENICE
NowIcansayitwithalltruththat，tilltherivalnavymetusinthemouthofthegulf，IhadthoughtlittleenoughofmyimportanceasarecruitfortheEmpress。Butthelayinginwaitforusofthoseships，andthewildferocitywithwhichtheyfoughtsothatImightfallintotheirhands，wereomenswhichtheblindestcouldnotfailtoread。ItwasclearthatIwasexpectedtoplayalustypartinthefortunesofthenation。
ButifourcominghadbeenwatchedforbyenemiesitseemedthatPhorenicealsohadherscouts;andthesesawusfromthemountains，andcarriednewstothecapital。ThearmoftheseaattheheadofwhichthevastcityofAtlantisstands，variesgreatlyinwidth。Inplaceswherethemountainshaveover—boiled，andsenttheirliquidcontentsdowntoformhardstonebelow，thechannelhasbarelyariver’swideness，andthenbeyond，forthenexthalf—day’ssailitwillwidenoutintoalake，withthesidesbarelyvisible。Moreover，itscourseiswinding，andsoarunnerwhoknowshiswayacrosstheflats，andtheswamps，andbetweenthesmokinghillswhichliealongtheshore，anddidnotgetovercomebyfire—streams，orwater，orwanderingbeasts，couldcarrynewsoverlandfromseacoasttocapitalfarspeedierthaneventhemostshrewdlywhippedofgalleyscouldferryitalongthewater。
Ofcoursetherewereheavyrisksthatalonetravellerwouldnotmakeasafepassagebythislandroute，ifhewerebiddentosacrificeallprecautionstospeed。ButPhorenicewasnoniggardwithhercouriers。Shesentacorpsoftwentytotheheadlandthatoverlooksthesea—entrancetothestraits;theystartedwiththenews，eachonhisownroute;anditsaysmuchfortheirspeedandcleverness，thatnofewerthansevenoftheseagilefellowscamethroughscathlesswiththeirtidings，andoftheothersitwassaidthatquitethreewereknowntohavesurvived。
Still，aboutthiswehadnomeansofknowingatthetime，andpushedoninfancythatourcomingwasquiteunheralded。Theslavesonthegalley’srow—bankswereforthemostpartsavagesfromEurope，andthesmellofthemwassooffensivethatthevoyagelostallitspleasures;andas，moreover，thewindcarriedwithitaninfiniteabundanceofsmallgritfromsomeeruptingfiremountain，wewereanxioustolingeraslittleaspossible。
Besides，ifImayconfesstosuchathingwithoutbeingundulydegraded，althoughbymypriestlytrainingIhadbeentaughtstoicism，andknewthatallthefuturewasinthehandsoftheGods，IwasfraillyhumanstilltohaveaveryvastcuriosityastowhatwouldbetheformofmyownreceptionatAtlantis。Icouldimaginemyselftakenaformalprisoneronlanding，andsetonaformaltrialtoanswerformycureofthecolonyofYucatan;I
couldimaginemyselfsteppingashoreunknownandunnoticed，andafteraduelapse，beingsentforbytheEmpresstotakeupnewduties;butthemannerofmyrealwelcomewasathingIdidnotevenguessat。
Wecameinsightofthepeakofthesacredmountain，withitsglareofeternalfireswhichstandbehindthecity，onemorningwiththeday’sbreak，andthewhipsoftheboatswainscrackedmorevehemently，sothatthoseoffensiveslavesshouldgivethegalleyafinalspurt。Thewindwasadverse，andnosailcouldbespread，butunderoarsalonewemadeaprettypace，andthesidesofthesacredmountaingrewlonger，andpresentlythepeaksofthepyramidsinthecity，thetowersofthehigherbuildings，begantoshowthemselvesasthoughtheyfloateduponthegleamingwater。ItwastwentyyearssinceIhadseenAtlantislast，andmyheartglowedwiththethoughtoftreadingagainuponherpaving—stones。
Thesplendidcitygrewoutoftheseaasweapproached，andtoeverythroboftheoars，theshoresleapednearer。IsawthetemplewhereIhadbeenadmittedfirsttomanhood;IsawthepyramidinwhoseheartIhadbeeninitiatedtothesmallmysteries;
andthen（asthelesserobjectsbecamediscernible）Imadeoutthehousewhereafatherandamotherhadrearedme，andmyeyesbecamedimasthememoriesrose。
Wedrewupoutsidethewhitewallsoftheharbour，asthelawwas，andtheslavespantedandsobbedinquietudeovertheoar—looms。Forvesselsthusstationedthereis，generally，asufficiencyofwaiting，foraport—captainisapttobesouncertainofhisowndignity，thathemuste’enkeepfolkswaitingtoproveittothem。Buthereforusitmighthavebeenthattheport—captain’sboatwaswaiting。Thesignalwassoundedfromthetwocastlesattheharbour’sentrance，thechainwhichhungbetweenthemwasdropped，andaten—oaredboatshotoutfrombehindthewallsasfastasoarscoulddriveher。Sheracedupalongsideandthequestionswereput:
"ThatshouldbeDason’sgalley？"
"Itwas，"saidTob。
"Oh，IsawDason’sheadonyourbeak，"saidtheport—captain。
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